The New England Patriots are making roster adjustments as they navigate a significant offseason. On Monday, the team released two defensive players, starting lineman Lawrence Guy and safety Adrian Phillips, recently.
Both players were entering the final year of their contracts, and this move provides the Patriots with substantial cap space to continue reshaping the roster following a 4-13 season in 2023. Even before these releases, the team already had the fourth-highest cap space in the NFL, and these moves add approximately $6.4 million more for offseason spending.
Lawrence Guy and Adrian Phillips were integral contributors to the Patriots’ defense under Bill Belichick, who departed the franchise after the recent season. Guy joined the team in 2017, signing a four-year, $20 million deal in free agency. He played a crucial role in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII victory in 2019 and extended his tenure with a four-year, $11.5 million contract in 2021.
Last season, the 33-year-old Guy participated in all 17 games, amassing 38 tackles.
Regarding Phillips, this release marks the end of a four-season tenure with the Patriots, commencing with his signing as a free agent in 2020 under a two-year, $6 million contract. While he played a pivotal role initially, his contributions dwindled over the past three seasons.
Despite being active for all 17 games last season, Phillips saw a decline in defensive snaps, playing just 12%, compared to the 82% he played in 2021. However, he experienced an increase in special teams snaps, accounting for 70%.
Despite his reduced time on the field in 2023, Phillips demonstrated a high level of performance when given the opportunity. In the 2020-2021 period, he started in 29 out of 33 games played, averaging three interceptions per season. In the 2023 season, with limited playing time, he managed to contribute 17 tackles.
