What's Next, after signing Revis?

[SHOWTIME15]

With Darrelle Revis' contract counting only $7M towards the 2014 cap and Vince Wilfork asking to be released, the Pats should have about $18M in cap space. That doesn't include any space from cutting Adrian Wilson ($1.1M), Dan Connolly ($2.5M) or from extensions.

With that cap space, the Pats could probably do all of the above, plus go after Alex Mack from Cleveland. They might also be able to squeeze in a FA DT like Henry Melton or Jason Hatcher, or go after someone like Jared Allen.

Too bad the Wilfork situation wasn't resolved by Tuesday. They could have gone after Lamarr Houston or Linval Joseph.

Patriots probably saw this coming, so cutting wilfork on Tuesday probably wouldn't have done anything.

 

[mgteich]

Perhaps the patriots did talk to these players or their agents, perhaps not. In any case, the Wilfork situation made little difference. There was enough cap space available to sign either player. Also, Wilfork knew the deadline. The situation is no different now than yesterday. The team can/will cut Wilfork whenever they need the cap space.

Too bad the Wilfork situation wasn't resolved by Tuesday. They could have gone after Lamarr Houston or Linval Joseph.

 

[lurker1965]

I know some others have mentioned his name, but maybe Belichick can sweat talk Tony Gonzales to come out of retirement for 1 year (or so). He was able to get Junior Seau that way. He does not even have to play him all the time, just part time, and then unleash him during the playoffs. If he and Gronk share time during the season, they should both be healthy for the playoffs. I think the Pats need TE's not WR's.

...

IF Gonzo signs (with anybody) it will be after camp. He's old and camp is a young man's stuff.

 

[mayoclinic]

Revis signed. Browner signed.

What's next? Personally, I make a run at Alex Mack. Improve Brady's protection up the middle and the offense gets instantly much, much better. Brady doesn't need a security blanket, he needs security.

Anything beyond that - including WR - can be filled in later.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Revis signed. Browner signed.

What's next? Personally, I make a run at Alex Mack. Improve Brady's protection up the middle and the offense gets instantly much, much better. Brady doesn't need a security blanket, he needs security.

Anything beyond that - including WR - can be filled in later.

Alex Mack will cost a LOT. I'm not sure that's feasible unless he is willing to take a deal similar to Browner. Not to mention we don't have a DT/DE lined up yet and Wilfork's departure now appears imminent.

 

[skspikex2]

Revis signed. Browner signed.

What's next? Personally, I make a run at Alex Mack. Improve Brady's protection up the middle and the offense gets instantly much, much better. Brady doesn't need a security blanket, he needs security.

Anything beyond that - including WR - can be filled in later.

Yup, people keep saying to get weapons for Brady forgot about the OL. Great O-line allow Brady to built a camp fire and carve opponent defense up. For offense, shore up O-line, 2nd TE, Edelman or his replacement.
For defense, DT , DE and 4th LB.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Revis signed. Browner signed.

What's next? Personally, I make a run at Alex Mack. Improve Brady's protection up the middle and the offense gets instantly much, much better. Brady doesn't need a security blanket, he needs security.

Anything beyond that - including WR - can be filled in later.

I like the idea of getting mack. Won't he cost 10 million though?

Also, BB tried to get Steve Smith, so I would imagine they are still thinking receiver

 

[TBR]

4th rounder for Blackmon

 

[mgteich]

My guess is that WR is next, probably Edelman.

SECONDARY
WAS the number one priority. It would still be good to bring in a strong safety. However, perhaps Browner will be our starter if Harmon isn't up to the job.

FRONT SEVEN
Kelly has been restructured. Wilfork will not restructure. We need to add a defensive lineman or two. We need a developmental DT (upgrade to Vellano). We need a rotational DE as an upgrade to Bequette, and we need a pass-rushing upgrade to Carter. We also need linebacker depth.

RECEIVER
I expect Edelman to be signed over the week end.
We will also bring in the usual suspects as competition for the 4th and 5th WR spots.
We likely will also likely sign a TE, probably a JAG, and then draft a TE in the first 3 rounds.

OFFENSIVE LINE
We need a starter at center or guard, plus a draftee. We also need our annual veteran backup.

RUNNING BACK
We need to re-sign Blount.

BOTTOM LINE
We need to replace or re-sign our free agents except Spikes and we need a rotational DE.
Presuming the cutting of Wilfork, we still have $15M.

 

[mayoclinic]

I like the idea of getting mack. Won't he cost 10 million though?

No one knows what Mack will cost, but $10M seems high. His transition tag number is just over $10M, and the AAV (not to mention his 2014 cap hit) on a long term deal would undoubtedly be less than that. Ryan Kalil currently has the highest AAV of any center at $8,186,000 on a 6 year deal ($19M guaranteed). Nick Mangold's contract has an AAV of $7,725,000. Max Unger has the next highest AAV at $6.459M. I'm guessing that Mack's eventual deal with have an AAV between $7M and $8M, with $15-20M guaranteed. The 2014 cap hit for such a deal would probably be around $5M.

I think the Pats could create an offer for Mack and fit it under the 2014 cap if they so desired. In 2015 Logan Mankins could be a cap casualty, creating some long term space for Mack (if not, then almost certainly in 2016). For comparison, OG Andy Levitre got a 6 year / $46M deal from Tennessee in 2013, for an AAV of $7.8M, with $13M guaranteed. His deal had cap hits of $4.6M in 2013, and hits of $8.6M for the next 4 years. I think a 5 year deal along those lines is probably within reason for Mack - it would make him one of the top 3 paid at his position - and would be manageable.

The trick would be creating a deal that is acceptable to the Pats and that Cleveland wouldn't match. They certainly have the cap space to do so. The question is whether they would be willing to commit as much long term money. Mack's agent, Marvin Demoff, has publicly said that he believes such a deal can be crafted. Whether it would be acceptable to the Pats is another question. It's also possible that the Pats (or another team) could present an offer sheet that Cleveland hesitated to match, and then offer them a draft pick in compensation for letting Mack go (similar to what the Pats did with Miami and Wes Welker in 2007).

It's a long shot, but not out of the question.

 

[ashley]

My guess is that WR is next, probably Edelman.

SECONDARY
was the secondary.

FRONT SEVEN
Kelly has been restructured. Wilfork will not restructure. We need to add a defensive lineman or two. We need a developmental DT. We need a rotational DE as an upgrade to Bequette, and we need a pass-rushing upgrade to Carter. We also need linebacker depth.

RECEIVER
I expect Edelman to be signed over the week end.
We will also bring in the usual suspects as competition for the 4th and 5th WR spots.
We likely will also likely sign a TE, probably a JAG, and then draft a TE in the first 3 rounds.

OFFENSIVE LINE
We need a starter at center or guard, plus a draftee. We also need our annual veteran backup.

RUNNING BACK
We need to re-sign Blount.

BOTTOM LINE
We need to replace or re-sign our free agents except Spikes and we need a rotational DE.
Presuming the cutting of Wilfork, we still have $15M.

Good post. I agree with pretty much everything you wrote, except I might add a strong safety to your list. I don't know if I feel too confident in Harmon back there as our starter.

 

[mgteich]

I'll fix for completeness. The hope is that Browner will be the starting SS if Browner isn't up to the job.

Good post. I agree with pretty much everything you wrote, except I might add a strong safety to your list. I don't know if I feel too confident in Harmon back there as our starter.

 

[DaBruinz]

With the Revis signing, the Pats still had 11M in cap space. My guess is that the Browner signing will leave them with about 7M. That's enough for 1-2 more signings.

There is only one quality starting center left besides Alex Mack and that is Brian De La Puente. I don't see Mack being on the Pats radar just because it would take too much to guarantee that the Browns don't match. I don't know enough about De La Puente to know if he's truly an upgrade over Wendell.

I would love the Pats to add Alex Carrington. They missed out on some bargain signings already in guys like Lamarr Houston, Ziggy Hood, and Arthur Jones. Another player who has not been mentioned a lot is Kyle Williams of Buffalo. I think that he could be devastating next to Vince, if the Pats can get Vince to sign an extension.

I also wouldn't mind the Pats signing a couple of guards. If they were to sign someone like Davin Joseph or Daryn College I'd be thrilled.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Edelman resign

 

[PlainOldEd]

I'd like to see Edelman re-signed next.

Then what about Peppers? Is he looking to break the bank? If not I'd go after him as a stop gap rather than throw a ton of money at Allen (and that seems to be what he wants).

 

[Patriot Missile]

If they can't agree with Blount I'd like to see Andre Brown or Michael Bush brought in on the cheap. John Kuhn would be a goal line back worth looking into.

I'd feel Brian Waters out and ask him if he is ready to play football again.

I'd offers vet minimum to Danario Alexander and give him a camp tryout. Same for Miles Austin.

That's pretty much it for me. I'm hoping for a dynamite draft with DT and TE headlining the weekend.

 

[Miguel]

The trick would be creating a deal that is acceptable to the Pats and that Cleveland wouldn't match. They certainly have the cap space to do so. The question is whether they would be willing to commit as much long term money. Mack's agent, Marvin Demoff, has publicly said that he believes such a deal can be crafted. Whether it would be acceptable to the Pats is another question. It's also possible that the Pats (or another team) could present an offer sheet that Cleveland hesitated to match, and then offer them a draft pick in compensation for letting Mack go (similar to what the Pats did with Miami and Wes Welker in 2007).

It's a long shot, but not out of the question.

What else would his agent say?

The Browns are under the 2014 cap by $33 million with Mack counting $10 million against the 2014 cap.

As it stands right now, they have $40 million less committed to the 2015 cap than do the Patriots, $13 million less for 2016.

It's also NOT possible that the Pats (or another team) could present an offer sheet that Cleveland hesitated to match, and then offer them a draft pick in compensation for letting Mack go (similar to what the Pats did with Miami and Wes Welker in 2007. The CBA clearly prohibits what you are proposing to do. Welker was a RFA. Mack is a transition tag player.

The CBA prohibits trading a draft pick to induce the player's old club not to match the offer

Section 5. Right of First Refusal for Transition Players: Any player designated as a Transition Player shall, at the expiration of his prior year Player Contract, be permitted to negotiate a Player Contract with any Club. When the Transition Player negotiates such an offer with a New Club, which the player desires to accept, he shall give to the Prior Club a completed Offer Sheet, signed by the player and the New Club, which shall contain the Principal Terms (as defined in Article 9) of the New Club's offer. The Prior
Club, within five (5) days from the date it receives the Offer Sheet, may exercise or not exercise its Right of First Refusal, which shall have the consequences set forth in Sections 3(b)-(h), 4 and 6 of Article 9 above, except that no Draft Choice Compensation shall be made with respect to such player, and, for the purposes of those provisions, the player and each Club shall otherwise have the same rights and obligations as for a Restricted
Free Agent.

I posted the same thing on March 9th. You liked the post.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...-browns-draft-pick-alex-mack.html#post3774951

 

[mayoclinic]

I posted the same thing on March 9th. You liked the post.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...-browns-draft-pick-alex-mack.html#post3774951

I still like it. I just got carried away. Thanks for the correction.

As for making a run at Mack, it costs nothing to make an offer, unless there is some other FA who you lose out on by waiting 5 days for an answer. Right now I don't really see that as a major issue. I'd still make a run at Mack, personally.

 

[RayClay]

I think we can pick up a receiver cheap and hopefully sign Edelman. I'm actually happy Dobson got the operation, those stress fractures in the foot can fail to heal completely and become nagging. Worked for Edelman!

I think we can pick up a good TE in the draft, not necessarily in the 1st either and this goes for WRs too (deep).

Not sure they go with under 300 lb. guys in the starting tackle spots, so I say Hageman if he's there. Can't get too excited about Nix, he looks one dimensional, but we really don't have a lot of options at #29. If a player they want is there, take him, or it could be the dreaded trade down.

 

[JMC00]

The "i'm drunk, go for it" plan
a few extensions opening up some more space
James Jones or re-sign Edelman
Tony Gonzalez
Jones-Drew
Guard

Draft
(Priority DT, TE, C)