Official Free Agency 2018

Ivan · Feb 12, 2018

PP2 said:
In terms of mental toughness, Edelman is in a class of his own. We all thought he would not be himself after the devastating Jones fracture which has killed quite a few NFL careers.

I wouldn't bet against him if I were you.

Edelman will be ready, the biggest question is whether anyone’s body could hold up to the kind of cuts he makes. If nothing else they have to start grooming his successor as that role is critical to their offense.

TriplecHamp · Feb 12, 2018

DaBruinz said:
I always love when people start throwing out things like snap count but forget to mention that Van Noy only played in 12+ games. He got injured early in the 1st Buffalo game and then missed the 2nd Miami game, the Steelers game and the 2nd Bills game while seeing a very limited amount of time in his return against the Jets.

Kyle Van Noy 2017 Fantasy Stats | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Van Noy will be the guy on the field with Hightower. Just like he was before Hightower got hurt. Van Noy was on the field for 100% of the snaps for the 1st 4 games of the season. In the 11 games before Van Noy got hurt, he played 90%+ of the snaps in 8 of 11 games.

This idea that Hightower being back will cost Van Noy time is just silliness and makes one wonder how much you actually watched the games.

Want to talk about injuries? They are the reason for his exceptionally high snap count.

Hightower was being eased back onto the field early in the year and Shea didn't take a single snap all year. KVN was our only healthy linebacker who wasn't a complete liability on third down going into the year. He was the signal caller when Hightower got put on ice. He's a very versatile and capable player who was thrust into a bigger role do to the situation at linebacker going into the year.

This idea that he's a stalwart who won't be pushed down the depth chart with both of those guys going into the year healthy (hopefully) and possible youth additions is silliness and makes one wonder how much you actually understand roster building.

Snooky97 · Feb 12, 2018

TriplecHamp said:
Want to talk about injuries? They are the reason for his exceptionally high snap count.

Hightower was being eased back onto the field early in the year and Shea didn't take a single snap all year. KVN was our only healthy linebacker who wasn't a complete liability on third down going into the year. He was the signal caller when Hightower got put on ice. He's a very versatile and capable player who was thrust into a bigger role do to the situation at linebacker going into the year.

This idea that he's a stalwart who won't be pushed down the depth chart with both of those guys going into the year healthy (hopefully) and possible youth additions is silliness and makes one wonder how much you actually understand roster building.

Agree completely about this. KVN was a bright spot in this years defence.
I like him.
Plays Hard, is strong, does everything he can for the Patriots.

I think our LB Corps will be very strong come the start of the season if we draft well or pick up a Zach Brown i would be very happy with how we could be looking.

DaBruinz · Feb 12, 2018

TriplecHamp said:
Want to talk about injuries? They are the reason for his exceptionally high snap count.

Hightower was being eased back onto the field early in the year and Shea didn't take a single snap all year. KVN was our only healthy linebacker who wasn't a complete liability on third down going into the year. He was the signal caller when Hightower got put on ice. He's a very versatile and capable player who was thrust into a bigger role do to the situation at linebacker going into the year.

This idea that he's a stalwart who won't be pushed down the depth chart with both of those guys going into the year healthy (hopefully) and possible youth additions is silliness and makes one wonder how much you actually understand roster building.

You're explanation would be great if it were actually based on facts. KVN saw 100% of the snaps in the 1st 4 games of the season when HT was healthy. Except for the game he was injured and the game he came back, Van Noy still played in over 90% of the snaps for the other games.

This idea that you're pushing that he's no better than a 4th LB is just ridiculous. You probably said the same thing about Ninkovich up until he retired.

maineman209 · Feb 12, 2018

mosi said:
Like I said those numbers are close - 2016 Sanders is close to 2017 Cooks. Heck, their numbers are similar over most of their career. Cooks does his thing. He runs fast in a straight line. He catches balls when he is in the clear. The Pats needs more guys that can catch in close windows. Cooks, this year, never took over a game. He has had solid games and sure there was the Houston game, but he is a disappointment. The Super bowl was a perfect representation of what he is.

The Pats should always try to improve all positions.

2015: Cooks, 22 ... Sanders, 28
2016: Cooks, 23 ... Sanders, 29
2017: Cooks, 24 ... Sanders, 30
2018: Cooks, 25 ... Sanders, 31

maineman209 · Feb 12, 2018

Soliel said:
I thought he was like 6 3”

Gabriel officially measured 5' 7.5" before the draft.

But, y'know ... HGH.

Snooky97 · Feb 12, 2018

maineman209 said:
2015: Cooks, 22 ... Sanders, 28
2016: Cooks, 23 ... Sanders, 29
2017: Cooks, 24 ... Sanders, 30
2018: Cooks, 25 ... Sanders, 31

Love cooks. Hope he stays for a few years

TriplecHamp · Feb 12, 2018

DaBruinz said:
You're explanation would be great if it were actually based on facts. KVN saw 100% of the snaps in the 1st 4 games of the season when HT was healthy. Except for the game he was injured and the game he came back, Van Noy still played in over 90% of the snaps for the other games.

This idea that you're pushing that he's no better than a 4th LB is just ridiculous. You probably said the same thing about Ninkovich up until he retired.

If you think Hightower was healthy and playing less than KVN I don't even know where to begin.

Who said anything about him being "no better than a 4th LB"? There is an awful lot of limited to bad linebackers in this league. KVN is neither and I said I'd like him as a guy who can capably take snaps when Hightower inevitably misses some time but I also don't see him as significantly complementary to what we have in Hightower in that its not like he excels in the areas of the field where Hightower doesn't.

He's better at taking on blocks than Shea (or at least what we saw from him) but Shea seems more comfortable dropping and is quicker into the flat. Its not like a linebacker will come in here day one and play the majority of minutes but adding even one player more comfortable carrying a player into the flat or up the field will be crucial and allow him to basically split duties with Mcclellin as the 3rd/4th linebackers

Soliel · Feb 12, 2018

maineman209 said:
Gabriel officially measured 5' 7.5" before the draft.

But, y'know ... HGH.

Had him confused with sanu

maineman209 · Feb 12, 2018

Soliel said:
Had him confused with sanu

Eh.

For the Falcons sake, as long as Ryan has it straight.

Gabriel: "Matt! Dude! That pass was way over my head!"
Ryan: "IKR? Honestly, I thought you were taller!"
Gabriel: "Dude! That's Sanu!"
Ryan: "Oh! Right!"

DW Toys · Feb 12, 2018

Snooky97 said:
One guy i have some interest in is Taylor Gabriel, i know WR isn't a huge need for us at the moment. But thought he was very dynamic when we played the falcons.

Can we thing big WR? I think a red zone threat helps.
Too many smurfs.
Could be "big" cheapos? Moncrief, Tyrell Williams, Terrelle Pryor.

BB always has interest in a guy who has burned us. At 31 (March) could Eric Decker be revitalized? Younger than Danny A and Edelman. He caught 6-of-7 targets for 85 yards in the Titans' Divisional Round loss to the Patriots.

O.K. It's third and 7 in 2018. Gronk, Danny A and Edleman are double covered. Can Hogan get free? Do you want to throw the ball to Britt, Ready, Mitchell (who will be on the sideline hurt anyway) or Decker?
He had 54 catches in a very conservative offense.
DW Toys
P.S. As far as very hot" significant others", Jesse James Decker fits here with some of the Pats wives and gfs.

Sciz · Feb 12, 2018

DW Toys said:
Can we thing big WR? I think a red zone threat helps.
Too many smurfs.
Could be "big" cheapos? Moncrief, Tyrell Williams, Terrelle Pryor.

BB always has interest in a guy who has burned us. At 31 (March) could Eric Decker be revitalized? Younger than Danny A and Edelman. He caught 6-of-7 targets for 85 yards in the Titans' Divisional Round loss to the Patriots.

O.K. It's third and 7 in 2018. Gronk, Danny A and Edleman are double covered. Can Hogan get free? Do you want to throw the ball to Britt, Ready, Mitchell (who will be on the sideline hurt anyway) or Decker?
He had 54 catches in a very conservative offense.
DW Toys
P.S. As far as very hot" significant others", Jesse James Decker fits here with some of the Pats wives and gfs.

Williams is restricted. The other three guys you mentioned had a combined 2 red zone touchdowns last season. The best player of the bunch is that situation is Hogan, and I don’t think it’s particularly close. This offense shouldn’t need to resort to jump balls to any player other than Gronk. There are enough guys that are perfectly capable of getting open.

luuked · Feb 12, 2018

AzorianPats said:
Throwing this out there...

Why are we constantly looking at a big, powerful back for goalline and 3rd/4th and short that doesn't offer us anything in the passing game or special teams when we have a back on the roster already that runs hard and always keeps his legs moving, and is a beast on ST in Brandon Bolden?

He always makes the best of his opportunities to me.

Because you dont want to go into the season with a depth of zero at RB. This is how you end up with the corpse of Steven Jackson as your back in the AFCCG @ Denver.

Uptown · Feb 12, 2018

HailHydra said:
Brandin Cooks is absolutely better than Emmanuel Sanders. Let's look at the facts.

Cooks
2017 - 16 games, 1082 yards, 7 TD, 16.6 YPC - 65 Rec
2016 - 16 games, 1173 yards, 8 TD, 15.0 YPC
2015 - 16 games, 1138 yards, 9 TD, 13.5 YPC

Sanders
2017 - 12 games, 555 yards, 2 TD, 11.8 YPC
2016 - 16 games, 1032 yards, 5 TD, 13.1 YPC - 79 Rec
2015 - 15 games, 1135 yards, 6 TD, 14.9 YPC

First, Sanders didn't by any means have a better season than Cooks in 2016 as you assert. Cooks had 50 more yards on 14 less receptions - which is a good thing. Anyways, he had Trevor for a large portion in 2017 and 2016 so there isn't really a reason you can say that he played worse in 2017 than 2016 because of his QB play - and that came even with the fact that he was the #2 passing option on his team. I also don't see why catching the ball in tight spots has to be relevant in this case. Cooks had far more production - despite having the consistently share the ball - than Sanders by being able to get open, and that's a great thing. Having to consistently catch the ball in tight spots isn't something that's all together necessary when you have a guy who can get separation and get open. Anyways, did you forget the Cooks catch against Houston?

Not necessarily. Sanders runs a deeper route tree than Cooks (I really like Cooks, I’m just stating facts) and may very well have better hands. I’m not discrediting Cooks at all, but Sanders is a very polished WR. I don’t think we really need him, but I wouldn’t mind if we signed him. He’s a NE receiver all the way. Nice fit in our offense. One caveat is that Sanders is much older and coming off of an injury. Lastly, look at the QBs that they each played with the last 3 seasons.

Sanders: Assweiler/Seimian/Old Fart Manning

Cooks: GOAT/ Brees

.....Nuff’ said.

luuked · Feb 12, 2018

XLIX said:
I understand being a homer, but I think people sometime lose perspective. I like Hogan, but a healthy Sanders is a huge improvement and no one would miss the guy we cut (likely Dorsett).

Now I am not saying we should trade for him, or pay him what he likely will command, but let's not deny the guy his talent. He would be a major upgrade.

Everything has to be evaluated through the prism of the salary cap.

I dont see how exchanging a player on a low cost contract like Hogan or more specifically Dorsett (25y and on rookie contract) and replacing him with Sanders would increase the production on offense at the same ratio as it would hit our cap and thereby chance to upgrade positions of need on defense.

Now if Edelman has a set back and returns diminished, Dola doesnt get an extension and Gronk retires we might suddenly have space and need for someone like Sanders. But even then that contract is a boatload of money..

Uptown · Feb 12, 2018

Vontae Davis Gains Medical Clearance

luuked · Feb 12, 2018

Ivan said:
He also had a strong game in the AFCCG, and getting knocked out of the Super Bowl is no more a criticism of him than getting knocked out of the AFCCG was on Gronk.

To be fair Gronk got knocked out by a borderline hit. Cooks was stupid to look backwards while running into a totally different direction. One hit was unavoidable the other one easily avoidable. That is something Cooks has control over and goes to being clever with the hits you are taking.

ATippett56 · Feb 12, 2018

TriplecHamp said:
Want to talk about injuries? They are the reason for his exceptionally high snap count.

Hightower was being eased back onto the field early in the year and Shea didn't take a single snap all year. KVN was our only healthy linebacker who wasn't a complete liability on third down going into the year. He was the signal caller when Hightower got put on ice. He's a very versatile and capable player who was thrust into a bigger role do to the situation at linebacker going into the year.

This idea that he's a stalwart who won't be pushed down the depth chart with both of those guys going into the year healthy (hopefully) and possible youth additions is silliness and makes one wonder how much you actually understand roster building.

Kyle Van Noy's base salary is guaranteed for the 2018 NFL Season.

Kyle Van Noy Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money | Over The Cap

Kyle Van Noy will be on the New England Patriots roster for the 2018 NFL Season.

ATippett56 · Feb 12, 2018

jimnance said:
Pats played close to 70% of snaps in sub packages. It's been over 60% going back several years.
Sub really is their base. Of course they run 43,34 when they need to. You still need some big DTs and of course they 2gap a lot. But Ivan's take is a little closer to reality than yours.

The New England Patriots defense played close to if not over 60% snaps in sub packages which usually means that the New England Patriots defense are in nickel or five defensive backs.

As for big defensive tackles on the New England Patriots roster:

Malcolm Brown - 6 ft 2in, 320 lbs
Vincent Valentine - 6 ft 3 in, 320 lbs

as opposed to the following defensive tackles:

Lawrence Guy - 6 ft 4 in, 305 lbs
Adam Butler - 6 ft 4 in, 300 lbs

The_Riddler · Feb 12, 2018

Let's target our own important LT first. Nate Solder has been solid protecting the GOATs blindside. Great guy, great family, let's lock him up and keep this OLine in tact. What happened to our 4th round draft pick? First 3 picks LB, DE and CB, hope and pray that Chase Litton from Marshall is there either via a trade up or with that 5th round pick. Google this guy, big 6'5", big arm and athletic, tons of upside, let him learn the ropes the next 3 years under the GOAT...Google his highlights, kid is impressive...

Official Free Agency 2018

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