Offseason player acquisition thread

[Love The Drake]

We will be in on every player but miss on every player.

 

[Ross12]

I don’t agree that we have a lot of depth at the position lol

They have a lot of depth with more "strong safety" type guys. They have almost zero depth with actual free safeties.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Are we sticking with Bentley or are we bringing in a new ILB?

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Are we sticking with Bentley or are we bringing in a new ILB?

Could be both, probably will be. Reports are Jamein Sherwood of the Jets is a top target. In general teams start 2 off ball LBs though some play dime with an extra SS replacing one of them. With Dugger/Peppers/Mapu/Pettus on the team we figure to be a team that does that as much as anyone, if not the most, but I still expect us to have two starting ILBs that play a ton of snaps.

We currently don't have anyone starting caliber next to Bentley. I don't think cutting Bentley even becomes remotely a question unless they add a second ILB because that doesn't make him expendable. If we add two starting caliber LBs, then it becomes a consideration. But even then, we have the most cap space in the league and it only saves an immaterial amount of cap/cash to cut Bentley so it might not even be worth losing the depth. Particularly if one or both if the ILBs we add has some versatility to log some snaps as an EDGE since we need bodies there and the snaps they take there free up some time at ILB.

 

[DaBruinz]

They're releasing him before the league year starts, so he does have to go through waivers.

I doubt they'd do it b/c he has a $12M bonus due on March 12, but the Patriots could put in a waiver claim.

Players released after the SB and before the start of the league year do not have to clear waivers unless they have less than 3 years of Experience.

Vested Vets do not have to clear waivers.

 

[DaBruinz]

Holland would be a home run, they need a true free safety in a bad way and Holland is good. He's also only 25.

Holland + Dugger seems like a pretty solid FS/SS combo. Peppers is a solid backup/rotational piece to either spot. Sign a solid CB2 and they would have a pretty good secondary.

I think you're confusing Holland (a poor tackler) with Justin Reid. Reid is the guy I want the Pats to add. Holland can go to the Jets or Raiders where he can fade into further mediocrity.

 

[DaBruinz]

Could be both, probably will be. Reports are Jamein Sherwood of the Jets is a top target. In general teams start 2 off ball LBs though some play dime with an extra SS replacing one of them. With Dugger/Peppers/Mapu/Pettus on the team we figure to be a team that does that as much as anyone, if not the most, but I still expect us to have two starting ILBs that play a ton of snaps.

We currently don't have anyone starting caliber next to Bentley. I don't think cutting Bentley even becomes remotely a question unless they add a second ILB because that doesn't make him expendable. If we add two starting caliber LBs, then it becomes a consideration. But even then, we have the most cap space in the league and it only saves an immaterial amount of cap/cash to cut Bentley so it might not even be worth losing the depth. Particularly if one or both if the ILBs we add has some versatility to log some snaps as an EDGE since we need bodies there and the snaps they take there free up some time at ILB.

Pats are going to be running a 4-3 Under as their Primary defense. So they'll have a MLB. Someone who can go sideline to sideline. Zack Baun (re-signed by the Eagles) was really the only guy who could do that. Nick Bolton is more of ILB who doesn't have the full sideline to sideline ability.

Jamein Sherwood misses far too many tackles.. His one year as a full time starter resulted in 18 missed tackles. That's not something that's conducive to having a good defense.

I agree that the Pats don't have 4-3 LBs on the team and need to sign at least 3. Bentley is more of a 4-3 OLB / 3-4 ILB than he is a MLB..

 

[DaBruinz]

Sam Hubbard - formerly of the Bengals - Announces retirement

NFL news roundup: Bengals DE Sam Hubbard retires; Dolphins LB Bradley Chubb agrees to revised contract

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Pats are going to be running a 4-3 Under as their Primary defense. So they'll have a MLB. Someone who can go sideline to sideline. Zack Baun (re-signed by the Eagles) was really the only guy who could do that. Nick Bolton is more of ILB who doesn't have the full sideline to sideline ability.

Jamein Sherwood misses far too many tackles.. His one year as a full time starter resulted in 18 missed tackles. That's not something that's conducive to having a good defense.

I agree that the Pats don't have 4-3 LBs on the team and need to sign at least 3. Bentley is more of a 4-3 OLB / 3-4 ILB than he is a MLB..

No one's base defense is a 4-3 or 3-4 anymore. Everyone is in nickel or dime most of the time now. I agree that in a 4-3 Bentley is probably a "SAM" rather than a MIKE.

I haven't really looked into Sherwood much. That is a concerning missed tackle number though. He also led the league in solo tackles with 98. I'd have to really watch the film to know how harshly to judge. If you have a play where the MLB reads it well and knifes his way through the line with a great effort to get to the ball carrier where most other LBs wouldn't but when he gets there he's in an awkward angle and misses the tackle but is effective in slowing him down so someone else can get to him for a minimal gain, is that a bad play? Or like you mentioned, it was his first time as a starter so maybe there were times he was slower reading plays and led to a bad position so a missed tackle and you think that will improve with experience. Or maybe the scheme/surrounding personnel put him in a tough spot a lot of times covering shifty backs or slot receivers in space and led to some missed tackles but you don't plan to put him in those situations. Not saying it's not concerning, but definitely to do an actual scouting assessment of the tape vs. just looking a stat.

 

[Real fan 02]

Holland would be a home run, they need a true free safety in a bad way and Holland is good. He's also only 25.

Holland + Dugger seems like a pretty solid FS/SS combo. Peppers is a solid backup/rotational piece to either spot. Sign a solid CB2 and they would have a pretty good secondary.

Peppers is a starter and the enforcer in the defense. Peppers, Holland and Dugger would be a formidable trio. He could allow Peppers and dugger to punish RBs out the backfield or jam up TEs near the line.. your right FS has held the defense back since McCourty retired.

 

[Grogan14]

We will be in on every player but miss on every player.

Every good player
We will get plenty of JAGs

 

[Ross12]

I think you're confusing Holland (a poor tackler) with Justin Reid. Reid is the guy I want the Pats to add. Holland can go to the Jets or Raiders where he can fade into further mediocrity.

I like Reid also. I would be happy with either one. Reid is more experienced

 

[Real fan 02]

I like Reid also. I would be happy with either one. Reid is more experienced

Holland please!

 

[Love The Drake]

Holland please!

I don’t want to spend money if it’s not on the lines or playing catch with Drake.

 

[slash83]

I don’t want to spend money if it’s not on the lines or playing catch with Drake.

They can accomplish both.

 

[Love The Drake]

They can accomplish both.

But the focus has to be lines and playmaking WRs.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Holland is hitting FA going into his age 25 season. That's the same age that Reid hit free agency and signed with the Chiefs. Remember, you're not signing a guy and getting his last 3 years, you're getting his next 3. Reid has been more consistent/durable/reliable but he's older and Holland has enough of a good track record that this is a spot I'd go with the younger, higher upside player.

I don't hate Reid at all though. Honestly, even if we did get Holland at FS I wouldn't even mind trading one of Dugger/Peppers and relegating the other to the 3rd safety/dime package "LB" role with Reid coming on as the starting SS.

 

[Love The Drake]

Holland is hitting FA going into his age 25 season. That's the same age that Reid hit free agency and signed with the Chiefs. Remember, you're not signing a guy and getting his last 3 years, you're getting his next 3. Reid has been more consistent/durable/reliable but he's older and Holland has enough of a good track record that this is a spot I'd go with the younger, higher upside player.

I don't hate Reid at all though. Honestly, even if we did get Holland at FS I wouldn't even mind trading one of Dugger/Peppers and relegating the other to the 3rd safety/dime package "LB" role with Reid coming on as the starting SS.

Trading Dugger could Happen.

 

[mike_usagisan]

But the focus has to be lines and playmaking WRs.

I respectfully disagree. The focus has to be on improving the whole team.

I want new pieces at every level of the defense. And I want at least one OT (preferably two), a WR1 and maybe another WR, maybe another TE and maybe another workhorse RB.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Yeah I think I just talked myself into something here. Sign Holland AND Reid as the starting safeties. Both guys are truly versatile enough to play either safety spot, but Holland is a natural at FS (which we don't have) and Reid would be an upgrade in coverage at SS but gives you the depth to play an actual FS role if needed due to a Holland injury.

Peppers and Dugger is and always has been overkill of investment in box safeties, especially with Mapu and Pettus also looking like decent developmental guys. Trading Dugger before June 1st saved $1.8M, or $10.8M if after June 1st. With Peppers it's $2.0M before June 1st, $5.0M after.