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Post by texs31 on Mar 12, 2024 10:23:38 GMT -5
What I like so far: They've focused on retaining the guys they want to remain in the building, showing the team at large that their own people are valued and not relegated to the back burner. They've read the market pretty well with regards to contract values. The safety market is messy right now, so the Dugger tag looks good. Onwenu was a very reasonable deal for both sides. Good depth on the fringes. I love the Gibson deal. Having had to endure multiple Commanders games these last few years, he's the one dude I always liked watching. I'm very interested in the Takitaki deal, and Brissett coming home is many years too late - I was always higher on him as Brady's backup than I was Jimmy G., and there's zero reason they should've kept Hoyer in the building if Jacoby was available. For Day 2: I expect something to happen on the WR front. I feel like if Wolf perceives Ridley getting to pricey, he might pull the trigger on a trade. Especially if the rumblings about the Oregon pro day delegation are true and that Nix is heavily in consideration. I also think there's a name defender out there who they're heavily courting. I wonder if it's Patrick Queen. Based on what i'm reading, it might be that Ridley doesn't believe he's getting pricey enough. The talk is that Jax still wants to bring him back and NE is in. Also talk of a "dark horse team", which is sometimes agent talk for "we need to get these 2 to up their offers". Not always but . . .
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Post by texs31 on Mar 12, 2024 6:35:55 GMT -5
I like what they've done Day 1 but their primary needs have yet to be met (obviously plenty of time to do it).
Long-Term Solution at QB - One way or another, they'll take their crack in the draft.
Present/Future LT - As mentioned above there are some FAs left here. Think Smith is ring-chasing at this stage so we're likely down to the "next tier" (Jonah Williams, Becton). Still think a LT candidate is drafted in the 1st 3 rounds.
Top Target at WR - Ridley seems to be the FA everyone is talking about. MHJ is the part of the debate at #3. Feels like they should take advantage of the draft class regardless. There is also Higgins and Aiyuk atop the trade market.
Difference maker on D - This is what we've been hearing leading up to Free Agency. That they were hoping to add a big piece here. The biggest name FA would be Danielle Hunter (and we need an ED anyway). Otherwise, their still seems to be depth at the top of the CB Free Agency market (Fuller, Gilmore, Nelson, Moore II). Sounds like they were potentially in on Sneed.
Good start. Still LOTS to do (and the resources to do it).
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 20:33:43 GMT -5
Reagor back.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 16:42:09 GMT -5
Mack Wilson to Arizona.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 16:33:07 GMT -5
Epenesa back to Buffalo. Za'Darius Smith back to CLE.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 16:09:40 GMT -5
Per PatsCap, cutting him (Parker) now means no dead money next year. It also means a better chance he can sign when there is more to go around, which could lead to a credit on the cap next year (max of 3.2M).
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 15:31:44 GMT -5
I really hope nobody plans on connecting the dots between TT finally looking like a football player and ANY offseason decision New England plans on making. Just saw the post and was shocked at how big he looks now.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 15:27:32 GMT -5
Who pumped all the air into Tyquan Thornton???
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 15:26:23 GMT -5
Obviously we want next year to be a lot better than the past years. But their decision at #3 needs to impact the next 5-10. A free agent signing, outside of "maybe" Baker, has a much more limited window on it.
It would be such a mistake to say "Well we need a QB for next year and the guy we get at #3 is better than any free agent/trade options so . . . QB it is". Even if there is a guy worthy in that range.
As a matter of fact, there is an argument that for next year, there are a multiple QB options in the market that will give you a better chance in the short term. But it's not just about that.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 14:49:27 GMT -5
Patriots releasing Parker.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 14:00:18 GMT -5
If there decision making at the #3 pick has anything to do with what was available on the FA market, I'm going to be incredibly disappointed.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 13:46:23 GMT -5
Antonio Gibson to the Pats.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 12:32:33 GMT -5
Yes, UMASS. I meant Pharaoh.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 11:19:49 GMT -5
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but a couple of "roster building" trends have either been reported on or speculated (and I'm guessing many will like it): 1. I think it was a MassLive article but it was from direct comments from Wolf. Their grading system for drafted players will be changing. Where BB liked to grade based on how a player fit into their system (leading to a smaller board that often was very misaligned with the "public boards"), the Patriots will now use more of a value-based system. My non-expert translation is that they want to draft the better players and figure out fit later (probably a lazy translation). 2. After Board's release, Taylor Kyles (and I've seen this elsewhere) is wondering if the new regime will spend as much (and dedicate roster spots) on pure ST players.
If these ae true, it's probably music to many of our ears.It is not music to my ears. All teams have ST-specific players besides the punter, kicker, long-snapper. Some keep a returner too, which the Patriots have not since Gunnar (who, presumably, they hoped to develop as a DB). Some teams keep two kickers, one for kickoffs & one for FGs & extra points (the Colts did this for multiple years with Adam V). Slater & Schooler were ST only, and Board ended up being ST only, although in previous stops he had a LB role too. Maybe he would've chipped in here too, if needed. Former rotational safety Adrian Phillips ended up mostly ST but I believe that was due to his poor safety play in limited snaps than any grand design. Having three (mostly) ST players is not roster mismanagement. And a question I've asked before and not received an answer to: If not these three, what starters do you want running full speed down the field into collisions several times per game? I'm old enough to remember when Gronk got hurt on the extra point team & the same radio fools now calling for the elimination of ST players were then adamant that Gronk should not be taking those snaps. Again: if not him, who? There's only so many players allowed on a gameday roster. I have no problem with 3. There are those who would argue they were closer to 5 in many years. Others would just say they were positional players who were very bad at their (non-special teams) positions.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 11:17:58 GMT -5
Dion Dawkins looks to be a free agent now (per himself).
EDIT - I guess he has weird ways of entertaining himself. He just signed an extension.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 9:26:44 GMT -5
Not sure what the trade compensation difference would be but it seems like Aiyuk would be the better acquisition between the 2.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 9:14:03 GMT -5
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but a couple of "roster building" trends have either been reported on or speculated (and I'm guessing many will like it):
1. I think it was a MassLive article but it was from direct comments from Wolf. Their grading system for drafted players will be changing. Where BB liked to grade based on how a player fit into their system (leading to a smaller board that often was very misaligned with the "public boards"), the Patriots will now use more of a value-based system. My non-expert translation is that they want to draft the better players and figure out fit later (probably a lazy translation).
2. After Board's release, Taylor Kyles (and I've seen this elsewhere) is wondering if the new regime will spend as much (and dedicate roster spots) on pure ST players.
If these ae true, it's probably music to many of our ears.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 9:08:42 GMT -5
Tee Higgins has requested a trade following his franchise tag.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 9:07:50 GMT -5
So what do people want the Patriots to do in free agency? Depending which list you look at 10 out of 14 top free agents have signed or been franchised. A few more could sign before free agency even opens. I'd focus on Onwenu, then likely lower level deals on offense, Bourne types. It's a horrible free agent class on offense right now. Focus on the depth of very good defenders and finally take our D to elite status. Though I'd make a run at LT Smith. Then go full on offense during the draft. Internal Candidate Priorities: 1. Onwenu 2. Jennings 3. Wilson 4. Brown 5. Bryant (I'm not as sour on him as most - but to be clear, I'd want him paid like a backup) Externally, we all know the positional needs. If someone is going to tell me there is a better draftee than a FA, I'm not going to argue. I do think, even IF Onwenu is re-signed, they should go after another OT in Free Agency. Then if you're drafted OT (they really should get one) is ready early, then Mike moves back inside (where some believe he's better suited, regardless of his standing as best internal tackle candidate) with the FA and the Rookie sharing the T spots. I'm all over the place on WRs. We have Bourne and Douglas. I really feel like some space should be used to get rid of either Parker or JuJu (if not both). So the top 2, a rookie (maybe a pure X) and a Free Agent? Not sure if that's Ridley (seems to be the top candidate at this point) or not. Fascinated to see who the elite D player they want to bring in might end up being. An Edge? An interior guy (Wilkins)?
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Post by texs31 on Mar 11, 2024 8:41:14 GMT -5
Chris Board to be released.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 10, 2024 10:55:12 GMT -5
Moving Ullmark this offseason, from a NTC perspective, only gets a hair easier this offseason as his list of teams only decreases by 1 (16 to 15).
The big issue is that we don't know WHY he vetoed it. I think he has school age kids so is it that he didn't want to uproot them (or be away from them) mid year? Would he be more willing in the offseason?
Would he want to stay if Bs said that, going forward he'll be a pure backup instead of sharing the starting gig?
It'll be interesting for sure.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 10, 2024 10:50:18 GMT -5
FWIW Jimmy Murphy (Boston Hockey Now) has 3 separate sources who say it wasn't LA. Colorado is the team he's saying.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 10, 2024 10:19:10 GMT -5
Looks like Mac Jones to the Jags.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 10, 2024 9:55:22 GMT -5
Just last offseason, Denver was holding out for a 1st.
That salary, that we're STILL talking potential and not production, and the draft class made that plummet.
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Post by texs31 on Mar 9, 2024 12:37:04 GMT -5
Browns getting Jeudy for 5th and 6th rd picks.
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