NFL News Official 2025 NFL Free Agency Thread

[signbabybrady]

defense is one edge rusher away from being very good.
Can we please address the offense now?

This is the case for Carter. Finish the rebuild on the front 7 with a huge splash. Trade up and make it happen.

 

[Love The Drake]

This is the case for Carter. Finish the rebuild on the front 7 with a huge splash. Trade up and make it happen.

My draft plans

1A Hunter
1B Carter
1C trade down

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

My draft plans

1A Hunter
1B Carter
1C trade down

I'll add to that:

1. Hunter
2. Carter
3. Trade down
4. Campbell

 

[signbabybrady]

My draft plans

1A Hunter
1B Carter
1C trade down

I'll add to that:

1. Hunter
2. Carter
3. Trade down
4. Campbell

1A Hunter
1B Carter
1C trade up to make sure you get 1A/B

 

[Thunderhead]

Pats still sitting on $80M cap space without having made a single significant move on offense. Meanwhile, homers are balking at every single WR or OT that becomes available or moves from one team to another. It's becoming hilarious at this point.

NFL Salary Cap Space | Over The Cap

NFL salary cap space estimates for all 32 teams

overthecap.com

 

[Lansdowne]

Pats still sitting on $80M cap space without having made a single significant move on offense. Meanwhile, homers are balking at every single WR or OT that becomes available or moves from one team to another. It's becoming hilarious at this point.

NFL Salary Cap Space | Over The Cap

NFL salary cap space estimates for all 32 teams

overthecap.com

Overpaying for bad and/or washed up players simply because you can is how bad teams stay bad. Nelson Agholor for example. Was paid well above his market to come here. Waste of roster spot and payroll.

Also according to that link, there are still 20 more roster spots that need to be filled. That includes 9 rookie draft picks (as of now) and the remaining 11 between free agents and anyone else that's brought in via trade. That's an average of $4 million per player, and every player that makes above that amount lowers the average for the remaining players. And that's considering they should not spend the entire cap space because they'll need a buffer to work with in-season to account for any injuries. And also don't be surprised if some of the remaining cap space is rolled over to the next season so we can lock up guys like Gonzalez long term.

It's also worth noting that two of the biggest offense-related trades in Patriots history happened in the month of April (Corey Dillon and Randy Moss). There is still work left to be done but the sky is not falling.

 

[Zuma]

 

[TommyD4207]

 

[Hugepatsfan]

defense is one edge rusher away from being very good.
Can we please address the offense now?

Disagree. The defense is close to complete in terms of checking the boxes of having starting caliber players at all spots, but they're still very far away from being a very good overall unit because they still lack top end talent. Even with the additions, only Gonzalez right now looks to be a good bet to make the pro bowl. It's hard to be a "very good" defense without a handful of those type of guys. Maybe Milton Williams keeps ascending here and maybe Barmore returns to form and then some, but right now there's still very much a lack of high end talent on defense. Still a lot of work to be done before it's actually a very good unit. But they've adequately checked most of the boxes to the point it should be ok.

 

[Love The Drake]

Disagree. The defense is close to complete in terms of checking the boxes of having starting caliber players at all spots, but they're still very far away from being a very good overall unit because they still lack top end talent. Even with the additions, only Gonzalez right now looks to be a good bet to make the pro bowl. It's hard to be a "very good" defense without a handful of those type of guys. Maybe Milton Williams keeps ascending here and maybe Barmore returns to form and then some, but right now there's still very much a lack of high end talent on defense. Still a lot of work to be done before it's actually a very good unit. But they've adequately checked most of the boxes to the point it should be ok.

I expect. Huge bounce back from Dugger and Bentley, a next step from Keion White, Mapu getting better, and Peppers playing with a chip on his shoulder.
I think we are one quality edge rusher one Or teo
More depth D tackles away frok
Being complete.
If we draft Hunter he also should be on the field in dime or Quarter type packages.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I don't understand how this is different. Were there no expectations for Polk or Wallace? And how does having expectations make them pick better players?

The more I hear about this whole thing about having a new system, the more it seems like they're applying a new coat of paint and saying it's completely different.

I disagree. It sounds to me like they are talking about having clearer expectations for each pick they make, as opposed to “ we really a wide receiver, so let’s take that guy…” which may well have been how Wolf, Mayo, and Groh approached it last year. In which case that’s on Wolf, as he was in charge.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I don't understand how this is different. Were there no expectations for Polk or Wallace? And how does having expectations make them pick better players?

The more I hear about this whole thing about having a new system, the more it seems like they're applying a new coat of paint and saying it's completely different.

It’s really hard to gauge any of it as we are going off of vague comments, and not a specific outlined plan.

 

[mike_usagisan]

It’s really hard to gauge any of it as we are going off of vague comments, and not a specific outlined plan.

Correct. Well, hopefully it’ll lead to better drafting

 

[pmb116]

Overpaying for bad and/or washed up players simply because you can is how bad teams stay bad. Nelson Agholor for example. Was paid well above his market to come here. Waste of roster spot and payroll.

Also according to that link, there are still 20 more roster spots that need to be filled. That includes 9 rookie draft picks (as of now) and the remaining 11 between free agents and anyone else that's brought in via trade. That's an average of $4 million per player, and every player that makes above that amount lowers the average for the remaining players. And that's considering they should not spend the entire cap space because they'll need a buffer to work with in-season to account for any injuries. And also don't be surprised if some of the remaining cap space is rolled over to the next season so we can lock up guys like Gonzalez long term.

It's also worth noting that two of the biggest offense-related trades in Patriots history happened in the month of April (Corey Dillon and Randy Moss). There is still work left to be done but the sky is not falling.

Your math isn’t mathing regarding the cap. You’re completely disregarding the Top 51 rule. The full roster doesn’t count against the cap, just the top 51 right now

 

[Zuma]

Ozzy Trapilo Offensive Tackle Boston College | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Rating: 84.7 Rank: #15 Forty: 5.21 Trapilo's calling card is his ability to stone-wall rushers in pass protection. He thrives in traditional drop-back passing schemes where his natural ancho...

www.nfldraftbuzz.com

 

[Lansdowne]

Hopefully to get a good look at Trapilo. Can't hurt to get some insight from O'Brien too.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I was hoping Wolf would get stuck in the Revolving Door at the entrance.... for like forever...... being forced to stare at a picture of Ladd McConkey

 

[Ross12]

Hopefully to get a good look at Trapilo. Can't hurt to get some insight from O'Brien too.

They seem to be doing a ton of work on the LT class, which makes a lot of sense. There are multiple LTs in the 1st and 2nd round that are likely to be better than anything on the free agent market, and a lot cheaper too. If/when they draft a starting LT in the late 1st/early 2nd instead of paying Cam Robinson, they’ll look very smart.

 

[Love The Drake]

They seem to be doing a ton of work on the LT class, which makes a lot of sense. There are multiple LTs in the 1st and 2nd round that are likely to be better than anything on the free agent market, and a lot cheaper too. If/when they draft a starting LT in the late 1st/early 2nd instead of paying Cam Robinson, they’ll look very smart.

Wonder if they are planing on trading 4?

 

[mgteich]

They seem to be doing a ton of work on the LT class, which makes a lot of sense. There are multiple LTs in the 1st and 2nd round that are likely to be better than anything on the free agent market, and a lot cheaper too. If/when they draft a starting LT in the late 1st/early 2nd instead of paying Cam Robinson, they’ll look very smart.

Yes, the team would look great if they find an adequate starter at LT in the second.
==============================
So, this year's LT class is so much better than 2024 that we will be able to find a starter in the 2nd or by trading into the bottom of the first?

1) How many starters were available last year in the 2nd?

2) How easy was it to trade into the bottom of the 1st?

3) How many starting OT's were available in the bottom of the first (and how easy was it pick one from those available with a trade up)?
=========
We TRIED to be this kind of smart in 2024. I see little reason to believe that we would succeed in a poorer market for LT's.