First few days of free agency

[cstjohn17]

I suspect that the Patriots will have a multi-pronged approach to free agency.

Phase 1 - In the first few days they will make their priorities clear and go after one or two specific players, IMO either (WR or Secondary). There is good talent at both positions.

Safety is extremely interesting, Moore, Golston, Reed, Phillips, Landry. My money is on a starting Safety being signed ASAP but wouldn't be surprised with a pass rusher (Kruger, Abraham, Bennett, Osi).

Phase 2 -Selective additions to fill in the roster, there will be at least JAGs added to each position.

Phase 3 - Draft - target BPA at specific positions

Phase 4 - comb through the remaining pile of UDFAs and veteran FAs

 

[Jimke]

Things may go much faster this year because teams can contact the
agents a few days before free agency begins. This essentially legalizes
what was formerly known as tampering. It would behoove the Patriots to re-sign their own players early on.

 

[mgteich]

Phase A (before free agency starts) - Sign those of our own that we want/can. Under current rules players will have an idea from other teams with regard to market value.

Phase 3 - We should realize that the evaluation of best player also includes need. I would not be surprised if corners and wide receivers are given a third to half a round adjustment to Belichick's draft board.

I suspect that the Patriots will have a multi-pronged approach to free agency.

Phase 1 - In the first few days they will make their priorities clear and go after one or two specific players, IMO either (WR or Secondary). There is good talent at both positions.

Safety is extremely interesting, Moore, Golston, Reed, Phillips, Landry. My money is on a starting Safety being signed ASAP but wouldn't be surprised with a pass rusher (Kruger, Abraham, Bennett, Osi).

Phase 2 -Selective additions to fill in the roster, there will be at least JAGs added to each position.

Phase 3 - Draft - target BPA at specific positions

Phase 4 - comb through the remaining pile of UDFAs and veteran FAs

 

[mgteich]

BTW, this is a huge change. Players can (legally) test their market value before final negotiations with the team, all before free agency begins. Yes, we should re-sign our own BEFORE free agency begins.

Things may go much faster this year because teams can contact the
agents a few days before free agency begins. This essentially legalizes
what was formerly known as tampering. It would behoove the Patriots to re-sign their own players early on.

 

[deters]

i think they will take a similar approach that they did with TE's.

All Your Free Agents Are Belong to Us! :rocker:

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

pats always wait for the market to set itself. I don't expect many if any moves for a few days while teams overpay for people like wallace, jennings ect

 

[signbabybrady]

I am just excited to get the building underway. Given the large amount of cap space and uncertainty regarding some key pending free agents this could go a number of ways.

I think they probably have some numbers in their mind and being negotiated right now with our outgoing guys and I am guessing there is some leftovers for a key free agent or two.

But that leaves a lot of variables if they all want to squeezeevery dime they all could be gone but on the flip if they all took team friendly and all came back their wouldn't be that much left. Either way their is enough talent under contract that either extreme or anything in between will make for a good team and it will be extremely interesting couple weeks coming up.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

How much $$ did the pats have in 07 when they got all the big names...anyone know?

 

[mgteich]

And sometimes we act in the first week of free agency. Leigh Bodden says "hi".

For me, it all depends on which of our own we sign before free agency and whether the option on Lloyd is exercised. Obviously if Welker, Edelman, Talib and Arrington are signed for the season, there is much less pressure to take someone early.

pats always wait for the market to set itself. I don't expect many if any moves for a few days while teams overpay for people like wallace, jennings ect

 

[bagwell368]

pats always wait for the market to set itself. I don't expect many if any moves for a few days while teams overpay for people like wallace, jennings ect

That's what they used to do. They were very early out of the gate last year.

I expect some of these guys will be signed: Moore, Abraham, Hartline and Danario Alexander both

 

[Brady6]

That's what they used to do. They were very early out of the gate last year.

I expect some of these guys will be signed: Moore, Abraham, Hartline and Danario Alexander both

Alexander is a RFA. Expected to get a 1st round tender.

 

[upstater1]

In a year when so many teams are tight to the cap, I don't expect the Patriots to be very active in either Phase 1 or 2, other than signing its own FAs after they determine they are not going to draw top dollar on the market. The Patriots may focus on Vollmer, Welker and Talib at that point, and later Woodhead, Arrington and Edelman.

There will be big cuts in the spring, and it's at that point that you'll see some signings.

I also expect the Patriots to save some money for deals with players like Spikes, Solder and McCourty during training camp.

The only activity I see for the Patriots is if Belichick truly believes Ed Reed is a difference maker. I have my doubts. I think paying a premium for a player on the decline is not going to work for BB.

He's also pretty focused on acquiring more picks for a draft full of high second rounders. This draft seems to have 45 players who would normally be ticketed for picks 32-47 ion any other year.

 

[PeteNH]

I hope they wait and let things unfold. This year will be unlike any other. The teams that spend money are mostly all over the cap... The Steelers for example, AFTER Ben restructured is still close to 5 mil over the cap. So the talent in free agency will be big. The longer a good player sits and waits for an offer the lower the price goes. The Patriots are in a great position. Clearly a play off team, and they have money to spend.

If you were a player hoping to get a big contract and are not seeing it, you would want to take a low deal with the Pats for a year or two the test free agency again. Get on as big a stage as you can, and try next year.