2017 Patriots Off-season

I agree with you on Bennett but his comments say he's going for top dollar. Chances are he won't get that here. Depending on the market we might get close but is he a guy that leave ANY money on the table? We will see...

There are a lot of corners on the market and there is a distinction in lag between number 1 corners and the next tier. I doubt anyone will look at Ryan as even an up and coming number 1 guy. If he's the best corner on your team you're screwed... also, he's the consummate Patriot. I could see both him and Harmon taking fair contracts to stay for less money than they could get elsewhere, but we will see...

I pray that Branch gets overlooked again and keeps playing here on these cheap deals.

It starts with a 1st, but they'll likely want another draft pick as well.

I think locking up defensive talent will be the priority - namely Hightower and Butler. It wouldn't surprise me to see them let Amendola go, especially since Malcolm Mitchell looks like a legit WR2.

Remember they have a lot of cap room and traded away Collins and Jones. I don't think they did that to let most of the other defensive key pieces go. I expect Ryan back unless he gets 10m a year some place. Fingers crossed.

I'd be upset with that trade return with Jimmy. I'd keep him before I'd trade him for a second rd pick.

Everyone keeps talking about the cap room but in order to keep your most important defensive pieces in Hightower and Butler, it's going to literally suck all of that cap space away. That's if they decide to even pay these guys.

I'm expecting a complete remake on defense outside of one or two guys. Remember too, Edelman only has one year left on his deal. Gronk has one year left until he really starts getting paid on his extension (meaning the Patriots might look to trade him after next season).

The Patriots can't pay all these players. They are going to have to pick and chose the players they want to keep most and try to get the best draft picks for Garrapolo to help this process of rebuilding this team on the fly. This isn't the Sox unfortunately and the biggest pockets don't matter in a capped league.

Not sure that you know how the NFL cap works.... it won't take even close to all that money to sign Hightower and Butler. They have roughly 61m plus another potential 6.4m from cutting Amendola. So if he's cut they have 67.5m and if he's just reworked then it's likely 64. Franchising Hightower (worst case for 2017 cap) lowers the room to 50.

NFL cap figures fluctuate year to year based on what that years salaries are combined with the average of the signing bonus. Then you have to factor in guaranteed money to figure savings etc. Most extensions have low(er) cap figures early.

There are 4 teams out there desperately needing a good quarterback. There are no sure things in the draft. I think there might be a bidding war for Jimmy G. Better him then some DE or LT. It's a quarterback driven league and if you don't have one, you have no chance of doing much.

So, you might see a 1st and a 3rd or even more. Cleveland has 2 first round picks. Would they give them both up if the bidding gets too insane?
Cleveland starts off with a 1 and a 4. Chicago jumps in with a 1 and a 3. SF ups it to and 1 and a 2. Cleveland gives them an offer they can't refuse...both their 1's. Can you imagine the Pats with 3 firsts?

Dream a little dream with me.

I think the Pats will have a tough time getting a first.  I just don't think Cle/SF/Chi will give up a top 3 pick for Jimmy G, so that leaves the Cle pick at 12, but if they the only ones who can offer a one they have leverage. Do we really want to wait for a 1 next year?  

I'd take a high 2 this year and a 1 next year but doubt those teams will go that high.  If not Cle/SF/Chi, who steps in?
Doubt BB deals with Jets/Bills. Are KC or Hou bold enough? 

I'm beginning to worry we'll get stuck with something like two 2s or else the market doesn't bear it and the Pats keep him.  Pick 12 or bust!

I have seen that the Pats have anywhere from 61 to 71 million in cap space for 2017, I know that's a big spread and I don't plan on analyzing each site or how they got there. Either way they are in better shoes than normal coming off a SB win when the winning team is often in a bad place cap wise. So in short, the Pats are in good shoes.
Rather than argue how much each guy is going to get in FA or who will stay I will just say this. Historically it is always surprising who they sign and for how much, usually the guys they sign do so for less than most predict. And when it comes to who they don't sign, way more often than not the players who leave are not as successful in their new home. BB knows what he is doing and doesn't overpay.
Having said that I expect Hightower and Butler to be signed and for a smaller annual cap hit than many will predict. When the GOAT is playing with a cap hit of 15m the rest know to fall in line or move on.
As for Jimmy G. I expect there to be a bidding war between the top 3 teams in the draft. Those teams 2nd rd picks are obviously just outside the 1st and might just be the highest pick the Pats get in a deal, with the real battle being about the next best piece. We shall see but once again the Pats are winners either way and the rest of the league is bumming.

They could be even better next year. Of course health will have much to do with it. That being said I wouldn't mind seeing Gronk wait til half way thru to come back. A healthy Gronk in the playoffs would be nice for a change.

You don't need 2 teams to create a bidding war. You need only 1 and the illusion there is another. How does 1 team who wants him KNOW that there is not another team out there that does too? They don't.  Before any negotiation you need to set your limit and not excede it, then evaluate your own evaluation of you routinely are out in LF.

Again, @patscap shows you how it all COULD work.

Seems to suggest Ryan and Harmon are most likely to go. Bennett he had at 50/50. He sounds like a guy who is moving on though.