NE Patriots & 2025 Free Agency

[Southieinnc]

It was 25 years ago, but the unions in upstate NY (Between the city and Albany) provided the best craftsmen I have ever worked with.

Understood. Some onions are better than others. I was in the Ironworkers union.
What you need to be an Ironworker is a size 48 shirt and a size 2 hat!

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I am really looking forward to see what team lines up for the Pats this year. All that cap space and high picks can only mean good things.

Vrabel picked the right team to go to.

 

[nefansince75]

I have belonged to 3 unions. They once served a purpose.
Now their only function is to destroy business and protect lazy workers.
What has the Teachers union done for our country? Only 30% can read and write at grade level......

Unions serve one purpose and have always served this one purpose. Balance the power from greedy owners. Has always seemed like two wrongs somehow lead to what's right for the workers.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Unions serve one purpose and have always served this one purpose. Balance the power from greedy owners. Has always seemed like two wrongs somehow lead to what's right for the workers.

Except for that whole corruption thing.

 

[Southieinnc]

Except for that whole corruption thing.

I lost my first union job to corruption. I would not go along with it.
Got fired/ laid off/fucked by union.
My Supervisor for the company apologized to me.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

I lost my first union job to corruption. I would not go along with it.
Got fired/ laid off/fucked by union.
My Supervisor for the company apologized to me.

It's not just the unions, I know. There are assholes everywhere.

I got a job not long after High School. An Electrical outfit out of Barre Vermont. Seemed like a dream job at the time as the promise was start as a laborer and if I could prove myself, they would send me to school to become an electrician. I was stoked. This was back in the eighties when just having a job was an accomplishment. They had me working on several different projects every week. Two were federal, the others were not.
They kept the federal wages and paid me straight time. I approached them and got laughed at.
Yeah, not much help for a young kid vs the employer back in the eighties. I was just a punk no one wanted to listen to and they were the upstanding employer...
Back to pounding the pavement I went.

 

[nefansince75]

Except for that whole corruption thing.

I included that as part of the balance. Both sides are corrupt!

 

[BigKen]

After hearing Vrabel kill all of the potential free agent and trade talk a couple of weeks ago, I've noticed that the language of all of the potential, possible, probable and wishing trades are still being touted as if they re in the works until the writer then throws in the big IF or COULD BE.

After digging up what all of the rules are for teams, agents and owners, it's pretty straight forward.

From the end of the Super Bowl game until the start of the new season, everything is a no-no. Teams can informally talk potential trades, other than draft picks, but cannot agree on any final deal until the season officially starts. It prevents teams from signing players to extensions and then dealing them to another team. The reason for allowing teams to "talk"? Because every team will be represented at the Combine and the league knows that people will get together to discuss players and who might be interested in certain players. During the combine, draft pick positions can be discussed but actually making a deal for any pick is forbidden. (wink-wink)

Anyway, looks like teams are having writers send out feelers about players they might be willing to trade if the price is right.

Patriots 4th or 5th Round pick for Packers CB Jaire Alexander?
Patriots 3rd or 4th Round pick for 49ers WR Deebo Samuel? (I think he'd be worth a 3rd.)

For the Patriots, let’s explore six potential cap casualties that they could be interested in for potential draft picks (Patriots only have so many picks, so giving them up would have to be well worth the potential)

WR Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars) (4th/5th/6th) (BK = 7th)​

The Patriots need upgrades at wide receiver this offseason but the current free agent market leaves plenty to be desired (especially with Tee Higgins looking likely to stay in Cincinnati). That could lead them to look for some veterans to help raise the floor in the room. Apart of that group may be Christian Kirk, who posted 1,100-plus yards in his first year in Jacksonville in 2022 and could be a good fit inside with Josh McDaniels.

Kirk has seen his production drop the last two years as he’s battled injuries, however. He’s played just 20 total games over that stretch including eight last year due to a broke collarbone. The Jaguars were reportedly considering trading him at last year’s deadline and would save $10.4 million by releasing the 29-year-old.

RT Braden Smith (Indianapolis Colts) (5th/6th) (BK=No Thanks)​

Offensive tackle remains one of, in not the biggest, needs on the Patriots roster. With questions atop the free agent market and NFL Draft at the position, it could be another spot New England looks to bring in some veterans to help solidify certain spots. That could include right tackle Braden Smith, who enters the final year of a four-year, $70 million contract extension with the Colts.


Smith missed the final five games this past season due to a personal issue and dealt with an assortment of injuries in 2023 that limited him to 10 games. When on the field, however, Smith did not allow a sack in ‘23 and surrendered just four this season (three coming in one game). For Indianapolis, they would save $16.75 million releasing the 28-year-old.

ED Harold Landry III (Tennessee Titans) (4th/5th) (BK= 6th)​

One of Mike Vrabel’s first draft selections in Tennessee could soon find himself on the free agent market. Even after a nine sack season, the Titans could save nearly $11 million on the cap this season and an additional $17.5 million next season by releasing Landry this offseason.

For a Patriots team in desperate need of pass rushers, a reunion with Landry, who also attended Boston College, could make plenty of success. His advanced pass rush metrics have fallen off a bit in recent years, but the 29-year-old is still a finisher as he recorded 10.5 and then 9.0 sacks in his last two seasons since tearing his ACL in 2022.

ED Bryce Huff (Philadelphia Eagles) (3rd/4th/5th) (BK=5th)​

Huff will be an interesting name to watch in Philadelphia this offseason. After inking a big three-year, $51.1 million deal in free agency last offseason the pass rusher fell out of favor with the eventual Super Bowl Champions. Appearing in just 12 games, Huff managed just 2.5 sacks and 23 pressures (five coming in a meaningless Week 18 contest).

New England has seen first-hand how productive the 27-year-old can be as pass rusher with the New York Jets, where he took on an expanded role in 2023 and set career-highs with 10.5 sacks and 67 pressures. If they believe he can replicate that success Huff would be worthy of a look as a reclamation project. For the Eagles, the best way to offload Huff will be a trade with a post-June 1 designation.

DL Javon Hargrave (San Francisco 49ers) (4th/5th) (BK=7th)​

The Patriots will likely address their defensive line in a deep draft class, but they could also find some value in free agency. That could include 32-year-old Javon Hargrave who is coming off a triceps tear that cost him the majority of the 2024 season. This offseason the 49ers have already committed to releasing him (and potentially bringing him back for the right price) just two years into a four-year, $84 million deal.


Time will tell how productive Hargrave will be off the injury, but the interior rusher did record 60-plus pressures over each of his last three seasons to go with 25.5 combined sacks. Before getting hurt this year, Hargrave recorded one sack and eight pressures over the 49ers first three games. With teams eyeing a loaded defensive tackle draft class, Hargrave could slide under the radar on the open market.

CB Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers) (4th/5th) (BK=4th)​

Alexander was once viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in football after earning two Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro nods in 2020 and 2022. More recently, however, Alexander has played just seven games in each of the last two seasons due to an assortment of injuries.

With his future and relationship with the team in question, it looks likely that Green Bay will move off the corner this offseason. A trade or release prior to June 1 would free up just over $6.8 million in cap space and over $17 million next season. Either move with a post-June 1 designation would come with $17 million and $19.5 million in relief over those two years.

While Alexander’s inability to stay on the field is problematic, taking a shot on pairing the 28-year-old with Christian Gonzalez could be an enticing option for the Patriots.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

CB Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers) (4th/5th) (BK=4th)​

Alexander was once viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in football after earning two Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro nods in 2020 and 2022. More recently, however, Alexander has played just seven games in each of the last two seasons due to an assortment of injuries.

With his future and relationship with the team in question, it looks likely that Green Bay will move off the corner this offseason. A trade or release prior to June 1 would free up just over $6.8 million in cap space and over $17 million next season. Either move with a post-June 1 designation would come with $17 million and $19.5 million in relief over those two years.

While Alexander’s inability to stay on the field is problematic, taking a shot on pairing the 28-year-old with Christian Gonzalez could be an enticing option for the Patriots.

This is the one that most interests me.

A secondary with Gonzalez, Jon Jones, Marcus Jones and Alexander would be formidable.

 

[YankeeRebel]

This is the one that most interests me.

A secondary with Gonzalez, Jon Jones, Marcus Jones and Alexander would be formidable.

And any RT, I would love to see, in FA

1. Best DE we can land.

2. Decent CB for the #2

3. RT. RTs cost less than LT draft a LT in round one get the 5th year option

 

[BigKen]

With the announcement of the increase in the salary cap, the Patriots will have between $126.5M and $129,5M to spend.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

With the announcement of the increase in the salary cap, the Patriots will have between $126.5M and $129,5M to spend.

 

[nefansince75]

With the announcement of the increase in the salary cap, the Patriots will have between $126.5M and $129,5M to spend.

anyone see this and feel like we're playing monopoly?

 

[Southieinnc]

anyone see this and feel like we're playing monopoly?

No. It's not going to go far enough......

 

[Southieinnc]

This is outside the box but something to consider.

Patriots Could Fix Glaring Hole With Blockbuster Trade

The New England Patriots had probably the worst offensive line in football this past season, and most likely would not argue with that take. That is not exactly

www.si.com

 

[YankeeRebel]

This is outside the box but something to consider.

Patriots Could Fix Glaring Hole With Blockbuster Trade

The New England Patriots had probably the worst offensive line in football this past season, and most likely would not argue with that take. That is not exactly

www.si.com

I am all about securing our lines. If it makes sense for both teams why not?

 

[Yankee Traveler]

This is outside the box but something to consider.

Patriots Could Fix Glaring Hole With Blockbuster Trade

The New England Patriots had probably the worst offensive line in football this past season, and most likely would not argue with that take. That is not exactly

www.si.com

For what price though?

 

[Southieinnc]

For what price though?

Houston could be a motivated seller with abysmal cap situation.....

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Houston could be a motivated seller with abysmal cap situation.....

Combined with drafting Trapilo...

 

[BigKen]

Just so everyone is up to date ...................

2025 NFL Team Salary Cap Tracker

A real-time look at the 2025 salary cap totals for each NFL team, including estimated cap space.

www.spotrac.com