Pats FA Day 5: Cherry on Top?

RG33

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2 worthy names to consider. Akiem Hicks could be released:

View: https://twitter.com/danpompei/status/1372886734162194437


and Phillip Lindsay became an UFA:

https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2021/03/18/denver-broncos-phillip-lindsay-tweets-statement-after-split-with-team/

Greed is good. Let's get it done, BB!
There is no way that BB could right a wrong and bring back Akiem Hicks. Just won’t happen. Can’t happen. Unimaginable. Already too good to be true. Nope, not gonna happen. Definitely not.
 

BigJimEd

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Hicks is looking for a new deal and Chicago has granted him permission to seek a trade. Likely not released but free to talk to any team.
 

67YAZ

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Hicks is a $10.5m cap hit for this year if you take on his contract. It’s pretty clear he’s open to an extension, which could significantly knock down this year’s number, but that total guarantee will have to top $15m or more (guessing).

But he hasn’t had a good season since 2018. He’ll be 32 this year. He played 5 games in 2019. In 2020, he came out hot and looked like his disruptive old self...then started picking up nagging injuries, missed a game, and got pushed around by lineman he dominated earlier in the season. It didn’t help that Eddie Goldman sat out 2020, so Hicks was the sole anchor on the line.

He can still be a excellent player if rotated consistently and snap count monitored to stay healthy. But will his playing time and salary expectations match that reality?
 

SeoulSoxFan

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What BB has done so well is to tell former players that NE still knows how to "put them in situations to succeed"[emoji769].

That's with Chung, Collins, and now KVN & Andrews.

Hicks can be a rotating DL to get the best out of whatever he has left, skill & health wise. I don't think that'll be $10.5m a year. I do think BB will set a hard price and see if Hicks follows the proven (ahem) path that so many others already have. At least I hope so.
 

Cellar-Door

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No more free agent signings. Draft assets+Gilmore+Cam for a QB. Jimmy G or Wilson. Get 'er done................. A guy can dream.
Wilson isn't available.
As to Jimmy G.... I'd rather start Cam and save the picks/Gilmore for something else, Jimmy G is a treadmill QB.
 

JM3

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Couple other guys I'm kinda intrigued by...

Duke Johnson as the 3rd down back & some sort of futures type deal with Malik Hooker with an eye to 2022.

DMac won't be around forever & Hooker was really good when he was healthy.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Atkins had a huge drop off in 2020, due mostly to injury:

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2021/3/6/22311975/bengals-2020-player-review-geno-atkins

[Quote/]Atkins finished 2020 with an aforementioned eight games played, 119 total defensive snaps, three quarterback pressures, and one tackle. The lack of tackle production can be explained by only 12 his snaps coming on run plays. The lack of pass-rushing production, well, is beyond underwhelming.

It’s not like Atkins was even expected to be a workhorse last season. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo made it a point of emphasis that Atkins would be rotated more frequently to keep him fresh towards the late part of the season. The rotation had to be amped up because he simply wasn’t himself. He never was after the injury.

Atkins’ game is built on rare quickness and explosion paired with inordinate strength for his size. How much of that is left after 11 years and a couple major injuries along the way?

The drop-off we witnessed last year was a jarring one. Atkins should have another year or two left in the tank as a player worthy of some roster spot. But unless he accepts a major pay-cut by the team that has already paid him nearly $100 million in total cash, he’ll be on one of the other 31 rosters this upcoming season.[/quote]
 

JohnnyK

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I don't get the fascination with Lindsay. He is by most accounts bad in pass protection (PFF grade of 40, and from what I've seen from Denver fans on Reddit seems to support this), not a great receiver and pretty one-dimensional as a runner. If the plan is to draft a young quarterback they need a receiving back who can block and catch.
 

JM3

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Geno played in 8 games & had 1 tackle last year... unless that was all shoulder related, he seems pretty done.
 

Section15Box113

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39621McMillan coming aboard per Redskins reporter for The Athletic:

“Free-agent LB Raekwon McMillan is expected to sign a 1-year contract with the New England Patriots, per source. The ex-Raider was among the linebackers Washington kept tabs on during free agency.”

(Aside: mentioned the signing to my 13-yr-old daughter and she responded: “oh yeah, he was on my fantasy team.”)
 

Dustin the Wind

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View attachment 39621McMillan coming aboard per Redskins reporter for The Athletic:

“Free-agent LB Raekwon McMillan is expected to sign a 1-year contract with the New England Patriots, per source. The ex-Raider was among the linebackers Washington kept tabs on during free agency.”

(Aside: mentioned the signing to my 13-yr-old daughter and she responded: “oh yeah, he was on my fantasy team.”)
Did his 27 tackles win her the league?
 

tims4wins

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Former 3rd round pick, only 25.
2nd round actually

Edit: this isn't all that different from when the Pats traded for Van Noy. He was halfway through his 3rd year and was 25 at the time of the trade. McMillan will be 26 this year, but missed his entire first year with a torn ACL.
 

JM3

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He's basically a better, somewhat faster Bentley imo. Much better at run defense than coverage.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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It just keeps going. I really thought the Pats were going to draft him coming out of OSU. Seems like the typical Patriots LBer. GREAT depth pickup with some upside.
 

sodenj5

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McMillan is definitely a 2 down thumper against the run at MLB. He’s a bit of a monolith in coverage, but really a plus run defender. Suffered a torn ACL in his rookie year, been pretty durable since.
 

Saints Rest

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McMillan is definitely a 2 down thumper against the run at MLB. He’s a bit of a monolith in coverage, but really a plus run defender. Suffered a torn ACL in his rookie year, been pretty durable since.
Based on this description, he sounds like someone in the mold of many Patriot MLBs: Ted Johnson, Brandon Spikes, Elandon Roberts, and now Bentley.
 

sodenj5

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Based on this description, he sounds like someone in the mold of many Patriot MLBs: Ted Johnson, Brandon Spikes, Elandon Roberts, and now Bentley.
Yep. I would say very similar to Elandon Roberts.
 

JM3

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Kinda interesting looking through that 2017 draft as that's a big chunk of the younger players in free agency this year.

Patriots had a not good, but interesting (to me) draft.

This is wayyyyyy tl;dr so spoilered it all...

1st round pick (32 overall) along with 103 was traded for Brandin Cooks & 118. Trade worked out fine as Cooks had a pretty good year on a cheap contract & then was traded to Rams for the Isaiah Wynn pick (of course the Saints used 32 to get Ryan Ramczyk).

Traded from 64 to 72 to get Kony Ealy from Panthers (cut in August before ever playing with Pats, out of league by 2018). The Panthers drafted Taylor Moton at 64, who has been so good at OG the Panthers franchise tagged him this year. Alvin Kamara went 67.

Traded from 72 to 83, picking up 124 in the process, & giving the Titans 200.

Drafted Derek Rivers at 83 (who I just found out signed with the Texans for 1/$1.3m 2 days ago because I was curious if any of our draft class besides Wise was still in the league) & Antonio Garcia at 85 (Saskatchewan Roughriders) sandwiched around Chris Godwin.

The Patriots traded up to get Garcia at 85, giving up 96 & 124 to the Lions. Shaq Griffin went 90, new Patriot Montravius Adams went 93...& the Lions took Kenny Golloday at 96.

103, which the Patriots had originally received for trading Jamie Collins to the Browns went to the Saints in that Cooks trade. Saints drafted Trey Hendrickson who had 13.5 sacks last year before signing a big contract with the Bengals this off season (4/$60m).

Patriots forfeited pick 118 (lol NFL). Tarik Cohen went 119.

Deatrich Wise at 131 was a fine pick (recently re-signed for 4/$30m/$10m).

Patriots had traded 137 for Dwayne Allen & 200 previously. The Colts took some giant guy named Zach Banner who is obviously nicknamed "The Hulk". He was cut a couple times before catching on with the Steelers, where he recently re-signed for 2/$9.5m/$3.25m.

The Patriots received pick 163 in this draft for a previous trade of AJ Darby to the Broncos. However, the Pats gave this pick to the Bills as compensation for signing restricted free agent Mike Gillislee... who played 9 games for the Patriots in 2017, averaging 3.7 ypc, & who made about $4m for that 1 season. He averaged 2.7 ypc for the Saints in 2018 & is now out of the league (he did make me some good $ in Fantasy Football, though, as I got a huge return for him in a deep dynasty league after his 3 TD game). The Bills used pick 163 to draft LB Matt Milano from Boston College who they just re-signed for 4/$41.5m/$23.5m.

Patriots traded 175 to the Browns for Barkevious Mingo who managed 11 tackles in his 1 season with the Patriots. Aaron Jones went pick 182 (recently re-signed with Packers for 4/$48m/$13m).

Patriots received pick 183 as a supplemental pick for losing Akiem Hicks in free agency. They traded that pick to the Chiefs for 216 & James O'Shaugnessy, who was cut by the Patriots on 9/2/17 & picked up by the Jaguars on waivers.

Conor McDermott at 211 - he apparently plays for the Jets & is signed for 2011 at $1.35m (who knew?). Patriots traded up with the Cowboys from 216 to 211, giving up 239 to do so.

The Patriots would have had pick 215, but they had previously traded their 6th rounder to the Lions for Kyle Van Noy & the Lions 7th (pick 239). This trade worked out well. The Lions drafted QB Brad Kaaya who made 5 stops with 4 NFL teams, including the Lions twice, before being out of the league.

Kyle Fuller (not that one, the C) went pick 243 & RB Chris Carson went 249.

Finally, the Patriots had traded away their 7th rounder, pick 250, for the privilege of acquiring TE Michael Williams in 2015. Williams played 15 games for the Patriots in 2015, catching 3 passes on 6 targets for 26 yards. Williams never played in the NFL again after that, tearing an ACL on practice in June 2016, & generally not being great at football. I believe he did receive a Super Bowl ring following a certain SB LI, though.
 
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MuppetAsteriskTalk

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No more free agent signings. Draft assets+Gilmore+Cam for a QB. Jimmy G or Wilson. Get 'er done................. A guy can dream.
A 3rd down back would be a nice signing. This isn't something that the Pats have addressed with a rookie in the past. If I recall correctly, most/all of the prototype 3rd down backs haven't made an impact until years 2 or 3.
 

dynomite

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A 3rd down back would be a nice signing. This isn't something that the Pats have addressed with a rookie in the past. If I recall correctly, most/all of the prototype 3rd down backs haven't made an impact until years 2 or 3.
I've said elsewhere I would be comfortable going into the season with JJ Taylor & a draft pick in that 3rd down role, but also old pal Dion Lewis is a FA, healthy, and would likely come cheap.
 

DJnVa

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No more free agent signings. Draft assets+Gilmore+Cam for a QB. Jimmy G or Wilson. Get 'er done................. A guy can dream.
Yeah, if you're trading for Jimmy G you ain't including all of that.
 

Otis Foster

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I've said elsewhere I would be comfortable going into the season with JJ Taylor & a draft pick in that 3rd down role, but also old pal Dion Lewis is a FA, healthy, and would likely come cheap.

IIRC (which I may not), didn't Dion have some harsh words about his Patriots experience after he departed?
 

DJnVa

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IIRC (which I may not), didn't Dion have some harsh words about his Patriots experience after he departed?
He said something like he was finally appreciated because he was paid, neglecting the fact that the Pats picked him off the unemployment line and paid him.
 

JM3

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IIRC (which I may not), didn't Dion have some harsh words about his Patriots experience after he departed?
He was mad they didn't re-sign him apparently. The bigger problem is that he turns 31 in September & probably isn't good at football anymore.
 

DGreenwood

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A 3rd down back would be a nice signing. This isn't something that the Pats have addressed with a rookie in the past. If I recall correctly, most/all of the prototype 3rd down backs haven't made an impact until years 2 or 3.
I've said elsewhere I would be comfortable going into the season with JJ Taylor & a draft pick in that 3rd down role...
It looks like BB is thinking along the same lines with J.J. Taylor.
https://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4821950/patriots-bill-belichick-already-identifying-how-young-players-could-fit-in-2021

Belichick said rookie running back J.J. Taylor, who has flashed promise in limited playing time, has a bright future if he can continue to improve in areas where he's less experienced -- pass protection and route running. Belichick noted his situation this season has been "different, but in some ways similar" to Damien Harris from 2019 (Harris hardly played as a rookie but seized his chance in his second season).
 

MuppetAsteriskTalk

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I've said elsewhere I would be comfortable going into the season with JJ Taylor & a draft pick in that 3rd down role, but also old pal Dion Lewis is a FA, healthy, and would likely come cheap.
That would be fantastic if JJ can fill that role.
 

cornwalls@6

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A 3rd down back would be a nice signing. This isn't something that the Pats have addressed with a rookie in the past. If I recall correctly, most/all of the prototype 3rd down backs haven't made an impact until years 2 or 3.
Definitely a need, though they do now seem to have a good level of versatility with Jonnu, wondering if he gets used in that capacity to some degree, along with maybe Keene? But I agree, with the almost certain departure of White, a quicker, more traditional 3rd down back would be a smart option to pursue with whatever FA capital they have left to spend.
 

JM3

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Yep. Solid posting this week, JM3.
Thanks JM3.

Dopes, get this guy a membership
Thx for the kind words guys. This is my favorite time of the year for NFL & my usual message board is pretty dead so I moved here & have thoroughly enjoyed everyone's insight.

Tbh I didn't know I was missing a membership or what that entails, but I'm glad to hear I'm not just annoying everyone.