2017 Patriots FA & Trades Thread

Phil Plantier

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Bryan Cox was fired as Atlanta's DL coach - would be interesting to bring him in if the Pats have a coaching staff vacancy.
 

Super Nomario

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If Logan Ryan leaves, I imagine they'll look to replace him by signing someone? Here is a list of UFA CBs. I don't follow players on other teams closely enough to comment, but I'll put it out there for reference.
They thought enough of Justin Coleman to keep him on the roster all year even though he didn't play much down the stretch. And they did just draft Cyrus Jones in the second, and maybe they think Jonathan Jones can take a bigger role.

I wouldn't be surprised if they bring back Ryan for more than anyone expects, a la McCourty a couple years ago. Ryan does a lot, between being able to play the slot, being able to cover bigger receivers, being able to play press or zone, and tackling as well as he does. They can replace pieces of that, but they don't have one guy who can do all of it, and Ryan's versatility lets them put Butler and Rowe to their best uses. Probably not Alford money, though.
 

tims4wins

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Thoughts on franchising DH then letting him walk after 2017? Given the cap increase I would think it is feasible. My biggest concern would be whether it would have an impact on him and the locker room. His comments today about the tag being a lot of money are at least somewhat encouraging from that perspective.
 

bakahump

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nink looked terrible in the SB. I specifically watched him during the replay and was decidedly unimpressed. I have been off the Nink bandwagon for a couple years now and will love to see an upgrade of some type come in.
 

Byrdbrain

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Miguel took a stab at a fair market contract for Hightower.

5 yr $65M with $28.5M guaranteed.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Miguel took a stab at a fair market contract for Hightower.

5 yr $65M with $28.5M guaranteed.
I realize the cap has escalated a lot but that deal makes him the highest paid ILB in history, which seems excessive for a guy who provides a lot on the field but doesn't make a ton of splash plays, doesn't really tackle sideline to sideline, and isn't an upper tier coverage guy. I love High but I don't think he is close to as good as players like Luke Kuechly or Bobby Wagner.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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I realize the cap has escalated a lot but that deal makes him the highest paid ILB in history, which seems excessive for a guy who provides a lot on the field but doesn't make a ton of splash plays, doesn't really tackle sideline to sideline, and isn't an upper tier coverage guy. I love High but I don't think he is close to as good as players like Luke Kuechly or Bobby Wagner.
Huh?

Keuchly is on a 5/$62/$34 deal signed two years ago.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/carolina-panthers/luke-kuechly-9819/

Depending on the structure I'd give Hightower that in a heartbeat.
 

Hoodie Sleeves

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I realize the cap has escalated a lot but that deal makes him the highest paid ILB in history, which seems excessive for a guy who provides a lot on the field but doesn't make a ton of splash plays, doesn't really tackle sideline to sideline, and isn't an upper tier coverage guy. I love High but I don't think he is close to as good as players like Luke Kuechly or Bobby Wagner.
Considering how much the cap is expanding on a regular basis, almost every player who is in the top half of his position should be getting "highest paid in history" money.


The cap was 143 million when Keuchly signed. "Equivalent" money right now (assuming 170M) would be 5/75/40
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Huh?

Keuchly is on a 5/$62/$34 deal signed two years ago.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/carolina-panthers/luke-kuechly-9819/

Depending on the structure I'd give Hightower that in a heartbeat.
Kuechly is far better and was much younger when signing that deal. Miguel's proposal looks awful to me, especially him being effectively uncuttable until year four (at 30, ancient for an ILB that has taken a lot of pounding over the years) and even then with lots of pain. I would much rather franchise him then move on.
 

kelpapa

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Kuechly is far better and was much younger when signing that deal. Miguel's proposal looks awful to me, especially him being effectively uncuttable until year four (at 30, ancient for an ILB that has taken a lot of pounding over the years) and even then with lots of pain. I would much rather franchise him then move on.
Keuchly was two years out from free agency when he signed the extension. It's not comparable.
 

Shelterdog

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nink looked terrible in the SB. I specifically watched him during the replay and was decidedly unimpressed. I have been off the Nink bandwagon for a couple years now and will love to see an upgrade of some type come in.
He screams "surprise offseason cut" to me--he's just at an age where it's hard to keep up.
 

DJnVa

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Eagles cut CB Leodis McKelvin. He'll be 32 later this year, and I'm pretty sure he's never even played in a postseason game.

Ring chaser?

Worth it?
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Keuchly was two years out from free agency when he signed the extension. It's not comparable.
That's true. My point is less about Kuechly specifically and more simply that Miguel's proposed deal looks bad to me. The history of NFL teams signing ILBs to big contracts circa age 27 is really bad and this contract has so much bonus money that it's very hard to get out of until year four at the earliest. If it's a choice between that deal and the franchise tag, I take the latter any day.
 

kelpapa

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Without knowing the specifics of the offer, that doesn't mean anything. They could have had issues regarding years or guaranteed money. If they are serious in their discussions regarding the franchise tag, projected at $14.75M, they are willing to go higher than $10M.
 

Rico Guapo

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Without knowing the specifics of the offer, that doesn't mean anything. They could have had issues regarding years or guaranteed money. If they are serious in their discussions regarding the franchise tag, projected at $14.75M, they are willing to go higher than $10M.
Tagging him for one season at $14.5mm is very different than paying him $12mm to $13mm a year over 5 years.
 

Hoodie Sleeves

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Tagging him for one season at $14.5mm is very different than paying him $12mm to $13mm a year over 5 years.
This.

Talking about the $14M tag doesn't indicate at all that they're willing to give him 10+ over 4+ years.

That being said, they gave McCourty 5/47/29 in 2015, which, adjusted would be 5/55/35, which is less overall money than we're talking about for Hightower, but way more guaranteed, so its not like this is an unprecedented amount of money for an important defensive player. Both would be 27 at the start of the new money.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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As an aside, I would sign High to the contract Jamie Collins got in a heartbeat. There is a big difference between that contract, which is essentially a two year deal with minimal cost to cut him afterward, and the one Miguel proposed for Hightower.
 

Oppo

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Who thought a year ago, they'd go into 2017 without Collins, Hightower, and Jones?
 

PaulinMyrBch

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MYRTLE BEACH!!!!
Is anyone else getting the feeling that Hightower skipping the parade AND White House is a sign that he's heading out of town to the highest bidder?
 

kelpapa

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Is anyone else getting the feeling that Hightower skipping the parade AND White House is a sign that he's heading out of town to the highest bidder?
He skipped the parade and White House two years ago per Reiss.
 

Gambler7

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Is anyone else getting the feeling that Hightower skipping the parade AND White House is a sign that he's heading out of town to the highest bidder?
He didn't go the White House in 2015 either. Not sure on the parade. I don't think it is an indication of anything other than who he is. Not big on the extra stuff.
 

Byrdbrain

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I agree that neither of those things is a sign that he will go to the highest bidder but he will still will probably go to the highest bidder.
 

dcmissle

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The WH stuff is very understandable and shouldn't factor into the risk assessment here.

Pats have what -- 6th most cap room of 32 teams? They have the wherewithal, but if some other team thinks he's worth more to them than what the Pats offer, there's not much legitimate complaining to be done.

We all laughed when BB said they are 5 weeks behind, but I'm sure that time would be valuable in planning beyond options 1, 2 and 3 -- to 4, 5, and 6.
 

PaulinMyrBch

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Ok cool. Didn't realize he missed the previous parade. Absent that, it seemed sort of odd (to me) to distance himself like that.
 

BaseballJones

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The Pats play enough 3 safety looks that they could absolutely keep Chung if they brought in someone like Berry. It's just getting the right fit. You want someone who can play a good single-high safety, which allows someone like Chung to matchup against a pass catching TE or RB. If you get two Chung-types, you start exposing yourself to the deep ball.
In many respects, Chung is the perfect guy for this defense. When they go 4-2-5, Chung gives them a thumper in run support.
 

Phragle

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The WH stuff is very understandable and shouldn't factor into the risk assessment here.

Pats have what -- 6th most cap room of 32 teams? They have the wherewithal, but if some other team thinks he's worth more to them than what the Pats offer, there's not much legitimate complaining to be done.

We all laughed when BB said they are 5 weeks behind, but I'm sure that time would be valuable in planning beyond options 1, 2 and 3 -- to 4, 5, and 6.
Over the cap has them 3rd, but with only 2 million of space over the 6th spot. They're in unbelievable shape going into 2017. It's weird hearing people say they can't afford Duron Harmon. I want Eric Berry, never mind Harmon.

In many respects, Chung is the perfect guy for this defense. When they go 4-2-5, Chung gives them a thumper in run support.
Yeah Chung is a great fit and value. I wouldn't be surprised it they extended him.
 

Tyrone Biggums

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If they really don't franchise Hightower he's gone. Too many teams have money under the cap that could use him and will pay him top dollar. They have like 60 million under the cap...
 

54thMA

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As far as free agency for a team like the Patriots; you will get veterans who don't have a ring and want one, so they'll be willing to come here for less dollars, but on the flip side, you're going to lose players who got their ring/rings and just want to get paid, plus you're going to get teams that will be willing to pay more for your players than you are as their value is high/overinflated after winning a Super Bowl.

If Hightower leaves, it's pretty amazing that out of the trio of Jones, Collins and Hightower, all three left, two via trade, one via free agency.

It's the price of success, but with them winning two Super Bowls in three years, I'll take it in a heartbeat.

Both coordinators are still here, Belichick is still here, Brady is still here; I trust Bill will fill in whatever holes free agency creates; as we saw this year, he's got a tremendous ability to find players whos skill set work well for the Patriots.

Whatever happens with Hightower and the rest of the free agents, I'm ok with it.

If he leaves, all I can say is thanks for the two huge plays in the past two Super Bowls that contributed to the wins, best of luck to you going forward.
 

Maximus

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They need to tag Hightower and draft LB's high in this draft. It is now a weak area for us (McClennin, Van Noy) but I think Roberts has upside. Hopefully we can work out something long term with Hightower but I am not convinced. So many teams would give him a big time, long term contract.
 

Tyrone Biggums

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They need to tag Hightower and draft LB's high in this draft. It is now a weak area for us (McClennin, Van Noy) but I think Roberts has upside. Hopefully we can work out something long term with Hightower but I am not convinced. So many teams would give him a big time, long term contract.
That's my concern. All it takes is one team to offer him 35-40 guaranteed. At least if they tag him then the Pats control the situation.
 

MuppetAsteriskTalk

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They need to tag Hightower and draft LB's high in this draft. It is now a weak area for us (McClennin, Van Noy) but I think Roberts has upside. Hopefully we can work out something long term with Hightower but I am not convinced. So many teams would give him a big time, long term contract.
Van Noy is only 25 and he seemed to get better as the season went on. Not sure what advanced stats say about him, but I thought he had a nice positive impact on the team - much more than expected.
 

Old Fart Tree

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There are gonna be some truly bananas contracts handed out, with so many teams having money to spend. Let me rephrase that; deals that will make sense today would have looked completely bananas one or two years ago.
 

ehaz

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They need to tag Hightower and draft LB's high in this draft. It is now a weak area for us (McClennin, Van Noy) but I think Roberts has upside. Hopefully we can work out something long term with Hightower but I am not convinced. So many teams would give him a big time, long term contract.
Dream scenario: use the Browns #12 on Reuben Foster and tag Hightower?
 

Phragle

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I agree. I actually think Berry, Campbell, and Pryor are BB kind of guys. Obviously thats completely wishful thinking, but...

I gotta say, if they opt to walk into next season with $30-40 million in cap space, I'm going to be a little pissed. They have a chance to turn a very good defense into an elite one, and they can do it without blowing up the future or losing their depth. You don't get many opportunities like that, especially when you're already the best team in the league. I'm praying that BB was playing the long game with the contracts he's dolled out, and now he's going to cash in.
It could be hard for them to spend it all, or it would at least be very un-Patriots looking. They can give out a lot of front-loaded contracts but I still envision them carrying around 20 million into September. I did the sportrac thing and I gave out above market and front loaded contracts. I signed DHT, Butler, Branch, Sheard, and some other guys. Then redid DA's deal, tagged Bennett, signed some C level UFAs and Eric Berry. They'd need to get a DE, LT, a CB in the draft but I like the team I put together a lot and I was still left with 29 million before the draft. I real life I'd probably sign a few more C level guys, and the draft should cost around 5 million.