PATRIOTS NEWS Patriots Agree to 3-year Extension with Tavai

[mgteich]

These are the type of signings with competing teams this board would’ve been laughing at when the Pats were good. They are rewarding players on a declining team.

Talk about being careful what you wish for. I really don’t like the direction of this franchise.

Apparently, you want us to have a declining Defense.

We need to solidify the Defense for 2024-2026, while we hopefully develop our Offense.

 

[farn]

There is more than one game-changer on the team.. JUDON is a game-changer as well. I think that Barmore and White are on their way to being Game-Changers as well.

I forgot to mention Barmore. True. I’m hoping you’re right re White. I think he was mentioned this spring as a positive.

 

[stinkypete]

I love the move. Tavai is an ascending role player who can be a rock in this defense for another 3-4 years.

The whole formula for building a contender is way simpler than this board is making it out to be. If Drake Maye emerges as an elite quarterback by 2026, we're a contender. If he doesn't, we're rebuilding until 2028 or beyond.

You build a team assuming that your previous moves are going to work. At this stage, and makes sense to give Baker, Polk, and Wallace a shot to prove themselves. If any of them fail, we have plenty of time, cap space, and future draft capital to get replacements. In the meantime, why not lock down a strength?

 

[mgteich]

We have a solid 10 of
DT: Barmore, Godchaux
DE: Wise, White
OLB: Judon, Jennings
ILB: Tavai, Bentley, Takitaki, Mapu

plus 2 DL and 2 LB
My choices are
DL: Ekuale and Watts
OLB: Ellis and Uche

 

[TheRainMaker]

Apparently, you want us to have a declining Defense.

We need to solidify the Defense for 2024-2026, while we hopefully develop our Offense.

There was no reason to sign a guy like Tavai.

 

[vicspats]

Sometimes the obvious take is the right one. The team won 4 games last year and had $100M of cap space and have not signed a single impact player. All they've done is re-sign pieces of one the worst rosters in the NFL.

Gonna laugh my ass off this team wins 11-12 games

 

[DaBruinz]

We have a solid 10 of
DT: Barmore, Godchaux
DE: Wise, White
OLB: Judon, Jennings
ILB: Tavai, Bentley, Takitaki, Mapu

plus 2 DL and 2 LB
My choices are
DL: Ekuale and Watts
OLB: Ellis and Uche

Christian Elliss is a Special Teamer. He took exactly ZERO defensive snaps in 4 games for the Pats.

They're more likely to carry Ximenes or McMillan as an extra OLB.

It's going to be interesting to see what the defense looks like.

 

[hornetfb85]

Tavai was one of our better defenders last year. I really wonder if some of you actually watch the games. Or just b**** to b****.

 

[Real fan 02]

There is more than one game-changer on the team.. JUDON is a game-changer as well. I think that Barmore and White are on their way to being Game-Changers as well.

Correct on that. I listed at least 8.. Barmore, gonzo, Jennings, judon, peppers, white, Dugger, Bentley. Game changers meaning tackles for loss, sacks for loss, TOs.. all are game Changers.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

He's become one of my favorite players -- glad to see it! I think better to sign our own guys who played well and are with the program than bringing in some high-ticket risk like Ridley.

[edit] assumes a "Build through the draft" approach

 

[mgteich]

Christian Elliss is a Special Teamer. He took exactly ZERO defensive snaps in 4 games for the Pats.

They're more likely to carry Ximenes or McMillan as an extra OLB.

It's going to be interesting to see what the defense looks like.

I agree that Eillis is a STer.
================
I suggest that they will choose the "extra" OLB from Uche, Ximinez and McMillan.

If McMiillan is truly an OLB, then he is likely the favorite. I do choose Uche for now.

 

[Real fan 02]

I agree that Eillis is a STer.
================
I suggest that they will choose the "extra" OLB from Uche, Ximinez and McMillan.

If McMiillan is truly an OLB, then he is likely the favorite. I do choose Uche for now.

Forget all about McMillan.. guy played well in '22.. before getting hurt. Didn't he get hurt again in camp last season?

 

[JohnJH]

These are the type of signings with competing teams this board would’ve been laughing at when the Pats were good. They are rewarding players on a declining team.

Talk about being careful what you wish for. I really don’t like the direction of this franchise.

Agreed. But to those that say "We are ripe with money for this season and the next!". An extension here, and an extension there (with the exception of Barmore), and we needed Stevenson because we have not addressed the RB position in this draft (which is still a problem regarding talented young depth), and before you know it, that incredible amount of cap money that we'll need for any young players that we have that may actually earn extensions a long with possible young and impactful FA's next year, might not be there (or certainly not enough of it).

 

[VJCPatriot]

I don't really see Tavai as a great player or athlete... Feels more like a system guy.

He did put up 110 tackles last season but I don't get the feel he is a prototypical modern linebacker.

I'm guessing they did a 3 year deal to stretch out the bonus money.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Not a fan at all. Still no RT, LT or WR1.

See there's a workaround for all of that. It's what our former great president used to call...

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Instant analysis of LB Jahlani Tavai agreeing to extension with Patriots

The torrential downpour of green bills continued to fall on New England Patriots' in-house pending free agents with the team agreeing to a three-year extension with linebacker Jahlani Tavai on Tuesday. Per ESPN's Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter, the new deal is worth

patriotswire.usatoday.com

Tavai’s 86.6 overall defensive grade by Pro Football Focus ranked in the top-10 of all NFL linebackers. Perhaps the best part is the fact that he is an ascending NFL talent at 27 years old.

I'd say that kind of nukes the naysayers.

 

[Ross12]

Surprised by the comments here, love Tavai and thought he was outstanding last year. $5M a year base value is chump change in today’s NFL. Good deal.

 

[DaBruinz]

Gonna laugh my ass off this team wins 11-12 games

People seem to think that the team lost every game last year and ignore the fact that the Pats had so many issues on the O-line again.

With AVP as the OC and Scott Peters taking care of the O-line, I expect the offense to be significantly better. Even it it's Anderson and Onwenu starting at the OTs with Sow, Andrews, and someone new at the other guard position.

The Pats lost 9 of their 11 games by 1 score or less. With that Dysfunctional offense. Add to that, 6 of those 1 Score losses came WITHOUT Judon or Gonzalez playing.

I expect the team to be at least 9 - 8.

 

[DaBruinz]

I'd say that kind of nukes the naysayers.

Always take PFFs ratings with a grain of salt. Do a deeper dive on the stats themselves and watch the videos of the games.

 

[DaBruinz]

Agreed. But to those that say "We are ripe with money for this season and the next!". An extension here, and an extension there (with the exception of Barmore), and we needed Stevenson because we have not addressed the RB position in this draft (which is still a problem regarding talented young depth), and before you know it, that incredible amount of cap money that we'll need for any young players that we have that may actually earn extensions a long with possible young and impactful FA's next year, might not be there (or certainly not enough of it).

*SMH* The Pats still have $87M projected in free cap space for 2025. That doesn't include any potential carry over from this year, which is likely to be north of $25M.

The Pats added Gibson to Kevin Harris. Harris actually ran well last season DESPITE the O-line. Do you realize that Harris doesn't turn 24 until mid-November? You're acting like Harris has been in the league for 6 years when it's actually been just 2. And both years he had CRAP O-lines in front of him. Do you understand that Harris actually improved from his 1st yr to his 2nd going from 2.9 YPC to 4.1?

Stevenson, Gibson, and Hasty are all 26. I have no idea if Fenwick or Terrell Jennings bring anything. Only time will tell. If they bring nothing, I can guarantee you that the Pats will add people to the PS who are young. And if a back-up RB is a concern, RB is a position that you can add quality from the 2nd-5th rounds. Just look around the league.

If you want to believe that 87M to 112M isn't enough free cap space next season, well, that's on you. Nothing we can do about it.