What’s our cap space situation?

[maineman209]

fair, after ALL the restructurings

We do then need to consider the cost of our free agents on offense, especially Burkhead, Lewis, Amendola and SOLDER. IMHO, there are lots and lots of reasons to believe that Solder will be extended and paid. Also, as a low coster, we will need re-sign Fleming and/or Waddle.

There will be room to spend on defense (including almost all the high draft choices). However, I expect that we will have at least one signing in the defensive backfield, probably 2 corners and a safety for camp.

Yes we need linebackers. We also need to understand what we can get out the injured: Hightower, McClellan, Rivers and Langi.

By my count, the Pats have 62 player under contract, with possibly three cuts (Branch, Harris and Bennett) coming fairly soon, but with several in-house UFA signings pending. So, probably about 25 open spots on the 90-man roster.

It'll be interesting to see how those end up being distributed, positionally.

 

[SVN]

Five most important questions for the Patriots in the offseason

 

[IllegalContact]

Gone right off the bat:
Dwayne Allen $5M
Martellus Bennett $6.2M
Alan Branch $2.7M
Mike Gillislee $2.4M
David Harris $1.7M


Contract Redo:
Gronk
Mccourty


Bring Back:
Solder
Amendola
Bademosi
Bolden
Burkhead
Ebner
B King
Slater

 

[ATippett56]

Looks like that was one that was missed.

Out of all the potential cut options above, Branch is the one that I’d call 100%. Think he’s gone.

I also think they keep one of Allen and Marty (unless Gronk retires) and I think they cut at least one of Britt/Dorsett, possibly both.

Lastly, while I hope they cut Jordan Richards, one can only dream at this point.

Out of all the potential cut options above, Branch is the one that I’d call 100%.

I would add David Harris to that list.

Inactives: Eagles vs. Patriots Super Bowl LII

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[ATippett56]

I think people may be surprised at the idea of some of our picks being spent on the offensive side of the ball. We may have needs at OT, TE, and quite possibly QB considering the fact that it takes at least a couple of seasons to groom the hopeful replacement.

2018 NFL Draft
31st overall
43rd overall
63rd overall
95th overall
136th overall (compensatory)
6th round

Projecting The 2018 Compensatory Picks | Over the Cap

 

[ATippett56]

Gone right off the bat:
Dwayne Allen $5M
Martellus Bennett $6.2M
Alan Branch $2.7M
Mike Gillislee $2.4M
David Harris $1.7M


Contract Redo:
Gronk
Mccourty


Bring Back:
Solder
Amendola
Bademosi
Bolden
Burkhead
Ebner
B King
Slater

Bademosi sucks.

Brandon King is an RFA.

I would rather re-sign Dion Lewis than Rex Burkhead.

 

[IllegalContact]

Bademosi sucks.

Brandon King is an ERFA.

I would rather re-sign Dion Lewis than Rex Burkhead.

Cost may be a factor......I could see Lewis getting much more attention

 

[ATippett56]

Cost may be a factor......I could see Lewis getting much more attention

I would go so far to cut Mike Gillislee to retain Dion Lewis. Mike Gillislee adds little to nothing in the passing game. Mike Gillislee adds little to nothing on special teams.

Dion Lewis 2017 Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Mike Gillislee 2017 Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

 

[maineman209]

Gone right off the bat:
Dwayne Allen $5M
Martellus Bennett $6.2M
Alan Branch $2.7M
Mike Gillislee $2.4M
David Harris $1.7M


Contract Redo:
Gronk
Mccourty


Bring Back:
Solder
Amendola
Bademosi
Bolden
Burkhead
Ebner
B King
Slater

I'd add Marquis Flowers to your "Bring Back" list. And what happened to Lewis (or are you assuming that he'll walk for big bucks elsewhere)?

I'm not sure about Allen or Gillislee being "gone right off the bat".
..... if you cut Gillislee and subsequently fail to re-sign Lewis and Burkhead, you're down to one RB under contract - White (and actually saving only $1.7M net from cutting Gillislee).
..... while Bennett needs to be cut before his $2M roster bonus becomes guaranteed (March 14th, I think), cutting Allen leaves you with Hollister, Tye and Gronk (with whom you may be in contract re-negotiations).

 

[maineman209]

Bademosi sucks.

??

He was the Pats' top special-teamer in tackles this season, and he started two games at CB when both Gilmore and Rowe were injured at the same time. He did very well in those two games.

 

[Miguel]

Just wanted to mention, Miguel does not believe McClellin will be cut due to a clause in the CBA about injury protection. Thus 50% of his P5 salary would be guaranteed. He would not be able to be cut until he gained medical clearance.

I did not say that McClellin would not be cut. I pointed out that it is possible that if cut while injured that he would qualify for the injury protection benefit which would kick in September.

 

[Miguel]

IIRC, that $25M-$35M included potential extension-based restructurings for both Brady and McCourty and was pretty much the maximum reasonable estimate.

The 35M included Brady but not McCourty.

 

[ATippett56]

I notice we currently don’t have the highest cap number, and are on the lower end of total cap space compared to other teams.

What are some of the big cap space saving cuts that we can make this offseason? We’ll need a few even with salary cap inflation.

EDIT: here’s some of the cap savings moves we can make, per Miguel:
View attachment 19575

View attachment 19576

View attachment 19577

View attachment 19578

View attachment 19579

View attachment 19580

View attachment 19581

View attachment 19582

Team Cap Space: $13,935,489 (Top 51)

New England Patriots Salary Cap | Over the Cap

Which does not take into account the following:

Player 52 - $480,000 (minimum)
Player 53 - $480,000 (minimum)
Practice Squad - 10 x $6900 x 17 = $1,173,000
Draft Pool - $4,947,927 - 5 x $480,000 (minimum)
Subtotal - $4,680,927 (minimum)

New England Patriots 2018 Salary Cap

 

[maineman209]

WRT Offensive Tackle free agents ...

Solder's last contract was 2 years, ~$20M, $19M guaranteed. I really don't think the Pats will be competing with other teams to re-sign him as much as with his own (possible) desire to retire and spend more time with his son. My guess is that a minimum offer might be 2 years, $22M-$23M, $20M guaranteed.

Fleming has been playing on the minimum RFA tender he signed last off-season (~$1.8M). Waddle's 2017 was for $1.2M. Waddle may be better at RT, but Fleming may have more versatility, having had starts at LT and both OG spots for the Pats. Fleming is a year younger and apparently less injury-prone. Fleming might be retained for 2-3 years at $2M-$2.5M APY. Waddle may cost a bit more - say $3M-$4M APY - due to competition from other teams.

Under contract behind these guys are:
- Garcia (NFI - "illness"), who's apparently down to TE weight, ~260 lbs at 6063 (hmmm ... I wonder if he can run routes and catch?)
- Jelks (NFI - "knees"), who hasn't played any football at all for two years
- Croston

 

[ATippett56]

??

He was the Pats' top special-teamer in tackles this season, and he started two games at CB when both Gilmore and Rowe were injured at the same time. He did very well in those two games.

How many games did Matthew Slater miss? How many games did Nate Ebner miss?

How about employing cornerbacks that can actually play defense? Super Bowl LII anyone?

 

[maineman209]

How many games did Matthew Slater miss? How many games did Nate Ebner miss?

How about employing cornerbacks that can actually play defense? Super Bowl LII anyone?

Both Slater and Ebner missed a bunch of games, so it's a damn good thing that the Pats had Bademosi, isn't it?

Badmosi wasn't "employed" as a cornerback. He was employed as a special-teamer who can play some cornerback in a pinch. And, no, he wasn't playing CB in the SB, he came on as an emergency safety when Chung got injured.

But, yeah, I guess that an eff-up in the SB completely negates a player's entire body of work for the rest of the season.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'd add Marquis Flowers to your "Bring Back" list. And what happened to Lewis (or are you assuming that he'll walk for big bucks elsewhere)?

I'm not sure about Allen or Gillislee being "gone right off the bat".
..... if you cut Gillislee and subsequently fail to re-sign Lewis and Burkhead, you're down to one RB under contract - White (and actually saving only $1.7M net from cutting Gillislee).
..... while Bennett needs to be cut before his $2M roster bonus becomes guaranteed (March 14th, I think), cutting Allen leaves you with Hollister, Tye and Gronk (with whom you may be in contract re-negotiations).

I like M Flowers. I'm not sure hes a 100% snap guy but he did some good things out there.

 

[ATippett56]

Both Slater and Ebner missed a bunch of games, so it's a damn good thing that the Pats had Bademosi, isn't it?

Badmosi wasn't "employed" as a cornerback. He was employed as a special-teamer who can play some cornerback in a pinch. And, no, he wasn't playing CB in the SB, he came on as an emergency safety when Chung got injured.

But, yeah, I guess that an eff-up in the SB completely negates a player's entire body of work for the rest of the season.

Bademosi is expendable.

Super Bowl LII is proof that you can never have enough quality cornerbacks.

Advanced Stats Report: Tom Brady’s mastery marred by defensive implosion

Seems as if the only cornerback that showed up for Super Bowl LII was Stephon Gilmore. Reference the coverage stats for further details.

 

[maineman209]

I like M Flowers. I'm not sure hes a 100% snap guy but he did some good things out there.

Considering that he'd played a grand total of 72 defensive snaps in 3 seasons with Cinci, I'd say Flowers progressed very rapidly this season. And he wasn't even in Camp with the Pats.