Pretty stark contrast with the Uche deal but I'm guessing the incentives are quite difficult to obtain and the guarantee is low. In any case, nice contract for a guy that didn't show a ton his first three years before coming on strong last season. I think he's a real asset in their early down and run defense.
I’ve said in the past it make sense to move Judon now for mid round draft picks. I can’t see him playing under his current number and I don’t think he’s worthy of a raise either.So it looks like the edges will be Judon, Wise, White, Jennings... and Uche on passing downs. Similar to last year but better with improvement from White and Judon healthy.
Edit: I also wonder - are we at a point where trading Judon makes sense?
I know these trades don't really happen but I wonder if they could have explored a Judon plus later picks for Burns trade. That said, I like Judon on this team. He's one of their leaders and they need that right now, plus he has a good relationship with Mayo. Marginal talent upgrade or a trade for picks is probably not worth it.So it looks like the edges will be Judon, Wise, White, Jennings... and Uche on passing downs. Similar to last year but better with improvement from White and Judon healthy.
Edit: I also wonder - are we at a point where trading Judon makes sense?
His cap hit is less this season than last, and they would have a $8-10M dead cap hit if they traded him. He has more value to this team than a 5th round draft pick.I’ve said in the past it make sense to move Judon now for mid round draft picks. I can’t see him playing under his current number and I don’t think he’s worthy of a raise either.
I don't think he's likely to sit out after playing 4 games last year and getting injured. He needs to show he's still explosive before he gets paid either by an extension or in FA.I can’t see him playing under his current number and I don’t think he’s worthy of a raise either.
Are there any head scratchers we can think of that worked out well for the Patriots? Honest question -- I'm remembering these as well but not any specifically.No head scratchers and a pretty logical strategy in mind to start the offseason.
Going through the teams free agent signings from the last handful of years...no, seems like most of the head scratchers ended up really NOT working out.Are there any head scratchers we can think of that worked out well for the Patriots? Honest question -- I'm remembering these as well but not any specifically.
I was someone that OBSESSED over the draft for many years…multiple draft guides and podcasts and I was grilled to the set for at least the first couple days.Are there any head scratchers we can think of that worked out well for the Patriots? Honest question -- I'm remembering these as well but not any specifically.
Wow, I didn't remember Mankins as being controversial. Do we know what their process was in picking him? It would be interesting to compare and contrast to some of the misses in BB's later years.I was someone that OBSESSED over the draft for many years…multiple draft guides and podcasts and I was grilled to the set for at least the first couple days.
Over time it was clear Bill had his own drummer to march to, but the Mankins pick was so head scratching it essentially murdered any remaining interest I had in the draft for all time.
And it was a great pick.
I look at it this way - there were a lot of problems on last year’s team but the guys they’re bringing back really weren’t the problem. I agree that a Tyron Smith and established WR trade/signing would make for a pretty productive offseason. I’m really hoping for Tyron myself.I fucking HATE saying how much I like all the signings - since its just running back the same players - but I like this signing as well.
The free agent guys that either played well or can contribute positively this season - Onwenu, Uche, Jennings, Bourne, Henry - are all back on very reasonable contracts (I'm excluding Dugger from this until we see what actually happens with him). The guys who we didnt want back because of performance or cost - Trent Brown, Mac Jones, Parker, Gesicki, Guy - were shown the door. A few very fringe guys (Wilson, Pharaoh Brown, Mills, Elliot) are gone or still unsigned, but overall they basically made all the right moves with their own crop of free agents.
As much of a BB backer as I am, this process feels a lot different than previous off-seasons (in a good way). No head scratchers and a pretty logical strategy in mind to start the offseason.
If they're able to grab a decent WR in free agency and somehow snag Tyron Smith, I'm psyched about this offseason. As much as I would have loved getting an impact defender with the cap, we're basically adding a top tier edge rusher (Judon) and a a young #1 CB (Gonzalez) to a defense that performed really well last season.
As far as trading Judon? That makes little sense to me right now. His value is at its lowest, so trading him off for some mid-round picks feels like a waste. This is a guy with 15.5 sacks two seasons ago and was on his way to another great campaign before going down last season. I know we're used to being in championship or bust mode, but having one of the 5 best pass rushers on your roster - tied for 4th in sacks 2 seasons ago, 4 sacks in 4 games last year - is something I don't think is worth trading away for a 4th or 5th round pick. If the season seems like its going sideways by the trade deadline and Judon is performing well, I'm sure the market will be there for a trade at that point in time for an elite edge rush rental.
There weren't as many sources back then for public, but he was the highest ranked guard on everyone's board, pegged as a 2nd rounder most places, so maybe a half round to round reach. Mostly it was Bill being early to the party on guard value being too low.Wow, I didn't remember Mankins as being controversial. Do we know what their process was in picking him? It would be interesting to compare and contrast to some of the misses in BB's later years.
Yeah, it’s not that I expected Logan would be bad or anything, it was probably a combination of a lot of things.There weren't as many sources back then for public, but he was the highest ranked guard on everyone's board, pegged as a 2nd rounder most places, so maybe a half round to round reach. Mostly it was Bill being early to the party on guard value being too low.
That's a good point.As far as trading Judon? That makes little sense to me right now. His value is at its lowest, so trading him off for some mid-round picks feels like a waste. This is a guy with 15.5 sacks two seasons ago and was on his way to another great campaign before going down last season. I know we're used to being in championship or bust mode, but having one of the 5 best pass rushers on your roster - tied for 4th in sacks 2 seasons ago, 4 sacks in 4 games last year - is something I don't think is worth trading away for a 4th or 5th round pick. If the season seems like its going sideways by the trade deadline and Judon is performing well, I'm sure the market will be there for a trade at that point in time for an elite edge rush rental.
Also, the Pats can see where their cap is after the draft and see how Judon is moving in early camp and if the cap space is there and Judon doesn't look cooked, then offer a one year extension that makes him feel wanted and uses some of the space.As far as trading Judon? That makes little sense to me right now. His value is at its lowest, so trading him off for some mid-round picks feels like a waste. This is a guy with 15.5 sacks two seasons ago and was on his way to another great campaign before going down last season. I know we're used to being in championship or bust mode, but having one of the 5 best pass rushers on your roster - tied for 4th in sacks 2 seasons ago, 4 sacks in 4 games last year - is something I don't think is worth trading away for a 4th or 5th round pick. If the season seems like its going sideways by the trade deadline and Judon is performing well, I'm sure the market will be there for a trade at that point in time for an elite edge rush rental.
I agree with this post 100%.I fucking HATE saying how much I like all the signings - since its just running back the same players - but I like this signing as well.
The free agent guys that either played well or can contribute positively this season - Onwenu, Uche, Jennings, Bourne, Henry - are all back on very reasonable contracts (I'm excluding Dugger from this until we see what actually happens with him). The guys who we didnt want back because of performance or cost - Trent Brown, Mac Jones, Parker, Gesicki, Guy - were shown the door. A few very fringe guys (Wilson, Pharaoh Brown, Mills, Elliot) are gone or still unsigned, but overall they basically made all the right moves with their own crop of free agents.
As much of a BB backer as I am, this process feels a lot different than previous off-seasons (in a good way). No head scratchers and a pretty logical strategy in mind to start the offseason.
If they're able to grab a decent WR in free agency and somehow snag Tyron Smith, I'm psyched about this offseason. As much as I would have loved getting an impact defender with the cap, we're basically adding a top tier edge rusher (Judon) and a a young #1 CB (Gonzalez) to a defense that performed really well last season.
As far as trading Judon? That makes little sense to me right now. His value is at its lowest, so trading him off for some mid-round picks feels like a waste. This is a guy with 15.5 sacks two seasons ago and was on his way to another great campaign before going down last season. I know we're used to being in championship or bust mode, but having one of the 5 best pass rushers on your roster - tied for 4th in sacks 2 seasons ago, 4 sacks in 4 games last year - is something I don't think is worth trading away for a 4th or 5th round pick. If the season seems like its going sideways by the trade deadline and Judon is performing well, I'm sure the market will be there for a trade at that point in time for an elite edge rush rental.
I don't really see any of the moves made thus far as moves BB wouldn't have made. If they sign Ridley for above market, that would probably be the first, not that I'd disagree with it necessarily.For so long "In Bill We Trust" worked out well that the sudden idea of going with the grain seems so odd in contrast. This offseason has made a lot of sense so far - solid players, great value - and I hope that keeping the D largely intact will allow the Pats to go heavy on offense in what appears to be a deep draft of offensive players. Furthermore, I have confidence that Wolf will avoid the Harry/Strange reaches and draft with consensus which is fine. Also curious to see how he does on the late round flier picks which is something BB was actually pretty good at in terms of mining value. But so far? No complaints, even if this offseason has seemed boring so far in terms of "moves that make sense to the average fan".