Do you think we’re done in FA?

DJ Reader started his career in HOU where Vrabel was DC and played for Terrell Williams in 2024 when he was DET's DL coach. We have a number of good overall option for DL depth even without Tonga, but a true NT type might not be anywhere in that position group. He still grades out well as a run defender from what I've seen. I won't pretend I've done an actual scouting assessment to back that up though. Just narratively throwing it out there as a fit though with Tonga gone and considering his familiarity with the staff.

The biggest leap I'd make is to say they're done signing expected starters. From this point on, it wouldn't really surprise me to see that they sign 'gambles'. That is, guys that are considered damaged goods or talented but unproductive so far. The kinda guys you hope have that one special year where their bodies and talents peak.

I understand all the red flags with Espansa, Bosa, etc. but we're past the point of free agency where you're going to find perfect solutions. Heck, with the cap explosion allowing teams to retain so many guys now there usually aren't even any "perfect" solutions on day 1 of free agency anymore, especially a premium position like edge.

Landry got off to a hot start production wise last year but he's coming off injury and his pass rush metrics had been declining for a while before we got him. Even with the sack total he started with last year, he doesn't seem like a guy who's really a threat to win a lot of matchups. He's an effort and schemed pressure sack artist at this point IMO, whose primary value should be as an edge setter that still at least gives you something in the pass rush department even if it is just effort sacks and schemed pressures. Dre'Mont Jones is a nice signing but he's certainly not a HIGH END pass rusher and certainly a guy who you wouldn't mind taking off the field for more of a rush specialist. Ponder and Swinson give some reason to be excited, but still unproven.

I get that it's a position they should address in the draft, but feels pretty obvious to me they should look to sign one more guy to at least give them a baseline of rotation snaps. Landry has age/injury concerns and all the rest of the depth behind solid but unspectacular Jones is unproven. Even a rookie they draft in the first round might not come in ready to play a ton right away - it'd be great but it'd hardly be unique for an edge rusher drafted #31 overall to make limited contributions as a rookie. Not saying you're going to sign a pro bowler, but feels obvious a rotational DE should still be added IMO.

palialka said:

I tend to agree with you on one or two more “big moves” coming apart from the draft. More than likely post draft though…

Obviously Brown has been discussed ad nauseam, and maybe as you said, a guy like Epenensa might be brought in.

We’ll see how the rest of the off season plays itself out.

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Yes sir! Spot on! I saw him in the available list of FA and was shocked he was still unsigned.. I personally feel he would be a great player to have and would be used correctly in new England...

palialka said:

Agreed on Bryant. It would be great if he could be the RT heir apparent in ‘27. I think this season will be the last for Moses…meaning he”ll retire, not just the last season with the Pats.

Wallace is still on the team for now. Gotta believe this TC will be his last opportunity to prove himself and carve out a role on this team.

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Agreed here. We have an excellent OL coach that he's getting the coaching from and learning from a veteran like Moses as well should help him tremendously in his development... depending on how much he's developed should Moses go down this season he could very well be the next man up! Wallace to me is a complete mystery.. if he can't make the team this offseason he probably won't be in the NFL unless he hangs around some teams PS.

Real fan 02 said:

Yes sir! Spot on! I saw him in the available list of FA and was shocked he was still unsigned.. I personally feel he would be a great player to have and would be used correctly in new England...

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He could be a FA pick up along the lines of Andre Carter, Mark Anderson or Ninko

Real fan 02 said:

Yes sir! Spot on! I saw him in the available list of FA and was shocked he was still unsigned.. I personally feel he would be a great player to have and would be used correctly in new England...

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He reminds me a lot of the linebacker in your pfp.

More >$10M average annual value players? Probably not.
More third RB, ST coverage team, fourth safety? Probably.

I wonder if they are strategically planning to spend below cap again this year to roll money into the future for the Gonzalez and Maye deals. Those two could average close to $100M. They don't want to sign those deals and then have to cut a bunch of starters.

Real fan 02 said:

Would you be interested in AJ Epensesa?

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No, I dislike situational pass rushers who aren't great against the run. They take up a valuable roster spot. I don't think he's much of a scheme fit either.

palialka said:

Agreed on Bryant. It would be great if he could be the RT heir apparent in ‘27. I think this season will be the last for Moses…meaning he”ll retire, not just the last season with the Pats.

Wallace is still on the team for now. Gotta believe this TC will be his last opportunity to prove himself and carve out a role on this team.

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I suspect that we will be drafting a RT in the first or second. This RT would need to be the #3 LT.

Younger, better and cheaper = the draft.

Not Free Agency which is why AJ Brown isnt in Foxboro. The Eagles will demand the moon for him via trade and Philly knows that NE has nobody like him on the roster. Diggs had to go, but he was a phenomenal player. He played a huge role in the resurrection of the 2025 NE offense.

FAs who are young and cheap dont always equate to better.
FAs who are better and young generally dont come cheap unless youre extremely lucky.

Wozzy said:

No, I dislike situational pass rushers who aren't great against the run. They take up a valuable roster spot. I don't think he's much of a scheme fit either.

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And he’s not a very good situational pass rusher either.
He’s not overly athletic.
Maybe he was used wrong in Buffalo, I can’t speak to that, but I don’t see a fit here.

DoubleDeluxe said:

And he’s not a very good situational pass rusher either.
He’s not overly athletic.
Maybe he was used wrong in Buffalo, I can’t speak to that, but I don’t see a fit here.

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Agreed, he was overrated as a draftee and when he arrived in the NFL he came back to Earth.

Assuming health, in free agency they got a starting Safety in Kevin Byard, starting WR in Doubs, starting guard in Vera-Tucker and a starting FB in Gilliam. 4 potential starters.

They also got a solid rotational DE in Dre'mont Jones and potentially a rotational TE in Julian Hill.

Mike Brown, KJ Britt are special teams players if they make the roster at all. Julian Hill might fall into this camp if they draft a really good TE and CJ Dippre comes to camp ready to contribute, which would make the Hill signing an expensive mistake for a backend roster guy and special teamer.

The good news is this team was just in the Super Bowl and they already have a lot of good young players and potentially great ones. The big needs I see that still need to be filled are based on age of some older vets and in some cases a real need. They can truly go after the best players available and that's a luxury. This could change with some additional signings or trades like AJ Brown.

2027 REMAINING NEEDS:
TE, OL, WR, CB, EDGE

(Lesser needs)
LB, SS, OL, BPA

What is the feeling on us bringing in another punter, if solely for camp competition?

mike_usagisan said:

What is the feeling on us bringing in another punter, if solely for camp competition?

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always
probably a UDDA

mike_usagisan said:

What is the feeling on us bringing in another punter, if solely for camp competition?

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Maybe?
I dunno, maybe Baringer got hurt at some point, because he was tremendous at the beginning of the season. Actually won them a couple of games.

TommyD4207 said:

Maybe?
I dunno, maybe Baringer got hurt at some point, because he was tremendous at the beginning of the season. Actually won them a couple of games.

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Yeah, it was weird the way he just suddenly would either hit a banger or shank it toward the end of the season. A possible injury is a good call.

I suspect injury, but what do I know.

Real fan 02 said:

What this team needs is not just starting level talent but depth.. adding a guy like Epenensa who's still young and would be a cheap veteran signing that could help bolster your pass rush depth as it's been widely discussed Landry is an unknown!

The Draft absolutely! However it's still a gamble to not continue to try and add to the depth and to just solely rely on finding pass rush help in the draft..

Jones
Ponder
Landry *
Swinson

this is the current edge depth...

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I imagine they draft 2 guys1 early and 1 late, but I would love to see them bring in Cam Jordan or Clowney on a cheap 1 year deal. Both guys are still able to get to the QB, Jordan could probably still be a starter but that might delay Swinson, Ponder and the rook(s) progress.