I suspect that 12 positions are truly up for grabs.

[Wozzy]

Some chose to ignore the solid play at LT prior to the Bengals game injury. Those are just pessimist wanting to be right going back to the draft about arm length ect.. he's the LT and will be better, healthy, motivated. Every position on the teams competition that's what gets the best out of everyone.

I’m indifferent, I want all Patriots players to succeed. I root for the laundry. I just know the best players will play.

 

[Real fan 02]

I’m indifferent, I want all Patriots players to succeed. I root for the laundry. I just know the best players will play.

That's what I Root for competition breeds performance. Iron sharpens Iron. We have far less concerns in my opinion post draft then pre draft. This teams ready to stay a contender.

 

[DaBruinz]

Looked at his contract again and it's insane. $21 and $25 million last year and this year.

Trey Smith is averaging $24 million and hes one of the top guards. Owenu got that tackle money. If he asks for more money...he needs a big time salary hair cut. Hope his agent is being honest with him

His contract isn't insane at all. Onwenu is one of the top 10 guards in the league. No. Onwenu did NOT get tackle money. I debunked that BS when it happened. Onwenu's contract made him that 3rd highest paid guard at the time he signed it. There are now 8 guards ahead of Onwenu. Trey Smith, Robert Hunt, Chris Lindstrom, Tyler Smith, Luke Goedeke (who played RT last year), Landon ****erson, Quentin Nelson, and Aaron Banks.

If you're going to make a comparison, you should compare apples to apples. NOT Salary cap hit for the last 2 years of a contract to the average cap hit of another player. Onwenu's contract averaged $19M. That's a far cry from the $24M AAV of Trey Smith.. You're being disingenuous with your argument and your "outrage" is clearly phony.

Look at the screenshot below. These are the players with at least 80% of 1151 total snaps and sorted by Pressures..

Onwenu has 2 sacks, 1 QB hit and 18 hurries on 648 pass rushing snaps. Thats 1 pressure every 30.9 snaps.

Thuney was insane at 1 pressure every 45.7 snaps
Damien Lewis was right there with him with 1 pressure every 42.2 snaps
Quentin Nelson was at 1 pressure every 42.6 snaps.
Chris Paul was far below Onwenu at 1 pressure every 25.5 snaps
Skronski was right there with Onwenu at 1 pressure every 30.2 snaps.

Trey Smith, who was injured and only played 665 total snaps with 449 pass blocking snaps gave up 1 sack, 2 QB hits and 13 hurries.. That's 1 pressure every 28.7 snaps.

Chris Lindstrom? 1086 total snaps. 623 pass blocking snaps. 1 sack, 8 QB hits, 35 hurries. 1 pressure every 14.2 snaps.
Robert Hunt? Injured a majority of the year.
Aaron Banks? 746 total snaps. 435 pass blocking snaps. 2 sacks, 3 QB hits, 23 pressures. 1 pressure every 15.5 snaps.
Tyler Smith? 700 pass blocking snaps.. 3 sacks, 23 hurries. 1 pressure every 26.9 snaps.

So, a total of 3 guys ahead of Onwenu in terms of snaps per pressure and only Quentin Nelson is paid better than Onwenu.

 

[Wozzy]

That's what I Root for competition breeds performance. Iron sharpens Iron. We have far less concerns in my opinion post draft then pre draft. This teams ready to stay a contender.

Agreed. This team is deeper but younger than last offseason. Let’s hope they continue to develop the youth at a high level.

 

[DaBruinz]

Yes! This was the Mayo contract. Remember? He's a good player but definitely overpaid in comparison as you just mentioned to others that play OT.. because he's such an Important piece on the OL for stability and he's still a solid player I can see Vrabel doing something for him at least for this season.. can guaranteed OG will be taken in the draft next year for sure.

It was an Eliot Wolf Contract. Mayo had nothing to do with it.
Trey Smith is a Guard. Not a tackle.
As I pointed out when Onwenu SIGNED the deal, it made him the 3rd highest paid GUARD. He was paid as a GUARD. Not a tackle. And he's the 9th highest paid guard now. As I pointed out in my other post, Onwenu played better than all but one of the guys getting paid more than him currently.

Facts have never been your strong suit, but you could at least TRY.

 

[Real fan 02]

Agreed. This team is deeper but younger than last offseason. Let’s hope they continue to develop the youth at a high level.

Agreed here. The foundation was last season. What I enjoy about this team is they are a close nit bunch and they play for each other and they are hungry and want to get that superbowl loss avenged. They have reinforced the line of scrimmage. From what they've invested in the trenches. They've done all of this pre AJ brown. After June 1st this offense has the ability to be as good at 2007. The defense with Byard& the guys up front and a much improved pass rush plus with the guys you already have will have the potential to wreck games and give OCs fits.

 

[Real fan 02]

It was an Eliot Wolf Contract. Mayo had nothing to do with it.
Trey Smith is a Guard. Not a tackle.
As I pointed out when Onwenu SIGNED the deal, it made him the 3rd highest paid GUARD. He was paid as a GUARD. Not a tackle. And he's the 9th highest paid guard now. As I pointed out in my other post, Onwenu played better than all but one of the guys getting paid more than him currently.

Facts have never been your strong suit, but you could at least TRY.

Using mayo as a reference point as he was the coach and he said in his own words he wanted identify to extend guys he identified as part of the future. Rham, Dugger, peppers, Ownenu all saw extensions. I know you love to create your own facts but I think it's a fact that mayo was the coach in 2024.

https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2024/02/jerod-mayo-prioritizes-two-veteran-patriots-free-agents.html

 

[DaBruinz]

Using mayo as a reference point as he was the coach and he said in his own words he wanted identify to extend guys he identified as part of the future. Rham, Dugger, peppers, Ownenu all saw extensions. I know you love to create your own facts but I think it's a fact that mayo was the coach in 2024.

https://www.masslive.com/patriots/2024/02/jerod-mayo-prioritizes-two-veteran-patriots-free-agents.html

What the hell are you blathering? Of the two of us, you're the only one "creating" facts. Which is why you think that MAYO is the one who gave them contracts. Mayo had zero authority to sign players in 2024. That was solely on Eliot Wolf. He was the de-facto GM. What Mayo stated he wanted and $5 would get him a Starbucks coffee.

 

[Water Boy]

His contract isn't insane at all. Onwenu is one of the top 10 guards in the league. No. Onwenu did NOT get tackle money.

IIRC Onwenu was the top IOL in that FA class and his guard tackle versatility (at least at the time) was also a factor in his market value.

 

[Real fan 02]

What the hell are you blathering? Of the two of us, you're the only one "creating" facts. Which is why you think that MAYO is the one who gave them contracts. Mayo had zero authority to sign players in 2024. That was solely on Eliot Wolf. He was the de-facto GM. What Mayo stated he wanted and $5 would get him a Starbucks coffee.

I'm not debating of his authoritative position. I'm simply saying what he said on players such as ownenu and others during that span.. take it as you may.. your correct Wolf was the defacto GM.. I'll soothe your inflated ego. YOUR RIGHT!!!

 

[mgteich]

This.

The tea leaves say that Bryant is in trouble, but if he shows up and beats out Crownover, Bryant wins the job.

They gave Hollins bonus money that he didn't earn last year because of injury. You don't do that with someone you plan to cut.

With WR candidates unknown, it's difficult to predict what happens with that position. Really Dobbs and Williams are the only locks. Who knows who else is even here?

Hollins is lock.

 

[Family]

Hollins is lock.

As long as he doesn't show up playing like he's 33.

 

[Ring 6]

Hollins was the leading wide receiver I. Super bowl. Just in case people were not aware and hollins had more than 4 TDs I believe. He is WR2 on this team now.. I donno how anyone can consider hollins not a lock

Hollins had 2 TDs in the regular season. Hollins is not ahead of Boutte and Doubs and will not be ahead of Brown.
No chance in the world he is wr2, he is 33 years old and will be wr5. Very good chance they choose youth for that role.

 

[Ring 6]

Hollins is lock.

Do you have him ahead of Brown? Doubs? Boutte?
Do you think Williams should lose WR4 snaps to a 33 year old JAG?
If he isn’t WR1-4 there is a very good chance the team moves on and keeps younger players including Douglas.
He doesn’t play special teams (45 snaps all year)

 

[Ring 6]

This.

The tea leaves say that Bryant is in trouble, but if he shows up and beats out Crownover, Bryant wins the job.

They gave Hollins bonus money that he didn't earn last year because of injury. You don't do that with someone you plan to cut.

With WR candidates unknown, it's difficult to predict what happens with that position. Really Dobbs and Williams are the only locks. Who knows who else is even here?

They didn’t have Doubs and Brien when they paid that bonus. And you pay it to do the right thing not as an incentive payment to keep someone you already have under contract.

 

[Wozzy]

IIRC Onwenu was the top IOL in that FA class and his guard tackle versatility (at least at the time) was also a factor in his market value.

They should extend Onwenu a couple years and lower his cap charge. Lock him up thru 30 years old.

Patriots fans have an irrational hatred for guards, which is odd considering we had the greatest guard in history at one point.

 

[Wozzy]

They didn’t have Doubs and Brien when they paid that bonus. And you pay it to do the right thing not as an incentive payment to keep someone you already have under contract.

Agreed. I don’t think people understand, Boutte, Douglas and Hollins are up for contracts.

You’re unlikely to pay them all, or squeeze that many WR’s on the roster… with or without AJ Brown.

 

[imahobgoblin]

There were 36 5th round picks last year.

Only one is not with the team he was drafted with. And only one other guy was cut, which was Swinson.

So what. Only 8.9% of 5th round picks make it to a second contract. If you are suggesting its a valuable round, you are just wrong.

 

[Family]

They didn’t have Doubs and Brien when they paid that bonus. And you pay it to do the right thing not as an incentive payment to keep someone you already have under contract.

Ok good point, but he's still not going anywhere, unless he takes a serious step back in camp.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Hollins had 2 TDs in the regular season. Hollins is not ahead of Boutte and Doubs and will not be ahead of Brown.
No chance in the world he is wr2, he is 33 years old and will be wr5. Very good chance they choose youth for that role.

You did this whole anti-Hollins schtick last year and you were proven wrong. Now you are again polluting threads with the worthless schtick about Hollins. Can you please stop polluting the threads with your Hollins hate?