zimmy
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2008
- Messages
- 1,214
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lol no he doesn’t.
We have the experience after 2021 to see that throwing money to bad players just for the sake of throwing money because you can, isn’t working.
I think what the Patriots are doing is the right approach. Don’t over extend yourself on bad player because you can. They targeted Ridley gave him a fair offer and I am fine with them letting the Titans gave him an absurd contract that they will regret in a year or two. I am fine not going after Williams. The guy is a turnstyle at LT. He is a RT and that’s where the Cards will play him.
We resigned all of our good players and got some depth pieces. Now go to the draft, take a QB at 3, an OT at 34 (if no Smith) or a WR (if smith) and a WR at 68 and reassess after 2024. With the cap space that you still have in 2025 FA because you didn’t spend it on C- players, the team will be able to target specific and hopefully players because you’ll have a year to see how your draft pick have developed.
It makes no sense for me to harmstring yourself with bad contract on bad players just for the sake of spending. I think it’s more important to give you the flexibility in the coming years to react based on the development of your rookies and more importantly your rookie QB
I appreciate the half glass full approach, but a counter point would be:
1. People over-estimate how bad the 2021 free agency was. The hit rate was fine - probably above average actually. Judon has been a stud with a value contract. Henry has been good. Godshaux has been good and got a new contract. Bourne was a good value WR signing and got a new contract. Mills was solid. Jonny and Agholor were the bad signings - and neither prevented us from doing anything cap wise if we wanted to. Agholor only signed a 2 year $22m deal and people make out like he signed on for $100m.
2. No one thinks Calvin Ridley is a bad player. There was an opportunity to improve our team with a guy who a number of teams obviously wanted. Instead, we cheaped out, and in the process, also failed take advantage of the trade market as we were desperately hanging on for Ridley. Jeudy and Diontae Johnson have both moved for cheap compensation on reasonable deals.
3. The chances of hitting on a QB at 3, an OT at 34, and a WR at 68 are really quite low - especially if we are now expecting them to come in and start from day 1. Having a Jonah Williams or Calvin Ridley to pick up the slack would have really helped their development. The real risk is that we actively harm a rookie QB due to the poor set up around him.
4. Next year's free agency is unlikely to be any better. Due to the significant cap increases, great players don't reach the market, only good ones. We'll only be looking at the Calvin Ridley equivalent next year. And we'll also likely have another poor year, with a coaching staff and front office under even more pressure to win, likely leading to worse contracts being handed out anyway.