Who are the priority for signing long-term?

[deters]

Lafail can GTFO, so thats one less to resign...

 

[manxman2601]

Lafail can GTFO, so thats one less to resign...

This guy can GTFO?

 

[deters]

This guy can GTFO?

Different guy. That one last year could catch.

 

[manxman2601]

Different guy. That one last year could catch.

When a guy does that for us, GTFO seems a touch disrespectful. Maybe he does become a cap casualty but I suspect it'll be handled a little more respectfully.

 

[ivanvamp]

BB has consistently shown that he likes ST contributors much more than fans do

Absolutely. Which is why I think he'll try to re-sign them. And it also means he'll probably be willing to spend more for them than other teams would. But......how much is too much?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

COllins
Hightower
Jones
Butler

Want them..need them

 

[BTTA]

The health of the OT will play a large role in the strategy. Do they try to renegotiate with all three of them, given the injury histories, ad keep the same crew for another few years? Or do they reload that position.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I think Chung though signed through 2017 deserves to be in the discussion immediately after our elite players ... he provides the team with great value even at a modest bump up in salary. He's been the best secondary tackler since rodney harrison.

 

[Tuck]

Great topic
Of NE's homegrown studs......Collins, Hightower, Jones, Butler......how do you think NE would rank these based on importance to the defense? My ranking:

1) Butler (RFA)....#1 CB's are rare and expensive
2) Collins....coverage skills elevate him above Hightower.....rare commodity.
3) Hightower......indispensable run stopper
4) Jones ....lowest value because BB has proven he can find gems on open market

Who gets paid first? For this, we need to determine which player values being a Patriot most....which should mean a bit of a home team discount. Get one to bite....more may follow. Just guessing, I say Hightower takes a home team discount, NE pays market value for Collins, Jones hits the market, and Butler....???....the RFA status is restrictive...but all it takes is one team that needs a #1 CB, wants to set NE back.... both

Glad I don't have to make the decisions on these four.

The one guy in this group that's impressed me most has been Hightower. In 20+ seasons of going to Foxboro, I've not seen a Patriot player control more space on the field than this guy.

He's the real deal if he can just stay healthy.

 

[VectorPrime]

We better win the Super Bowl next season because thats the best team we are going to be able to give Brady before he decides to hang it up.

 

[Tuck]

We better win the Super Bowl next season because thats the best team we are going to be able to give Brady before he decides to hang it up.

I begrudgingly agree.

 

[jimnance]

We better win the Super Bowl next season because thats the best team we are going to be able to give Brady before he decides to hang it up.

So what you're saying is the Pats will become 1st NFL team to threepeat? Ok, I'll sign up for that.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The very first re-signing is not on your list, Nate Ebner.

To be fair, the OP's list is for 2017 FAs. I agree that Ebner should be brought back: he's played every single game he's been healthy.

 

[Schmo]

I know people have their reasons to think otherwise, but I just don't see how Collins isn't at the top of that list.

Superior athletes are rarely this good at football. I think he has the biggest impact on the team, and, in terms of pure entertainment, is the most fun to watch.

 

[zipster9]

Top-notch linebackers (Collins, Hightower) should be 1st priority. Butler, next. Jones if feasible.

Adios, Mayo.

 

[resdubwhite]

Collins
Hightown
Butler ( will someone give up that pick?)
Jones

 

[IcyPatriot]

Top-notch linebackers (Collins, Hightower) should be 1st priority. Butler, next. Jones if feasible.

Adios, Mayo.

I'd like to think Mayo might come back for short money but let's face it his experience could be a commodity to a younger team ... someone will pay him more than we will and he'll be worth it to them.

 

[Urgent]

I'm sure he doesn't think about that stuff until like, the day before their contract ends.

Worked out ok for Haywood Sullivan, right?

 

[BobDigital]

All are free-agents in 2017

Sebastian Vollmer RT 31 7 4 yr$16,750,000 $4,187,500 $8,250,000 2017
Jabaal Sheard DE 26 5 2 yr$11,000,000 $5,500,000 $5,500,000 2017
Brandon LaFell WR 29 6 3 yr$9,000,000 $3,000,000 $3,000,000 2017
Marcus Cannon LT 27 5 2 yr$9,000,000 $4,500,000 - 2017
Chandler Jones DE 25 4 4 yr$8,172,552 $2,043,138 $7,421,215 2017
Dont'a Hightower OLB 25 4 4 yr$7,724,002 $1,931,001 $6,280,729 2017
Rob Ninkovich DE 31 10 2 yr$7,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,500,000 2017
Scott Chandler TE 30 8 2 yr$5,300,000 $2,650,000 $2,000,000 2017
Alan Branch DT 31 9 2 yr$4,300,000 $2,150,000 $700,000 2017
Matthew Slater WR 30 8 2 yr$4,000,000 $2,000,000 $3,000,000 2017
Jon Bostic ILB 24 3 4 yr$3,940,798 $985,200 $1,830,163 2017
Jamie Collins OLB 25 3 4 yr$3,761,000 $940,250 $2,096,227 2017
Aaron Dobson WR 24 3 4 yr$3,428,370 $857,093 $1,173,360 2017
Logan Ryan CB 24 3 4 yr$2,773,252 $693,313 $563,252 2017
Duron Harmon SS 24 3 4 yr$2,711,100 $677,775 $533,600 2017
Brandon Bolden RB 25 4 2 yr$2,320,000 $1,160,000 $300,000 2017
Chris Jones DT 25 3 4 yr$2,252,512 $563,128 $92,512 2017
Jonathan Freeny ILB 26 4 1 yr$1,750,000 $1,750,000 $500,000 2017
Malcolm Butler CB 25 2 3 yr$1,530,000 $510,000 - 2017
Eric Martin ILB 24 2 2 yr$1,260,000 $630,000 - 2017
Kelcy Quarles DT 23 1 2 yr$1,100,000 $550,000 - 2017
Michael Williams TE 25 2 2 yr$960,000 $480,000 - 2017
Cameron Fleming G 23 2 2 yr$960,000 $480,000 - 2017
Chris Harper WR 22 2 yr$960,000 $480,000 - 2017

In order... Very much want to keep in 2017

#1 Hightower (I love Collins but Hightower to me is the more impactful player due to how our D is built.
#2 Collins
#3 Butler
#4 Chandler Jones
#5 Sheard
#6 Logan Ryan
(big drop off after these players... They will be the heart and soul of the D moving forward)
#7 Bolden is not the impact player the guys above him are but is proven as a jack of all trades that you wanna keep for his career.

Maybe keep
Harmon (They might need to decide between him and Chung.. Could really go either way)
Lafell (depends a lot)


Sadly probably on the outs

Vollmer (will be 33 I think.. Might decide it is time to say good bye)
Ninkovich (same.. I want him to stick around for lower pay as a role player and retire a Patriot though)
Branch (same)
Slater (I think he can still do it at 32 but he has been banged up a lot this year... Makes me wonder about him in his later years)

Everyone else is not really worth mentioning to be honest. Good role players but very much JAGS

 

[BelichickFan]

We better win the Super Bowl next season because thats the best team we are going to be able to give Brady before he decides to hang it up.

There's always that awkward possibility that Brady will be suspended for the first 4 games

Anyway, Hightower, Collins, Butler and at least one of Jones/Sheard should keep us strong going forward.