Realistically speaking, can the Pats be major players in the free agent market?

[ATippett56]

Wes Welker - $7 to $9 million per season
Brandon Lloyd - $4 to $6 million per season
Deion Branch - ?
Ben Jarvis Green-Elllis - ?
Dan Connolly - ?
Matt Slater - ?
Tracy White - ?
James Ihedigbo - ? (if even warranted)

Richard Marshall (CB/FS) - $3 to $4 million per season (for example)

Richard Marshall - Arizona Cardinals - 2012 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

Richard Marshall signed a one year contract with the Arizona Cardinals in 2011 for $3.5 million.

Brian Hoyer - RFA
Kyle Love - ERFA

Two first round draft picks
Two second round draft picks
One third round draft pick
One fourth round draft pick

 

[MoLewisrocks]

If I understand the Patriots situation correctly they are $22 million under the cap at the moment. This is before they either sign Wes Welker to a long term deal or tag him which would be roughly $9 million on the cap. They could also decide to let him go, but I think it is far more likely that they bring him back in some fashion.

Assuming they tag or sign Welker that would leave them roughly $13-$15 million under the cap before and draft choices are signed. The Patriots also have several other players they would like to re-sign and a couple of high priced vet's like Ochocinco who they will most likely part ways with.

With the money that is left over will the Patriots realistically have the financial ammunition to go after the 2 or 3 impact players they need?

As great as it would be to see the Pat's pick up a defensive stud or two like Mario Williams, Brandon Carr or Cliff Avril to go along side with a wr to stretch the field like Brandon Lloyd I don't think (unless they shift money around) they can be major players in the f/a market.

So my question to someone who undestands the cap far better than I do is can the Patriots make a splash in the f/a market?

In my humble opinion the Pat's are right there. If I were them I would make every attempt to sign the impact players we need while Tom Brady's window is still open.

The Patriots can do whatever they want to. But as Bill says there is always a price or tradeoff. Jonathan was on ESPN radio the other day and he reiterated for the umpteenth time that this team isn't in cap heck or worse because they value flexibility and always plan for the long haul and they aren't shortsighted and don't chase perceived windows and back themselves into corners throwing money out them. And they win more and compete more consistently than teams who do, so...they aren't going to change their model to appease fantasy fans who just want to win RIGHT now (although they reserve the right to biatch when the bill comes due, especially if the approach they wailed for didn't work). You want them to be the JETS. Or the Bears. Or the Eagles. Or Oakland. Or the Redskins. Not gonna happen. Because they understand the variables that impact winning it all (like your stud TE coming up lame for a SB) and they understand that teambuilding and not talent collection is what gets you there.