2021 Pats: What Would You Do as Pats’ GM?

Kenny F'ing Powers

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Nov 17, 2010
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You are!

(Hahahaha. Fuck you, I got you good)

Lots of concerns and critiques about the roster for next season. Use the Sportrac link above to build your 2021 New England Patriots roster and post your results here so we can all call each other stupid.
 

mauf

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Cutting Gilmore and Hightower frees up $19.5M but there aren’t a lot of big savings opportunities beyond those two.

You could restructure Chung, whom I don’t expect to return as a useful player, but I don’t think pushing cap pain from 2021 to future years makes sense unless it enables a key acquisition.
 

BaseballJones

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Since this is nothing but a silly game, here are my moves...

- Trade Gilmore to Miami for TE Gesicki and a 2022 3rd rounder. $17,170,834 --> $9,052,460 = savings of $8.1 million, big upgrade at TE, and adds a modest draft pick. For Miami, they get a lockdown defender who is still a pro-bowler...they then extend him. Flores would LOVE him, and Miami has TE depth.

- Trade Cannon and Miami's 3rd rounder to Tampa for WR Miller and TE OJ Howard. $9,972,917 --> $11,996,335 = adding $2 million to the payroll. Gives the Pats a really good and cheap WR and a talented TE. Tampa needs help at T big-time, and they never throw to Miller anymore (7 targets in last 5 games), not with AB in the fold there. They are in win-now mode. Helps both teams.

So with two moves, the Pats have improved dramatically at WR and especially TE. Allows Keene to shift more to FB and gives Asiasi room to grow as the third TE. Three legit weapons for the next QB, has saved about $6 million in payroll, but now the team is weaker at CB and T.

- Sign Allen Robinson for $13m. Now you've got this for your pass-catchers:

WR1 - Robinson
WR2 - Miller
WR3 - Byrd
WR4 - Meyers
WR5 - Harry
TE1 - Gesicki
TE2 - Howard
TE3 - Asiasi
H-back - Keene

That's a MASSIVE upgrade at those positions, and it's cost you $7 million, a starting (but replaceable) OT, and a stud CB. Obviously the key guy there is Gilmore. Need to shore up the secondary.

So from there, I'd look to draft Mac Jones in the 2nd round, sign Fitzpatrick to run the show for a year (wouldn't be too expensive), extend JC Jackson, extend Thuney or Andrews (I'd go with Andrews) and use the draft to pick up defensive linemen and linebackers. You can add inexpensive veteran OL, bring JJ Taylor along as your pass-catching RB, and add a veteran piece to the secondary.

Plenty of money to do that, and I think the team is greatly improved from this year.

Of course....NONE of this will actually happen.
 

cshea

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Miami has pro-bowler Xavien Howard and Byron Jones at CB. Gesicki is cheap and their 2nd leading receiver, not sure they'd even trade him straight up for Gilmore let alone adding a high pick. I know this is just a fun exercise but that one doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense.
 

Buck Showalter

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I would target Jimmy G as my #1 choice to be the QB.

Talk with GM Lynch and ask what it takes (preferably future considerations based on JG's performance).

Culturally, he's a fit...and we can start what BB wanted to occur a few years ago.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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I just built a SB team.

OFFENSE Contributors

Starting Contributors
QB - Dak Prescott
RB - Damien Harris, James White, Sony Michel
FB - Dan Vitale
WR - Marvin Jones, Julian Edelman, Devonta Smith (1st round pick), Jakobi Meyers
TE - Hunter Henry, Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene
LT - Isiah Wynn
LG - Mike Onwenu
C - David Andrews
RG - Shaq Mason
RT - Marcus Cannon

Bench Contributors
WR - N'keal Harry, Gunner
Line - Yodny Cajuste, Justin Herron, 2 mid round draft picks

DEFENSE Contributors

Starting Contributors
DT - Beau Allen, Lawrence Guy
DE/OLB - Chase Winovich, Josh Uche
ILB - Dont'a Hightower, Ja'whuan Bentley
CB - Stephon Gilmore, JC Jackson, Jonathan Jones
S - Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Kyle Duggar

Bench Contributors
Line - Byron Cowart, Michael Barnett
DE/OLB/ILB - Anfernee Jennings, Brandon King, 2nd Round DP
Secondary - Adrian Phillips, Joejuan Williams, draft picks

Special Teams
Punter - Jake Bailey
Kicker - Randy Bullock

Remaining Cap - $13m
A few notes. This was a surprisingly easy roster build. I used the "Market Value" option for all of the resigns/free agent signings. I have $13m in remaining cap, and I figure about $10m of that goes to draft picks. As we all know, the cap is kind of fluid. The Patriots could push some salary to different years, restructure contracts, etc to stay under the cap.

Offensive Notes - While Onwenu has slid a bit down to earth, moving him back to guard (he was considered too slow for tacle) saves a good chunk of change in not signing either Eluemuner or Thuney. Id also expect him to perform better on the interior line where the speed guys - who have given him some trouble on the outside - don't exist. Signed Hunter Henry, cut Lacosse/Izzo. Used our first on a stud WR out of Alabama and signed a crafty top tier #2 guy in Marvin Jones. Signed Dak Prescott away from Americas Team and now have a top 3 QB again. Line is thin, but can draft mid-round guys like we usually do to fill the depth.

Defensive Notes - Beau Allen is the forgotten man this year, but he was signed to a large 2 season contract last year. Bringing Guy back gives them a pretty solid 2 man group in the middle. OLB/DE depth is lacking, but Winovich/Uche provide good speed and athleticism off the edge. Hightower/Bentley are good early down linebackers, but team needs to either draft a good coverage ILB in the 2nd round, or use some of the remaining cap here. Secondary is basically same as this year, with the re-addition of Chung (cutting him costs more than keeping him, could probably restructure his contract).

We sign an above average kicker with Randy Bullock to bring stability back to the position.

Link for the roster is above. Again, all salaries are market value, so nothing too out of line. On offense, we have an elite QB, excellent RB/line, and very good WR/TE, on Defense, we have elite secondary, and above average LB/DE/Dline. Not an elite defense, but certainly upper half of the league, potentially top 10.

Belichick gets another ring when he beats a 96 year old Tom Brady next season.
 
Apr 24, 2019
1,278
Release/Retire Cannon and Chung. Thanks, Ring Havers!
Re-jigger Hightower contract, spread the salary a bit.
Embrace the fact that, as much as Lawrence Guy has been a pleasant surprise, having him as your BEST DL is not great. Guy & Beau Allen should be, at best, your #2/#3 DLs.
Let Thuney walk, pocket the comp pick. Owenhu is your new LG.
Let Cam walk, thanks for being a class act and, um...nice in the locker room?
Trade Gilmore to the Vegas Raiders for a conditional 3rd round pick, improves to a 2nd based on p-time.
Sign WR Allen Robinson III to a big deal.
Sign TE Hunter Henry to a big deal.
Sign WR Marvin Jones to a medium deal.
Re-sign David Andrews to a medium deal.
Sign a couple big bodied DL to prove-it deals.
Sign an athletic-ish LB/ST to a prove-it deal.
Draft QB Zach Wilson, trading up from the teens with a 3rd round pick. (Failing that, stick in the teens and take a stud DL.)
ALT: trade BACK from the teens, select QB Mac Jones.

Get ready for a legit rebuild year. It's a long road. If this is doable, it's a solid start. My best guess for 2021 is...6-8 wins.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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Release/Retire Cannon and Chung. Thanks, Ring Havers!
Re-jigger Hightower contract, spread the salary a bit.
Embrace the fact that, as much as Lawrence Guy has been a pleasant surprise, having him as your BEST DL is not great. Guy & Beau Allen should be, at best, your #2/#3 DLs.
Let Thuney walk, pocket the comp pick. Owenhu is your new LG.
Let Cam walk, thanks for being a class act and, um...nice in the locker room?
Trade Gilmore to the Vegas Raiders for a conditional 3rd round pick, improves to a 2nd based on p-time.
Sign WR Allen Robinson III to a big deal.
Sign TE Hunter Henry to a big deal.
Sign WR Marvin Jones to a medium deal.
Re-sign David Andrews to a medium deal.
Sign a couple big bodied DL to prove-it deals.
Sign an athletic-ish LB/ST to a prove-it deal.
Draft QB Zach Wilson, trading up from the teens with a 3rd round pick. (Failing that, stick in the teens and take a stud DL.)
ALT: trade BACK from the teens, select QB Mac Jones.

Get ready for a legit rebuild year. It's a long road. If this is doable, it's a solid start. My best guess for 2021 is...6-8 wins.
Regarding Chung: His cap is currently about 5.5m. If he's cut, his deadcap is about 7.5m. Its actually cheaper to keep him/try to restructure. I can't imagine any NFL player is walking away from 5.5m, since they have to squeeze as much out of their career as they can.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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Lots of people want to cut Cannon. If you cut him, what's the alternative? I'd assume it be to resign Eluemuner.

Cannon's cap hit is almost $10m. Cutting Cannon would leave a $5.1m dead cap hit. So, the assumption is that you'd be able to get Eluemuner for less than 4m, otherwise you'd be paying more for the position just to cut Cannon. Considering he's currently playing on his "prove it" contract at 25, I'd say theres a strong possibility you dont resign him for less than the 4m. realistically, the first opportunity to cut Cannon for real cap savings would be 2022, when his dead cap is 2.5m of his 9m salary.
 

Shelterdog

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I think the plan is kind of no particular plan is, boringly, no plan. Re-sign players where there is value, keep making sure your offensive line is strong, there's a ton of room for improvement in the front seven, and realize that you probably need to spend more resources than you have to get receivers so maybe jigger with your evaluation criteria there. Big free agent signings are rarely worth it unless you can get a gilmore (i.e. a top guy at the position who is fairly young). And add at least two QBs, a vet and a draft pick, the earlier the pick the better.

EDIT: The team clearly needs an across the board talent infusion. They've been drafting late and fairly poorly, had top players get old and retire, etc. The problem is there's not easy way to plan out "add 10 solid NFL starters" or "add maybe six solid starters and a solid starting QB"
 
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Super Nomario

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- Trade Cannon and Miami's 3rd rounder to Tampa for WR Miller and TE OJ Howard. $9,972,917 --> $11,996,335 = adding $2 million to the payroll. Gives the Pats a really good and cheap WR and a talented TE. Tampa needs help at T big-time, and they never throw to Miller anymore (7 targets in last 5 games), not with AB in the fold there. They are in win-now mode. Helps both teams.
Tampa Bay just used a first on a RT so I don't know why they want another one. Wirfs is already better, too.

Lots of people want to cut Cannon. If you cut him, what's the alternative? I'd assume it be to resign Eluemuner.

Cannon's cap hit is almost $10m. Cutting Cannon would leave a $5.1m dead cap hit. So, the assumption is that you'd be able to get Eluemuner for less than 4m, otherwise you'd be paying more for the position just to cut Cannon. Considering he's currently playing on his "prove it" contract at 25, I'd say theres a strong possibility you dont resign him for less than the 4m. realistically, the first opportunity to cut Cannon for real cap savings would be 2022, when his dead cap is 2.5m of his 9m salary.
The other options are to leave Onwenu at RT, start Herron at RT, or draft a T fairly high (Wynn only has one cheap year left). I think you're right that it makes sense for Cannon to compete at least.
 

Shelterdog

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Tampa Bay just used a first on a RT so I don't know why they want another one. Wirfs is already better, too.


The other options are to leave Onwenu at RT, start Herron at RT, or draft a T fairly high (Wynn only has one cheap year left). I think you're right that it makes sense for Cannon to compete at least.
Unless Herron has a lot more potential than I've seen (which he might) I'm pretty open to drafting a T fairly high. Haven't seen a study but offensive linemen and a good offensive line seem to have a longer shelf life than some other positions and continuity seems particularly important at that position group.
 

mauf

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- Trade Gilmore to Miami for TE Gesicki and a 2022 3rd rounder. $17,170,834 --> $9,052,460 = savings of $8.1 million, big upgrade at TE, and adds a modest draft pick. For Miami, they get a lockdown defender who is still a pro-bowler...they then extend him. Flores would LOVE him, and Miami has TE depth.
I don’t think Miami does this deal even if Gilmore was healthy; he wasn’t the same guy this season, and giving up a young, cheap guy to bet on a veteran returning to form is a bad idea even if you aren’t throwing in a draft pick. With the injury, it’s absurd — Gilmore has negative value on his current contract.
 

vegassoxfan

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Dec 14, 2020
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I would talk to the Eagles about Wentz, think he is in the process of burning his bridges there in Philly, definitely an upgrade on the self identified superman
 

RG33

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I would be heavily targeting Jimmy G. if he is available, or much less so, Carson Wentz via a cheap trade (4th rounder).

I would be targeting 2 of Allen Robinson/JuJu Smith-Schuster/Marvin Jones/AJ Green (cheap)/Corey Davis/Sammy Watkins

I would be targeting Hunter Henry at TE with Gerald Everett or Tyler Kroft as fallbacks.

I would welcome home Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon on short/small contracts.

I would be open to trading Gilmore for 2nd and 4th round picks.

I would draft a Safety in the 1st round, and/or load up on D-Lineman as much as possible.
 

RedOctober3829

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deep inside Guido territory
--Trade Stephon Gilmore to Philadelphia for Carson Wentz.
--Sign Chris Godwin to a deal for $17.2 million.
--Sign Matt Judon to a deal for $16.3 million.
--Sign Hunter Henry to a deal for $9.05 million
--Sign Lawrence Guy to a deal for $5.5 million
--Sign David Andrews to a deal for $7.15 million
--Sign Adam Butler to a deal for $4.75 million
--Sign Justin Bethel to a deal for $1 million
--Sign Damiere Byrd to a deal for $2.5 million
--Sign JC Jackson to a deal for $7 million
--Sign Nick Folk to a deal for $1.25 million
--Sign Myles Bryant to a deal for $1.5 million
--Sign James Ferentz to a deal of $650,000

--Released the following: Julian Edelman, Marcus Cannon, Brandon Bolden, Brandon King, Matt LaCosse, Marqise Lee, Najee Toran, Ryan Izzo, Michael Barnett

Total Cap Space Remaining: $9.23 million

Roster

QB(3)-Wentz, Stidham, draft pick
RB(4)-Harris, Michel, draft pick, draft pick
FB-Vitale
WR(6)-Godwin, Samuel, Meyers, Byrd, Harry, Gunner
TE(3)-Henry, Asiasi, Keene
OL(10)-Wynn, Cajuste, draft pick Onwenu, draft pick, Andrews, Ferentz, Mason, Herron, Cunningham

IDL(4)-Guy, Butler, Allen, Cowart
DE/OLB(5)--Judon, Uche, Winovich, Jennings, draft pick
ILB(3)-Hightower, Bentley, draft pick
CB(5)-Jackson, Jones, Bryant, Williams, draft pick
SAF(4)-McCourty, Dugger, Phillips, Chung
ST(4)-Slater, Bethel, Folk, Bailey, Cardona
 

Captaincoop

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I mean, pick your adjective, but he is undergoing surgery on his leg and I would imagine any team is going to want to see him healthy before they're giving anything up for him.
 
Apr 24, 2019
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--Trade Stephon Gilmore to Philadelphia for Carson Wentz.
--Sign Chris Godwin to a deal for $17.2 million.
--Sign Matt Judon to a deal for $16.3 million.
--Sign Hunter Henry to a deal for $9.05 million
--Sign Lawrence Guy to a deal for $5.5 million
--Sign David Andrews to a deal for $7.15 million
--Sign Adam Butler to a deal for $4.75 million
--Sign Justin Bethel to a deal for $1 million
--Sign Damiere Byrd to a deal for $2.5 million
--Sign JC Jackson to a deal for $7 million
--Sign Nick Folk to a deal for $1.25 million
--Sign Myles Bryant to a deal for $1.5 million
--Sign James Ferentz to a deal of $650,000

--Released the following: Julian Edelman, Marcus Cannon, Brandon Bolden, Brandon King, Matt LaCosse, Marqise Lee, Najee Toran, Ryan Izzo, Michael Barnett

Total Cap Space Remaining: $9.23 million

Roster

QB(3)-Wentz, Stidham, draft pick
RB(4)-Harris, Michel, draft pick, draft pick
FB-Vitale
WR(6)-Godwin, Samuel, Meyers, Byrd, Harry, Gunner
TE(3)-Henry, Asiasi, Keene
OL(10)-Wynn, Cajuste, draft pick Onwenu, draft pick, Andrews, Ferentz, Mason, Herron, Cunningham

IDL(4)-Guy, Butler, Allen, Cowart
DE/OLB(5)--Judon, Uche, Winovich, Jennings, draft pick
ILB(3)-Hightower, Bentley, draft pick
CB(5)-Jackson, Jones, Bryant, Williams, draft pick
SAF(4)-McCourty, Dugger, Phillips, Chung
ST(4)-Slater, Bethel, Folk, Bailey, Cardona
If we’re throwing 17 million bucks at a WR, why not shoot for a legit #1 like Allen Robinson lll?
 

BusRaker

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Isn't paying Chung starter salary with Kyle Dugger in the house redundant anyway? I understand depth is nice but ...
 

SMU_Sox

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Early on in the draft if they don’t go QB early there are 5 guys I hope they get 1) Christian Darrisaw, OT, 2) Rashawn Slater OT, 3) Jaycee Horn CB, 4) Daviyon Nixon DT, and 5) Zaven Collins ILB/OLB hybrid.

Overall Darrisaw is one of the most powerful and athletic tackles you will come across but he needs a lot of technique work.

I love the WRs in the class but I see no reason to draft one early when there are plenty of guys day 2 and even a handle in day 3 who should be there. I’m with @EL Jeffe though on the Toney train. If he somehow slipped a bit he could be the next inside super star who can stretch the field vertically or bust off an outside zone run. And if they took him at 15-16 I wouldn’t even be mad.
 

Oppo

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Just about all the mocks have them going skill:

CBS: TE Kyle Pitts
Tankathon: TE Kyle Pitts
WF: WR Jaylen Waddle
SN: WR Jaylen Waddle
PFF: WR Devonta Smith
NBC: QB Zach Wilson
PFN: QB Trey Lance
247: TE Pat Freiermuth
BR: QB Mac Jones

So, expect OL or DB
 

E5 Yaz

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Connor Orr, SI.com

8. Sensible plan to fix them
Sign Ryan Fitzpatrick this offseason and draft Alabama’s Mac Jones, allowing one of the all-time great bridge quarterbacks to run your offense for a year while developing a rookie starter. There’s a good chance that Belichick will have better information on Jones, who plays for one of his best friends and contemporaries (Nick Saban), than anyone else in the draft. If that report card comes back clean, it would be sensible to see the coach recreate a bit of what he had in 2000—an established veteran who can win games now and a young project nipping at his heels.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/12/25/2021-offseason-outlook-new-england-patriots
 

Captaincoop

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I don't know if I'd compare Ryan Fitzpatrick/Mac Jones to Bledsoe/Brady.

The only thing I'd say about that plan is, if Belichick takes a QB at 15, it's safe to say he loves the guy. It's not his M.O. at all to just take the best remaining QB there out of need.
 

Zincman

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