Patriots Rumor The pending UFA: who do we keep? Who walks?

[Ross12]

If Chiasson gets a franchise tag, he's going to run to sign it!

I might take that one back. The tags have inflated more than I realized lol. $27M for the DE tag?! I don't think so... I am guessing nobody gets tagged.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I do wonder what happens with Landry. I assume he'll try to recover and come back next year.

His contract makes him a tough pill to swallow if cut.

 

[p8ryts]

His contract makes him a tough pill to swallow if cut.

He was generally injured and ineffective. Thank you for participating.

 

[PatsFan2]

If Chiasson gets a franchise tag, he's going to run to sign it!

He's ain't getting a Tag: he'll sign a decent pass rusher only contract. Because the world knows he can't set the Edge.

 

[mgteich]

He was generally injured and ineffective. Thank you for participating.

We understand. You expect him to be injured again and are willing to pay him lots of money to play for someone else (his guarantee).

 

[mgcolby]

He's ain't getting a Tag: he'll sign a decent pass rusher only contract. Because the world knows he can't set the Edge.

From what I remember seeing he was mostly spilling and the LB's (occasional Safety) wasn't getting around to the outside properly. I don't recall and I would have to go back and watch the tape (which I don't have the stomach to do right now), him attacking the OL outside shoulder he was attacking inside which again indicates he's spilling and the LB/S should be picking up the edge. Not sure you're blaming the right guy for those outside runs. Especially on the delayed bounce outs. I think that was complete collapse of the run game by the defense. One run Barmore did set the edge and Walker ran inside and Gibbens got blown out by the Guard(?). Plenty of blame to go around last night in the run game. Jennings was an issue as well.

 

[RobertWeathers]

He was generally injured and ineffective. Thank you for participating.

He was fine before he got hurt.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Very small list of UFA this offseason. But about 5 of the 6 played big roles this year:

Khyiris Tonga
Jaylinn Hawkins
Vederian Lowe
Thayer Munford
K’Lavon Chaisson
Austin Hooper

I think the 3 must keeps for me are Tonga, Hawkins, Lowe. Need Lowe for insurance at LT. Hawkins also is one you almost wonder if you consider a tag for. But I doubt it with how inflated the number is. But he massively impressed me this year.

Chaisson is one I’m open to if it’s for the right price. I don’t want to overpay him, we need to hit big on the edge rush this offseason. Hooper lastly just depends on the market. Wouldn’t be opposed, but also would like to get younger at the position behind Henry. Deep FA market at TE.

I agree with you. I'd still look for another safety to develop but keep him.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

He played relatively well before his injury. He will be back next year. Didn’t he sign a 3 year deal?

He was injured and he is a Vrabel guy. No way is cut this offseason.

Looks like he was playing on one leg after his knee got bent

 

[Hugepatsfan]

On Chaisson...

You can't be AFRAID of roster turnover to the point you just re-sign everyone. He is a quality player and if he's not back it leaves a void of production to fill. But you can't make him out to be a retain at all costs kind of guy. You can't just fall in love with continuity because he is not some elite player who can't be replaced. And yeah it's always a risk of brining new guys in but that's why your scouts and front office get paid. They're not going to hit 100% and sometimes you'll let a guy go and the replacement plan doesn't work but you have to hope that's offset by improvement somewhere else then. Maybe you lose Chaisson and the replacement for him is weaker but at the same time you make a depth upgrade over Jennings/Ponder such that the overall edge production is better. Or maybe you add a better coverage safety such that you can be more creative up front with more guys in the box to generate pressures.

 

[aluminum seats]

On Chaisson...

You can't be AFRAID of roster turnover to the point you just re-sign everyone. He is a quality player and if he's not back it leaves a void of production to fill. But you can't make him out to be a retain at all costs kind of guy. You can't just fall in love with continuity because he is not some elite player who can't be replaced. And yeah it's always a risk of brining new guys in but that's why your scouts and front office get paid. They're not going to hit 100% and sometimes you'll let a guy go and the replacement plan doesn't work but you have to hope that's offset by improvement somewhere else then. Maybe you lose Chaisson and the replacement for him is weaker but at the same time you make a depth upgrade over Jennings/Ponder such that the overall edge production is better. Or maybe you add a better coverage safety such that you can be more creative up front with more guys in the box to generate pressures.

Agreed. I think a good front office has to be really selective about the guys that they are definitely going to keep. Even then it’s a balance between what they’re asking for but there’s not really that many guys that we NEED to keep

 

[moosekill]

I would keep Tonga, Hawkins, Lowe and Chaisson

THIS

 

[ctpatsfan77]

You forgot Jack Gibbens at LB who probably falls somewhere between Lowe and Munford. Likely a minimum or close to it depth type contract that is a no brainer to keep, but if anyone offered him any sort of real money probably let him walk.

He's an RFA according to Overthecap.com.

 

[Joey007]

Munford seems the easiest call to bring back because it's likely a minimum or close to it type of deal. We signed him off a team's practice squad, which is a reflection of how the league sees him and that's a position where you need tons of depth bodies.

Lower would make sense to bring back, but he's right on that edge where some desperate team trying to find lightning in a bottle with a low cost starter might offer him more money than you want to pay a backup.

You forgot Jack Gibbens at LB who probably falls somewhere between Lowe and Munford. Likely a minimum or close to it depth type contract that is a no brainer to keep, but if anyone offered him any sort of real money probably let him walk.

Tonga plays a devalued position that you're always going to use rotations at so seems like a good guy to bring back for depth. I'd love to see us actually prioritize a dominant NT even though it's not on a lot of people's radars. I think it would unlock a lot on defense if we added that to go with the great 3Ts we have. But Tonga is a good stop gap rotational piece that I would imagine is priced fairly.

Hawkins is a JAG/stop gap type of player IMO. If we upgrade in free agency, he'll be too expensive to pay as a third safety in a scheme that doesn't use that much. But if not, he's a fine guy to keep for stability. Should be looking to upgrade him in the draft though.

Hooper is fine to bring back if they don't upgrade in FA. Considering Henry's age this is a sneaky spot to spend for an upgrade on while it's a want instead of a true "need" though and Hooper might just get displaced through that. Good fall back though.

Chaisson is the big one. You're talking abut a depth type option but a position where depth type options are expensive. I think it really depends on how much money he gets offered and what the other options are. They have to come away from free agency with a starting caliber DE, whether that's Chaisson or someone else. At least one. They'll have to weigh Chaisson's contract value against what else is out there.

Gibbens is a restricted FA. This is just UFA’s.

 

[Joey007]

His contract makes him a tough pill to swallow if cut.

He can work out fine as a role type of guy next year if he gets healthy and we bolster the rest of the line. Just can’t have him being the primary edge next year

 

[Joey007]

He played relatively well before his injury. He will be back next year. Didn’t he sign a 3 year deal?

He was injured and he is a Vrabel guy. No way is cut this offseason.

Kinda why I’m tempted to let Chaisson walk unless he comes cheap.

go land a bigger fish. I don’t think we can run it back with Chaisson/Landry as the edge duo.

 

[Wozzy]

Tonga is a no brainer for me, he deserves a solid extension for a guy who plays as a rotational run stuffer. It won't be that much.

Chaissson hopefully enjoys playing here so much he is willing to take a relatively team friendly deal. I wouldn't overpay him either. He is an explsove player, but he is occasionally undisciplined in contain. They bring Jennings in when they need run stops. Ideally you want to pay one player who can do both pass rush and run stop at a high level like a healthy Landry.

They need another starter opposite Woodson at safety, Hawkins is a solid contributor, but they need someone with more range and talent... someone smarter who can play QB on the backend of that defense. The zone coverages were atrocious, that gets fixed by being smarter in the backfield and more talented (fast) to erase mistakes. Don't pay Hawkins like a starter.

Hooper is getting old, but wouldn't be a bad guy to bring to camp again, but they need to get younger and more talented here. There's also other free agents out there I might want more. Foster Moreau will be coming off an ankle injury, he is a more powerful blocker and younger, he wouldn't be expensive either.

They will have to lock up some guys who have outperformed their contracts. Gonzalez for one will be ready to extend, Boutte will also. Demario Douglas, Cory Durden earned himself some money, Christian Ellis should be extended, Onwenu can be reworked and extended another year or two, Baringer will need a new deal but can probably wait until the following season, punters don't have a lot of leverage.

They need to do a really good job in the draft and free agency the next couple seasons. It will determine if 2025 was just as flash in the pan or the start of something great.

 

[Ross12]

Kinda why I’m tempted to let Chaisson walk unless he comes cheap.

go land a bigger fish. I don’t think we can run it back with Chaisson/Landry as the edge duo.

I get the thinking. If you have to extend relatively big $ for Chaisson then just go a bit further and get a better player. There are some options.

 

[Joey007]

I get the thinking. If you have to extend relatively big $ for Chaisson then just go a bit further and get a better player. There are some options.

I’d love to keep Chaisson and replace Landry with some blue chip rusher. But just seems less realistic

 

[Huckleberry1]

Might have to keep Lowe now knowing we don't know what we have in Campbell. We have to Resign K’Lavon Chaisson.

Just because you and the rest of the fairweather fans don't know what they have in Campbell doesn't mean Vrabel and Marrone don't know what they have in Campbell.