Patriots 2024 Offseason Thread

Eliot Wolf has final say on the draft

I'm still on the Harrison Jr. Train, unless Williams or Maye drop. I wouldn't pass on Williams and I'm about 90 to 95% sure I wouldn't pass on Maye.

Harrison Jr. Opens up everything like veterans wanting to come here, a guy like Penix in the 2nd would be unreal or just building up your roster to be a QB away.

Harrison Jr. Is likely the safest bet in draft to be one of the top players at his position in the NFL.

49ers built their team that way, even after the Trey Lance disaster they are still in good shape.

If they like any of the Next 3 QBs I'd move back up into 1st to get the 5th year option. But everyone will know it's coming too.

My understanding is next year's draft for QB will be awful. So you get an old Cousins recovering from injury, MHJ, hope it works out for 2 years and then what? I just don't like that much uncertainty at the most premiere position when you have 3 highly touted QB prospects there. Unless they get lucky and someone like Spencer Rattler develops in your system it's going to be tough for them to compete.

If I'm the Bears I'm taking Caleb Williams and doing everything in my power to trade with the Patriots to get ahead of Arizona and grab MHJ to pair with him.

If the Bears offer an insane package of picks then I might do that because I'd have more faith in building out like the 49ers. It would have to be extremely enticing offer though. Which again, I think that would be a great situation for Chicago who is getting Caleb Williams for free and is in line to get an additional 3rd rounder from Fields.

thefootballusa.com/top-college-quarterbacks#:~:text=15%20Top%20College%20Quarterbacks%20For%20The%202025%20Draft,Van%20Dyke%20Source%20%3A%20twitter%20...%20More%20items

That doesn't even list the Texas QB. As good as this years class? Not likely to have two guys top 5 for the last ten years. At the same time it could be rather good also. I mean people had Sanders and the Texas QB in the first round this year till they went back to school, very smart move by those two. As you can see some young guys, bunch of transfers to top programs. Cam Ward to Ohio State, Riley Leonard to Notre Dame. One big plus of the new transfer rules is we get to see top guys go to top programs. Something Michael Pratt should have done!

Now this differs, but some people rank 6 QBs in this draft as 1st round picks. They can take Harrison Jr. And then trade back up to get a QB if they really like one. Heck our 2nd and next year's first gets you where in the first round? As Wolf said, they are looking at all options.

Wolf also said they changed the way they grade prospects to a more normal just rank all the best prospects model. Bills was about position and fit on team, not just the best players, why they had such a small draft board. This is basically Bills guys, but doing it their way and by all accounts they are going to do some big moves this offseason.

Counterpoint Kirk just got some custom grillz

Are we sure the Buccaneers are going to let Mayfield walk? The GM leads me to believe Mayfield isn't going anywhere.

“Baker meant a lot to this team, this fanbase, and this town. I think we meant a lot to him. I think it was a perfect marriage. I've said it before, but he sought us out. He gambled on us. He saw it as a good situation. Saw it better than a lot of national outlets that saw us winning two games,”

Russell Wilson is currently 35 and hearing about how he acted during his Seahawks tenure I don't believe the skills are enough to makeup for it. Wilson is under contract and will likely need to be cut for the Patriots to acquire him. I don't know what the cap hit would be for Denver or if that's even worth it for them. They have nothing behind Wilson from what I understand.

I think Kirk is going to be the best of what is available.

That's what GM say, Bloom said something about Bogaerts then his offer wasn't even in the ballpark. He's a free agent, they didn't franchise him, so yeah he's in play. The question is are the Patriots interested and if so at what level?

Everyone has been reporting since his benching last year he's getting cut. I haven't seen one thing that says otherwise. I take him over Cousins all day long, not even close.

You can certainly have your opinion, I don't agree. I stay away from him at all costs, the only non mobile QB I'm considering is Penix and that's because he'll be dirt cheap.

Assuming he does get cut, and it looks like you're right on that, I don't get why Wilson over Cousins. Cousins has been a better QB outside of the playoffs and I feel like you're less likely to get there with Wilson.

As for Mayfield, they could have used the tag, but it looks like Mayfield would have lost money and both sides seem to want to work out a deal. Could be lip service, but I think there's something there between the two parties. I can see him being nervous about going to another club since his last two didn't end well and he has a good thing going here. Fair or unfair regarding the Browns exit they still gave up on him.

Penix interests me, but his age and two knee surgeries have me concerned.

They do when the other employers offer such benefits and it’s a differentiator for them and their families when deciding if they want to move to a 4-season, high income tax state.

I don't agree, the overwhelming majority of free agents aren't turning down the best contract because of crap like daycare. Now the Weather and Taxes, that's entirely different. 

Mayo seems to like J C Jackson. But, how much does he really like him? If they cut him, they save $14 million with no dead money on their salary cap.