Official Free Agency 2018

[upstater1]

The Pats can't really get a whole lot higher than $30M without another Brady restructure-extension. Even then, getting to $30M probably entails cutting both Allen and Bennett and leaving a major hole at TE - in a short-supply market for good, experienced TEs (especially those who can block well) - while Gronk is still contemplating his future in football.

Retaining Solder is likely to take about $10M of the $30M in 2018 cap space. So, now they're down to around $20M.

They need to have around $5M to cover the 2018 cap hits of the rookie class, and need to sock away between $5M - $10M for in-season injury emergency coverage (they spent over $12M in 2017).

IOW, they sign Solder, and they have about $5M-$10M left for re-signing:
Amendola
Fleming/Waddle
Lewis/Burkhead
Marquis Flowers
Ebner/Slater
.
.
.

Cutting Bennett and Allen is a no brainer.

Who cares about TE depth and 2nd and 3rd stringers if your QB is on his butt or worse, injured. LT is a premium position.

 

[maineman209]

That is simple math
Solder is gone
Hopefully not Denver or Jets.

IDK.

The Pats certainly understand the supply shortage in quality LTs. They gave Solder 2 years, $20M, with $19.5M guaranteed on his last contract two years ago.

I seriously doubt that the Pats pick this season to snap their purse closed. And I seriously doubt that Solder moves out of the area for just a couple million more a year.

I think the Pats are likely to re-sign Solder and then figure out how to deal with the rest of the free agents and the cap budget.

 

[maineman209]

Cutting Bennett and Allen is a no brainer.

Who cares about TE depth and 2nd and 3rd stringers if your QB is on his butt or worse, injured. LT is a premium position.

Bennett and Allen are pass-blockers and run-blockers, too, y'know.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

Bennett and Allen are pass-blockers and run-blockers, too, y'know.

This the combination of Gronk Bennett and or Allen will mitigate the lose of losing a premier LT turning 30.
If you resign Waddle and or Flemming for a Quarter of what Solder signs for is spreading the money into the cap in multiple positions which has been BBs way.
Signing Gilmore for top money almost won us a Superbowl we weren't sniffing the championship game without Gilmore locking recievers down.
With the injuries and inefficiency of the d line and Butler having his worst season in my opinion.
Gilmore was the constant minus the first quarter of the season.
Now watching him dominate I can't think of a DB I'd prefer over him man to man.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Landry doesn't have to take anything. He can just bank the $16M guaranteed and be a UFA again in 2018.

He could if he bets on himself next year. Or he could work out a multi year extension with whatever team trades for him.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

The Pats can't really get a whole lot higher than $30M without another Brady restructure-extension. Even then, getting to $30M probably entails cutting both Allen and Bennett and leaving a major hole at TE - in a short-supply market for good, experienced TEs (especially those who can block well) - while Gronk is still contemplating his future in football.

Retaining Solder is likely to take about $10M of the $30M in 2018 cap space. So, now they're down to around $20M.

They need to have around $5M to cover the 2018 cap hits of the rookie class, and need to sock away between $5M - $10M for in-season injury emergency coverage (they spent over $12M in 2017).

IOW, they sign Solder, and they have about $5M-$10M left for re-signing:
Amendola
Fleming/Waddle
Lewis/Burkhead
Marquis Flowers
Ebner/Slater
.
.
.

They can draft a tight end. You just don't mess with the offensive line. I would hope brady would help us out again considering he's in the last stages of his career.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

What Chicago needs?

What the Bears, Trubisky (and Howard) needs, is much better OL performance rather than some shiny, new expensive toy. The thing about Howard is that he's putting up those numbers in spite of running behind one of the worst run-blocking units (and pass-blocking) in the league. Keep the money you'd spend on Landry and spend it on the OL, instead.

Investing some of it in their DL to get some run-stops would be wise, too. Their DL was 3rd worst in the league in 2017, just a tick ahead of the Pats.

No arguments here for the bears to upgrade the line. Just talking landry vs Howard Id rather have Landry. Chicago can focus on the trenches during the draft as well as grabbing a rb to pair with Cohen mid rounds.

 

[maineman209]

This the combination of Gronk Bennett and or Allen will mitigate the lose of losing a premier LT turning 30.
If you resign Waddle and or Flemming for a Quarter of what Solder signs for is spreading the money into the cap in multiple positions which has been BBs way.
Signing Gilmore for top money almost won us a Superbowl we weren't sniffing the championship game without Gilmore locking recievers down.
With the injuries and inefficiency of the d line and Butler having his worst season in my opinion.
Gilmore was the constant minus the first quarter of the season.
Now watching him dominate I can't think of a DB I'd prefer over him man to man.

Regardless of the APY number for Solder's new contract (likely $12M-$13M), I'm pretty sure that the Pats can structure it to keep his 2018 cap number down to about$10M.

For Fleming and Waddle, based on extensions signed this past week by OL with far less experience, I'd say that their absolute contract floor is $4M APY now, and could go to $7M APY or more. Retaining either of them for "a quarter of what Solder signs for" seems to be getting less and less likely.

 

[maineman209]

No arguments here for the bears to upgrade the line. Just talking landry vs Howard Id rather have Landry. Chicago can focus on the trenches during the draft as well as grabbing a rb to pair with Cohen mid rounds.

Upgrade their OL in the current market with a weak OL draft class. Not even close to being easy, much less cheap.

Replacing an RB who's already producing 1,000-yard seasons behind a truly s**tty OL by simply picking up another just like him in the mid-rounds? Sure! Easy-peasy! Why, then, would Miami ever be interested in acquiring Howard?

Going for the sparkly, expensive "impact player" instead of focusing effort an cap resources on retaining the solid players you already have and building up the trenches is how crappy teams get built and why they're perennial playoff absentees.

 

[mgteich]

My fear is that the Patriots do none of the above and settle for re-signing Ebner
and Slater to contracts way above their value.

I would not be surprised we sign the many of following Sters at much higher than the value that you think they are with: Slater, King, Ebner, Flowers and Bademosi.

For me, that has little to with the real decisions with regard to signing a corner and a an OT.

 

[mgteich]

Regardless of the APY number for Solder's new contract (likely $12M-$13M), I'm pretty sure that the Pats can structure it to keep his 2018 cap number down to about$10M.

For Fleming and Waddle, based on extensions signed this past week by OL with far less experience, I'd say that their absolute contract floor is $4M APY now, and could go to $7M APY or more. Retaining either of them for "a quarter of what Solder signs for" seems to be getting less and less likely.

$17M AAV seem a reasonable goal for Solder plus one.

As you say the cap number can be much less if Belichick wishes. This isn't a player issue. Their issue is guaranteed money by year.

For example, Solder might be fine with an $15M - $18M bonus and $2M 2018 salary (on a 3 year contract). That would give a 2018 cap hit of $7M- $8M.

For one of the others, compensation might a $6M -$9M bonus with a $1M salary on a 3 year contract. The 2018 cap hit would be $3M - $4M.

Alternatively, some of the bonus money can be due before the 2019 season starts.

 

[Tony2046]

The Pats can't really get a whole lot higher than $30M without another Brady restructure-extension. Even then, getting to $30M probably entails cutting both Allen and Bennett and leaving a major hole at TE - in a short-supply market for good, experienced TEs (especially those who can block well) - while Gronk is still contemplating his future in football.

Retaining Solder is likely to take about $10M of the $30M in 2018 cap space. So, now they're down to around $20M.

They need to have around $5M to cover the 2018 cap hits of the rookie class, and need to sock away between $5M - $10M for in-season injury emergency coverage (they spent over $12M in 2017).

IOW, they sign Solder, and they have about $5M-$10M left for re-signing:
Amendola
Fleming/Waddle
Lewis/Burkhead
Marquis Flowers
Ebner/Slater
.
.
.

Slightly depressing post. Hoping for a Life Highway type of draft. Or maybe I'd Settle for a Tim.

 

[luuked]

My fear is that the Patriots do none of the above and settle for re-signing Ebner
and Slater to contracts way above their value.

I certainly hope so. Both are important ST players.

 

[mgteich]

Slightly depressing post. Hoping for a Life Highway type of draft. Or maybe I'd Settle for a Tim.

I would say that the patriots would want to have $10M - $12M for when the season starts to cover lots of things. Much of this can come from restructuring some of Brady, Gronk, Gostkowski, Cooks and Hogan.

We have $16M.

LOW HANGING CAP ADDITIONS
$3.070M Cut Branch
$1.870 Cut McClellan

So, our starting position is about $18M. IMHO, signing two top free agents is about the limit: Solder and either a corner or a linebacker.

Sure, we could cut Allan and Gillislie. They could be cut when they are replaced. Also, the Bennett situation will need to be address in the next week. IMHO, we may simply pay the bonus. If we don't think he's worth a salary of $4.2M, then we can trade him.

 

[luuked]

IMHO, we may simply pay the bonus. If we don't think he's worth a salary of $4.2M, then we can trade him.

Dont think a day 3 pick is worth 2M..

 

[mgteich]

Dont think a day 3 pick is worth 2M..

If cut, Bennett would immediately be one of the most sought after free agents, certainly the top TE, who now is Fleming. In this market, Bennett would draw a Day 2 draft pick.

BTW, I am not SUGGESTING this approach. I think that Bennet is well worth his cap hit in today's market.

 

[luuked]

If cut, Bennett would immediately be one of the most sought after free agents, certainly the top TE, who now is Fleming. In this market, Bennett would draw a Day 2 draft pick.

BTW, I am not SUGGESTING this approach. I think that Bennet is well worth his cap hit in today's market.

If you are lucky you might get a late fifth round pick for him. No team will give you more for someone who might just retire in the middle of camp.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

If cut, Bennett would immediately be one of the most sought after free agents, certainly the top TE, who now is Fleming. In this market, Bennett would draw a Day 2 draft pick.

BTW, I am not SUGGESTING this approach. I think that Bennet is well worth his cap hit in today's market.

Keep him

 

[Uptown]

Vinny Curry Reportedly Will Be Released by Eagles After 6 Seasons with Team

BUT...



Eagles Negotiating To Keep DE Vinny Curry, Teams Interested In Trading For Him | NFLTradeRumors.co

 

[maineman209]

Keep him

Not a lot of quality UFA TE's this year. The TE draft class is shallow, especially for TEs who can actually block. I've seen estimates that players like Darren Fells, Lee Smith and Virgil Green could get contracts in the $6M APY range. Probably not a good year to be cutting Bennett - or Allen, for that matter. Better to extend-restructure, in a way that provides them both more guaranteed money while reducing their 2018 cap hits.