Patriots Player Departure Patriots to Release Jalen Mills

[Urgent]

Odd. An already thin group gets thinner.

...and shorter.
Jones, Jones, and Jones are like 5-8, 5-9, 5-9.

 

[Kasmir]

My guess is that he refused to restructure.

 

[Ross12]

Wich makes it even worse that Williams was a daft bust.. a 6"3 guy with range and athletic ability.. so he's still on the roster but mills is cut.. EL strango

Joejuan Williams? He's not on the roster.

 

[Real fan 02]

Joejuan Williams? He's not on the roster.

Unless he was released, he was put on IR last year...

 

[Ross12]

Unless he was released, he was put on IR last year...

I am pretty sure last year was the last year of his deal.

 

[holyredeemer]

This is quite the surprise. Definitely some moves going to be made. Has to be. Last years secondary couldn’t compete with the heavy hitters.

 

[holyredeemer]

...and shorter.
Jones, Jones, and Jones are like 5-8, 5-9, 5-9.

That’s a big concern of mine. We’ve gotta add some bigger bodies for the matchups when we need them. I don’t want to see that Smurf squad out there all over again.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I’m really surprised. He’s no Gilmore of course, but he’s performed much better than I expected at CB when we signed him. I had thought he was being signed as the new Duron Harmon and was concerned they were playing him at outside CB in 2021 camp which is where he struggled with the Eagles. But he didn’t struggle in that role here - again, not a #1 CB, but he played a competent CB and has the flexibility to play safety. And his cap number was only $6.625m; we paid more for Harmon in the past, and more for Arrington too when adjusted for salary cap increases.

This is a head-scratcher for me. I understand wanting a real #1 CB, but if they’re drafting a guy, I’d like to see how he does in camp first and make a move on Mills after training camp if necessary. Same with seeing how much Jack Jones progresses. If they need to make immediate cap space for a trade for a player with a high 2023 cap hit (Hopkins, Cooks), I’d understand it more.

 

[Real fan 02]

I am pretty sure last year was the last year of his deal.

I believe he was on IR last season.. I didn't see he was released or anything?

 

[jdlboot14]

Also surprised by this, but it just means they didn't see him moving to FS, and that they are very confident in Jack and Marcus.
Like I said earlier today, Peppers may become the FS DMac replacement - at least for now, unless they hit another DMac in the draft who can start immediately.

 

[Real fan 02]

I’m really,surprised. He’s no Gilmore of course, but he’s performed much better than I expected at CB when we signed him. I had thought he was being signed as the new Duron Harmon and was concerned they were playing him at outside CB in 2021 camp which is where he struggled with the Eagles. But he didn’t struggle in that role here - again, not a #1 CB, but he played a competent CB and has the flexibility to play safety. And his cap number was only $6.625m; we paid more for Harmon in the past, and more for Arrington too when adjusted for salary cap increases.

This is a head-scratcher for me. I understand wanting a real #1 CB, but if they’re drafting a guy, I’d like to see how he does in camp first and make a move on Mills after training camp if necessary. Same with seeing how much Jack Jones progresses. If they need to make immediate cap space for a trade for a player with a high 2023 cap hit (Hopkins, Cooks), I’d understand it more.

I'm with you on that.. after putting some thought on it. Mills likely was released due to his I lnjury history. He had hammy issues going back to eagles.

I know he dealt with groin, hand and hammy issues here. Unless the team got some news about another injury or his availability then it was made to create more cap room. We've made our CB position from a concern to dyer..

I'm thinking something has to be up.. either sign Mckenzie or Murphy-bunting

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I'm with you on that.. after putting some thought on it. Mills likely was released due to his I lnjury history. He had hammy issues going back to eagles.

I know he dealt with groin, hand and hammy issues here. Unless the team got some news about another injury or his availability then it was made to create more cap room. We've made our CB position from a concern to dyer..

I'm thinking something has to be up.. either sign Mckenzie or Murphy-bunting

McKenzie won’t have any impact on our cap space and DB situation. While I see him as redundant for what we need now (we have JuJu and Bourne who can play inside/outside so don’t need an exclusive slot guy like him, and don’t need a punt returner), I can see Belichick being infatuated given how he performed against us in the past. But again, that would’t impact the Mills situation.

Murphy-Bunting though, that would impact it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm surprised by this but after thinking about it I have a guess as to why he was cut.

The guy can't make it through a season healthy.

He missed the last 7 games last year and the last 2 in 2021 inc the playoff game vs BUF

Maybe because of the durability concerns they didn't think he'd hold up at safety?

I guess they'd rather have $5m to go to a better, more durable player.

 

[DaBruinz]

Wich makes it even worse that Williams was a daft bust.. a 6"3 guy with range and athletic ability.. so he's still on the roster but mills is cut.. EL strango

JoeJuan Williams is a UFA.

 

[DaBruinz]

Unless he was released, he was put on IR last year...

Contract expired. His being on IR doesn't change that.

 

[Hyped]

Comments:

1.) I liked the Green Goblin.....and he was our only "Big Corner" at 6'1" unless we want to count JoeJuan WIlliams.

2.) Thought he could move back to safety.

3.) Yeah, he missed some games last year.

4.) This move was almost certainly because we wanted ~5M in cap space back, but the question is *WHY*?

 

[Real fan 02]

Contract expired. His being on IR doesn't change that.

Ok so thanks I wasn't sure of his current status

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'd have no problem if they draft a CB at #14.

 

[Brotherblues]

If they just wanted to free up space there's a certain 2.6M tender they could have removed instead...

 

[Real fan 02]

McKenzie won’t have any impact on our cap space and DB situation. While I see him as redundant for what we need now (we have JuJu and Bourne who can play inside/outside so don’t need an exclusive slot guy like him, and don’t need a punt returner), I can see Belichick being infatuated given how he performed against us in the past. But again, that would’t impact the Mills situation.

Murphy-Bunting though, that would impact it.

I see, ok so signing him then would still be a good move.. I never really saw Bourne or Juju as slot WRs I saw them as guys that can line up anywhere and find the spots in the defense.. Juju specializes in YAC, Bourne similarly can do the same things. Mckenzie is the quick 1st step can make DBs miss type of player that would be great for us..

But as you stated CB has risen to the greatest need right now.. more than any other position..