Grade the Patriots 2021 Free Agency

[1960Pats]

Be honest: If the Jets had been the one with this free agency, what grade would you have given it?

I'm always honest. Anytime I grade the Jete on anything the highest grade I give is an F- because they suck.

This has been the best crop of FAs the Pats have had since 2001. Too bad they don't have a QB. Back then they had two of them.

 

[Steve102]

I'm always honest. Anytime I grade the Jete on anything the highest grade I give is an F- because they suck.

This has been the best crop of FAs the Pats have had since 2001. Too bad they don't have a QB. Back then they had two of them.

Good thing for us they don't take the field 3/18, eh?

 

[captain stone]

If you insist...

I graded it a C.

On the Plus side are Judon, Godchaux (though we still need a Danny Shelton/Malcolm Brown type of DT) & the TEs (though I would've signed only one of Smith/Henry and tried to sign a Jesse James/Kyle Rudolf type instead);

On the minus side: Everybody Else...Billy is showing that he is no longer able to properly evaluate not only college WRs, but professional ones as well.

Update: C- trending toward D+

One of the very few strengths of the team, OL, is now a complete mess.

DT is a downgrade: Guy & Butler > Godchaux & Dee Wise & Especially Anderson.

Billy's done the Impossible...and Not in a good way.

 

[mgteich]

I think it's just Andews (among starters) still up in the air.

Guy?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Update: C- trending toward D+

One of the very few strengths of the team, OL, is now a complete mess.

DT is a downgrade: Guy & Butler > Godchaux & Dee Wise & Especially Anderson.

Billy's done the Impossible...and Not in a good way.

I'm not a fan of the WR's at all. WR is still a major need.

DL is still extremely weak and bringing Wise back was terrible.

I would've liked the money that was lost out on Thuney and paid to Karras to go towards a quality C like Linsley and just draft someone. And because you can't rely on Wynn to stay healthy, expect musical chairs on the O-line this season.

 

[Ivan]

Some crabby folks.... handing out C's, Ds, and Fs. Same folks would be complaining that they don't do anything on the first day of FA if Bill sat on his hands and waited for the blue light specials.

Right on the money. Their “ grades” would have been far worse if he hadn’t signed them. This is what defines “ haters,” no matter what the move is they are going to b*tch and sh*t all over it. Nothing is ever good enough, and nothing proves that more than hating on the coach who brought 6 Lombardi’s to New England.

 

[Steve102]

Right on the money. Their “ grades” would have been far worse if he hadn’t signed them. This is what defines “ haters,” no matter what the move is they are going to b*tch and sh*t all over it. Nothing is ever good enough, and nothing proves that more than hating on the coach who brought 6 Lombardi’s to New England.

Facts

 

[Sect140]

B + not an A because Cam is still our QB. The real vote on this will be a year from now.

 

[Ollie]

I'm not a fan of the WR's at all. WR is still a major need.

DL is still extremely weak and bringing Wise back was terrible.

I would've liked the money that was lost out on Thuney and paid to Karras to go towards a quality C like Linsley and just draft someone. And because you can't rely on Wynn to stay healthy, expect musical chairs on the O-line this season.

O line a mess? we lost Thuney who got very well paid and i'm glad we didn't match it and brought in Brown and Karras plus there is still a long way to go. It's hardly a mess

 

[Zuma]

RLKAG

 

[Lagaffe_07]

O line a mess? we lost Thuney who got very well paid and i'm glad we didn't match it and brought in Brown and Karras plus there is still a long way to go. It's hardly a mess

I wouldn’t say a mess but it has question mark. Multiple report stated that the patriots where in it until the end with Thuney so they really wanted to keep him. The OL could be weaker this year. We don’t know what Brown will get this year. Scar is not here anymore

 

[TheRainMaker]

O line a mess? we lost Thuney who got very well paid and i'm glad we didn't match it and brought in Brown and Karras plus there is still a long way to go. It's hardly a mess

I didn't call it a mess.

 

[Ollie]

I didn't call it a mess.

oops quoted the wrong post! sorry

 

[patfanken]

Update: C- trending toward D+

One of the very few strengths of the team, OL, is now a complete mess.

DT is a downgrade: Guy & Butler > Godchaux & Dee Wise & Especially Anderson.

Billy's done the Impossible...and Not in a good way.

Thank you for at least being consistent, given the fact you have never been happy with what the Pats have done all during the most dominant 20 years in NFL history.

1. To say the OL is a complete mess is one of you most ludicrous comments in the past 2 decades. ASSUMING Andrews is gone, the Pats have resigned Karras who has been decent starting C for the past 2 years. If you'd only checked the actual numbers comparing the 2 guy's actual performances it seems they are both pretty similar with Andrews being the better run blocker and Karras the better pass blocker, all at about half the cost.

Now don't mistake me, captain, I would have LOVED to have signed Andrews. His rise from UDFA to starting superbowl C is one of the great Patriot stories ever. He was a guy who maximized his skill set. How can you have a heartbeat and no root for a guy like that. I hope he gets every dollar he's asking for.

THAT being said our OL is STILL going to be one of the best OL's in the league. BTW- the Pats have paid Karras back up money and he is also a MUCH needed OG depth piece, so when the dust settles don't be surprised in David is back...or someone else. There is a great OC class coming out this season (if you have been following the draft talk) most of whom will be available in the 3rd-5th rounds.

As far as the DL gains and losses, I think you are LESS off base. Losing Guy IS a loss but the guy is 31 and has had a lot ot wear and tear over his 9 year career. What's the old adage, better a year too soon than a year too late. He was the best DLman for the 4 years he was here, but was he really worth the multiyear contract he was likely looking for? Another guy I hope gets everything he's looking for.

Butler was a one trick pony who was a massive liability against the run and had only one decent year as a situational pass rusher in the 4 years he was here. Believe me he's not any reason a DL will be good or bad.
.
As far as the additions, we have to see if Godchaux is a true nose or not or if Anderson can match Guy's production. One day into FA and a month before the draft and 3 months before camp is REALLY too early to start declaring "it's a disaster" even for you,

 

[PlainOldEd]

It's Ray Lewis killed a GUY.

 

[RIpats88]

It’s certainly an A but before we get too full of ourselves it’s an A because we had A level holes in the roster and the corresponding cap space.

Find any top team, take away 7 guys of this caliber and then call them free agent signings and you see the dynamic. It wasn’t addition to a good solid squad like most of the last 20 years has been it was addition of the pieces that were missing (except the biggest one)

Yeah, most teams are spending this money on keeping their own guys. We just didn't have many talented guys to keep. So bill had to go out and pay them rather than home frown talent.

I'm fine with it, because I think where bill lacks in identifying talent in the draft he is great at identifying talent already in the NFL and even unrealized talent.

 

[skinnydog]

Im at a B rating so far. I’m glad, Bill went out and spent some money, but then with all the cap space and roster holes he had to spend it. The fact that they spent so much so early, however means he spent it on players he wanted on this team. I really like and am kind of shocked at the TEs they signed. A+ for that position. Proven talent in Henry combined with tons of potential in Smith. And I don’t care if either was “overpaid”. I like the linebacker signing as well. Judson could be a great signing. A for that one Too. Not a fan of the WR signings. C range there. I do like Agholor’s speed, but his body of work is that of underperforming and his hands are mediocre to poor. Bourne seems like a JAG to me. Too slow to be special. Guys like him will make catches. In today’s NFL, if a WR plays the majority of offensive snaps, then averaging 3 catches a game is not hard to do especially if the majority of catches are on short throws. Defenses give up those passes in today’s game. My WR preference would have been one Curtis Samuels signing over these two. D-line signings are OK, but not much of an upgrade over Guy and Butler. O Line similar.y seems to be treading water, but it was a really good line to begin with. I like the Trent Brown pickup, but would have like one of Thunder or AnDrew’s (I know he can still be signed). And, regardless of the PFF “stats” i really hope he is not our center in 2021. Mills is a nice pickup at a position of strength. Finally, resigning Cam is OK, but with him on even this improved team, I think they are a contender to make the playoffs, but are not at all a threat even if they grab a wild card spot.

However, it is still so early in the process and with a couple more good signing this can move into the A range.

 

[venecol]

I know it's early but I believe that BB and the Patriots have WON the Free Agency period and it's not even close.

The Patriots had gaping holes and I have ROASTED BB in the past for his poor drafting that led us to this spot.

But I'll also give the man Credit when he earns it.

It's very CLEAR that BB concocted a master plan to address every major shortcoming in free agency.

And once the 'legal tampering' period began, BB pulled off his free agent ATTACK plan with the grace of a grand maestro conductor of an opera.

No fooling around, no waiting everyone out before making a move.

The Patriots struck HARD, they struck FIRST, and they showed NO MERCY to the rest of the league as they RAIDED the Free Agent market with unmatched AGGRESSION.

I know that not all the moves will work out, and winning free agency doesn't win you a title. Also I'm still SCARED as hell that BB will mess up the Draft again.

BUT for the topic of did the Patriots win Free Agency in 2021, I'm just going to have to give the man a HELL YEAH!!

Free Agent Arrivals so far:
TE Hunter Henry, DL Henry Anderson, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Nelson Agholor, LB Matt Judon, DB Jalen Mills, DT Davon Godchaux, TE Jonnu Smith

Discuss your reactions and your personal scores for the Patriots Free Agency. Did they spend too much, too little, did they miss a player you wanted, did they get a player that you were touting all along?

Boat parade in May?

 

[Wax Frog]

The Patriots struck HARD, they struck FIRST, and they showed NO MERCY to the rest of the league as they RAIDED the Free Agent market with unmatched AGGRESSION.

IOW...

 

[Kontradiction]

Cam - D. The guy’s legs are cooked. All this signals is that we’re going for a QB high. Hopefully that QB replaces Cam in-season.

Smith - B. I’d rate this an A, but they paid more for him than I would have liked.

Godcheaux - A. DT is still a need but it was the 1B biggest need on the roster. The run defense was a massive issue. He will go a long way toward helping.

Anderson - C. Two seasons removed from a career year and cut by the Jets. A ho-hum situational piece.

Bourne - C. Essentially a slot guy trying out for Edelman’s role. Quick in and out of cuts, but a limited route tree.

Agholor - C. Has the speed I was looking for, but drops are a problem and he clearly benefited from defenses having to dedicate a safety deep for Ruggs while doubling Waller in man. There were better options available.

Henry - A. This signing basically means the team can attack the defense out of any personnel package either on the ground or through the air. Most teams would run the ball out of 22 personnel, for example. We won’t have to be one of them.

Judon - A. We badly needed another edge rusher opposite Winovich. The defense should be able to get off the field on 3rd and long pretty often between those two, Hightower being back, and the secondary the team has.

Mills - A. Big for versatility and depth. He can line up at FS, SS, and nickel/dime corner. You need a piece like this in order to slow down teams like KC and Tampa Bay.

Overall/average grade: B.
Best signing: Henry