I.M. Fletcher
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
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This is incredibly early in the process, probably too early, but I thought I would get the ball started. There are a lot of unknowns about our own free agents and other possible free agents, so I will do a minor offseason mock as well. I also haven't seen everyone (by a mile) but have found some groups of players I like in different rounds (or at least the rounds I have them forecasted at now).
So, a couple things up front.
I have Garoppolo being traded for the 10th and 42nd. I am not going to argue if he is worth that much, that little, or if he should be dealt at all. It's all guess work from the smartest people in the business, let alone you and I, so I am sticking with 1st and 2nd.
I am working off a mix of current rankings, and where I imagine some guys will end up. I tend to be more conservative with my rankings, but one or two of my picks could end up a round or two above slot. That's the nature of any mock at this stage
No 5th rounder, or 7th rounder due to the Mingo and Williams trades. We also have Seattles 4th but not our own, plus one 6th round compensation pick. The draft order is based on us picking 32nd, as it should always be.
I am guessing on a lot of these guys actually declaring. Last year was a record on underclassmen declaring, and there is good reason to believe with the CBA rules, that more and more underclassmen will come out. So, you will see more and more guys in the 5th-UFA being juniors and redshirt sophomores.
I am drafting guys that I feel fit the mould of players we have drafted before, or players we have targeted before. As an example, Malik McDowell is a really interesting prospect, but I can't think of BB drafting a DT that's 280lbs. BB is always adapting, but size profile isn't something he has moved too much on over the years.
Alright, here's the offseason
Released:
Amendola: 6.5mil saved
McClellin : 1.5 mil saved
Amendola has been an important piece over the years, but he's simply being passed by other players. The cap hit is now just too much to justify, even if his quality of play is still good enough to elevate the team. McClellin just doesn't seem to fit quite yet, and with Roberts stepping up, and the acquisition of Mingo, it would be hard to keep paying him 2mil a year as duel reserve.
Amount available: 78mil
UFAs
Walk
Vollmer : retired
Blount
Ryan
Harmon
Branch
Collins 5yr 52mill
Hightower Franchise
I think it's pretty obvious that the team would love to keep both, but they also want to make sure they aren't locked up to two guys at one position with injury concerns. You can flip a coin on who you think is more worthy of the contract and who is worthy of the tag. When it's all said and done, I am guessing they are both here long term.
Sheard 4 yr 32mil
Bennett 3yr 21mil
Both have done really well here and have seen the other side of the NFL coin. I honestly don't think either will be that difficult to sign, if the Pats decide they are players that they want around long term. I am not really worried at all about either player falling off anytime soon, but I would imagine both see the market and test their worth.
Cannon 1yr 5mil
Bolden 2yr 2mil
Develin 1yr 1mil
Vollmer is done, and while Cannon is everyone's favourite whipping boy, there isn't much chance we go in to the draft with Fleming or Waddle as the RT placeholder. BB doesn't like being pressured in to a draft pick, so I see Cannon coming back on a one year deal. Bolden is still a valued backup back and a great special teamer. Develin is a dying breed, so he should be an easy sign at a position we are keeping in the playbook.
Butler qualified
Easy place to save some dollars, even if it upsets an important piece. I know they can't keep everyone, and if a team wants to give up a 1st for Butler, by all means. He is one of the toughest CBs out there, but he isn't a player who can afford to lose a gear, and he's been awfully banged up already in his career. Love him, just don't love him for 10+mil a year.
One of Long/Mingo 2 yr 8mil/ 3yr 11mil
I am guessing it will be Mingo given the age and special teams impact, but I am guessing the dollars will be pretty comparable in the first year. I can't see them coming back with the exact same pass rushing edge group, so pick your poison.
Qualified
King
Coleman
Johnson
So, a couple things up front.
I have Garoppolo being traded for the 10th and 42nd. I am not going to argue if he is worth that much, that little, or if he should be dealt at all. It's all guess work from the smartest people in the business, let alone you and I, so I am sticking with 1st and 2nd.
I am working off a mix of current rankings, and where I imagine some guys will end up. I tend to be more conservative with my rankings, but one or two of my picks could end up a round or two above slot. That's the nature of any mock at this stage
No 5th rounder, or 7th rounder due to the Mingo and Williams trades. We also have Seattles 4th but not our own, plus one 6th round compensation pick. The draft order is based on us picking 32nd, as it should always be.
I am guessing on a lot of these guys actually declaring. Last year was a record on underclassmen declaring, and there is good reason to believe with the CBA rules, that more and more underclassmen will come out. So, you will see more and more guys in the 5th-UFA being juniors and redshirt sophomores.
I am drafting guys that I feel fit the mould of players we have drafted before, or players we have targeted before. As an example, Malik McDowell is a really interesting prospect, but I can't think of BB drafting a DT that's 280lbs. BB is always adapting, but size profile isn't something he has moved too much on over the years.
Alright, here's the offseason
Released:
Amendola: 6.5mil saved
McClellin : 1.5 mil saved
Amendola has been an important piece over the years, but he's simply being passed by other players. The cap hit is now just too much to justify, even if his quality of play is still good enough to elevate the team. McClellin just doesn't seem to fit quite yet, and with Roberts stepping up, and the acquisition of Mingo, it would be hard to keep paying him 2mil a year as duel reserve.
Amount available: 78mil
UFAs
Walk
Vollmer : retired
Blount
Ryan
Harmon
Branch
Collins 5yr 52mill
Hightower Franchise
I think it's pretty obvious that the team would love to keep both, but they also want to make sure they aren't locked up to two guys at one position with injury concerns. You can flip a coin on who you think is more worthy of the contract and who is worthy of the tag. When it's all said and done, I am guessing they are both here long term.
Sheard 4 yr 32mil
Bennett 3yr 21mil
Both have done really well here and have seen the other side of the NFL coin. I honestly don't think either will be that difficult to sign, if the Pats decide they are players that they want around long term. I am not really worried at all about either player falling off anytime soon, but I would imagine both see the market and test their worth.
Cannon 1yr 5mil
Bolden 2yr 2mil
Develin 1yr 1mil
Vollmer is done, and while Cannon is everyone's favourite whipping boy, there isn't much chance we go in to the draft with Fleming or Waddle as the RT placeholder. BB doesn't like being pressured in to a draft pick, so I see Cannon coming back on a one year deal. Bolden is still a valued backup back and a great special teamer. Develin is a dying breed, so he should be an easy sign at a position we are keeping in the playbook.
Butler qualified
Easy place to save some dollars, even if it upsets an important piece. I know they can't keep everyone, and if a team wants to give up a 1st for Butler, by all means. He is one of the toughest CBs out there, but he isn't a player who can afford to lose a gear, and he's been awfully banged up already in his career. Love him, just don't love him for 10+mil a year.
One of Long/Mingo 2 yr 8mil/ 3yr 11mil
I am guessing it will be Mingo given the age and special teams impact, but I am guessing the dollars will be pretty comparable in the first year. I can't see them coming back with the exact same pass rushing edge group, so pick your poison.
Qualified
King
Coleman
Johnson