I think you are closer than PFF. My guess is 4/150 with about $80-90 million guaranteed. He plays QB and his timing is impeccable, except for it being a good QB draft year.
Patriots' 2024 Free Agency Thread
- Thread starter Jake Peavy's Demons
- Start date
You're not wrong. The Pats would have to sell him on their plan to add high end offensive talent through free agency and the draft to go with a very solid defense that has Gonzalez coming back.
But the team looks a lot different if they add Smith and Ridley in free agency and draft something like Daniels/Maye, OT (J. Morgan, P. Paul), WR (Corley, Legette, R. Wilson) in the first 3 rounds. Having a QB on a rookie contract would allow them to continue to spend and add talent over the next few years.
Maybe that's not enough to convince him over signing with a team like KC or Cincy or SF to chase a ring, but the Pats do have the makings of an interesting sales pitch. And if the Pats are willing to pony up the most money, I can see guys talking themselves into the situation pretty easily.
I would like the Patriots to have interest in Wilkins / Hunt / Queen / Smith / Ridley.
Yes...I agree with targeting those players and I'd add Andre James (C) and Jacoby Brissett (QB) and maybe Austin Ekler (RB) as a pass-catching option out of the backfield.
I base all my opinions on Twitter comments on this, but if he's a slightly below average to average at best Tackle, I'm 100% onboard with this. If he something better, fine, but a serviceable tackle that's not terrible is exactly what this team needs, then get a better OT in FA or resign Onwenu and then draft a guy in the 3rd or 4th.
This is a good pickup for the Patriots, assuming whatever got him benched (disciplinary) is behind him.
played in 14 games last year, starting 7, started all 17 in 2022, all 16 in 2021, played 16 starting 15 in 2020.
Low end starting RT, good swing tackle. 6'6" 320 34+ inch arms
Still 26 years old as well. I like this signing as there is no more upside than the retreads that were brought in last year and previous years.
basically a bit better than Calvin Anderson (who knows if that would have worked out if he didn't have the medical issues).
He has good size but isn't very quick or athletic, at least based on his combine. But the more swings they take at OT the better. Hopefully they can at least avoid situations like last year where there's a big shuffle of retreads right at the end of camp.
It was a joke, because he is indeed a free agent, just a street FA who was released and can be signed now, not an expired UFA who can't be signed until the 13th (or even talked to...technically until the 11th)
Pretty sure anyone who watched the Steelers offense regularly would consider that a mark in Okorafor’s favor…
Was checking out past twitter stuff, Spielberger from PFF posted when he was released that it was a surprise, and he had assumed that at $8.25M for 1 year the Steelers could have held and traded him for value.
The more I think about it and look at what guys like Brandon Thorn are saying...... the more I think Onwenu is going to be playing guard in NY or LA. Thorn really thinks Onwenu is not a tackle, particularly not in the Patriots' scheme, and it looks like a lot of people agree (except PFF, they are basically the only place that is all in on him as a RT). I think the Patriots end up going elsewhere for their tackle (Smith if he'll come here, Williams) and then take one fairly early in the draft (and maybe another late).
Why NY or LA?
I think he'll get a good offer here. Whether it's sufficient...yeah that depends on the market. It won't be as draconian as under Bill, but they'll set a value based on what he offers within their OL philosophy and it'll be what it is. FA options are not great (both Smith and Williams will have quite a few options, I would think - I'm on board but they may not be) and even if not a perfect fit, they need some talent out there and they can probably talk themselves into Owenu. This is going to be a far from perfect roster.
And aside from potentially over-paying Ridley, where will they spend their cap?
Okarofor is probably better than Anderson, definitely better than Lowe. Probably not as “good” as McDermott
In todays NFL I suppose he’s a passable #3 tackle but if he’s starting games for the Pats next year, I’d expect more of what we saw this year
In todays NFL I suppose he’s a passable #3 tackle but if he’s starting games for the Pats next year, I’d expect more of what we saw this year
I would assume they will spend on defense where they have a sneaky amount of holes both currently and potentially next year. Just re-signing or replacing Dugger, Wilson, Jennings, Uche and adding depth to replace/upgrade? Phillips/Guy is going to chew up cap. They need an CB most likely. And I’m sure they’ll end up overpaying for whatever they do at tackle. Plus a RB, mid tier WR, a couple TE. There’s so many holes to fill that they’ll end up using the space in quantity more than quality.
I could see one big splash on defense, another below average tackle or two and a bunch of mid/low end starters and depth pieces
Those are just the teams that are rumored to be looking for guards and willing to spend.
I just think that based on rumors there are teams that see Onwenu as an elite guard, and nobody thinks he's more than a decent tackle. I think the Patriots will make an offer for sure, just on talent and the idea they can slide him back inside, but I don't think he's the 2nd (or 3rd, maybe not even 4th) best tackle in the FA class on their board, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's allowed to move on and they sign someone with more of a tackle body/skillset. I think that's one of the reasons they signed Okarofor, means they at least have a guy who is a starter potential to slide in who isn't old/injured like McDermott.
In terms of where they spend.... everywhere. But I'd guess the biggest ticket will be defense. Loaded defensive class, and a draft class that is the opposite, not many O players worth big deals
My guess is they sign at least 1 more tackle (Smith, Williams, Onwenu... maybe Becton or Eleumenor), 1 WR (Ridley, Brown, Boyd) plus Bourne, maybe a RB, a vet QB, a FS, an edge, etc. Then in the draft they take a QB, OT, WR in the first 4 rounds (likely 1st 3, but who knows if someone really falls, if they go QB at #3, they'll take falling talent if it's there).
Where to spend? I generally wouldn't want to go into a draft absolutely needing anything. In this case I think we can get away heading into the draft needing a QB if they are comfortable enough with 3 of them.
That leaves at a minimum:
2 OT - starter and reserve
2 TE - a #1 and a #2/3, preferably one of them is blocking first because the tackles are probably not going to be great
RB - rotational
DE - reserve or rotational (possibly can get away without this one)
DT - rotational
2 LB - Uche/Jennings replacements
CB - someone who can hold the 3rd or 4th CB role- wouldn't hate bringing JC Jackson back for ~vet min + incentives if interested
Plus it would be nice to find a veteran reserve QB who won't need preseason snaps, but you could literally field a team with out that
Plus take opportunities to get better and add depth if you see them- this is where a WR upgrade or interior O-line upgrade (not sold on Sow as starter, would like competition at C) come in
then some camp competition for special teams-
K - competent veteran for camp competition (I think Ryland has a chance to work out)
LS - Cardona was shaky at times last year (could be UDFA)
Plus set money aside to sign the draft, extend Barmore in camp and do in-season moves.
We have a lot of cap space, but it's a big shopping list.
That leaves at a minimum:
2 OT - starter and reserve
2 TE - a #1 and a #2/3, preferably one of them is blocking first because the tackles are probably not going to be great
RB - rotational
DE - reserve or rotational (possibly can get away without this one)
DT - rotational
2 LB - Uche/Jennings replacements
CB - someone who can hold the 3rd or 4th CB role- wouldn't hate bringing JC Jackson back for ~vet min + incentives if interested
Plus it would be nice to find a veteran reserve QB who won't need preseason snaps, but you could literally field a team with out that
Plus take opportunities to get better and add depth if you see them- this is where a WR upgrade or interior O-line upgrade (not sold on Sow as starter, would like competition at C) come in
then some camp competition for special teams-
K - competent veteran for camp competition (I think Ryland has a chance to work out)
LS - Cardona was shaky at times last year (could be UDFA)
Plus set money aside to sign the draft, extend Barmore in camp and do in-season moves.
We have a lot of cap space, but it's a big shopping list.
Reportedly the Patriots have agreed to a contract with Chukwuma Okorafor. No terms yet public.
The 2018 3rd round pick signed a 3 year 30 million contract to be the Steelers starting RT in 2022. He has 59 starts in 6 seasons. Last year he started 7 games before being replaced by Broderick Jones.
The 2018 3rd round pick signed a 3 year 30 million contract to be the Steelers starting RT in 2022. He has 59 starts in 6 seasons. Last year he started 7 games before being replaced by Broderick Jones.
WEEI reported it's a 1 year deal at 9 million. I haven't double checked Twitter to confirm that though
That's a bit higher than I would have thought. They're paying him low-end starter money. For one year though, we can stomach it, particularly if It's incentive-laden, which I would think is the case.
So I mentioned Brandon Thorn (people should consider his substack if you're interested in really good in-depth line play analysis) he's one of the better line play expert/analysis guys out there. He emailed out his OT FA rankings/tiers today. I won't share all the details, but....
Tyron Smith is alone in tier 1 as a very good starter.
2 and 3 are Trent Brown and Jonah Williams in the solid starter tier
Next tier is below average starter (basically starter quality if you need it, but you'd be looking for an upgrade, good swings usually)
4. Leno, 5. Fant, 6. Okorafor.
Here is the writeup on Okorafor:
Okorafor started the last three and a half seasons at right tackle for the Steelers before being benched in Week 8 last year and not returning to the starting lineup the rest of the season. Okorafor has been a below average starter his whole career. Leaving the team that drafted him should relegate him to having to compete for a right tackle job somewhere with most of his value coming as a young, quality swing tackle.
Seems like a nice signing, quality swing with the ability to be a lower end starter is a nice thing to lock in before the main FA period opens.
Tyron Smith is alone in tier 1 as a very good starter.
2 and 3 are Trent Brown and Jonah Williams in the solid starter tier
Next tier is below average starter (basically starter quality if you need it, but you'd be looking for an upgrade, good swings usually)
4. Leno, 5. Fant, 6. Okorafor.
Here is the writeup on Okorafor:
Okorafor started the last three and a half seasons at right tackle for the Steelers before being benched in Week 8 last year and not returning to the starting lineup the rest of the season. Okorafor has been a below average starter his whole career. Leaving the team that drafted him should relegate him to having to compete for a right tackle job somewhere with most of his value coming as a young, quality swing tackle.
Seems like a nice signing, quality swing with the ability to be a lower end starter is a nice thing to lock in before the main FA period opens.
That's what he is though, a low end starter, getting that before FA opens and on a 1 year (probably not fully guaranteed) is really nice. He's not signing a super cheap deal before the market opens.
There are reports that the base is lower at $4m. Lots of incentives though.
View: https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1766130523376660736
Just curious, where does he have Becton? Still only 24 years old.
And I think we agree on Okorafor. The reported contract is reasonable if he wins the job or ends up playing a significant amount, and I would think the structure of it would reflect that.
He played only about 460 snaps last year, so I assume most of the incentives and some of the roster bonus will be NLTBE.
Little OGG will be happy. He was the only Patriot that she knew the name of (he came to her school once a month)
$5M seems fine for a #3 tackle
Jonah Williams is probably the only hope for an actual starting caliber tackle, and even then he’s not a great option relative to what he will likely get paid by someone
Jonah Williams is probably the only hope for an actual starting caliber tackle, and even then he’s not a great option relative to what he will likely get paid by someone
I like those numbers better than the EEI report. (Teach me to not double check Twitter lol)
No surprise but sounds like Trent Brown is headed elsewhere – tho I did think these comments suggest he is a lot more thoughtful than some of the critics make him out to be:
View: https://twitter.com/mikereiss/status/1766616878888173628?s=46&t=4DK5sD-8gsSKFExcsnEJqg
View: https://twitter.com/mikereiss/status/1766616878888173628?s=46&t=4DK5sD-8gsSKFExcsnEJqg
Hey, I was probably the loudest critic of Mac the last two years. Totally agree with what you’re saying, my point is if they have a clear target this week they probably don’t want him and Mac on the same team, even if it were for a brief time.
It's been clear that they couldn't bring him back, not as the starter and not as a backup, so I think they were going to trade him regardless of whether they have a deal for a FA lined up. Under no circumstances were they going to keep him.
But that said, yes, they might have a deal lined up. They do have to sign someone at some point. (I don't think Zappe's going to be the starter or second QB.)
But that said, yes, they might have a deal lined up. They do have to sign someone at some point. (I don't think Zappe's going to be the starter or second QB.)
Miguel shared that after the Mac trade, and with the details of Henry’s deal being known, the Patriots still have $82.07m in cap space.
I did not think they would have tagged Dugger, signed a tackle, signed a TE and still have that much space. This is going to be an interesting week, maybe one of the more interesting (offseason) weeks in a long time for this franchise.
I did not think they would have tagged Dugger, signed a tackle, signed a TE and still have that much space. This is going to be an interesting week, maybe one of the more interesting (offseason) weeks in a long time for this franchise.
Mike Giardi says the team will be active in WR trade market as well as FA. Who else besides Dionte Johnson is on the block?
There were some murmours on twitter over the weekend that Amari Cooper might be available.