How to a build team and future around Maye 2026-2029 ( rookie wages) and Beyond

[Toofy]

We have our franchise QB. The current mix of wide receivers and tight ends seem really apt. We are currently mid pack in spending for wide receiver around 27 million compared to top teams like Bengals who spend 47 million.

Chiefs and ravens are at the bottom . Considering the amount of positive attention that maye would command from free agents , we would need to build the team appropriately.

Firstly I think we need to have a minimum of 3 tall wide receivers and tight ends - Hooper, Henry and Hollins


Spend on defense and always get a vet wr who is in last stages of career (29-31) who can mentor and move the chains . Essentially stefon diggs, Keenan Allen, davante adams etc. those who are tall, great route runners and haven't won the big prize yet.

Don't overspend on wide receivers like Bengals.

Keep wide receiver cost to max 40 million while Maye is on rookie contract and then move to 25-35 million range.

Mix should always be

1. 1 rookie
2. Couple of 2nd - 4th year players
3. One middle tier tall jump ball wide receiver like hollins
4. One vet zone coverage 1b /2a WR like diggs

Depth - rookie wide receivers.

If we catch lightning in a bottle in draft that's huge . Resign Boutte and hope pop can be had for 6 million a year . Pop could be the Chris Hogan.

Next draft start looking into blocking 6'5 + tall tight ends with decent pass catching abilities.

 

[VectorPrime]

2029? He’s gonna get $70 million/year after NEXT season. And it’ll involve putting like $250 million into escrow up front.

Now, that isn’t actually a problem because you can structure any contract to make a mockery of the salary cap with dummy years and signing bonuses but it involves paying a lot of real cash money up front and I don’t know if the Krafts will ever go to the lengths the Eagles or Rams do it. In fact I’m sure they won’t and they’ll use the salary cap as an excuse to cheap out on the rest of the roster.

 

[signbabybrady]

 

[Toofy]

2029? He’s gonna get $70 million/year after NEXT season. And it’ll involve putting like $250 million into escrow up front.

Now, that isn’t actually a problem because you can structure any contract to make a mockery of the salary cap with dummy years and signing bonuses but it involves paying a lot of real cash money up front and I don’t know if the Krafts will ever go to the lengths the Eagles or Rams do it. In fact I’m sure they won’t and they’ll use the salary cap as an excuse to cheap out on the rest of the roster.

I don't think you can get rookies Into contract till 4th year. So maye is on rookie contract for 26-27 , 4th year for 27-28 and franchise tag / extension low cap cost for 28-29 .

Effectively 2 years of low rookie wage scale with wages moving to 25 - 30 million in 28-29 and 40+ for 29-31 and 60+ for 31-33 ( cap reset years ).

So window is now till 2031.( 6 years- 3 years of rookie wages and 3 years of 40-45 cap manipulated cost )

 

[Hugepatsfan]

This type of planning doesn't really work. You can only draft who's available when you pick (or where you trade up to) and sign free agents that make it to free agency and doesn't come here. You can have visions of what you want to do but you have to do what's best from the actually available pool of players.

it may very well end up that they draft some all pro defenders and a few busts at WR over the next few years. They'll have to pivot from your spend on defense and save on offense strategy there. You can't decide two or three years out that you're going to draft a good player at X position as if you can call your shot like that or assume the type of player at a certain position you want is going to be available in FA exactly when you want.

 

[Toofy]

This type of planning doesn't really work. You can only draft who's available when you pick (or where you trade up to) and sign free agents that make it to free agency and doesn't come here. You can have visions of what you want to do but you have to do what's best from the actually available pool of players.

it may very well end up that they draft some all pro defenders and a few busts at WR over the next few years. They'll have to pivot from your spend on defense and save on offense strategy there. You can't decide two or three years out that you're going to draft a good player at X position as if you can call your shot like that or assume the type of player at a certain position you want is going to be available in FA exactly when you want.

I get that . But I wouldn't want them to make mistakes like Bengals overpaying for 2 stud wide receivers and not having money to spend on line.

Like the chiefs we need to make sure we build the trenches and invest heavily on coaching and player development to build depth like what we had with Dante and draft and sign players who can maximize Drake's strengths.

Jakobi Lane from USC seems to be Mac hollins replacement and would be great if we can get him in end of round 2. I feel he might drop off due to slower speed, but might be a great fit here.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I get that . But I wouldn't want them to make mistakes like Bengals overpaying for 2 stud wide receivers and not having money to spend on line.

Like the chiefs we need to make sure we build the trenches and invest heavily on coaching and player development to build depth like what we had with Dante and draft and sign players who can maximize Drake's strengths.

Jakobi Lane from USC seems to be Mac hollins replacement and would be great if we can get him in end of round 2. I feel he might drop off due to slower speed, but might be a great fit here.

The Bengals comparisons have take on kind of mythical proportions on this board... Jamar Chase JUST signed his first extension. Higgins only had last year on the tag before a big deal this year. The Bengals OL and D aren't weak because of the contract those guys signed because the contract they've signed haven't even REALLY kicked in yet. Their OL and D suck because the big signings they've made have been underwhelming or flat out bad. They've signed numerous OL and defensive players in the last few years and they just haven't been good signing, nor have they drafted well at those spots.

IMO you need to focus on drafting well, regardless of position because it's already hard enough to make the right choices without pigeon holing yourself into one spot. And then you fill in the gaps through FA where it makes sense. The positional makeup of who you draft vs. who you sign plays out how it plays out.

 

[mike_usagisan]

2029? He’s gonna get $70 million/year after NEXT season. And it’ll involve putting like $250 million into escrow up front.

Now, that isn’t actually a problem because you can structure any contract to make a mockery of the salary cap with dummy years and signing bonuses but it involves paying a lot of real cash money up front and I don’t know if the Krafts will ever go to the lengths the Eagles or Rams do it. In fact I’m sure they won’t and they’ll use the salary cap as an excuse to cheap out on the rest of the roster.

The Krafts just sold off some part of the ownership, probably to have this money ready.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Theoretically the Patriots could use the tag and wait to pay Maye in 2028. But the cost would keep going up. Bills, Chiefs, Texans (Watson), Jags, 49ers, Bengals, Chargers, & Eagles all gave their QB mega extensions after year three. Not that it's relevant. But the bolded are the only teams with QB's worthy of said deals (Watson was at the time). I do realize good QB's are in short supply.

I think they need to draft a TE and keep trying to get that #1 WR. But OL is most important.

 

[Toofy]

First 3 rounds reserved for OL,CB,WR ,DT or TE unless a stud free safety falls into our lap.

DT is generally underrated and has a run around end of first round or beginning if second round , similar to safety.

Wide receivers are available till end of third round these days .

Cornerbacks available more .

As for edge , it's very difficult to get an impact player with picks in 20- 90 range . So hedge your bets and get BPA against these positions .

 

[n1997y]

First 3 rounds reserved for OL,CB,WR ,DT or TE unless a stud free safety falls into our lap.

DT is generally underrated and has a run around end of first round or beginning if second round , similar to safety.

Wide receivers are available till end of third round these days .

Cornerbacks available more .

As for edge , it's very difficult to get an impact player with picks in 20- 90 range . So hedge your bets and get BPA against these positions .

One thing that’s going to make things difficult is drafting at the bottom end of each round again.

Will have to either trade up or try to get the stellar talents as FA not in the draft. Or find the diamonds in the rough and invest in developmental projects.

Although if they can continue to get players like Wilson and Woodson and Bryant in later rounds they’ll be okay.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

2029? He’s gonna get $70 million/year after NEXT season. And it’ll involve putting like $250 million into escrow up front.

Now, that isn’t actually a problem because you can structure any contract to make a mockery of the salary cap with dummy years and signing bonuses but it involves paying a lot of real cash money up front and I don’t know if the Krafts will ever go to the lengths the Eagles or Rams do it. In fact I’m sure they won’t and they’ll use the salary cap as an excuse to cheap out on the rest of the roster.

The NFL seems to have done away with that requirement; there's no evidence they forced Haslam to pony up the cash for the sex pest.