Under $30M Cap Space After A Week

Real fan 02 · Mar 25, 2026

Zuma said:
Ya know...the hyperbole is strong with you more recently then ever before...but I do agree with this at least for 2026. Even if Byard loses some athletic ability due to age...it is still worth the knowledge and attitude he brings to the safety position and the team.

Edit: but maybe a S should have some draft concentrations....if you will...and what not's.

Agreed.. byard is in a far more talented secondary than he was in Chicago.. this makes his job alot easier.. also much better coaching and back with his coach that he developed into an all pro under.. so much to like about byard.

Water Boy · Mar 25, 2026

I hope the negotiations with Gonzo go smoothly, but I get the sense he and his agent will be shooting for the moon. That's their right.

I think this could get contentious including Gonzo not participating in workouts and practices for fear of injury/leverage. He took an awfully long time coming back from his hammy last off season. Hope I'm wrong.

Real fan 02 · Mar 25, 2026

Water Boy said:
I hope the negotiations with Gonzo go smoothly, but Iget the sense he and his agent will be shooting for the moon. That's their right.

I think this could get contentious including Gonzo not participating in workouts and practices for fear of injury/leverage. He took an awfully long time coming back from his hammy last off season. Hope I'm wrong.

He shares the same agent as Mcduffie... I believe that Gonzo and Vrabel have forged a solid relationship as he's said personally and likely they have a mutual understanding.. on the hammy man those are complicated injuries and gonzo and the team ( and likely his agents) likely felt it's best not to rush it.. when he was out.

Like the AJ situation it's just a matter of time.. for Gonzo

Wozzy · Mar 25, 2026

Zuma said:
Ya know...the hyperbole is strong with you more recently then ever before...but I do agree with this at least for 2026. Even if Byard loses some athletic ability due to age...it is still worth the knowledge and attitude he brings to the safety position and the team.

Edit: but maybe a S should have some draft concentrations....if you will...and what not's.

Hyperbole? I’m being called a negative nancy on one thread because I haven’t celebrated the arrival of James Hudson like he was the next Tony Boselli. And if calling Kindle Vidor a good signing for the 4th or 5th CB position is too much..I don’t see how?

Pape · Mar 25, 2026

Wozzy said:
Hyperbole? I’m being called a negative nancy on one thread because I haven’t celebrated the arrival of James Hudson like he was the next Tony Boselli. And if calling Kindle Vidor a good signing for the 4th or 5th CB position is too much..I don’t see how?

its been a meh free agency all round imo...

Wozzy · Mar 25, 2026

Pape said:
its been a meh free agency all round imo...

I think they’re focused on the draft and their 11 draft picks, which I can’t argue with. I liked Alec Pierce but that contract was an absurd overpay, and there wasn’t much else out there that moved the needle in terms of impact players.

IMO they solidified their team by adding solid value vets and have the luxury to spend on best available players in the draft. The team they have pre-draft is already really good, they have an opportunity to become great.

Pape · Mar 25, 2026

have no problem with focusing on the draft

maybe it was just who was available this off season... i don't see any of the new players as needle movers...

and the linemen we signed? those are some garbage signings... makes me want to vomit thinking i wish we kept VD Lowe... hope they take and learn from good coaching this spring... otherwise ... yeah i don't wanna think about the otherwise

JoeSixPat · Mar 25, 2026

Water Boy said:
I hope the negotiations with Gonzo go smoothly, but Iget the sense he and his agent will be shooting for the moon. That's their right.

I think this could get contentious including Gonzo not participating in workouts and practices for fear of injury/leverage. He took an awfully long time coming back from his hammy last off season. Hope I'm wrong.

While everyone will probably say the Sauce Gardner contract is a starting point, or at least gives some parameters for a Gonzo extension, that seems like a contract that was almost meant to be traded.

They paid him relatively little in signing bonus/guaranteed money with $14 mil in year 1 making sure it was a tradeable contract after or during the first year.

And actually the Colts even have an out in 2028 with no dead cap hit

While Gonzo's cap hit wouldn't be bad initially a similar deal would cost the Pats 10% of their cap hit at a point when they will have to be paying Maye as one of the best QBs in football

Real fan 02 · Mar 25, 2026

Pape said:
have no problem with focusing on the draft

maybe it was just who was available this off season... i don't see any of the new players as needle movers...

and the linemen we signed? those are some garbage signings... makes me want to vomit thinking i wish we kept VD Lowe... hope they take and learn from good coaching this spring... otherwise ... yeah i don't wanna think about the otherwise

The way I see it.. Vrabel by his moves is showing what he believes the team needs.. there have been years In the TB12/BB era that we had less than Percived to be spectacular FAs.. however I as a fan happen to like what they did..

As Vrabel said FA isn't just march it goes all the way into the season.. Lowe left for a better opportunity, Diggs didn't want to restructure, Chaisson took another one year gamble elsewhere.. they know and we know what they need and edge rush is at the top of the heap for me..

By trading and not resigning guys that were a big part of last season is telling of how Vrabel saw his roster.. this draft is pivotal.. Vrabel knows his roster needs upgrades at pivotal positions.. good thing week 1 is 5 months away.

JoeSixPat · Mar 25, 2026

Pape said:
its been a meh free agency all round imo...

I guess we'll never know if the big names we wanted were part of the plan - although if they were some of those crazy salaries paid by really bad teams I'm sure drove us out of the market

While I'm not on the Brown bandwagon even if that doesn't happen I've seen a lot of unheralded additions that I think will make a HUGE difference in the red zone offense - both the run and the pass.

That was a weak point last year and Vrabel and McDaniels know it

Blocking TEs and FBs aren't sexy - but TDs and blocking for our best RB (Drake Maye) will be game changers

While I'm sure they'll pick up a TE in the draft, I think we'll be surprised by Hill - he's not going to break any records but he was good for 1 catch a game last year and I you can almost count on him doubling or even tripling that as we know he actually CAN catch passes from his college career - which is all we really need there as it keeps Ds honest

And if Brown doesn't come to be, I'm actually pretty happy with what we got, although I'd happily take Diggs back at a reduced fair market salary as a Plan B

I have to think Vrabel getting "his guys" on D will improve an already good group

Pape · Mar 25, 2026

JoeSixPat said:
I guess we'll never know if the big names we wanted were part of the plan - although if they were some of those crazy salaries paid by really bad teams I'm sure drove us out of the market

While I'm not on the Brown bandwagon even if that doesn't happen I've seen a lot of unheralded additions that I think will make a HUGE difference in the red zone offense - both the run and the pass.

That was a weak point last year and Vrabel and McDaniels know it

Blocking TEs and FBs aren't sexy - but TDs and blocking for our best RB (Drake Maye) will be game changers

While I'm sure they'll pick up a TE in the draft, I think we'll be surprised by Hill - he's not going to break any records but he was good for 1 catch a game last year and I you can almost count on him doubling or even tripling that as we know he actually CAN catch passes from his college career - which is all we really need there as it keeps Ds honest

And if Brown doesn't come to be, I'm actually pretty happy with what we got, although I'd happily take Diggs back at a reduced fair market salary as a Plan B

I have to think Vrabel getting "his guys" on D will improve an already good group

Don't get me wrong, i do not hate what we have done so far... Just think its going to be a long wait to see if the moves are positives... and on the defensive side, wish we did more to keep some of our own guys who developed well over the season... imo there were no real "no brainer" moves made... ymmv on that one though...

stinkypete · Mar 25, 2026

Patsfan1645 said:
If we could snag Elijah Sarratt in round 3 I would take him. 6'2 209lbs. I saw him twice live at JMU in 2023 as a sophomore, he racked up almost 1200 yards that year before moving on to Indiana. Very smooth route runner and great hands. If he had that break away speed he would be a round 1 guy. He could be sneaky good in the nfl.

I’d take Sarratt at 63. He’ll, I’d consider trading up in round 2 for him.

rkarp1 · Mar 25, 2026

JoeSixPat said:
I guess we'll never know if the big names we wanted were part of the plan - although if they were some of those crazy salaries paid by really bad teams I'm sure drove us out of the market

While I'm not on the Brown bandwagon even if that doesn't happen I've seen a lot of unheralded additions that I think will make a HUGE difference in the red zone offense - both the run and the pass.

That was a weak point last year and Vrabel and McDaniels know it

Blocking TEs and FBs aren't sexy - but TDs and blocking for our best RB (Drake Maye) will be game changers

While I'm sure they'll pick up a TE in the draft, I think we'll be surprised by Hill - he's not going to break any records but he was good for 1 catch a game last year and I you can almost count on him doubling or even tripling that as we know he actually CAN catch passes from his college career - which is all we really need there as it keeps Ds honest

And if Brown doesn't come to be, I'm actually pretty happy with what we got, although I'd happily take Diggs back at a reduced fair market salary as a Plan B

I have to think Vrabel getting "his guys" on D will improve an already good group

I have been saying this for a while now.
Vera-Tucker, Wilson, Gilliam and Hill will improve the run game a lot.
I wouldn't close the door all the way on Diggs or Gibson

patfanken · Mar 25, 2026

I want to make sure I understand this correctly. Regardless of any extension they agree to, Gonzo is going to play for whatever his 4th and 5th years contract dictates PLUS whatever signing bonus gives him amortized over that 2 year period. BTW according to UNtrustworthy AI, Gonze is due to be paid about $2.5MM this year, and between 4-6MM next year, which is REALLY cheap. So, CLEARLY the signing bonus is what is going to drive this negotiation. I don't think that when he rookie deal is over the current market for elite CB's is in the 30-35MM dollar range.

I think that the Pats will have be in that range, but I would ne surprise to find that when the dust settles, we will find that a significant part of that compensation will be based on him being available to be available, like that AVT contract

JoeSixPat · Mar 26, 2026

patfanken said:
I want to make sure I understand this correctly. Regardless of any extension they agree to, Gonzo is going to play for whatever his 4th and 5th years contract dictates PLUS whatever signing bonus gives him amortized over that 2 year period. BTW according to UNtrustworthy AI, Gonze is due to be paid about $2.5MM this year, and between 4-6MM next year, which is REALLY cheap. So, CLEARLY the signing bonus is what is going to drive this negotiation. I don't think that when he rookie deal is over the current market for elite CB's is in the 30-35MM dollar range.

I think that the Pats will have be in that range, but I would ne surprise to find that when the dust settles, we will find that a significant part of that compensation will be based on him being available to be available, like that AVT contract

With Sauce Gardner getting just $13.5 million out of a $120 million contract with $40 million guaranteed that's easily doable for the Pats

I'm just not sure they want to give the same amount of guaranteed money to Gonzo that Gardner got as the Jets clearly created a tradeable contract with an out after the first year and 4th year (4 yrs/$72 million)

If it makes him feel better we can add another $72 million non-guaranteed to the last two years of the contract like Gardner has but everyone will know that he's not going to be collecting $40 million a year in the 2030s

Real fan 02 · Mar 26, 2026

Pape said:
Don't get me wrong, i do not hate what we have done so far... Just think its going to be a long wait to see if the moves are positives... and on the defensive side, wish we did more to keep some of our own guys who developed well over the season... imo there were no real "no brainer" moves made... ymmv on that one though...

Chaisson took a 1 yr 12m.. instead of the offer made to him here.. -Washington

Tonga had an agreement in place but then it all fell apart.. -KC

Hawkins chose Baltimore 2yr 12m after we signed byard

Diggs refused to restructure... FA

And we had depth guys, minimum impact losses Austin and Gibbens.. fins & cards

I was an advocate for Hawkins..but can never fault a player for getting paid elsewhere..

Pape · Mar 26, 2026

Real fan 02 said:
Chaisson took a 1 yr 12m.. instead of the offer made to him here.. -Washington

Tonga had an agreement in place but then it all fell apart.. -KC

these are the two i wanted to keep...

Real fan 02 said:
Hawkins chose Baltimore 2yr 12m after we signed byard

not worth 6m... figured he'd move on if he wasn't willing to sign for around 4m a year here...

Real fan 02 said:
Diggs refused to restructure... FA

we didn't need to release him... Diggs deal had multiple incentives... the biggest guaranteed chunk of change was an injury guarantee for 6.... really, what was he going to restructure? That was more about him being a pita off the field vs the contract...

Real fan 02 said:
And we had depth guys, minimum impact losses Austin and Gibbens.. fins & cards

yeah, bubble players... no big deal...

Real fan 02 said:
I was an advocate for Hawkins..but can never fault a player for getting paid elsewhere..

cool, he did well here, went from 3rd on the depth chart to starter, getting better every year.. can't ask for more than that... but we all knew money would be an issue with him... and no, can't blame the player for taking more...

Real fan 02 · Mar 26, 2026

Pape said:
these are the two i wanted to keep...

not worth 6m... figured he'd move on if he wasn't willing to sign for around 4m a year here...

we didn't need to release him... Diggs deal had multiple incentives... the biggest guaranteed chunk of change was an injury guarantee for 6.... really, what was he going to restructure? That was more about him being a pita off the field vs the contract...

yeah, bubble players... no big deal...

cool, he did well here, went from 3rd on the depth chart to starter, getting better every year.. can't ask for more than that... but we all knew money would be an issue with him... and no, can't blame the player for taking more...

Yes on Diggs I'm more inclined it was off the field than on.. plus he had other legal issues of similar things as well going.. looking back on it probably best both parties parted ways... love the doubs pick up a quiet and humble guy that was in a stacked wr group will flourish here..

Chaisson I definitely wanted to keep he proved his worth down the stretch and post season.. Tonga disappeared for to many stretches.. I like Tonga but good for him..

Hawkins was solid.. but we needed better at the position.. need a field general back there.. Gibbens and Austin they went somewhere where they will have better opportunities to play.. good for them..

borisman · Mar 31, 2026

TreVeyon Henderson will NOT get released. His deal is fully guaranteed.

imahobgoblin · Mar 31, 2026

borisman said:
TreVeyon Henderson will NOT get released. His deal is fully guaranteed.

Who is saying he will or should?

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