Patriots Free Agency Thoughts

Patriots Free Agency Thoughts

                Seven days after the official New Year of the NFL began, the Patriots have had their best offseason in years. At first, the Patriots laid back and didn’t make any moves, except for re-signing a decent depth TE in ‘the Hooman’, which made many very nervous. Then we saw the rival Broncos go out and snag one of the league’s best safeties in TJ Ward for 4 years, and then go out and get our lockdown cornerback Aqib Talib on a crazy 6 year/57 million dollar deal with 25.5 million guaranteed. The very next day the Broncos were able to strike a deal with DeMarcus Ware for 3 years/30 million with 20 million guaranteed. So to say the least, the Pats were 18 hours into the new season and were already way behind Denver.

                Then things escalated quickly, and Revis rumors started flying left and right. Next thing we know, 24 hours into free agency the Patriots had upgraded the cornerback spot by getting arguably the best CB in the NFL on basically a 1 year/12 million dollar deal. Now the whole contract thing is weird with the second season and Revis’ cap hit in 2015 is 25 million. So obviously Revis won’t be playing on that cap next season so the Pats either need to get a long term extension done or cut him. But who cares at this point, we have the best CB in the NFL for the 2014 season and that’s what matters.

                While the Revis boner continued to rage, rumors began that the Patriots were interested in former Seahawks CB and Legion of Boom member Brandon Browner. Just 24 hours after landing the Island, reports started to come out that the Patriots signed Browner on a 2 year deal but the agent refuted the report. Eventually, the next day Browner officially inked a 3 year/17 million dollar deal with almost no risk the Pats way and a huge reward for landing a beast press coverage CB.

                Now a good question is: do the Patriots have their own Legion of Boom in the making? Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman are equal in my eye. I may give Revis the nod for longer sustained success. Then we took Seattle’s ex-LOB member in Browner and put him on the other side of Revis. Not to mention we still have Dennard, a good press man defender vs. small/average sized WRs, and the budding Logan Ryan who showed a ton of potential last season as our number 3 and 4 cornerbacks. Add all of that to one of the NFL’s best FS in Devin McCourty and all the Patriots need is a legit SS (Duron Harmon? Maybe A. Wilson comes back? Or a draft pick?) And they have arguably the best secondary in the NFL.

                If all of that didn’t excite us enough, then the Patriots answered almost immediately when the Broncos reportedly signed Manny Sanders to a 3 year/15 million dollar deal by signing a tall possession WR in Brandon LaFell to a 3 year/9 million dollar contract. LaFell reminds me a lot of David Givens. Both have the same type measurables and production through their first 4 seasons too. I can easily see LaFell out producing his cheap 3/9 contract in our system. This is a signing that could pay huge dividends and even if it doesn’t he will still give the Pats at least 600 yards 4 TDs, which isn’t bad at all.

                After Talib left New England, the biggest free agent from the Pats 2013 team was wide out Julian Edelman who did his best impression of Wes Welker by giving the team 100 catches for 1,000 yards. The first hour of free agency looked rough for a Edelman/Pats reunion, because he reportedly turned down a 3 year/14 million dollar offer with high incentives. With Edelman set to hit the market, many held their breath (I honestly didn’t). He was rumored to be in talks with Baltimore and Cleveland and even visited his hometown team the 49ers. But once the Ravens landed Steve Smith and Cleveland filled an offer sheet for another slot WR in Andrew Hawkins, Edelman returning to NE seemed almost certain and it was. With the contract details just being released today, Edelman signed a 4 year/17 million dollar contract with 8 million guaranteed to stay in NE. A good deal for the Patriots and Edelman as well. Brady now gets his favorite target from 2013 back for four more seasons, which he must be happy about.

                Now, we have lost two ILB’s in Brandon Spikes, who signed a 1 year/3.5 million dollar deal with the Bills, and Dane Fletcher who signed a 1 year/2 million dollar deal in Tampa. But that is fine, we can draft the depth and we still have Pro Bowler Mayo and budding stars Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower running the middle of the field next season.

                Belichick has upgraded both the offense and the defense in just one week of the new season. Now a pessimist would say “well, we still need pass rush help, O-line depth and a Wilfork replacement and maybe another WR” and really if you are saying that just shut your mouth. This is the most talent the Patriots team has had in years and this is the best first week of free agency they have had in YEARS. We have made three AFC title games in a row with less talent and now we are looking to have a lockdown defense with the new additions, Mayo and Kelly returning, and the young guys getting another season under their belt as well. We also have a possible Givens 2.0 in LaFell, another Welker in Edelman and the rookies could improve big time as well. Oh, and in case you forgot we still have Gronk coming back at some point too. So go take all of your negative crap somewhere else because all of the needs we have can easily be assessed through the upcoming draft. Right now, we have the Legion of Boom East Coast, led by Revis Island and we still have the GOAT QB Tommy F’n Brady with good options around him. If you are not having Super Bowl feeling about this team, you need to see a doctor about insanity or depression. Like I said, this is the most talented team we have had in years and the other holes will be assessed by the great Belichick, don’t worry folks we have a legitimate Super Bowl shot this year, bigger now than in years.  

Darrelle Revis a New England Patriot!

Revis Island Now In Foxboro!

            It was about 11:30pm on Tuesday night and I was about to go to sleep and I decided to check twitter just one last time before bed. I see a tweet from Schefter that says something about Aqib Talib…. I do a double take, look again and see that the damn Denver Broncos signed Talib to a ridiculous 6-year/57million dollar deal that included 26 million in guaranteed money (a record for a CB)!!! The deal may have been too much money, but the Broncos just got better while weakening our chances as well.

            The first thing that went through my mind (besides F Denver!!) was: now we need to get Revis. It’s Revis or bust at this point.

            Well, the great football mind Bill Belichick made it happen. He fulfilled Pats fans dreams by signed one of the best corners in the NFL, also upgrading from Talib too! Those 20 hours in between the Talib and Revis signings were very nerve-racking to say the least. But then, news broke that BB pulled the trigger on the Island and he was now a Patriot!!! Revis is easily the best talent at cornerback that BB has had since well Talib or even as far back as Ty Law. We all saw how good Talib made this Patriots depleted defense. Now, imagine what Revis Island and BB could do together? Scary isn’t it?

            This is the biggest offseason move made by BB since getting Randy Moss for nothing in 2007. And of course, as he always does, BB made this deal very cap friendly for the 2014 season. Early reports had the deal pegged at 1-year/12 million but in actuality the deal is 2-years/32 million and Revis’ cap hit this season is only 7 million with a 2015 club option! So pretty much it boils down to that Revis won’t be playing on that crazy 2015 cap number after the first season so he will either be cut or extended. It has been reported that BB wants to extend Revis long-term if the ‘feel out’ period goes well in NE.

            Whatever the case, Revis is here in 2014 and the Patriots get everyone back healthy and their defense could be ELITE this upcoming season. Yes, ELITE. They shouldn’t stop with this signing though. Brandon Browner and Wesley Woodyard have visited in recent days. If the Patriots could lock both of them up and then maybe try to add a Jared Allen or Julius Peppers, this defense could be insanely good, especially with the great coach BB at the helm. The Broncos went out on a spending spree for three very good defensive guys. BB could easily have one big deal and three mid-level deals locked up and we would have a better defense than Denver. The key is not stopping with just Revis. If BB makes a couple more moves, this is easily a Super Bowl caliber defense and with TB12 running the offensive show, look out NFL. The Patriots are coming.

            I am so happy to say Revis Island is a Patriot and I can’t wait for my Revis jersey to come in! (Yes, I did get one. It is worth it. This 2014 team could be very special.) Revis Island is here baby! Go Pats!!!!

Patriots Free Agency Outlook

Patriots Free Agency Outlook

·         What to do with Talib? The biggest and most important question heading into free agency less than a week from is will Aqib Talib be back in New England next season? Early on after the season, both sides seemed very mutual in the return of Talib and it was just an issue of working out the money in the deal at that point. But, then the cap jumped up and Dolphins CB Brent Grimes received a 4-year/32 million dollar deal with 16 million guaranteed from Miami and just like that, Talib’s return to the team seems a lot shakier. Now, it’s obvious that with a healthy Talib on the field the Patriots defense is much better than with him not on the field. That’s where the Patriots get some leverage with Talib; they can bring up his past hip issue and maybe they can talk him into an incentive based deal. The most recent reports have Talib wanting the same type deal as Grimes, and that would be a lot of money for the Patriots to dole out for a player with red flags. The highest I would pay Talib is 3-years/22.5 million with 11 million guaranteed, and I feel the Pats are in that same line of thinking as well. It is obvious BB likes Talib and wants him to return, but he is also huge on value and giving a flagged player a huge contract isn’t BB’s MO. If Talib walks, CB becomes a big position of need and the defense will need a #1 CB. Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, Vontae Davis, and Alterraun Verner are all good options that could be cheaper than Talib if he walks. They would be downgrades from the elite talent Talib has shown but they will fill a needed spot. So, the decision is huge for the Patriots front office in less than a week. Do they pay the man and take the risk or do they let him walk and try a cheaper replacement?  It’s a huge question for the Patriots offseason and it will be answered in the next five days.

 

·         What about Edelman? If I am Julian Edelman’s agent I walk into BB’s office and demand an Amendola-type contract for the season that Edelman just had. With the recent rumors swirling around trading Amendola, maybe the Patriots have some interest in signing Edelman after all. If Amendola isn’t traded or cut by March 11^th I do not expect to see Julian Edelman back in NE next season. Financially it doesn’t make any sense to keep two of the same injury prone players. There’s really not much the Pats can do with Edelman at this point. They have the same player in Amendola and Edelman has the right to cash in on his huge season. I sadly think he is gone.

 

·         What are some targets I would like to see? If the Patriots makes various moves to cut players and extend others to open up cap space, I would like to see them have Talib as their #1 priority since he makes the defense THAT much better. After that, (if cap allows) I would like to see a SS added to the roster. Donte Whitner is at the top of my list since he can come here for second tier money and add a badass hitter in the secondary which NE hasn’t had since Rodney Harrison left. I think a 2-year/10million or 3-year/12 million dollar deal with 4-5 million guaranteed could bring Whitner to NE and help out McCourty and the secondary a ton. If not him, maybe NE looks to paying the top guys, Byrd and Ward, to sure up the secondary long term? Also, another good option could be a well-known Chris Clemons from Miami who the Pats see twice a year. Another need I think can be addressed in FA (if cap allows) is a vet DE that can be a sub rusher for Jones and Nink. Jared Allen is at the top of the list but guys like Everson Griffin, Arthur Jones, Justin Tuck, or Robert Ayers are better and cheaper options that could be signed. And lastly, I would like to see another outside WR threat be added to help out the rookies next season. James Jones tops my list, because he has had a good rapport with Aaron Rodgers and has good production. Emmanuel Sanders, Dexter McCluster, Mario Manningham, Kenny Britt or Danario Alexander could all be upgrades as well on the perimeter at the WR position.