Rebuilding The Patriots For 2021 And Beyond

Jeff Howe gives his thoughts - the Athletic

My comments:
I'll add Fla. QB Kyle Trask to his list of QBs to draft. 6'5", 240. Drop back pocket presence++ with decent mobility. 2020 stats - 70% completion rate, 4125 yds, 11.6 AY/A, 43 TDs and only 5 ints. BB could trade back to around 20-25 and still get Trask while adding a late 2nd or early 3rd to boot.
WRs - Marvin Jones &/or Corey Davis would be perfect, thank you.
TE - Hunter Henry for sure. He'd help immensely.
Adding a TE & 2 WRs would do wonders for the offense.
LB - Lavonte David has been productive his entire career plus he can cover a back or a TE.
Of our own FAs, I'm not certain JMac will be back, at least not as a CB; maybe at S. I'd like to keep Byrd and James White.




By Jeff Howe Dec 28, 2020
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The best thing about 2020? There’s at least a sliver of hope it’ll turn to 2021.
That’s where the Patriots have set their focus, as the regular season will expire in a week and they can turn their attention toward the next phase of their rebuild.
So let’s do the same and make 10 bold predictions for the upcoming year. Due to the likelihood that many of these predictions won’t be worth the paper they’re printed on, this message will soon self-destruct. No receipts, please.

1. The Patriots will trade up to draft a quarterback and keep* Cam Newton​

Bill Belichick has publicly acknowledged the advantages of building a roster around a quarterback on a rookie contract, and there are four franchise-caliber talents who are projected top-10 picks.
Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence will likely be the No. 1 pick — too rich for the Patriots — and BYU’s Zach Wilson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance will be gone shortly thereafter. It’ll most likely cost the Patriots at least a pair of first-round picks to get into range to select one of them.
That’s a price worth paying if there’s conviction behind their evaluation of the right quarterback, and the pace of their rebuild depends on it.
There’d be some value in keeping Newton on a short-money contract, especially if the Patriots boost the talent at tight end and wide receiver. If the Patriots trade up to draft a quarterback, they’re not going to want to also spend a significant chunk of cap space on a veteran, so keeping Newton would make some sense.
He’s good for the locker room and should be a solid mentor for a rookie. If the draft pick isn’t ready to start early in the season, Newton would be a serviceable placeholder.
(*I changed my mind three times while writing this section, could do so 10 more times depending how Jarrett Stidham is involved in the final two games and might do so hundreds more times prior to free agency.)

2. The Patriots will extend Stephon Gilmore’s contract and place a second-round tender on J.C. Jackson​

Gilmore is still playing at an extremely high level, but he’ll only earn $7.5 million in cash next season because the Patriots have accelerated future earnings to keep him competitively compensated over the past two seasons.
While Gilmore’s name has come up in trade conversations, the Patriots didn’t come close to dealing him because there was never an acceptable offer on the table, according to a source. The presumption is the Patriots wouldn’t move him for less than a first-round pick. Would their price actually come down in the next three months, and how much will the torn quad impact his fate?
Keeping Gilmore would therefore make the most sense. A two-year, $28.5 million extension would be fair value, rolling that into the balance of his current contract for a three-year, $36 million pact.
Jackson is a restricted free agent, and the Patriots would like to accumulate more picks, particularly under the premise that they’re willing to trade into the top 10 for a quarterback. The Patriots’ two options with Jackson would be to give him a first- or second-round tender, but it’s historically rare for an opposing team to sign away a restricted free agent at the cost of a first-round pick.
Therefore, use a second-round tender, and entice a team to sign Jackson to an offer sheet. That’s an affordable price for a corner with a budding reputation around the league, and the Patriots could use the second-round asset while replacing Jackson with Joejuan Williams or Myles Bryant. They could also re-sign Jason McCourty.

3. The Patriots’ two biggest splashes in free agency will be Hunter Henry and Lavonte David​

Henry will be the top tight end on the market, so he’ll require a contract worth an average annual value of at least $10 million. But Henry also probably got the memo this month that Belichick is infatuated with him.
The Patriots desperately need more production at tight end. Rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene could still grow into solid pieces, but how long will it take? The Patriots can’t go a third consecutive year devoid of statistical output from the position, and Henry would be the answer.
David, a linebacker who turns 31 in January, has flown under the radar in Tampa but has been reliable and productive on all three downs throughout his career. If the Patriots can get him for $8-9 million annually, they can stick him in the middle of their defense with Dont’a Hightower and let Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings flourish alongside them.
The front seven would enjoy an immediate upgrade with David on the inside.

4. Josh Uche will become the Patriots’ top pass rusher​

This is an easy one.
Uche has made an impact with his increased role over the past month, and his trajectory should have a sharp ascension with a normal offseason. Chase Winovich has had a very good season as the Patriots’ best pass rusher, but Uche’s raw talent will shine once the Patriots remove his training wheels.

5. The Patriots will focus on the second tier of free-agent wide receivers​

It would be a surprise if the Patriots completely abandoned their philosophy on paying receivers just because they’ve got $60 million in projected cap space, the fourth-most in the NFL.
That’s why $14-18 million annually doesn’t add up for JuJu Smith-Schuster, Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, Kenny Golladay or Will Fuller. Rather, it’d make more sense to try to snare a pair of the next tier that includes Curtis Samuel, Marvin Jones, Sammy Watkins and Corey Davis.
If the Patriots can land two of them, somehow land one of the plethora of talented wideouts in the draft and combine them with Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers, the group would look much better.

6. The Patriots will re-sign Joe Thuney​

The Pats used the $14.8 million franchise tag on Thuney despite being tight against the cap because they hoped to extend him to a long-term contract. The two sides were never close to an extension before the deadline, nor were the Patriots close to trading him due to an absence of acceptable offers. They also weren’t going to just flip him to the highest bidder due to his value to the team, which played out tenfold as he hopped between left guard and center early in the season.
It’d be surprising if they didn’t continue to offer him a competitive contract. There are only 10 teams with at least $30 million in projected cap room, and it’s tough to envision most of them using a major chunk of it on an interior lineman. Maybe Washington or the Bengals makes a huge push, but Thuney would then have to decide between the fattest payday and an environment he knows best and is closer to achieving postseason success.
It’s unconventional for teams to devote so much cap space to guard, as Shaq Mason will carry a $9.775 million cap hit, but the Patriots can pull it off while their tackles are on rookie contracts.

1/2​

 
she even makes the girls in the girlie thread jealous.
I know, right?

One subtle factor in KVN coming back might be that Marissa might have only been the 3rd or 4th best-looking woman in the city of Miami, but if she came back to Foxboro she'd be number one in the entire State the second her plane touched down.
 
Many players have been released already as teams are preparing for the lower cap - BB's/Zeigler's heads must be spinning at this point - with plenty more to come.
Just look at this list provided by Sportrac


Then look at this FA list, also Sportrac. Yeah, some will be signed by their original clubs but many will also be available. It's mind boggling reading through it.


Choose wisely, Bill
 
Ability and attitude? yes
Play? yes

I hated to see him leave, too. Good player.


View: https://twitter.com/jeffphowe/status/1366816920935219201


I don't often agree with rivshark but he could serve as a great mentor to Josh Uche. Eliminates the need to draft a LB high in this draft when there are so many other needs.
KVN, Hightower, Uche sounds good to me. Plus, KVN played on the line or off the line equally well for us.
And since he was released he wouldn't count in the compensatory calculations!


View: https://twitter.com/McCourtyTwins/status/1366822278416195605
 
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I know, right?

One subtle factor in KVN coming back might be that Marissa might have only been the 3rd or 4th best-looking woman in the city of Miami, but if she came back to Foxboro she'd be number one in the entire State the second her plane touched down.
i can't even with a world where Marissa VanNoy is THE THIRD ORFOURTH BEST LOOKING WOMAN in anything smaller than a galaxy. 😄
 
He talks a lot, but he always seems like a happy, outgoing dude. I don't remember him dissing the Pats then or since, but can recall the opposite.

I hope we bring him back. Solid guy, solid player. Plus, we'd get his wife back, too:

View attachment 2492
He did diss the Pats...last year. He sounded like a jackass...


But, Ty Law also did that before...and I think he's OK with BB now. Stuff gets said sometimes.

Van Noy already said he wouldn't rule out coming back to the Pats.
 
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I know, right?

One subtle factor in KVN coming back might be that Marissa might have only been the 3rd or 4th best-looking woman in the city of Miami, but if she came back to Foxboro she'd be number one in the entire State the second her plane touched down.
I think she would be good as soon as the plane crossed into GA and then all the way up the coast.
 
Do I remember him being a little noisy on his way out of Foxboro?
He's always been a little mouthy. Not sure what terms he left on but he was able
I know, right?

One subtle factor in KVN coming back might be that Marissa might have only been the 3rd or 4th best-looking woman in the city of Miami, but if she came back to Foxboro she'd be number one in the entire State the second her plane touched down.
She's a "Boston 10"
 
He did diss the Pats...last year. He sounded like a jackass...


But, Ty Law also did that before...and I think he's OK with BB now. Stuff gets said sometimes.

Van Noy already said he wouldn't rule out coming back to the Pats.
I thought I remembered something, but shit, if that's all he said then it's not even worth bringing it up. Sign him for three, guarantee the first two and let's move on to something else we need.
 
If Newton comes back, then I might consider taking the year off.

I think everybody likes him and wishes him well, but there were just too many moments where he couldn't deliver at a reasonable level when we had a chance to win a game. I think I've seen enough of Cam Newton, even though a part of me understands that he didn't really have a completely fair chance here.

Sometimes you've just gotta move on. I hope Bill feels the same way.
 
I thought I remembered something, but shit, if that's all he said then it's not even worth bringing it up. Sign him for three, guarantee the first two and let's move on to something else we need.
I think it his tweet that was salty...he might have removed it though afterwards.
 
Putting this here as a reminder...just in case BB brings him back.


View: https://twitter.com/PFF_Patriots/status/1366117994938703876

Yeah, the first time was so successful... :coffee:

sCam mastered the divot throws...nobody else can touch him in that area.

Hoyer was also very impressive as well.

I'm still in awe how the Pats were able to win 7 games. It's actually extremely impressive the more that you think about it.

Just imagine if the Pats get an actually decent QB?!?!
 
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If Newton comes back, then I might consider taking the year off.

I think everybody likes him and wishes him well, but there were just too many moments where he couldn't deliver at a reasonable level when we had a chance to win a game. I think I've seen enough of Cam Newton, even though a part of me understands that he didn't really have a completely fair chance here.

Sometimes you've just gotta move on. I hope Bill feels the same way.
I hear you. It would be tough to look forward to.

But in 2020, I think Cam was like a $1.1 mil cap hit. Ryan Fitzpatrick was $8 mil.

I'd rather another year of Cam at that number than some $8 million schlub who will likely yield you similar results, record-wise.









Ugh... just shoot me.
 
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