The season is done. The conversation is going on in a few places already, but it is time to look ahead. The Pats don't have a ton of space. Miguel has it at $2.5 million to get to 65 players.
UFA:
Devin McCourty
Trent Brown
J.C. Jackson
Ted Karras
Mathew Slater
Ja’Whaun Bentley
Dont’a Hightower
James White
Brandon Bolden
Brandon King
Marcus Martin
Harvey Langi
Jamie Collins
Brian Hoyer
Carl Davis
Troy Fumagalli
Nick Folk
RFA:
Jakobi Meyers
Jakob Johnson
Gunner Olszewski
ERFA:
Terez Hall
My guess is Meyers gets 2nd round tender, while Jakob, Gunner and Hall get non-tendered. Miguel is assuming tenders for Jakob and Gunner. I think they would be worth resigning, but the tender at more than 2m seems like too much. Restructuring Shaq Mason could open up $4 million. Some other ways to get space would be cutting Agholor ~4m, Godchaux ~5m, or Van Noy ~5m. I would think Godchaux is the most vulnerable due to Barmore's presence. Agholor and Van Noy seem worth about what they would free up if cut.
I'd like Jackson back, but I suspect he will be out of the Pats' price range. Karras seems like a possible re-sign. Would Trent Brown want to come back cheap? Though ST wasn't very good overall this year, the players they stand to lose were not the problem there. The Pats will probably need to find some depth at linebacker. So that's probably some money they will have to spend on the middle class at LB and ST.
Edit: updated FAs
UFA:
Devin McCourty
Trent Brown
J.C. Jackson
Ted Karras
Mathew Slater
Ja’Whaun Bentley
Dont’a Hightower
James White
Brandon Bolden
Brandon King
Marcus Martin
Harvey Langi
Jamie Collins
Brian Hoyer
Carl Davis
Troy Fumagalli
Nick Folk
RFA:
Jakobi Meyers
Jakob Johnson
Gunner Olszewski
ERFA:
Terez Hall
My guess is Meyers gets 2nd round tender, while Jakob, Gunner and Hall get non-tendered. Miguel is assuming tenders for Jakob and Gunner. I think they would be worth resigning, but the tender at more than 2m seems like too much. Restructuring Shaq Mason could open up $4 million. Some other ways to get space would be cutting Agholor ~4m, Godchaux ~5m, or Van Noy ~5m. I would think Godchaux is the most vulnerable due to Barmore's presence. Agholor and Van Noy seem worth about what they would free up if cut.
I'd like Jackson back, but I suspect he will be out of the Pats' price range. Karras seems like a possible re-sign. Would Trent Brown want to come back cheap? Though ST wasn't very good overall this year, the players they stand to lose were not the problem there. The Pats will probably need to find some depth at linebacker. So that's probably some money they will have to spend on the middle class at LB and ST.
Edit: updated FAs