Instant Defense Rebuild

[Ring 6]

I was playing around with a mock FA again and I felt like sharing. This will leave us 28.8M left, so figure about 15M for the draft class and that will leave us with 13M for incidentals. These moves would give us 72 players signed for 2025. In 2026 we would have 42 signed not counting draft classes and we would have 42.3M.

This will bring in some starters and improve the quality of our depth. I feel like this is a realistic FA period, but doubt it would happen.

TE​	Hooper​	1/5M​
LB​	Christian Ellis​	2/7M​
CB​	Alex Austin​	2/6M​
CB​	Paulson Adebo​	3/36M​
S​	Elijah Molden​	3/36M​
LB​	Tyrel Dodson​	3/18M​
G​	Teven Jenkins​	3/36M​
OT​	Jaylon Moore​	2/9M​
LT​	Alaric Jackson​	3/60M​
RT​	Justin Skule​	1/3M​
3Tech​	Levi Onwuzurike​	3/51M​
NT​	Sebastian Joseph​	2/10M​
QB​	Jarrett Stidham​	1/3M​
WR​	Elijah Moore​	1/5M​
Edge​	Azeez Ojulari​	2/16M​

I think when considering first year hits, and rule if 51, there would be more than 28.8 mill left.
Just using aav, these add up to 119mill and would replace the bottom 15 players.
But it is also odd that you have no contracts longer than 3 years. It is almost always the case in free agency that many contracts are for longer terms to spread the cap hits.
Good plan though
I’d cut a little if it back and trade for Deebo and kupp (or get him off waivers) too

 

[dliverey44]

Great research and that is a very realistic FA approach. I'd just mention that Moore is the same player as pop essentially at WR.

I disagree with him being basically the same as pop. He lined up in the slot 465 times last year and outside 395. I know we have seral slot/Z types but if we raise the floor in the room it makes the room better.

 

[Real fan 02]

I disagree with him being basically the same as pop. He lined up in the slot 465 times last year and outside 395. I know we have seral slot/Z types but if we raise the floor in the room it makes the room better.

DeMario Douglas or Elijah Moore | Who Should I Start? - Week 17 - Half Point PPR

Get advice on your decision to start Elijah Moore DeMario Douglas or WR Elijah Moore for Week 17. We offer Half PPR advice from over 80 fantasy football experts along with player statistics, the latest news and matchup information.

www.fantasypros.com

Look at the production... it would be redundancy if we signed him. Talented player but his role is similar to pop.. what we don't is more of the same types of player.. we need outside the numbers guys.

 

[dliverey44]

I think when considering first year hits, and rule if 51, there would be more than 28.8 mill left.
Just using aav, these add up to 119mill and would replace the bottom 15 players.
But it is also odd that you have no contracts longer than 3 years. It is almost always the case in free agency that many contracts are for longer terms to spread the cap hits.
Good plan though
I’d cut a little if it back and trade for Deebo and kupp (or get him off waivers) too

I could have ended with more cap space remaining, but I structured them so we would have money in 2026.
2025-119.6M
2026-125.8M
If I had always taken the lower 2025 number it would have been higher in 2026 and we would have run out of money. I made them 3 years because we had the money and we would be approaching Mays option year and I wanted to allow the financial freedom to move in a different direction or extend him. You're probably right about Kupp and/or Deebo.

Thanks for the feedback

 

[dliverey44]

DeMario Douglas or Elijah Moore | Who Should I Start? - Week 17 - Half Point PPR

Get advice on your decision to start Elijah Moore DeMario Douglas or WR Elijah Moore for Week 17. We offer Half PPR advice from over 80 fantasy football experts along with player statistics, the latest news and matchup information.

www.fantasypros.com

Look at the production... it would be redundancy if we signed him. Talented player but his role is similar to pop.. what we don't is more of the same types of player.. we need outside the numbers guys.

Yes by production they do look the same, but they play different roles at least last year. I have no idea how McD will utilize his WR's in his modernized offense, but we need WRs that can get some separation and both Pop and Moore do that. I can see them utilized on the field at the same time with moore in a Zay Flowers kinda role.

 

[Real fan 02]

Yes by production they do look the same, but they play different roles at least last year. I have no idea how McD will utilize his WR's in his modernized offense, but we need WRs that can get some separation and both Pop and Moore do that. I can see them utilized on the field at the same time with moore in a Zay Flowers kinda role.

I see your point. Well then now you put it that way maybe Moore is someone we should be in on. I'm expecting McDaniels to do away with all the mess on offense we had last year he saw on film. Utilizing the skill guys to thier strength and scheme his offense around what he has. For example Drake has an array of elite skills.. for example guy had 400 plus rushing yards at like 8 ypc or something like that. He alone is a problem for DCs.. adding in pop and Moore on the field together would have defenses heads spinning.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Pop and Moore might be similar size and have similar overall numbers, but to @dliverey44 point, they play differently. Moore is more of a replacement for Bourne than he is a replacement for Pop. They're not really duplicative in terms of role. Pop is a pure slot, while Moore is a Z that can play slot (like Bourne).

They are duplicative in terms of size though. Pop is a tiny slot. Moore is a tiny Z. Boutte is a tiny X. At some point, you'd like SOME size in the WR room, so maybe that's something they'd prioritize. Boutte at X isn't a long term solution though so at some point you figure they'd be able to get a proper-sized X receiver. And neither Pop nor Moore are guys you should be married to for the long haul. Tough to get perfect fits and players all over, so sometimes you have to settle for marginal improvement off of who is available and stay flexible to changes later to optimize it.

 

[Ring 6]

I could have ended with more cap space remaining, but I structured them so we would have money in 2026.
2025-119.6M
2026-125.8M
If I had always taken the lower 2025 number it would have been higher in 2026 and we would have run out of money. I made them 3 years because we had the money and we would be approaching Mays option year and I wanted to allow the financial freedom to move in a different direction or extend him. You're probably right about Kupp and/or Deebo.

Thanks for the feedback

I don’t disagree with being more conservative in contract structure, but it’s not common, especially to this extent. If you follow the typical approach you can sign more top end players. The cap increases every year, there is always turnover, and cap room can be manufactured.
I fall on the side of getting as many good players as possible as soon as possible rather than saving some for next year and not getting the best team in the field. The guys you sign this year will be here next year. And we have a lot of needs.

 

[Real fan 02]

Pop and Moore might be similar size and have similar overall numbers, but to @dliverey44 point, they play differently. Moore is more of a replacement for Bourne than he is a replacement for Pop. They're not really duplicative in terms of role. Pop is a pure slot, while Moore is a Z that can play slot (like Bourne).

They are duplicative in terms of size though. Pop is a tiny slot. Moore is a tiny Z. Boutte is a tiny X. At some point, you'd like SOME size in the WR room, so maybe that's something they'd prioritize. Boutte at X isn't a long term solution though so at some point you figure they'd be able to get a proper-sized X receiver. And neither Pop nor Moore are guys you should be married to for the long haul. Tough to get perfect fits and players all over, so sometimes you have to settle for marginal improvement off of who is available and stay flexible to changes later to optimize it.

You said it best. We need some size at WR specifically outside the numbers.. hey I'm all for adding talent. But I'd like the team to stay away from redundancy at the position. This is going to be an interesting month to say the least with FA frenzy.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I don’t disagree with being more conservative in contract structure, but it’s not common, especially to this extent. If you follow the typical approach you can sign more top end players. The cap increases every year, there is always turnover, and cap room can be manufactured.
I fall on the side of getting as many good players as possible as soon as possible rather than saving some for next year and not getting the best team in the field. The guys you sign this year will be here next year. And we have a lot of needs.

I think it depends on the caliber of player you're signing. Some of the big ticket items from the list you quoted were:

CB Paulson Adebo - coming off serious injury
DB Elijah Molden - struggled with injuries throughout his career
OL Teven Jenkins - sort of a speculative signing because he hasn't really been great anywhere, but there's a thought he could settle in at LG
DL Levi Onwuzurike - struggled with injuries so far in his career

I think the "kick the can" logic is usually reserved more for guys who you feel more locked into. Guys that you feel more solidly about being able to contribute and be at least decent for a couple of years. Deals where you're speculating on improvement or injury history I think you normally want to leave yourself more of an out on in the deal without the huge dead money later, because you have to account for a realistic shot that they don't pan out.

From the list you quoted, Alaric Jackson (3 years, $60M) would probably be the only one who I think fits the profile of someone you want to kick the can down the road on like you describe. And even then, he's only been a starter for 2 years and I think he's been suspended by his team before so you might want to leave yourself room for an out there too.

If we sign guys like Josh Sweat, Trey Smith, Jevon Holland, Higgins if CIN reverses course on the tag, etc... those are the guys I'd want to structure deals with like you're suggesting. Mid market and more speculative signings, I think the conservative approach is better.

 

[Ring 6]

I think it depends on the caliber of player you're signing. Some of the big ticket items from the list you quoted were:

CB Paulson Adebo - coming off serious injury
DB Elijah Molden - struggled with injuries throughout his career
OL Teven Jenkins - sort of a speculative signing because he hasn't really been great anywhere, but there's a thought he could settle in at LG
DL Levi Onwuzurike - struggled with injuries so far in his career

I think the "kick the can" logic is usually reserved more for guys who you feel more locked into. Guys that you feel more solidly about being able to contribute and be at least decent for a couple of years. Deals where you're speculating on improvement or injury history I think you normally want to leave yourself more of an out on in the deal without the huge dead money later, because you have to account for a realistic shot that they don't pan out.

From the list you quoted, Alaric Jackson (3 years, $60M) would probably be the only one who I think fits the profile of someone you want to kick the can down the road on like you describe. And even then, he's only been a starter for 2 years and I think he's been suspended by his team before so you might want to leave yourself room for an out there too.

If we sign guys like Josh Sweat, Trey Smith, Jevon Holland, Higgins if CIN reverses course on the tag, etc... those are the guys I'd want to structure deals with like you're suggesting. Mid market and more speculative signings, I think the conservative approach is better.

I’m referring to the philosophy rather than the particular players. Naturally if you have concerns about giving them a 5 year contract, they probably shouldn’t be getting large 3 year contracts either.

 

[Vindicate]

I want the Pats to keep an eye on Osa Odighizuwa. Reports peg him at costing more than $20 mil being that he had more QB hits than any other interior lineman. Would the increase in cap space make that less of a burden while bolstering a space with Barmore (hopefully), Wise, Keion White?

I think any interior pressure can help compensate on the backend while we have an answer to top receiving options in Gonzalez.