Free Agents

[trueblue81]

Hi,

I'm from England which means I'm a little unclear on the free agents ruling.
If Pats haven't signed the likes of Lewis, Solder, Burkhead by the 14th March deadline can they then sign for another team and Pats couldn't do anything about it?

If this is the case why are NE waiting? Unless they are letting them all walk.

I'm sure this will seem silly to most of you that I'm asking this.

Thanks!

 

[maineman209]

Hi,

I'm from England which means I'm a little unclear on the free agents ruling.
If Pats haven't signed the likes of Lewis, Solder, Burkhead by the 14th March deadline can they then sign for another team and Pats couldn't do anything about it?

Yes.

If this is the case why are NE waiting? Unless they are letting them all walk.

They could easily be finalizing new contracts now without us knowing anything about it. Because they 2017 was extended a month longer than most teams, they're likely a bit behind on some of these things.

They also my well be waiting to see where the market sets the $$ value for some of their own free agents (and/or comparable free agents), and waiting to see what alternative players may be (or become) available (in some instances).

The only real calendar-dictated deadline is March 16th, when Bennett's $2M roster-option bonus is due.

I'm sure this will seem silly to most of you that I'm asking this.

Thanks!

Not silly at all! Questions are much better than the alternative.

 

[signbabybrady]

Hi,

I'm from England which means I'm a little unclear on the free agents ruling.
If Pats haven't signed the likes of Lewis, Solder, Burkhead by the 14th March deadline can they then sign for another team and Pats couldn't do anything about it?

If this is the case why are NE waiting? Unless they are letting them all walk.

I'm sure this will seem silly to most of you that I'm asking this.

Thanks!

Can also be the player waiting. They are so close to a free market now why not go see what's out there.

 

[Soliel]

They are all walking. They hate B.B. brady and Guerrero. Lol

 

[Jimke]

The Patriots like to wait until the last minute to re-sign players. Oftentimes,
they let the player find out his market value and come back to them to negotiate.
If he doesn't come back and negotiate, so be it.

 

[trueblue81]

And I assume Pats don’t get anything in return for the players either. Unless they’ve put a tender on the player?

It’s a surprising situation.

Butler, Lewis, Branch, Solder, Amendola, that’s a lot of high profile players all out of contract.

Thanks for the input chaps

 

[SHOWTIME15]

If Pats haven't signed the likes of Lewis, Solder, Burkhead by the 14th March deadline can they then sign for another team and Pats couldn't do anything about it?
!

These players may not want to re-sign with NE until they see what’s out there. If other teams are willing to pay a lot, NE will likely move on.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

And I assume Pats don’t get anything in return for the players either. Unless they’ve put a tender on the player?

Depending on how many players they lose in free agency, they could get compensatory draft picks for the 2019 draft.

 

[Uptown]

 

[trueblue81]

Not a surprise that. I think everyone saw it coming. Should mean Gronk stays for next season then

 

[maineman209]

Not a surprise that. I think everyone saw it coming. Should mean Gronk stays for next season then

Not necessarily. The Pats may have had reasons for cutting Bennett that superseded anything that Gronk may or may not do.

 

[jimnance]

And I assume Pats don’t get anything in return for the players either. Unless they’ve put a tender on the player?

It’s a surprising situation.

Butler, Lewis, Branch, Solder, Amendola, that’s a lot of high profile players all out of contract.

Thanks for the input chaps

There are no silly questions- that's how you learn.
Patriots have a history of letting their fa's see what other teams offer first-this helps both the players and the team see where their market value is. It's a very honest way of handling the situation.
The risk of course, is if the player just decides to accept the offer w/o giving Pats a chance to counter.
We know Butler is gone. Damn shame, but it's done.
I don't see Dola leaving.
Solder is the #1 priority. He's the best lt on the market,coming off a very strong year. But I think the Pats will resign him.
Pats can't keep both Lewis and Burkhead- but have a good shot of retaining one.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

There are no silly questions- that's how you learn.
Patriots have a history of letting their fa's see what other teams offer first-this helps both the players and the team see where their market value is. It's a very honest way of handling the situation.
The risk of course, is if the player just decides to accept the offer w/o giving Pats a chance to counter.
We know Butler is gone. Damn shame, but it's done.
I don't see Dollars leaving.
Solder is the #1 priority. He's the best lt on the market,coming off a very strong year. But I think the Pats will resign him.
Pats can't keep both Lewis and Burkhead- but have a good shot of retaining one.

If reports are true about Lewis discontent it will be Burkhead if any.

 

[trueblue81]

I figured the reason for cutting Bennett is the extra money they'd have to pay him if he stayed past 16th March.

 

[luuked]

Not necessarily. The Pats may have had reasons for cutting Bennett that superseded anything that Gronk may or may not do.

I agree. However if the inverse happened and they made a deal with Marty I would have been a lot more pessimistic about Gronks future. But this release was an obvious move..

 

[maineman209]

I figured the reason for cutting Bennett is the extra money they'd have to pay him if he stayed past 16th March.

That certainly dictated the timing of the move to cut him.

In terms of contract situations, the contrast would be Dwayne Allen. The Pats may want to restructure his contract to lower his 2018 cap hit. If so, since there's no option bonus deadline involved, those negotiations could extend even into late March without much consequence.

 

[maineman209]

If reports are true about Lewis discontent it will be Burkhead if any.

Well, if the rumors about Lewis' discontent with his playing time, and the rumors about his potential market value are true, then it seems like Burkhead should be the less expensive of the two to retain.

At this point, I'm guessing that Burkhead's new contract would fall in the range between the contract that Chris Ivory just signed with the Bills (2 years, $6M) and the extension that James White signed with the Pats about a year ago (3 years, $12M).

Ivory's 2017 production and Burkhead's 2017 production were comparable (and Burkhead is only two years younger):

Ivory (age 30 in 2018) .. 2017 season (11 games):
- 557 yds from scrimmage, 382 rushing/175 receiving
- 2 TDs, 2 fumbles

Burkhead (age 28 in 2018) .. 2017 season (10 games):
- 518 yds from scrimmage, 264 rushing/254 receiving
- 8 TDs, 1 fumble

Although Burkhead and Lewis aren't identical as players, Burkhead's value in a $3M-$4M per year range would seem greater than Lewis in a $5M-$6.5M range.

With White at $2.44M for 2018, and Gillislee at $2.18M, if Burkhead's 2018 cap hit can be kept in the $2.1M to $2.4M range under a new contract, that would give the Pats three, NFL-proven, solid contributors for the RBBC base at a total 2018 cap hit of around $7M. That would also provide them with the opportunity to pursue a fairly wide range of cap-friendly approaches (possibly several simultaneously) for filling the 4th spot - without much risk.

 

[luuked]

With White at $2.44M for 2018, and Gillislee at $2.18M, if Burkhead's 2018 cap hit can be kept in the $2.1M to $2.4M range under a new contract, that would give the Pats three, NFL-proven, solid contributors for the RBBC base at a total 2018 cap hit of around $7M.

Bingo. In other words can have all three for the alleged price of Lewis while not putting all our eggs into one basket.

As much as I love Dion the numbers just dont add up. We will be fine..

 

[PatsFan2]

That certainly dictated the timing of the move to cut him.

In terms of contract situations, the contrast would be Dwayne Allen. The Pats may want to restructure his contract to lower his 2018 cap hit. If so, since there's no option bonus deadline involved, those negotiations could extend even into late March without much consequence.

Why would the Patriots want to restructure a Scrub! like Dwayne Allen...I wouldn't even pay him $1.5 mill you can get an Exclusive Blocking TE for much less. Marty was the only TE that worked out after the Criminal. The Pats need the to very careful at that position because there is just too many uncertainties with Gronk and Dwayne Allen is Definitely not the Answer!

 

[fnordcircle]

Why would the Patriots want to restructure a Scrub! like Dwayne Allen...I wouldn't even pay him $1.5 mill you can get an Exclusive Blocking TE for much less. Marty was the only TE that worked out after the Criminal. The Pats need the to very careful at that position because there is just too many uncertainties with Gronk and Dwayne Allen is Definitely not the Answer!

I know this doesn't fit in with evaluating TEs based on receptions and TDs alone but I'm around 60% sure the Pats would rather have Allen than Jimmy Graham.

PUT THAT IN YOUR FANTASY STATS PIPE AND SMOKE IT