Some basic thoughts:
1. I think these are the major FA's we have on the team
Harmon
Ryan
Bennett
Branch
Blount
Hightower
Butler
Vollmer
Floyd
Sheard
Long
Mingo?
Van Noy?
2. We have 60-70MM in cap space (3rd highest # in the league), and no longer have to resign Collins and CJones. Plus with a few selected cuts we can add even more. So we really can sign all these guys back and still have room left over to still be a player in FA. And we know we won't be signing all of them back.
3. For everyone we don't sign we should have enough cap space to go into FA and sign a resonably decent replacement.
4. This draft will be very deep in the positions we could possibly need help.
5. We will add either mid round first rounder or higher if the bidding war for Garapolo goes as I see it, OR a high 2nd rounder this year and a first next year. If you can't do better than that, then I might keep him. because this team would still be a SB contender with either Brady or JG (though Brady makes our chances better)
6. Lets go down the list"
a. Harmon - He's currently the #3 Safety who's got more value to us than other teams quite frankly. I'm not sure how much he's worth to another team he had an 1.8MM cap hit this year. I might go as high as $3.2MM per year on a 3-4 year deal to keep him. Or could Ebner be ready to get time as the #3 S next year, or what about Richardson.
b. Ryan. There is no way Ryan gets a 10MM/yr contract, but it could be in the area, and it is certainly going to be a lot more than the $1.8 he cost this year. I'm thinking S7-9MM/yr. Again I see him being more valuable in our system than on another team. This will be the most interesting to watch
c. Bennett is also be interesting. He's a 30 year old TE who had a productive year on a great team, so who is going to pay this guy over $8MM/yr on a long term deal (3-4 yr deal). He cost $5MM this season. I'd set his value at around $7MM on a 3 year deal with half guaranteed) Then he can test his theory that someone will overpay him, and come back to him when he finds out the truth. He'd be great WITH Gronk in the offense, and great Gronk insurance when he isn't.
d. Branch - We paid Branch $2.7MM to be one of the best and most reliable DT's in the league. He certainly deserves a raise. But God the guy is 32 now at a position where players in their 30's age fast. I'd pay him a bit more on a one year deal than on a multi year deal. He's another one of those great teammates and gets it, despite being a reported serial dancer. I would reward him with a one year deal up to $4MM
e. Blount - This is hard one for me. He's been good for us and carried a heavy load for us during the first part of the season. 18 TD's and over 1100 yds is a good year for any RB. He's not an elite guy, but a great value at $1MM/year. He too deserves a raise, and I'd give him one up to $2MM/yr. BTW - my lasting memory of Blount was that he was the first player to go to Brady while he was being surrounded by those mediot parasites. They all clearly love him. Cutting him when he isn't making much would send a bad message to the lockerroom.
f. Hightower - He's another guy I think has more value to the Pats than anyother team. He's a great leader, a great communicator. He's the kind of player who isn't going to have great stats, but makes all the players around him better. You paid McCourty and he's been worth it. You pay Hightower too, maybe not at the top of the market, but damned close.
g. Butler - Contrary to what Felger would like you to believe, Butler is NOT going to get paid less than million next year. With a first round tender IIRC he'll get around $5MM as a RFA and be free next year. It's not top end CB money, but it isn't just pocket change either. In an ideal world they's work out some kind of short term deal where Malcom can make more the the $5MM but less than market value. Like a bridge deal to FA. No one fits the patriot way better than Malcolm. Tough dependable, and severely competitive. No question he will be here next year. Only the price is in question. Also this is one of those sending the right message to the locker room. And you don't want to resign Ryan and have him making a lot more than Butler. That WOULD be a problem.
h. Volmer - I read where Volmer was looking as skinny as Matt Light. I think he's done, and Cannon's success this year would mean he'd likely be back up. I don't think he'd come back for back up money. Not with his back history.
i. Floyd- If he wants to come back I'd give him a deal non-guaranteed deal or guarantee just a million or so, and give him insentives that can raise that up to $7MM (what he got this year) if he plays at a #1 WR level. Then at THAT point he's a rehabbed FA with a Pats seal of approval, or if not he's can be cut at a low cost. Good for us, because we get a remarkable talent for at least a year, and good for him because he can rehab a badly torn rep and make decent money if he plays well AND can take that year and hit the FA market in 2018.
Sheard - I don't think you are going to have pay much for Sheard. Off of this season who is going to pay him $7MM/yr for that kind of production. If we don't get him back for less, I think he's gone period.
Long- He was thinking of packing it in last season. I'd be surprised he doesn't just take his ring and the memories of this year and say sayonara. But if the fire still burns I think the Pats will want him back with just a small raise for another year.
Mingo - I'd like him back. He's still long with great speed. I'd try to sign him to a STer's deal with incentives if he can break into the regular D and base it on snaps.
Van Noy - I'm not sure what to do about him and I'm tired of writing this thread
