My Ridiculously Early Start on a 2026 Offseason Plan

[Clonamery]

Thinking about some obvious replacements for players who are out of contract for now or are getting older and will need long-term replacements at some stage. Obviously I hope some of the out of contract guys are re-signed.

1. K'Laivon Chaisson - David Bailey was the obvious one but that's increasingly a pipe dream. There are a number of others that I haven't decided between. Leaning towards Cashius Howell or R Mason Thomas.

2. Anfernee Jennings - Mesidor obviously.

3. Jaylinn Hawkins - I haven't decided on one or two people yet. Wheatley and Mcdonald are obvious early favourites but I really need to study the field. Lots of choice.

4. Stefon Diggs - Makai Lemon if he falls.

5, Mack Hollins - Denzel Boston. That one's easy. Like for like replacement.

6. Mike Onwenu - Iapani Laloulu, Emmanuel Pregnon

7. Garrett Bradbury - Jared Wilson

8. Jared Wilson - Vega Ioane, Carter Smith, Cayden Green

9. Morgan Moses - Too many possibilities. No final decision yet.

10. Christian Elliss - Sonny Styles, Jake Golday

11. Jack Gibbens - Jacob Rodriguez

12. Charles Woods - Keionte Scott

Need a couple more Day 2 picks.

 

[manxman2601]

Need a couple more Day 2 picks.

Obviously not all that can be accomplished in one draft and those are my optimum choices but if Bailey, Styles and Ioane are off the board when we pick, I wouldn’t be adverse to trading back for an additional round 3-4 pick.

 

[stelfans]

Not to overreact to any single game, but i have some thoughts that have been brewing.

Is LB the need we thought it was. It was believed we need to 100% draft an LB top 2 rounds for a while. While this is still a possibility. Spillane turns 30 this year. He will probably be good the rest of his 3 year contract. Elliss and Gibbens are both 26 right now. Given how they have come around, I kind of would like to hold onto both. I don't think our LB play is bad at the moment. Tavai/Mapu are sign in next year too. Mapu is an easy cut contract wise. Tavai while he doesn't play much still gives some decent snaps, and is it worth eating 3.5M to save 2M when the player is doing okay on the field and is fine in he locker room? I don't think so.

The only LB not signed for next year of this group is Gibbens. I'm kind of okay with this core. Give Mapu his papers and see if you can maybe develop a young raw lower draft pick in the 5th or 6th with that spot before splurging on a top pick. That wouldn't be a bad idea.

Of course this all depends whose available, but it is worth considering. If LB isn't seen as a big need next year it frees you up to focus more on OL early if you choose to maybe double dip for a second year. Still like a FA though.

Speaking of needs. Hawkins certainly has stepped up recently. Do i believe this is what he will be from here on out? No. But it is possible with the new defensive system he is a better fit. So maybe we have both starting safeties for next year if we resign Hawkins and that isn't the worst thing in the world?

DE is a huge need too. But if Ponder continues to build on his recent success how would we feel about that 3some of Chaisson/Landry/Ponder. If Ponder takes a year 2 step up after a reasonably strong finish.

The main point being, many of what we consider to be the top weaknesses of the team are trending upwards. Does that give any pause to plans and thoughts?

Agreed. They sign their guys and can let the draft just come at them.
Obviously, I think, for example, this LB class is just too good to pass up. Or the safety class.
It would be a mistake not to take advantage of that, but I certainly wouldn’t be worried if they just take BPA.

 

[rkarp1]

Not to overreact to any single game, but i have some thoughts that have been brewing.

Is LB the need we thought it was. It was believed we need to 100% draft an LB top 2 rounds for a while. While this is still a possibility. Spillane turns 30 this year. He will probably be good the rest of his 3 year contract. Elliss and Gibbens are both 26 right now. Given how they have come around, I kind of would like to hold onto both. I don't think our LB play is bad at the moment. Tavai/Mapu are sign in next year too. Mapu is an easy cut contract wise. Tavai while he doesn't play much still gives some decent snaps, and is it worth eating 3.5M to save 2M when the player is doing okay on the field and is fine in he locker room? I don't think so.

The only LB not signed for next year of this group is Gibbens. I'm kind of okay with this core. Give Mapu his papers and see if you can maybe develop a young raw lower draft pick in the 5th or 6th with that spot before splurging on a top pick. That wouldn't be a bad idea.

Of course this all depends whose available, but it is worth considering. If LB isn't seen as a big need next year it frees you up to focus more on OL early if you choose to maybe double dip for a second year. Still like a FA though.

Speaking of needs. Hawkins certainly has stepped up recently. Do i believe this is what he will be from here on out? No. But it is possible with the new defensive system he is a better fit. So maybe we have both starting safeties for next year if we resign Hawkins and that isn't the worst thing in the world?

DE is a huge need too. But if Ponder continues to build on his recent success how would we feel about that 3some of Chaisson/Landry/Ponder. If Ponder takes a year 2 step up after a reasonably strong finish.

The main point being, many of what we consider to be the top weaknesses of the team are trending upwards. Does that give any pause to plans and thoughts?

disagree about edge
Landry looks injured or washed
Chaisson is a free agent, and I am not sure I go more than I am comfortable with him
Ponder and Swinson are unknowns.
I would be very comfortable going edge, OL and S in some order for the first 3 rounds

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

However it shakes, by next May I want a new starting RG in the building. I'm sick of not getting push from the right side of the line during critical run downs, and of being schooled on stunts too often during critical passing downs.

Maybe we already have the RT of the Future here; maybe we don't... Shouldn't cost a whole lot to have one either way.

Same as this current year, I prefer to have a veteran starting LG next to Campbell; and Wilson as Bradbury's apprentice at Center. The Wilson kid really shouldn't even be playing at all now, based on his ridiculously little college experience. This should've been a red-shirt year for him.




Wilson is Not a RG. His athleticism belongs on the left side, or better still in the Middle.

Cut Onwenu. Leave Campbell and Wilson at LT and LG, and they should be better in Y2. Linderbaum in FA to play center (offset the cost with Onwenu savings), and then draft a RG. I think we have to limp by with Moses and Bryant at RT for one more year. Tough to change the whole offensive line with long term solutions in two years.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Agreed. They sign their guys and can let the draft just come at them.
Obviously, I think, for example, this LB class is just too good to pass up. Or the safety class.
It would be a mistake not to take advantage of that, but I certainly wouldn’t be worried if they just take BPA.

We need a coverage LB and Safety, so it is a good fit with this draft. OL in R1 but have to go BPA if there is an obvious stud that falls, like a LB falls becuase of the strength of this class at LB.

 

[manxman2601]

Swinson has been called up to the 53 to replace Milton Williams. Hopefully he'll get an opportunity.

 

[mayoclinic]

Time to find out if Swinson has anything to offer.

 

[mayoclinic]

Alabama EDGE Yhonzae Pierre plays the "wolf" position, alternating on the line and as a stand up LB. He's Courtney Upshaw's cousin, BTW. He is mainly a pass rusher, but drops into coverage 15% of the time.

I'd love a combination of Pierre at EDGE and Jake Golday or Anthony Hill at LB. So much room for creativity, confusion, and disguise.

 

[manxman2601]

Alabama EDGE Yhonzae Pierre plays the "wolf" position, alternating on the line and as a stand up LB. He's Courtney Upshaw's cousin, BTW. He is mainly a pass rusher, but drops into coverage 15% of the time.

I'd love a combination of Pierre at EDGE and Jake Golday or Anthony Hill at LB. So much room for creativity, confusion, and disguise.

With simulated pressures now being a thing, the ability to drop into coverage for an edge player is certainly more important.

 

[manxman2601]

How I'm viewing the first round options currently.

My 3 favourites for our pick.

Sonny Styles
Vega Ioane
Emmanuel Pregnon

I'm starting to get into the mindset of giving up on Styles. If there are more mocks where he goes in the top 15, I'll probably end up taking him off this list. As for Ioane and Pregnon, pick your poison. Both are very good pass blockers but Ioane is the people moving drive blocker whereas Pregnon is more a zone blocker. Ioane is my favourite currently because I want to see more movement of the DL on inside runs but I'd be very comfortable with Pregnon.

Potential Fallers that interest me (not in order)

TJ Parker - Not twitched up but a really good high floor option. He's the guy you put opposite your more twitched up edge rusher that is excellent against the run but has enough power and hand usage to still get pass rushing wins.

Kenyon Sadiq - He probably doesn't fall because of the weakness of the class behind him but he might, just because his production hasn't been dominant.

Avieon Terrell - A first round CB is not a need, but sometimes you just have to take the value if it falls in your lap. He has the versatility to play inside and outside which I think is a real plus.

Cashius Howell - If we want a twitched up edge rusher, he's the guy. My main concern, other than the arm length issue, is that he tends to win with just one pass rushing move, namely the dip and bend under the opposing OT. I'd like a first round edge rusher to be more varied.

The potential BPA picks.

CJ Allen - Perhaps not the greatest fit for a team with Spillane, but he is just so good at what he does well. He's just dominant against the run. He'd be a defensive leader for this team for the next decade although you'd have to acknowledge giving up something in coverage. I'm tempted to move Allen up into my favourite options just because he's so good. It's only the fit that concerns me.

LT Overton - I don't love this one because he's not a twitchy guy but he's a very good run defender, offers outside and interior rusher versatility and is just a very solid prospect.

The WRs

If we were in clear need of a WR, I'd be much happier about late first options because there are so many. I'd be perfectly happy taking Boston, Bell and Concepcion with a very late first round pick. Maybe we shouldn't rule out a WR because it certainly fleshes out our options.

The reaches

Prospects I could get comfortable with just about (but don't love in the first) because they likely don't fall to the late 2nd. Trade back options?


(not in order)
R Mason Thomas
Dillon Thieneman
Matayo Uiagalelei
Joshua Josephs
Quincey Rhodes
Anthony Hill Jr
Austin Siereveld
Zion Young
Carter Smith

It's still early but I'm falling out of love with this draft class. Yes there are good players to be had but the class currently, is very reliant on underclassmen declaring. I'm not a 'trade away your first round pick for a quality veteran' guy, but this might be the year to do it.

 

[manxman2601]

Is this what a new contract for Chaisson looks like?

 

[patsfaninpa]

How I'm viewing the first round options currently.

My 3 favourites for our pick.

Sonny Styles
Vega Ioane
Emmanuel Pregnon

I'm starting to get into the mindset of giving up on Styles. If there are more mocks where he goes in the top 15, I'll probably end up taking him off this list. As for Ioane and Pregnon, pick your poison. Both are very good pass blockers but Ioane is the people moving drive blocker whereas Pregnon is more a zone blocker. Ioane is my favourite currently because I want to see more movement of the DL on inside runs but I'd be very comfortable with Pregnon.

Potential Fallers that interest me (not in order)

TJ Parker - Not twitched up but a really good high floor option. He's the guy you put opposite your more twitched up edge rusher that is excellent against the run but has enough power and hand usage to still get pass rushing wins.

Kenyon Sadiq - He probably doesn't fall because of the weakness of the class behind him but he might, just because his production hasn't been dominant.

Avieon Terrell - A first round CB is not a need, but sometimes you just have to take the value if it falls in your lap. He has the versatility to play inside and outside which I think is a real plus.

Cashius Howell - If we want a twitched up edge rusher, he's the guy. My main concern, other than the arm length issue, is that he tends to win with just one pass rushing move, namely the dip and bend under the opposing OT. I'd like a first round edge rusher to be more varied.

The potential BPA picks.

CJ Allen - Perhaps not the greatest fit for a team with Spillane, but he is just so good at what he does well. He's just dominant against the run. He'd be a defensive leader for this team for the next decade although you'd have to acknowledge giving up something in coverage. I'm tempted to move Allen up into my favourite options just because he's so good. It's only the fit that concerns me.

LT Overton - I don't love this one because he's not a twitchy guy but he's a very good run defender, offers outside and interior rusher versatility and is just a very solid prospect.

The WRs

If we were in clear need of a WR, I'd be much happier about late first options because there are so many. I'd be perfectly happy taking Boston, Bell and Concepcion with a very late first round pick. Maybe we shouldn't rule out a WR because it certainly fleshes out our options.

The reaches

Prospects I could get comfortable with just about (but don't love in the first) because they likely don't fall to the late 2nd. Trade back options?


(not in order)
R Mason Thomas
Dillon Thieneman
Matayo Uiagalelei
Joshua Josephs
Quincey Rhodes
Anthony Hill Jr
Austin Siereveld
Zion Young
Carter Smith

It's still early but I'm falling out of love with this draft class. Yes there are good players to be had but the class currently, is very reliant on underclassmen declaring. I'm not a 'trade away your first round pick for a quality veteran' guy, but this might be the year to do it.

If we win 13-14 games, we will pick anywhere from 24-32. Last pick of wild card round losers or even later if we win.

 

[manxman2601]

Thinking longer term about this roster and the idea of drafting for BPA rather than need, here are the contracts that we can get out of in the coming years.

Firstly, I'm assuming that Barmore and Williams likely see out their contracts as they are both young and key players on the roster. That could change obviously, but for now I think it's a fairly safe assumption.

After 2025

Michael Onwenu - net saving after cap hit - 17.5m (much discussed).
Hunter Henry - 8.5m
Jahlani Tavai - Approx 7m
Christian Elliss - Apprrox 5m
Anfernee Jennings - 4m
Garrett Bradbury - 4.7m


After 2026

Stefon Diggs - Total net saving - 45m over 2 years
Carlton Davis - Net saving - 16.5m
Harold Landry - 13.5m
Rhamondre Stevenson - 18m over 2 years
Robert Spillane - 10m (doesn't seem worth it unless we draft a better MIKE)
Morgan Moses - 9m

I'm not suggesting we cut or trade all of them, losing Tavai, Elliss and Gibbens in one off-season leaves a huge hole at LB for example.

This is really just a long-winded way of saying that taking a CB early if BPA is a real possibility unless we'd want to replace Davis with a rookie, and EDGE is still a need even if we re-sign Chaisson.

WR is more complicated just because we're pretty full on the roster for next season. A long-term need - very probably - just hard to fit on the roster for '26.

In other words, don't discount the possibility of a round 1 or 2 CB.

All that is also assuming we come to terms on Boutte and Gonzo negotiations. Gonzo is the most likely I think. They'll just pay him as the no 1 CB in the NFL.

 

[manxman2601]

Two more thoughts.

1. Re-sign Tonga long-term and the only positions we don't need to draft in the first two rounds in the next two years are QB, LT and DT.

2. Re-sign Hawkins long-term and I think we don't need to draft a safety for the next two years in the first two days unless a game changer presents itself. McDonald and Wheatley could qualify. I include those two because they appear to offer the plus athleticism at the position that we don't have.

This is why I'm still on the BPA bus for now. Re-sign Chaisson and Hawkins and RG is the only must have position we have to draft. That doesn't mean there aren't like to have positions like LB2, center/LG etc.

 

[mayoclinic]

CB as BPA has always been an option for me. Jermod McCoy could fall due to injury and easily be BPA. There are a lot of good big CBs in this draft.

I don't see Onwenu, Jennings or Tavai signing past 2025. They are legacy contracts, and are not playing up to them.

Elliss (and Hawkins) are better as rotational depth pieces than as starters.

Henry is a legacy, but he seems like a cornerstone player and a Vrabel kind of guy.

Bradbury and Moses will hopefully last through 2026, but need long-term replacements.

So at this point, I'd like to see:

Defense:

- IDL: basically set, barring some ridiculous opportunity

- EDGE: Chaisson needs to be re-signed, a starter needs to be found either in FA or the draft. Landry should be a nice rotational player, but probably can't hold up. Ponder/Swinson/Murphy are depth players at this point.

- LB: Spillane solid, need to keep Elliss/Gibbens/Mapu as backups, add a quality players with versatility.

- S: Need another starter to form a rotation with Woodson and Hawkins.

- CB: Need another big CB for depth and as a long-term successor to Davis.

Offense:

- OL: Need a RG successor to Onwenu in 2026 and LG/C and RT by 2027 at the latest.

- Skill positions: Need long-term depth/succession for Diggs, Henry and Stephenson.

 

[mayoclinic]

My favorite players who might conceivably fall to the Pats are all red-shirt sophomores or juniors:

- Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE
- Jelani McDonald, S
- Kade Pieper, IOL

- Monroe Freeling, OT
- Niki Prongos, OT
- Austin Siereveld OL

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

CB as BPA has always been an option for me. Jermod McCoy could fall due to injury and easily be BPA. There are a lot of good big CBs in this draft.

I don't see Onwenu, Jennings or Tavai signing past 2015. They are legacy contracts, and are not playing up to them.

Elliss (and Hawkins) are better as rotational depth pieces than as starters.

Henry is a legacy, but he seems like a cornerstone player and a Vrabel kind of guy.

Bradbury and Moses will hopefully last through 2026, but need ling-term replacements.

So at this point, I'd like to see:

Defense:

- IDL: basically set, barring some ridiculous opportunity

- EDGE: Chaisson needs to be re-signed, a starter needs to be found either in FA or the draft. Landry should be a nice rotational player, but probably can't hold up. Ponder/Swinson/Murphy are depth players at this point.

- LB: Spillane solid, need to keep Elliss/Gibbens/Napu as backups, add a quality players with versatility.

- S: Need another starter to form a rotation with Woodson and Hawkins.

- CB: Need another big CB for depth and as a long-term successor to Davis.

Offense:

- OL: Need a RG successor to Onwenu in 2026 and LG/C and RT by 2027 at the latest.
- Skill positions: Need ling-term depth/succession for Diggs, ahenry and Stephenson.

That is how I see everything. Would not change anything.

I would add emphasis for a safety and LB who can cover a WR and TE respectively. Slow strong guys are aplenty, let's get a couple of fast quick guys to cover. Adds a lot of flexibility.

 

[manxman2601]

That is how I see everything. Would not change anything.

I would add emphasis for a safety and LB who can cover a WR and TE respectively. Slow strong guys are aplenty, let's get a couple of fast quick guys to cover. Adds a lot of flexibility.

I agree it’s a nice to have but we’re a 9 win team with the safeties as they’re currently constituted. If Hawkins re-signs, I don’t think it’s a must have. That’s all.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I agree it’s a nice to have but we’re a 9 win team with the safeties as they’re currently constituted. If Hawkins re-signs, I don’t think it’s a must have. That’s all.

I dont think it is ever a must have. The only "must have" is the BPA .