My Ridiculously Early Start on a 2026 Offseason Plan

[Hammer of Thor]

Patriots Draft Talk

I laughed, but your consulting with them in the draft room this year paid huge dividends, keep it up please!

 

[manxman2601]

I laughed, but your consulting with them in the draft room this year paid huge dividends, keep it up please!

Sadly it didn't pay huge dividends for me personally.

 

[dliverey44]

I am not an advocate for this, but would you trade Gonzo for the two Rams first rounders or a first this, first next year and something else? Note, i'm not taking a tweet from someone called Draftnerd that seriously, just a hypothetical inspired by a tweet.

Interesting thought, but I am a hard no on trading Gonzo. My reasoning is that great CBs do not come around that often, there have been tons of 1st round CBs that have been average or bust. If you could guarantee that the players we got would be top 10 at their position for the next 5 years then sure but that is an unknown, so I stick with Gonzo

 

[manxman2601]

Interesting thought, but I am a hard no on trading Gonzo. My reasoning is that great CBs do not come around that often, there have been tons of 1st round CBs that have been average or bust. If you could guarantee that the players we got would be top 10 at their position for the next 5 years then sure but that is an unknown, so I stick with Gonzo

That's where I am although as someone who loves the draft, I'd love to get my teeth into two extra firsts. But that's just selfish.

 

[dliverey44]

That's where I am although as someone who loves the draft, I'd love to get my teeth into two extra firsts. But that's just selfish.

LOL. I read it and was like yea we could...then I was like WTF am I doing.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Restructure Milton Williams

Cut Diggs (post June 1st designation), Jennings

Trade Pop Douglas (performance escalator to $3.6M is too much for him)

In free agency sign Hendrickson, Alec Pierce, Connor McGovern, Isaiah Likely, Joel Bitionio and re-sign Chaisson/Hawkins/Tonga. Let Gibbens go unless he comes back cheaper than his RFA tender. You have to be aggressive with how you structure those deals to fit it all but we can afford to be because I expect lots of the guys we signed last year to be cut next year.

Ideally in the draft, look to take a RT of the future in the 1st so Moses can be cut next year, a starting outside CB opposite Gonzo in the 2nd so Davis can be cut next year, and a LB who can hopefully step in next year so Spillane could be cut. All of those guys have crazy high cap hits that we can get out of for 2027 if we have replacements in place, along with Landry who is an obvious cut candidate next year.

 

[Clonamery]

LOL. I read it and was like yea we could...then I was like WTF am I doing.

You're doing what every GM/Exec does....think through every possibility/opportunity.

 

[dliverey44]

You're doing what every GM/Exec does....think through every possibility/opportunity.

I don't mean to brag but I am pretty good at it when there is an undo or restart button. lol

 

[hornetfb85]

Completely on board with message board discussion…
1) We can go ahead and eliminate the trading Gonzo thoughts. That will not happen.

2) Will Campbell is our LT. There are not any upgrades available, unless Freeling drops to us.

3) Freeling isn’t dropping to us so that’s that

4) Little bit early to give up on a rookie playing out of position.

5) They will not cut Onwenu, whom played well this year, and create another hole on the line.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

5) They will not cut Onwenu, whom played well this year, and create another hole on the line.

If you cut Onwenu and sign Linderbaum for roughly the same money, allbeit over 4 years, you do not create a hole in the OL. Just the opposite, you ungrade the OL.

You can think of it a different way. Do you want to extend Onwenu for 3 more years, 4 total, or sign Linderbaum for 4 years? No-one would pick signing Onwenu.

 

[mayoclinic]

Completely on board with message board discussion…
1) We can go ahead and eliminate the trading Gonzo thoughts. That will not happen.

Agreed.

2) Will Campbell is our LT. There are not any upgrades available, unless Freeling drops to us.

3) Freeling isn’t dropping to us so that’s that

Agreed. I'm predicting Freeling to go in the 6-17 range.

4) Little bit early to give up on a rookie playing out of position.

Hallelujah!

5) They will not cut Onwenu, whom played well this year, and create another hole on the line.

Quite possible, though if the right veteran IOL is available it might open up the possibility.

Right now I like the idea of AVT, if medicals check out and the price is right. Tomorrow I may feel otherwise, but right now Campbell - AVT - Wilson seems pretty athletic to me.

 

[mayoclinic]

Just a wild thought, but if you cut Mike Onwenu and Garrett Bradbury you would save over $23M in 2027 cap space. You could possibly sign both Tyler Linderbaum and AVT for about that in 2027 cap hit (not combined AAV).

A line of:

Campbell - AVT - Linderbaugh - Wilson - RT would be highly athletic, with young veterans in AVT and Linderbaugh.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Just a wild thought, but if you cut Mike Onwenu and Garrett Bradbury you would save over $23M in 2027 cap space. You could possibly sign both Tyler Linderbaum and AVT for about that in 2027 cap hit (not combined AAV).

A line of:

Campbell - AVT - Linderbaugh - Wilson - RT would be highly athletic, with young veterans in AVT and Linderbaugh.

That is it. See my post 2 above. Been saying this.

 

[stelfans]

Just a wild thought, but if you cut Mike Onwenu and Garrett Bradbury you would save over $23M in 2027 cap space. You could possibly sign both Tyler Linderbaum and AVT for about that in 2027 cap hit (not combined AAV).

A line of:

Campbell - AVT - Linderbaugh - Wilson - RT would be highly athletic, with young veterans in AVT and Linderbaugh.

AVT is a very good bet but e en if his medicals check out, it would be very unwise to not have a very good plan b. Has he ever had a full season of playing time (or close to that)?
But I like it.

 

[mayoclinic]

Ben Brown can back up all 3 guard positions. AVT and Wulson can be moved around in need si there is some versatility.

 

[captain stone]

Dude sucks.

Wilson never, Evah should've been our starting LG this season. That left-side combo was a ticking time bomb from the moment it was created.

Here's another feather-ruffler: Kelvin Banks & Strange69 would've been a better LT-LG combo for us this season than Stumpy & the Volleyball were.

 

[dliverey44]

Here's another feather-ruffler: Kelvin Banks & Strange69 would've been a better LT-LG combo for us this season than Stumpy & the Volleyball were.

Its debateable, but I don't think so

 

[dliverey44]

Just a wild thought, but if you cut Mike Onwenu and Garrett Bradbury you would save over $23M in 2027 cap space. You could possibly sign both Tyler Linderbaum and AVT for about that in 2027 cap hit (not combined AAV).

A line of:

Campbell - AVT - Linderbaugh - Wilson - RT would be highly athletic, with young veterans in AVT and Linderbaugh.

I agree that they could sign both guys. I think there will be several simple restructures that will open quite a bit of cap space.

AVT has alot of talent but his injury history (torn tricep in 2022 and 2025, but I don't know if it was the same arm) is scary given the price tag (projected 13-16M a year). I love the idea of Linderbaum but I just do not see Wilson playing RG at an average level. AVT and Linderbaum are both under 27 I believe, so that would be hugely impactful for the next 4-5 years.

 

[Clonamery]

I agree that they could sign both guys. I think there will be several simple restructures that will open quite a bit of cap space.

AVT has alot of talent but his injury history (torn tricep in 2022 and 2025, but I don't know if it was the same arm) is scary given the price tag (projected 13-16M a year). I love the idea of Linderbaum but I just do not see Wilson playing RG at an average level. AVT and Linderbaum are both under 27 I believe, so that would be hugely impactful for the next 4-5 years.

AVT's best year was his 1st year and only full season. All-Rookie Team.

Key Injury Timeline:

• 2022 (Right Triceps Tear): Suffered in Week 7 against Denver, missing the final 10 games.
• 2023 (Achilles Tear): Suffered in Week 5 against Denver, missing the final 12 games.
• 2025 (Left Triceps Tear): Suffered in a September padded practice, resulting in season-ending surgery, affecting the opposite arm of his 2022 injury.

43 games played; 41 games missed. Good player when healthy but that's only 50% of the time.

 

[mayoclinic]

With FA less than a month away, I expect some aggressive moves.

What I'd ideally like to see:

- Re-sign Tonga, Chaisson and Hawkins

- Target IOL Tyler Linderbaum and AVT in FA. If we somehow get both, cit Onwenu and Bradbury.
- Sign a FA EDGE. Oweh 1st choice, but there are others.
- Sign a FA TE.

- Draft a RT successor to Moses high. Would trade up for Freeling within range, otherwise Iheanachor/Lomu/Miller.
- Find a way to get Kyle Louis and one of Treydan Stukes/Keionte Scott.
- Day 3, get 1 of DeZhaun Stribling/Cyrus Allen/Kendrick Law, and 1 of Josh Cameron/Reggie Virgil/Jeff Caldwell.

Gonzalez and Boutte extensions can come later.

I don't think it will happen, but would be open to offers for Barmore at the right price.

I have no idea how to make this happen, just a wish list.