Where do you get that the league is potentially shutting down for weeks?
You don't "maximize assets" by having a "Fire Sale". Fire sale implies you're getting rid of everything regardless of what you get in return. Maximizing assets is doing just that. Getting the MOST ROI. Meaning you get people into a bidding war for the likes Gilmore and Thuney.
Pats currently have 45 players under contract for next season with a minimum of 43M from the new cap and 22.7M in carry over. They also have 4 Comp picks coming, not to mention 6 of 7 of their own picks..
Free Agents include:
Thuney, Andrews, White, Eleumenor, Adam Butler, J. McCourty, L. Guy, Simon, Burkhead, Newton, Brooks, Byrd, Davis, Calhoun, Bethel, Folk, Hoyer, Copeland, Ferentz, Rivers, Wise, JCJackson (RFA).
The 4 in Bold are the only MUST re-sign in my opinion. Butler and Calhoun would be nice, but they aren't huge signings either way.