2022 Patriots Roster Cut Down Day Thread

[VJCPatriot]

They drafted a guard, a position which is currently among the thinnest depth on the team. We can't complain about Ferentz hanging around forever and then kvetch when the team finally does something to upgrade the position. Guards don't flash often, but they are useful for a young would-be franchise QB.

We can complain when BB caused that situation at guard by trading away a proven starter at G for a future 5th round pick then goes on to blow a valuable 1st round pick to replace him. We’re supposed to applaud BB for shoring up the very weakness that he created?

 

[StanleyGrogan]

Geez. Just toddle back to your precious Bucs ghetto lest the dreaded "Patriots homers" again stirreth your ire, O Lord of Wrath.

A disconcerting number of our "fans" seem to want us to fail so they can be "right". A wise man once said "I'd rather be happy than right"

 

[pencilneckgeek]

We can complain when BB caused that situation at guard by trading away a proven starter at G for a future 5th round pick then goes on to blow a valuable 1st round pick to replace him. We’re supposed to applaud BB for shoring up the very weakness that he created?

The Patriots would be over the cap if they had kept Mason. They essentially traded him and draft picks for Parker and a lower draft pick. They could also have traded Wynn or cut 2-3 others instead of Mason while signing Parker, but keeping Mason on the existing roster was not an option.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

What does this even mean? Brady had won two superbowls by the time he had developed elite talent. There are lots of NFL players with elite talent that never develop as players, because they lack elite awareness or work ethic or a coach who puts them in a position to succeed. Sure, the Pat's may lack established All Pro players in their prime, but there are some great young players, some top established players that any team would want, and some elite talent in development. Judon is an elite player. The S position is the best in the league. The RB group is right up there. The TEs were underutilized and Smith underperformed last year but are elite talent. Barmore save Thornton have elite talent and are developing. Mac Jones lacks elite talent, but he's working in it, and he is as good a QB at BB could hope for after Brady. The CB group makes me a little nervous, and the OL positively frightens me that all our elite talent will go to waste in a morass of broken plays, but if Devante Adams and Aaron Donald walked in the door, their elite everything wouldn't solve our problems.

It means this current roster. What don't you understand

 

[moosekill]

Is that the problem? Are you sure the problem is not that a bunch of homers look at a stretch of games last year, where the Patriots lucked into a combination of an schedule stretch, games against good teams that were devastated by injuries, and a (not-literal) monsoon, and rode that ridiculously good fortune to a better-than-deserved record and a playoff game, where they were ***** slapped up and down the field for 4 quarters, and just overrate last season?

Because that also fits into the facts of the "problem"...

Ah Deus I missed your posts and thought you had actually left the forum like you said you were going to when Tom left. Then I realized I was drinking one night and got annoyed with your posts and blocked you. So glad I turned you back on! Who else could add such JR high girl who lost her first boyfriend emotion to this forum.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

The Patriots would be over the cap if they had kept Mason. They essentially traded him and draft picks for Parker and a lower draft pick. They could also have traded Wynn or cut 2-3 others instead of Mason while signing Parker, but keeping Mason on the existing roster was not an option.

This is just not true. Mason's cap number was about $7.8 mil, his current dead money cap hit is $3.1 and Strange's cap hit for this year is $2.2 so the difference is only about 2 mil. Minus wasting a first round pick on a third round talent.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

This is just not true. Mason's cap number was about $7.8 mil, his current dead money cap hit is $3.1 and Strange's cap hit for this year is $2.2 so the difference is only about 2 mil. Minus wasting a first round pick on a third round talent.

Oops. My bad. I forgot about the dead money, but the $2.2 for Strange would be the same for any first round pick, so adding Mason to the current mix would cost an additional $4.3M (his cap hit was $7.4M) and leave the Pat's with around $1.6M in cap space today, so a couple veteran cuts would still be needed to have equivalent operating room for the season. My point is that if we had Shaq here and a different (or even the same) 1st round pick one or two established players would need to go. I'm not claiming that it was the right choice. Onwenu has not convinced me that he's a good OG yet, but I'm also not sure where to make up the cap space on this roster.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Oops. My bad. Forgot about the dead money, but the $2.2 for Strange would be the same for any first round pick, so adding Mason to the current mix would cost an additional $4.3M (his cap hit was $7.4M) leave the Pat's with around $1.6M in cap space today, so a couple veteran cuts would still be needed to have equivalent operating room for the season. My point is that if we had Shaq here and a different (or even the same) 1st round pick one or two established players would need to go. I'm not claiming that it was the right choice. Onwenu has not convinced me that he's a good OG yet, but I'm also not sure where to make up the cap space on this roster.

Fans tend to look at cap space moves in a vacuum.

1. They saved $7m on the 2022 cap and replaced him with Onwenu as a starter and a player several years younger.
2. They saved $8.9m of the 2023 cap.
3. They took the $7m in the 2022 and 2023 savings and paid a number of people. Brown? Peppers?
4. They will take the residual of $8.9m savings for 2023 and pay a bunch of people (or a big ticket one?)

Bottom line is they saved a ****load of money and had a good replacement in house at the ready.

 

[sturmrider]

After the Brady years, its been a bigger adjustment than I thought it would be.
I think most on this board would agree that there is a lack of high end talent on the roster. BB needs to take accountability for the lack of elite talent.

Yes there is not much elite talent, but I wonder I feel like BB drafts and pursues players with higher floors not necessarily ceiling. If in that batch there is one with a high ceiling it is a bonus. I think he feels having more players with a high floor gives you a better shot at making the playoffs rather than one or two high ceiling players. If he makes the playoffs it is a crap shoot then.

In some ways I think it is a good plan, but in others you do miss that elite talent it is much more fun to watch. I will say though coming from the 3 yards and a cloud of dust era it doesn't bother me as much I don't miss the "Look at what I did!" players. I know I am an old fogey, but handing the football to a ref following a TD showed much more professionalism then today's celebrations having said that I know that is what today's fans want.

We will see how this 53 fares I think the floor is high who knows we all have our gripes about some of the players, but we can't field MVPs at every position. Just not possible in today's NFL.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Yes there is not much elite talent, but I wonder I feel like BB drafts and pursues players with higher floors not necessarily ceiling. If in that batch there is one with a high ceiling it is a bonus. I think he feels having more players with a high floor gives you a better shot at making the playoffs rather than one or two high ceiling players. If he makes the playoffs it is a crap shoot then.

In some ways I think it is a good plan, but in others you do miss that elite talent it is much more fun to watch. I will say though coming from the 3 yards and a cloud of dust era it doesn't bother me as much I don't miss the "Look at what I did!" players. I know I am an old fogey, but handing the football to a ref following a TD showed much more professionalism then today's celebrations having said that I know that is what today's fans want.

We will see how this 53 fares I think the floor is high who knows we all have our gripes about some of the players, but we can't field MVPs at every position. Just not possible in today's NFL.

Yeah! Let's hear it for old fogey Pats fans, who when someone complains about drafting a guard, immediately think of John Hannah and wonder what the problem is.

 

[long distance]

@DL

People are happy Pats for the moment kept all their young DL talent but having 5 IDLs on 53 is a lot.
First DL decision will come week 3 when Ekuale's suspension runs out.
I doubt they will just add another DL on the roster that is so heavy on D already.
Presuming they want to keep all - who are they willing to expose on waivers to stash on PS? Would they cut-to-PS one of the vets?

And why should we care? IDL is the deepest position on the street and its pretty much plug&play.
Plus PS rules allow decent flexibility for 46 roster.

Expect PS to be offense heavy - but sooner or later they will have to balance 53 roster a bit as well.

 

[jah]

Millennial!

A 40 year old is a millennial.

 

[ashley]

Truthfully, I'm finding it difficult to be optimistic about the post-Brady Belichick years given what Bill has done in the draft, during roster construction and filling out his coaching staff (which is showing a penchant for nepotism). Perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised but as it stands, I feel stranded on melancholy island.

We made the playoffs last year with a rookie qb and coming off a great draft. We have a lot of exciting young players with the GOAT leading us. I think our future is bright

 

[BTTA]

After the Brady years, its been a bigger adjustment than I thought it would be.
I think most on this board would agree that there is a lack of high end talent on the roster. BB needs to take accountability for the lack of elite talent.

A roster rebuild is sequential if done correctly. Create dependability and depth across the board, then add a handful of exceptional players to get it over the top. If the exceptional, high cost, short term vets are added first, their run comes to an end just as the rest of the roster rounds into shape.

Cherries after ice cream.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Yeah! Let's hear it for old fogey Pats fans, who when someone complains about drafting a guard, immediately think of John Hannah and wonder what the problem is.

And how many SUperbowls did John Hannah win?

 

[TomPatriot]

We made the playoffs last year with a rookie qb and coming off a great draft. We have a lot of exciting young players with the GOAT leading us. I think our future is bright

Watch it! You’ll be called a cheerleading homer!

 

[ashley]

A number of the OL we cut will be on the ps.
We only need 8 active, so the inactives will be on the ps instead of the 53.

I'm really excited about the potential of Hines, very glad he made the 53.

 

[ashley]

Watch it! You’ll be called a cheerleading homer!

Lol, very true Tom, and it will be by all the front running Tampa fans. lol

 

[Kontradiction]

It’s hard for me to fathom that we’re going to roll into the season with two TEs. Really, just one TE until Smith proves that he’s not just happy with being paid and decides to actually contribute. I think another shoe is likely to drop before opening day.

 

[ashley]

Good article by Lazar on our 53 man roster:

Breaking Down the Patriots Initial 53-Man Roster: Pats Embrace Youth Movement in Several Areas