"Belichick is negotiating directly with the team’s top targets. Senior consultant Eliot Wolf, an NFL front-office veteran of 20-plus years, is manning the phones for other external free agents. New director of player personnel Matt Groh has shouldered some of the load while conducting a Pro Day tour, having already sealed a few re-signings."
According to one agent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Patriots raised their offer significantly for an elite offensive client who signed a similar contract elsewhere, but was not drawn there by the money. This account reveals a willingness to expend cash and cap space, even while it runs contrary to several other negotiations where the Pats have refused to pony up for mid-level free agents.
“They have a cheap problem,” another player’s agent said."
"The Pats have not been boxed in by their limited cap space, but the NFL salary cap is also not “crap.” Phrases like “the cap is crap” might make for fun talk radio, but are completely useless when trying to understand the innerworkings of league business."
"The Pats have paid for familiarity and trust. These are not only starting players, but culture drivers and value signings. With only $10 million in cap space to start the week, the Pats chased low-ceiling, high-floor deals to maintain their collective floor as a fringe playoff team.
There's a fair argument to be made for continuity and retaining leadership. Despite a massive influx of new talent last year, the Patriots started 2-4 as they assimilated new faces, then stumbled at the finish, losing four of their last five.
Players later admitted they failed to raise their level of intensity down the stretch. No one in the locker room understands what winning requires better than three-time Super Bowl champions like McCourty, Slater and White. With them back in the building, the Pats are betting their odds of another collapse will be lower in 2022 -- even if their chances at a long playoff run have fallen, too."
"Even with obvious roster holes, the Pats have stuck to their long-held beliefs about positional spending in free agency. They do not pay top dollar for No. 1 wide receivers -- not even Randy Moss or Brandin Cooks -- preferring to spread money out at the position. Entering last offseason, their average league ranking in single-season spending on wide receivers was 14th over the past eight years.
The same holds true for linebackers, where they ranked 12th, and cornerback at 17th. New inside linebacker Mack Wilson arrived with a 1-year, non-guaranteed $2.54 million base salary, while free-agent corner Terrance Mitchell signed a 1-year, $1.75 million pact."
This is what I've been saying since last summer. 2021 was seeing what have in Mac & co. First real team post-Brady.
2022 is all about maximizing what we have, tinkering if we can and posturing for 2023.
2023 is as close to "all in" as we'll see. Likely keep / extend Henry, Judon and whoever else we see fit to make a run. This will truly be Mac's team or at least that's the hope.
"Last offseason, the Patriots' structured several of their free-agent contracts to carry minimal cap hits in 2021 and heavier numbers in 2022. This is what's crushing their cap.
But 2023? That's a different story.
The Patriots rank fifth in projected 2023 cap space at $102.5 million. They're also scheduled to carry zero dead money.
So far, none of their free-agent contracts have infringed on that flexibility. They've either struck 1-year deals or 2-year deals where they can cut bait without any serious penalty. The only exception is McCourty's contract, which carries four void years and could inflict a dead cap hit of $9.7 million if it expires next spring.
This is all intentional. The Patriots' 2021 free-agent class was assembled knowing Matthew Judon, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor, Jalen Mills and others would all stick for two-plus years. Belichick built that team to free himself for 2023, when the cap would spike due to the influx of new revenue from the league's huge television contracts and gambling money.
All signs point to another splurge next spring. But for now, it's sit tight. Back to business as usual."