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

[Huckleberry1]

T-Rex made V-Lowe some $$$$$$$$ last night.

Moron.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

For the edge position... I think in an ideal world they would

(1) add a well rounded starter type of veteran (even if it isn't a TOP guy like Hendrickson or Crosby)
(2) retain Chaisson or replace him with a situational edge rusher veteran
(3) draft someone who can be developed as a starting caliber player

That would set you up with a depth chart of the veteran addition lined up opposite Landry as the "starters" but Landry comes out for Chaisson in passing situations. The rookie competes with Ponder/Swinson for the fill-in-the-gaps role in the rotation as the 4th guy. I'm assuming Jennings as a cap casualty here. Ideally the rookie comes on stronger and stronger throughout the year, especially if it's a high

I think Landry when healthy this past year showed he can still set the edge well enough but he's got no one on one pass rush juice. He should be used like Jennings was as a situational run setter. So ideally they get a full time starter opposite him in FA and can grow a young player into Landry's starting spot over the season.

 

[Ross12]

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

Landry will be here either way because of his guaranteed salary

 

[JoeSixPat]

I don't think we can let Chaisson walk, as we're already down a pass rusher and if we lose Chaisson, we probably need to find two.

He's a quality depth guy - and we'd all love to keep him for that purpose, but they will invest in a legit edge rusher in the draft and FA who they hope is better than him.

Someone else may be willing to pay more.

I'd take any of the other guys back as quality depth players too - but I see them upgrading on OL depth and don't see them tied to any of the others unless they take a decent discount.

 

[mgteich]

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 would try to keep them all (plus RFA Gibbens and RFA STer Austin).
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COMMENTS
1) Lowe will probably go to start elsewhere. Congrats and thank you for your contributions. I would pay more than most of you would.
2) Chaisson is a major asset. He should be one of our 2 or 3 major signings.
3) I don't think Tonga, Hooper or Munford will cost a lot.
40 Hawkins is a keeper. He had a great year. I never thought that out trio of Woodson, Hawkins and Pettus would be enough at safety. It was. I do want to add a 3rd safety,

 

[ViperGTS]

Tonga stays. Hooper might want out unless he wants to be on the cheap. Chaisson will get the bag from someone else. Hawkins should be easy to keep.

So they keep Tonga, Hawkins and thats it imo. I'd like to keep Chaisson but I worry he will get something the Pats won't feel is worth it. He's good but not that good.

 

[Ross12]

Tonga stays. Hooper might want out unless he wants to be on the cheap. Chaisson will get the bag from someone else. Hawkins should be easy to keep.

So they keep Tonga, Hawkins and thats it imo. I'd like to keep Chaisson but I worry he will get something the Pats won't feel is worth it. He's good but not that good.

Looking at the list again after some thought, I am pretty much in exact agreement with you. The only two main keepers are Tonga and Hawkins, and while they will try to keep Chaisson, he will most likely get offers elsewhere that go beyond what they’ll be willing to pay for his services.

 

[slash83]

I don't think we can let Chaisson walk, as we're already down a pass rusher and if we lose Chaisson, we probably need to find two.

Crosby will be the upgrade to Chaisson.

 

[n1997y]

I would keep Tonga, Hawkins, Lowe and Chaisson

I agree, plus Munford if he isn’t too expensive.

Might let Hawkins go in the final preseason cuts if we’ve upgraded through FA or draft. Want to evaluate in camp before releasing him.

 

[n1997y]

I like Lowe and never thought he was as bad as some on here thought. However, he will not stick around for back up and less money. Some team will see him as an improvement over what they have and pay him more. Would we give him a real shot at competing, probably not, probably should.

We need to keep him as our starting LT so we can move Will Campbell inside to LG.

jk. Maybe.

 

[n1997y]

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.

“He is a quality player” followed by a full paragraph justifying not keeping him.

SMH.

 

[n1997y]

Minimum is harsh for most of these guys, but I certainly agree with your sentiment overall that all of these guys are JAG types.

Chaisson is much more than JAG. Former first round pick, second on the team in sacks this year. Reports suggest his market value might be around $26 million for three years. We might not resign him not because he’s JAG but because he’s too expensive. But I think we’re likely to try to keep him, because he plays a position of serious need for the team. If he goes elsewhere our only other productive EDGE is Landry who is injured and thus a question mark.

 

[resdubwhite]

Landry will be here either way because of his guaranteed salary

well then he better take a pay cut. After an excellent start he's tailed off. And I know hes not been healthy. But still

 

[stephens44]

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

Keep Tonga, based on position he won't break the bank. As for the rest, its a matter of price vs. what FA has to offer. I see there's a lot of Safety's available, but not much for edge and OT. There's a few TE's that would be an upgrade.
Then there's the draft...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Landry will be here either way because of his guaranteed salary

They can in theory trade him and free up about $7M, but cutting him would increase his cap hit.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Crosby will be the upgrade to Chaisson.

I don't think we're getting Crosby.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Landry will be here either way because of his guaranteed salary

So, we hope Landry comes back healthy. I think we pay Chaisson. I don't think he's going to break the bank. Then we build from there with a FA if we can find someone and a draft pick?

 

[Joey007]

I don't think we're getting Crosby.

It’s more likely than not we don’t.

But he’s one of the one guys I’d be fully willing to give up massive capital for.

 

[mike_usagisan]

It’s more likely than not we don’t.

But he’s one of the one guys I’d be fully willing to give up massive capital for.

Agreed. Though I could also see Vrabel and co. deciding to do one more year of traditional draft and free agency before trying to make the trade to put us over the top.

 

[Give Kraft A Hand]

Keep Tonga. The other guys work towards getting an upgrade either in the draft or FA. If I had to choose another guy it’s probably Hawkins.