Patriots' 2024 Free Agency Thread
- Thread starter Jake Peavy's Demons
- Start date
Nobody serious is anticipating that #3 will redshirt this year in Foxboro. This is a weird offshoot of the "we didn't get Calvin Ridley!!!111" conversation.
Seems most probable he won’t start the year and will take over as the season progresses (week 8?). Under those conditions is it worth burning cap vs pushing to next year or front loading contracts this year to create an optimal point in 2-3 years to GFIN as the #3 pick enters the last few years of his contract and has presumably been starting for 2 years?
That's fair. We wouldn't want him starting until we're sure that the OL is better than the screen door on a submarine certainly. Hopefully that's only a few weeks. And agreed that we probably should be looking at a point beyond 2024 for the GFIN phase. I love the idea of spending cap now via some frontloading strategy to free up cap later.
It seems silly to sign guys to one year deals for a GFIN 2024 that doesn't exist. There are probably multiple ways to set up for the 4 year window of a rookie QB.
There has been some discussion that if it's Maye he would get time to rebuild his footwork/motion before the put him in the fire, whether that is 4, 8, or even the full season.
A full season seems crazy. I don't see any reason why he can't work on his mechanics continuously, even while he's getting starts.
It's a lot to put on a guy's plate, and often the footwork goes out the window when they're trying to read a defense, react, avoid the rush, etc. Just look at Mac... he came into year 2 with all this talk about how he spent camp working on footwork... first preseason game he saw a bit of pressure and it was back foot.
I don't think it would be full season for Maye, but maybe 6 or 8 weeks to get him settled in, get the muscle memory going, let him be in the film sessions seeing live play, then make the switch. Full season would be if the progress is slow or he picks up an injury... or if the line is crushed by injuries like last year. Let the line jell too, so he's stepping in the most prepared and with the most prepared teammates he can.
Only 14 QBs started more than 15 games last season, so even with a redshirt plan it's likely that the backup gets some starts regardless.
Why can't it be as simple as he will get as much leash as he shows he deserves? If he's playing well in camp and pre-season then he will start if he looks like confused dogshit he won't.
I don't think throwing off your back foot in the face of pressure is fixable with mechanics coaching, it's a lot more related to toughness, ability to perceive space and timing, many more innate components. Now, throwing from a solid platform from clean pockets/being more consistent in repeating mechanics with good footwork are teachable, and it's what happened to Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and even Mahomes to a lesser extent. Maye could use that so he'd stop missing as many layups and spraying the ball at times, but if you're flinching in the face of pressure like Mac was, you're toast, man. Especially if you don't have the arm to throw the ball on a rope while fading away from the rush. Fatal flaw.
All battles are lost before they are fought! (Wonder if Bill took that plaque with him or just chucked it in the Gillette dumpster.)
To be fair, much as I don't think much of the Union, my sense is that the reason that the floor doesn't really play is that teams just manage their cash spending to the cap. What the players negotiated in 2011 was that they managed to make sure the spending is real cash spending, and ended the prior practice of giving ridiculous bonuses that couldn't be achieved (asking the kicker to lead the team in tackles etc.). As far as I can tell, teams do actually spend real cash within the various periods to meet their requirements. It's just that cap accounting tactics (proration, void years, etc.) are sufficiently flexible to allow teams to basically move their actual cash spending to whichever years they want that spending to be booked in. That's not terrible manipulation - where the real manipulation happens is what actually counts as revenue that has to be shared under the cap.
Also, a slight correction (or someone please correct me): my understanding the 4-year/89% cap spending floor period under the CBA was for 2017-2020. Right now it's a set of 3-year periods with a minimum 90% cash spending:
Maye has the arm to throw ropes on one leg. It's probably his biggest selling point. Him executing NFL throws under pressure off-platform is probably the only thing that I'm not worried about with him. He can also get outside and downfield when the pressure is too much for any QB to handle. It's his accuracy off-platform that's sometimes suspect, which is fixable with teaching as you note.
I don't think that was a thing. To the extent it happened those would have been NLTBE bonuses and would not have counted against the cap unless earned. I think the fear was what was happening in MLB with some teams perpetually having low payrolls.
Yeah, Maye does, Mac didn't, which is why I don't think it would be a fatal flaw to him. I also like his aggressivenes and think he's the best intermediate middle of the field thrower in the class, and that's where high level QBs live in the NFL. I also believe he's tougher than Mac and most of his fade away throws are to buy time to get the ball out due to his delivery being slower than I'd like, and not necessarily a fear of the rush (and due to the arm talent, the ball can get there). I really like him as a prospect and to me the footwork stuff is very fixable, I do worry a bit about his trigger, though. Feel he's not always on time with the read and he needs to be because the ball doesn't come out fast with his motion.
I was in love with Anthony Richardson last year due to his explosiveness inside the pocket, his pocket navigation skills and his decision making, even though his accuracy was pretty much the worst I've seen in the past decade out of first round QB prospects. I like Maye for some of the same reasons, even though Richardsons's physical tools far exceed his. I feel like Maye understands leverage, anticipates space well, already manipulates defenders with his eyes, I just don't think he sees it fast enough at this point, and that's one thing I feel like experience and coaching can improve, but there's a limit. Still, like him much more than Daniels (who I feel is a limited passer - more accurate, more mechanically sound, but doesn't have the best pocket presence and lives on the sidelines).
Yeah his reads are supposedly a bit slow for sure, another area of possible development.
At this point it sure looks like the plan is punt on 2024. The chances of landing a franchise QB, high end LT and starting WR in the draft class are very slim simply because most prospects fail. So why throw Maye to the wolves with Okorafor or McDermott protecting his blindside and Bourne/Douglas as his top receivers?
Start Brissett, if the OL and WR come together better than expected, maybe the rookie gets an earlier look. But between bad WR and a porous OL, the Pats QB will be taking a beating or running for his life a whole lot. No need to risk injury or pull a Couch/David Carr and destroy a guy’s confidence in a write off season.
You are right, I was mixing up a bunch of facts about 2011 in my mind. What 2011 allowed was cap to be carried over formally, rather than the practice of issuing ridiculous NLTBE bonuses like what I described in order to say they weren’t earned and thus allowing that cap space to be carried over. Previously it was use it or lose it
I don’t see a fourth as a particularly high price to pay for a player like Keenan Allen. I also think, giving up a fourth for a low commitment isn’t a bad cost as well. I’m not sure I would qualify it as a GFIN, but as a way to have a functional team that isn’t a disaster in 2024. So, you have Allen and you draft a WR either in the 2nd or 3rd and he can hopefully also contribute to his success as well. Anyway, I’m just surprised the Patriots weren’t in on this.
Dammit. That seemed like SUCH an easy, obvious sign for the Patriots. No idea if they even put in an effort, if they even wanted him. But they had a glaring need, tons of cap space, and an opportunity to sign him. (kind of like Boston and Montgomery)
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
By all accounts they were in on him. But let's be honest, all they could offer was the most money. Most guys go for that, but Smith may have been more interested in a playoff roster
Yup. People (especially in the media) have to realize that this is going to have to be rebuilt through the draft like everyone else. There are no quick fixes.
Becton is still a free agent. Always wary of signing Jets castoffs, and he hasn't been great for them, but he has enough talent to be a first round pick not that long ago. Worth a shot?
Really? You're not sure they "even put in an effort?" Is it difficult to envision why a premium-tier guy on the back nine might choose a playoff-bound team rather than being an Act I character in the Patriots Rebuild?
We never wanted him anyways. He's old and always hurt!
(Just kidding. I wanted him. So much for a big splash in free agency. Now take care of some housekeeping/minor moves and prepare for the draft so you can disappoint us all over again.)
He had some flashes in run blocking but nothing like his rookie year where he was smashing guys regularly. He has had injuries. I hope he figures it out. I wouldn’t want him protecting a rookie right now.
From the comments coming out, it’s pretty clear that playing with Rodgers and having a (perceived) opportunity to win was important to Smith. I doubt he really considered us. Probably between Dallas and the Jets the whole time.
No, I literally meant that I have no idea if they even liked him and pursued him. Maybe they didn't want him at all. I wasn't saying anything in the affirmative. I was just saying I don't know what their level of interest even was. Maybe they're thinking about this totally differently than I am, or maybe they're thinking the same and he just chose the Jets for reasons you suggest - though the Jets can hardly be called, at this point, a "playoff-bound team". They seem like a better bet than New England but they're hardly any sort of playoff lock.
Last tweet I'll put in here about Smith. Moving on.
View: https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/1768836343201767562
View: https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/1768836343201767562
When you have an opportunity to protect Aaron Roger's third-eye's blind-side it's hard to pass.
I remember back in the early 90s, NO free agents wanted to play for New England. Then we had a 20+ year run where they all did. Have we fallen back towards that already? Not trying to be hyperbolic, legit asking the Q. The shine seems gone until we hit in the draft and then create a couple home grown stars, which can then hopefully attract others. Judon's lobbying doesn't seems to be enough.
I think if we want a historical comparison it's 1993. Blank slate. Develop some homegrown talent, show some potential, and we'll get some FA interest.
I think it's actually telling that so many guys re-signed. They all could have found offers elsewhere. They chose to be back in New England. We aren't talking about scrubs. Bourne, Henry, Onwenu, Uche, Jennings - these guys are all solid NFL caliber players. It's not like the Pats gave them absurd contracts. They have to believe in Mayo and what the team is doing.
Also, Mayo has only played/coached in NE so he's doesn't really have that pull from outside of the organization that other new HCs have.
“People want to play for winners”
Yet we saw Tennessee, Washington and Carolina spend massive dollars and bring in plenty of new players. Brian Burns had no issue re-signing with the Giants after the trade. Arizona has Kyler Murray, granted, but still a bad roster overall and landed a couple key players.
Players will go where the money is usually. Sure, sometimes a guy wants to play with his buddy, or a guy at the end is chasing a ring. But money talks.
The difference between the Pats and the other awful teams from last year is those other teams are willing to pay top dollar for less than top talent and the Pats don’t seem to be.
Let’s not kid ourselves into thinking the Raiders, who landed arguably the biggest prize (Wilkins) of free agency are too much different than the Pats. Bad roster with a young “players coach”.
Unless Wolf ends up to be a historically great drafter, they’re going to need to shell out some “bad” contracts because that’s the nature of free agency.
Yet we saw Tennessee, Washington and Carolina spend massive dollars and bring in plenty of new players. Brian Burns had no issue re-signing with the Giants after the trade. Arizona has Kyler Murray, granted, but still a bad roster overall and landed a couple key players.
Players will go where the money is usually. Sure, sometimes a guy wants to play with his buddy, or a guy at the end is chasing a ring. But money talks.
The difference between the Pats and the other awful teams from last year is those other teams are willing to pay top dollar for less than top talent and the Pats don’t seem to be.
Let’s not kid ourselves into thinking the Raiders, who landed arguably the biggest prize (Wilkins) of free agency are too much different than the Pats. Bad roster with a young “players coach”.
Unless Wolf ends up to be a historically great drafter, they’re going to need to shell out some “bad” contracts because that’s the nature of free agency.