Franchise tag/Pre-Free Agency Player chatter

[imahobgoblin]

Pierce is big, tall and fast… the Pats could use some size/speed at WR. Drake Maye can throw it further than Uncle Rico, about time they got a WR beside Kyle Williams with some speed.

Get bigger, stronger and faster everywhere, but especially at WR. I like Boutte, but he’s really just a solid possession receiver and if you pay him you’ll feel obligated to play him. Get more explosive…

Pay Pierce $30 million avg per year. He is not making that in year 1. Restructure Diggs. Develop Williams. Sit on Boutte and evaluate next year. Trade Pop. Keep Hollins. Chis is #6 and works into the slot role.

 

[DaBruinz]

If Pierce actually becomes a fa, which may or not happen, he should be Pats' #1 target- way ahead of Crosby or Hendrickson.
Pierce costs 0 draft capital, only $.
Both Crosby and Hendrickson cost both $ and heavy draft capital.
This draft is loaded at edge- that's where #31 should be used.

Absolutely not. Pierce is Donald Hayes 2.0.. No. He shouldn't be the Pats #1 target in any scenario. Saying this says you didn't actually watch the games and have no idea where the Pats issues are.

The O-line is where the Pats should target in FA. Linderbaum, McGovern, Biadasz.

They need an upgrade at LG and they need an upgrade at Center. Wilson may or may not be that upgrade at Center.

Bringing in a guy like McGovern who can play either LG or C would be the smart play.. Biadasz is an upgrade over Bradbury in both run blocking and pass blocking. Signing a guy like AVT or James Daniels would be ok if you weren't relying on them to start.

 

[DaBruinz]

Lindebaum is a good player but Pats need a LG not a C.

The Pats need an upgrade at Center. There is no telling if Wilson is that upgrade. Contrary to some people, Bradbury was at the bottom of the league in terms of run blocking and his pass blocking was mediocre.

 

[imahobgoblin]

The Pats need an upgrade at Center. There is no telling if Wilson is that upgrade. Contrary to some people, Bradbury was at the bottom of the league in terms of run blocking and his pass blocking was mediocre.

I am all in on Lindebaum. Cut Bradbury and still pick up a FA LG. Fix the depth with the draft.

 

[Rob0729]

This ^ is why you don’t trade high valuable picks for a player you also have to extend a large league leading contract.

Wait a year, then he’ll only cost you money.

Not every team is as stupid as the Bengals. Odds are good that top players available in trade this year are not going to be free agents next year like Hendrickson is this offseason.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Lindebaum is a good player but Pats need a LG not a C.

I disagree. Putting an All Pro Caliber Center in front of Maye would do wonders for their entire OL. However I don't think Lindebaum will hit free agency when all is said and done.

 

[ViperGTS]

Absolutely not. Pierce is Donald Hayes 2.0.. No. He shouldn't be the Pats #1 target in any scenario. Saying this says you didn't actually watch the games and have no idea where the Pats issues are.

The O-line is where the Pats should target in FA. Linderbaum, McGovern, Biadasz.

They need an upgrade at LG and they need an upgrade at Center. Wilson may or may not be that upgrade at Center.

Bringing in a guy like McGovern who can play either LG or C would be the smart play.. Biadasz is an upgrade over Bradbury in both run blocking and pass blocking. Signing a guy like AVT or James Daniels would be ok if you weren't relying on them to start.

Agreed, Pierce isn't a need imo. Too much money for not a number 1 kind of guy. He's a A- B+ kind of dude depending on season.

 

[Wozzy]

Not every team is as stupid as the Bengals. Odds are good that top players available in trade this year are not going to be free agents next year like Hendrickson is this offseason.

Many teams are like the Bengals, I can remember Washington franchise tagging Kirk Cousins three years in a row. Half or more franchises in the NFL are run by morons.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I'm definitely in on Pierce. I realize he may not wow some people but I think he's still a legitimate WR1 and worth the investment, he would be good for the offense, and he doesn't cost any draft capital.

That said, Piece hitting the market also has a ripple effect on the rest of the market. Mike Evans will likely not cost as much when teams will be eyeing Pierce first. AJ Brown at least short term will have lower trade value since his cap hits are the same size as what Pierce's would be, but Pierce costs no draft picks. Stefon Diggs can be leveraged a bit more into lowering his salary if they can say that they could just cut him and use that salary to pay Pierce. Etc.

I don't see Pierce as a " #1," I think he's a complimentary deep threat. I would rather see them draft that role and spend their money on OL.

 

[Rob0729]

Many teams are like the Bengals, I can remember Washington franchise tagging Kirk Cousins three years in a row. Half or more franchises in the NFL are run by morons.

Sure, but you had to wait three years to get Cousins if you wanted him. And in reality, the Commanders (whatever they were called at that point) probably did the right thing keeping him on short term deals rather than giving him a massive long term deal. They could have gotten out cheaper by just doing a three year deal, but Cousins probably wanted longer term.

You can always find exceptions, but I don't think these things happen very often.

 

[Username]

I don't see Pierce as a " #1," I think he's a complimentary deep threat. I would rather see them draft that role and spend their money on OL.

No, he's definitely not a number one. He's been in the league for 4 years and just had by far his best season, but it was still only 1,003 yards.

Don't get me wrong, he's good. But he's not a number 1.

 

[Wozzy]

Sure, but you had to wait three years to get Cousins if you wanted him. And in reality, the Commanders (whatever they were called at that point) probably did the right thing keeping him on short term deals rather than giving him a massive long term deal. They could have gotten out cheaper by just doing a three year deal, but Cousins probably wanted longer term.

You can always find exceptions, but I don't think these things happen very often.

I stand by my original assertion. Paying a free agent is reasonable. Trading for a player with a couple years on his current deal is reasonable. Doing both for one player, trading for and then paying, is bad business. You're paying twice for the same player.

Unless the team trading the player accepts a later round pick simply because they want said player off their books. The Bengals wanted a mint for Hendrickson, a year later he's a free agent. They should have taken what they could have gotten at that time. A 4th/5th/6th/7th in this year's draft is better than losing him for nothing, or waiting another season for a complementary pick that may never come and their cap situation wasn't getting any better.

 

[Rob0729]

I stand by my original assertion. Paying a free agent is reasonable. Trading for a player with a couple years on his current deal is reasonable. Doing both for one player, trading for and then paying, is bad business. You're paying twice for the same player.

Unless the team trading the player accepts a later round pick simply because they want said player off their books. The Bengals wanted a mint for Hendrickson, a year later he's a free agent. They should have taken what they could have gotten at that time. A 4th/5th/6th/7th in this year's draft is better than losing him for nothing, or waiting another season for a complementary pick that may never come and their cap situation wasn't getting any better.

Again, there are next to no teams that are as dumb as the Bengals. They couldn't even sign their first round pick last year because they had ridiculous contract demands. First round contracts are nothing things now because they are slotted yet the Bengals couldn't sign Shemar Stewart until a week after training camp started.

 

[Rob0729]

 

[Rob0729]

It doesn't look like Likely is going back to the Ravens.

 

[Grogan14]

A disaster scenario?
No! He is not a true #1 and will get overpaid

 

[PatsFan2]

A disaster scenario?
No! He is not a true #1 and will get overpaid

I hope we pass I want a guy who catches more passes.

 

[Scotty]

I hope someone has got the "Do something" graphic ready for next week......

 

[imahobgoblin]

Absolutely not. Pierce is Donald Hayes 2.0.. No. He shouldn't be the Pats #1 target in any scenario. Saying this says you didn't actually watch the games and have no idea where the Pats issues are.

The O-line is where the Pats should target in FA. Linderbaum, McGovern, Biadasz.

They need an upgrade at LG and they need an upgrade at Center. Wilson may or may not be that upgrade at Center.

Bringing in a guy like McGovern who can play either LG or C would be the smart play.. Biadasz is an upgrade over Bradbury in both run blocking and pass blocking. Signing a guy like AVT or James Daniels would be ok if you weren't relying on them to start.

Pierce is nothing like Hayes, nor is Drake like Tom. Hayes had 1 great year with CAR in 2000. He put up 926 yards on 67 catches and 3 TD. In 2001 he regressed to 597 yards on 52 catches and 2 TD. He ultimately failed because he could not grasp the system. He was a very poor fit for a young QB in a dink dunk offense.

Pierce is not on the decline. In 2024, he had 824 yards in 37 catches and 7 TD. In 2025, he had 1003 yards, 47 catches and 6TD. He is going a totally different direction than Hayes. We have no idea if he can understand this system. That is up to McD and bringing him in for a visit. But Drake has a cannon of an arm that Tom didn't. Drake is one of the top long ball QBs in the league and nothing like Tom. Pierce is his match, and the best long ball WR two years running.

I agree with Linderbaum, McGovern, Biadasz. There is no reason why we can't sign a center, left guard, wide receiver, and edge rusher. Its just about cap management. Then fill holes with vets and draft. We have plenty of wiggle room.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I hope we pass I want a guy who catches more passes.

To me the priority is guys who can get separation instantly. I think Maye was eating the ball because receivers weren't getting open before the pass rush was getting to him.