We gotta go get him (Tee Higgins)

[signbabybrady]

Macmillan has a really high contested catch rate, which speaks to his inability to consistently get separation at the college level, and in the pros they are all really fast and quick. They need speed at WR. Not a possession receiver. I think MacMillan will continue to drop and Burden will rise as the draft process goes on. If they want another possession receiver with size they should trade up on day 2 and take Jack Bech out of TCU.

When we got locked into 4 I kind of figured no Hunter and no Carter so I did turn my sights on McMillan but based on what I've been hearing from posters in here I think I'd rather Graham, Johnson, or trade back and go OL.

Which makes me want Higgins more even if it means overspending. I don't think we can both cheap out in free agency and wait until round 2 for a WR this time.

 

[Wozzy]

Are you willing to use number 4 overall though?

Again I generally agree don't overspend on WR and I'd almost never say use a pick that high. But I'm fairly certain Kraft and Wolf (and probably Cowden/Vrabel too) are going to want to vastly improve the skill surrounding Maye. And I'd rather spend cash on that and use pick 4 for something more important.

I don’t think there’s a WR in the draft class that warrants a 4, an offensive tackle maybe.

But admittedly I’ve just started scouting this year’s draft class and don’t have all the information. I wait until the combine and pro days to get deep into it.

You also don’t have to spend a 1st round pick, WR is often found everywhere in the draft.

 

[Rob0729]

Higgins is getting $30+ million.

Tee Higgins Rumors: NFL Personnel Expect Bengals Free Agent to Land $30M AAV Contract

Tee Higgins could be due for a massive contract this offseason. Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver's market is expected to be…

bleacherreport.com

The Pats were allegedly the highest bidder on Calvin Ridley, who is trash compared to Higgins. The Pats allegedly offered Ayuke $32.4 and were willing to send SF a 2025 second-round pick, a 2026 fourth-round pick and Kendrick Bourne.

I never claimed to have any confidence in the front office. They have earned nothing to this point. I like how you just think we can wave a magic wand and draft stud WRs. Hahahahaha. Keep dreaming.

Higgins is still getting +$30 million.

Higgins is going to get overpaid. But by the time Maye gets his second contract, Higgins is likely to be getting underpaid or market value. The benefit of having your QB under a rookie deal is that you can overpay at other positions and salaries and cap keep going up every year.

 

[signbabybrady]

I don’t think there’s a WR in the draft class that warrants a 4, an offensive tackle maybe.

But admittedly I’ve just started scouting this year’s draft class and don’t have all the information. I wait until the combine and pro days to get deep into it.

You also don’t have to spend a 1st round pick, WR is often found everywhere in the draft.

It seems you're willing to continue to try to fill the need without spending a lot of money or draft capital. And normally I'd be right there with you. But I think due to Maye's age this is the time to invest more heavily than I normally would.

But more to the point I think this team is ready to go for it maybe Vrabel stops it but they tried last year and failed and I don't see them striking out again. So I think it's either overspending on Higgins or overdrafting someone like McMillan and I'd rather burn the cash rather than the pick.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Higgins is going to get overpaid. But by the time Maye gets his second contract, Higgins is likely to be getting underpaid or market value. The benefit of having your QB under a rookie deal is that you can overpay at other positions and salaries and cap keep going up every year.

We see this all the time with QBs. "So and so shouldn't be the highest paid QB" after whoever's deal is announced. Three years later, their deal is market value. (Or they're overpaid because they fell off a cliff.)

 

[pazrul72]

interesting back and forth here where as usual the truth lies more in the middle then either side wants to admit. I agree OL is way more important than WR and it kills me to spend 30 mil on the shiny hood ornament. At the same time you have to play with the cards you are dealt and at the end of the day the only player hitting FA even possibly worth that kind of dough is Tee Higgins. Thing you have to keep in mind with the salary cap is it’s really easy to say we have 120 million go sign (4) 30 million dollar players and boom we will dominate. The harder part to remember is that’s 120 mil this year, 120 mil next year, and 120 mil the year after that. So realistically the patriots can afford 1 such player right now, due to Maye and Gonzo not needing to be paid for 3 years.

Yes we are projected to have 130 mil next year but just signing Higgins knocks that down to 100. That’s the balancing act and why I hope they get 1 elite player but then add another 15-20 good but not great to make the middle class strong again. They need adequate starting quality players, not talking pro bowlers just 10-25th at their position, at DT, DE, LB, CB, FS, RB, LT, RT, C, and WR. That’s a lot to do in one season and why personally I would bring in 2 of each thru FA and the draft. At least half of those signings won’t work out, but the ones that do give us a better baseline to fix less holes going forward. Again not talking best in the league merely better then we have now because a team with no weaknesses is alot harder to play then a team with super strengths but a glaring obvious spot to attack.

It’s also important to keep in mind this is the start of another rebuild. Where the patriots are right now it is 100% ok to say we need this guy to be ok for the next two years, while we draft his replacement and get the rookie up to speed. Eventually down the road we want to be a tough power run football team that thrives on playaction and plays nasty defense, but right now this guy will at least make us competitive so we overpay him by 10% on a short contract. Higgins falls into that category for me, yeah the numbers that get announced day one will probably be some insane 5 year 160 million looking thing, but I would bet a bunch the real numbers that come out a week later show it to actually be a 3 year 85 million dollar contract, and I am ok with that. Get Drake his binkie during these crucial developmental years. 3 years from now when he’s a vet and needs to be paid like one get him a bunch of #2’s and 3’s and expect him to make it work, but right now he needs that guy, and Higgins is the best option available.

 

[Wozzy]

It seems you're willing to continue to try to fill the need without spending a lot of money or draft capital. And normally I'd be right there with you. But I think due to Maye's age this is the time to invest more heavily than I normally would.

But more to the point I think this team is ready to go for it maybe Vrabel stops it but they tried last year and failed and I don't see them striking out again. So I think it's either overspending on Higgins or overdrafting someone like McMillan and I'd rather burn the cash rather than the pick.

Add 3-4 rookies, it doesn’t have to be a high pick to invest in the position… you can attack it with numbers.

You can do this in free agency as well. Marquise Brown missed the majority of this season, he’s still a hyper talented WR… what about him? I look at Darius Slayton, this poor bastard has had one of the worst QB and overall offensive situations his entire career. He’s still a talented fast guy, what about him? Elijah Moore has shown flashes recently of approaching his potential and athleticism but his QB stunk… what about him. Now consider… you could afford all or some of these guys for the price of Higgins alone. I realize this might be off by a few bucks but you get my point.

You bring 90 guys to camp, competition will whittle it down to 53… but the important thing is bringing as many talented players to camp as possible. It’s a numbers game.

My fear with Higgins is what if they throw the bag at him… and he’s merely average. Meanwhile a cheap healthy Hollywood Brown is lighting up the scoreboard with Mahomes or Slayton is having a late career renaissance with a great QB. Overpaying and eating up cap with “average” or merely “good” is a great way to underachieve.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

I have a detailed list of draft needs above, a “fast” WR in on that list. Chris Godwin sure… Higgins not so much.

The positions they need (both tackles, DT,) are among the most expensive positions in football. Spend wisely is my recommendation. Higgins at 30 million per probably doesn’t qualify, not unless it has some serious injury incentives and safeguards.

I wouldn’t worry about paying big for a DT in free agency as this rookie class is loaded at that position. I also think edge and rb have really strong draft classes.

Both offensive tackles are going to be expensive but I think they can take care of RT in the draft too.

Depth Rb should also be filled in the draft due to the strength of the class.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

The harder part to remember is that’s 120 mil this year, 120 mil next year, and 120 mil the year after that.

The thing you mentioned as the harder part to remember isn’t true. Almost no nfl contracts have the same salary cap hits every single year. The AAV is never the same as the cap hit.

Also, if a player is good you can move money near the end of the deal to the future. In addition to that 120 this year is not the same as 120 next year in terms of percentage of the cap. The cap is going to keep going up until the nfl becomes less popular.

For example, Higgins might be signed to 35 mm annual value contract but with performance bonuses and signing bonuses the cap hit from that will be much less than 35. $120 mm is going to go a lot further than you are suggesting.

 

[imahobgoblin]

How did the two teams who overpaid for Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk do this season?

Enough said…

This is just amazing. You actually think my replys to you has something to do with paying WR. Try reading them again. My replies show the flaw of your ignorant statements about vague, meaningless "putting money into the lines." Well no, duh. I never suggested we sign Higgins. I said he will get $30 million. Exchanging ideas with you is like herding cats or squirrels. You just run everywhere talking about nothing related to the convo.

But since you shoot your mouth off yet again, let's address what you said. Calvin Ridley had 64 catches for 1017 yards and 4 TDs. His QB was trash and he still pulled off 1000 yards. His average salary on this contract is $23 million. If Higgns is a #2 and going to get $30 million, then the Calvin Ridley deal looks really appetizing right now. What would he have done with Drake Maye? Brandon Aiyuk's deal averages $30 million a year. His base for 2024 was $1,125,000. He had 25 receptions for 374 yards in 5 games. He was on pace for 85 receptions and 1270 yards before he tore his ACL.

Enough said? Ya imagine if the Pats had a 1k or 1.2k receiver. Things would be a bit different in our WR room. So stop your ignorant comments and read the facts. Enough is now said.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Higgins is going to get overpaid. But by the time Maye gets his second contract, Higgins is likely to be getting underpaid or market value. The benefit of having your QB under a rookie deal is that you can overpay at other positions and salaries and cap keep going up every year.

You are correct, and the Patriots might have to add a suck tax and Massachusetts millionaire comp tax to get him. If he gets an offer for $30m elsewhere, you will need to pay up to $34m to get him here. But guess What? This is the time to do it if that is the route Vrabel wants to take. They have the ability. It does have benefits. It develops a young QB like Josh Allen. He showed his potential and then exploded with Diggs. He now has Cooper and they drafted Coleman as the hopeful next one. There is nothing wrong with that path. Signing a Higgins' replacement in 4 years is easier when you have a winning record and a gunslinger.

 

[imahobgoblin]

The thing you mentioned as the harder part to remember isn’t true. Almost no nfl contracts have the same salary cap hits every single year. The AAV is never the same as the cap hit.

Also, if a player is good you can move money near the end of the deal to the future. In addition to that 120 this year is not the same as 120 next year in terms of percentage of the cap. The cap is going to keep going up until the nfl becomes less popular.

For example, Higgins might be signed to 35 mm annual value contract but with performance bonuses and signing bonuses the cap hit from that will be much less than 35. $120 mm is going to go a lot further than you are suggesting.

And some contracts are just tricky and the average fan, me included, just doesn't get the cap stuff. Brandon Aiyuk's deal may average $30 mil, but his 2024 base year is $1.125, bonus is $4.5, and cap is $5.725m and his 2025 cap hit is only $11.191. It doesn't jump until 2027 and the 49's built in an out just in case. Aiyuk would have made so much more money in New England.

 

[Zuma]

I look at Darius Slayton, this poor bastard has had one of the worst QB and overall offensive situations his entire career. He’s still a talented fast guy, what about him?l

Slayton caught a career average 600 yds in 2024…the same as Boutte. Boutte is young and projects to have more yards in 2025. Nablers had 1200 with the same QB throwing to him with a catch percentage of 64 while Slayton had 55 (terrible). Pass on Slayton for me.

 

[Lansdowne]

You can do this in free agency as well. Marquise Brown missed the majority of this season, he’s still a hyper talented WR… what about him? I look at Darius Slayton, this poor bastard has had one of the worst QB and overall offensive situations his entire career. He’s still a talented fast guy, what about him? Elijah Moore has shown flashes recently of approaching his potential and athleticism but his QB stunk… what about him. Now consider… you could afford all or some of these guys for the price of Higgins alone. I realize this might be off by a few bucks but you get my point.

K-Mart shopping for wide receivers is how the Pats end up with mid talent at WR with names like Mohamed Sanu and Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor and JuJu Smith-Schuster and K.J. Osborn. Hollywood, Slayton, and Moore are all ancillary guys, not feature guys. Slayton has six years in the league without surpassing 770 receiving yards in a season. QB play is a legit thing but true WR1's play the part regardless of who is tossing the rock. Just look at what Malik Nabers did with the same poverty QB room this past season. Slayton has speed but he's a bit player and nothing more. Hollywood Brown's injury history is every bit as impressive as Higgins'. I loved Elijah Moore coming out of college but apart from a strong six-game stretch his rookie season, he hasn't really put enough to tape to be anything more than a team's WR3. If any of those guys is the best this team can do this offseason at WR then they've learned nothing. I'd rather they take another shot at a speedy WR in the draft than waste money on retreads who don't move the needle (or the chains) as Maye's go-to option. Luther Burden is probably the best fast WR option in the draft, he could be an option if the Pats trade down from 4 (or trade back into the 1st with another pick).

 

[TheRainMaker]

Pats will have to overpay to even get his attention. On an unrelated note, they mentioned Russell Wilson having his own private office during his time in Denver. Wow!

 

[Drunken Cicerone]

When your team sucks. You need to overpay. What’s the draw here?

A team that’s bottom of the league talent wise?

A team that hasn’t shown a desire to spend to improve?

A team that blows drafts year after year ?

A team with no identity?

A state with super high taxes ?

 

[Headcase]

I don’t think there’s a WR in the draft class that warrants a 4, an offensive tackle maybe.

But admittedly I’ve just started scouting this year’s draft class and don’t have all the information. I wait until the combine and pro days to get deep into it.

You also don’t have to spend a 1st round pick, WR is often found everywhere in the draft.

There isn't a WR worth #1, if Hunter had played full time WR in college, maybe...but Tet isn't. To me a top 5 OT better be an Alt-like prospect, that isn't in this draft either. Really crossing my fingers for 2 QBs go before us, that is the only way we will get decent level of prospect at #4.....even then we will be getting less of a prospect than would normally be picked at #4.

 

[Wozzy]

I wouldn’t worry about paying big for a DT in free agency as this rookie class is loaded at that position. I also think edge and rb have really strong draft classes.

Both offensive tackles are going to be expensive but I think they can take care of RT in the draft too.

Depth Rb should also be filled in the draft due to the strength of the class.

"Not worrying" isn't going to get positions filled.

Typically when you have a position to fill, you bring in a value vet free agent (Jacoby Brissett), you add a talented draft pick (Drake Maye) and just to be safe you add a late round pick or UDFA (Joe Milton) later.

That's three players to fill one position, camp competition will shake out who makes the team... but that's the path to successfully filling a starting position.

 

[Wozzy]

This is just amazing. You actually think my replys to you has something to do with paying WR. Try reading them again. My replies show the flaw of your ignorant statements about vague, meaningless "putting money into the lines." Well no, duh. I never suggested we sign Higgins. I said he will get $30 million. Exchanging ideas with you is like herding cats or squirrels. You just run everywhere talking about nothing related to the convo.

But since you shoot your mouth off yet again, let's address what you said. Calvin Ridley had 64 catches for 1017 yards and 4 TDs. His QB was trash and he still pulled off 1000 yards. His average salary on this contract is $23 million. If Higgns is a #2 and going to get $30 million, then the Calvin Ridley deal looks really appetizing right now. What would he have done with Drake Maye? Brandon Aiyuk's deal averages $30 million a year. His base for 2024 was $1,125,000. He had 25 receptions for 374 yards in 5 games. He was on pace for 85 receptions and 1270 yards before he tore his ACL.

Enough said? Ya imagine if the Pats had a 1k or 1.2k receiver. Things would be a bit different in our WR room. So stop your ignorant comments and read the facts. Enough is now said.

Usually the person who has to revert to name calling has lost the plot. That's you...

I made my point multiple pages back. Yes, build the lines, use every resource to fix the lines. Fill the multitude of starting positions that need fixing instead of spending the majority of your wad on one shiny hood ornament who, when you can't block or pass again, will be the first person in the locker room to become a cancer.

 

[Wozzy]

Slayton caught a career average 600 yds in 2024…the same as Boutte. Boutte is young and projects to have more yards in 2025. Nablers had 1200 with the same QB throwing to him with a catch percentage of 64 while Slayton had 55 (terrible). Pass on Slayton for me.

Slayton would cost you the NFL equivalent of a bologna sandwich. He'd be a solid #2 without Daniel Jones throwing to him.