Offseason Part One - Before Free Agency Starts

[mgteich]

Before free agency starts the patriots (and the players) have some decisions to make.

RE-SIGNS
Who will be re-signed before free agency begins?

TENDERS AND ERFA'S
I expect all of these to be in camp.

FRANCHISE TAG
Welker?
Vollmer?
Talib?
No one?

 

[Fencer]

Generally, if a Patriot worth $5+/year makes it to unrestricted free agency and isn't franchised, he walks. In particular:

• I think Mankins was franchised after his holdout year.
• I think Wilfork was franchised.
• I'm sure Gronk, Hernandez, and Mayo were re-upped before hitting FA.
• I'm pretty sure that's been consistently true of Brady.
• Randy Moss was a big exception
• Light was an exception in the deal for his last season.
• I don't recall one way or the other about Grahambo, Watson, or Light's previous deal.
• I'm pretty sure Seymour and Samuel never got big FA contracts.
• Jarvis Green never quite made that much money.

I'm probably forgetting one or more guys, but usually the guys the Pats are going to come to deals with they wind up extending at a pre-FA discount.


Anyhow:

• Talib isn't worth the franchise tag, due to inconsistency.
• Vollmer isn't worth the franchise tag, due to health and resulting inconsistency.
• Welker probably is worth the franchise tag, so there's a chance he gets it again. But after various painful losses, as well as the attempt to limit reliance on Welker early in the season, I'm guessing they'll make folks happy around here and not invest quite that much money in receivers who are at their best in the center of the field.

And that said, I've been on the fence about all three as to whether they'll wind up staying. My current thinking is Talib and Vollmer yes, Welker no.