After I thought I lost all my "idle thoughts" work, I tried to ease my frustration by checking out the potential FA Market for next off season. Now there will always be a certain significant % that will resign with their present team. Others will get offers from others that will be more tempting. Still others who might rather live somewhere other than Foxboro. So, this is just a mental exercise to discuss and get us to Thursday.
1. Who do we re-sign from our own FA's. There are really only 3 that matter imho. Tonga, Chaisson, and Ellis. Tonga will be 31, which would be a no-no if he hadn't done so well and earned his raise. I'd give him a 2-3 year deal with a solid raise.
Chaisson is a tougher question. He's had a "breakout" year and will likely wind up with 8-12 sacks. I think he has 6.5 now. I think he'd be an asset, but edge rushers come at a premium these days. However, I think he's kind of a one trick pony who needs to be moving on a twist or slant to be consistently effective. He's not powerful enough to just come in on his own and bull rush anyone. I'd love him back, but only if is what everyone would deem to be a "reasonable" contract. At least one of Ponder (who got a sack Sunday) or Swinson need to develop into at least a rotational rusher who can consistently provide pressure on the QB or we will need to draft one very early. Chaisson might be gone and Landry, who has been very consistent against both the pass and run, isn't going to remind anyone of TJ Watt.
2. Who do we sign outside of the team and what positions should we target:
My first target would be Breece Hall - I think we have Stevenson under contract for the '26 season. I think he is a good enough runner, blocker, and receiver to be of value, and his cap # is reasonable. A RB room of Hall, Stevenson, Henderson, and one of Gibson, Jennings, or draft pick would be a strong unit deep and versatile. No need for a "3rd down back, since all 4 can catch and run routes well.
Hall is NOT going to sign with the Jets. Even with all those picks, even IF they hit on a good QB, it's going to be 2-3 years before they will be ready to compete and that's a lifetime to a RB. If winning is important to Hall he isn't going to be in that cesspool in NJ. In NE we have a young team, a great QB, Great coaching staff, great culture, and great owner. Boston and Providence might not be the draws that LA/Miami, or LA are, but they don't suck and not every athlete is drawn to the "club scene" and sees it as an important factor in picking where to play.
3. Beyond Hall, our next FA class should have a starting OLman. Maybe Joe Thuney would like to end his career back where it started for the next 2 years.
4. We saw tonight in impact a good edge guy makes and the Eagles deal with Miami was an instant success. The guy I'm looking for is well under 30 and will sign for 4 years. Bonito would be great, but the year he is having will put him into the Watt/Parsons range which is too rich. Boye Mafi will cost half that, yet be what we want and need. The other option is to make our first rounder an edge guy and hope he works out.
We don't need to find 6 immediate starters in FA and 5 immediate starters in the draft next year. We DO need to improve the quality of our depth and continue to add speed across the board. This year was a good start, but just a start. Just look to the Eagles. They've been to 2 Superbowls, yet are still looking to add talent whenever they can.
