Now We Can Look For An Extension Or Two

[BobDigital]

The Pats should sign everyone pretty much.

They have 60-70 Million and not nearly enough players to use it all on.

Hightower
Butler
Branch
Sheard
Harmon (no point not keeping him now)
Ryan (same)
Bennett
Cannon
Amendola (at a reduced rate and extend to give him a reason to do it)
Blount

They should all return and we will have 10M left over.

 

[Tuck]

The Pats should sign everyone pretty much.

They have 60-70 Million and not nearly enough players to use it all on.

Hightower
Butler
Branch
Sheard
Harmon (no point not keeping him now)
Ryan (same)
Bennett
Cannon
Amendola (at a reduced rate and extend to give him a reason to do it)
Blount

They should all return and we will have 10M left over.

I don't think it's automatic that they sign all of these guys. I mean the talent level we as fans can see by watching the games is only one factor of a successful deal.

 

[zydecochris]

Hightower would make the biggest impact, and they'd likely have to pay a premium now. Hightower's leverage just grew. His agent knows his value to the team has grown as well as how it is viewed by the fan base. We all knew that at least one of the 2 LB's had to be signed, and now there IS only one. He knows the Pats HAVE to sign him. Now would be a great time to make a premium offer, and get him under contract and show the locker room that DEPENDABLE play will be rewarded.

If not High, then Bennett, Sheard, and Cannon should be the targets. Bennett should be tough, because despite all the claims at Patriot love, I think he still wants to see what the Market would bring, and THEN decide if he wants to stay around for another couple of seasons. Sheard and Cannon should be easy signs. Cannon because he's playing so well and wants to lock in that impression. Sheard because despite the fact he's playing well, he not putting up the stats that is going to make some team want to throw a lot of money at him. Better to be paid by the team that knows and appreciates your "dependability". Reasonable raises for both should do the trick.

Any 2 of those possibilities should be enough to deflect or at least mitigate any possible ill will from the Collins trade.

Agreed, hopefully Hightower, he has become the type of leader the Patriots often extend (like McCourty). I can only hope that after playing for Saban at Alabama and BB with the Pats he wouldn't want to play for a Mickey Mouse organization for a few extra bucks (who knows, but one can hope). I don't hear Bennett talked about enough as more than a rental, I think he should be a real priority, what a unique weapon. And Cannon clearly needs the right situation and the right coaching to flourish, hopefully we can keep him.

....And, Blount. I remember opining years ago that Blount might not be long for the Patriots (because of a troubled past) and you slapped me down (rightfully so) and pointed out that the Pats only care about the player's performance on the Patriots. And, all these years later he is still on the Patriots and having a career year, proving that you were right (as well that I can be an idiot).

Blount will turn 30 in the game against the Rams this year so they won't break the bank for him, but I think he is another guy like Cannon that needs the right coach and environment to flourish, hopefully he will recognize that and sign on for another year with the Pats, he has become invaluable.

 

[BTTA]

Yeah I read that. I guess I'm a little skeptical about how well that kind of stuff works. I'm sure it helps to some extent but at the end of the day, these guys are human and you can't know for sure what they'll do.

I knew you'd say that.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Franchise Bennett

Resign

Hightower
Butler
Branch
Sheard
Harmon

Let the following Walk

Ryan
Cannon
Amendola
Blount


Replace Blount next year with a younger fresher back. RBs really drop off at 30

Free agency sign a pass rusher, a number 2 corner, and Amendolas replacement(again go younger and fresher)

Draft: offensive tackle in first round, 2nd round go linebacker or RB

 

[farn]

I'd love to see Harmon here longer. He isn't expensive, he seems reliable. He may not be spectacular, but he's caught some very big picks over his career.

But, I think Butler & HT are the ones to sign. I've been in their corner - in terms of "who to keep" - for most of this season. They seem to (1) feel Fball is important (2) give effort (3) make key plays at key times.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

I wanna see what malcolm mitchell can do here. So far it has been dissapointing. Maybe he's not 100 percent. I hope he can contribute here and there. Hopefully he can be healthy after the bye.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

I wanna see what malcolm mitchell can do here. So far it has been dissapointing. Maybe he's not 100 percent. I hope he can contribute here and there. Hopefully he can be healthy after the bye.

I think he's in a tough situation to get a ton of playing time right now. Even if 100% healthy, he's not sending Bennett to the bench, and Hogan has been on fire as our WR2.

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

The Pats should sign everyone pretty much.

They have 60-70 Million and not nearly enough players to use it all on.

Hightower
Butler
Branch
Sheard
Harmon (no point not keeping him now)
Ryan (same)
Bennett
Cannon
Amendola (at a reduced rate and extend to give him a reason to do it)
Blount

They should all return and we will have 10M left over.

• QB - 3 Brady, Garoppolo, Brissett
• RB - 5 , James White, Lewis, Blount**($1,300,000), DRAFT , ST CHEAP GUY
• FB - 1 Devlin**($1,008,333)
• C - 1 Andrews
• G - 4 Thuney, Mason, Jackson, Karras
• OT - 4 Vollmer**($3,200,000), Solder, Cannon**($4,275,000), DRAFT
• WR - 4 Amendola ($3,583,335), Edelman, Hogan, Mitchell
• TE - 3 Rob Gronkowski, Bennett ($8,500,000), DRAFT #4
• DE - 4 Sheard**($6,775,000), Flowers, Long**($3,200,000), DRAFT
• DT - 4 Valentine, Branch**($3,200,000), Malcom Brown, DRAFT
• LB - 5 Van Noy, Hightower**($12,175,000), Mingo**($2,875,000), Roberts, Ninko
• CB - 5 Rowe, Butler**($12,590,000), Cyrus, Coleman (Tender $615,000), Ryan ($4,175,000)
• S - 4 McCourty, Chung, Richards, Harmon ($4,575,000)
• ST - 3 Slater, Ebner, King (Tender $615,000)
• P - 1 Allen
• K - 1 Gostkowski
• LS - 1 Cardona

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

I think he's in a tough situation to get a ton of playing time right now. Even if 100% healthy, he's not sending Bennett to the bench, and Hogan has been on fire as our WR2.

True but he has gotten snaps. Just hasn't gotten open. He could be another weapon.

 

[Se7eN]

This place really can be an echo chamber at times droning on about how the Pats need to get off their asses and extend our players. The fact that NE routinely manages the cap well means they can't just offer splashy numbers to every Tom, ****, and Harry that shows up here. They're clearly not resting on their laurels with reports coming out that we had been in contract negotiations with Collins with an offer for 11m/year on the table for him. Negotiations is actually a two way street and to potential free agents you can't blame them for waiting until the end of the year to at least explore what other options are available to them or they believe their level of play will elevate, potentially they'll set the world on fire in the playoffs when all eyes are on them like Vereen did, etc. There's a lot of factors that go into it.

 

[BTTA]

True but he has gotten snaps. Just hasn't gotten open. He could be another weapon.

From what I've seen, he's been getting open a lot. Given that he's a rookie on a team with solid high performing vets in front of him, he's rarely going to be Brady's first or second look.

 

[Gronk]

True but he has gotten snaps. Just hasn't gotten open. He could be another weapon.

He hasn't gotten snaps because he is - at best - the 8th best offensive active skill player on the team.

Gronk, Bennett, Edelman, Amendola, Hogan, Blount, White, Mitchell. Drop him down another peg if/when Lewis gets on the field.

5 can be on the field at once.

Math.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

We need to draft Malcolm Brandon or Brandon Malcolm.

Or this guy

Brandon Malcolm Wiltshire's Highlights

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Man he's not very good. Nothing sadder than somebody adding a bunch of music to a bunch of mediocre plays.

 

[Edelmania]

It depends on value and what they want of course, but ideally I hope we resign Hightower, Bennett, Sheard, and 1st round tender Butler. Not worried about Logan Ryan because we should have Butler for atleast next year and we have 2 young guys in Rowe and Jones. I would also like to keep Harmon or draft a replacement early because we play that 2nd free safety a lot and behind McCourty and Harmon we have nobody else. We have the money to keep whoever we want as long as it is decent value. I also hope we sign another young pass rusher like sheard and/or draft a pass rusher in the first 2 rounds.

 

[rookBoston]

BB's history is to re-sign a only very few of his elite players. He's quite selective about who gets the money.

The individuals he's tapped to get elite long-term money in the last few years are Brady, Mankins, Wilfork, Mayo, Gronkowski, McCourty. They are his cornerstones. Among the best in their professions, team leaders and role models of the Patriots Way. And negotiations with these players has never been easy... Mankins, Wilfork and McCourty all showed some friction to the public before reaching terms.

Past experience also says, there are never more than three or four of these contracts on the roster at any time, to save disproportionately more cap space for the middle and bottom of the roster than most teams.

Hightower fits the pattern for elite long term deal: impactful on game day, leader on the field, head on straight, terrific role model. There is one elite spot left on the roster with Mayo in retirement and with Collins out of consideration. Sure looks like HT is in line for that job, the face and the voice of the D... the role that Wilfork played for so many years.

Unfortunately, if the pattern holds, then I don't think Butler will get his big money payday this year or this offseason-- at least not from the Pats. I suspect Butler will get the high tender; and if some team makes him a big offer, I think BB will weigh it very carefully before deciding whether to match.

With McCourty, HT, Gronk and Brady as BB's new cornerstones, giving long term, top money for Butler would be a departure from the past. Not saying Butler hasn't earned it, just that BB's roster philosophy doesn't allow for another big contract like that.

Tenders and Franchise Tags, are certainly in play for Butler. But if BB is offered an early pick and a chance to save the cap space, and Butler is fighting to get full cash value in his negotiations, then history says BB say no, choose instead to fish among the UDFAs for new starting CB material, use Rowe and Ryan and Cyrus, scheme to their strengths, spend a few picks at CB, and wait for the next emerging star to come through the door.

Just about then is when all the pats fans rage about how disloyal BB is to his best players, and how he's costing Brady his golden years and last shot at a SB, and how Kraft is a cheap ass owner, etc. etc. But after sixteen consecutive competitive seasons of winning under the cap, I think BB is not likely to change his formula now.

 

[patfanken]

BB's history is to re-sign a only very few of his elite players. He's quite selective about who gets the money.

The individuals he's tapped to get elite long-term money in the last few years are Brady, Mankins, Wilfork, Mayo, Gronkowski, McCourty. They are his cornerstones. Among the best in their professions, team leaders and role models of the Patriots Way. And negotiations with these players has never been easy... Mankins, Wilfork and McCourty all showed some friction to the public before reaching terms.

Past experience also says, there are never more than three or four of these contracts on the roster at any time, to save disproportionately more cap space for the middle and bottom of the roster than most teams.

Hightower fits the pattern for elite long term deal: impactful on game day, leader on the field, head on straight, terrific role model. There is one elite spot left on the roster with Mayo in retirement and with Collins out of consideration. Sure looks like HT is in line for that job, the face and the voice of the D... the role that Wilfork played for so many years.

Unfortunately, if the pattern holds, then I don't think Butler will get his big money payday this year or this offseason-- at least not from the Pats. I suspect Butler will get the high tender; and if some team makes him a big offer, I think BB will weigh it very carefully before deciding whether to match.

With McCourty, HT, Gronk and Brady as BB's new cornerstones, giving long term, top money for Butler would be a departure from the past. Not saying Butler hasn't earned it, just that BB's roster philosophy doesn't allow for another big contract like that.

Tenders and Franchise Tags, are certainly in play for Butler. But if BB is offered an early pick and a chance to save the cap space, and Butler is fighting to get full cash value in his negotiations, then history says BB say no, choose instead to fish among the UDFAs for new starting CB material, use Rowe and Ryan and Cyrus, scheme to their strengths, spend a few picks at CB, and wait for the next emerging star to come through the door.

Just about then is when all the pats fans rage about how disloyal BB is to his best players, and how he's costing Brady his golden years and last shot at a SB, and how Kraft is a cheap ass owner, etc. etc. But after sixteen consecutive competitive seasons of winning under the cap, I think BB is not likely to change his formula now.

I think you underestimate Butler. He is the epitome of what BB wants in his players. He is self made. A player who maximizes his physical skills. He is coachable, dependable, and durable. He competes hard on every play, and is one of the best tacklers and hardest hitters (for his size) on the team. He is everything you want in a Patriot. He is NOT gong to be easily replaced.

That being said, he is also a RFA, with all that entails. The Pats will immediately give him a first round tender. I'm not sure what that tender would be, but it will mean a significant raise for Butler, at worst. I would doubt that a team would want to pay Butler $10-12MM/yr on a long term contract, AND give up a #1 draft pick besides. He is good, but he isn't Patrick Peterson/Richard Sherman good, nor does he have the ideal size for a top paid CB.

I'd like to see him work out a long term deal in the 6-8MM/yr range after the season, but the fact is the Pats don't HAVE to do anything but pay him the first round tender to retain him. Personally I think he'd make more in the long run taking a mid range deal with the Pats, than risking ANOTHER year of wear and tear on his body and go for the big money in 2o18. But that's up to him

BTW- does anyone have a ball park figure of what a first round tender for a CB would be?

 

[long distance]

@rook.. Agreed. You forgot Solder there among top paid players (10M/14M cap) .. with 11M cap hit next year. He's not playing like a cornerstone after missing last season w injury .. so that will be an interesting situation to monitor .. He is still a solid player and hits FA only in 2018 but 10M next year is steep esp. in light of new top contracts looming. They could decide to go for another solid vet out there (though leaving 4M dead cap) plus draft high OT and keep Cannon and Fleming who was quite impressive to me in his two showings this year at both LT & RT.

I wrote already .. somewhat unpopular .. that what I watch is the structure of the salaries/cap across the roster .. because I believe as well that is more telling about the future signings than cap space. BB will always prefer to give 10M to two (or more) solid players than to one “elite“ w rare exceptions - and that is the painfully calculated strategy that made this team top contender over 16 yrs .. against the odds of NFL* rulemakers.
(f.e. instead of flashy 10M+ WR (like Bryant) that fans covet .. he would sign Bennett+Hogan+4RBs+keep the change)

@pfk .. I guess Butler's #1 tender should be around 4M. I believe Bill likes him enough to put that on him. Long term in the neighbourhood you proposed would be better for both sides .. but the agents are too greedy and aggressive to realise that.

But that's all OT. The thread was supposed to be about NOW and the middle-range extensions.
I agree with OPs selection - I would dearly like to add Harmon to that list. I think he could say yes to something like 3-4M/year w 10M+ guaranteed .. and to me he's well worth it because Richards is not coming along this year .. and great safeties are cheap alternative to overpriced CB “islands“. Like Lombardi stated a few days ago - he cannot understand the logic of putting #1CB on #1WR that plays mostly across the league. Putting #2CB + safety on #1WR and #1CB on #2WR gives you in general much better chance .. plus its a cheaper option and gives you more roster depth.

 

[rookBoston]

Agreed, Harmon deserves an extension. Better now than before he gets too famous.