After Day One (11:59 PM)

[Ring 6]

I agree.

But, let me more blunt. I am not sure that Taylor has the skills to belong on the 53 man roster.

Of course, I'm fine with him competing in camp, and even making the roster if that is the judgment of the team.

That’s the guess since he hasn’t really gotten on the field yet. Sitting behind Bolden was not a good harbinger of Taylor’s future.

 

[venecol]

Average age of FAs signed by Pats = 35.

No comment.

 

[Triumph]

I agree.

But, let me more blunt. I am not sure that Taylor has the skills to belong on the 53 man roster.

Of course, I'm fine with him competing in camp, and even making the roster if that is the judgment of the team.

Taylor never gets the opportunity to fail.

He always comes into a game and his first play is a Derrick Henry run through the A gaps where he gets swallowed up for no gain. The Pats rarely throw the ball to him out in space where he can showcase his YAC via his difficult to tackle size and shifty speed. Some RBs need several snaps to get into the rhythm of the game to excel. Just let the guy go while hes still young so he can make an impact for some team.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

All is not lost for Taylor. White, Vareen and even Kevin Faulk did not play for a couple of years after they joined the team. It seems as if learning to block on blitz pickup is the barrier for a number of the third down backs the team has developed. This is a critical responsibility for that position that takes some time at practice to develop.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

After day one, the Pats are looking at a 3rd (Jackson) and a 6th (Karras) as potential comp picks.

 

[farn]

After day one, the Pats are looking at a 3rd (Jackson) and a 6th (Karras) as potential comp picks.

While I expected JC’s departure, I figured we were keeping Karras. Not the second coming of Thuney, but he stabilized the OL when he became the starter and he could back up several positions.

Only 29, I really underestimated the market. He’s getting real dollars in Cincy.

 

[borg]

While I expected JC’s departure, I figured we were keeping Karras. Not the second coming of Thuney, but he stabilized the OL when he became the starter and he could back up several positions.

Only 29, I really underestimated the market. He’s getting real dollars in Cincy.

Seems light for a FA/projected starter signing in the early hours of free agency

From PFT
Karras will sign a there-year, $18 million contract. It has a $3 million signing bonus and a $2 million 2022 roster bonus. Beyond the $5 million, there are no guarantees.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Seems light for a FA/projected starter signing in the early hours of free agency

From PFT
Karras will sign a there-year, $18 million contract. It has a $3 million signing bonus and a $2 million 2022 roster bonus. Beyond the $5 million, there are no guarantees.

Aren't there tons of IOL guys in FA? Why did KC, who had to rebuild their OL, sign two IOL guys from the Pats in the last two years? Because the Pats coaching and training is good?

 

[borg]

Why did KC, who had to rebuild their OL, sign two IOL guys from the Pats in the last two years? Because the Pats coaching and training is good?

Or simply the players are good.
Thuney was inserted into the Pats starting lineup in week 1 of his rookie season.

Who was the 2nd Pats OL signed by KC?

 

[farn]

Seems light for a FA/projected starter signing in the early hours of free agency

From PFT
Karras will sign a there-year, $18 million contract. It has a $3 million signing bonus and a $2 million 2022 roster bonus. Beyond the $5 million, there are no guarantees.

I guess I meant ‘dude was a backup in NE a few years back & look at the millions now’. I know he isn’t pulling in Trent Brown Raiders cash.

 

[crawhammer]

Day 1 of FA overreaction. We have to replace JC for sure. Along with holes at LB and DE/DT. Offensively if Mac improves year 2 I expect to be better on that side of the ball. Not feeling this FA wr class get one through the draft and use FA to start building the defense.

The team needs to find away to give Mac Jones more to work with than what he had in his rookie season. The current supporting cast will not be good enough to squeak into the playoffs. If the team is going to do what's in the best interest of their young quarterback then they need to increase his opportunities for success... to me that means going after a top tier FA WR right now... Allen Robinson please!!

By the way, can one of the mods let me back into the NFL Free Agency edition thread at least? The amount of threads I'm currently locked out of is bewildering.

 

[crawhammer]

THe Pats were not going to fix this team through FA and or the draft this year.
BB knows damn well the Pats will not compete for a SB this year. So makes sense to go easy on the UFA's especially after last year.
Kraft and BB know the Pats are in for a sustained period of mediocrity, Scheming does NOT make up for a lack of talent.

I can't agree with this... since when is the Patriots organization satisfied with "sustained mediocrity"?? Seriously, if that were the case then they would be admitting last offseason was a massive fail. Think about it, they didn't spend unprecedented amounts of guaranteed money to then merely one year later accept mediocrity. Currently their cap space isn't as flexible as it was last offseason and apparently they think the best approach is hoping a day one or two FA will agree with a low-ball offer. Otherwise they're content with picking through the leftovers as they've done in the past (which mostly worked with an elite QB on the roster) and building through the draft. Whatever their game plan is for team building, the motto isn't sustained mediocrity is acceptable.

Belichick isn't dealing with an infinite period of time either (nor is Robert Kraft) so they want to back get into a position of competing for an Super Bowl asap. I'd hate to think Belichick would be content with merely sticking around until he can possibly pass Shula. I have to believe Belichick (and the Krafts) desperately want to win another Super Bowl before he retires.

 

[crawhammer]

This team didn’t blow when it had the 50th best qb in the league bouncing passes, had numerous started opt out and went through an off season with about a dollar fifty in cap space. It is miles better now than it was then.

2020: 7-9
2021: 10-8

That's not miles better... one less loss. They're better, they have a young probable-franchise quarterback, and they significantly added to the roster from '20 to '21. But, they have a very good team (Buffalo) with an elite quarterback (Allen) in their division and the conference has several other teams that are very good and getting better with their own FA moves/trades. The Patriots really need get more into the FA mix or they're going to continuing falling backward.

 

[crawhammer]

Why wouldn’t you do it?
One is your starting FS
One is your best ST player
One is your backup QB who is well schooled in the system and was apparently very helpful to the rookie franchise QB
One is a borderline 53 player who will come to camp and try to make the team.
How is that negative?

Fine if you want to re-sign all those veterans but none of them are making you better next season. If their moves consist mainly of re-signing marginally impactful on-field veterans, picking through FA leftovers, and hoping to hit on draft picks (where the track record isn't great) to get better then I think that would be disappointing to most fans of the team.

 

[Ring 6]

2020: 7-9
2021: 10-8

That's not miles better... one less loss. They're better, they have a young probable-franchise quarterback, and they significantly added to the roster from '20 to '21. But, they have a very good team (Buffalo) with an elite quarterback (Allen) in their division and the conference has several other teams that are very good and getting better with their own FA moves/trades. The Patriots really need get more into the FA mix or they're going to continuing falling backward.

Yes miles better. They are an improving team. Over 40% of snaps last year were taken by players new to the team. They were #2 in both % of drives allowing points and % of drives scoring points. They had some late game blunders and matched up poorly with Buffalo. It’s a team that needs to be tweaked, and gain experience playing together not overhauled.

 

[Ring 6]

Fine if you want to re-sign all those veterans but none of them are making you better next season. If their moves consist mainly of re-signing marginally impactful on-field veterans, picking through FA leftovers, and hoping to hit on draft picks (where the track record isn't great) to get better then I think that would be disappointing to most fans of the team.

So we agree that’s part of the process. Great.

 

[crawhammer]

Yes. Keene. If I remember correctly he is a complete meathead. I like him at FB because he was a serviceable TE catching and running at VT. If we add the running and catching ability to the FB role, plus additional athleticism, it could be an exciting position. Remember Kevin Turner, the FB back in the 90s? Keene, 4.7 sec 40, 7.07 3 cone, 6' 4", 250 lbs before bulking up. Great athleticism.

Will Keene even make the team next season? I sort of hope not because it probably means they upgraded at the position (TE).

Jonnu Smith has rocks for hands. Either they make him catch 10,000 passes from the juggs and Hoyer this preseason...or cut bait.Asiasi and Keene better pop or they'll be gone too..

Smith looked so bad that I'm hoping they can get out of that ridiculous contract somehow. A trade I suppose, which probably is very unlikely. But yes, Smith has been a major disappointment. Those 3rd round TEs are not likely to be the answer either. If they want to dip their toe in the FA TE pool again then there are some interesting names there... Gerald Everett, Jared Cook who probably has something left in the tank, and O.J. Howard who was an Alabama guy who probably has untapped potential.