NFL News Official 2025 NFL Free Agency Thread

[PatsFan2]

Another WR better than anyone we have who we weren’t interested in.

Cooks or Cooked in on that WR Cliff A.J. no thanks.

 

[Ring 6]

Cooks or Cooked in on that WR Cliff A.J. no thanks.

I didn’t say he was good I said he was better than anyone we have.

 

[DaBruinz]

I can bring out a list of Free agents + traded wrs this offseason alone, their salaries

and you tell me if they are better or worse than our 3rd best Wrs, who at this moment, is who? Boutte? Bourne?

those are high profile names, but i would take Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Darius Slayton Josh Palmer to name just a few less touted guys. All of these are better than Boutte and Bourne even based on what he has shown here (and dont say oh they are different set of receivers.... again, abstract thinking and all that)

I don't need to tell you if they are better/worse than our best 3. It's a worthless argument that has ZERO bearing on reality. You clearly have forgotten that 30+ something WRs break down really quickly. Not to mention that the names I mentioned all had injuries last year. You'd be one of the first in line to whine about them being hurt if/when it happened.

I had a list also. But here is the difference between us. I can recognize that my list was done without the benefit of a key pieces of information. One of which is that Vrabel & Co would focus on players they'd coached or been on the same team with. Players whom had a mental and physical toughness so they could change the locker-room attitude.

All the players that the Pats have signed, to this point, have a direct relationship with someone on the coaching staff. So, a very plausible assumption is that they avoided signing players whom they had a relationship whom wouldn't bring the same Mental and physical toughness that the team wanted to instill. Which would explain them not signing the likes of Teven Jenkins, Elihah Moore, Westrbrook-Ikhine, Cam Robinson, etc.

There is nothing "abstract" about your thinking. You're whining and b**ching like the rest of the Sad Sallies on here because your ego has you thinking you know better than Vrabel & Co. Despite your years on this board, you still haven't grasped the idea that people like Vrabel know 1000x more about the game than you or I ever will. This is something I have come to accept. Which is why I voiced my displeasure over the signings of Epps, Hollins and Bradbury then let it drop.

What makes your entire argument silly is that it's the same argument people made numerous times in 2003 and 2004. People like you wanted all the big name WRs and wanted Branch/Givens/Patten on the bench. You wanted anyone but what the team had. Regardless of the fact that Branch and Givens were 2nd year players in 2003 or in 2004 as 3rd year players. What they did wasn't enough for you.

I'm NOT satisfied with what Polk/Baker did last year. Unlike people such as yourself, I'm willing to acknowledge that the COACHING was as much of an issue or even a bigger issue than the players themselves. If Vrabel didn't think they were salvageable, he's have cut them both by now and moved on. There is no guarantee that he'd have brought in the likes of Moore or Westbrook-Ikhine because he knows their game and their locker-room presence or lack there of.

 

[DaBruinz]

The gaslighting is INSANE

What's insane is the amount of whining that you've been doing. You started before the tampering period did and have continued incessantly.

 

[DaBruinz]

Honestly, Wozzy, if I could get your attention

How you grade them?

Best guy there for me, taking everything is Rhamondre, who could be even an A, but is availability, consistency and fumble drop him to a B at least for me

Henry is nice, Hooper is nice, but they are just above-average, and in one aspect of the game (receiving). Plus they arent getting better. Gibson might blossom, but.... And then the 4 out of 5 lineman

I understand that Im being thrown into the "haters" club, but... Am I seeing thing distorted here?

It doesn't matter what you're grading them. FFS. Games aren't won with "GRADES". They're won by playing the frigging game. It doesn't matter the level of talent if they aren't playing as a team. 2001 is the epitome of that.

All the whining BS that has gone on from the Sad Sallies is the exact same moronic BS that Veteran Pats fans listened to in 2000 & 2001. It's almost like they have gone back and are regurgitating the same stupid crap from that the Negative Nancy brigade were spewing at the time and calling for BB to be fired.

This team is rebuilding. Not just the roster, but the mentality. Hiring Mayo was a screw-up of gigantic proportions and set this team back farther than it had been. I can say that with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. I hated last year's draft including the Pats taking Maye because it didn't address the need at LT. If they had Wallace slotted as a LT, then the Coaching staff did him a huge disservice by not putting him there and keeping him there the entire year.

There IS talent on the Offense. Whether people are willing to admit it or not. There IS talent.
Whether or not they become a TEAM is another story.

 

[hornetfb85]

I don’t think that includes the option bonus due this year (22 mill) or next year (24 mill) The dead money just wouldn’t make sense

Gotcha. Thank ya

 

[JayNM]

I don't need to tell you if they are better/worse than our best 3. It's a worthless argument that has ZERO bearing on reality. You clearly have forgotten that 30+ something WRs break down really quickly. Not to mention that the names I mentioned all had injuries last year. You'd be one of the first in line to whine about them being hurt if/when it happened.

I had a list also. But here is the difference between us. I can recognize that my list was done without the benefit of a key pieces of information. One of which is that Vrabel & Co would focus on players they'd coached or been on the same team with. Players whom had a mental and physical toughness so they could change the locker-room attitude.

All the players that the Pats have signed, to this point, have a direct relationship with someone on the coaching staff. So, a very plausible assumption is that they avoided signing players whom they had a relationship whom wouldn't bring the same Mental and physical toughness that the team wanted to instill. Which would explain them not signing the likes of Teven Jenkins, Elihah Moore, Westrbrook-Ikhine, Cam Robinson, etc.

There is nothing "abstract" about your thinking. You're whining and b**ching like the rest of the Sad Sallies on here because your ego has you thinking you know better than Vrabel & Co. Despite your years on this board, you still haven't grasped the idea that people like Vrabel know 1000x more about the game than you or I ever will. This is something I have come to accept. Which is why I voiced my displeasure over the signings of Epps, Hollins and Bradbury then let it drop.

What makes your entire argument silly is that it's the same argument people made numerous times in 2003 and 2004. People like you wanted all the big name WRs and wanted Branch/Givens/Patten on the bench. You wanted anyone but what the team had. Regardless of the fact that Branch and Givens were 2nd year players in 2003 or in 2004 as 3rd year players. What they did wasn't enough for you.

I'm NOT satisfied with what Polk/Baker did last year. Unlike people such as yourself, I'm willing to acknowledge that the COACHING was as much of an issue or even a bigger issue than the players themselves. If Vrabel didn't think they were salvageable, he's have cut them both by now and moved on. There is no guarantee that he'd have brought in the likes of Moore or Westbrook-Ikhine because he knows their game and their locker-room presence or lack there of.

It doesn't matter what you're grading them. FFS. Games aren't won with "GRADES". They're won by playing the frigging game. It doesn't matter the level of talent if they aren't playing as a team. 2001 is the epitome of that.

All the whining BS that has gone on from the Sad Sallies is the exact same moronic BS that Veteran Pats fans listened to in 2000 & 2001. It's almost like they have gone back and are regurgitating the same stupid crap from that the Negative Nancy brigade were spewing at the time and calling for BB to be fired.

This team is rebuilding. Not just the roster, but the mentality. Hiring Mayo was a screw-up of gigantic proportions and set this team back farther than it had been. I can say that with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. I hated last year's draft including the Pats taking Maye because it didn't address the need at LT. If they had Wallace slotted as a LT, then the Coaching staff did him a huge disservice by not putting him there and keeping him there the entire year.

There IS talent on the Offense. Whether people are willing to admit it or not. There IS talent.
Whether or not they become a TEAM is another story.

Tl ;:dr

 

[Ring 6]

I don't need to tell you if they are better/worse than our best 3. It's a worthless argument that has ZERO bearing on reality. You clearly have forgotten that 30+ something WRs break down really quickly. Not to mention that the names I mentioned all had injuries last year. You'd be one of the first in line to whine about them being hurt if/when it happened.

I had a list also. But here is the difference between us. I can recognize that my list was done without the benefit of a key pieces of information. One of which is that Vrabel & Co would focus on players they'd coached or been on the same team with. Players whom had a mental and physical toughness so they could change the locker-room attitude.

All the players that the Pats have signed, to this point, have a direct relationship with someone on the coaching staff. So, a very plausible assumption is that they avoided signing players whom they had a relationship whom wouldn't bring the same Mental and physical toughness that the team wanted to instill. Which would explain them not signing the likes of Teven Jenkins, Elihah Moore, Westrbrook-Ikhine, Cam Robinson, etc.

There is nothing "abstract" about your thinking. You're whining and b**ching like the rest of the Sad Sallies on here because your ego has you thinking you know better than Vrabel & Co. Despite your years on this board, you still haven't grasped the idea that people like Vrabel know 1000x more about the game than you or I ever will. This is something I have come to accept. Which is why I voiced my displeasure over the signings of Epps, Hollins and Bradbury then let it drop.

What makes your entire argument silly is that it's the same argument people made numerous times in 2003 and 2004. People like you wanted all the big name WRs and wanted Branch/Givens/Patten on the bench. You wanted anyone but what the team had. Regardless of the fact that Branch and Givens were 2nd year players in 2003 or in 2004 as 3rd year players. What they did wasn't enough for you.

I'm NOT satisfied with what Polk/Baker did last year. Unlike people such as yourself, I'm willing to acknowledge that the COACHING was as much of an issue or even a bigger issue than the players themselves. If Vrabel didn't think they were salvageable, he's have cut them both by now and moved on. There is no guarantee that he'd have brought in the likes of Moore or Westbrook-Ikhine because he knows their game and their locker-room presence or lack there of.

All those words to cover the insane proclamation that whether a player is better than the ones we gave in our roster is worthless and has no bearing on reality.

 

[DaBruinz]

That is not the trend though.... we are 5 years into rebuilding considering everyhting...

But ok lets focus on this year adding one caveat:

Wolfe, who i dont hate, stayed here. Vrabel said he participated in negotiations, but its clear that they are bringing players the coaching staff knows personally.


What im saying is that ONCE more we are being passive in Free Agency. Since the Brady, we had ONE trully high spending.

And say what you will about that crop, Henry is still here for example and im pretty sure we had our best season in the last 5 years after the high spending spree (And some folks here were HESISTANT to call it a spree at time bc other teams were doing more!! I remember the thread, i f created it)


So, again, I want to see the trend breaking NOW. Set up for 2026, when its OBVIOUS is a ****ing take or break year. Be proactive, because creativity is CLEARLY not our management strong suits.

Now, slowing my emotions, but still seriously, even if we get ONE prime-ish player and he pans out, then it becomes the "genius" talking point for Vrabel, or god forbid, Kraft's, roster management and behaviour in the free agency market. THEN why not do it MORE? Make sure that for 2026 we did find a blue chip in the free agency "randomly", by risking a bit in 2025.

We. Have. The. Money. For 3 years now we are sitting on cap space, and the longer the FA goes - or the be precise here - the more better players get signed

The less likely we are to, again, break this damn trend

They are not 5 years into rebuilding. They are 1. They tore down everything before last year and they're tearing it down again this year.

The Pats haven't been "sitting on cap space" for 3 years now. They had 80M going into last year and had like 20M that carried over to this year. Spending 60M in cap space is spending. Whether you like it or not. The Pats have spent money this year. Just because it's not taking up a TON of cap space doesn't mean the money wasn't spent. Their projected cap space w/o the carryover is 46M for next year.

You also forget that their QB is on a rookie deal and is only $8M against the cap compared to teams that are spending 30-50M on QBs. The team needs about 20M in cap space for rookies, the 52&53 roster spots and the 16 practice squad players. It also needs to keep money available for the LTBE incentives in contracts.

It's a little over a week into Free agency and people are acting like it's 3 weeks before the start of the season and the team hasn't done anything. All because your egos think you know more about players than the coaches who have worked with them previously.

 

[DaBruinz]

Your excuses don't run good routes or protect the franchise QBs backside.

Only fools think that the TRUTH is "excuses".

 

[Ring 6]

Yep DB wants Vederian Lowe back @ Left Tackle because it will save Krafts $$$$$$$$$ unreal.

That’s wine not whine

 

[DaBruinz]

I think the man makes a point

No. He doesn't. He's another in the Chicken Little / Negative Nancy brigade. Unless the team does everything HE wants, they suck .. It's laughable. He's not even a poor man's NEM.

 

[Ring 6]

It doesn't matter what you're grading them. FFS. Games aren't won with "GRADES". They're won by playing the frigging game. It doesn't matter the level of talent if they aren't playing as a team. 2001 is the epitome of that.

All the whining BS that has gone on from the Sad Sallies is the exact same moronic BS that Veteran Pats fans listened to in 2000 & 2001. It's almost like they have gone back and are regurgitating the same stupid crap from that the Negative Nancy brigade were spewing at the time and calling for BB to be fired.

This team is rebuilding. Not just the roster, but the mentality. Hiring Mayo was a screw-up of gigantic proportions and set this team back farther than it had been. I can say that with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. I hated last year's draft including the Pats taking Maye because it didn't address the need at LT. If they had Wallace slotted as a LT, then the Coaching staff did him a huge disservice by not putting him there and keeping him there the entire year.

There IS talent on the Offense. Whether people are willing to admit it or not. There IS talent.
Whether or not they become a TEAM is another story.

Ok so i have been to a 3rd grade play and there was talent.
So yes there is talent on the patriots offense.
But what people mean when they say that is talent COMPARABLE TO OTHER NFL TEAMS.

Last year both the OL and WRs had the least talent of any NFL team, and it’s not even debatable.

Having Strange back and adding Bradbury and Moses helped, but the OL is still league worst at the most important of the 5 spots.

The WRs are not even just league worst, they are worse than Ohio State had last year.

Singing kumbaya doesn’t help guys who can’t play at an NFL level.

 

[Grogan14]

The issue is how does the patriots talent compare with other nfl teams

At present

Wr bottom 3
OL. Bottom 3
RBs middle of the pack
TEs. Middle of the pack
QB. -TBD, has potential but unproven with few wins or clutch comebacks

Sitting on 125 million in cap space they have done little to improve this situation so far.

 

[Ring 6]

No. He doesn't. He's another in the Chicken Little / Negative Nancy brigade. Unless the team does everything HE wants, they suck .. It's laughable. He's not even a poor man's NEM.

Name the NFL team that has less talent than the patriots on offense and particularly at WR and OL.

 

[Ring 6]

The issue is how does the patriots talent compare with other nfl teams

At present

Wr bottom 3
OL. Bottom 3
RBs middle of the pack
TEs. Middle of the pack
QB. -TBD, has potential but unproven with few wins or clutch comebacks

Sitting on 125 million in cap space they have done little to improve this situation so far.

There is absolutely no chance that the WRs are rated anything other than 32. You simply cannot find a team that’s even arguably worse. Ohio State last year was much better.

OL Won’t be bottom 3 if we draft a LT in round 1. It would be average at worst.

RB is an open question now that there is a semblance of an OL.

 

[JayNM]

They are not 5 years into rebuilding. They are 1. They tore down everything before last year and they're tearing it down again this year.

The Pats haven't been "sitting on cap space" for 3 years now. They had 80M going into last year and had like 20M that carried over to this year. Spending 60M in cap space is spending. Whether you like it or not. The Pats have spent money this year. Just because it's not taking up a TON of cap space doesn't mean the money wasn't spent. Their projected cap space w/o the carryover is 46M for next year.

You also forget that their QB is on a rookie deal and is only $8M against the cap compared to teams that are spending 30-50M on QBs. The team needs about 20M in cap space for rookies, the 52&53 roster spots and the 16 practice squad players. It also needs to keep money available for the LTBE incentives in contracts.

It's a little over a week into Free agency and people are acting like it's 3 weeks before the start of the season and the team hasn't done anything. All because your egos think you know more about players than the coaches who have worked with them previously.

U still yapping slav dumbskull? (Your words?

 

[DaBruinz]

Fkn Lighthouse is Hideous, plane Is FAR MORE IMPORTANT.

100% agree with you.

 

[DaBruinz]

U still yapping slav dumbskull? (Your words?

Never said I was a dumbskull. Now you're just being a loser making things up. Great job , Jay.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The issue is how does the patriots talent compare with other nfl teams

At present

Wr bottom 3
OL. Bottom 3
RBs middle of the pack
TEs. Middle of the pack
QB. -TBD, has potential but unproven with few wins or clutch comebacks

Sitting on 125 million in cap space they have done little to improve this situation so far.

Free agency

WR’s -Garbage

OT-Garbage

IOL-mediocre

TE-Garbage

RB-Decent

QB-Mediocre

Sam would have blown all 125 million on GARBAGE!