Three starters for 3/$90M for a 2026cap hit of maybe $7M

mgteich · Mar 10, 2026

A+

3 starters at positions of great need
----------
3/$39M Jones
3/$42M AVT
3/$9M Gilliam (the posts said up to $12, so I guesstimated $9M as reasonable)
3/$90M total AAV

evenly spread, the cap hit for all three would be $10M. My guess is $7M will be the case after signing bonuses are spread out for cap purposes.

n1997y · Mar 10, 2026

So far…

It’s a good start.

Ross12 · Mar 10, 2026

mgteich said:
A+

3 starters at positions of great need
----------
3/$39M Jones
3/$42M AVT
3/$9M Gilliam (the posts said up to $12, so I guesstimated $9M as reasonable)
3/$90M total AAV

evenly spread, the cap hit for all three would be $10M. My guess is $7M will be the case after signing bonuses are spread out for cap purposes.

One thing I noticed in the announcements for both the Jones and Gilliam signings was that they both mentioned higher values in year 1, as if the team was front-loading the deals. So, it might actually be reversed?

I know we typically don’t see front-loading much in the NFL these days due to cap explosions but thought it was worth mentioning.

patman52 · Mar 10, 2026

Ross12 said:
One thing I noticed in the announcements for both the Jones and Gilliam signings was that they both mentioned higher values in year 1, as if the team was front-loading the deals. So, it might actually be reversed?

I know we typically don’t see front-loading much in the NFL these days due to cap explosions but thought it was worth mentioning.

First year money includes the SB

Schmo · Mar 10, 2026

Ross12 said:
One thing I noticed in the announcements for both the Jones and Gilliam signings was that they both mentioned higher values in year 1, as if the team was front-loading the deals. So, it might actually be reversed?

I know we typically don’t see front-loading much in the NFL these days due to cap explosions but thought it was worth mentioning.

I thought the same thing

patman52 · Mar 10, 2026

mgteich said:
A+

3 starters at positions of great need
----------
3/$39M Jones
3/$42M AVT
3/$9M Gilliam (the posts said up to $12, so I guesstimated $9M as reasonable)
3/$90M total AAV

evenly spread, the cap hit for all three would be $10M. My guess is $7M will be the case after signing bonuses are spread out for cap purposes.

Sorry, I dont follow.

KCSVEN · Mar 10, 2026

mgteich said:
A+

3 starters at positions of great need
----------
3/$39M Jones
3/$42M AVT
3/$9M Gilliam (the posts said up to $12, so I guesstimated $9M as reasonable)
3/$90M total AAV

evenly spread, the cap hit for all three would be $10M. My guess is $7M will be the case after signing bonuses are spread out for cap purposes.

Jones is listed online as
2026: 7.16
2027: 14.66
2028: 14.66

There is 3 million in playing time incentives so probably add a million per year if he reaches

11 million signing over 3 years
2.3, 9.8 and zero for guaranteed salary so locked into him for 2 years

Ross12 · Mar 10, 2026

patman52 said:
First year money includes the SB

Yes but they don’t normally call out “X money in the first year” like that. Almost every contract has a signing bonus so they would say that every time.

mike_usagisan · Mar 10, 2026

Leaving plenty of room if they have to absorb AJ Brown?

TommyD4207 · Mar 10, 2026

mike_usagisan said:
Leaving plenty of room if they have to absorb AJ Brown?

And/or probably Hendrickson too, if that's the direction they go (even if I personally don't care for it).

Ring 6 · Mar 10, 2026

mgteich said:
A+

3 starters at positions of great need
----------
3/$39M Jones
3/$42M AVT
3/$9M Gilliam (the posts said up to $12, so I guesstimated $9M as reasonable)
3/$90M total AAV

evenly spread, the cap hit for all three would be $10M. My guess is $7M will be the case after signing bonuses are spread out for cap purposes.

90/3 =30 not 10
Cap hit will be 2-3 times your prediction

stephens44 · Mar 10, 2026

Seems like leaving room for the Gonzo contract and probably Maye extension next year. Big contracts

mgteich · Mar 10, 2026

stephens44 said:
Seems like leaving room for the Gonzo contract and probably Maye extension next year. Big contracts

Gonzo 2027 will likely be $17.5M (the 5th year option) plus 1/5 of his bonus.

Maybe Maye will sign next year, but again realize that it is an extension, so the first year or two will have the increase to him mainly of 1/5 of the bonus.

mgteich · Mar 10, 2026

stephens44 said:
Seems like leaving room for the Gonzo contract and probably Maye extension next year. Big contracts

We could extend Gonzo this year for less than a $10M addition to his 2026 cap.

TommyD4207 · Mar 10, 2026

mgteich said:
We could extend Gonzo this year for less than a $10M addition to his 2026 cap.

Every day they wait, it costs them more money.

JoeSixPat · Mar 10, 2026

When you look at some of the outrageous contracts we're seeing, I'm pretty happy to see the Pats go this more conservative route.

These won't get an A+ from the so-called experts, but look at FB alone and how many times we really needed someone to help run block and punch the ball through for a TD. That's going to be a HUGE upgrade on the goal line offense.

I'm still not enthused about spending so much, including a draft pick and handing over so many targets to AJ Brown to improve WR

I would think that Jennings or Dobbs who are still available can still have the desired deep ball impact and playing with Maye will increase either's production dramatically for a lot less than Brown

mgteich · Mar 10, 2026

4 starters (still an A for me)
We'll see the cap hits and contract details on TH after the contracts are posted by 4PM on WED.

OUT: Westover (moves to TE)
IN: Gilliam

OUT: Bradbury
IN: AVT (also Wilson moves to center)

OUT: Tavai
IN: Jones (not the same LB position, but one LB out, 1 LB in.

OUT: Diggs
IN: Doubs

=============
ALSO
OUT: Hooper
OUT: Lowe
OUT: Tonga

TBD
Chaisson
Hawkins
Gibbens
Roy
Munford

40yrpatsfan · Mar 10, 2026

mgteich said:
4 starters (still an A for me)
We'll see the cap hits and contract details on TH after the contracts are posted by 4PM on WED.

OUT: Westover (moves to TE)
IN: Gilliam

OUT: Bradbury
IN: AVT (also Wilson moves to center)

OUT: Tavai
IN: Jones (not the same LB position, but one LB out, 1 LB in.

OUT: Diggs
IN: Doubs

=============
ALSO
OUT: Hooper
OUT: Lowe
OUT: Tonga

TBD
Chaisson
Hawkins
Gibbens
Roy
Munford

Very exciting to have improved at FB, LB/edge, Center & Guard, and WR in 24 hours. And gotten younger overall as well.

Three starters for 3/$90M for a 2026cap hit of maybe $7M

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