Free Agent Targets 2019

[Jimke]

We should concentrate on re-signing our own, as we usually do. We also have 6 draft picks in the top 105, plus more late picks.

T. Brown
Patterson
Hogan
Dorsett
Hill
Gostkowski
Allen
Flowers
J McCourty
J Jones

Based on last year, we did not concentrate on re-signing our own top free agents.
We lost them as is evidenced by our 4 compensatory picks. We tried to fill
the void by trading for veterans on the last year of their contracts and a bunch
of lower level free agents.

 

[borisman]

Harrison was released by SD when we signed him. Moss was a trade. Gilmore has to be one of the best FA signings in Pats history. Does he not?

Most definitely, him and Harrison. I believe Vrabel was an UFA as well.
Even though he was a RFA, Welker was still "signed" to an offer sheet. Not many of these kind of signings happen so that was somewhat a rarity and should qualify even though Krafty Bob wanted to play nice with Miami and give them an extra pick for their (HUGE) loss.

 

[Miguel]

We should concentrate on re-signing our own, as we usually do.

The Patriots are fourth in terms of the number of compensatory picks awarded.

NFL Announces 32 Compensatory Draft Choices to 15 Clubs

 

[TheRainMaker]

While I think he will probably end up in SF, Dallas or maybe Atlanta, I'd like to see the Pats go after Earl Thomas. It's Rodney Harrison 2oo3 all over again. Chargers let him go because he was over 30 and thought he was declining. Can't remember if Harrison was coming off of an injury though.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I believe Vrabel was an UFA as well.

You are correct.

 

[maineman209]

Big problem for Pats in FA, is taht so many teams have unprecedented $$$ to spend. Colts have 122 million, Jets 102, Bills 89, Browns 75, Raiders 75. Pats are 21st in cap room. League average is 37 million. The top 5 or 6 teams can basically grab multiple top tier free agents. I think the Pats will be left with slim pickings in free agency.

Imagine the Colts with 122 million, they can easily take on Leveon Bell and 4 or 5 other top tier FA's. The Jets with their draft picks nd cap space are also in extremely good position for a rams like turnaround.

Those gargantuan cap space numbers aren't all necessarily 100% FU money. The potential wheeling and dealing for those amounts is tempered by how many players are currently under contract, how many critical in-house free agents need to be re-signed, etc. Every team has its Trent Browns and Trey Flowers, and many teams may have 4, 5, or 6 of those types all coming due at the same time.

The Colt have only 40 players under contract (UC). They have 27 in-house free agents, including five regulars from their secondary, and a couple starting OL.

The Jete, with $100m in cap space, have only 31 players UC, and 38 in-house free agents. They need to hire, re-sign or draft 22 guys just to have a full 53-man roster, and 59 guys to fill out their 90-man off-season roster.

The Niners have $62m in cap space, but 56 players UC, and only 13 free agents on their in-house list (topped by Robbie Gould and Jimmie Ward).

I mean, it seems like a team like the Jete can just "buy" a whole new team with that kind of cap space, but that really doesn't work all that often. When it does make a team competitive, it might be for a season, maybe two, but then the spending free-for-all catches up. They're back in the cellar for a few years, starting the cycle all over again.

The other thing is that these "flush" teams may not target Flowers, but rather try to outbid the 'Boys for DeMarcus Lawrence.

Meanwhile, the Pats will be looking at who a team like the Eagles might need to shed. They have 47 players UC, and 19 in-house free agents, several of them key players. But the Eagles are currently projected to start 2019 at $14m OVER the cap.

The real fun for us Pats fans is looking at the rosters of the teams who are in relative Cap Hell.

 

[Uptown]

Don’t care how y’all feel. Sign the beast!!! We need some UGLY/NASTY on D

 

[TheRainMaker]

Harrison was released by SD when we signed him. Moss was a trade. Gilmore has to be one of the best FA signings in Pats history. Does he not?

Most likely. He's a prime example of a good player that was rotting on a bad team. I didn't think he was that good during his time in Buffalo but I was quickly proven wrong during his first year year.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Don’t care how y’all feel. Sign the beast!!! We need some UGLY on D

I wanted the Pats to take him badly in the 2003 draft.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Most definitely, him and Harrison. I believe Vrabel was an UFA as well.
Even though he was a RFA, Welker was still "signed" to an offer sheet. Not many of these kind of signings happen so that was somewhat a rarity and should qualify even though Krafty Bob wanted to play nice with Miami and give them an extra pick for their (HUGE) loss.

I'd throw in Ted Washington as well. Keith Traylor the year after. The 3-4 defense was not possible without them.

Even though it's en vogue on here to say Adalius Thomas was a "bust", he was not. He absolutely erased TE's in 2007 until Colvin got injured when he'd rather be rushing the passer. He harnessed Eli Manning all day in the Super Bowl and almost had 3 sacks that game.

 

[maineman209]

Based on last year, we did not concentrate on re-signing our own top free agents.
We lost them as is evidenced by our 4 compensatory picks. We tried to fill
the void by trading for veterans on the last year of their contracts and a bunch
of lower level free agents.

That seemed to work out okay so far. Might've worked out even better if Britt, Matthews and Hill - and basically the entire draft class hadn't gone to IR - except, ironically the one draftee who actually had an injury history.

So, y'know, sh-t happened, and the Pats didn't "win" the off-season. However, they're still playing in the divisional round on Sunday with a decent chance to make an 8th consecutive appearance in the AFCCG.

 

[maineman209]

Don’t care how y’all feel. Sign the beast!!! We need some UGLY on D

Suggs signing with the Pats .... now THAT would be a hoot and a half!

 

[mgteich]

We have compensatory picks almost every year.

We lost them as is evidenced by our 4 compensatory picks. ..

 

[maineman209]

Not sure if this is the best thread for this, but just for the record ...

In addition to Hollister (finally!) being sent to IR yesterday for his chronic hammy injury, and being replaced by Stephen Anderson from the PS, the Pats also filled out the PS by adding ...

AJ Howard - 5'11"/200lb safety out of Appalachian State
Dan Skipper - 6'10"/310lb OT out of Arkansas

The Pats also signed SFA Jake Eldrenkamp (OG/OC) to a 2019 futures contract.

 

[Deus Irae]

We have compensatory picks almost every year.

If you're getting comp picks year after year, you're not focusing on bringing back your own players. You're letting them go. It's pretty much inherent in how the comp system works.

 

[Brandon Manning]

Try to get Earl Thomas this offseason. The last time we signed a 30 year old safety, it worked out good.

I'd like to see us trade up and take a receiver in the draft.

 

[PatriotReign]

Thomas Davis isn't going back to Panthers. Go get him.

 

[Joey007]

Thomas Davis isn't going back to Panthers. Go get him.

Great player over the years, but we’ve had enough old LB’s.

 

[Sciz]

What’s funny is that they drafted Davis’ replacement 4 years ago, and they might both be gone the same offseason. Shaq Thompson is due $9.2 million next season, way too much for a guy who could never beat out Davis for the other full time job next to Kuechly.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

It's often the "small splashes" that make a big difference. Nink. Woodhead. Van Noy.

Who yet really knows what might happen with Simon or Melifonwu?

It's these signings that make the Patriots who they have been. I was so excited for Pork Chop Knighton, Jonathan Fanene, and even Danny Shelton to come in, and they were busts. For every Ted Washington there are 10 Danny Sheltons, but sometimes it's Sealver Siliga who comes out of nowhere to help out, only to fade as quickly. (I decided to make this an all DT edition of "Remember Some Pats").