Offseason player acquisition thread

[Rob0729]

The Herald has a primer on Pats' free agency wishlist:

NFL free agency: Ronnie Stanley, Milton Williams and the Patriots’ other top targets

The Patriots’ top free-agent targets and the big names they won’t be targeting in free agency.

www.bostonherald.com

and

If the Pats get Stanley, Williams, Sherwood, and Ward or DJ Reed along with a few other less marquee pieces, I think it is very good free agency.

 

[mike_usagisan]

If the Pats get Stanley, Williams, Sherwood, and Ward or DJ Reed along with a few other less marquee pieces, I think it is very good free agency.

Agreed. I like how they're also putting it out there without tampering, that the Pats are probably willing to overpay for these players, making it harder for their current teams to keep them. I really hope Stanley is listening.

 

[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.

Ooof, recent reports really not looking great for me lol

I'll hardly throw a fit if we add either because I'm not disputing that they're good players. But I stand by all the reasons in that post why I disagree with them being top targets for us

 

[mgteich]

You trying to make up for last year when the Pats didn't sign ANY player over 30 by signing 4 of them? SERIOUSLY?

C'mon, that's how you rebuild a team for 2-3 years from now. NOT!
=======
BTW, I do very much like the Belichick strategy of signing 30+ year old backup players near the end of their careers.

 

[Sciz]

Kyed noted in his podcast last night that he had to withhold some names, in particular a CB. I wonder if maybe he’s referring to players that are expected to be cut but haven’t yet, in which case Jaire Alexander would be the most notable such player at CB.

 

[Dec54]

I think Ronnie Stanley is pie in the sky and they won't let him go. Hope I'm wrong though, he is a need.

 

[mgteich]

Agreed. I like how they're also putting it out there without tampering, that the Pats are probably willing to overpay for these players, making it harder for their current teams to keep them. I really hope Stanley is listening.

Folks knew that last year.

Yes, NE will pay a couple of million AAV more than other teams. We are a team desperate to sign talent. So, yes, if nothing matters other than AAV, perhaps we are a good choice. And, after all, player would just love to leave being successful on a playoff team to come to Boston.

 

[Love The Drake]

Kyed noted in his podcast last night that he had to withhold some names, in particular a CB. I wonder if maybe he’s referring to players that are expected to be cut but haven’t yet, in which case Jaire Alexander would be the most notable such player at CB.

I can wish.

 

[Love The Drake]

Folks knew that last year.

Yes, NE will pay a couple of million AAV more than other teams. We are a team desperate to sign talent. So, yes, if nothing matters other than AAV, perhaps we are a good choice. And, after all, player would just love to leave being successful on a playoff team to come to Boston.

We will see if Kraft pays, if not he needs to sell the team I’m sorry.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Folks knew that last year.

Yes, NE will pay a couple of million AAV more than other teams. We are a team desperate to sign talent. So, yes, if nothing matters other than AAV, perhaps we are a good choice. And, after all, player would just love to leave being successful on a playoff team to come to Boston.

Right, and there are lots of players who if the money is similar will stay on the playoff team and more power to them.

But this is a better situation than last year. Now that we have Maye and Vrabel, maybe a few might be more willing than when we had Brissett and Mayo.

 

[Ross12]

The Herald has a primer on Pats' free agency wishlist:

NFL free agency: Ronnie Stanley, Milton Williams and the Patriots’ other top targets

The Patriots’ top free-agent targets and the big names they won’t be targeting in free agency.

www.bostonherald.com

and

I've seen Stanley noted as a "potential Patriots signing" so many times from so many places that I have to feel like it's basically already agreed to. They probably had informal conversations with Stanley's agent at the combine and got some kind of framework figured out. Assuming Stanley isn't tagged or extended by Baltimore in the next 24 hours, I'd be kinda surprised if he doesn't sign with NE in the first hour of FA.

Speaking of which - same for Tee Higgins. For all the talk of how he's "not available", he still hasn't actually been tagged. ~24 hours left.

 

[Ross12]

Kyed noted in his podcast last night that he had to withhold some names, in particular a CB. I wonder if maybe he’s referring to players that are expected to be cut but haven’t yet, in which case Jaire Alexander would be the most notable such player at CB.

I saw that as well, I assumed the same thing. CBs that will be available but aren't yet available, but with whose agents the Pats may have talked to.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I've seen Stanley noted as a "potential Patriots signing" so many times from so many places that I have to feel like it's basically already agreed to. They probably had informal conversations with Stanley's agent at the combine and got some kind of framework figured out. Assuming Stanley isn't tagged or extended by Baltimore in the next 24 hours, I'd be kinda surprised if he doesn't sign with NE in the first hour of FA.

Speaking of which - same for Tee Higgins. For all the talk of how he's "not available", he still hasn't actually been tagged. ~24 hours left.

Yeah, I think both are going to be fascinating to watch.

I think one thing a lot of people maybe don't know is how many conversations happen between agents and clubs at the combine. Agents are really getting the sense of the market for their clients. I have to assume Wolf, Vrabel and company were having a lot of conversations to talk about the vision for the future of the Pats.

 

[Keyser Söze]

 

[Real fan 02]

True but I’m just saying the number one complaint about playing here is the weather it seems. Which you can’t really change. But yeah the other stuff definitely helps. Still not going to make DK happy if he’s dealt here.

I don't think there is place with more ****ty weather than Seattle... however DK did praise the organization..

 

[Real fan 02]

The Herald has a primer on Pats' free agency wishlist:

NFL free agency: Ronnie Stanley, Milton Williams and the Patriots’ other top targets

The Patriots’ top free-agent targets and the big names they won’t be targeting in free agency.

www.bostonherald.com

and

Mike,

Personally I don't see Stanley leaving Baltimore. Just my opinion. Dan Moore in Pittsburgh is pretty much lowe 2.0. I'm leaning towards trading down to get more picks and grab Campbell at LT. What are your thoughts??

 

[mike_usagisan]

Mike,

Personally I don't see Stanley leaving Baltimore. Just my opinion. Dan Moore in Pittsburgh is pretty much lowe 2.0. I'm leaning towards trading down to get more picks and grab Campbell at LT. What are your thoughts??

I think that every day that Stanley doesn't have a contract is a day closer to him getting the big free agency offers. I think he's the preference and Dan Moore/Cam Robinson is Plan B.

I definitely think OT is on their chart for pick 4 or after a trade down. But let's see what happens with FA first.

 

[Ross12]

Maybe this is who Kyed was referring to. Tail end of his career but still productive, possibly a solid #2 and mentor to Gonzo.

 

[Rob0729]

 

[Real fan 02]

I think that every day that Stanley doesn't have a contract is a day closer to him getting the big free agency offers. I think he's the preference and Dan Moore/Cam Robinson is Plan B.

I definitely think OT is on their chart for pick 4 or after a trade down. But let's see what happens with FA first.

Ravens Expected to Re-Sign Ronnie Stanley ‘In the Coming Days’ | Late for Work

Dan Moore is lowe 2.0 Cam Robinson coached by Marrone and fournett used to run behind him.. I'd absolutely be in on.. other than that we very end up with Campbell in the draft.