Official Free Agency 2018

[scott99]

The New England Patriots don't need another wide receiver.

Cooks
Dorsett
Edelman
Hogan
Mitchell

Last guy I would count on to be on the roster is Mitchell. I’d be surprised like hell if he’s on the team next year. His knees are Swiss cheese. If we have to depend on him, then we are in trouble. It was a nice story, he did a helluva job, and we could’ve used a healthy Mitchell this year. But he’s toast, 3 major knee surgeries already.

 

[ATippett56]

"4th LB"?

Behind who, besides Hightower?

Kyle Van Noy is not the reason the New England Patriots lost the Super Bowl. If you want to lay blame, start with Bademosi, Richards, Rowe.

 

[maineman209]

The New England Patriots don't need another wide receiver.

Cooks
Dorsett
Edelman
Hogan
Mitchell

Plus ...

Britt is already under contract thru 2018.
McCarron and (Cody) Hollister have both been on the PS since September (and seem likely to get futures contracts).
Reedy (potential punt-returner) could be resigned cheaply (anything more than $11/hour would be an off-season raise for him).
And, Amendola could re-up for another year.

That said, Amendola turns 33 this year. Edelman turns 32. Hogan and Britt both turn 30. Edelman and Mitchell are both coming off knee injuries.

The Pats had 12 WRs in Camp last season, which is a pretty typical annual quantity. So, I could see the Pats bringing in another 2-4 WRs from the UDFA or SFA pools to fill out the 90-man roster.

But Austin would not be a candidate for that. He's had a lot of NFL experience returning punts and kicks, which hypothetically could get him a look. OTOH, his ball security sucks ... 21 fumbles in just five seasons ... a BB nightmare.

 

[luuked]

The thing about Eifert is that he's really had just the one very good season - 2015, when he played in 13 of 16 games, caught 52/74 (70%) for 615 yards (11.8 YPC) and 13 TDs. Dwayne Allen had three seasons with the Colts that were more productive than Eifert's next best two. And there's no telling if Eifert can be anywhere near as good a blocker as Allen became this season for the Pats.

And Eifert's 2017 contract was for about the same money as the Pats will be paying Allen in 2018. Allen turns 28 at the end of February. Eifert turns 28 the first week in September.

So, basically, Eifert is taller, but has a bad back. And he'd be starting from scratch learning both the Pats blocking schemes as well as the passing offense as a receiver. And likely for at least a bit more than what the Pat's are currently paying Allen, who already knows at least half of that.

Someone actually suggested to get Eifert as a replacement for Allen ? Jesus.. I thought those were just ideas about TE3.. wow..

 

[ATippett56]

Last guy I would count on to be on the roster is Mitchell. I’d be surprised like hell if he’s on the team next year. His knees are Swiss cheese. If we have to depend on him, then we are in trouble. It was a nice story, he did a helluva job, and we could’ve used a healthy Mitchell this year. But he’s toast, 3 major knee surgeries already.

I am not going to fret over the fifth wide receiver on the roster. The New England Patriots have higher priorities on offense than wide receiver.

Offensive Tackle
Fleming - unrestricted free agent
Solder - unrestricted free agent
Waddle - unrestricted free agent

Running Back
Bolden - unrestricted free agent
Burkhead - unrestricted free agent
Lewis - unrestricted free agent

 

[luuked]

Last guy I would count on to be on the roster is Mitchell. I’d be surprised like hell if he’s on the team next year. His knees are Swiss cheese. If we have to depend on him, then we are in trouble. It was a nice story, he did a helluva job, and we could’ve used a healthy Mitchell this year. But he’s toast, 3 major knee surgeries already.

I think partly this is why Britt got a 2 year deal when they signed him late in the year. He is the potential insurance..

 

[ATippett56]

Someone actually suggested to get Eifert as a replacement for Allen ? Jesus.. I thought those were just ideas about TE3.. wow..

Dwayne Allen is not worth $5 million for the 2018 NFL Season.

Dwayne Allen Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money | Over The Cap

Now if Dwayne Allen is willing to take the Danny Amendola discount ..........................

Dwayne Allen 2017 Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Dwayne Allen
2017 NFL Season
10 receptions, 22 targets, 86 receiving yards

 

[luuked]

I am not going to fret over the fifth wide receiver on the roster. The New England Patriots have higher priorities on offense than wide receiver.

Offensive Tackle
Fleming - unrestricted free agent
Solder - unrestricted free agent
Waddle - unrestricted free agent

Running Back
Bolden - unrestricted free agent
Burkhead - unrestricted free agent
Lewis - unrestricted free agent

I would love to bring back our full stable of RBs again. I thought we had great talent and perfect diversity among them this year. I am not sure if it is financially feasible. The different nuances between White, Burkhead and Lewis were perfect. Unfortunately there was no way to keep Gillislee consistently active due to ST considerations.

The question with Solder for me is not if we can bring him back but whether he even wants to continue playing or just retires. Reiss has been hinting at that since last season. If he wants to continue playing I am sure that the team and Solder will find something that works for both so he his family doesn't have to move and change cancer specialists for his child.

Out of Waddle/Fleming I would prioritize Waddle because he required less hand holding from a RB/TE when he started. The thought of Waddle playing some snaps at LT in case of emergency is also less scary than sending Cannon over there and Fleming to RT.

 

[luuked]

Dwayne Allen is not worth $5 million for the 2018 NFL Season.

Dwayne Allen Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money | Over The Cap

Now if Dwayne Allen is willing to take the Danny Amendola discount ..........................

Of course he is worth that. He played 40% of snaps, played great in his role and was responsible for keeping Brady clean with Fleming as RT, great blocks in the running game and screen game. The one aspect that was a bit disappointing is that he didn't get to be involved a bit more in the passing game but that was by design and not his mistake.

Again find someone that is considerably cheaper, is a similarly elite blocker, has shown the same durability and can be trusted to learn all protection and blocking schemes that Allen mastered in an offseason.

 

[TriplecHamp]

IOW, you're hoping that BB acquires a couple of college prospects who turn out to be nearly immediate stud LBs and, thus, prove your opinion that KVN is no better than a #4 LB.

Got it.

Not going to happen. If the New England Patriots select a linebacker in the first two rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots could find an upgrade at linebacker. That is obviously hypothetical.

NFL Draft Scout----Powered By: The Sports Xchange

KVN played about 66% of snaps while Elandon Roberts played roughly 50% and Flowers played 25%. Roberts and Van Noy both played about 25% in 2016 with McClelan, Collins and Hightower all taking more. Of course the timing of arrivals and injuries played an impact in these numbers so with Shea and Hightower hopefully back KVN should lose a lot of time.

If we get second year leaps from Langi or Flowers or with some rookie talent and I think we can hopefully field 3 linebackers including Hightower who will see higher snap counts than van noy. I think that'd help a lot with the defenses ability to cover RB's/TE's in the flat and up the field an creating negative plays. As a unit, they struggled with this even with Collins who wasn't disciplined or natural enough to consistently do either.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Rebuild the interior offensive line and d-line

 

[ATippett56]

Of course he is worth that. He played 40% of snaps, played great in his role and was responsible for keeping Brady clean with Fleming as RT, great blocks in the running game and screen game. The one aspect that was a bit disappointing is that he didn't get to be involved a bit more in the passing game but that was by design and not his mistake.

Again find someone that is considerably cheaper, is a similarly elite blocker, has shown the same durability and can be trusted to learn all protection and blocking schemes that Allen mastered in an offseason.

Dwayne Allen
2017 NFL Season
10 receptions, 22 targets, 86 receiving yards

Dwayne Allen 2017 Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

How many receptions for Dwayne Allen during the 2017 NFL Playoffs?

Dwayne Allen Playoffs Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Dwayne Allen is the 8th best tight end in the NFL?

Tight End Contracts and Salaries | Over The Cap

 

[maineman209]

 

[maineman209]

Someone actually suggested to get Eifert as a replacement for Allen ? Jesus.. I thought those were just ideas about TE3.. wow..

I'm not sure. I may have responded to a comment that was, in turn, responding to a comment that was merely throwing out ideas for potential TE acquisitions.

Even if the original thought was to add Eifert, that's still a lot of cap space tied up in the #2/#3 spots.

 

[maineman209]

Dwayne Allen
2017 NFL Season
10 receptions, 22 targets, 86 receiving yards

Dwayne Allen 2017 Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

How many receptions for Dwayne Allen during the 2017 NFL Playoffs?

Dwayne Allen Playoffs Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Dwayne Allen is the 8th best tight end in the NFL?

Tight End Contracts and Salaries | Over The Cap

For whatever reason (strategic or otherwise), Allen and 2TE sets were apparently not part of the gameplan for the AFCCG or the SB. Against JAX, Allen played one snap before Gronk was injured. In the SB, he played only two snaps total.

Allen played 23 snaps in the Divisional Round v. the Titans, just under his season average.

Develin also played a bit fewer snaps through the post-season than his regular season average.

 

[ATippett56]

KVN played about 66% of snaps while Elandon Roberts played roughly 50% and Flowers played 25%. Roberts and Van Noy both played about 25% in 2016 with McClelan, Collins and Hightower all taking more. Of course the timing of arrivals and injuries played an impact in these numbers so with Shea and Hightower hopefully back KVN should lose a lot of time.

If we get second year leaps from Langi or Flowers or with some rookie talent and I think we can hopefully field 3 linebackers including Hightower who will see higher snap counts than van noy. I think that'd help a lot with the defenses ability to cover RB's/TE's in the flat and up the field an creating negative plays. As a unit, they struggled with this even with Collins who wasn't disciplined or natural enough to consistently do either.

Kyle Van Noy is not the reason the New England Patriots lost the Super Bowl. Try Bademosi, Richards, Rowe instead.

Advanced Stats Report: Tom Brady’s mastery marred by defensive implosion

 

[ATippett56]

For whatever reason (strategic or otherwise), Allen and 2TE sets were apparently not part of the gameplan for the AFCCG or the SB. Against JAX, Allen played one snap before Gronk was injured. In the SB, he played only two snaps total.

Allen played 23 snaps in the Divisional Round v. the Titans, just under his season average.

Develin also played a bit fewer snaps through the post-season than his regular season average.

Dwayne Allen is not the 8th best tight end in the NFL even though he is paid as one.

Tight End Contracts and Salaries | Over The Cap

 

[luuked]

Dwayne Allen
2017 NFL Season
10 receptions, 22 targets, 86 receiving yards

Dwayne Allen 2017 Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

How many receptions for Dwayne Allen during the 2017 NFL Playoffs?

Dwayne Allen Playoffs Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Dwayne Allen is the 8th best tight end in the NFL?

Tight End Contracts and Salaries | Over The Cap

He is a Y TE not an oversized WR. Receptions are not particularly relevant for his role.

That being said with Josh not returning it will be up to OShea (or whoever ends up OC) to decide if he wants to continue using Allen at all or emphasize other concepts.

 

[ATippett56]

He is a Y TE not an oversized WR. Receptions are not particularly relevant for his role.

Keep grasping at straws.

 

[luuked]

Keep grasping for straws.

I am not grasping for any straws. Allen had a good season and will be cheaper next year than he was this year relative to the overall cap hit. If you cant appreciate how difficult it is to find a cheaper blocking TE that performs that well then prepare to be shocked when he is still around after the new league year starts.