$63.9M-$68.6M in cap space
Draft class: $2 million
Trent Brown: $8 million projected
CB JC Jackson first-round tender: $4.9 million
Minimum $50.6M leftover accounting for Top 51 rule
Extend Gilmore: $6 million
Release Cannon: ($7 million)
$50.8M leftover accounting for Top 51 rule
Re-sign Andrews, Guy, Burkhead, Johnson: $8.2 million including Top 51 rule
$42.6M leftover
Now, the Patriots can splurge even more, so let’s sign Corey Davis (four years, $65 million; $10.4 million cap hit) and Samuel (four years, $50 million; $8 million cap hit) at receiver.
$25.8M leftover accounting for Top 51 rule
Let’s keep throwing money around and sign tight end Hunter Henry to a four-year deal worth $52 million with an $8M cap hit in 2021.
$18.6M leftover accounting for Top 51 rule
The Patriots need a defensive boost, as well, so let’s add linebacker Kyle Van Noy (two years, $20 million; $9 million cap hit in 2021), edge defender Tyus Bowser (three years, $21 million; $6 million cap hit in 2021) and Hankins (two years, $7 million; $3 million cap hit in 2021). That leaves New England with $3 million to sign low-level free agents, including the Patriots’ own.
Scenario 3’s additions looks great on paper, but it’s risky to trust Newton, Brissett, a rookie quarterback or Minshew to carry the offense. It’s probably not advisable to trade for Garoppolo and keep him on a $25 million cap hit. Scenario 2 finds a nice balance of acquiring a serviceable-to-great quarterback while also having leftover money to build up the rest of the roster.
This exercise also shows just how far $60-plus million in cap space can go even after reacquiring top free agents and spending cap space to keep Gilmore, the team’s top player, around.