Will We Have Cap Room For Holt or Taylor?

[mgteich]

Neither of these transactions need be done for at least 6 weeks, in which time we will have decided on our free agents.

MY FREE AGENT PRIORITIES
Springs
Lew Sanders or Bodden
a FB (not much cap effect)
an OL backup who can deep snap (not much cap effect)
vet QB (not much cap effect)
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In my dream world, we do the above and have the money to sign Taylor or Holt. I would wait until bonuses count on the 2010 cap to extend Wilfork.

 

[Pats726]

Neither of these transactions need be done for at least 6 weeks, in which time we will have decided on our free agents.

MY FREE AGENT PRIORITIES
Springs
Lew Sanders or Bodden
a FB (not much cap effect)
an OL backup who can deep snap (not much cap effect)
vet QB (not much cap effect)
=======================

In my dream world, we do the above and have the money to sign Taylor or Holt. I would wait until bonuses count on the 2010 cap to extend Wilfork.

It seems like Bodden wishes more money...so I would not say he's a real option. I would like him with Springs and Hobbs as that would be quite deep with the young ones close by. LSanders might be a better option. A fullback, OL backup and vet QB are all needed...and without as you said much cap space. I think Taylor is a real possibility, but not now...later in the year just prior to camp.

 

[jmt57]

I don't think the Pats will sign either Holt or Taylor.

In my opinion rather than Holt, they'll sign somebody that will cost about the same as Gaffney did, in the $1-$1.5 million range; Holt will cost much more than that.

Jason Taylor will be a similar situation; he's going to command a bigger number than what the Pats will be willing to spend. With the team being $12.4 million under the cap, and needing to leave some in reserve in case needed during the season to replace injured players, I just don't see a big name signing like Taylor.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that we need money for various items like rookies and an injury reserve. I estimate $6M. The open question is whether with the available $6.4M we can meet our few remaining free agent needs and still afford Taylor.

I agree with regard to Holt. I don't think that we will be able to afford him, but Taylor could be close. For example, if we were getting Taylor, we could use our #23 or #34 on a wide receiver and expect him to share time with Lewis as the #3. This eliminates the need for a free agent side receiver. Note that Lewis added only about $300K to the cap.

I don't think the Pats will sign either Holt or Taylor.

In my opinion rather than Holt, they'll sign somebody that will cost about the same as Gaffney did, in the $1-$1.5 million range; Holt will cost much more than that.

Jason Taylor will be a similar situation; he's going to command a bigger number than what the Pats will be willing to spend. With the team being $12.4 million under the cap, and needing to leave some in reserve in case needed during the season to replace injured players, I just don't see a big name signing like Taylor.

 

[jmt57]

I agree that we need money for various items like rookies and an injury reserve. I estimate $6M. The open question is whether with the available $6.4M we can meet our few remaining free agent needs and still afford Taylor.

I agree with regard to Holt. I don't think that we will be able to afford him, but Taylor could be close. For example, if we were getting Taylor, we could use our #23 or #34 on a wide receiver and expect him to share time with Lewis as the #3. This eliminates the need for a free agent side receiver. Note that Lewis added only about $300K to the cap.

While it might be possible to add Taylor, I think that possibility is fairly remote. Aside from another team (Tampa, Dallas, etc.) that might have cash to throw around than the Pats, I think a more likely scenario would be for that remaining $6.4M to be split amongst two or three more additions to the roster. Not that I'm clairvoyant or anything; that's just my guess.

 

[mgteich]

Three $2M additions would be fine with me also.

While it might be possible to add Taylor, I think that possibility is fairly remote. Aside from another team (Tampa, Dallas, etc.) that might have cash to throw around than the Pats, I think a more likely scenario would be for that remaining $6.4M to be split amongst two or three more additions to the roster. Not that I'm clairvoyant or anything; that's just my guess.

 

[Jimke]

Taylor did not want to attend off season workouts for Washington.

He wanted to be near his kids in Miami. Unless the Patriots can move

the franchise southward, he probably won't sign with us.