Patriots Rumor Tracker / FA Signings (Updated: Signings in OP - 4/7)

[mike_usagisan]

To me, the bigger issue is about cap allocation. That's a lot of money that can be used on needs like extending Gonzo to be sending to Philly.

I don't know how long Brown's cap hits go for, but I think Gonzo's extension should use the option year to keep the hits from getting too big until down the road a little, when the cap has increased. That said, I am no cap guy and if you tell me that it doesn't work like that, I'd believe you.

 

[p8ryts]

I would absolutely spend next year's 2nd and 4th on AJ Brown. Especially if we can get his before camp.

I just can't get my head around all the drama surrounding him the last couple of years. I view his acquisition with trepidation.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I just can't get my head around all the drama surrounding him the last couple of years. I view his acquisition with trepidation.

That's entirely fair. But I also have faith that if Vrabel thinks he can bring out the best in him, he probably can.

 

[borisman]

187K views · 2.3K reactions | Giardi and Curran say Philly is waiting until after June 1st to deal A.J. Brown to avoid a MASSIVE dead cap hit Giardi says a 2nd and a 4th-round pick would get the deal done | NBC Sports Boston

Giardi and Curran say Philly is waiting until after June 1st to deal A.J. Brown to avoid a MASSIVE dead cap hit Giardi says a 2nd and a 4th-round pick would get the deal done

www.facebook.com

Of course I asked Josina Anderson to explain of why the trade can't happen "it'll happen in the next week", or whatever she said over a week ago. Crickets. And no one else in the replies had an explanation either. We wasted a lot time on here as well debating the trade (should we trade our first or not) when a lot of people knew it was unlikely to go down before June.
I forget who the poster on here was who explained perfectly of the cap ramifications if it went down before June 1st. The trade partner would have had to meet Philly's asking price for that to even be considered.

 

[borisman]

As usual, the wording on that link isn't quite accurate. People from other teams think it will get done after June 1. Giardi believes a 2nd and a 4th will be the price for him.

Can AJB redo his contract before the draft so this trade could happen soon?

 

[mike_usagisan]

Can AJB redo his contract before the draft so this trade could happen soon?

It didn't sound like it, but I am no cap expert, much less a cap expert on an NFC team.

 

[TommyD4207]

Can AJB redo his contract before the draft so this trade could happen soon?

He can, but by doing so, he can royally **** himself, and the Eagles could just end up keeping him.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Of course I asked Josina Anderson to explain of why the trade can't happen "it'll happen in the next week", or whatever she said over a week ago. Crickets. And no one else in the replies had an explanation either. We wasted a lot time on here as well debating the trade (should we trade our first or not) when a lot of people knew it was unlikely to go down before June.
I forget who the poster on here was who explained perfectly of the cap ramifications if it went down before June 1st. The trade partner would have had to meet Philly's asking price for that to even be considered.

My understanding is there were two deadlines. There's the cap hit, which happens if he's traded before June 1. But there was a cash hit if he's not traded this week.

Everyone was talking about the Eagles trying to avoid the cash hit, and why he was possibly going to be traded soon.

Now everyone assumes that it won't happen until after the cap hit, which is in June.

 

[borisman]

For those worried about Byard's decline, one only has to look at our own Devin McCourty and see the similarities between the two.
DMac lasted until 35 and could have played longer. It wasn't a big drop off for him after age 31 and he also never missed games because he didn't have to be physical like an in the box safety so his body didn't take a beating and he didn't lose much range.

 

[borisman]

He can, but by doing so, he can royally **** himself, and the Eagles could just end up keeping him.

My thinking is the Eagles tell him "we have a deal and that team will do this deal, which also benefits us by trading you before this year's draft" kind of thing.

 

[TommyD4207]

For those worried about Byard's decline, one only has to look at our own Devin McCourty and see the similarities between the two.
DMac lasted until 35 and could have played longer. It wasn't a big drop off for him after age 31 and he also never missed games because he didn't have to be physical like an in the box safety so his body didn't take a beating and he didn't lose much range.

Eh...he could have played, but McCourty was kinda cooked the year before.

 

[borisman]

Let's give this guy a boost, since he DID win a game for us with that blocked FG.

 

[TommyD4207]

My thinking is the Eagles tell him "we have a deal and that team will do this deal, which also benefits us by trading you before this year's draft" kind of thing.

Sure, but that would require an awful lot of trust in an organization that Brown believes has ****ed him over at every turn.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

My understanding is there were two deadlines. There's the cap hit, which happens if he's traded before June 1. But there was a cash hit if he's not traded this week.

Everyone was talking about the Eagles trying to avoid the cash hit, and why he was possibly going to be traded soon.

Now everyone assumes that it won't happen until after the cap hit, which is in June.

A.J. Brown Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money, and Contract History | Over The Cap

A.J. Brown contract and salary cap details, including signing bonus, guaranteed salary, dead money, roster bonuses, and contract history

overthecap.com

The cash hit is if he is on the roster on the third day of the 2026 league 4 million of his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed. But if you flip between "trade pre June 1" and trade post June 1" you can see the enormous difference and benefit to the Eagles to wait.

 

[borisman]

Eh...he could have played, but McCourty was kinda cooked the year before.

I think it was 2020 he looked a little cooked and then had a bounce back year but I could be wrong.

 

[PatsFan2]

My understanding is there were two deadlines. There's the cap hit, which happens if he's traded before June 1. But there was a cash hit if he's not traded this week.

Everyone was talking about the Eagles trying to avoid the cash hit, and why he was possibly going to be traded soon.

Now everyone assumes that it won't happen until after the cap hit, which is in June.

IF A.J. Brown is in our plans goodbye Kayshon Boutte in FA 27. That said: A.J. Brown - R Doubs - K Boutte - KW and Barefoot would be a Excellent WR Room this season. Pop Douglas is the odd man out unless he miraculously *not holding breath* learns to play the Slot.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

For those worried about Byard's decline, one only has to look at our own Devin McCourty and see the similarities between the two.
DMac lasted until 35 and could have played longer. It wasn't a big drop off for him after age 31 and he also never missed games because he didn't have to be physical like an in the box safety so his body didn't take a beating and he didn't lose much range.

How McCourty aged has nothing to do with how Byard has aged or will continue to. There are probably hundreds of other examples besides McCourty you could have used for aging gracefully and probably thousands someone else could bring up of coverage safeties aging poorly. Playing well at this age is very much the minority outcome though.

Each player is unique though. Byard played well and looked fine last year. At his age, it'd be pretty naive to think he won't be physically worse this year than last, but the level looks to be high enough that even with some physical dropoff he should still be a fine player.

 

[TommyD4207]

I think it was 2020 he looked a little cooked and then had a bounce back year but I could be wrong.

Yeah, after the 19 season (and even during it, Gilmore's DPOY year), you could see him losing a step, and when it came to McCourty it was really noticeable, because his recovery speed was such a huge part of his game.

He was still effective of course, but had to play a little differently, and started getting beat on things he wouldn't have normally been beaten on.

I do vividly remember him coming back for that final year, and thinking it was more of a retirement tour than him still being the same pro-bowl-level player he once was. (I was team 'cut him' at the time)

 

[Hugepatsfan]

IF A.J. Brown is in our plans goodbye Kayshon Boutte in FA 27. That said: A.J. Brown - R Doubs - K Boutte - KW and Barefoot would be a Excellent WR Room this season. Pop Douglas is the odd man out unless he miraculously *not holding breath* learns to play the Slot.

Wouldn't necessarily say Boutte is gone. Doubs deal is likely structured with all the guarantees in years 1 (2026) and year 2 (2027). He's likely easy to release with little dead money ahead of 2028 and the cap hit in 2026 (this year) is likely low. Boutte will likely sign the same type of deal next year, so his 2027 cap number would be low before jumping in 2028. At that point, they could cut Doubs to make room for Boutte. Or, if Doubs is the more desirable guy to keep in an either-or, they could trade Boutte assuming his 2028 salary isn't unreasonable because WRs are always in demand (and unless he totally BOMBS in 2027 or has a major injury I can't imagine he wouldn't be movable in 2028).

Point is, they can keep Boutte after signing Doubs and still be able to move on from 1 before the cap hits are ever both high enough such that cumulatively it would be too much for #2 and #3.

 

[borisman]

How McCourty aged has nothing to do with how Byard has aged or will continue to. There are probably hundreds of other examples besides McCourty you could have used for aging gracefully and probably thousands someone else could bring up of coverage safeties aging poorly. Playing well at this age is very much the minority outcome though.

Each player is unique though. Byard played well and looked fine last year. At his age, it'd be pretty naive to think he won't be physically worse this year than last, but the level looks to be high enough that even with some physical dropoff he should still be a fine player.

I only said there are similarities between the two. And there are. All you have to do is look at their play. Byard had a very solid season last year. He's unlikely to fall off the map. And even a little drop off won't be anywhere close to the bad play we got from Hawkins last year.