#1 Target in the Free Agency [2016 Sign the Beast thread #006]

Marv Jones. One can wish.

Would love Matt Forte, but not sure how realistic that is.

Their needs IMO:

1. OT
Seems every year one or both of Solder or Vollmer go down with an injury. Think both are getting up there in age. Insurance policy never hurts. Only other OT worth anything besides Vollmer and Solder is Waddle.

2. OG
A veteran stopgap for a year or two to either start or rotate in with Jackson and Mason as they gain experience and learn the systems. I noticed that Richie Incognito was a FA, maybe him?

3. LB
We play a 4-3 would help if we had a third starter caliber LB besides Collins and Hightower

4. RB
Someone to play first and second down who can do some damage and make defenses think twice at using 5+ DBs against the Patriots

5. WR
Another option for Brady to throw to other than Gronk, Edelman, Amendola and Martin that can maybe open things up and hopefully be over 6'1

DaBruinz said:

Blackmon? He's on an indefinite ban for violations of the NFL's Drug Policy.. He's unlikely to have that ban lifted.

Josh Gordon has to face the commissioner and ask for reinstatement..He's one strike away from an indefinite ban.

Not likely that BB will take a chance on either of them..

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The lure of the night air in downtown Foxborough and surrounding suburbia has begun to take its toll. AHern, Spikes, Jones, and now Worton. I don't know if Blackmon or Gordon can handle the hidden temptations of the silent beast that is Norfolk County.
I wish I was kidding

If Josh Gordon is released... I'd love to see the guy in a Pats uniform. Baring that, Matt Forte makes the most sense.

TBR said:

RT Mitchell Schwartz (Browns)

RB Matt Forte (Bears) if he'd take a team friendly deal

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Last offseason and this offseason are going to be the death of big money deals on RBs I think

Last year Demarco Murray got paid and then had a bad year

McCoy was traded with a 10+ mil a year salary to the Bills and was practically outperformed by a rookie while he continued to deal with nagging injuries

Marshawn Lynch gets paid by the Seahawks, then has like the worst year of his entire career, injured and eventually replaced and outperformed by the rookie Rawls



This offseason, there are TONS of veteran RBs hitting the market and completely saturating it.. players like Arian Foster, while talented, have had injury problems the last 3 or so years in a row..

Forte is getting up there in age and approaching that wall... so how willing are some teams going to be after all these recent examples over the years proving how bad of an investment it is to splurge on aging RBs to doll out a monster contract?

I think they should make a serious run at a vet back for a reasonable price and spend a draft pick on one as well.. Dion Lewis is the only sure thing from a talent perspective, but he can't be relied on for 16 games a year when he hasn't successfully finished a season healthy even once in his career I think.. obviously you keep him on the team, but you need to have viable backup options like the Eagles do without all that money

Steelers were smart going after a vet like DeAngelo Williams last year when they already had a stud in Leveon Bell... and they are paying very little money to that position.. Patriots need to follow a similar approach

I would be looking at Lamar Miller and Chris Ivory as well.

ohiopatsfan said:

I'd like to see the Pats pick up a vet RB in free agency. Chris Ivory was mentioned above. Another, lower cost option might be Lamar Miller from the Phins. He has run well against the Pats and BB has had good luck signing free agents from within the division. Wes Welker is the best example of this. With Ivory/Miller and a rookie (maybe Alex Collins or CJ Prosise), the running attack may become viable again. Also, Tyler Gaffney will (hopefully) be coming off IR.

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There is absolutely no way Lamar Miller will be a low cost option, and definitely not lower cost than Chris Ivory. Miller is going to get paid this year, and it won't be by the Pats unfortunately. (hopefully i'm wrong)

Ivan said:

I would be looking at Lamar Miller and Chris Ivory as well.

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Both pipe dreams. Ivory would be the more likely of the two, but still don't see it. He earned himself some money with the way he ran this season.

Ivory over Blount Id be on board with that pickup.
Miller doesnt make sense when we just reupped Lewis.

Ivory or Lynch
Broncos will never let CJ Anderson leave.

When can we realistically expect Lewis back? Those injuries often take a full year, and sometimes it takes months longer for a player to get confident ont eh wounded wing.

The guy I want shouldnt break the bank & he is a deep threat who is also a excellent kick returner.

Travis Benjamin

One loss and these morons compare pats and broncos team building strategy and they havent even won the SB yet
http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/do-broncos-or-patriots-have-better-team-building-approach

cupofjoe1962 said:

The guy I want shouldnt break the bank & he is a deep threat who is also a excellent kick returner.

Travis Benjamin

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Benjamin is very intriguing...really showed up on a terrible Browns team and more often than not made plays regardless of who's at QB. He'd be fairly affordable and certainly shown big play potential, but he's only 5'10" (with cleats on) and 175lbs (soaking wet). The other variable is whether or not he'd be able to transition to the complex offense the Pats run. Hoping Lombardi might be useful there.

UndercoverIrishman said:

If Josh Gordon is released... I'd love to see the guy in a Pats uniform. Baring that, Matt Forte makes the most sense.

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Josh Gordon is one incident away from being suspended indefinitely. No way the Pats bring him in..

If I can't get Calvin Johnson from Detroit who wants out and might take a reduced salary then I would target Alshon Jeffery. Then take a flyer on Percy Harvin and pick up Doug Martin or Alfred Morris.

This is how I would like to see it played out. I am going under the assumption we will have over $20 million in space after the cap rises and we make some cuts (Mayo, Lafell, etc..) and some restructures.

I used the website 2016 NFL Free Agents Tracker for FA information and on many of the players they give a projection on what the market value will be for the player which is what I used for my numbers if there was a projection for that particular player. It looks like they came to their market value by comparing the player to 4 similar players at their position and similar age.

WR - Marvin Jones - $5.5 million per year Marvin Jones
If this figure is close I think it's a good pick up. He is an instant upgrade on Lafell and can open up the field for others. I would offer a 4 yr deal.

RB - Lamar Miller - $5 million per year Lamar Miller
24 years old so a lot of tread left on his tires. 4 yr deal and we would have a great backfield with Miller and Lewis.

OG - Ritchie Incognito - $2.5 million per year Richie Incognito
2 yr deal for the vet who will toughen up the line. They didn't give a projection for his market value but he made $1.1 million last year and kept his nose clean for the year so he will get a raise on the open market.

That's $13 million on 3 FA's who would help our team at positions of need. Other interesting FA's to keep an eye on are Kelvin Beachum who is up and coming but tore his ACL last year. He may have to take an under value contract because of it. They have a market value of $4.3 million for Travis Benjamen who would be a good alternative if we can't land Jones.

With the remainder of money we have the draft and also can potentially look to lock up some of our younger players. In the draft I'm targeting the tackle position with either our 2nd or 3rd rounders. We need to add depth there and I'm also looking at CB and LB in the draft.

Simple Jack's Brother said:

Both pipe dreams. Ivory would be the more likely of the two, but still don't see it. He earned himself some money with the way he ran this season.

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You're the one calling for a low cost RB, not me, I want them to spend some money to really upgrade the position.

Richie Incognito wouldn't make this team.

Ivan said:

You're the one calling for a low cost RB, not me, I want them to spend some money to really upgrade the position.

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I'm not calling for a low cost RB, i'm saying Ivory and Miller won't be anywhere close to reasonable options. I think they'll both get serious cash. I'm fine with them spending some money to upgrade, but i think both of those guys will have a bidding war on their hands from multiple teams.

Ivan said:

Richie Incognito wouldn't make this team.

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I watched a line who couldn't run block and pass block for about a half a season. You would rather have Kline over Incognito? Really? Just the toughness he adds is much needed.