Player Signing Safety Kevin Byard signs 1 year deal

[Huckleberry1]

1 year deal for $9 million, allows then to draft a safety mid draft and hopefully develop for next year. Worse case back in free agency for 1 next year, safeties generally can be had.

Good player will be 33 when year starts but even with a minor drop off he's better than Hawkins.

Exactly. Like Bradbury and Moses last year this is a band aid signing. Get a good veteran player to plug a hole while you draft and develop their replacement. And unlike corners safeties can play well in their early 30's. Corners and wide receivers tend to drop off when they hit 30 because they are so reliant on their speed and quickness.

 

[Ross12]

I hope everyone's noticing that Josina Anderson has been killing it this offseason. She's plugged in.

I **** talked her earlier this week but I am eating crow now

 

[Ross12]

Exactly. Like Bradbury and Moses last year this is a band aid signing. Get a good veteran player to plug a hole while you draft and develop their replacement. And unlike corners safeties can play well in their early 30's. Corners and wide receivers tend to drop off when they hit 30 because they are so reliant on their speed and quickness.

Exactly. Could see the same thing from a Dallas Goedert signing at TE, perhaps?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Exactly. Could see the same thing from a Dallas Goedert signing at TE, perhaps?

I hope not.
Our TE room needs youth and a shred of explosiveness.
I want 2 in the draft, lots of good prospects.
This is a year to double dip in the draft, not sign old retreads.

 

[SacPete1]

In some ways, for a player in their 30s, one year deals can be better because they are effectively a fresh new signing bonus every year.

Option A:
Year 1 - one year deal for $9M, fully guaranteed if on the roster on week 1
Year 2 - one year deal for $10M, fully guaranteed if on the roster on week 1
Year 3 - one year deal for $7M, fully guaranteed if on the roster on week 1

Option B:
Three year deal for $30M with $14M guaranteed

Under Option B, the APY is a bit higher comparatively, but Option A allows the player to re-negotiate and get the best market value every year and isn't locked down to one team in the second an third year, and will have earned a good bit more cash by year 2 in Option A than they earned in guarantees in Option B.

Now, if they play out the full deal in Option B, it's ultimately more money. But, the team probably structured the contract where it is a high salary in year 3 that gets dumped, meaning the player is back on the free agent market anyway, so if they only earned $14M signing bonus plus maybe $3M in salary in year 1 and 2, then sign that same $7M deal with a new team in year 3, they will have ended up with several million less dollars overall.

makes perfect sense what you're saying but you often see the 1 year deals for guys either coming off an injury or later in the free agent period when the demand has dropped off and the player doesn't have as much leverage. At 32, I would think a player might think that this might be his last deal and try and maximize the up front cash.
In any event, I really like the signing and I think every free agent we've added is an upgrade.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Exactly. Could see the same thing from a Dallas Goedert signing at TE, perhaps?

I agree completely. And it's the right way to go about building a team that will contend year in and year out. You are never always going to get who you hope for in free agency, so you have to have plan B, C, D....and that will often mean bringing in a good veteran who can shore up the position until the long term replacement can be drafted and developed.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I agree completely. And it's the right way to go about building a team that will contend year in and year out. You are never always going to get who you hope for in free agency, so you have to have plan B, C, D....and that will often mean bringing in a good veteran who can shore up the position until the long term replacement can be drafted and developed.

I have always said that every NFL team supplements their roster with vets on short term deals, it's a necessity.
Every GM would love to have a 53 man roster made up of 25 year olds on the third year of their rookie deal playing at an all pro level, but that's impossible.
That said, I disagree on the TE position.
We have our vet already, and this draft is loaded with potential. I don't want 2 vets when the TE room is severely lacking in youth and athleticism.
This is the year we should be drafting 2, it's a good class after the first rd.

 

[Ross12]

I have always said that every NFL team supplements their roster with vets on short term deals, it's a necessity.
Every GM would love to have a 53 man roster made up of 25 year olds on the third year of their rookie deal playing at an all pro level, but that's impossible.
That said, I disagree on the TE position.
We have our vet already, and this draft is loaded with potential. I don't want 2 vets when the TE room is severely lacking in youth and athleticism.
This is the year we should be drafting 2, it's a good class after the first rd.

In a vacuum I agree, but I want better blocking from my vet TE if that’s the role they’ll be serving.

 

[DC Patriots]

Nice signing. If they get an LB we can really draft BPA

 

[Huckleberry1]

I have always said that every NFL team supplements their roster with vets on short term deals, it's a necessity.
Every GM would love to have a 53 man roster made up of 25 year olds on the third year of their rookie deal playing at an all pro level, but that's impossible.
That said, I disagree on the TE position.
We have our vet already, and this draft is loaded with potential. I don't want 2 vets when the TE room is severely lacking in youth and athleticism.
This is the year we should be drafting 2, it's a good class after the first rd.

From what I have listened to the TE class has guys who can block, and guys who can receive, but other that Shadiq they can't do both. But Mayo and Manx would know better than I do.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

From what I have listened to the TE class has guys who can block, and guys who can receive, but other that Shadiq they can't do both. But Mayo and Manx would know better than I do.

There are some all-rounders, but for the most part you're correct.
That said I would be fine taking one pass catcher and one blocker.

 

[DaBruinz]

There are some all-rounders, but for the most part you're correct.
That said I would be fine taking one pass catcher and one blocker.

Delp and Kacmarek continue to be the guys I'm hoping for. What a pair they'd make blocking for the run game..

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Delp and Kacmarek continue to be the guys I'm hoping for. What a pair they'd make blocking for the run game..

I like those guys but want at least one really athletic guy. Call him a TE, call him a big slot.
Someone like Gyllengorp, Koziol, Stowers, Villari...

 

[DaBruinz]

I like those guys but want at least one really athletic guy. Call him a TE, call him a big slot.
Someone like Gyllengorp, Koziol, Stowers, Villari...

Delp is really athletic and loves to block..

 

[borisman]

makes perfect sense what you're saying but you often see the 1 year deals for guys either coming off an injury or later in the free agent period when the demand has dropped off and the player doesn't have as much leverage. At 32, I would think a player might think that this might be his last deal and try and maximize the up front cash.
In any event, I really like the signing and I think every free agent we've added is an upgrade.

While $80 million may not be much, relative to current contracts, he’s not hurting for cash.

And I’m glad some of you will finally learn how to pronounce his last name
Bye-Ard

 

[Real fan 02]

Need to draft a corner with good traits this year though. I think this might be Davis' last ride this year.

But yeah, assuming health, name me a better secondary in the league.

I believe Davis is going to be much better this upcoming season.. I liken his first year to that of Gilly his first season here.. where it was questions arising about the contract.. with a significantly improved pass rush and a Barmore playing angry another season with milt..guys more comfortable In the defense and having byard a former all pro for woody to learn from.. this defense projects to be a problem next season for offenses..

 

[Brick27]

Love it. Adding any 2025 1st team All-Pro is always a good thing

 

[jimnance]

Very well could be the best secondary in the league

 

[mgteich]

Very well could be the best secondary in the league

One of the best starting 5 in the league
=================
I know that we don't need backups, but our backups are
CB: Woods, Dial, Minor
S: Brown, Pettus, Schooler

 

[Real fan 02]

Very well could be the best secondary in the league

Look who is interested in coming back..

Two-time Super Bowl champion openly interested in surprising Patriots reunion

Kyle Van Noy didn't shy away from sharing his interest in making a third return to the Patriots this offseason.

musketfire.com