Curran: Patriots will be "extremely and uncharacteristically" aggressive in Free Agency

[captain stone]

Not sure recently once manning went there.

AJ Derby & Duke Dawson off the top of my head, plus probably some draft pick swaps other years too...

 

[Jimke]

I would think tight end and wide receiver are first order of business (besides quarterback).

I would think tight end and wide receiver are first order of business (besides quarterback).

I would think tight end and wide receiver are first order of business (besides quarterback).

The Patriots appear to have oodles of money until you read that the projected value for Godwin is 20 million peer year.
Twenty doesn't go into 58 million very many times.

 

[Sciz]

The Patriots appear to have oodles of money until you read that the projected value for Godwin is 20 million peer year.
Twenty doesn't go into 58 million very many times.

I’m guessing we’re going to see plenty of long term contracts around the league with year 1 cap hits under half of the yearly average. Gilmore’s first year cap hit was about ? of the average, and that was in a normal year.

That’s the main reason why I expect the total money on long term contracts to not be significantly impacted by the lower 2021 cap, while the old/injured guys who only get one year contract offers are really going to suffer.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I'm not buying this narrative I keep seeing repeated here that free agents don't want to sign with a team coming off a season with a losing record.

A look back at the history of NFL free agency does not show such a correlation. It wasn't true in the first year of free agency when Reggie White left the Eagles (who were coming off five straight 10-plus win seasons), to sign a huge contract with Green Bay (who had made it to the playoffs once in the previous 20 years - with a 5-3-1 record in the strike season).

Fast forward to 2020 free agency and most of the biggest contracts went to players signing with a non-playoff team:

• WR Amari Cooper (Dallas; 5 years, $100 mil)
• CB Byron Jones (Miami; 5 years, $82 mil)
• NT D.J. Reader (Bengals; 4 years, $53 mil)
• LB Joe Schobert (Jaguars; 5 years, $54 mil)
• OT Anthony Castonzo (Colts; 2 years, $33 mil)
• CB James Bradberry (NYG; 3 years, $45 mil)
• OT Jack Conklin (Browns; 3 years, $42 mil)
• LB Kyle Van Noy (Miami; 4 years, $51 mil)
• TE Austin Hooper (Browns; 4 years, $44 mil)
• CB Desmond Trufant (Lions; 2 years, $21 mil)
• LB Blake Martinez (Giants; 3 years, $30 mil)
• OT Bryan Bulaga (Chargers; 3 years, $30 mil)
• OL Connor McGovern (Jets; 3 years, $27 mil)
• RB Melvin Gordon (Broncos; 2 years, $16 mil)

Yes, occasionally a veteran near the end of his career will sign a contract based on an attempt to win a ring, like Junior Seau did with the Pats. But that is the exception and not the norm.

Teams with winning records typically don't have a lot of holes to fill, so they tend to be less active in free agency. Teams with losing records are usually in the opposite boat, resulting in their being more active in their pursuit.

Disregard the standard cliché "I came here to win" post-signing speech players give in their initial press conference. Players sign for the best contract, period.

i ag

 

[Huckleberry1]

I'm not buying this narrative I keep seeing repeated here that free agents don't want to sign with a team coming off a season with a losing record.

A look back at the history of NFL free agency does not show such a correlation. It wasn't true in the first year of free agency when Reggie White left the Eagles (who were coming off five straight 10-plus win seasons), to sign a huge contract with Green Bay (who had made it to the playoffs once in the previous 20 years - with a 5-3-1 record in the strike season).

Fast forward to 2020 free agency and most of the biggest contracts went to players signing with a non-playoff team:

• WR Amari Cooper (Dallas; 5 years, $100 mil)
• CB Byron Jones (Miami; 5 years, $82 mil)
• NT D.J. Reader (Bengals; 4 years, $53 mil)
• LB Joe Schobert (Jaguars; 5 years, $54 mil)
• OT Anthony Castonzo (Colts; 2 years, $33 mil)
• CB James Bradberry (NYG; 3 years, $45 mil)
• OT Jack Conklin (Browns; 3 years, $42 mil)
• LB Kyle Van Noy (Miami; 4 years, $51 mil)
• TE Austin Hooper (Browns; 4 years, $44 mil)
• CB Desmond Trufant (Lions; 2 years, $21 mil)
• LB Blake Martinez (Giants; 3 years, $30 mil)
• OT Bryan Bulaga (Chargers; 3 years, $30 mil)
• OL Connor McGovern (Jets; 3 years, $27 mil)
• RB Melvin Gordon (Broncos; 2 years, $16 mil)

Yes, occasionally a veteran near the end of his career will sign a contract based on an attempt to win a ring, like Junior Seau did with the Pats. But that is the exception and not the norm.

Teams with winning records typically don't have a lot of holes to fill, so they tend to be less active in free agency. Teams with losing records are usually in the opposite boat, resulting in their being more active in their pursuit.

Disregard the standard cliché "I came here to win" post-signing speech players give in their initial press conference. Players sign for the best contract, period.

I agree, and if any fan base should have been disabused of this idea it’s Patriot fans, as we spent years thinking numerous free agents would come here to win, only to see them sign for the money time after time after time. There will be players that pass on NE because they don’t want to deal with hard coaching, or Belichick’s team culture, but most go for the best deal financially, or best opportunity for them on the field. As far as this offseason goes I still think that QB will be the biggest determinant of the direction Belichick goes in. If he can get a QB who can make them truly competitive then I think he will be more aggressive in free agency and the draft, if he can’t I could see him tearing it down and doing a complete overhaul.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Hopefully this is true, and it means we get Hunter Henry and a top flight WR as part of this aggression. If we just end up signing a few reclamation projects, it wouldn't matter who is the QB.

And if they don’t have a competitive QB then they will have squandered their cap space on skill players who can’t be fully utilized.

 

[slifersd]

And if they don’t have a competitive QB then they will have squandered their cap space on skill players who can’t be fully utilized.

Problem is, where do you go to get that competitive QB? BB doesn't like bidding wars and all the top flight QBs that are available right now have multiple suitors. Not saying I like it or anything, but a bridge QB in the mold of a Brissett might have to be the path we go down this season.

 

[Brandon_Cox]

Problem is, where do you go to get that competitive QB?

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Yep.

Also kinda weird for Curran to say all of this and then mention Jacoby Brissett as an option for the Pats. That's not really what I'd have in mind as "aggressive"....

Aggressive at this point is unique because everyone will be signing short term contracts hoping that the CAP explodes in 2 or 3 years. Have we ever experienced the CAP going down?

Look for short term signings with players motivated to excel for the big contract 2023/4. Teams that can get players to perform best on quick notice will be favored.

Best bet is Jimmy G or bust.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I seriously doubt that you will hear anything about any trades the Pats are involved in until after the new league year starts. BB is not in the habit of being transparent. None of these transactions (Goff-Stafford trade, or any other trade) can take place until after the new league year. Technically the Rams need the Lions permission to talk to thier starting QB at this point, not sure if they can start giving him the playbook.

What happens if one of these guys fails a physical? Waay to many things can go wrong between now and the start of the league year, so if you are coming here waiting to hear what "aggresive expansion" BB has in mind, forgetaboutit.

Nothing will be said until after the league year starts and things can be official.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Problem is, where do you go to get that competitive QB? BB doesn't like bidding wars and all the top flight QBs that are available right now have multiple suitors. Not saying I like it or anything, but a bridge QB in the mold of a Brissett might have to be the path we go down this season.

I don’t disagree with this, but if he’s going with Brissett or a comparable QB then it makes no sense to spend their $$$$ on offensive skill positions, but I could see them drafting them so they are ready when they have their franchise caliber QB. And if they are going with the lesser QB then I think they will let Thuney walk and release Chung and Bolden, and I think Cannon will retire. In this scenario I would focus on building the defense and looking for the QB of the future.

 

[Love The Drake]

I don’t disagree with this, but if he’s going with Brissett or a comparable QB then it makes no sense to spend their $$$$ on offensive skill positions, but I could see them drafting them so they are ready when they have their franchise caliber QB. And if they are going with the lesser QB then I think they will let Thuney walk and release Chung and Bolden, and I think Cannon will retire. In this scenario I would focus on building the defense and looking for the QB of the future.

Why would we release Chung?
He is a leader on the field and the locker room a BB guy on the cap for pennies.
BB loves him some Pat Chung.

 

[patsfanincleveland]

The Patriots appear to have oodles of money until you read that the projected value for Godwin is 20 million peer year.
Twenty doesn't go into 58 million very many times.

The CAP is expected to be $175 million.

How does twenty divide into that?

Based on numbers at "Over the Cap", only Indy has more space.

 

[yukon cornelius]

11.5% of projected cap

 

[yukon cornelius]

NFL Rankings

Listing the top salaries, cap-hits, contracts, bonuses, and more for all active NFL players.

www.spotrac.com

 

[captain stone]

Why would we release Chung?
He is a leader on the field and the locker room a BB guy on the cap for pennies.
BB loves him some Pat Chung.

Chung looked broken-down and washed-up (and Overpaid) by the end of the 2019 season...Doubt he got better during the last year-1/2, especially at his age...I want his contract off our books, the sooner the better...

 

[Patsgofor4]

Chung looked broken-down and washed-up (and Overpaid) by the end of the 2019 season...Doubt he got better during the last year-1/2, especially at his age...I want his contract off our books, the sooner the better...

Cutting him before June 1 actually ADDS almost $1m to the cap. Cutting him after June 1 (or designating him as such) only saves them $1.85m. In other words, cutting Chung this offseason would be dumb. Yes, he has lost a step and I wouldn’t match him up with an athletic TE but his toughness, leadership skills, special teams contributions and his ability to act as a mentor for Dugger are certainly worth that $1.85m.

 

[RIpats88]

Now Derek Carr is apparently available. What team isn't shopping their QB at this point?

 

[Love The Drake]

Now Derek Carr is apparently available. What team isn't shopping their QB at this point?

I’d rather have Mariota

 

[Uptown]

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