2017 NE FA market & targets

[maineman209]

My bet is none. He appears to be trying to get young veterans.

BB might bring in one older DE for vet minimum for the off-season/Camp, but probably closer to the draft or even afterward. My guess would be Connor Barwin (31), more of an OLB/DE, Nink-type.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Check out @patscap's Tweet:

I'm in favor of giving Butler a deal. The guy is as solid as they come. So competitive.

Big believer in strong position groups and Butler, Gilmore, McCourty, Harmon, Chung, Rowe would be special.

Honestly how cool would that be.

 

[captain stone]

If his back passes muster, then out of those 4 I would try to sign Ware first.

 

[captain stone]

Barwin struggled here in Philly as a 4-3 DE, so I would try to sign Alex Okafor first,
then DeMarcus Ware…or both.

 

[luuked]

My bet is none. He appears to be trying to get young veterans.

Freeney is the only one of those that would interest me in a rotational role. If used correctly he seemed to have some juice left also might be available close to vet min.

 

[maineman209]

Barwin struggled here in Philly as a 4-3 DE, so I would try to sign Alex Okafor first,
then DeMarcus Ware…or both.

I liked Okafor for the Pats in the 2013 draft, and I'd prefer him for DE over the much older Ware at this point. But that would be for straight-up DE.

If Barwin is brought in, I doubt it would be for that role. Barwin more likely would be competition for McClellin as an OLB who drops down to the line occasionally.

 

[manxman2601]

This is the formation that intrigues me for the Pats.

On passing downs, Flowers plays the 3-tech to the right hand side of the defense with Guy or Brown playing the other side and Branch at 0-tech. Nink/Ealy plays left EDGE with Hightower at right Edge. Roberts plays the LB and one can see from this formation the potential importance of the SS/LB hybrid because they are, literally, the second linebacker.

 

[long distance]

Check out @patscap's Tweet:

I'm in favor of giving Butler a deal. The guy is as solid as they come. So competitive.

Big believer in strong position groups and Butler, Gilmore, McCourty, Harmon, Chung, Rowe would be special.

Honestly how cool would that be.

Not too cool for 2018 - assum. 10M cap hit for Butler (Reiss proposes 11.5M APY)




Note:
1. That # is without starting LT among other.
2. 2017 at the moment is $137,862,327 for 62 players.

Im afraid Pats long-term ship has sailed for Butler.
Id like to keep him this year though - more than the picks..

But Bill will not go to draft without at least one top 50 pick - so something's gotta give

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

Not too cool for 2018 - assum. 10M cap hit for Butler (Reiss proposes 11.5M APY)




Im afraid Pats long-term ship has sailed for Butler.
Id like to keep him this year though - more than the picks..

But Bill will not go to draft without at least one top 50 pick - so something's gotta give

I'm with you. I don't see them let butler walk for nothing but a comp pick, when the value is so high right now.

If they can get 32 back or more, I think they do it.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I'm with you. I don't see them let butler walk for nothing but a comp pick, when the value is so high right now.

If they can get 32 back or more, I think they do it.

When, if ever, does butler sign his tender?

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

When, if ever, does butler sign his tender?

Apparently, the biggest reason for not signing yet is being able to find the best offers on the market first. Once he signs, he can't negotiate with teams anymore.

Obviously, not many teams will want to sign him and give up their first, but its a good way if setting a market with the Pats and know a year ahead if time where you stand with teams. Could also grease the wheels on a sign and trade type of situation if the Pats were willing to take a package different than a straight 1st rounder.

 

[MSPatsFan28]

Apparently, the biggest reason for not signing yet is being able to find the best offers on the market first. Once he signs, he can't negotiate with teams anymore.

Obviously, not many teams will want to sign him and give up their first, but its a good way if setting a market with the Pats and know a year ahead if time where you stand with teams. Could also grease the wheels on a sign and trade type of situation if the Pats were willing to take a package different than a straight 1st rounder.

From what I have read, this is not true. Butler may still get offers even after signing his tender. Any offer given to Butler; the Pats have 5 days to match or decline and receive the team's 1st round pick in the 2017 draft. By not signing, Butler is preventing us from trading him. In order for the Pats to trade Butler, he must sign the tender. I believe before a certain date (April 21 I think), he must sign his tender or else he will not be able to play for any other team. He also must sign the tender or contract extension to play this season to earn a season credit to FA. If he does not earn a season credit then he will be an RFA again.

 

[luuked]

This is the formation that intrigues me for the Pats.

On passing downs, Flowers plays the 3-tech to the right hand side of the defense with Guy or Brown playing the other side and Branch at 0-tech. Nink/Ealy plays left EDGE with Hightower at right Edge. Roberts plays the LB and one can see from this formation the potential importance of the SS/LB hybrid because they are, literally, the second linebacker.

Which is why on some level I'd love to get Jabrill Peppers somehow onto the team. He is made for this role because he has the versatility to do it all. Once again my disclaimer.. I am not sure what I would give up for him, but just on an "academic" level I think he'd fit this defense pretty well as a rich man's Chung.

 

[maineman209]

When, if ever, does butler sign his tender?

As I understand it, Butler must sign by June 15 or face reductions in the tendered salary amount. He can't play, or even participate in practice, anywhere until he signs. If he doesn't sign by Week-10 of the regular season, he's done for 2017 and his status reverts to RFA for 2018.

 

[maineman209]

From what I have read, this is not true. Butler may still get offers even after signing his tender. Any offer given to Butler; the Pats have 5 days to match or decline and receive the team's 1st round pick in the 2017 draft. By not signing, Butler is preventing us from trading him. In order for the Pats to trade Butler, he must sign the tender. I believe before a certain date (April 21 I think), he must sign his tender or else he will not be able to play for any other team. He also must sign the tender or contract extension to play this season to earn a season credit to FA. If he does not earn a season credit then he will be an RFA again.

It seems to me that after Butler signs his tender, he becomes a player under contract with the Pats. So, teams would be tampering if they are negotiating directly with Butler.

 

[luuked]

It seems to me that after Butler signs his tender, he becomes a player under contract with the Pats. So, teams would be tampering if they are negotiating directly with Butler.

After he signs the tender other teams can still send offer sheets his way so I'd assume that until the deadline there can be no tampering with RFAs. Hard to submit offer sheets if negotiating is not allowed.

 

[MSPatsFan28]

After he signs the tender other teams can still send offer sheets his way so I'd assume that until the deadline there can be no tampering with RFAs. Hard to submit offer sheets if negotiating is not allowed.

From what I gather from the CBA, a tender on an RFA is simply an offer. An offer is not a binding agreement like a contract because tenders, according to the CBA, are simply a notice to the player. Therefore, tampering does not apply when an RFA continues negotiating with other teams after signing the tender since it is not a binding agreement. After April 21, 2017, an RFA (Butler) can only negotiate with NE. Going further, if he still has not signed his tender by June 1st. NE can designate him as a June 1st tender which will only require them to pay him 110% of his prior year pay or $660,000.

Article 9 Section 2f:

In the event that a Restricted Free Agent has not signed a Player Con-tract with a Club within the Signing Period in the League Year following the expiration of his last Player Contract, and if the Prior Club has not withdrawn the Qualifying Offer, the Prior Club shall be the only Club with which the player may negotiate or sign a Play-er Contract for that League Year. If the player’s Qualifying Offer is greater than 110% of the player’s prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior year contract carried forward unchanged), the Club may withdraw the Qualifying Offer on June 15 and retain its rights under the preceding sentence, so long as the Club immediately ten-ders the player a one year Player Contract of at least 110% of his prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior year contract carried forward unchanged) (the "June 15 Tender"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Restricted Free Agent sub-ject to the Right of First Refusal Only Tender under Subsection 2(b)(i)(1) above who has not signed a Player Contract with a Club within the Signing Period, in order to be subject to the June 15 Tender, the Prior Club must by June 1 tender to such Restricted Free Agent a one-year Player Contract of at least 110% of his prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary

(with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged) or extend the Subsection 2(b)(i)(1) Tender, whichever is greater (the "June 1 Tender").

 

[luuked]

From what I gather from the CBA, a tender on an RFA is simply an offer. An offer is not a binding agreement like a contract because tenders, according to the CBA, are simply a notice to the player. Therefore, tampering does not apply when an RFA continues negotiating with other teams after signing the tender since it is not a binding agreement. After April 21, 2017, an RFA (Butler) can only negotiate with NE. Going further, if he still has not signed his tender by June 1st. NE can designate him as a June 1st tender which will only require them to pay him 110% of his prior year pay or $660,000.

Article 9 Section 2f:

In the event that a Restricted Free Agent has not signed a Player Con-tract with a Club within the Signing Period in the League Year following the expiration of his last Player Contract, and if the Prior Club has not withdrawn the Qualifying Offer, the Prior Club shall be the only Club with which the player may negotiate or sign a Play-er Contract for that League Year. If the player’s Qualifying Offer is greater than 110% of the player’s prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior year contract carried forward unchanged), the Club may withdraw the Qualifying Offer on June 15 and retain its rights under the preceding sentence, so long as the Club immediately ten-ders the player a one year Player Contract of at least 110% of his prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior year contract carried forward unchanged) (the "June 15 Tender"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for any Restricted Free Agent sub-ject to the Right of First Refusal Only Tender under Subsection 2(b)(i)(1) above who has not signed a Player Contract with a Club within the Signing Period, in order to be subject to the June 15 Tender, the Prior Club must by June 1 tender to such Restricted Free Agent a one-year Player Contract of at least 110% of his prior-year Paragraph 5 Salary

(with all other terms of his prior-year contract carried forward unchanged) or extend the Subsection 2(b)(i)(1) Tender, whichever is greater (the "June 1 Tender").

Thanks for looking this up. This clears up some of the odds and ends about being a RFA.

 

[long distance]

The closest measurables from this year's draft - Bolles and Dawkins.
Drafting in FA continues?

BTW - his 3-cone (7.29) would be best @Combine this year (ex aequo w Bolles) and his SS (4.43) best of all..

Red flag - concussion history (two times in protocol in 2016, missed 2 games)

 

[WaterfallJumper]

The closest measurables from this year's draft - Bolles and Dawkins.
Drafting in FA continues?

BTW - his 3-cone (7.29) would be best @Combine this year (ex aequo w Bolles) and his SS (4.43) best of all..

Red flag - concussion history (two times in protocol in 2016, missed 2 games)

Fusco was one of my small school binkies the year he was in the draft. I would love to have him here as competition; there's a chance he could even start.