UFA Pats should consider at Positions of need

[n1997y]

The Washington Commanders informed cornerback Marshon Lattimore that he will be released before the league year begins next week, sources told ESPN's @AdamSchefter, a move that had been expected since Lattimore suffered a season-ending injury in November. https://search.app/G95MV

As purely a veteran rotational player he fits the bill.. better than anyone we currently have behind our starters...

Not getting younger, but getting better. Question is, will he be cheaper?

 

[mgteich]

Not getting younger, but getting better. Question is, will he be cheaper?

Cheaper than Woods, Dial and Austin? They are our backups. I don't think that we are benching Gonzo, Davis and Jones.

Lattimore will certainly be more valuable to a team that doesn't already have 3 solid starting corners.
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Latimore's was scheduled to play for $18.5M. WAS decided not to pay the option cost.
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How much would y'all pay Latimore, a starter who was injured late in the season?

 

[Real fan 02]

Not getting younger, but getting better. Question is, will he be cheaper?

Marshon Lattimore | NFL Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

www.spotrac.com

Good question... he's coming off some injury riddles seasons... Washington created 18 million in cap space with his release... at this point he'd be a veterans minimum type sign?

 

[Real fan 02]

Cheaper than Woods, Dial and Austin? They are our backups. I don't think that we are benching Gonzo, Davis and Jones.

Lattimore will certainly be more valuable to a team that doesn't already have 3 solid starting corners.
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Latimore's was scheduled to play for $18.5M. WAS decided not to pay the option cost.
=========
How much would y'all pay Latimore, a starter who was injured late in the season?

Veteran minimum although Vrabel would likely be more fair to the former all pro than that.. he's a Veteran that has played alot of good football and if he were signed today injury and all would be a better player than Austin or woods.. he would be a depth player and could thrive in that role..

 

[mgteich]

Veteran minimum although Vrabel would likely be more fair to the former all pro than that.. he's a Veteran that has played alot of good football and if he were signed today injury and all would be a better player than Austin or woods.. he would be a depth player and could thrive in that role..

Ok.

I apologize. I misunderstood. I didn't think that you proposing to cut a player's salary form $20M to under $2M.
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And sure, I would sign almost any free agent for vet minimum who was scheduled to receive $15M or $20M. It would be easy enough to cut them if they don't work out.

We could list all the players in that situation in free agency. You start. I don't know any.
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My GUESS is that you were shocked when we paid so much for Bradbury and for Moses.

 

[Real fan 02]

Ok.

I apologize. I misunderstood. I didn't think that you proposing to cut a player's salary form $20M to under $2M.
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And sure, I would sign almost any free agent for vet minimum who was scheduled to receive $15M or $20M. It would be easy enough to cut them if they don't work out.

We could list all the players in that situation in free agency. You start. I don't know any.
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My GUESS is that you were shocked when we paid so much for Bradbury and for Moses.

Well,

It's not my money, or a poster infatuated with $$$ on.. patsfans.com money it's the Kraft family's money... I believe he's a camp try out signing.. I'm not even sure he's completely healthy didn't he have an ACL last season?

 

[n1997y]

Veteran minimum although Vrabel would likely be more fair to the former all pro than that.. he's a Veteran that has played alot of good football and if he were signed today injury and all would be a better player than Austin or woods.. he would be a depth player and could thrive in that role..

I agree with all you said. He’d be an upgrade over Austin, Woods, maybe Dial, but likely not cheaper. Question is how much of a cut he’d want to take, and perhaps whether signing with a contender is attractive enough at this stage of his career to accept a depth role and a decent discount? That’s where making it all the way to the big dance last season may pay benefits.

 

[Real fan 02]

I agree with all you said. He’d be an upgrade over Austin, Woods, maybe Dial, but likely not cheaper. Question is how much of a cut he’d want to take, and perhaps whether signing with a contender is attractive enough at this stage of his career to accept a depth role and a decent discount? That’s where making it all the way to the big dance last season may pay benefits.

Absolutely spot on!!! We are just that " destination again "... we now have leverage back in Foxborough.. although I still don't believe Vrabel's going to nickel and dime players.. he will offer them fair respectable deals and it will be on the player to accept.. I'm thinking due to his injury history and his play obviously hasn't been the same level as he was in NO.. a camp offer like we did for Epps perhaps last season? Lattimore isn't hurting financially so if he can let's say be the guy behind Davis on the outside? I think it's a huge benefit to have that luxury.

 

[Wozzy]

Another value vet system fit player the Patriots should consider adding is LB Malcolm Rodriguez from the Lions.

He was predominantly a special teams player on his rookie contract, but he is a great athlete and very strong.

He is similar to Christian Ellis, his best football is probably ahead of him and the Lions aren’t flush with available cap space.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Anyone think the Pats will have any interest in Bobby Okereke? He might make for bargain depth at LB - he was due $10 mil from the Giants which is too much, though he racked up a lot of snaps and tackles last year. Good experience and a former captain - though middle of the pack talent today.

Giants release former captain Bobby Okereke

 

[n1997y]

Anyone think the Pats will have any interest in Bobby Okereke? He might make for bargain depth at LB - he was due $10 mil from the Giants which is too much, though he racked up a lot of snaps and tackles last year. Good experience and a former captain - though middle of the pack talent today.

Giants release former captain Bobby Okereke

He’s 29. This will be his eighth season in the NFL. History of back injury in 2024.

Which boxes does he check?

_ Better
_ Younger
_ Cheaper

 

[Real fan 02]

Absolutely spot on!!! We are just that " destination again "... we now have leverage back in Foxborough.. although I still don't believe Vrabel's going to nickel and dime players.. he will offer them fair respectable deals and it will be on the player to accept.. I'm thinking due to his injury history and his play obviously hasn't been the same level as he was in NO.. a camp offer like we did for Epps perhaps last season? Lattimore isn't hurting financially so if he can let's say be the guy behind Davis on the outside? I think it's a huge benefit to have that luxury.

@n1997y

Insider Reveals The Alec Pierce Reason Why Patriots Released Stefon Diggs | NESN

The New England Patriots reportedly released Stefon Diggs so that they could pursue guys like Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce.

nesn.com

 

[n1997y]

@n1997y

Insider Reveals The Alec Pierce Reason Why Patriots Released Stefon Diggs | NESN

The New England Patriots reportedly released Stefon Diggs so that they could pursue guys like Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce.

nesn.com

I don’t know as much as Pierce as I do about A.J. Brown, but from what I know about each of them I’d prefer to sign Pierce. I’ve also not looked at the entire picture of FA and trade candidate WRs. I thought the results last season showed WR not to be a desperate need, until/unless cutting Diggs creates a void that must be filled. We still want to get better/younger/cheaper of course. I think Pierce would do that, not sold AJB would. There might be others too. Fun times!

 

[Real fan 02]

I don’t know as much as Pierce as I do about A.J. Brown, but from what I know about each of them I’d prefer to sign Pierce. I’ve also not looked at the entire picture of FA and trade candidate WRs. I thought the results last season showed WR not to be a desperate need, until/unless cutting Diggs creates a void that must be filled. We still want to get better/younger/cheaper of course. I think Pierce would do that, not sold AJB would. There might be others too. Fun times!

Yes sir!! Last few days my optimistic thinking about keeping Diggs started to fade.. as if the organization was all in on keeping him his option would have already been picked up the 6 million.

Pierce is interesting.. can get deep, fast, young and still adding to his game.. I wonder what would the contract offer be? We have holes at edge, OL and could use LB depth.. also they have to resign gonzo but I really believe Vrabel doesn't want to part with draft capital he'd rather spend the cap dollars.

 

[Real fan 02]

He’s 29. This will be his eighth season in the NFL. History of back injury in 2024.

Which boxes does he check?

_ Better
_ Younger
_ Cheaper

If Swinson turns out to become a regular contributor we can have a pretty solid LB group. Spillane-Ellis- Gibbens-Swinson.. sure well add some more speed in draft

 

[jdlboot14]

OG and RB3 we can get in the draft or 2nd round of FA flurry.
But WR is something the Pats franchise can only really get in FA. A young but proven guy ready to blow up.
TE2 falls in same category this year.
If we can spend big on WR (Pierce) and TE (Otton) in FA, then we can grab EDGE in 1st round and fill in roster rest of draft.

 

[jdlboot14]

Maye
Campbell, Brown/FA, Wilson/Bradbury, Onwenu, Moses/Bryant
Rham, Hendo, (+Lan or Draft)
Pierce, Boutte, Williams, Hollins, Pop? (+FA or Draft)
Henry, Otton, (+CJ? or Draft)

Potentially 6 players in year 2 of system, with a few FA's infused to bolster. That roster would cook.

 

[n1997y]

Pierce is interesting.. can get deep, fast, young and still adding to his game.. I wonder what would the contract offer be? We have holes at edge, OL and could use LB depth.. also they have to resign gonzo but I really believe Vrabel doesn't want to part with draft capital he'd rather spend the cap dollars.

Something that really struck me was the success rate in the most recent draft. Statistics say there’s a high washout rate on rookies no matter what the draft position. We really broke that tendency with this draft.

I think conventional wisdom is that rookies are competing with established veterans and flaws are magnified so high washout rates are inevitable. Also that the Pats roster was in such a shambles that even flawed rookies were better than the incumbents. But I’m not convinced, especially after Vrabel hit FAs so successfully, and cleaned house of almost all the holdovers that didn’t suit his vision.

I’m wondering if the rookie selection process has been refocused to select for players that will make the cut. Vrabel has said one of his goals is getting players to a second contract. So he’s looking for candidates to develop not to churn through. There aren’t a lot of draft picks so he’ll be wanting to keep them as important assets. That makes me think he’s not going to be as active in the trade market as discussion here advocates. But we’ll see. It will be interesting to watch, for sure.

 

[Real fan 02]

Something that really struck me was the success rate in the most recent draft. Statistics say there’s a high washout rate on rookies no matter what the draft position. We really broke that tendency with this draft.

I think conventional wisdom is that rookies are competing with established veterans and flaws are magnified so high washout rates are inevitable. Also that the Pats roster was in such a shambles that even flawed rookies were better than the incumbents. But I’m not convinced, especially after Vrabel hit FAs so successfully, and cleaned house of almost all the holdovers that didn’t suit his vision.

I’m wondering if the rookie selection process has been refocused to select for players that will make the cut. Vrabel has said one of his goals is getting players to a second contract. So he’s looking for candidates to develop not to churn through. There aren’t a lot of draft picks so he’ll be wanting to keep them as important assets. That makes me think he’s not going to be as active in the trade market as discussion here advocates. But we’ll see. It will be interesting to watch, for sure.

Great mention here! To add to your Great post.. what i believe has helped tremendously is the reaffirmation of the coaching.. we can all agree the coaching had so much to do with the product on the field past few seasons.. under Vrabel it was a concerted effort to get the coaching staff up to parr.. this is a direct reason why we saw players alike all get better as the season went on.. look at K. Williams whom I believe is going to be a player for us.. Basically everything he caught was for a big gain or a TD.. Lowe a 6 year veteran got better Henderson had a tremendous rookie season...

I believe that there will be at least one major signing on offense specifically that we will Invest cap space into.

 

[borisman]

I saw somewhere the Pats were non-tendering Alex Austin, making him a UFA