New England Patriots 2022 Discussion Thread

erikthredd

Looks like NE is back to their usual slow start in free agency compared to last offseason. BB's only move to add a new player so far is trading Chase Winovich to the Browns for linebacker Mack Wilson.
Here's a list of their own free agents:

Returning:
Devin McCourty
Matt Slater
Brian Hoyer
James Ferentz
Nick Folk

Departures:
JC Jackson
Ted Karras

Unsigned Patriots Free Agents:
Ja'Whaun Bentley
Brandon Bolden
Trent Brown
Jamie Collins
Troy Fumagalli
Terez Hall
Dont'a Hightower
Jakob Johnson
Brandon King
Harvey Langi
Jakobi Meyers
Gunner Olszewski
James White

Released:
Kyle Van Noy

From what I could find NE has roughly 6-9M in cap space and a lot of holes to fill,especially at linebacker, Bill is likely going back to his penny pinching ways in the coming weeks.

perkdog

6.9 million in cap space is alarming.

Mathew Slater is a lock for the Pats roster, all he does is run up and down the field on special teams but I think he is Bills favorite player

erikthredd

I have no problem seeing Matt Slater brought back again, he's arguably the best special teams player in football and has always been worth the few mill he gets paid every year.

With very little cap space and just these draft picks below I'm expecting BB to do a lot of trading back during the draft.
Round 1: 21st overall
Round 2: 54th
Round 3: 85th
Round 4: 125th
Round 6: 199th
Round 6: 209th (via Rams. Sony Michel trade.)

This feels like its going to be a developmental year for their young players then next offseason they're expected to have a ton of cap space to work with. (as of right now, roughly 89M)

perkdog

I never said I had a problem with Slater I just think it’s ridiculous that he is a roster lock every year but Bill will let far more valuable players walk.

erikthredd

True but that's probably because his salary has been pretty low every year since coming into the league. Our more valuable players that leave are usually getting 24+M guaranteed at the time of signing.

Edit: Looking at the list of NE's current contracts for this upcoming season, Slater's 2022 cap hit is 31st on the team just behind our S/T long snapper Joe Cardona and just ahead of LB Anfernee Jennings,TE Devin Asiasi and LB Jahlani Tavai. I've never even heard of two of these guys lol.

perkdog

Holy crap, I did NOT realize his salary was that low.

My statement has officially been retracted 😂

erikthredd

With so little cap space and so many players likely to leave this is looking like BB is planning on gaining back a ton of comp picks next offseason. With Jackson landing the highest FA contract so far that's looking to be a high pick.

perkdog

@erikthredd said:
With so little cap space and so many players likely to leave this is looking like BB is planning on gaining back a ton of comp picks next offseason. With Jackson landing the highest FA contract so far that's looking to be a high pick.

So we should expect another off year I’m thinking, I mean that’s fine if we can capitalize on these comp pics.

erikthredd

I think it will be comparable to last season and better than that year with Cam. Just looking at 2023,as of right now,they own a pick in every round,should expect some solid comp picks on top of that, and currently have 91M in cap space.
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2023/
IMO,everything hinges on Mac getting better though so we'll see what happens.

perkdog

So we lose Karras and Mason but hoodie makes sure he pays another roster lock McCourtey 9 million?

What’s your take on that Erik, those guys were dependable last year and we need to protect Jones

craig44

I am really upset about losing both karras and mason. the O line has to be strong. period. they just lost 40% of last years line. and we have a developing QB. I would much much much rather take McCourteys 9MM and the 2.5 or so MM being paid to Slater and keep those Olinemen.

I just cant understand paying Slater that much to sprint up the field a few times a game. especially for a 37 year old player who does nothing else.

erikthredd

@perkdog said:
So we lose Karras and Mason but hoodie makes sure he pays another roster lock McCourtey 9 million?

What’s your take on that Erik, those guys were dependable last year and we need to protect Jones

I think we're going to miss Mason especially in the run game,Karras is replaceable,imo. I just checked the Mason trade should free up about 7.5M minus whatever a 5th round pick salary cost.

I had no idea that they gave McCourty 9M to come back for one more year. I doubt that money would have made any difference in keeping JC Jackson but,who knows, it might have been enough to bring in a handful of players to fill different roles.

erikthredd

@craig44 said:
I am really upset about losing both karras and mason. the O line has to be strong. period. they just lost 40% of last years line. and we have a developing QB. I would much much much rather take McCourteys 9MM and the 2.5 or so MM being paid to Slater and keep those Olinemen.

I just cant understand paying Slater that much to sprint up the field a few times a game. especially for a 37 year old player who does nothing else.

Karras signed a 3yr/18M deal w/5M guaranteed and Mason was due to make 6.5m & 7.5m over the next two seasons. Matt Slater has a base salary of 1.7M w/800K in incentives, his money really would not have made any difference in keeping those two O linemen around. McCourty's might have though. Trent Brown is also a free agent so there's a chance he leaves too.

erikthredd

Spotrac lists the Pats with roughly 12.9M in cap space right now but I don't know if that factors in Mason's trade and their two signings since yesterday afternoon. (James White 2yr/5M and CB Terrance Mitchell 1/3M.) Before any of these three moves they were listed with 12.1M in space.

craig44

@erikthredd said:

@craig44 said:
I am really upset about losing both karras and mason. the O line has to be strong. period. they just lost 40% of last years line. and we have a developing QB. I would much much much rather take McCourteys 9MM and the 2.5 or so MM being paid to Slater and keep those Olinemen.

I just cant understand paying Slater that much to sprint up the field a few times a game. especially for a 37 year old player who does nothing else.

Karras signed a 3yr/18M deal w/5M guaranteed and Mason was due to make 6.5m & 7.5m over the next two seasons. Matt Slater has a base salary of 1.7M w/800K in incentives, his money really would not have made any difference in keeping those two O linemen around. McCourty's might have though. Trent Brown is also a free agent so there's a chance he leaves too.

right, i meant the combination of mcCourtey and slaters money would have gone a long way towards keeping those two. 13MMish to keep the 2 olineman. around 11MM paid to McCourtey and Slater.

erikthredd

Mason's money was already on the books so Slater & McCourty's money really had nothing to do with keeping Shaq or not. That's just Bill thinking he's replaceable for less money. Hopefully they find a way to re-sign Brown then draft a couple mid/late round Olinemen that fit their scheme.

On a sidenote,it sucks seeing Mason get moved but at least he's going to protect TB12 in Tampa. He should fit right in with Ali Marpet retiring.

thisistheshow

A few points.....

Last year we FINALLY had a good draft. We are paying for all of those poor drafts over the years right now. Paying in two ways. One, players like Winovich and Harry exemplify picks that should be huge contributors. Two, we had to over spend last year to fill holes. Let's hope that future drafts go more like the one last year and not like those that preceded it.

We better put together a solid offensive line one way or the other.

We need to get more production out of our big signings last year. I'd say Judon and Henry performed well.

Slater is a future hall of famer and a locker room necessity.

perkdog

This is a group text my buddies sent me lol

erikthredd

Yup. this a regroup and develop the young players type of year. Then see what you have heading into next offseason when you'll have a ton of picks & cap space to build on.

erikthredd

Just read that Buffalo released WR Cole Beasley, he'd be a perfect fit to fill in that Julian Edelman role. julio Jones is out there too but who knows if NE can afford to sign either.

erikthredd

Bill's big offensive free agent signing ends up being Ty Montgomery who is listed as a WR turned RB.

thisistheshow

Because I am not in the NE area, I don't have my pulse on the fans reactions to the team. Does @perkdog 's text sum it up?

Are there updates on who will be calling plays on either side?

erikthredd

I haven't really listened to local STR here in NE but its free agency season and they're losing some of the better players and that never goes over well around here. With the possibility of losing 3/5ths of your starting Oline (Karras/Mason plus Brown if he signs elsewhere) to go along with practically your entire Linebacker core on the market (Collins,Bentley,Hightower,Van Noy,Langi) and very little cap space to re-sign some, Its looking like we're probably going to have some major holes to fill.

I haven't read anyhting about who will be calling the offensive playcalling but if I had to guess I'd say its probably going to be Joe Judge if not Belichick. That is unless BB decides to promote one of their position coaches. The only name I know there is Troy Brown as WR coach and I doubt he gets the job.

craig44

I know where I am the natives are restless for sure. this offseason is nowhere near as fun as last years...

erikthredd

@craig44 said:
I know where I am the natives are restless for sure. this offseason is nowhere near as fun as last years...

Next offseason should be more fun with a ton of draft picks and 90M-ish in cap space. Although there are few names from this list that should hopefully be re-signed. (imo - Jones/Myers/Harris/Wynn/Bailey)
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/2023/all/new-england-patriots/

perkdog

@thisistheshow said:
Because I am not in the NE area, I don't have my pulse on the fans reactions to the team. Does @perkdog 's text sum it up?

Are there updates on who will be calling plays on either side?

Speaking for myself and my buddies we are all not happy about anything so far

Justacommeman

Lost another special teamer. I liked Gunner

thisistheshow

@Justacommeman said:

Lost another special teamer. I liked Gunner

.....

I'll miss the gun show

perkdog

They resigned Trent Brown

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33563424/offensive-tackle-trent-brown-agrees-two-year-deal-return-new-england-patriots?platform=amp

perkdog

Hopefully they sign another solid OL and a WR soon if any are available

erikthredd

ja'Whaun Bentley returned on a 2yr/9M deal and its being reported that former Pats CB Malcolm Butler and Bucs RB Leonard Fournette are in NE for tryouts.

perkdog

@erikthredd said:
ja'Whaun Bentley returned on a 2yr/9M deal and its being reported that former Pats CB Malcolm Butler and Bucs RB Leonard Fournette are in NE for tryouts.

I hope they don’t overpay for Butler, Fournette is a TD machine under the right circumstances.

erikthredd

.> @perkdog said:

@erikthredd said:
ja'Whaun Bentley returned on a 2yr/9M deal and its being reported that former Pats CB Malcolm Butler and Bucs RB Leonard Fournette are in NE for tryouts.

I hope they don’t overpay for Butler, Fournette is a TD machine under the right circumstances.

He left the Cardinals in 2021 for personal reasons before playing a single game then ultimately retired. If BB signs Butler you gotta think it would be fairly cheap at this point. It would also show from both sides that any bad blood is in the past.

perkdog

@erikthredd said:
.> @perkdog said:

@erikthredd said:
ja'Whaun Bentley returned on a 2yr/9M deal and its being reported that former Pats CB Malcolm Butler and Bucs RB Leonard Fournette are in NE for tryouts.

I hope they don’t overpay for Butler, Fournette is a TD machine under the right circumstances.

He left the Cardinals in 2021 for personal reasons before playing a single game then ultimately retired. If BB signs Butler you gotta think it would be fairly cheap at this point. It would also show from both sides that any bad blood is in the past.

Ok, I had no idea Butler was out last year.

craig44

man, butler would shock me. after the stories i heard about how his tenure with the team ended.

thisistheshow

@craig44 said:
man, butler would shock me. after the stories i heard about how his tenure with the team ended.

....
I've heard and shared a few here and elsewhere, iirc. But I still feel unsure of the truth. What is the final narrative?

thisistheshow

And I would be shocked if he came back, because it would put the elephant in the room back into the room, per se.

thisistheshow

We are on page one of the 2022 Pats thread..... How will it end... 🤷

erikthredd

@thisistheshow said:
We are on page one of the 2022 Pats thread..... How will it end... 🤷

Celebrating Brady winning his 8th ring while we're getting ready to splurge in 2023 free agency and the draft after winning a couple playoff games.

thisistheshow

@erikthredd said:

@thisistheshow said:
We are on page one of the 2022 Pats thread..... How will it end... 🤷

Celebrating Brady winning his 8th ring while we're getting ready to splurge in 2023 free agency and the draft after winning a couple playoff games.

.....

craig44

@erikthredd said:

@thisistheshow said:
We are on page one of the 2022 Pats thread..... How will it end... 🤷

Celebrating Brady winning his 8th ring while we're getting ready to splurge in 2023 free agency and the draft after winning a couple playoff games.

I would take that!!

erikthredd

Looks like Malcolm Butler is back on a 2yr 9M deal.

thisistheshow

@erikthredd said:
Looks like Malcolm Butler is back on a 2yr 9M deal.

.....
Seems like a reach. A one year easily cuttable deal would have made more sense.

erikthredd

@thisistheshow said:

@erikthredd said:
Looks like Malcolm Butler is back on a 2yr 9M deal.

.....
Seems like a reach. A one year easily cuttable deal would have made more sense.

There hasn't been any mention yet of the guaranteed money but you gotta think that it has to be mostly incentive laden. Especially with how he he stepped away from football for an entire season and the manner of how he & the Pats parted ways previously. I also think he was a product of the Pats system and not too worried about him not living up to that pretty small contract.

Justacommeman

The band is getting back together. Patricia and Judge rejoin the Pats

m

erikthredd

The team had former NYG/Michigan safety Jabril Peppers in for a workout today and I wouldn't mind seeing him get signed. I liked him coming out of the 2017 draft as a possible replacement for Patrick Chung at the time.

perkdog

@Justacommeman said:
The band is getting back together. Patricia and Judge rejoin the Pats

m

They are crawling back after failed test in adventurism.

Josh will prove to be a tough replacement

perkdog

@erikthredd said:
The team had former NYG/Michigan safety Jabril Peppers in for a workout today and I wouldn't mind seeing him get signed. I liked him coming out of the 2017 draft as a possible replacement for Patrick Chung at the time.

He has to getting up there, wouldn’t hurt for this year but this is another hole that needs more than a band aid

erikthredd

@perkdog said:

@erikthredd said:
The team had former NYG/Michigan safety Jabril Peppers in for a workout today and I wouldn't mind seeing him get signed. I liked him coming out of the 2017 draft as a possible replacement for Patrick Chung at the time.

He has to getting up there, wouldn’t hurt for this year but this is another hole that needs more than a band aid

Looks like they signed him on a 1yr 5m deal. I don't know about the safety position having a hole when that might be their strongest positional unit with McCourty,Philips,Dugger & Peppers. I think their only real hole on defense is at the linebacker position and that could be solved by drafting some or re-signing Hightower,Collins and/or Van Noy.

perkdog

@erikthredd said:

@perkdog said:

@erikthredd said:
The team had former NYG/Michigan safety Jabril Peppers in for a workout today and I wouldn't mind seeing him get signed. I liked him coming out of the 2017 draft as a possible replacement for Patrick Chung at the time.

He has to getting up there, wouldn’t hurt for this year but this is another hole that needs more than a band aid

Looks like they signed him on a 1yr 5m deal. I don't know about the safety position having a hole when that might be their strongest positional unit with McCourty,Philips,Dugger & Peppers. I think their only real hole on defense is at the linebacker position and that could be solved by drafting some or re-signing Hightower,Collins and/or Van Noy.

My bad I was thinking he was a LB, I read safety in your post and it didn’t click

erikthredd

I remember there was actually some pre-draft talk of Peppers playing that hybrid LB/SS role that Belichick has always been looking for. That type of player that could help in the run game and who has enough speed to cover tight ends in the passing game. I'm not sure if he ever lived up to that type of role seeing that he only landed a one year deal in free agency but,who knows, maybe playing in a BB defense sparks his career. IIRC he was also a return guy too.