Where do we need to improve

ViperGTS said:

There isn't much they can do to improve the team in reality. Most of the draft will be chances since they are at the end of each round without the benefit of a trophy as the price. Like I stated earlier, with a putrid offensive performance like last night, the holes are massive. Players that think they are one of the pieces away might be intrigued but there are a lot of teams out there close to the Pats with less holes. The damage done to the Patriots as a destination last night might not be known for a while. Not to mention who knows who would be a fit for the locker room.

40 million in cap space is better than nothing but I think 10 or more teams have much more. Had the Pats lost in a nail biter, then that changes it a bit. It's gonna be very, very hard for them to fill the holes they need to fill.

Click to expand...

ViperGTS said:

There isn't much they can do to improve the team in reality. Most of the draft will be chances since they are at the end of each round without the benefit of a trophy as the price. Like I stated earlier, with a putrid offensive performance like last night, the holes are massive. Players that think they are one of the pieces away might be intrigued but there are a lot of teams out there close to the Pats with less holes. The damage done to the Patriots as a destination last night might not be known for a while. Not to mention who knows who would be a fit for the locker room.

40 million in cap space is better than nothing but I think 10 or more teams have much more. Had the Pats lost in a nail biter, then that changes it a bit. It's gonna be very, very hard for them to fill the holes they need to fill.

Click to expand...

Ross12 said:

Some part of me, in the back of my mind, could see Vrabel trading Maye for a haul and then making Tommy DeVito the starter a la Ryan Tannehill of old. DeVito is limited but he is competent and he can run McDaniels' scheme well.

I really, REALLY don't think he'd do that, but... I can see it.

Click to expand...

Rob0729 said:

They can convert Owenu's base salary into a bonus and pick up like $15 million in cap space. About $17 million in cap space if they cut Diggs. $5 million if they cut Elliss. If they upgrade Henry, they can cut him and get $9.2 million in cap space. They can cut Bradbury and get $5.7 million in cap space. They could put dummy years on Milton Williams' contract and free up upwards to $20 million. The Pats have plenty of flexibility to create cap space if they choose to.

The Pats are a young team with a QB under a rookie contract. They have plenty of cap flexibility to be big spenders this offseason if they choose to.

Click to expand...

PatsFan2 said:

NFL Salary Cap Space | Over The Cap

NFL salary cap space estimates for all 32 teams

overthecap.com

Look how much the money the Chargers and Seahawks who just whooped us have. Even the Rams have more $$$$$$ than us.

Click to expand...

Hugepatsfan said:

For the Chargers, the reason they have so much cap space is because they have so many players hitting FA. That cap space comes at a cost.

SEA and LAR are much more like us where the cap space is more "genuine" in that it's not coming from a ton of gaping roster openings.

Click to expand...

ViperGTS said:

There isn't much they can do to improve the team in reality. Most of the draft will be chances since they are at the end of each round without the benefit of a trophy as the price. Like I stated earlier, with a putrid offensive performance like last night, the holes are massive. Players that think they are one of the pieces away might be intrigued but there are a lot of teams out there close to the Pats with less holes. The damage done to the Patriots as a destination last night might not be known for a while. Not to mention who knows who would be a fit for the locker room.

40 million in cap space is better than nothing but I think 10 or more teams have much more. Had the Pats lost in a nail biter, then that changes it a bit. It's gonna be very, very hard for them to fill the holes they need to fill.

Click to expand...

PatsFan2 said:

Anybody of interest??

Click to expand...

• Offense: Zion Johnson (LG), Jamaree Salyer (G), Trey Pipkins III (OT), Trevor Penning (OL), Najee Harris (RB), Keenan Allen (WR), Tyler Conklin (TE), Andre James (OL), Hassan Haskins (RB), Austin Deculus (OT).
• Defense: Khalil Mack (EDGE), Odafe Oweh (EDGE), Denzel Perryman (LB), Benjamin St-Juste (CB), Da'Shawn Hand (DL), Naquan Jones (DL), Otito Ogbonnia (NT), Deane Leonard (CB).
• Special Teams: Josh Harris (LS).

ViperGTS said:

Here they are:

Key 2026 Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA):

• Offense: Zion Johnson (LG), Jamaree Salyer (G), Trey Pipkins III (OT), Trevor Penning (OL), Najee Harris (RB), Keenan Allen (WR), Tyler Conklin (TE), Andre James (OL), Hassan Haskins (RB), Austin Deculus (OT).
• Defense: Khalil Mack (EDGE), Odafe Oweh (EDGE), Denzel Perryman (LB), Benjamin St-Juste (CB), Da'Shawn Hand (DL), Naquan Jones (DL), Otito Ogbonnia (NT), Deane Leonard (CB).
• Special Teams: Josh Harris (LS).

Click to expand...

Toofy said:

Great post.. but with where we are drafting I don't think we will be able to do much at LT or WR unless we stink in 2026 and draft high in 2027 or we get lucky. At this point, we will need to bet on existing horses and see if they can improve. If they suck , anyways we will try again I. 2027. Make sure we have an out clause in 2027 for every player we resign in 2026 outside of gonzo .

Draft - TE,LB, Safety / guard in first 3 picks is what might be feasible . no good DE or LT will be available. If we get a good RT with first round pick that's a bonus but I am not holding up hopes.

Couple of changes in oline - move Wilson to center or backup center and get a new LG - brown or some other vet. Make Moses swing tackle and get Marcus Bryant in as right tackle. I hope they resign lowe but unlikely.

Click to expand...

ViperGTS said:

For every cut, you create another hole you need to fill. It isn't as easy as that for a team that with those guys, already has a ton of holes. I'm not saying they are ****ed. Not by any means. However they have their work cut out for them.

Click to expand...

TheRainMaker said:

They have to pick their poison. If they cut Owenu, it creates yet another need across an already weak OL. He stays unless they target his replacement in FA.

Tyler Linderbaum seems like a lock the Pats will go after at C.

I think Diggs is getting cut. Take the cap savings and apply the cash towards OL or a younger WR.

I could see Barmore getting traded.

Click to expand...

Ross12 said:

Yeah, I am generally in agreement there. The cost to upgrade some spots is not worth the squeeze vs. just riding with what we have.

WR - I would mainly focus on the young guys already here: Williams, Boutte, Chism. Extend Boutte, and probably keep Hollins too. Douglas is likely worth keeping for the final year of his deal. Only splash opportunities I see would be a trade for AJ Brown or if (big if) Mike Evans shakes loose in free agency from Tampa Bay.

LT - Just keep Campbell. I get it, he had a bad end of his season, but there's a lot at play there - the injury, the rookie wall, conditioning, etc. If he can get healthy and bulk up going into year 2 to help deal with power rushers, I personally believe he can at least be average. It's not easy to find even average LTs in this league, and the cost to upgrade there is very high. Keep trying him at least another season there.

TE - There are actually several free agent options here and it is a sensible spot to try to upgrade as the cost is not usually very high. I'd be fine with moving on from Henry for cap savings and signing someone such as Likely as TE1 and seeing if they can get anything out of Dippre as TE2, who they carried on the 53 this year to keep, presumably with an eye towards 2026.

LB - I'd hit this position in the draft. I may try to sign a LB in free agency. Spillane probably has some tread left but I don't know if I want to count on him as a full time player. Tavai and Elliss are also worth keeping but they need one more plus guy there. Devin Lloyd?

DE - I'd definitely press hard to get Crosby. Would instantly make such a difference. Get him and also re-sign Chaisson - pass rush solved. But if that doesn't work, it definitely becomes difficult. Trey Hendrickson might be an option in free agency but obviously he is getting pretty old. Big need, I'd be hitting it in the draft too.

C/G - I'd be in on both Linderbaum and McGovern at C, both are big upgrades. Onwenu hasn't been too bad but his postseason was not the best. I'd probably consider just moving on from him with how much cap savings are on the table. Maybe move Wilson to RG, where being between a new plus C and Moses (assuming he plays one more year) will allow him to play well. Then play Brown at LG, who also would benefit from a better C, but generally was fine in pass pro.

RB - I'd be "big time in" on the free agent RB market. Several great options: Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams. Bring in a third guy to form a three headed monster of Stevenson-Henderson-Option C. Why the hell not?

S - Honestly I would just re-sign Hawkins and maybe throw a pick at the position late. They held up OK. He could be better, but the team has much more pressing needs, and if Woodson improves (I assume he will) then Hawkins will probably be good enough, at least for now.

Click to expand...

Ross12 said:

Some part of me, in the back of my mind, could see Vrabel trading Maye for a haul and then making Tommy DeVito the starter a la Ryan Tannehill of old. DeVito is limited but he is competent and he can run McDaniels' scheme well.

I really, REALLY don't think he'd do that, but... I can see it.

Click to expand...

Real fan 02 said:

Twin Diggs is under contract.. and H. Henry will resign.. those guys were big parts of the offense this season.. Diggs started getting doubled is why his production dropped off...

Click to expand...

ViperGTS said:

For every cut, you create another hole you need to fill. It isn't as easy as that for a team that with those guys, already has a ton of holes. I'm not saying they are ****ed. Not by any means. However they have their work cut out for them.

Click to expand...

Toofy said:

Good post.. but too many hypothesis with lesser draft capital and cap.

I will keep onwenu just to maintain continuity. I am not confident on Moses . I want Moses to be swing and not primary rt. Definitely not playing him 17 games. We got lucky on injury , not happening next season.

Campbell, brown, wilson , onwenu , Bryant or Moses

Wr - I agree with all you have said and would not bring back diggs or Henry to save cash and maybe go younger. Just sign free agents who are big bodied wide receiver. I feel jiles might be a good option .

Just get Maye 0.5 seconds extra time and build up on the check down options too . I feel he should work more with Chism in off-season.

Resign chaisson if lower than 12 million a year .

Boutte should be cheap . If he wants more than 15 million just ride out his rookie contract . His contract should be 3 years 24 million. He lost a bunch of money due to post season.

Pop I want to give up because I don't see a future for him and might be better to go with Chism on it .

I like Isaiah likely as an option . I would like to see if Mike Evans can come here . He might be a better fit for Maye instead of diggs as he can out box defenders.

Click to expand...