Long way out...but will Pats be able to afford both Collins and Hightower?

[Brady_to_Moss]

Wagner got paid...so did David

Keeping both of them..PLUS a Jones contract that is needed...i mean Collins is an absolute freak. He is a MUST IMO

 

[TommyD4207]

Wagner got paid...so did David

Keeping both of them..PLUS a Jones contract that is needed...i mean Collins is an absolute freak. He is a MUST IMO

Don't forget that the cap's going up.

 

[Brady2Moss]

Jones can walk for all I care, always a tease.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Don't forget that the cap's going up.

We don't know to what yet...or do we?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Folks here in this thread must really be depressed that the sun leaves the main sequence in 4-5 billion years and swells up into a red giant possibly engulfing the long ago desiccated Earth.

 

[farn]

HT and Collins should be priorities. Chandler might not be with the team beyond 2016.

 

[ViperGTS]

Collins and Hightower will both be here. Mayo may not and Jones will be gone. Easy as pie.

 

[Fencer]

Wagner got paid...so did David

Keeping both of them..PLUS a Jones contract that is needed...i mean Collins is an absolute freak. He is a MUST IMO

Reiss thinks it will be hard if they actually need to be paid Wagner money.

On the other hand, if it becomes widely agreed that Seattle shouldn't be the benchmark for paying top guys, the whole thing will be a little easier.

The other issue in the mix, of course, is keeping Mayo.

 

[borg]

Glass half full----->Without a #1 next year, NE has an extra $2 mill to sprinkle around. (just sayin)

 

[IcyPatriot]

Rumor has it that Malcolm Butler is getting a 'GET PAID' tattoo.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I don't see why not. It'll be expensive, if the Wagner and David contracts are any indication, but these are the types of guys that you shell out big money for. They're game-changers.

I do still think that the Pats will only keep 2 of Jones/Hightower/Collins, but right now I'd guess that Jones is the odd man out. Could change in the next two years though, obviously. Part of not resigning Revis was making sure we'd have the money for these guys, IMO. Kraft all but said as much.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I don't see why not. It'll be expensive, if the Wagner and David contracts are any indication, but these are the types of guys that you shell out big money for. They're game-changers.

I do still think that the Pats will only keep 2 of Jones/Hightower/Collins, but right now I'd guess that Jones is the odd man out. Could change in the next two years though, obviously. Part of not resigning Revis was making sure we'd have the money for these guys, IMO. Kraft all but said as much.

If Jones plays lights out this year..along with Hightower and Collins (who i think will be the best LB this year in the NFL)...then what...ouch....headache

 

[Pigskin Pete]

I don't see why not. It'll be expensive, if the Wagner and David contracts are any indication, but these are the types of guys that you shell out big money for. They're game-changers.

I do still think that the Pats will only keep 2 of Jones/Hightower/Collins, but right now I'd guess that Jones is the odd man out. Could change in the next two years though, obviously. Part of not resigning Revis was making sure we'd have the money for these guys, IMO. Kraft all but said as much.

I think it will be EITHER Hightower OR Collins. I love Hightower, but if I have to pick I would resign/extend Collins every day of the week and twice on Sundays. His skill set id becoming borderline irreplaceable - even in the interchangeable parts of the New England roster.

 

[JMC00]

I think it will be EITHER Hightower OR Collins.

You're entitled to your opinion but you are 100% wrong

 

[Pigskin Pete]

You're entitled to your opinion but you are 100% wrong

I hope that you are right but history is on my side. The NEP cap management spreads the wealth and avoids concentrating too much on a given position group - in this case the linebacker group.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Collins is the definition of a Belichik player. No way he walks out the door with that kind of position versatility. Hightower wont leave either as he deserves to be the MLB Bruschi>Mayo heir apparent. Chandler Jones will walk and get paid the pass rusher big bucks, even though in reality he is an above average speed pass rusher who is weak against the run and struggles to seal the edge.

 

[JMC00]

I hope that you are right but history is on my side. The NEP cap management spreads the wealth and avoids concentrating too much on a given position group - in this case the linebacker group.

Once again you are wrong. Gronk and hernandez extensions disagree that they won't spend money on a position group


Also the Pats usually always give a 2nd contract to players they drafted and are good.

McCourty
Wilfork
Gronk
Edelman
Mayo
Vollmer
Mankins
Ghost
Slater
Allen

.

Hightower and Collins are a top 5 LB combo and could be argued they are the best in the NFL. There is just no way Belichick and Kraft let either leave.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Once again you are wrong. Gronk and hernandez extensions disagree that they won't spend money on a position group


Also the Pats usually always give a 2nd contract to players they drafted and are good.

McCourty
Wilfork
Gronk
Edelman
Mayo
Vollmer
Mankins
Ghost
Slater
Allen

.

Hightower and Collins are a top 5 LB combo and could be argued they are the best in the NFL. There is just no way Belichick and Kraft let either leave.

The only way I see either walking is if Jones comes on in a big way and they decide to pay him. The whole point of letting Revis and Wilfork walk is that, for the moment, McCourty and Mayo are the only guys on defense who are making anything resembling big money. In 2 years, they'll have plenty of space to re-up 2 of their young guys, precisely because they let Revis walk, let Wilfork walk, and avoided big FA signings. Worst case, that entails cutting Mayo. Hopefully they don't even have to do that if they don't want to.

 

[supafly]

The only way I see either walking is if Jones comes on in a big way and they decide to pay him. The whole point of letting Revis and Wilfork walk is that, for the moment, McCourty and Mayo are the only guys on defense who are making anything resembling big money. In 2 years, they'll have plenty of space to re-up 2 of their young guys, precisely because they let Revis walk, let Wilfork walk, and avoided big FA signings. Worst case, that entails cutting Mayo. Hopefully they don't even have to do that if they don't want to.

Yes, as others have mentioned, it's quite possible that Jerod Mayo becomes part of the group of 3-4 players (Jones, HT, Mayo, Collins) that are thrown into the pool, where only 2-3 can stay.

I would keep HT and Collins first, then go down the line to Mayo/Jones.

 

[supafly]

Collins and Hightower will both be here. Mayo may not and Jones will be gone. Easy as pie.

I'm thinking that you're right, particularly after spending TWO draft picks at DE in the top 100 (101) selections. That is likely a hint that they have a pretty good idea of how long Chandler Jones will be here in New England.

Of course, he has the opportunity to make the decision a hell of a lot harder by stepping up and playing consistently this season.