Market for Bennett?

[Patsgofor4]

I don't think the Patriots will go over 6 million per and 3 years. I realize they offered him 7 but his age will reduce his value to them. Unfortunately he will leave for the money.

I think that they will thank him for being a warrior this year and will move on from him. It was very notable to me in a bad way that he mentioned getting paid twice during his on field interview after the SB (getting paid for the win and possibly getting overpaid as a SB winner in free agency).

I think that they would get better value long term with Doyle or Griffin. Both would be very good TE2s in the Pats offense, IMO.

 

[dafoe2016]

We got him for a 5th because he had a 5.5M contract last year that other teams were not willing to take on.

He contributed to our team, but he was not great at blocking & his injury affected his on field performance.

I give him a lot of credit for staying on the field, but his injury sure made him look like an old 30 year old.

I don't see teams paying him more than he got last year.

I sure don't want us paying him anything close to what we give Gronk.

What the hell are you talking about? He is an excellent blocker. Probably better than a few of their OLinemen. And Gronk doesn't make much at all.

 

[dafoe2016]

I would too, but he is better than Collins. Hightower is a legit NFL star bordering on superstar. He is going to be expensive. Patriots will break the bank for players, provided they really are the one of the very best at their position (McCourty, Mankins, Seymour, Wilfork, Mayo.) Hightower is one of those guys. Guarantee the Patriots end up signing him to a huge deal before FA (hence, Bennett gets tagged), or they will franchise Hightower. They won't let Hightower walk.

Borderline superstar? In five years he has 231 tackles and seventeen sacks. He has played 16 games just once and isn't particularly good in coverage. It wasn't that long ago that many Pats fans wanted him run out of town. He's a nice player, but he's nowhere near the talent level of the guys you mentioned and most definitely not a borderline superstar. Would love to have him back, but not for big money. He's not worth it.

 

[supafly]

Borderline superstar? In five years he has 231 tackles and seventeen sacks. He has played 16 games just once and isn't particularly good in coverage. It wasn't that long ago that many Pats fans wanted him run out of town. He's a nice player, but he's nowhere near the talent level of the guys you mentioned and most definitely not a borderline superstar. Would love to have him back, but not for big money. He's not worth it.

I think he's definitely a borderline superstar, without a doubt. If you don't like HT's stats, how can you justify the recent payday for Collins? The market is what the market is, and while I think it will be closer to 10m than it will 15m, HT will definitely command a nice payday at somewhere around 12m per year.

I'm thinking a franchise tag for this year and a 50/50 shot at staying or leaving next spring, but I agree with you that he's nowhere near the slam dunk deal to stay that some have suggested. I remember a time last year when many were suggesting high odds of signing ALL of the major four: Jones, Collins, Sheard, and HT (because, cap space, sigh).

 

[supafly]

And Gronk doesn't make much at all.

Gronk does alright. His cap hit is 11m dollars for 2018 and 12m dollars for 2019. Both are currently projected to be in the top few/several players on the team.

If Bennett is seriously turning down a 7m dollar a year deal (as reported), he may end up somewhere else, sure. Belichick does a good job keeping those salaries down. Edelman, Amendola, Hogan are all making around 4m apiece. I doubt that this relationship goes much past last season, but Bennett is a nice piece to have around.

 

[mihap]

He was also injured. People seem to keep forgetting how well he played when healthy early in the season.

Agree. In first game he was blocking, in the next game he clicked with Jimmy G and he was looking like Gronk there. He hasnt clicked with Brady. Dont know why. Maybe injury?

 

[PatsFan2]

Great dept @TE in upcoming Draft quite a good number of Day 2 and 3 Guys who could be solid in this Offense...names coming shortly.

 

[PatsFan2]

Jeremiah Sprinkle on tape this Guy plays just like Bennett. Willing Blocker and maybe better than regarded pass catcher. I think he would be a solid day 2 or 3 selection who could contribute from day 1.

Jordan Leggett this guy potentially could be just as good as the Tops at the position. Should be better in line blocker for size but pro coaching could fix that. He was victimized by bad QB play If Watson is the #1 Rated QB Jimmy G is worth the #1 overall. Leggett can line up all over the place and have good hands. He could be add on Day 2 or 3.

Michael Roberts this guy is Big and have Mitts for hands Biggest hands you'll ever see moves well for his size too. Could be add in the 5th even 6th diamond in rough. BB drafted from Toledo before.

Pharoah Brown...Marcus Mariota threw to Brown a lot before he left Oregon. Brown is solid looks the part and I think he's going to test really well. Off field issues could push him all the way to the 7th Round.

Scott Orndoff played in Pro Style Offense at Pittsburgh not the fastest or most athletic but solid non the less. Lethal off Play Action knows how to find soft spots in zone. Orndoff reminds me of the Out law Jesse James in Pittsburgh. Will make Team that selects him happy.

Phazahn Odom wow this guy is not perfect but he has correctable flaws. Odom is Gifted with what you can't teach Size And Speed he's going to be a Steal who will contribute right off the bat a match up nightmare.

Adam Shaheen wow! see Odom above.

Any of these guys paired with Gronk will make our Offense similar or better minus Bennett. 2017 is Great year to draft future TE.

 

[dafoe2016]

I think he's definitely a borderline superstar, without a doubt. If you don't like HT's stats, how can you justify the recent payday for Collins? The market is what the market is, and while I think it will be closer to 10m than it will 15m, HT will definitely command a nice payday at somewhere around 12m per year.

I'm thinking a franchise tag for this year and a 50/50 shot at staying or leaving next spring, but I agree with you that he's nowhere near the slam dunk deal to stay that some have suggested. I remember a time last year when many were suggesting high odds of signing ALL of the major four: Jones, Collins, Sheard, and HT (because, cap space, sigh).

I can't justify it. They gave 50 million to a guy who is uncoachable and doesn't care about football. It's the Browns. The fact that they gave him a bunch of money doesn't make it a good idea. In fact, given their track record, odds are that anything they do is probably a really bad idea. Statistically speaking.

 

[mihap]

Luke Wilson is FA in Seattle. He has brother here, Bennet is better than Wilson.
Jared Cook is FA in Green Bay. PAckers arent big FA spenders
Giants need good TE, dont know how much capspace they have in future.

I think that he wont go to losing team because he tasted wins, so if pats want him he ll stay.

 

[50-yard-line]

In the end, just how much will a team give to a 30 year old TE with decent numbers is questionable. The last TE to take the money was Thomas who went from Denver to the Jags, and has disappeared. I bet Jacksonville would like a do over on that one, and he was 27. Teams that have the cap space are teams he likely wouldn't go to. A lot of other teams already have TE's.

IMHO The Giants are a potential landing place. They have a need on offense. He played there before and liked it. He likes NYC. But do they have the space, and why didn't they sign him before for less that what he wants now.

Seattle is another spot because of his brother, but they are already paying a ton to Graham. So how much are they willing to pay for their TE's? And do they have the space?

No doubt I think he will explore the market, but I don't know how much better a deal he can get, than he can get here. Believe me our deal will be close, just like Welker's was

Seattle can dump Graham for nothing - no guaranteed money left. He'll either renegotiate, or he'll be on the market again - trading Unger for Graham was a really bad move for Seattle. Their offense really hasn't been the same since.

OL are so severely underappreciated in the NFL.

 

[Dagg]

I thought I heard on one of the networks we offered 7mil earlier this year and he declined and that gronk is something like 8 or 8.5 and no way we were going more than Gronk. Doesnt seem to be much room between those numbers.

 

[Tuck]

We got him for a 5th because he had a 5.5M contract last year that other teams were not willing to take on.

He contributed to our team, but he was not great at blocking & his injury affected his on field performance.

I give him a lot of credit for staying on the field, but his injury sure made him look like an old 30 year old.

I don't see teams paying him more than he got last year.

I sure don't want us paying him anything close to what we give Gronk.

Im stating to come over to this camp. Bennett was spectacular before the injury. After the injury not so much. I wouldnt be surprised is he is kicking himself for not taking the $7 mil/1 yr. deal the patriots reportedly offered him earlier in the season.

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

It just takes one moron...who thinks he is the missing piece...

 

[n1997y]

We already did lose free agents...Chandler Jones and Jamie Colllins, two major, star free agents, just a year in advance. No reason to think the Patriots can't keep the guys they want with over $60M in cap space. They aren't going to be dumb and overpay crazy numbers, but they'll be willing to pay something near market for Hightower and Bennett. I think both players are very important to this team, and if they can either one to sign a deal before FA, they can franchise the other one. My guess is Bennett will not be the one to do that, as he will want to be a FA and get a huge pay day. Hightower on the other hand, we'll see, but I think the Patriots will make him a really big offer before free agency, and he declines, they will franchise him and then extend in the season. In that scenario, though, they lose Bennett.

Lulz. No loss there. They were let go, before they were free agents. Pats didn't want to keep them.

 

[Gronkowski123]

It just takes one moron...who thinks he is the missing piece...

Sounds like the Jets!

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

Jeremiah Sprinkle on tape this Guy plays just like Bennett. Willing Blocker and maybe better than regarded pass catcher. I think he would be a solid day 2 or 3 selection who could contribute from day 1.

Jordan Leggett this guy potentially could be just as good as the Tops at the position. Should be better in line blocker for size but pro coaching could fix that. He was victimized by bad QB play If Watson is the #1 Rated QB Jimmy G is worth the #1 overall. Leggett can line up all over the place and have good hands. He could be add on Day 2 or 3.

Michael Roberts this guy is Big and have Mitts for hands Biggest hands you'll ever see moves well for his size too. Could be add in the 5th even 6th diamond in rough. BB drafted from Toledo before.

Pharoah Brown...Marcus Mariota threw to Brown a lot before he left Oregon. Brown is solid looks the part and I think he's going to test really well. Off field issues could push him all the way to the 7th Round.

Scott Orndoff played in Pro Style Offense at Pittsburgh not the fastest or most athletic but solid non the less. Lethal off Play Action knows how to find soft spots in zone. Orndoff reminds me of the Out law Jesse James in Pittsburgh. Will make Team that selects him happy.

Phazahn Odom wow this guy is not perfect but he has correctable flaws. Odom is Gifted with what you can't teach Size And Speed he's going to be a Steal who will contribute right off the bat a match up nightmare.

Adam Shaheen wow! see Odom above.

Any of these guys paired with Gronk will make our Offense similar or better minus Bennett. 2017 is Great year to draft future TE.

I would love to double-dip. Leggett + Butt. Because i assume that Bennett's gone and Sheard is gone too. We trade Jimmy and our first to Cleveland's #12 #52 #65 #141. Its basically Jimmy for picks #12 + 90 points = Pick#102. ( Assuming reports are true that we asked for 1st + 4th)

#12 ILB Reuben Foster
#52 DE DeMarcus Walker
#64 OLB Ryan Anderson
#65 C Ethan Pocic
#96 TE Jake Butt
#103 TE Jordan Leggett
#130 RB Donta Foreman
#141 CB Ahkello Witherspoon
#164 T Conor McDermott

 

[patfanken]

Seattle can dump Graham for nothing - no guaranteed money left. He'll either renegotiate, or he'll be on the market again - trading Unger for Graham was a really bad move for Seattle. Their offense really hasn't been the same since.

OL are so severely underappreciated in the NFL.

BB would MUCH rather spend on the DL or OL than say WR. That's been made pretty clear over the last 17 years. During that time the ONLY WR he's ever paid even CLOSE to top dollar for was Randy Moss, and that was because Randy was more than a #1 WR. He was THE #1 WR that he got for a song and shipped out of town when he started whining about wanting diva money.

I don't know how people could watch this team be the MOST successful franchise in the league for almost 20 years and not understand how relatively unimportant the WR actually is. This is site brings together some super knowledgeable fans and yet anytime a WR comes on the market they will rush to start a thread, and we, as a whole, are an above average fan base in our knowledge of the game.

You give BB the choice of Julio Jones or the 5 draft picks the Falcons gave up to get him, even knowing how he turned out, and he will take the draft picks a hundred out of a hundred times. Not only that, even though he knows how he turned out, BB would likely rather use Jones' $14MM cap hit on 2 other players who play on the DL or OL, than give it up to Jones.

Jones' numbers were fine. Even the impact of his 4 catches were important, but when we all watch him play and slobber over the thought of him playing for our team, what we always forget is what 3 or 4 players of the current 22 starters do you want to replace with minimum wage guys, because you have to utilize $14MM in cap space on your WR.

 

[supafly]

I can't justify it. They gave 50 million to a guy who is uncoachable and doesn't care about football. It's the Browns. The fact that they gave him a bunch of money doesn't make it a good idea. In fact, given their track record, odds are that anything they do is probably a really bad idea. Statistically speaking.

Yes, most of us can agree that it's probably a poor decision to give Collins that big of a deal, but it doesn't change the fact that it helps to set the market, which is the point.

In the era of the salary cap, keeping your value system intact is one of the key ways of seeing success. That can often mean having to make tough decisions and prioritizations above/below other players. As always, the market is going to help to set the cost, not just here, but with all 32 teams.

 

[ViperGTS]

Yes, most of us can agree that it's probably a poor decision to give Collins that big of a deal, but it doesn't change the fact that it helps to set the market, which is the point.

In the era of the salary cap, keeping your value system intact is one of the key ways of seeing success. That can often mean having to make tough decisions and prioritizations above/below other players. As always, the market is going to help to set the cost, not just here, but with all 32 teams.

Blount in an interview today stayed something to the effect of "You play this game to win" when referencing his contact for the future.

Refreshing. I'd love to have an immediate poll after the SB of tons of overpaid NFL players that are sitting on their couches instead of even playing in the game and ask if they would trade half their contract for a chance to win the SB. I bet a majority would said hell yeah.

It's the agents, family members and lastly the idiotic media and certain fans that say "No problem. Go get yourself paid!" As if what their current teams' contract offer is unreasonable. Al la Hightower being offered 10 per year. He signs for what, 12 elsewhere? That's worth moving for? Right.