Boston Herald reports what they heard at Combine

This was a great podcast by The Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed and Andrew Callahan, who revealed what they learned from league sources at the combine:


They said that it sounds like:

• The Pats are probably keeping Barmore and Diggs. The people that they could potentially replace both with are not as good and while the price tag is a little big on both, if they wanted to replace them with comparable players in free agency, they are probably paying just as much. The team views Barmore's off field problems as worse than Diggs'.
• The Pats are in on Crosby and Brown, but they're not sure if the asking price or timing will work to swing a trade on either.
• Tonga is probably walking, not because he suddenly did better in the playoffs, but because more teams have developed as suitors for him in a weak DT free agency.
• They aren't in on Likely (the TE). They probably want more of a big bodied blocking tight end. Maybe Otton?
• The Pats like the positions of need in the draft (TE, EDGE, etc.)
• Gonzo is going to get paid.
• The Pats might bring Hawkins back because he isn't viewed as strongly by the rest of the league.
• The Pats aren't talking to any free agency offensive tackles.

Anyway, I thought it was a great listen to get a sense of where the team is right now.

I thought Otton was definitely a look see, I saw him throw 2 hellacious blocks during our game against TB. I've liked him from when he came up...TFB Trusted him as a rookie
He's a decent player I think they should be looking at.
I said that during the GDT.

WhatJustHappened said:

I thought Otton was definitely a look see, I saw him throw 2 hellacious blocks during our game against TB. I've liked him from when he came up...TFB Trusted him as a rookie
He's a decent player I think they should be looking at.
I said that during the GDT.

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You forgot to say BAAHHH

Media is being too indecisive on having an opinion with Diggs and Barmore. They keep flip flopping, but we'll find out by March 13th.

The argument in Diggs' favor is that there aren't many comparable WR's in that price range who would be a clear upgrade and we can't rely on a bail out trade. They have the money to keep him for one more season and then cut ties after 2026.

Barmore's situation seems like they are more concerned with as the media has been leaking attitude issues. And as they said, he has not lived up to his contract at all. He is redundant to Williams who has a $28.4M cap hit. He could stay one more season and then cut loose in 2027.

The plan may be to get young guys that they hope will replace both players in 2027.

I never wanted Likely, I hope the reports are accurate in that regard.

Yeah, I'm not really in on any expensive contracts after this past offseason. Maybe an aging veteran on a big 1 or 2 year 'one last go' deal. But I like the talent we're developing and we got 'anchor' contracts coming up in the next 2-3 years. Hoping the best for Maye and Gonzalez means huge chunks of the salary cap are about to get dedicated. You don't want to get too top-heavy once those bills get due.

DoubleDeluxe said:

I never wanted Likely, I hope the reports are accurate in that regard.

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Likely is soft. The Ravens can keep him.

They also said that Mack Hollins hurt his spleen the first play of the Baltimore game and just played through it that game.

Tarzan in Baltimora

DoubleDeluxe said:

I never wanted Likely, I hope the reports are accurate in that regard.

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Likely would blow up with Maye.

One-If-By-Sea said:

Likely is soft. The Ravens can keep him.

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Pats need a blocker TE to help Campbell.

Triumph said:

Pats need a blocker TE to help Campbell.

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Yeah, sounds like they want a blocking TE, which is more available in free agency, and a move TE in the draft, as there aren’t as many blocking TEs coming out of college.

mike_usagisan said:

Yeah, sounds like they want a blocking TE, which is more available in free agency, and a move TE in the draft, as there aren’t as many blocking TEs coming out of college.

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Cut Henry for a blocking TE too.

mike_usagisan said:

This was a great podcast by The Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed and Andrew Callahan, who revealed what they learned from league sources at the combine:


They said that it sounds like:

• The Pats are probably keeping Barmore and Diggs. The people that they could potentially replace both with are not as good and while the price tag is a little big on both, if they wanted to replace them with comparable players in free agency, they are probably paying just as much. The team views Barmore's off field problems as worse than Diggs'.
• The Pats are in on Crosby and Brown, but they're not sure if the asking price or timing will work to swing a trade on either.
• Tonga is probably walking, not because he suddenly did better in the playoffs, but because more teams have developed as suitors for him in a weak DT free agency.
• They aren't in on Likely (the TE). They probably want more of a big bodied blocking tight end. Maybe Otton?
• The Pats like the positions of need in the draft (TE, EDGE, etc.)
• Gonzo is going to get paid.
• The Pats might bring Hawkins back because he isn't viewed as strongly by the rest of the league.
• The Pats aren't talking to any free agency offensive tackles.

Anyway, I thought it was a great listen to get a sense of where the team is right now.

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Mike,

Thank you! This a great read. kyed is probably one of most dialed in aside from Curran.

Pretty accurate account.

Kyed also said that the Pats don’t feel like this is as good a free agency as last year. Plus the Pats draft guy keeps telling Wolf that they spent two years of free agency money last year.

Not a lot of talk about offensive line, which seems weird to me because I figured the Pats would be targeting a guard.

mike_usagisan said:

Kyed also said that the Pats don’t feel like this is as good a free agency as last year. Plus the Pats draft guy keeps telling Wolf that they spent two years of free agency money last year.

Not a lot of talk about offensive line, which seems weird to me because I figured the Pats would be targeting a guard.

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Maybe because as a coaching staff they feel more confident in what they have then we do as fans... I'm sure they Will add at OL FA and Draft as they do every season...

Still feel the priority is Edge..pressure helps the offense.. getting Drake the ball back inside the 50 or closer.. being able to create more TOs so gonzo can sit on routes more often for INTS... being able to pressure rushing 4 like Denver and Houston the 2 best defensive fronts in football can do is essential. Seattle showed us in the superbowl getting home rushing 4 and everyone else jobs easy..

Real fan 02 said:

Maybe because as a coaching staff they feel more confident in what they have then we do as fans... I'm sure they Will add at OL FA and Draft as they do every season...

Still feel the priority is Edge..pressure helps the offense.. getting Drake the ball back inside the 50 or closer.. being able to create more TOs so gonzo can sit on routes more often for INTS... being able to pressure rushing 4 like Denver and Houston the 2 best defensive fronts in football can do is essential. Seattle showed us in the superbowl getting home rushing 4 and everyone else jobs easy..

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Yes, I got the sense that EDGE is the priority on defense. Kyed and Callahan said that if the solution isn't Crosby, the Pats might target a second-tier EDGE guy in free agency and see if they can take a step forward, like Chaisson last season. So forget buying high on Hendrickson or Phillips. But the Pats have said this is a draft with a lot of depth at EDGE, so I think they'll likely draft an EDGE too.

mike_usagisan said:

They said that it sounds like:

• The Pats are probably keeping Barmore and Diggs. The people that they could potentially replace both with are not as good and while the price tag is a little big on both, if they wanted to replace them with comparable players in free agency, they are probably paying just as much. The team views Barmore's off field problems as worse than Diggs'.
• The Pats are in on Crosby and Brown, but they're not sure if the asking price or timing will work to swing a trade on either.
• Tonga is probably walking, not because he suddenly did better in the playoffs, but because more teams have developed as suitors for him in a weak DT free agency.
• They aren't in on Likely (the TE). They probably want more of a big bodied blocking tight end. Maybe Otton?
• The Pats like the positions of need in the draft (TE, EDGE, etc.)
• Gonzo is going to get paid.
• The Pats might bring Hawkins back because he isn't viewed as strongly by the rest of the league.
• The Pats aren't talking to any free agency offensive tackles.

Anyway, I thought it was a great listen to get a sense of where the team is right now.

Click to expand...

Barmore is a no brainer, you keep him. He's one of your best players and one of the better tackles in the NFL. Diggs would be a no brainer as well, you just rework his deal so his cap hit is more plalatable.

The Pats should be in on any any great player, they have 11 draft picks and room to sign whoever they want. But trade compensation matters. Both Crosby and Brown are grousing and want off their current team, so that could work in our favor. Plus the Patriots are the current flavor of the week, and Brown clearly wants to come here. He could subtly shade any other team trying to trade for him, as long as the Pats are willing to match what the rest of the league is offering, it helps that the Pats are in the AFC, the Eagles would rather send him out of the conference.

Tonga played well and earned more money, we'll see what the rest of the NFL thinks. The Pats could still match any offer he receives, they just don't want to overpay and want to see what the market thinks is a fair price. Makes sense...

Likely is somewhat overrated because he is a darling of the fantasy football crowd. The simple fact is Lamar Jackson is a TE funnel, that doesn't make Likely some outstanding talent, it just means TE's on that team receive in inordinate amout of targets. There's better free agents out there.

Gonzo is going to get paid.

Hawkins won't demand big bucks in free agency and the safeties at the NFL combine so far look amazing, they're putting up some incredible measurables. They could target safety in the draft and bring Hawkins back.

There aren't any free agent Offensive Tackles of note available.

mike_usagisan said:

Yes, I got the sense that EDGE is the priority on defense. Kyed and Callahan said that if the solution isn't Crosby, the Pats might target a second-tier EDGE guy in free agency and see if they can take a step forward, like Chaisson last season. So forget buying high on Hendrickson or Phillips. But the Pats have said this is a draft with a lot of depth at EDGE, so I think they'll likely draft an EDGE too.

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Yes.. I follow alot or Taylor Klyes on patiots CLNS media as well.. the thing here is Mike.. I matter what Landry is saying publicly about him wanting to get the knee right hsi availability is and unknown.. we can't rely on him.. is why resigning Chaisson and targeting a Mafe or Oweh as well as drafting I'd say minimum 2 edge rushers and then of course well have camp guys UDFAs as well. Really and truly believe our edge rush will be potent come next season.. other teams seem to seamlessly be able to get edge guys we need to as well..

Real fan 02 said:

Yes.. I follow alot or Taylor Klyes on patiots CLNS media as well.. the thing here is Mike.. I matter what Landry is saying publicly about him wanting to get the knee right hsi availability is and unknown.. we can't rely on him.. is why resigning Chaisson and targeting a Mafe or Oweh as well as drafting I'd say minimum 2 edge rushers and then of course well have camp guys UDFAs as well. Really and truly believe our edge rush will be potent come next season.. other teams seem to seamlessly be able to get edge guys we need to as well..

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I like Klyes a lot and the nerdy stat boy feud between him and Lazar is low-key hilarious, but it's hard to tell how plugged into the team decision making Klyes is, which is where I like Callahan and Kyed.