Content Post Let's Talk Free Agency 2024

[Huckleberry1]

Poyer is 33 next month. HARD PASS for a team that is rebuilding. Need younger guys, not plugging holes with veterans.

This is where it’s going to get interesting for both Buffalo and Miami. They were both able to bring in open talent when they sucked, and they didn’t have to pay the core of their team’s top dollar. Now both teams are successful, and some of their better players for years are either aging out, like Poyer and White, or looking for big contracts they can no longer afford, like Wilkins in Miami. Now they are no longer getting top 10 picks and they have to replace key players with lower draft picks, as well as pay those players who are integral to their success. So far I think Buffalo has shown more ability to keep things going, the fish are headed towards financial problems. So if the Patriots are smart about it they could start getting really good right around the time the rest of these crazy is starting to slip.

 

[KCSVEN]

This is where it’s going to get interesting for both Buffalo and Miami. They were both able to bring in open talent when they sucked, and they didn’t have to pay the core of their team’s top dollar. Now both teams are successful, and some of their better players for years are either aging out, like Poyer and White, or looking for big contracts they can no longer afford, like Wilkins in Miami. Now they are no longer getting top 10 picks and they have to replace key players with lower draft picks, as well as pay those players who are integral to their success. So far I think Buffalo has shown more ability to keep things going, the fish are headed towards financial problems. So if the Patriots are smart about it they could start getting really good right around the time the rest of these crazy is starting to slip.

Exactly! This is why Pats can contend for division as early as 2025.
Bills have Allen so he can make up for a lot. Allen is not at Brady/Mahomes level so you need a little more talent around him than those guys but he's very good.
Diggs is 30 to start the season. Could start to see some more drop off in next 2 years with his huge cap hit.
Buffalo will be relevant for a few more years but will need to draft well lower in the rounds or they will come down a notch..

Tua needs a good supporting cast, his whole game is getting ball out quick and using his lightning-fast release. Arm strength is only adequate, so he'll struggle against better defenses and really struggle without top skill players and now they have to overpay on the cap for him and thus lose other players. Tyreek is 30 and Waddle is going to need to get paid.

Rodgers might already be over the hill done but will be soon enough.

If we get the QB right this year and have 2 solid draft years. by 2025 Pats would absolutely compete for the division but all starts with the right QB.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Exactly! This is why Pats can contend for division as early as 2025.
Bills have Allen so he can make up for a lot. Allen is not at Brady/Mahomes level so you need a little more talent around him than those guys but he's very good.
Diggs is 30 to start the season. Could start to see some more drop off in next 2 years with his huge cap hit.
Buffalo will be relevant for a few more years but will need to draft well lower in the rounds or they will come down a notch..

Tua needs a good supporting cast, his whole game is getting ball out quick and using his lightning-fast release. Arm strength is only adequate, so he'll struggle against better defenses and really struggle without top skill players and now they have to overpay on the cap for him and thus lose other players. Tyreek is 30 and Waddle is going to need to get paid.

Rodgers might already be over the hill done but will be soon enough.

If we get the QB right this year and have 2 solid draft years. by 2025 Pats would absolutely compete for the division but all starts with the right QB.

Agree completely. I would love to see Wilkins brought in to pair with Barmore, and watch the Patriots beat Aaron Rodgers to a pulp.

 

[50-yard-line]

If they do things right they should be in the playoff hunt in 25’, and hopefully by 26 they can be one of the teams looking to actually contend for a championship.. I’m not worried about 24’ at all, I just want to see really intelligent moves that lay the foundation for the future. What’s I don’t want see are desperate moves just so they can scrape into the playoffs and go one and done.

Honestly, with a couple of decent D adds and good drafting of OL and WR (assuming the rookie QB sits, and a decent bridge QB, they could chase the playoffs almost immediately.

Add Wilkins, a second top corner and a little health luck, and this D rocks it b

 

[Ross12]

This is where it’s going to get interesting for both Buffalo and Miami. They were both able to bring in open talent when they sucked, and they didn’t have to pay the core of their team’s top dollar. Now both teams are successful, and some of their better players for years are either aging out, like Poyer and White, or looking for big contracts they can no longer afford, like Wilkins in Miami. Now they are no longer getting top 10 picks and they have to replace key players with lower draft picks, as well as pay those players who are integral to their success. So far I think Buffalo has shown more ability to keep things going, the fish are headed towards financial problems. So if the Patriots are smart about it they could start getting really good right around the time the rest of these crazy is starting to slip.

Miami's other problem is that they had lots of 1st rounders but used them all in trades for Tyreek and Chubb. And what do they have to show for that? They truly went "all in" in a very short window of time and went absolutely nowhere.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Agree completely. And I think people need to keep that in mind when looking at this years free agency. Guys like Tee Higgins won’t be available this year, but Cincy won’t be able to pay both he and Chase, or they will end up using almost half their cap on 1QB and 2,WR’s, so if the Patriots don’t overpay for lesser receivers like Hollywood Brown and Ridley they can turnnaround next offseason and sign a much better WR than they could get now. The best free agent value is to pay for the really good players where the market is strong at the position, instead of overpaying for lesser players where the best players were tagged or resigned, and teams are overpaying for the lesser players out of need. This years RB class and DL are both strong, so paying for the best players, like Wilkins and Barkley makes a lot of sense, and that’s where I would like to see them use their resources. You ultimately build the best team by getting the best players, not by chasing need. And in the Patriots case they can do this because they don’t need to try and beat out the Chiefs, they just need to bring in the best players they can find, and build up the roster,

I don't think Tee Higgins will be available next year either. Guys who can be #1 WRs don't get to free agency. Some team is going to have to trade for him. We're either going to have to become a team that hits on WRs or we're going to have to become a team that trades for them and then gives them a boatload of money.

 

[slash83]

Broncos releasing safety Justin Simmons per Schefter.

 

[Love The Drake]

Broncos releasing safety Justin Simmons per Schefter.

The safety market being saturated may make it easier to keep Dugger.
I don’t know if getting another premium safety to match with him is a priority.
To me if we are going QB at 3 then O line, tight end, WR, RB are are the biggest priorities in free agency unless you are making a splash signing Like a Wilkins or a Lattimore.

 

[PatsFan2]

Tre white was an all pro, injuries derailed his career.. I would take a chance on him as a 2nd CB opposite Gonzo.

I don't like often injured players on the Patriots oil and water don't mix.

 

[50-yard-line]

The safety market being saturated may make it easier to keep Dugger.
I don’t know if getting another premium safety to match with him is a priority.
To me if we are going QB at 3 then O line, tight end, WR, RB are are the biggest priorities in free agency unless you are making a splash signing Like a Wilkins or a Lattimore.

Yeah, was thinking the same. At this point, I think other teams are dropping their safeties to save money because they figure with this many out there, they're likely to resign them more cheaply.

I'd love to see the Pats keep Dugger AND nail one of these true FS's (McKinney).

They've got to spend some money, but they have to do it where the talent is, not on mediocre shiny WRs.I'd love to see them make this an attacking, ferocious Defense and let the offense come along.

 

[Guts]

 

[Sfpat]

RK sets the budget and determines if cash is being burned. Not Wolf. Wolf does not own the team. The owner sets the budget.

So you say Wolf will be constrained in spending, like BB was?

 

[Ross12]

Safety market extremely strong.

Go after corners and safeties, RBs, DL. Splurge on one tackle. Sign a cheaper veteran QB and a mid-level TE who can start. Then focus on offense in the draft where the offensive talent is deep. Your cash and picks will both go far.

 

[Sciz]

I’ll say this on the topic of L’Jarius Sneed, and it applies to any other tag trade candidate too. The franchise tag is effectively a no trade clause, as they can’t trade him until he signs the tag and a team won’t trade for him without coming to an agreement on a long term deal. Within reason, you can probably offer him more money so that he refuses to be traded to a team that’s offering more trade compensation.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I don't think Tee Higgins will be available next year either. Guys who can be #1 WRs don't get to free agency. Some team is going to have to trade for him. We're either going to have to become a team that hits on WRs or we're going to have to become a team that trades for them and then gives them a boatload of money.

Teams will only trade for a player about to become a free agent if they know they can sign him, but Cincy won’t be able to pay him. Either way I still wouldn’t overpay for lesser players.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

So you say Wolf will be constrained in spending, like BB was?

Every GM is constrained, to some degree or other, by every owner. It can change from year to year and from club to club. But Wolf and BB never set any budget, RK does that. Wolf and BB are not spending thier money (cash), they are spending RK's money so he sets the budget.

 

[BadMoFo]

Report: Steelers plan to meet with Russell Wilson

Wilson will be released by the Broncos next week, but has permission to speak to teams.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Real fan 02]

Every GM is constrained, to some degree or other, by every owner. It can change from year to year and from club to club. But Wolf and BB never set any budget, RK does that. Wolf and BB are not spending thier money (cash), they are spending RK's money so he sets the budget.

Agreed, as Curran mentioned Bill was given a budget to work with to sign players and a staff budget. He reported some patriots coaches were making less than High school football coaches. He went on to say bill in his own right is very frugal and treated his budget as such.

 

[Sfpat]

Every GM is constrained, to some degree or other, by every owner. It can change from year to year and from club to club. But Wolf and BB never set any budget, RK does that. Wolf and BB are not spending thier money (cash), they are spending RK's money so he sets the budget.

My point exactly, while BB may have made all of the football decisions, he was constrained by "this is how much cash you have to spend this year (usually less than others)." RK was spoiled by how well BB was able to succeed within the constrains (while he had TB).

 

[Real fan 02]

My point exactly, while BB may have made all of the football decisions, he was constrained by "this is how much cash you have to spend this year (usually less than others)." RK was spoiled by how well BB was able to succeed within the constrains (while he had TB).

Agreed, Bill was also given a staffing budget. He was in his own right a penny pincher scrooge within that budget. It's mentioned that some coaches worked 90 hours a week and made less than a HS football coach. Guys like Troy brown and Mayo could hack it becuase they made money as a player. The Walgreens salary wasn't needed.