2021 NFL Free Agency/Trade News & Discussion: March Edition

[Ring 6]

We didn't know it at the time but BB went for it in 2019 but at the same time didn't put the team in cap jail for 2+ years like the Saints - only one.

Wanted Gronk to take a pay cut/restructure and Gronk was not helpful.
Tried to sign Humphries. He stays south.
Tried to balance paying Tom but mitigated the downside risk of paying a 42 year old QB and using a lot of future cap space on a team that was not going to contend. Tom got cranky.
Signed Collins. Did ok.
Michael Bennett turned into a baby. Traded.
Got Josh back. Does drugs again. Cut
Signed AB. Goes crazy again. Cut
Drafted a WR w/ 1st rd pick. Trending to a bust.
Got Sanu in a desperate move. Blows out his ankle. Done.

Quite frankly what could go wrong did go wrong in 2019.

Also uncharacteristically used a #1 on a WR.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Also uncharacteristically used a #1 on a WR.

...and in 2018 two 1st rounders on the offensive side of the ball.

It's clear to me Bill expected Harry to be a player who is big enough to win the 50/50 balls and because of his size box out DBs and not this polished route-runner year one. He was thinking that might be enough for Tom work with. Obviously it wasn't.

 

[ashley]

We have a lot of money in a year when teams are strapped for cash and can't spend. We should be able to get some really good deals once f/a begins.

 

[Ring 6]

...and in 2018 two 1st rounders on the offensive side of the ball.

It's clear to me Bill expected Harry to be a player who is big enough to win the 50/50 balls and because of his size box out DBs and not this polished route-runner year one. He was thinking that might be enough for Tom work with. Obviously it wasn't.

It’s a shame that people can look at a team that went to 4 SBs in 5 years, then took pretty drastic steps in the 6th to proactively address the part of the team that was slipping and then when those moves failed, it’s an incompetent organization.

 

[Ring 6]

We have a lot of money in a year when teams are strapped for cash and can't spend. We should be able to get some really good deals once f/a begins.

Much less money chasing many more players.

 

[RobertWeathers]

It’s a shame that people can look at a team that went to 4 SBs in 5 years, then took pretty drastic steps in the 6th to proactively address the part of the team that was slipping and then when those moves failed, it’s an incompetent organization.

Oh and Develin, Johnson and Andrews go on IR. There goes a respected running game. Wynn comes back but it's too late b/c the passing game is crap.

Losing Gost and King on STs hurt them as well.

Just wasn't meant to be.

 

[Mack Herron]

It’s a shame that people can look at a team that went to 4 SBs in 5 years, then took pretty drastic steps in the 6th to proactively address the part of the team that was slipping and then when those moves failed, it’s an incompetent organization.

 

[Ross12]

At this point, I think the team is looking to go in one of two directions:

1. Trade for a quality QB, try to fill out offensive and defensive needs with remaining cap space and draft picks (since that QB will eat up space and cost picks)

or

2. If nothing becomes available that they like, sign Cam back to a 1 or 2 year deal on day 1 of FA and give him another shot. Spend bigger in FA since Cam won't cost much, then try to trade up to draft one of the top few QBs (Lance? Fields? Jones?) to sit behind him for at least one year. I think Bill really likes Cam as a leader and would like to see what a full offseason, lack of COVID and hopefully significantly improved receivers/TEs would do for him. If the answer is "not much", at least you drafted a QB.

 

[oceansizer]

At this point, I think the team is looking to go in one of two directions:

1. Trade for a quality QB, try to fill out offensive and defensive needs with remaining cap space and draft picks (since that QB will eat up space and cost picks)

or

2. If nothing becomes available that they like, sign Cam back to a 1 or 2 year deal on day 1 of FA and give him another shot. Spend bigger in FA since Cam won't cost much, then try to trade up to draft one of the top few QBs (Lance? Fields? Jones?) to sit behind him for at least one year. I think Bill really likes Cam as a leader and would like to see what a full offseason, lack of COVID and hopefully significantly improved receivers/TEs would do for him. If the answer is "not much", at least you drafted a QB.

In spite of my animosity towards Cam I can live with the idea of having him just one more season ...if your second scenario comes true and BB grabs one of top 5 QBs in draft.

 

[Ross12]

In spite of my animosity towards Cam I can live with the idea of having him just one more season ...if your second scenario comes true and BB grabs one of top 5 QBs in draft.

Yeah I hear you. If Cam turns it around Bill can keep going with him until he feels the other guy would be the better option - he would have at least 5 years to determine that.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Bill draft a second QB like Davis Mills later in the draft too.

 

[oceansizer]

Yeah I hear you. If Cam turns it around Bill can keep going with him until he feels the other guy would be the better option - he would have at least 5 years to determine that.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Bill draft a second QB like Davis Mills later in the draft too.

Agree but I strongly believe a rookie QB will be a better option than Cam sooner than later.
And if I want to see some rivalry I prefer Fitzpatrick or Smith as a bridge QB.

 

[Sicilian]

...and in 2018 two 1st rounders on the offensive side of the ball.

It's clear to me Bill expected Harry to be a player who is big enough to win the 50/50 balls and because of his size box out DBs and not this polished route-runner year one. He was thinking that might be enough for Tom work with. Obviously it wasn't.

And even if he turned out better, BB was probably expecting that by the time the playoffs rolled around, Harry would have more than 7 games and wouldn't be the 2nd "best" WR option on the team. If Harry was lining up with a healthier Edelman (on account of not having to be the focal point of the offense), Gordon and Brown on the outsides, and White in the backfield, you're talking he's matching up against the other teams 4th CB at worst. Not saying he suddenly becomes a good player, for a rookie it can simplify his game quite a bit. Like you said, a lot went wrong that year, and it all snowballed.

 

[patfanken]

You're assuming that the Texans wouldn't be getting the 8th overall pick. They're going to have their pick of a couple different QBs at that point. So, why would Bridgewater need to be included?

The 8th pick, PLUS McCaffery and Bridgewater makes a lot of sense for both teams. The Texans get a middle of the road decent starter to begin their rebuild around an elite RB and whomever they get at #8 (say a Trey Lance and a 2 year window to develop that awesome raw talent. And maybe a 3rd in 22 to seal the deal.

The Panthers get a top 5 QB to build around.

That's a deal I'd do if I were both teams

 

[ralmat55]

For everyone who wants to dump on the Saints and others struggling to get under the cap while raising their “Bill is God” flag, remember none of those teams could have foreseen the 2021 salary cap being $40 million less than predicted when they made most of the decisions they made,

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah I hear you. If Cam turns it around Bill can keep going with him until he feels the other guy would be the better option - he would have at least 5 years to determine that.

I wouldn't be shocked to see Bill draft a second QB like Davis Mills later in the draft too.

I just cannot understand how we sat and watched an entire season of a pathetic QB worse than half the backups in the league and think out of everyone available we want to have another season with the worst QBs in the league starting for us.
It just makes no sense.

 

[Ring 6]

For everyone who wants to dump on the Saints and others struggling to get under the cap while raising their “Bill is God” flag, remember none of those teams could have foreseen the 2021 salary cap being $40 million less than predicted when they made most of the decisions they made,

I’m sure no one did since the cap actually didn’t go down 40 mill.
But by all means continue to be the shining beacon that attacks anything positive spoken about the man who led the team you root for to 9 Sbs and won 6. Anyone who dare say positive things about the bastard be damned. Pitchforks at the ready. Hang him in effigy. You are so much better a person than someone who should have to endure the indignity of rooting for a team that had a 7-9 season.

 

[NormZauchin]

At this point, I think the team is looking to go in one of two directions:

1. Trade for a quality QB, try to fill out offensive and defensive needs with remaining cap space and draft picks (since that QB will eat up space and cost picks)

or

2. If nothing becomes available that they like, sign Cam back to a 1 or 2 year deal on day 1 of FA and give him another shot. Spend bigger in FA since Cam won't cost much, then try to trade up to draft one of the top few QBs (Lance? Fields? Jones?) to sit behind him for at least one year. I think Bill really likes Cam as a leader and would like to see what a full offseason, lack of COVID and hopefully significantly improved receivers/TEs would do for him. If the answer is "not much", at least you drafted a QB.

Yes, sign Cam for another season and see if he can reach 10 touchdown passes. Too bad leadership does not equate with competence.

 

[Ring 6]

Yes, sign Cam for another season and see if he can reach 10 touchdown passes. Too bad leadership does not equate with competence.

Seriously I don’t get how a Patriot fan cannot despise cam Newton if they watched the games last season and saw what he did. I literally reached the point where went he screwed up yet again I just laughed and looked forward to the day that slug wouldn’t be screwing up games for the team I root for.
i am amazed any fan would even consider wanting to go through that again.

 

[Deus Irae]

Yes, sign Cam for another season and see if he can reach 10 touchdown passes. Too bad leadership does not equate with competence.

Given Brady's 20 years history of great leadership, I'm not sure there's been anything in NFL history as overhypedd as Cam's leadership.

 

[Sicilian]

Given Brady's 20 years history of great leadership, I'm not sure there's been anything in NFL history as overhypedd as Cam's leadership.

I think people too often conflate leadership (which relates to just locker room chemistry and work ethic) and being able to elevate other players (which is a combination of leadership and actual on field ability). It's similar to a guy like Jordan Richards likely knowing exactly where he needs to be on a given play (being a smart player) but not having the athleticism to actually get there.