So what? The first year of the Contract is almost always the lowest hitting because they amortize the signing bonus and reduce the salary accordingly.
n, ,
The Cap for next year is already set at 208.2. The Pats will have 24-26M.. They can do the contract I mentioned (4/$64M) with $3M salary, 20M SB and a $16M AAV. Still have plenty to add to the team including draft picks.
The Pats have a long list of Free Agents. Nick Folk, Adrian Phillips, Ju'Whaun Bentley, DMac, Hightower, Langi, Trent Brown, JC Jackson, Carl Davis, Ted Karras, Matt Slater, James White, Brandon Bolden, Brandon King, Collins, Hoyer, Ferentz, and Troy Fumegalli.
Of those Jackson is the only "MUST" sign, IMHO. Phillips, Folk, Bentley, Karras, and Slater are ones I'd love to have back but they aren't going to get a whole lot. I think another team is likely to sign Karras away. Same with Bentley and Phillips.
I could see Hightower, Slater, DMac, Hoyer and White all retiring.
Bolden, King, Ferentz, Langi, and Davis are bottom of the roster guys who should be replaced by Rookies.