Realistically speaking, can the Pats be major players in the free agent market?

[VOODOOZF]

If I understand the Patriots situation correctly they are $22 million under the cap at the moment. This is before they either sign Wes Welker to a long term deal or tag him which would be roughly $9 million on the cap. They could also decide to let him go, but I think it is far more likely that they bring him back in some fashion.

Assuming they tag or sign Welker that would leave them roughly $13-$15 million under the cap before and draft choices are signed. The Patriots also have several other players they would like to re-sign and a couple of high priced vet's like Ochocinco who they will most likely part ways with.

With the money that is left over will the Patriots realistically have the financial ammunition to go after the 2 or 3 impact players they need?

As great as it would be to see the Pat's pick up a defensive stud or two like Mario Williams, Brandon Carr or Cliff Avril to go along side with a wr to stretch the field like Brandon Lloyd I don't think (unless they shift money around) they can be major players in the f/a market.

So my question to someone who undestands the cap far better than I do is can the Patriots make a splash in the f/a market?

In my humble opinion the Pat's are right there. If I were them I would make every attempt to sign the impact players we need while Tom Brady's window is still open.

 

[Smokeeye123]

If I understand the Patriots situation correctly they are $22 million under the cap at the moment. This is before they either sign Wes Welker to a long term deal or tag him which would be roughly $9 million on the cap. They could also decide to let him go, but I think it is far more likely that they bring him back in some fashion.

Assuming they tag or sign Welker that would leave them roughly $13-$15 million under the cap before and draft choices are signed. The Patriots also have several other players they would like to re-sign and a couple of high priced vet's like Ochocinco who they will most likely part ways with.

With the money that is left over will the Patriots realistically have the financial ammunition to go after the 2 or 3 impact players they need?

As great as it would be to see the Pat's pick up a defensive stud or two like Mario Williams, Brandon Carr or Cliff Avril to go along side with a wr to stretch the field like Brandon Lloyd I don't think (unless they shift money around) they can be major players in the f/a market.

So my question to someone who undestands the cap far better than I do is can the Patriots make a splash in the f/a market?

In my humble opinion the Pat's are right there. If I were them I would make every attempt to sign the impact players we need while Tom Brady's window is still open.

Yes, if they really wanted to they could go all out this year. I don't think they are going to resign a lot of people that were on the books this year..Ocho, gone, Shaun Ellis, gone, BJGE, (imo) Gone. That's like 10 Million right there. Also, teams can spend the amount they were under the cap last year towards this years cap, so they could use an addition 6 Million if they wanted.

Realistically, I see the Pats franchising Welker, and signing Lloyd. They could also make a run at Reggie Wayne or even Marques Colston but I don't see that happening. Our recieving core will probably be Welker, Lloyd, Branch, and someone from this years draft class, probably in the 2nd round.

I'd much rather them sign a big free agent at he DE/DL/SF position. People talk about spending huge money on CB, but I think with Ras-i-Dowling coming back healthy and Arrington playing decently, we could be solid enough there already.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

They can but they probably won't - The usual Belichick way is to take care of the players currently ON THE TEAM and make sure they remain here if they accept the offer,then you have rookies to sign and the rest of the cap goes to 30+ year old players released from other teams who are on decline but come at a reasonable price.

Unless you count 2007 ... its pretty much been that way,This team is not a normally spending crazy team,more of mid pack.

Every year here we talk about this player and that player who are tops among FAs but NE doesn't think they are worth it.

Despite us fans getting pissed about not grabbing (insert BIG FA here) - we continue to make the playoffs and win 10 or more games so if the team hasn't been downtrodden what makes some think things will go opposite directions?.

 

[Deus Irae]

Don't forget that they could also restructure some current deals to free up extra space.

 

[Smokeeye123]

If BB really wanted to he could.

However I still think they will be buyers in the offseason...Maybe not Mario Williams level buyers, but they should pick up a solid free agent or two. I think the Pats will get a FA receiver and a FA safety.

 

[VOODOOZF]

I generally agree with coach Belichick that big name free agents aren't the best way to go, but being that the Patriots are so close and Tom Brady at best has three years left of elite performance I think I would change strategy and go for at least on big time f/a on defense.

 

[Don_the_patfan]

Don't be shocked if they are thinking extension for our TE's .One of our TE will get early extension probably Gronk

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[VrabelJr]

The only way we can make a splash in FA is if Welker takes a team favorable deal, we cut Ocho, and trade one of our 1sts.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

It's going to be all about value.

If you expect them to score big by being the highest bidder on a big name free agent attracting attention from a lot of teams, like perhaps Mario Williams, I think you will be disappointed.

I'd expect we will look at good but not great players available at a fair price, or even players perhaps open to taking slightly less or an incentives-based deal to enter a winning situation from a losing situation.

Guys that might get a kneejerk reaction of "who?" on this forum when they sign.

 

[Keyser Söze]

We need an impact player like Mario Williams on this defense. Go get him BB.

 

[Jangles]

We need an impact player like Mario Williams on this defense. Go get him BB.

Don't get your hopes up.

I'd say there is a better chance that Bill invents a time machine and hits Eli with a truck in January 2008 than us signing Mario.

I'd rather steal Jared Allen out of Minnesota

 

[eom]

it depends on what you're talking about -- if you mean signing 3 of the highest priced guys on the market, like mario williams, v-jax, and whoever else, it's not going to happen -- hasn't ever happened, and won't happen with any team in the league.

the pats COULD be a bidder for one big ticket player this year, I think, like an adalius thomas type signing.
but you kept talking about 'impact' players, and an impact player doesn't have to be a big contract guy.
I'd say asomugha wasn't much of an impact player this year, while andre carter was.

so, they could make a play for one of the more visible guys, but also some guys you might not have even thought about.

 

[Deus Irae]

We need an impact player like Mario Williams on this defense. Go get him BB.

Money amounts matter. How much are you willing to pay for:

Williams
Welker
Goldson/Branch/Landry/Griffin
Lloyd

knowing that the Patriots will likely be playing with between $22-$28 million, need to sign draftees and UDFAs, and need to re-sign players?

That's really the question, IMO, because, when it comes to bringing in new free agents, getting Williams might not make as much overall sense as re-signing Carter and signing Lloyd and Goldson/Branch/Landry/Griffin, and even that might be too much when added to Welker's deal.

 

[skinnydog]

Does anyone realistically think Welker will get more than a 4 year 30 mil contract? That kind of deal can even be structured with a nice signing bonus and the impact next year might be in the 6-7 mil on the cap.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

it depends on what you're talking about -- if you mean signing 3 of the highest priced guys on the market, like mario williams, v-jax, and whoever else, it's not going to happen -- hasn't ever happened, and won't happen with any team in the league.

the pats COULD be a bidder for one big ticket player this year, I think, like an adalius thomas type signing.
but you kept talking about 'impact' players, and an impact player doesn't have to be a big contract guy.
I'd say asomugha wasn't much of an impact player this year, while andre carter was.

so, they could make a play for one of the more visible guys, but also some guys you might not have even thought about.

Yeah, that would be my guess, the second tier free agents possibly, the big names like Mario W and VJax, thats not good value and would take money and weaken another area of the team, so I doubt it.

 

[Ring 6]

Money amounts matter. How much are you willing to pay for:

Williams
Welker
Goldson/Branch/Landry/Griffin
Lloyd

knowing that the Patriots will likely be playing with between $22-$28 million, need to sign draftees and UDFAs, and need to re-sign players?

That's really the question, IMO, because, when it comes to bringing in new free agents, getting Williams might not make as much overall sense as re-signing Carter and signing Lloyd and Goldson/Branch/Landry/Griffin, and even that might be too much when added to Welker's deal.

I thought the salary cap didn't matter and hasn't for years?
Are you now saying that argument by you was crap?

 

[jmt57]

The only way we can make a splash in FA is if Welker takes a team favorable deal, we cut Ocho, and trade one of our 1sts.

While I wouldn't be surprised if the Pats do trade one of the first round picks, it won't be due to its impact on the salary cap. The rookie wage scale in the new CBA has made that a moot point; the new rookie contracts are much more team favorable than they were in the past.

I think some of this will come down to their decisions with Anderson and Carter. If the Pats decide to not bring them back, then the cap space that would have gone to them could go to a Mario Williams or Calais Campbell, if they so desire.

 

[IllegalContact]

It's going to be all about value.

If you expect them to score big by being the highest bidder on a big name free agent attracting attention from a lot of teams, like perhaps Mario Williams, I think you will be disappointed.

I'd expect we will look at good but not great players available at a fair price, or even players perhaps open to taking slightly less or an incentives-based deal to enter a winning situation from a losing situation.

Guys that might get a kneejerk reaction of "who?" on this forum when they sign.

the pats are stocked with value....they need a couple of playmakers....maybe not williams, but they ndo need some difference makers

 

[Brarrell]

the pats are stocked with value....they need a couple of playmakers....maybe not williams, but they ndo need some difference makers

True and like most smart people you always believe what your eyes tell you. With that said hopefully the ownership and the GM help the coach with better personnel decisions.

 

[Deus Irae]

While I wouldn't be surprised if the Pats do trade one of the first round picks, it won't be due to its impact on the salary cap. The rookie wage scale in the new CBA has made that a moot point; the new rookie contracts are much more team favorable than they were in the past.

Well, the deals will have some impact until the conflict between the old contracts and the new CBA settles itself. Right now, teams are dealing with contracts like, for example, Sam Bradford's, and the cap isn't moving the way it used to. The CBA allowed for a bit of this with the ability to borrow money from the later years, but it's still an issue, at least for some teams.

Year Maximum Team Salary
2011 $120 million
2010 Uncapped
2009 $123 million
2008 $116 million
2007 $109 million
2006 $102 million
2005 $85.5 million
2004 $80.582 million
2003 $75.007 million
2002 $71.101 million
2001 $67.405 million
2000 $62.172 million
1999 $57.288 million
1998 $52.388 million
1997 $41.454 million
1996 $40.753 million
1995 $37.1 million
1994 $34.608 million

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salary_cap#Salary_cap_in_the_NFL

As you can see by the 2009-2011 area, the cap has actually declined. A cap that was going up about $7 million a year took a drop in 2011 and will likely not go up by all that much in 2012. This is really the first time since 2005 that the cap's been anything to pay attention to. I'm just hoping the Patriots can hang on to the players they want and add a quality WR and S via free agency.

I think some of this will come down to their decisions with Anderson and Carter. If the Pats decide to not bring them back, then the cap space that would have gone to them could go to a Mario Williams or Calais Campbell, if they so desire.

I hear you. I'm expecting Anderson to get a better deal elsewhere, with Carter staying in New England. I just have the feeling that Anderson will get offered a starting job elsewhere, and I don't see him as a starter in New England.