Patriots 2023 Season

[Donoghus]

I think it's easiest to blame the coach, followed by blaming the quarterback. Yes, the entire offense was a trainwreck. There's not one person to blame.

I think they will end up drafting Daniels or Maye, and will sign a couple of free agent o-linemen. I'm optimistic that they can rebuild, but it will take time.

I agree with this.  Offensive lines tend to look really bad until the right combination is found, until things click.  It only takes one weak link in the OL for the whole thing to break down.  The Pats had a lot of injuries in the OL last season, exposing a lot of weak links.  A principal goal should be to replenish the OL depth and overall ability.  I am sure they will do this with draft picks and FAs.

The tougher question is whether or not Mac Jones, behind at least a decent OL, and with at least decent coaching, and at least decent weapons, can be a decent QB.  I don't know, arguments can be crafted either way, but I have my doubts.

I am perfectly fine to pick one of Maye or Daniels at #3 but I would also like to see a vet brought in.  That may be easier said than done.  What Vet QB is going to want to sign up to be a designated place holder?  Probably only the ones with no other options.

One who gets a boatload of money tossed their way.

[Goldstar88]

I think it's easiest to blame the coach, followed by blaming the quarterback. Yes, the entire offense was a trainwreck. There's not one person to blame.

I think they will end up drafting Daniels or Maye, and will sign a couple of free agent o-linemen. I'm optimistic that they can rebuild, but it will take time.

I agree with this.  Offensive lines tend to look really bad until the right combination is found, until things click.  It only takes one weak link in the OL for the whole thing to break down.  The Pats had a lot of injuries in the OL last season, exposing a lot of weak links.  A principal goal should be to replenish the OL depth and overall ability.  I am sure they will do this with draft picks and FAs.

The tougher question is whether or not Mac Jones, behind at least a decent OL, and with at least decent coaching, and at least decent weapons, can be a decent QB.  I don't know, arguments can be crafted either way, but I have my doubts.

I am perfectly fine to pick one of Maye or Daniels at #3 but I would also like to see a vet brought in.  That may be easier said than done.  What Vet QB is going to want to sign up to be a designated place holder?  Probably only the ones with no other options.

Mac did this his rookie year. We’ve already seen it. The question is can he get back to how he played that season. Under the circumstances above, I think he could.  I really don’t believe any QB would have had success on the Pats last year.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think it's easiest to blame the coach, followed by blaming the quarterback. Yes, the entire offense was a trainwreck. There's not one person to blame.

I think they will end up drafting Daniels or Maye, and will sign a couple of free agent o-linemen. I'm optimistic that they can rebuild, but it will take time.

I agree with this.  Offensive lines tend to look really bad until the right combination is found, until things click.  It only takes one weak link in the OL for the whole thing to break down.  The Pats had a lot of injuries in the OL last season, exposing a lot of weak links.  A principal goal should be to replenish the OL depth and overall ability.  I am sure they will do this with draft picks and FAs.

The tougher question is whether or not Mac Jones, behind at least a decent OL, and with at least decent coaching, and at least decent weapons, can be a decent QB.  I don't know, arguments can be crafted either way, but I have my doubts.

I am perfectly fine to pick one of Maye or Daniels at #3 but I would also like to see a vet brought in.  That may be easier said than done.  What Vet QB is going to want to sign up to be a designated place holder?  Probably only the ones with no other options.

One who gets a boatload of money tossed their way.

Yes money will sway, but also - for a middling guy like Jacoby Brissett - an opportunity to play.  Backups should yearn to be on the field and would gladly take a job playing for a bad/mediocre team over watching from the sidelines on a better team.   Also - depending on moves in the next 8 weeks, a guy could convince himself (delude himself into thinking) that the Pats could be ok.

[green_bballers13]

My ideal situation:

Trade 3 to Minnesota for Justin Jefferson and 11. Draft a tackle at 11. Sign Baker Mayfield, Saquon, Hunter Henry, and another receiver like Curtis Samuel.

A pipedream? Probably.

[johnnygreen]

My ideal situation:

Trade 3 to Minnesota for Justin Jefferson and 11. Draft a tackle at 11. Sign Baker Mayfield, Saquon, Hunter Henry, and another receiver like Curtis Samuel.

A pipedream? Probably.

I feel the same way. However, I just don't see Kraft committing the kind of money it would take to not only sign Mayfield but to resign Jefferson. For guys of that stature, it's not just the dollars but the guarantee portion, wich is where I think the issue would be for Kraft.

[Phantom255x]

My ideal situation:

Trade 3 to Minnesota for Justin Jefferson and 11. Draft a tackle at 11. Sign Baker Mayfield, Saquon, Hunter Henry, and another receiver like Curtis Samuel.

A pipedream? Probably.

Petition to make @green_bballers13 the GM, say I

I!

 

[Goldstar88]

My ideal situation:

Trade 3 to Minnesota for Justin Jefferson and 11. Draft a tackle at 11. Sign Baker Mayfield, Saquon, Hunter Henry, and another receiver like Curtis Samuel.

A pipedream? Probably.

I feel the same way. However, I just don't see Kraft committing the kind of money it would take to not only sign Mayfield but to resign Jefferson. For guys of that stature, it's not just the dollars but the guarantee portion, wich is where I think the issue would be for Kraft.

Yep. I think people expecting the Pats to make big moves this off-season are going to be disappointed.

[Vermont Green]

My ideal situation:

Trade 3 to Minnesota for Justin Jefferson and 11. Draft a tackle at 11. Sign Baker Mayfield, Saquon, Hunter Henry, and another receiver like Curtis Samuel.

A pipedream? Probably.

I think it is a pipedream.  First and foremost, I expect Baker Mayfield to have better options than coming to NE, even if we somehow are able to trade for Jefferson or some other high profile offensive players.  But I agree with the general approach of landing a vet QB and trading the #3 for other assets.  Easier said than done of course but that overall strategy is fine with me.

And for me personally, I don't think spending big on one receiver is the way to build a team.  So I would not be so high on trading for Jefferson, expecting that his next contract will be very large.  I would rather see that spending spread out to multiple needs.  You might be able to get a tackle and a tight end for the same money for example.

[Goldstar88]

Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports that the Patriots offered Bourne a contract extension before the Scouting Combine got underway last week. The terms of the offer are unknown.


BOOM

[Phantom255x]

Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports that the Patriots offered Bourne a contract extension before the Scouting Combine got underway last week. The terms of the offer are unknown.


BOOM

The Patriots offer:

[Neurotic Guy]

An important outcome of the next 2-3 years is creating an atmosphere where players will want to play.  The Patriot Way no longer exists - and positive culture has to rebuilt. Owners need to provide facilities that show investment in players,  GM/front office needs to show they are on a pathway to winning and are committed to building a winner, and coaching staff needs to show commitment to growth and respect - build a reputation that these are coaches that players want to play for.  Over the next few years free agents will be deciding where they want to play among teams that are offering similar money.  Patriots need an intentional culture reboot.

[Goldstar88]

My ideal situation:

Trade 3 to Minnesota for Justin Jefferson and 11. Draft a tackle at 11. Sign Baker Mayfield, Saquon, Hunter Henry, and another receiver like Curtis Samuel.

A pipedream? Probably.

I think it is a pipedream.  First and foremost, I expect Baker Mayfield to have better options than coming to NE, even if we somehow are able to trade for Jefferson or some other high profile offensive players.  But I agree with the general approach of landing a vet QB and trading the #3 for other assets.  Easier said than done of course but that overall strategy is fine with me.

And for me personally, I don't think spending big on one receiver is the way to build a team.  So I would not be so high on trading for Jefferson, expecting that his next contract will be very large.  I would rather see that spending spread out to multiple needs.  You might be able to get a tackle and a tight end for the same money for example.

I don’t think the Bucs would have re-signed Evans if they weren’t planning on keeping Baker. Someone will overpay for Cousins, which leaves the Pats with Minshew, Flacco, Dalton, Brissett for vet QB’s. If they decide to go that route.

Edit*
And now Russ

[green_bballers13]

My ideal situation:

Trade 3 to Minnesota for Justin Jefferson and 11. Draft a tackle at 11. Sign Baker Mayfield, Saquon, Hunter Henry, and another receiver like Curtis Samuel.

A pipedream? Probably.

I think it is a pipedream.  First and foremost, I expect Baker Mayfield to have better options than coming to NE, even if we somehow are able to trade for Jefferson or some other high profile offensive players.  But I agree with the general approach of landing a vet QB and trading the #3 for other assets.  Easier said than done of course but that overall strategy is fine with me.

And for me personally, I don't think spending big on one receiver is the way to build a team.  So I would not be so high on trading for Jefferson, expecting that his next contract will be very large.  I would rather see that spending spread out to multiple needs.  You might be able to get a tackle and a tight end for the same money for example.

I don’t think the Bucs would have re-signed Evans if they weren’t planning on keeping Baker. Someone will overpay for Cousins, which leaves the Pats with Minshew, Flacco, Dalton, Brissett for vet QB’s. If they decide to go that route.

Edit*
And now Russ

Yeah, I think Baker might be the only FA QB worth investing in long term, and even that could be a stretch. I fully expect the Pats to take Daniels or Maye. They are good qb prospects and the Pats will be lucky to draft either. They should also sign and start one of those qbs mentioned.

[Donoghus]

Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
·
59s
The #Patriots are placing the transition tag on FA S Kyle Dugger, keeping him off the market and giving them a chance to match any offers.

[Goldstar88]

Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
·
59s
The #Patriots are placing the transition tag on FA S Kyle Dugger, keeping him off the market and giving them a chance to match any offers.

For anyone wondering:

What Is the NFL Transition Tag?

In many ways, the transition tag is the franchise tag’s rarely-used NFL cousin. Like a franchise tag, a transition tender is a one-year, fully guaranteed contract given to a pending free agent.

Players on the transition tag can negotiate with other teams during free agency, just like franchised players.

The transition tag window is the same as the franchise window: Feb. 20 through March 5. Each NFL team can apply one transition or franchise tag per season.

Two key differences exist between the transition tag and the franchise tag: price and compensation owed to a player’s original team if he changes clubs.

Transition Tags Are Cheaper Than Franchise Tags

A franchise-tagged player’s salary is based on the top five salary cap hits at his position over the past five years. In contrast, the transition tag uses the top 10 salary cap hits over the same five-year period.

These are then divided by the total salary cap over those five years. Once the percentage is calculated, it’s multiplied by the current year’s salary cap to achieve the transition tag number.

One similarity between the franchise and transition tags is the calculation for players with a significant prior-year salary. Any tagged player must earn at least 120% of his previous season’s cap charge. The player makes the larger number if that figure is higher than the transition tag.-(Pro Football Network)