Patriots 2021 Offseason Thread

I'm still teetering on the edge, but as I slowly beat my head against the wall I am trying to find the positives in this:

1 - It's only for one year (Wait, didn't I tell myself that last year?!?).
2 - It is a calculated move to try and entice free agent receivers to come here.
3 - It means they may be using the first round pick on the quarterback of the future (or perhaps it is a 1-year bridge to Jimmy G?).

I think at the very least they will bring in Curtis Samuel (to possibly take on the James White role).

$6m ties to incentives per Reiss, but the bit question is are the NLBE or LBE incentives... based on his playing time last year, my guess is they are likely to be earned which puts them on this years cap.

I get the you need a QB to attract offensive weapons in free agency, they want to know who's throwing them the ball. Yet how does Newton help with that? I would think you just made things worse. I didn't like Mariota contract, I don't see how this is any better. At least with Mariota you could play up what he'd be on this team, the guy has had success in the NFL. He looked better in his one game last year than Newton did.

I'd feel better if Newton blamed Covid, like it did a number on him physically. Yet it's he fell behind with the plays and offense, yet he kept getting more and more practice time.

Even at 8 million, which is basically top back up money, that would make him and Jimmy if he becomes available taking up like 33 million in cap space.

Can Newton be better? Sure, he can't be any worse than he was. I didn't see a guy that just needed more time to pick up the offense though. I saw a guy who didn't have the arm talent for our offense. You need a guy with accuracy, not a guy that bounced more balls to WRs than any QB I've seen in a Patriots uniform.

I'm so damn confused, it's like Bill and Danny have been taken over by Aliens.😭

His mechanics got progressively worse as the season went on

I think they’ll draft a QB- my dream of Newton handing the baton to Lance halfway through the season is still alive. Would be a seamless transition in terms of the offense they would run, but Lance is just a better passer and better athlete at this point


They’re also going heavy power run this year with both Brown and Onwenu on the line

I hope you're right, that free agents look more at the person than what he did last year. Yet damn if that's true I'm not sure I want players like that.

I'm sure he's jumping in from the get go, I just don't think it's going to be what people expect or want. 

I think this is just the start of the run of mid-level guys.

I could be misinterpreting what you are saying but, free agency hasn’t started so this isn’t the start of any runs.


This is going to be a very strange free agency year. Not a ton of money to go around - which could work in different ways. Could make staying away from the top of the market means Patriots can clean up.

Of course you see what Watt and Dak got so it makes you wonder... perhaps there’s a new massive TV deal about to be signed and the Cap will explode again.

So, this season is a build year. No hope of making the playoffs, just hope we sign some decent free agents and gets more experience in the system and get ready for 2022. Add some talent through the draft. Because WE A'INT GOING ANYWHERE WITH CAM AS OUR QUARTERBACK!

Not a big fan of the move for Cam but I get it. Maybe he surprises us and stops throwing it at guys feet, we shall see.

The Pats will make the playoffs though and will win 11. BB has been challenged and he loves that. And he loves having 65+ million to spend in an offseason that will be ripe with talent and very little money, making his dollars go even further. Players like Cam, on and off the Pats, so this move will help land some guys.

If you thought this years team ran the ball well wait until next year. The addition of Brown, who was a Pro Bowler after leaving in 2018, will make this teams Oline dominant. That along with a true FB they missed in 2020 will make the run game elite which will help the passing game a lot.

You heard it hear first, 11 wins and the playoffs in 2021.

Team won 7 games last year with Cam under Center - if they have more talent around him then suggesting they can’t make the playoffs seems weird.

It's certainly the start, more guys could be added before free agency starts like Van Noy, Rudolph and maybe a guy like Golden Tate. Then that's the types I expect, maybe one big ticket guy. I love Golladay, he'd be a game changer, yet reports say four years 88 million. That's just crazy. So I'm looking at Adam Humphries, David Moore, Tate. Bills typical 2nd/3rd tier guys. I'd love DT Sheldon Rankins.

There are going to be a bunch of value guys at certain positions. Yet we have so many holes Bill needs to jump on some of these guys quick.

Going to be fun to watch, I can't remember the last time we had a ton of money.

Mike Garafolo reporting the contract is as such:

$2M Signing Bonus
$1.5M Base
$1.5M in Per Game Bonuses (LTBE)
$9M in incentives for Playoffs, Pro Bowl, All Pro, MVP, Super Bowl MPV, etc.

So it would seem that the cap hit for Cam will be $5M (unless I've learned nothing from following PatsCap ... which is possible if not likely).


EDIT - Miguel confirming it's 4.9.
EDIT 2 - That's currently the 31st highest Cap Hit among QBs. I would expect, at least, 4 rookies (if not 5) will eclipse that and, in all likelihood, a couple of FAs.

Yes that’s a good contract - changes nothing if they can’t trade for a guy like Jimmy should he become available.