Offseason player acquisition thread

[PowerRunRevival]

I think most have disregarded this name because Tampa always seems to retain their FA's.

But I'd take Chris Godwin in a heartbeat, injuries aside. I think he'll recover.

He’s the only receiver on the free agent market that I think would be an upgrade. I’m not sure Slayton is any better than Bourne.

 

[PatsFan2]

He’s the only receiver on the free agent market that I think would be an upgrade. I’m not sure Slayton is any better than Bourne.

I read somewhere that's Chris Godwin played lights out after an injury: it doesn't slow him down like most players. It's hard not to like him: on D Slayton I think he will be on our Radar I always compared him to J Meyers. Again stop mentioning Bourne he's very overrated here and here only: I can't wait for Mike Vrabel to Cut him!

 

[Hugepatsfan]

People worry about Higgins without Chase... Godwin without Evans is what you really need to be concerned with. His route tree is actually dependent on the space created by the attention Evans draws outside and down the field. Add in the fact that he's recovering from the injury that usually leaves a player a shell of their former self in the next year before bouncing back to normal in year 2, which for him would be his age 30 season at which point you'd have to expect some decline to creep in anyway.

Giving a big, long term deal to Godwin would actually be the awful, terrible, disastrous deal that many here were (overly) afraid of with Higgins. The Pats have a lot of money and team needs so they'll be a rumored spot for a lot of big names and Godwin is the absolute top of the list for ones that would be an obviously stupid and terrible decision.

 

[Zuma]

I’m not sure Slayton is any better than Bourne.

He still only has a career 56% catch percentage which sucks. Nobody will say he’s better than Bourne when he’s dropping catchable passes.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Cooper Kupp turns 32 before training camp.
What's the point of bringing him in on a 2 year contract, other than wasting a spot you could be developing someone who will be here when the Patriots are back in contention?

If he were 28, you could talk me into it. He's 32 coming off another major injury.

Understood, that's why I asked the question.
Pretty sure that High ankle sprain was in week 2.
I miss having Smart players like Welker/Squirrel/Gronk/Moss...we have a slot player that misses his spots, Stonehands, a hopefully healthy now Bourne, and Dumbass.

I get it.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I think overall, ignoring any prioritization of one position over another, they simply need to be opportunistic in free agency about "real solutions". If there's a guy out there who's young enough to stick around for a while and someone who fits their desired style of play, then they should make a hard run at that player. Do that for all who apply. Once the dust clears there, take a look at your remaining holes and get viable starting caliber stop gaps as needed, accepting the imperfections that come with that but also getting the baseline talent level increase and respectability on the depth chart. Some positions will be left without solutions that make everyone feel settled, but that's ok. And some of those spots might even be positions that people want to prioritize (cough... WR... cough... LT). You're not going to get every position "solved" in one year and even the one you most want to fill might not be fillable with who's out there in free agency. Same thing with the draft, where you have to be realistic about the talent on the board at each position.

What they can't do is repeat last year where it was all or nothing. Not with a QB that looks good enough to compete with and build interest in your program league wide. Can't let perfection be the enemy of progress and refuse to sign anyone that's a stop gap or imperfect solution. You have to upgrade baseline, but as always avoid overcommitting or locking yourself into guys you don't really like longer term. But no more punting on a season entirely like last year.

 

[dliverey44]

He still only has a career 56% catch percentage which sucks. Nobody will say he’s better than Bourne when he’s dropping catchable passes.

The catch percentage is just targes/catches and does not take into account uncatchable passes. Player profiler does a true catch rate, which is catchable target/catches. So pulling up a 56% doesn't mean anything

 

[Zuma]

The catch percentage is just targes/catches and does not take into account uncatchable passes. Player profiler does a true catch rate, which is catchable target/catches. So pulling up a 56% doesn't mean anything

Sorry I think it means everything. It’s a trend he’s had his whole career. For example…players that have been on multiple teams throughout there career have a similar catch percentage regardless of the team. Catch percentage metrics are used by all teams. It was or still is an important stat for BB as well.

 

[dliverey44]

Sorry I think it means everything. It’s a trend he’s had his whole career. For example…players that have been on multiple teams throughout there career have a similar catch percentage regardless of the team. Catch percentage metrics are used by all teams. It was or still is an important stat for BB as well.

Catch percentage is absolutely important when you look at catchable targets. According to player profiler Slayton had a total of 71 targets and only 46 were considered catchable. Of those 46 catchable targets he caught 39 of them. I don't know how they define catchable.

 

[n1997y]

I think overall, ignoring any prioritization of one position over another, they simply need to be opportunistic in free agency about "real solutions". If there's a guy out there who's young enough to stick around for a while and someone who fits their desired style of play, then they should make a hard run at that player. Do that for all who apply. Once the dust clears there, take a look at your remaining holes and get viable starting caliber stop gaps as needed, accepting the imperfections that come with that but also getting the baseline talent level increase and respectability on the depth chart. Some positions will be left without solutions that make everyone feel settled, but that's ok. And some of those spots might even be positions that people want to prioritize (cough... WR... cough... LT). You're not going to get every position "solved" in one year and even the one you most want to fill might not be fillable with who's out there in free agency. Same thing with the draft, where you have to be realistic about the talent on the board at each position.

What they can't do is repeat last year where it was all or nothing. Not with a QB that looks good enough to compete with and build interest in your program league wide. Can't let perfection be the enemy of progress and refuse to sign anyone that's a stop gap or imperfect solution. You have to upgrade baseline, but as always avoid overcommitting or locking yourself into guys you don't really like longer term. But no more punting on a season entirely like last year.

YES! This is the way!

Then do the same thing again next year. Wash, rinse, repeat. Keep doing it that way until the baseline is high enough that the only way to continue to raise it is filling gaps and targeting only the best of the best. But that’ll take years, and in the meantime this may be good enough.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

The two popular names I am absolutely 100% against signing this year...

Ronnie Stanley. He is the best FA LT and that's probably our biggest need. So why am I so against him? Because availability is the best ability, particularly for our situation. His track record there isn't good and I don't expect it to improve in his 30s after he's signed maybe his last big deal where his motivation to push through injury will likely be all time low. If he misses 8 games then we're starting Lowe at LT again or some unheralded rookie (since it's a bad draft class) and in the same situation as last year. If the roster was an otherwise finished product or close to it, I'd feel differently and be willing to go for the best upside and hope he's ready come playoff time, but we're not there yet. Above all else, we're looking for reliability and stability at the LT spot to make it so it's not such a crippling hole that it hurts everyone else's development. Can't help with that if you're out injured, and it's more important for where we are than maximum upside.

Chris Godwin. Everyone freaks out about signing Higgins and how he'll play away from Chase. Godwin is the one to actually worry about that with. He's a slot who relies on space being created by Mike Evans. He's coming off the type of injury that makes players shells of themselves for a year in most cases. In year 2, when he should be expected to be all the way back, he'll be 30 so decline could be creeping in. It just makes no sense to spend big money on him. You can't count on him being an immediate high end option because of the injury and he's not someone you should expect to grow with the core. We also have more of a need for outside receivers and options as the X than Godwin anyway.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

With the Tee Higgins gone as an option it is even more obvious that the Pats need to target both lines of scrimmages. I want them to add 3-4 new starters on the o-line and I'd like those to come in free agency. I'd like to see them add 1-2 starting caliber edge rushers as well

Offensive lineman that would be an upgrade:
Trey Smith
Ronnie Stanley
Cam Robinson
Kevin Zeitler
Alaric Jackson
Mekhi Becton
Ryan Kelly
Will Fries
Jedrick Wills
Will Hernandez

Defensive Line
Josh Sweat
Hasson Reddick
Osa Odighizuwa
Milton WIlliams
Chase Young
Poona Ford
Matthew Judon

Another corner and a linebacker could help, but as long as they can get a number of players from the list above I will be happy. Receiver will need to upgraded in the draft and via trade instead of in free agency.

Please respond with any other names you would be happy with the Pats signing on either the d or offensive line.

 

[dliverey44]

With the Tee Higgins gone as an option it is even more obvious that the Pats need to target both lines of scrimmages. I want them to add 3-4 new starters on the o-line and I'd like those to come in free agency. I'd like to see them add 1-2 starting caliber edge rushers as well

Offensive lineman that would be an upgrade:
Trey Smith
Ronnie Stanley
Cam Robinson
Kevin Zeitler
Alaric Jackson
Mekhi Becton
Ryan Kelly
Will Fries
Jedrick Wills
Will Hernandez

Defensive Line
Josh Sweat
Hasson Reddick
Osa Odighizuwa
Milton WIlliams
Chase Young
Poona Ford
Matthew Judon

Another corner and a linebacker could help, but as long as they can get a number of players from the list above I will be happy. Receiver will need to upgraded in the draft and via trade instead of in free agency.

Please respond with any other names you would be happy with the Pats signing on either the d or offensive line.

OL- Jaylon Moore, James Daniels, Teven Jenkins, Justin Skule
DL-Levi Onwuzurike IDL, Dayo Odeyingbo DE, Bobby Brown NT, Tershawn Wharton
LB-Tyrel Dodson, Dre Greenlaw, Zack Baun, Robert Spillane, Earnest Jones
There are quite a few CB's and S that would help this team.

Aside from the above I want to mention that I am all in on Jayden Higgins.

 

[TommyD4207]

Here's the thing that a lot of people are missing when they're throwing out names for trades or free agency, and I've said it repeatedly. If you're going to trade for guys, or sign guys, they have to be young enough to grow along with the team, and still be in their prime once Maye hits year 5. That's really the timeframe. Next year, improve, 2026, playoffs, 2027, division, 2028, title contender - that's how the rebuild has to work, because after that, Maye's going to be due for something like 75 million/yr after that time.

Offensive linemen, age isn't as important, because they can still play at a high level well into their 30s. Losing speed isn't as big of an issue, so those are the guys you get in FA if you can, since it's just money.

But if you're talking about bringing in 30 year old receivers or corners or pass rushers, those guys will be 34 and making retirement plans by the time the Patriots are competing for a title again. The *only* reason I was for bringing Higgins in, was because he's 26, and would have only cost money.

The other thing is draft capital, and we need a lot of it. We have way more holes on the team than I think people even realize. It's more than just 'Left Tackle and Receiver'. We need a young tight end. We need to improve every position on the offensive line, not just left tackle. Can Onwenu turn back into 2021 Onwenu? Or do we have the sloth-like figure we got last year. Where is Cole Strange going to play? Andrews looked absolutely cooked before he got hurt, again, he couldn't even get out on screens anymore. You don't need one offensive lineman, you need at least 3. You need another running back, and cutting bait with Rhamondre Stevenson would be ok with me, he's making *way* too much money. You're going to need a 3rd quarterback. You need at least one interior defensive lineman, and at least one edge rusher - but preferably you'd want two D-Tackles. You need 2 more linebackers, because you have to do better than Tavai and Elliss, and Bentley is coming off yet another major injury. You still need a deep safety. You need at least one boundary corner, because Jonathan Jones looked about done by the end of last year, and as much as some people love Austin and Dial, those are deep depth players at best. Like CB 5 and 6. If they're getting significant time, there's big trouble. And you could probably use a young box safety as well, because who knows what we're going to get from Dugger and Peppers, and they will be 29 and 30 this year, so they're out of the time frame long term.

So, no, trading for George ****ing Pickens with 4 is batshit insane. Drafting Will Campbell, who's ceiling is Matt Light, at #4 overall is also batshit insane. You need talent, and you need draft capital, and you need to hit on everything for this to work. If you want Will Campbell that badly, you need to trade out to 10 and get a first next year. Otherwise there are 5 left tackles you can get in the first three rounds who are just about as good. Don't overrate and overdraft talent because of need. If Hunter's there at 4, you take him, he's the best player in the draft. Don't take the Abdul Carter cheese, he's 'back-half-of-the-first' EDGE talent you can get ANY year.

They've gotta be smart, and I am really not confident that Wolf is the guy to do it, if this complete and utter disaster of an offseason in 2024 was any indication. You hit on QB at #3 and stole a Day 2 guy in the 6th round at QB. Neat. Outside of Antonio Gibson, every single draft pick, FA signing, and 'we re-signed our own guys!' signing was an abject failure. You wasted a year of Drake Maye, and you can't get that back. I expect the coaching to be better, but they need to have decent groceries to cook with, or this isn't going to work.

Also, you need to actually spend money. If there is young talent available in free agency, you need to back up the Brinks truck, because that talent only costs money, which the Patriots should have plenty of - and no draft capital.

 

[captain stone]

He’s the only receiver on the free agent market that I think would be an upgrade. I’m not sure Slayton is any better than Bourne.

Slayton is way, WAY better than Bourne.

 

[TommyD4207]

Slayton is way, WAY better than Bourne.

That's probably 2 too many 'way's.

He's better than Bourne. But Bourne is old and cooked. I don't know if he's better than the other Bournes on the roster.

 

[dliverey44]

That's probably 2 too many 'way's.

He's better than Bourne. But Bourne is old and cooked. I don't know if he's better than the other Bournes on the roster.

Our WR room is the Bourne redundancy you say. lol

 

[mike_usagisan]

I'm having bad feelings about this free agency. With the cap going up so much, I think we're going to see a lot of the good potential free agents re-signed before they make it to free agency.

 

[PatsFan2]

Slayton is way, WAY better than Bourne.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I'm having bad feelings about this free agency. With the cap going up so much, I think we're going to see a lot of the good potential free agents re-signed before they make it to free agency.

Thats my concern too. I really wanted higgins but the bigger concern from that news is it could be looking even less likely now sweat and either stanley or jackson will hit FA.