2017 Patriots FA & Trades Thread

[RedOctober3829]

Key UFAs
Bennett
Hightower
Branch
Blount
Sheard
Ryan
Harmon
Long

2nd Tier UFAs
Bolden
Develin
Floyd
Bolden
Mingo
Scruggs

Top Non-Patriots UFAs
Kirk Cousins
Le'Veon Bell
Alshon Jeffrey
Calais Campbell
Chandler Jones
Kawann Short
Brandon Williams
AJ Bouye
Melvin Ingram
Eric Berry
Brandon Carr
Vincent Jackson
JPP
Lawrence Timmons
Jordan Cameron
DeSean Jackson


It will be interesting how many of the key UFAs they keep and if they franchise anyone. Free agency tampering period begins a month from tomorrow and FA opens up on March 9th at 4 pm.

 

[brandonchristensen]

Bennett is gone. He basically said as much in his post game interview on Fox, Super Bowl winners get paid.

 

[foulkehampshire]

Would be nice to retain Floyd, might be amicable to take a short team friendly deal to rebuild value. Seemed to enjoy his time here. Losing Bennett's presence in the RZ is going to loom large, as Gronk is the other only pass catcher who crates a mismatch with his size.

It goes without saying Jeffery would be awesome but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[lars10]

Would be nice to retain Floyd, might be amicable to take a short team friendly deal to rebuild value. Seemed to enjoy his time here. Losing Bennett's presence in the RZ is going to loom large, as Gronk is the other only pass catcher who crates a mismatch with his size.

It goes without saying Jeffery would be awesome but I'm not holding my breath.

Had the exact same thought when I saw that list.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Now you find out how badly guys want cash vs. how badly they want to win.

Of the second tiers, I expect Develin to return and I hope one of the Boldens comes back for special teams and and an emergency RB.

 

[Stitch01]

Jeffrey off somewhat of a down year has long been my hope. With a Edelman/Hogan/Mitchell core, whatever happens with Amendola, and Floyd seemingly amenable to not taking top dollar Im not sure they go there.

Branch was a foundation piece this year and might be the 2nd most important piece to retain outside Hightower for next season,

Solder, Edelman, Slater, and perhaps White stand out as extension candidates outside of the RFA/UFA group

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Can we just resign everyone and roll with the same team? Greatest team ever.

Also, I know Bennett said SB winners get paid, but I think that was in jest. I honestly think he'd stay if the Patriots were interested.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

From the UFA would like to retain Hightower, Branch, Ryan, and Harmon.

 

[jsinger121]

From the UFA would like to retain Hightower, Branch, Ryan, and Harmon.

Agree with those 4. Also I would look up Butler long term as well.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Given our cap situation, using the franchise tag on Bennett seems like a no brainer to me. The TE tag was only like 9M last year and probably won't go up too much further.

My next priorities would be resigning High and exploring a longer term deal with Butler in which he might get some advance security and give up a little upside. The Hightower contract is likely to be a bad one fairly quickly but he means so much to the defense in terms of leadership on and off the field that I think you just bite the bullet and pay him in the 4/44 range, trying to structure it so that he is cuttable without too much pain after two years.

I would offer small short term deals to Branch, Blount, Long, Sheard, Develin, and Harmon but I'm OK if any of those guys walk away for more money instead.

I think Logan Ryan is a goner. Somebody is going to pay him stupid money. Rowe and Jones need to step up next year.

I try to convince Floyd to sign a one year show me deal so that he can set himself up for a bigger contract next offseason. My suspicion is that its not going to work - somebody else will offer him more money. But its worth trying.

 

[Stitch01]

They might need the tag for Hightower leverage.

 

[gammoseditor]

What would the franchise tag be on Branch? I'd pick him over Bennett if given the choice.

 

[H78]

Agree with those 4. Also I would look up Butler long term as well.

My exact thoughts.

Hightower is what we hoped Mayo would be. Captain of the D, but also a playmaker. Mayo was the former, but not so much the latter. LBs with both qualities are tough to find and he's been an INCREDIBLY good "soldier" for the team - I think both Hightower and Butler need to come back (though I don't think Butler is worth top-3 CB money or anything silly like that).

Branch would be #3 for me, followed by Harmon.

 

[Rico Guapo]

Branch/Hightower need to be the top priorities, Sheard is expendable, Harmon I'd like to see back, Ryan too if the money is right.

Floyd is an interesting case, if the money/years are right...

 

[NortheasternPJ]

They might need the tag for Hightower leverage.

Agreed. Retaining Hightower needs to be priority #1 and Branch right behind him. The rest they can deal with.

I'd love to see Harmon back and I'd be happy if Logan Ryan came back, but not at the money he's going to get. Chris Long will be back, if they want him, at a reasonable price from everything he's said.

I'm good with ending the Blount era.

 

[jsinger121]

Hightower for the Franchise tag. I'd think of using the transition tag on Bennett.

 

[Stitch01]

I dont think you can use both in the same year.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Patriots draft picks:

1 (32), 2(64), 3(96), 4(128), 4 (getting stripped for DFG), 5(160), 7(224)

With only 6 draft picks this year, I think the Patriots need to concentrate on locking up a few of these guys that they would normally let go.

Floyd has already said he loves it in NE and wants to come back, I think that will happen.

 

[Stitch01]

Yeah but that's before they trade Gronk....

Seriously, they're only down a 6th from "standard" draft position, I dont think they'll alter their focused-on-long-term-value strategy too much.

 

[Kull]

So how many of the non-Pat UFAs are in the "I just want a ring" category? At this point that has to be a real thing. Would Chris Long have signed with anybody else for that kind of money?

 

[8slim]

Unless the money is really, really right I'd pass on Floyd and use those dollars elsewhere. I'd prefer to see Mitchell get those targets.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

They might need the tag for Hightower leverage.

Maybe I'm just being optimistic, but I think Hightower may be worth more to us than to the rest of the league and may not have a crazy market. He doesn't make a lot of splash plays (career 2 FF and 0 INTs), he isn't a tackling machine, and he isn't going to be your primary coverage backer. I'm not convinced other teams are going to be lining up to give him a huge contract and he seems to love the Patriots so I think there is a good chance we can work something out before free agency hits.

 

[shoosh77]

Patriots draft picks:

1 (32), 2(64), 3(96), 4(128), 4 (getting stripped for DFG), 5(160), 7(224)

With only 6 draft picks this year, I think the Patriots need to concentrate on locking up a few of these guys that they would normally let go.

Floyd has already said he loves it in NE and wants to come back, I think that will happen.

They have Browns comp pick if it is a 3rd, or first pick in 4th right?

 

[jsinger121]

They have Browns comp pick if it is a 3rd, or first pick in 4th right?

It will be 3rd round comp pick. Alex Mack played enough snaps for us to get that pick.

 

[Stitch01]

Good point, thought that was the other 4th but there's a pick missing.

 

[shoosh77]

Not to derail FA thread, but from PatsPulpit:
1(32)
2(64)
3(96)
3(Cleveland Comp)
4(Seattle pick - Roger's last theft)
4(128)
5th(Denver's pick)
5th(projected comp for losing Akiem Hicks)
7th(Own pick)

So 8 picks right now?

 

[ifmanis5]

Draft/FA priorities should be OL, LB, TE.

 

[kenneycb]

What would the franchise tag be on Branch? I'd pick him over Bennett if given the choice.

Branch is 32 and will be entering his 11th season. If he comes on the cheap, I'm all for it but otherwise I'll pass.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Unless Scar retires again, OL drafting should start at 4th and later.

Branch re-signing is a must. To me, he's on the 1st tier.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Key UFAs
Bennett - Gone
Hightower - Franchise
Branch - Gone
Blount - Gone
Sheard - Probably stays
Ryan - Probably stays
Harmon - They'll keep him
Long - Stays

2nd Tier UFAs
Bolden - Stays they like him on ST
Develin - Stays
Floyd - Gone
Mingo- Stays
Scruggs - Stays

The only way Jeffrey leaves Chicago is if they neglect to tag him. Then again that franchise could fuck up a happy meal.

 

[Stitch01]

Solder's contract expires in '17, Scar is 70, and Mason/Andrews are still worth looking to upgrade so not sure I agree with passing on OL high if the right picks are there.

 

[jsinger121]

Draft/FA priorities should be OL, LB, TE.

DL as well. Long/Nink are old

 

[Toe Nash]

If they sign Hightower for a not-completely-insane deal I will consider the offseason a success.

Franchising Bennett seems reasonable.

None of the other guys seem vital to me. But they have a lot of cap space.

Calais Campbell would be a great add if he 1. hits FA and 2. would sign something reasonable. He's a beast and I'm no expert on the Cardinals' scheme but it seems like he can play anywhere on the line. He's 30 but I think he's got a good 2-3 years left.

 

[Stitch01]

Key UFAs
Bennett - Gone
Hightower - Franchise
Branch - Gone
Blount - Gone
Sheard - Probably stays
Ryan - Probably stays
Harmon - They'll keep him
Long - Stays

2nd Tier UFAs
Bolden - Stays they like him on ST
Develin - Stays
Floyd - Gone
Mingo- Stays
Scruggs - Stays

The only way Jeffrey leaves Chicago is if they neglect to tag him. Then again that franchise could fuck up a happy meal.

Not sure where you came up with these, but not sure why you think Sheard/Ryan/Harmon stay while Branch/Bennett/Floyd are gone.

Jeffrey was tagged this year, his salary cap hit next year would be very high.

 

[ifmanis5]

DL as well. Long/Nink are old

Totally agreed. Should have put that on there.

 

[Captaincoop]

Blount, Sheard, Harmon, Ryan, and Long (from the UFA list) all seem replaceable one way or another. Have to make an effort to keep Hightower and Branch. I'm fine with one of Bennett or Gronk being back next year, along with adding a college TE.

 

[nothumb]

After Hightower, I would really focus on Bennett, either with the tag or on a multi year deal. If you can't get it done, you have to go out and get a similar TE elsewhere.

Bennett was limited by injuries and rarely amazing after Gronk went down, but he was credible enough as a dual threat to keep defenses honest most of the time, and had some crucial plays.

Bennett as a TE2 is really unfair when your TE1 is Gronk, because your opponents have to use their best hybrid guy(s) on Gronk and that leaves Bennett with an easier matchup. Bennett as a TE1 when healthy is good, he won't overwhelm people the way Gronk does but it saves you from having to throw out half the playbook if Gronk is out, which we basically have to plan for at this point.

So for me it's those two and Branch, and then Ryan if at all possible (but I expect him to get paid too much for us to keep him).

 

[joe dokes]

Bennett will be going into his 10th year at a demanding position and turns 30 next month. I think *all* he gets from NE is either the tag or a very short-term deal. If he is expecting some sort of multi-year mega-guarantee, it's not coming from NE.

I hope he was kidding last night. He seems sharp enough to know that getting the mega-$$$$ probably means going to a shithole team. But the choice is his.

I think Long will retire.

Branch is also old. He wont get a deal that risks a lot of dead money from BB.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

They're going to have close to $70-75 million available after the obvious cuts, right?

 

[H78]

Patriots draft picks:

1 (32), 2(64), 3(96), 4(128), 4 (getting stripped for DFG), 5(160), 7(224)

With only 6 draft picks this year, I think the Patriots need to concentrate on locking up a few of these guys that they would normally let go.

Floyd has already said he loves it in NE and wants to come back, I think that will happen.

This, of course, if all before they trade Jimmy G.

And I know someone said it in jest, but I wouldn't be shocked if they trade Gronk, too, if someone blows them away with an offer.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Not sure where you came up with these, but not sure why you think Sheard/Ryan/Harmon stay while Branch/Bennett/Floyd are gone..

I think Bill likes guys who were brought up in the system. Sheard wasn't but he's not going to strip the pass rushing bear. Branch is due a huge deal and he's going to be 32. They have depth on the D-Line. Good player but he's a prime candidate to be overpaid. Bennett is going to get paid and it won't be from the Pats. Seemingly he's looking for the most financially stable deal. Floyd is a wild card because he could easily be back but I think he's going to have a decent market based on his potential. Ryan and Harmon I think are locks to come back since both are more valuable to the Pats than they would be with any other team.

 

[Stitch01]

This, of course, if all before they trade Jimmy G.

And I know someone said it in jest, but I wouldn't be shocked if they trade Gronk, too, if someone blows them away with an offer.

I dont think Gronk is getting traded this offseason. Next offseason it becomes a possibility because he's going to be looking for a new contract.

 

[Byrdbrain]

The LB franchise tag is over $14M, I doubt they want to take the chance of having to pay that even for one year. I think they come up with a long term deal at $11M to $12M.
If they franchise anyone I think it will be Bennett.
I'd like them to keep Branch but I think he and Ryan are going to get paid and they are gone.
Everyone else can stay if they do it in a team friendly deal but none of them are critical. Extend Butler to give him some security.
If they can't keep Branch they can pick up a veteran big bodied DL that wants a chance to win a super bowl.

 

[foulkehampshire]

This, of course, if all before they trade Jimmy G.

And I know someone said it in jest, but I wouldn't be shocked if they trade Gronk, too, if someone blows them away with an offer.

Hard to fathom what "blow-away" offer for Gronk would equate to, let alone an objectively equivalent exchange of talent.

 

[H78]

I dont think Gronk is getting traded this offseason. Next offseason it becomes a possibility because he's going to be looking for a new contract.

I think his cap hits the next three years are $7, $11, and $12 million. If you trade him to an interested team this offseason he'd be playing at a reasonable number, which you would figure would make his trade value pretty high right now (injury aside). If, say, a Tampa, Detroit, or Washington offered you their mid-round first...wouldn't that be pretty tempting? Totally hypothetical and unlikely, of course, but those three could use a player with Gronk's size and ability to help them turn a corner.

Again, I'm not saying it will happen, but I think the Pats have to seriously consider trading Gronk too early as opposed to when it's too late - and coming off of a SB victory, they have a lot of goodwill with the public and within the locker room to probably get away with it.

 

[Stitch01]

I'm personally not trading Gronk for a mid first rounder right now.

 

[lexrageorge]

Trading Gronk prior to 6/1 saves the Pats less than $1M on the cap. And given Gronk's injury history, I don't see a team offering much more than a 2018 4th round pick for him, which is not going to be enough for the Pats to pull the trigger on a trade. I don't really see a trade happening; then again, noone saw the Seymour trade happening either.

The one obvious cut candidate is Amendola ($6.5M in savings). Solder's cap hit is high at $11M, but this past season showed why he's a fairly critical piece of this team, and I think his contract could easily be restructured with an extension. There are not a lot of other obvious cut candidates, unless they decide they are done with Ghost (doubtful).

 

[TFisNEXT]

Gronk has a lengthy injury history, but at age 27, he's probably still got some dominant play left in him. I don't think they're trading him unless someone offered a top 10-15 pick or equivalent and that isn't happening.

 

[Red Averages]

I'm personally not trading Gronk for a mid first rounder right now.

Agreed. Unless you have information that tells you he will be max 80% of the player he was then his value is far higher to the Patriots.

 

[H78]

Trading Gronk prior to 6/1 saves the Pats less than $1M on the cap. And given Gronk's injury history, I don't see a team offering much more than a 2018 4th round pick for him, which is not going to be enough for the Pats to pull the trigger on a trade. I don't really see a trade happening; then again, noone saw the Seymour trade happening either.

The one obvious cut candidate is Amendola ($6.5M in savings). Solder's cap hit is high at $11M, but this past season showed why he's a fairly critical piece of this team, and I think his contract could easily be restructured with an extension. There are not a lot of other obvious cut candidates, unless they decide they are done with Ghost (doubtful).

You're right about the cap savings. Pre-June 1 it'd be only $750,000; post-June 1 it'd be $4.75 million. So if they make a move, you'd have to figure that it'd happen just before training camp sometime, at which point you're looking at possible 2018 pick(s).

That may work in their favor, though, if they decided to sort of showcase a healthy Gronk in OTAs before pulling the trigger.