Player Signing Safety Kevin Byard signs 1 year deal

[Zuma]

Depends on price.
Clowney is still productive.
8.5 sacks in 13 games on limited snaps last year.
Would be a great rotational piece for $5-6M on a one year deal.

A limited snap count to me means we need ANOTHER starter at DE and in that case you're paying 2 contracts instead of one. Now if they get an EDGE in the 1st 2 rounds (which is practically free in NFL terms) then Clowney on limited snaps is doable for me.....but not as a "starter".

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

A limited snap count to me means we need ANOTHER starter at DE and in that case you're paying 2 contracts instead of one. Now if they get an EDGE in the 1st 2 rounds (which is practically free in NFL terms) then Clowney on limited snaps is doable for me.....but not as a "starter".

Yes, I added that caveat earlier.
He makes sense if we draft an Edge, which I assume we will.
If the rook needs to develop against the run, Clowney would be a guy to rotate in.
He's good against and the run and can apply pressure.
We don't know what if anything we will get from Landry.

 

[Real fan 02]

A limited snap count to me means we need ANOTHER starter at DE and in that case you're paying 2 contracts instead of one. Now if they get an EDGE in the 1st 2 rounds (which is practically free in NFL terms) then Clowney on limited snaps is doable for me.....but not as a "starter".

Agreed.. we need another starter across from Jones.. no disrespect to Landry but he's done with that knee.. what's this the 3rd knee injury he's had? Absolutely we are drafting guys and hoping for leaps from Ponder and Swinson.. is why I'm still thinking the Maxx Crosby trade is still a possibility..

 

[n1997y]

I believe Davis will be much better this season.. year 2 in the system.. and having a real FS in the secondary will allow for QBs to try and attack his side rather than Gonzo or Byard.. Davis will have plenty of opportunities to pick off passes. However I still believe we should add another veteran. Lattimore...

I hope he is. But I’m afraid the leopard can’t change his spots. He’s too prone to drawing PI at bad times. Don’t expect another year in the system will change that. It’s just the way he plays.

 

[Zuma]

Agreed.. we need another starter across from Jones.. no disrespect to Landry but he's done with that knee.. what's this the 3rd knee injury he's had? Absolutely we are drafting guys and hoping for leaps from Ponder and Swinson.. is why I'm still thinking the Maxx Crosby trade is still a possibility..

We don't truly know the severity of the injury but I still have zero faith in Landry's knee. Ponder will be a valuable rotational defender in 2026. Forget Swinson...he's still very young but IMO that was a miss out of a fantastic draft class. Crosby will want to start and IMO he's already reached his peak...he would have to be in the Clowney $ range and willing to share snaps with others. I don't think he is ready to except that.

 

[n1997y]

IMO it's a bad thing if your name is not being called because someone else's is. He's had a total of 60 career NFL snaps on defense and will be 26 in 2026. I think that's a bad thing.

If your name is being called at CB it’s usually because you got beat. Another CB getting beat isn’t bad for you, doesn’t mean you got beat.

What we really need to know is how many of those defensive snaps were pass plays, on how many of those was his guy targeted, and how many of 5hose targets were completions. To me 60 career snaps on D over 17 games is a small sample size, especially considering he has 364 ST snaps over the same games. Seems like he was mostly in on defense for garbage time. Not sure that’s very meaningful.

 

[Real fan 02]

I hope he is. But I’m afraid the leopard can’t change his spots. He’s too prone to drawing PI at bad times. Don’t expect another year in the system will change that. It’s just the way he plays.

I see your point. He's like Brandon browner you want to see him have more positive playes than negative player or penalties.. he's still one the best #2s at CB in the league.. I'm telling you N.. year 2 in the system..and having byard will allow both he and gonzo to make more plays on the ball on the outside..

 

[n1997y]

I see your point. He's like Brandon browner you want to see him have more positive playes than negative player or penalties.. he's still one the best #2s at CB in the league.. I'm telling you N.. year 2 in the system..and having byard will allow both he and gonzo to make more plays on the ball on the outside..

Oh yes, not taking any of that away from him. Like I said, I’m greedy. I acknowledge all that, and want more!

I want our D to play every game like Super Bowl LIII.

 

[Zuma]

If your name is being called at CB it’s usually because you got beat.

Ugh...I mean your name being called as in "Dial! Get in there!"

Another CB getting beat doesn’t mean you got beat. What we really need to know is how many of those defensive snaps were pass plays, on how many of those was his guy targeted, and how many of 5hose targets were completions. To me 60 career snaps on D over 17 games is a small sample size, especially considering he has 364 ST snaps over the same games. Seems like he was mostly in on defense for garbage time. Not sure that’s very meaningful.

So you want to analyze the 60 career defensive snaps Marcellas Dial has had up to this point...I'll pass.

 

[Real fan 02]

We don't truly know the severity of the injury but I still have zero faith in Landry's knee. Ponder will be a valuable rotational defender in 2026. Forget Swinson...he's still very young but IMO that was a miss out of a fantastic draft class. Crosby will want to start and IMO he's already reached his peak...he would have to be in the Clowney $ range and willing to share snaps with others. I don't think he is ready to except that.

Apparently he's supposed to have surgery he said himself on the knee.. interesting on Crosby.. Swinson is still developing and from last season what I saw reports on him is he's getting better.. didn't he get hurt in camp that he ended up on IR? Ponder is primed for a larger role.. it's pretty expected we will sign another edge.

 

[n1997y]

Ugh...I mean your name being called as in "Dial! Get in there!"

Ok. From his snap count that didn’t happen very often.

So you want to analyze the 60 career snaps Marcellas Dial has had up to this point...I'll pass.

yeah, not worth it. I think the point is that he doesn’t have much of a body of work. And he’s coming off an injury year. So I may be asking too much being optimistic he could turn into a contributor. But I’m an optimist. Let’s hope he comes back as good as his draft seemed he could be.

 

[Real fan 02]

Oh yes, not taking any of that away from him. Like I said, I’m greedy. I acknowledge all that, and want more!

I want our D to play every game like Super Bowl LIII.

It's amazing how good the D played in the superbowl... ugh what a day the offense chose to take off...what could have been...

 

[Zuma]

Ok. From his snap count that didn’t happen very often.

yeah, not worth it. I think the point is that he doesn’t have much of a body of work. And he’s coming off an injury year. So I may be asking too much being optimistic he could turn into a contributor. But I’m an optimist. Let’s hope he comes back as good as his draft seemed he could be.

He should get an opportunity in camp. Let's hope he's healthy and will be able to show what he can do.

 

[Zuma]

Apparently he's supposed to have surgery he said himself on the knee.. interesting on Crosby.. Swinson is still developing and from last season what I saw reports on him is he's getting better.. didn't he get hurt in camp that he ended up on IR? Ponder is primed for a larger role.. it's pretty expected we will sign another edge.

Reports. Ok

 

[TheRainMaker]

Jones SHOULD have been all-pro, he got ****ing robbed.

Derwin James making it in the slot was a joke.

 

[Real fan 02]

Reports. Ok

His coach thought so much of him.. he was promoted to the 53 to fend off Buffalo trying to snag him...

Can players improve?

Bradyn Swinson’s improvement earns pass rusher spot on Patriots active roster

Swinson was signed to the active roster on Saturday.

www.patspulpit.com

 

[patfanken]

i love the KB signing most from this reason. Turn overs. The guy had 7 picks last season, and the one thing our Defense lacked last season was TO's. Now I doubt he'll have 7 picks THIS year, but even if it's just 3 or 4 it will be an upgrade. We will need to have a 10+ TO ratio this season if we are going to contend.

 

[Real fan 02]

Sure.
I'm not really super-picky when it comes to linebackers at the moment.
He would easily be our best linebacker the second he sets foot in Foxboro, but that's not a really high bar right now.

I feel we should at least inquire.. I like Spillane he's the general of the Defense..but we should be looking to get more speed and athleticism at LB..

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I still like Clowney if the price is right on a 1 year deal.
8.5 sacks in limited snaps last year and he’s a good run defender.

I like Clowney too. Let's hope plus a rookie EDGE.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I feel we should at least inquire.. I like Spillane he's the general of the Defense..but we should be looking to get more speed and athleticism at LB..

KJ Britt and Mapu are 26. Both are end of the roster LBs and mostly ST guys. Britt will probably replace Tavai on multiple STs, and can fill in for Spillane if an injury occurs. Mapu played a lot more under Mayo, maybe after a year with Vrabel he will be better?

Pats need a good LB1 in the draft. An EDGE, LB1, WR1, TE, and DT could start right away. A RT, CB, RB, and FS in the draft could learn as rookies, play due to injuries, and start in Y2.