Remaining Cap space: How to use this?

Many of the top-tier players are gone...

Patriots still have holes (in my opinion). Can a blockbuster trade or trades be in the making?

Well lets assume it is 12.7 (though i have heard 12.4 first Miguel IIRC... but close enough)

That does not count the Chandler and Branch signings.

Assume Chandler cost 2.5 (but we save by cutting Hooman who is 1.8) makes that a +.7M move.

Branch has a 2 year 6.6 max value contract. Lets call it 2.5 and 4.1 cause they tend to like to back load it and make incentives reachable. That adds 2.5 to the cap.

Now we are at 9.5 take out 4.5 for draft and emergency spending and we have 5m to use.

Now I assume we can restructure/extend Mayo & Solder so add about 7m A few other minor moves will give us 3m more.

Realistically we have 15m (maybe up to 20m) to spend when all is said and done.

Could be trade(s), but those types of transactions are hard to predict. I could also see them use that money to restructure/extend Mayo, and Solder... maybe even Hightower, Jones, and Collins.

They were the youngest team to win a Super Bowl, so perhaps they are looking to build primarily through the draft and focus on resigning their homegrown talent like the Green Bay Packers do?

Anyone else find it a bit disconcerting that the defending Super Bowl Champions are finding it a bit difficult to attract free agents this offseason? It seems we keep sending out feelers and having players visit but again and again they sign somewhere else. I'm sure I'm just looking into it too much and it keeps coming down to money.

VectorPrime said:

Anyone else find it a bit disconcerting that the defending Super Bowl Champions are finding it a bit difficult to attract free agents this offseason? It seems we keep sending out feelers and having players visit but again and again they sign somewhere else. I'm sure I'm just looking into it too much and it keeps coming down to money.

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You're looking too much into it, reports were Bush left without a contract and the cash Harvin got from the Bills was double his worth.

The players the Patriots wanted, they've gotten so far.

VectorPrime said:

Anyone else find it a bit disconcerting that the defending Super Bowl Champions are finding it a bit difficult to attract free agents this offseason? It seems we keep sending out feelers and having players visit but again and again they sign somewhere else. I'm sure I'm just looking into it too much and it keeps coming down to money.

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I think the hangup is money, as the Patriots have some really good young talent that will need attention in the not too distant future. They did get good value on the guys they did sign that they wanted.

Bring Sterling Moore home! Been a good player for Dallas shouldn't break the bank either.

Like to use some of it to extend Hightower or Jones. Do not want to have to chose between them next offseason.

Rest of it to solidify our OLine and defensive front seven

I would like to see them pull the trigger on the Evan Mathis trade. I believe they could cut a current guard to soften the cap hit. Any offensive line upgrade would be great. Defensive line as well. Not seems like there are still some decent d-linemen out there.

Considering the train wreck of wide receiver draft picks, we need to spend something to ensure depth at outside receiver; a LaFell injury would be catastrophic (full disclosure: I am not a Dobson believer.). Names like Stevie Johnson and Cecil Shorts have been thrown around. Due to the slew of bust free agents at the position from this staff, I think whoever is the cheapest, lowest risk who could fill in adequately- even below average- is the way to go.

That would leave CB1 and RB-3rd down. I think we will need to make a trade sometime during or after the draft for a respectable CB1. Now that Bush is also gone, Pierre Thomas doesn't excite me. I think on this one, wait to see if either James White can step up or maybe a training camp cut...usually happens with a few of these guys every year. Maybe the Chargers will release Woodhead.

There have not really been any big names that the patriots had roster spots for. What we need are DB's and the best on the market got paid 25% more then they were worth. teams spent ******ed amounts of money on Corners this FA after seeing what the pats and seahawks accomplished last year.

I like the moves at receiver and pass rusher. They're going to study and restudy cornerbacks and try to steal a couple.

They were pretty loade last year and all their players could want bigger contracts to stay (mccourty, Vereen) Even without Mevis, it's going to be tought to stock the pond and requires patience and research.

Nobody does it better. They're spending elsewhere and will need to get value at cornerback.

I think our top tier players are on the team. They're looking for diamonds in the rough, or quality vets with some mileage IMO.

Big investment in Mccourty and other safeties and cornerbacks? with time in the system makes me think they are going for raw talent and running a cornerback school. They've done it before at other positions. Even available corners in the draft don't seem NFL ready.

According to the OP, the New England Patriots have $12.7 million in salary cap space.

http://www.patscap.com/

However, that figure does not include the Scott Chandler and Alan Branch signings.

In addition, the 2015 Projected Draft Pool needs to be taken into account.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/cap/

Furthermore, the Top 51 Accounting does not factor the following at the start of the season:

Player 52
Player 53
Practice Squad
Injured Reserve List
Physically Unable to Perform List
Non-Football Injury List

Are the Patriots likely to get any more cap refunds for Hernandez or have they got all they will get?

Shed83 said:

Are the Patriots likely to get any more cap refunds for Hernandez or have they got all they will get?

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Good question

Shed83 said:

Are the Patriots likely to get any more cap refunds for Hernandez or have they got all they will get?

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They should get $3.25 million if the NFLPA grievance is decided in their favor.

VectorPrime said:

Anyone else find it a bit disconcerting that the defending Super Bowl Champions are finding it a bit difficult to attract free agents this offseason? It seems we keep sending out feelers and having players visit but again and again they sign somewhere else. I'm sure I'm just looking into it too much and it keeps coming down to money.

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Not "disconcerted" at all, the Pats put an economic value on a position, and try not to deviate.. the Jets are celebrating their Superbowl this week and Rex is running his mouth how he won the "free agent derby"..

What you envision right now it not necessarily who will take the field in September.. this team is one of the youngest in the league, and BB and his crew will continue to rebuild it according to their plan..

This method has worked for 14 years now, no reason to deviate...

I'd love to see them sign some of the young lbs long term, much like they approached Gronk and the prisoner. Hightower and Collins souls be priorities for them. Jones to a lesser extent.

I don't worry about any other position EXCEPT CB. I really don't see how we fix that this season. It will be a major weak link unless we trade for a CB. If that doesn't happen we will be soft in the backfield. That's the truth.

Ohh and we only need 1.5-2 mill for draft not 3-4 mill.

DarrylS said:

Not "disconcerted" at all, the Pats put an economic value on a position, and try not to deviate.. the Jets are celebrating their Superbowl this week and Rex is running his mouth how he won the "free agent derby"..

What you envision right now it not necessarily who will take the field in September.. this team is one of the youngest in the league, and BB and his crew will continue to rebuild it according to their plan..

This method has worked for 14 years now, no reason to deviate...

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Well said. I'll also add that 1-year "prove it" deals are tough when you've got cap considerations, since you can't spread the hit. Particularly in terms of a wide receiver on a team that really can't focus on that as a "need" comparatively speaking.