Franchise tag/Pre-Free Agency Player chatter

[BUSTAMOVE]

With the high turnover in coaching staffs this year. I would expect players leaving other teams because they don’t fit the scheme

 

[UGAPatsfan]

There goes Pierce for anyone who was wanting him.

Instead of hand-wringing that we can’t sign guys like this, better question is what kind of exorcism needs to happen at the facility to allow NE to DRAFT guys like Pierce instead of Tyquan MF Thornton several picks ahead of him. Or even Cole MF Strange a round earlier. Lord that was awful.

 

[TheRainMaker]

There goes Pierce for anyone who was wanting him.

I like Pierce, but not that much. He reminds me of a better version of Chris Hogan. The franchise tag used to be used for special players, but teams are flat out abusing it now on anyone.

 

[KCSVEN]

Free Agency has become such a non event over the past few years. 90% of players who actually make it to free agency are JAG's, reclamation projects or players coming off injuries. There's hardly ever any really exciting opportunities in FA anymore.

Yup, there are usually 1 or 2 higher profile guys like Milton Williams was last year. The next 10+ best after the top guy usually get overpaid.
After that you can get some good veterans at reasonable prices if you pick the right one.

Teams can push cap hell off for years, so they try to keep the guys that are really good for at least a second contract. You can get guys on cap savings like Hill traded to Dolphins, but those guys are usually traded instead of getting to Free Agency.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Free Agency has become such a non event over the past few years. 90% of players who actually make it to free agency are JAG's, reclamation projects or players coming off injuries. There's hardly ever any really exciting opportunities in FA anymore.

It's because the cap has exploded with the TV contracts. Teams can retain their core players with ease which is good and bad for the league. Another reason I don't like the franchise tag is because they can hijack any player now.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I like Pierce, but not that much. He reminds me of a better version of Chris Hogan. The franchise tag used to be used for special players, but team are flat out abusing now on anyone.

Pierce has led the league in yards/catch 2years running with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson as his primary QBs. I know you said "better version" of Chris Hogan but that's an insulting starting point for a comparison. I would say he's more like a Vincent Jackson type moving forward.

Probably will never be a huge volume receiver but he's a menace on defenses as a deep threat with the type of gravity that opens things up underneath. Eventually he'll get a huge deal with IND or someone. If that team tries to justify it by force feeding him targets, it won't work. The value you get from him is going to be shown as much in what he does for others giving them room underneath.

There's a difference between players who just catch some deep passes vs. guys who actually move defenses to play against the deep pass. Pierce is very much the latter. That's hugely valuable.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Pierce has led the league in yards/catch 2years running with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson as his primary QBs. I know you said "better version" of Chris Hogan but that's an insulting starting point for a comparison. I would say he's more like a Vincent Jackson type moving forward.

Probably will never be a huge volume receiver but he's a menace on defenses as a deep threat with the type of gravity that opens things up underneath. Eventually he'll get a huge deal with IND or someone. If that team tries to justify it by force feeding him targets, it won't work. The value you get from him is going to be shown as much in what he does for others giving them room underneath.

There's a difference between players who just catch some deep passes vs. guys who actually move defenses to play against the deep pass. Pierce is very much the latter. That's hugely valuable.

He's absolutely not close to Vincent Jackson.

Pierce played 75% of the teams snaps (3rd on the team at WR/TE) and 3rd on the team in targets at 84. That's not franchise tag level good. The best comparison is Torrey Smith who caught long passes, but then disappeared in games.

The Hogan example was based on his style of play.

 

[Joey007]

Not really franchise tag chatter, but contract chatter.

This seemed obvious.

New coaching staff, they resigned Andrews, he’s been making comments about wanting to take on a bigger role elsewhere. Makes sense.

 

[Ring 6]

Free Agency has become such a non event over the past few years. 90% of players who actually make it to free agency are JAG's, reclamation projects or players coming off injuries. There's hardly ever any really exciting opportunities in FA anymore.

Or you sign free agents that take you from 4-13 to the SB.

 

[Ring 6]

He's absolutely not close to Vincent Jackson.

Pierce played 75% of the teams snaps (3rd on the team at WR/TE) and 3rd on the team in targets at 84. That's not franchise tag level good. The best comparison is Torrey Smith who caught long passes, but then disappeared in games.

The Hogan example was based on his style of play.

The only comparison between pierce and hogan is skin color

 

[DaBruinz]

Instead of hand-wringing that we can’t sign guys like this, better question is what kind of exorcism needs to happen at the facility to allow NE to DRAFT guys like Pierce instead of Tyquan MF Thornton several picks ahead of him. Or even Cole MF Strange a round earlier. Lord that was awful.

Lord, you're posts are awful The fact that you think Alec MF Pierce is a good WR worthy of the franchise tag is as laughable as the Colts putting up a Division Championship flag.

 

[DaBruinz]

Pierce has led the league in yards/catch 2years running with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson as his primary QBs. I know you said "better version" of Chris Hogan but that's an insulting starting point for a comparison. I would say he's more like a Vincent Jackson type moving forward.

Probably will never be a huge volume receiver but he's a menace on defenses as a deep threat with the type of gravity that opens things up underneath. Eventually he'll get a huge deal with IND or someone. If that team tries to justify it by force feeding him targets, it won't work. The value you get from him is going to be shown as much in what he does for others giving them room underneath.

There's a difference between players who just catch some deep passes vs. guys who actually move defenses to play against the deep pass. Pierce is very much the latter. That's hugely valuable.

You're still over-hyping Alec Pierce. SMH.

So GLAD he's being franchised so that the Pats young players like Boutte and Williams can develop..

 

[Hugepatsfan]

You're still over-hyping Alec Pierce. SMH.

So GLAD he's being franchised so that the Pats young players like Boutte and Williams can develop..

Part of what I thought made him such a good fit is that he'd be perfect to help those guys develop. Boutte can stop being miscast as a low volume, down the field guy since I think he could be better as a Z/intermediate receiver. And KWilliams I think has a versatile inside out game that would really benefit from extra space created by safeties moving back. He'd be so deadly on crossing routes that the safeties can't cut in on if they have to play deeper. Same with Chism underneath. I absolutely loved the complimentary skill sets of a Pierce/Boutte/KWilliams/Hollins/Chism WR position group moving forward. Besides Hollins everyone there is 25 or younger too. For one more year you have Pop Douglas in that mix too, but I'm thinking he might be a guy to let walk after this year if Chism can take that situational slot spot (albeit a different type of slot).

Diggs is a great vet (or has been so far) but in terms of on the field I think he's actually taking away opportunities from the young guys. His game overlaps/overshadows Douglas/Chism as slot types. It's hard for them to coexist with him. And while Boutte/KWilliams can, he really forces them into pure outside guys to accommodate him in the slot which I think does a disservice to their inside/out versatility and pushes their route tree more downfield compared to well-rounded. Diggs' skillset is much more duplicative to our young guys than it is complimentary. Pierce would have filled things in on the overall route tree that those guys don't, hence I liked the fit.

Oh well, moot point if he's tagged.

 

[Triumph]

No interest in Pickens, Pitts is a bummer.

Pitts has never fumbled.

25 yo and on the rise just having his best season ever.

 

[Wozzy]

This happens almost every year, the weapons fans are clamoring for either get tagged or work out a long term deal due to the tag being applied as leverage. Wait for the list of URFA’s to post before you get your hopes up, save yourself the heartache.

 

[Ross12]

Not really franchise tag chatter, but contract chatter.

I would like to have Likely and Henry as a combo. Use two TEs more with Likely doing more blocking and Henry more receiving but obviously both doing both at times. Henry slowed down a little, but if he doesn't have to block as much he might still have a few years of high quality receiving left in him. They can extend him and save some cap space, and Drake likes the big targets.

If Likely isn't an option, Cade Otton would be my immediate second choice.

 

[Ross12]

There goes Pierce for anyone who was wanting him.

People shake their heads because of age, but I would kick the tires on Mike Evans. He doesn't need to be "1000 yards every year" Evans, just let him be a big physical freak that the defense has to respect deep and on the boundary so that it opens up more space for players in the middle and there aren't so many loaded boxes.

 

[RxJock1120]

Pitts has never fumbled.

25 yo and on the rise just having his best season ever.

I completely agree, I feel like he is just coming into his own and about to start dominating. Hence, its a bummer he will be tagged.

 

[scott99]

Likely would be a good signing. He was definitely underused in Baltimore. He is very talented, and still young.

 

[Triumph]

I completely agree, I feel like he is just coming into his own and about to start dominating. Hence, its a bummer he will be tagged.

I have my eye on Isiah Likely.

Pats need more TE production.