[Old 2020 thread] NFL Free Agency/Trade Rumors:

Jimke said:

You give BB too much credit for drafting Tom. If **** Rehbein hadn't been bugging
him, BB would have passed on him like all the others.

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Still extremely sad to think about Rehbein. He was so young and, to my knowledge, there was no reason to expect what happened to happen. Can't believe he never saw what became of Brady.

ChrisR2223 said:

Maybe Belichick knows something about the Tight ends that we don’t.

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Actually, no he doesn't.

notex said:

this focus on special teams is getting comical. We have 5-6 huge holes including TE/WR/LB/DL and it appears that most of our signings have been ST focused. Yes, I get it "all three phases".

I don't understand the plan at TE - the top 3-4 guys all rated as day 2/3 picks. Double dip with Comp pics?

I do understand salary cap, however, we could restructure several contracts and make some room. Not the norm for BB and crew to be working with this much dead money on the books.

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I also don't get how you figure that "most of our signings have been ST focused".

Phillips is likely a Chung replacement. The fact he can play special teams is a bonus.
Vitale is insurance for Develin/Johnson. Again. Special Teams is a bonus.
Davis is replacing Ebner. Not sure if Davis has Personal Protector experience on the punting unit, but he's got a similar build to Ebner.
Beau Allen is a NT, but has also played about 25-30% of special teams snaps whereever he's been. It should be noted that Shelton played 22% and 23% of ST snaps the last 2 years.
Byrd is a likely 4/5WR who can also do KR/PR. An area that the Patriots haven't been doing well with.

Hoyer was brought in to push for the starting job, but also to mentor Stidham.


The idea that the holes beyond TE and LB are "huge" leaves a lot to be desired.

The D-Line has lost Shelton, but added Allen. They kept Butler and still have Wise and Guy under contract. They also have Cowart who showed well in limited snaps. Adding a reserve NT would be nice, but is likely a luxury.

OLB/DE - They have Simon, Winovich, Davis and Rivers. This is one of the areas people believe they need help because Rivers can't stay healthy and Davis is horrible against the run. So having someone who can set the edge the way Nink/Van Noy did is a must.

WR- The Pats have Edelman, Sanu, Harry, Meyers, Olszewski. They also brought in Adeboyejo, Devin Ross, and Byrd. I fully expect another WR to be brought in during the draft and 1-2 Priorty UDFAs. There is still the potential for a trade as well.

Swing Tackle - Currently the Pats have Cunningham and Cajuste. It's unknown if Cajuste is healthy, though reports say he is. He's behind the curve and we'll have to see what he brings. Cunningham couldn't get past Newhouse last year so that should tell everyone where he's at. Now, maybe a year in the system has helped him, but he's a question mark.

ChrisR2223 said:

Maybe Belichick knows something about the Tight ends that we don’t.

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Interesting theory. Let's test it, just a little.


Please list the (BB era Patriots) drafted TEs who've outplayed their apparent college talent level.

ChrisR2223 said:

Maybe Belichick knows something about the Tight ends that we don’t.

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So, the answer to every signing is whether he can play TE. Why not just evaluate each signing on its own merits, especially since the cap money spent is minimal?

robertweathers said:

Oh yes....The 2019 Patriots offense and how they consistently ran the 2-minute drill to perfection and with great results.

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Hard to when BB plan for TE is Ben ****ing Watson. Also have a mediocre run game to go with that and oh don’t forget about our WR core of Harry/Sanu/Edelman. Defensive coordinators must’ve been laughing watching our game tape

Let’s bring in Eifert. Why not? He actually stayed healthy through most of last season and was relatively decent.

UptownPatsFan said:

Brady’s very last pass in NE was a pick 6....when asked to protect the ball...shall I go on??? Give the kid a chance

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@carmelo15 What exactly are you disagreeing on? Everything I said was accurate.

luuked said:

Make the other team go the entire field into the wind, win the game by kicking a FG with the wind.

It wasn't even genius but blatantly obvious that that was what would give them the better odds to win.

I dont understand how anyone with even half a brain could disagree with it.

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Alot of people would disagree with you. It worked out so no worries either way, and I do see the logic in what he did. It wasn't pure stupidity, but it doesn't make him a genius. It certainly wasn't blatantly obvious either, but keep talking in absolutes if that's what you like. Many people would say giving the ball to Manning in OT is dangerous regardless of the wind. I bet if you did a poll of any group of 'nfl experts' you'd get widely varied opinions. I guess according to you they are all morons though. Would Denver have given the ball to Brady in the same scenario? I guess they are playing 'checkers' though and BB, no matter what he does, is playing "chess"? Except when he's not.

I'm told RB Dion Lewis has agreed to terms with the #Giants on a 1-year deal, per source.

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Deus Irae said:

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He maybe better than Michel.

ChrisR2223 said:

He maybe better than Michel.

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I thought he might end up in Tampa. He chose a different Patriots link.

Bleedthrough said:

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Dak just peed himself a little bit

carmelo15 said:

Hard to when BB plan for TE is Ben ****ing Watson. Also have a mediocre run game to go with that and oh don’t forget about our WR core of Harry/Sanu/Edelman. Defensive coordinators must’ve been laughing watching our game tape

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The real joke is on them as 12 out of 17 teams lost to them.

Deus Irae said:

I thought he might end up in Tampa. He chose a different Patriots link.

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Jezus. I’ve been wrong all offseason aside from Brady leaving.

But Lewis going to the damn Giants?

Remaining free agents are overvalued by themselves and their agents.

Ross12 said:

I feel like there's this chance that BB and O'Brien would swing a deal for Watson. Bill would send O'Brien a player, Michel or something, plus some draft capital... and then make Watson compete with Stidham in camp. If Stidham can beat out Watson, you recoup the high comp pick next year. If Stidham doesn't (and he probably doesn't) I guess you have to pay Watson, but they have the money next year to give him a decent salary. They can fit Watson's salary under their cap this year without much trouble.

Probably wouldn't happen but it's not unreasonable.

Edit: Oops forgot about the 5th year option. There's that too.

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Miami should be all over this if he's available. Trade them back 26 (lol). Give them 39 & 56 and next year's 1st.

Miami wouldn't feel that at all if they're smart. Still having 5 & 18. If Houston flinches and bites ransom 5 if you can for as much as possible. Play around with 18. BPA or trade up/down.

Bleedthrough said:

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Wow

Some of these signings are camp fodder so would not read too much into so many on ST. Team clearly still needs a TE.