Content Post Let's Talk Free Agency 2024

[venecol]

Madubuike is projected at 20.3 million per year, no money to spare if you sign him.
Players like Madubike are less than 50/50 to even make it to free agency. Already multiple posts suggesting he gets tagged with the extra cap space that become available and a small restructure to Jackson while they work out a contract.

I doubt you'll find 2 guys at 20 million total they can sign that will make you a better team than Onwenu.
Realizing that 20 is in addition to the other 80 they have to spend.

Obviously if you can, then yes, better way to go, just looks uncertain that can happen.

I think people are really mis-reading the market, many of the people that everyone wants will not be available or will sign elsewhere.

Young D Players in the top 50 free agents:

Allen-Will be tagged
Jaylon Johnson-Tagged or new contract- Bears GM says he is not letting him go
Brian Burns-Tagged
Madubuike-Tag or new contract now at least 50% likely ($20 million projected per year)
Winfield-Tagged
Sneed-Looks like free agency, multiple suitors (12 million per projected)
Chase Young-Meh Player but will be free agent (13.6 million projected)
Murphy-Bunting-90th of 127 CB's at PFF but available relatively cheaply
Patrick Queen-Free Agent, looking near 19 million a year-Multiple suitors
Greenard-Free agent multiple suitors 14 million a year projected, probably low.
Xavier McKinney-Free agent 10 million projected

That's everyone in the top 50 on defense and under 27, You can't get 2 guys for under 20 million, best case seems to be McKinney at 10 and greenard at 14 but that's 24 million and those projections were all before the increased cap space. You can do that and Calvin Ridley and Schultz and still tag OnWenu and have 30 million left.

The Pats lose Brown and Onwenu and Strange is coming off injury, it is the weakest part of the team, they need Onwenu pretty badly to come back.
Questionable if you can spend that $20 million elsewhere for a better return.

Thanks, nice list. I agree, most of the top UFAs will get tagged, leaving the rest with multiple suitors, which is my concern w/ tying up $21M to plug a hole for just 1 year. Unfortunately, Pats are a lowly team w/ no franchise QB and no offense. It'll taking winning bids to sign good players, which means our cap $ won't go as far.

Why do you think they haven't been able to reach a deal w/ Onwenu? Is his agent asking for too much? If so, why would that change next season, after collecting an easy $21M?

I agree OL is the biggest need, after QB, but there are other options that include the draft. Honestly, I would rather try to cut a deal with T Brown, who is a much better tackle, more athletic, can play both sides, and felt that he wasn't respected. I get that ppl here hate him, but this is business and we now have a coaching staff that will treat him w/ respect. LT is a bigger need than RT, which would allow team to prioritize O skilled players in the draft. It probably won't happen but it would solve a huge problem.

We're all just guessing anyway. We have no idea what the player profile for the new O scheme will be. Is Onwenu even a good fit in the new scheme?

 

[Love The Drake]

Free Agency class getting less and less attractive

Add in other teams now having room to maneuver.
You aren’t landing a superstar at any position,
I don’t care what Kraft claims he is not breaking the bank for Micheal Pittman,
He’s not paying Baker Mayfield 30 mil a year.
This is going to be a frustrating Free agency and we just need to hope we get a franchise QB and improve WRs in the the draft.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Need to build a foundation first before spending a ton on FA's.

Find more players with breakout potential like Judon who got a bargain deal.

 

[KCSVEN]

$20M will probably buy a starting LT on a 3 year deal plus a swing OT in this year's free agency.

Is $21M for a one year Onwenu contract really better? Is $80M/4 really better?

There is no quality starting LT available in free agency and if there was you could not get them and a swing tackle for 20 million per year and you'd be committing to them for 4 years at more than 20 million per year..
$56/4 if he's willing to sign longer term, otherwise you have a year to draft and develop a replacement.

 

[KCSVEN]

did this already happen?

No, but reports are they will be tagged.

 

[KCSVEN]

Why do you think they haven't been able to reach a deal w/ Onwenu? Is his agent asking for too much? If so, why would that change next season, after collecting an easy $21M?

My guess is he might figure he won't be tagged and can get at least 13 million and choose where he plays.
At that point maybe he goes to a contender, even if Pats match, but by tagging him he has no choice.
Why would he accept a deal when you can go to market as one of the few top offensive linemen and choose where you'll play and maybe get a bit of a bidding war, maybe push that to 15 million per year for 4-5 years?

I would hope Onwenu wants to get some longer-term guarantee. Playing on the tag, an injury and he loses. If you tag him with the idea of getting a 4-year deal at 13-14 million per for 4 years he may do it for the guarantee.

It is possible he just wants to leave here and will play on the 1 year tag.
With such a poor offensive line it buys you time to plan a replacement, get 2 drafts and free agencies to be able to do that.
It may also get you a comp pick in 2026 as it is doubtful you'll get 1 in 2025 with all the money you need to spend in 2024.
If you draft Daniels and start him, it'd be nice to have a quality guy plugged into 1 position.

 

[Love The Drake]

 

[venecol]

There is no quality starting LT available in free agency and if there was you could not get them and a swing tackle for 20 million per year and you'd be committing to them for 4 years at more than 20 million per year..
$56/4 if he's willing to sign longer term, otherwise you have a year to draft and develop a replacement.

56/4 is his market value as a guard. He's being marketed as a RT.

 

[venecol]

My guess is he might figure he won't be tagged and can get at least 13 million and choose where he plays.
At that point maybe he goes to a contender, even if Pats match, but by tagging him he has no choice.
Why would he accept a deal when you can go to market as one of the few top offensive linemen and choose where you'll play and maybe get a bit of a bidding war, maybe push that to 15 million per year for 4-5 years?

I would hope Onwenu wants to get some longer-term guarantee. Playing on the tag, an injury and he loses. If you tag him with the idea of getting a 4-year deal at 13-14 million per for 4 years he may do it for the guarantee.

It is possible he just wants to leave here and will play on the 1 year tag.
With such a poor offensive line it buys you time to plan a replacement, get 2 drafts and free agencies to be able to do that.
It may also get you a comp pick in 2026 as it is doubtful you'll get 1 in 2025 with all the money you need to spend in 2024.
If you draft Daniels and start him, it'd be nice to have a quality guy plugged into 1 position.

I would do that deal but doubt Onwenu will.

 

[Uptown]

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

We did this with Thuney, who was 100% worth it (All Pro), and couldn't reach a deal. He walked the following season. Spending 21% of your available cap (assuming $101M w/ JC release) on a good RG, average RT is not smart. I'd rather spend that on a young D player like Madubuike w/ money to spare.

The main problem is the tag = cap hit. You can't manipulate that $21M, which could pay for 2 to 3 players.

Could not have said it better. Onwenu is a great RG, and a good RT. We have Sow to replace Onwenu at RG.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Free Agency class getting less and less attractive

Defensive FAs still look great. Draft all offense.

 

[venecol]

Defensive FAs still look great. Draft all offense.

Not so fast kemosabe. There's talk of teams tagging:

Winfield Jr.
Madubuike
C Wilkins
B Burns
J Allen
J Johnson
Curl

And who knows which other D UFAs.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Not so fast kemosabe. There's talk of teams tagging:

Winfield Jr.
Madubuike
C Wilkins
B Burns
J Allen
J Johnson
Curl

And who knows which other D UFAs.

Thanks Tonto.

 

[Uptown]

 

[1960Pats]

Thanks Tonto.

Tonto in Spanish means foolish

 

[1960Pats]

Thanks to all of you here, especially @Uptown and @BaconGrundleCandy. I don't know a thing about college football and this thread has been very helpful.

 

[Uptown]

Vet minimum..

 

[Uptown]

 

[kevan]

So Baker is lookin for 27-32 mil a year?