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

[Zuma]

Chaisson - re-sign
Munford - re-sign
Lowe - re-sign
Gibbens - RFA....keep
Tonga - replace with draft
Hawkins - replace with draft or FA
Hooper - replace with draft or FA

 

[Real fan 02]

Great post.

We signed Williams last year, and let's hope we keep the same approach and sign Linderbaum. We could even let Onwenu go, even though this suggestion shocks lots of PatsFans posters, and sign Linderbaum and Edwards. We can draft a RG and can't do worse than Wilson was a LG this year. Having a veteran LG will greatly help Campbell. Big mistake putting 2 rookies on the left side this year.

Tonga - another PatsFans favorite. The dude is a JAG, against good competition he disappears. He would have to be cheap, cheap, cheap. Hopefully Farmer has a Y2 leap. We can draft a replacement in R5 to R7.

Hawkins has to be a backup at best. There are some cover safeties in the draft. A cover safety and cover LB are more important to me than an EDGE.

LB has to dramatically improve - agreed. There are a bunch of veterans in FA plus a coverage LB like Louis in the draft. A weakness is immediately a strength.

We have 6 picks from R5 to R7. Backup TE, Fullback, slot receiver, Div. II CB, WR, and OT for Y1 training are all on the table.

Excellent post. I know you may disagree..but I'd be cautious about just wanting to rid of Hawkins.. someone threw out 3 million a season on a short extension as he is a premium STs player..

He also has great chemistry with Woodson.. I'd draft a S, sign a veteran in FA ,and let them all compete for that spot next to Woodson in TC.. have to keep the continuity going with the defense. Remember Artrell Hawkins? At S.. not the greatest but he didn't entirely screw it up when playing S... same with Jaylinn Hawkins.. crazy they have the same last name.. and play the same position..

 

[Real fan 02]

Chaisson - resign
Munford - resign
Lowe - resign
Gibbens - RFA....keep
Tonga - replace with draft
Hawkins - replace with draft or FA
Hooper - replace with draft or FA

Who's your choice to replace Hawkins?

 

[Real fan 02]

I like Pierce. I don't know how serious the team is about a WR and Pierce would be a major star of the free agent market.
I think guard is a need.
I'm not sure where they stand on a tackle.
Fullback, I think they like the one on IR and if not, should be easily able to find another.
I expect some competition for punter in camp.
I don't think they'll go after Shaheed or Pickens.
I think they'll hold onto Diggs until the decide what to do at WR.

It's essential to keep Diggs..he is under contract still many forget that...

What you want is:

Williams to take the year 2 jump, upgrade at TE would immensely help the offense as a whole.. so your core is back in Boutte, Diggs, Hollins.. Henderson, rham

don't think pop will remain JMO.. chism is here as well.

This offense scored 28PPG with these very same players... imagine upgrading at TE..

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Hawkins - crazy they have the same last name.. and play the same position..

That is because "hawk" is a perfect name for a safety

 

[Real fan 02]

That is because "hawk" is a perfect name for a safety

Great points!! ..I'm of the opinion once the pass rush is vastly improved the entire secondary will be better.. with or without Hawkins at S..

 

[p8ryts]

Are you cutting Daden or Farmer?

Pharms and Gregory. Pharms was a nice story, but it's run its course.

 

[grux]

I hope they sign a veteran guard. He will take some pressure off of Campbell.

 

[mgteich]

Who's your choice to replace Hawkins?

How often did anyone but Woodson or Hawkins get reps?

We have Woodson.

We don't need Hawkins and a free agent and a draftee to replace the roster spot of this one free agent.

I'm fine with re-signing Hawkins and drafting a safety to compete with him for the starting position. Hawkins should make the team as a #3 S and as a Ster. Hawkins should be an inexpensive backup who can start if necessary (as was the case in 2025). As I recall, we had Epps and cut him. Was there anyone else competing?

 

[Real fan 02]

How often did anyone but Woodson or Hawkins get reps?

We have Woodson.

We don't need Hawkins and a free agent and a draftee to replace the roster spot of this one free agent.

I'm fine with re-signing Hawkins and drafting a safety to compete with him for the starting position. Hawkins should make the team as a #3 S and as a Ster. Hawkins should be an inexpensive backup who can start if necessary (as was the case in 2025). As I recall, we had Epps and cut him. Was there anyone else competing?

NEED is a strong word.. aside from Drake there's realistically no player a NEED.. at safety..
your post makes fair points.. Hawkins is not an all pro.. by any stretch.. but it's sensible to have him back in the rotation.. can I ask you.. what was Hawkins depth position last season at S? He was behind Dugger and peppers..Do you see a major upgrade like some on patsfans.com seem to think?

If so please do tell? Until then your post is sensible.. resign Hawkins, draft a guy and sign another veteran.. may the best man win in camp..

Epps as coming off a knee injury and was no viable lock to even make the roster.. Dugger was injury comprised and peppers didn't want to accept not being a starter...

 

[brdmaverick]

Would like to see Tonga and Chaisson back, but the reality is that our list of free agents really isn't that bad.

While I don't want to lose these players, I suspect we'd be able to get a comparable replacement if they did walk.

 

[captain stone]

I would keep Tonga, Hawkins, Lowe and Chaisson

Same here. I like Hooper, but he & Henry are redundant now: we need both a more dynamic play-maker And a better blocker at the TE position; and since Hooper's a UFA now anyway, then it becomes easier to just sign one of those types as a UFA instead of re-signing him.

As for Mister Mumpsferd, he's a sub-JAG blob, even for a Right-side lineman. We should easily be able to do much, Much better than hm for a 4th OT/practice-squad OT.

 

[JackBauer]

You don't think that Hooper is good enough to be an inexpensive backup. I disagree.

That doesn't mean that Vrabel won't look for an upgrade as he will doat almost every position.

That’s great. My position is they can and should do better than Hooper at TE2.

 

[mgteich]

Chaisson - re-sign
Munford - re-sign
Lowe - re-sign
Gibbens - RFA....keep
Tonga - replace with draft
Hawkins - replace with draft or FA
Hooper - replace with draft or FA

My default is to expect us re-sign or replace them all in the first 2 weeks of free agency at the latest.

I don't think that we should wait until the draft and HOPE that we can draft an adequate replacement for Tonga, Hawkins and Hooper.

As an aside, I think that we should re-sign Hawkins, even if we expect to find a better replacement starter, perhaps in the draft.

 

[mgteich]

That’s great. My position is they can and should do better than Hooper at TE2.

fair enough

Since Hooper is a free agent, Vrabel will certainly assess the possibilities and make his choice.

 

[n1997y]

Chaisson - re-sign

Agree, as a priority.

Munford - re-sign

Agree, but not an urgent priority.

Lowe - re-sign

Agree, if we can, but I’m not optimistic. Expect some other team will pay him more than we are willing to spend, as they will see him as an adequate starter while we are signing him as a backup.

Gibbens - RFA....keep

Agree

Tonga - replace with draft

Re-sign, or replace with FA or from existing roster. Any rookie we can draft will not be ready to contribute at his level for at least a couple of years.

Hawkins - replace with draft or FA

Re-sign, or replace with FA or from existing roster. Any rookie we are likely to get will not be ready to contribute at his level for a year or probably two.

Hooper - replace with draft or FA

Re-sign, or replace with FA or from existing roster. Any rookie we can draft will not be ready to contribute for a year or two.

Remember, we draft 31st in each round. We won’t get enough of a shot at any really good prospects to count on them being immediate contributors.

 

[n1997y]

My default is to expect us re-sign or replace them all in the first 2 weeks of free agency at the latest.

I think you’re right on that.

I don't think that we should wait until the draft and HOPE that we can draft an adequate replacement for Tonga, Hawkins and Hooper.

I don’t think we can hope to draft adequate replacements for any of them this year. We have other more urgent upgrades and needs that should be draft priorities over most of them. And drafting 31st makes me pessimistic about getting any players that will be ready to play immediately. Most of our draft should be prospects that are physically superior but raw, needing development for a year or two to be teady to play.

As an aside, I think that we should re-sign Hawkins, even if we expect to find a better replacement starter, perhaps in the draft.

Not just Hawkins.

Hooper is one I’d be willing to let go, based on age and role. But I’m not going to be upset if he gets a short cheap contract. I’m thinking both he and Henry need to be replaced in the next two to three years, and could be upgraded sooner if the right opportunity comes along. Ideal would be to let Hooper go and get an upgrade from him now, then do the same next year when Henry comes up for a new contract.

 

[Zuma]

I don't think that we should wait until the draft and HOPE that we can draft an adequate replacement for Tonga, Hawkins and Hooper.

I think I have a higher regard for management and coaches to be able to draft players to fill those positions than you do.

 

[DaBruinz]

It shouldn't be hard to replace Tonga and Hooper via the Draft. Hawkins may be tougher..

Woodson made a ton of progress last year. The issue is whether he can direct the secondary the way Harrison or McCourty did. That remains to be determined.

The Pats also see something in Saunders. It's why they kept him on the PS and brought him back after claiming him off waivers. What that is, remains to be seen as well.

Dell Pettus continues to be a standout on special teams and hasn't been out of place on defense in the few snaps he's received.

 

[Water Boy]

You don't think that Hooper is good enough to be an inexpensive backup. I disagree.

That doesn't mean that Vrabel won't look for an upgrade as he will doat almost every position.

Rookie TEs are rarely plug and play. It might be the most difficult position to learn behind QB. I'd be in favor of keeping him on one more year and Drafting a TE who can be given a season to develop and start in 27-28.