Patriots Player Departure Shaq Mason traded to the Bucs

[Ring 6]

Here’s a potential explanation. Not saying it’s true or I believe this is the right approach, but a thought.

They know the team wasn’t fully ready to compete in 2021 and did as well as they could. They think they’re still in the middle of a rebuild and expect 2022 to look like 2021. Rather than use the 2023 cap space now when it might only get them one more win, they could be targeting 2023 as the all-in date when their rebuild is complete, and will therefore go all out at that time. Similar to how the Pats won in 2001 but took a step back in 2002 as some of the older vets they signed for the prior year declined, before exploding thereafter with a couple of big drafts and bringing in Rodney, Washington and Colvin from the outside.

Why would you not get players now so they are here for a year developing within the system instead of waiting a year? That makes no sense.
They are doing what they always do, they strike where they see value. Last year they saw value early and needed to add a lot of players.
They had over 40% of the snaps played by players who weren’t here in 2020.
This year, with less money and fewer needs to fill they see value in waiting and getting more players out of what they have to work with instead of chasing the top of the market.

 

[NormZauchin]

Desjarlais ... sounds liked they picked him up from the Canadians.

 

[Ring 6]

Desjarlais ... sounds liked they picked him up from the Canadians.

He is Canadian

 

[Scotty]

Didn't he Suck last season, or is it another slug i'm thinkig of.

As far as I know he has never played for the team, he was signed at the end of Jan 22

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

Why would you not get players now so they are here for a year developing within the system instead of waiting a year? That makes no sense.
They are doing what they always do, they strike where they see value. Last year they saw value early and needed to add a lot of players.
They had over 40% of the snaps played by players who weren’t here in 2020.
This year, with less money and fewer needs to fill they see value in waiting and getting more players out of what they have to work with instead of chasing the top of the market.

Fewer needs to fill in ?
LG
RT
NT
DE
LB
CB 1 and 2

Also upgrade of the WR Position is necessary

I would say this are still quite a few needs where you need starting caliber players
I am not saying they can’t find a diamond cheap like Adrian Phillips signing but I don’t think the roster will be better than next year we can hope we really nail the draft and get early contributors and players who weren’t good last year step up in year 2

 

[Ring 6]

Fewer needs to fill in ?
LG
RT
NT
DE
LB
CB 1 and 2

Also upgrade of the WR Position is necessary

I would say this are still quite a few needs where you need starting caliber players
I am not saying they can’t find a diamond cheap like Adrian Phillips signing but I don’t think the roster will be better than next year we can hope we really nail the draft and get early contributors and players who weren’t good last year step up in year 2

Yes they have fewer needs to fill than they did at the start of FA last year.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

Yes they have fewer needs to fill than they did at the start of FA last year.

But still a lot of spots to fill in and quit a few uncertainties esp at LB

 

[Ring 6]

But still a lot of spots to fill in and quit a few uncertainties esp at LB

And a lot of time to deal with them.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Apparently, the Pats and Bucs are going to have to wait until next week to complete this trade, because Shaq is on a cruise!

So he can't take his physical.

 

[upstater1]

Welp, signing Lael Collins is now off the table, he's going into free agency, after getting cut by the Cowboys. Apparently, the Patriots did not want to take on his entire contract

 

[venecol]

Welp, signing Lael Collins is now off the table, he's going into free agency, after getting cut by the Cowboys. Apparently, the Patriots did not want to take on his entire contract

Cheapskates. Krafty Bob has a wedding to pay for.

 

[upstater1]

Cheapskates. Krafty Bob has a wedding to pay for.

This is getting really really ridiculous and tiresome.

We spend to the cap all the time and try to avoid years like 2020 when we were totally strapped and the team devolved.

Certain people in New England love calling Kraft a cheapskate.

 

[Deus Irae]

This is getting really really ridiculous and tiresome.

We spend to the cap all the time and try to avoid years like 2020 when we were totally strapped and the team devolved.

Certain people in New England love calling Kraft a cheapskate.

The cap is just an accounting gimmick. The Patriots are middle of the pack in actual spending over the past 10 years (just as they were middle of the pack in the early years). This was, in fact, the topic on the radio about 5 minutes ago.

 

[upstater1]

The cap is just an accounting gimmick. The Patriots are middle of the pack in actual spending over the past 10 years (just as they were middle of the pack in the early years). This was, in fact, the topic on the radio about 5 minutes ago.

And if you screw up the cap, you screw up the team. Which happens frequently to many teams. I know all about the cap, you're not telling me anything, the point is, the Bills are going to have to deconstruct the entire team right in the middle of Josh Allen's career. There will be a $250m cap, meanwhile Josh will have $60m of it and old man Miller (at 36 years old) will count for $26m in dead cap money when they cut him, and they will cut him then because his salary is pushed back into years 4-6. So, they'll have fun having just 2 players with 1/4 of the team's entire cap.

There's no creative accounting or gimmickry that can get you out of dead money. You have to eat it.

 

[Deus Irae]

And if you screw up the cap, you screw up the team. Which happens frequently to many teams. I know all about the cap, you're not telling me anything, the point is, the Bills are going to have to deconstruct the entire team right in the middle of Josh Allen's career. There will be a $250m cap, meanwhile Josh will have $60m of it and old man Miller (at 36 years old) will count for $26m in dead cap money when they cut him, and they will cut him then because his salary is pushed back into years 4-6. So, they'll have fun having just 2 players with 1/4 of the team's entire cap.

There's no creative accounting or gimmickry that can get you out of dead money. You have to eat it.

As long as you have an increasing cap, teams pretty much don't ever end up in actual "cap jail".


Sorry, but that's just reality.

 

[venecol]

This is getting really really ridiculous and tiresome.

We spend to the cap all the time and try to avoid years like 2020 when we were totally strapped and the team devolved.

Certain people in New England love calling Kraft a cheapskate.

Lol, relax dude, it's a joke. You're wound too tight. Smoke a blunt.

 

[gobesmug]

Welp, signing Lael Collins is now off the table, he's going into free agency, after getting cut by the Cowboys. Apparently, the Patriots did not want to take on his entire contract

No other team in the NFL wanted to as well.

If that's the only reason the Pats didn't make a move for him, maybe there is till hope he could be had for cheaper

 

[captain stone]

Yes they have fewer needs to fill than they did at the start of FA last year.

Well let’s fire up the duck boats then!

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

Welp, signing Lael Collins is now off the table, he's going into free agency, after getting cut by the Cowboys. Apparently, the Patriots did not want to take on his entire contract

Wasn't it 3 year with 10 mio. per year? That's really cheap for a RT caliber like Collins
Some Guards got the same money in FA while Collins is better

 

[DaBruinz]

Didn't he Suck last season, or is it another slug i'm thinkig of.

Desjarlais played in the CFL in 2021 and was one of their best guards in the league. Also one of the best in 2019. (CFL didn't play in 2020).
Desjarlais had 11 tryouts with teams in the NFL. He chose the Patriots as much as they chose him.

At 6'2 2/8 and 313 lbs, he's similar in build to Mason. He played LG for Winnipeg.

Desjarlais went from being unranked to being the #7 overall prospect for the CFL 2019 draft and ended up being taken 4th overall. (yes, I'm tempering my excitement because it is only the CFL).

Drew DESJARLAIS - CFL.ca

DRAFTED: First round, fourth overall by Winnipeg (2019) ACQUIRED: Signed as a free agent on January 30, 2023 AWARDS AND ACCOLADES: 2x Grey Cup Champion (2019, ’21) 2x Divisional All-CFL (2021, ’24) CAREER HISTORY 2025: Played in all 18 games for the REDBLACKS. 2024: Started in all 18...

www.bluebombers.com

2019 CFL National Combine - CFL.ca

Click here for the full results from the CFL National Combine presented by New Era.

www.cfl.ca

Drew Desjarlais:
40: 5.19
Bench: 25
Vert: 30
Broad: 9'1
3-cone: 7.75
Shuttle: 4.57

Don't know if @BaconGrundleCandy can get his hands on some tape to talk about his technique or anything, but it would be interesting to hear about.