All right, everyone. Let's dive into this week's questions:
Question from Twitter follower #StillHere: What players do you expect to restructure in 2019?
Answer: Tom Brady, Devin McCourty, Dont'a Hightower, and Shaq Mason (provided the Patriots need to create cap space after the September roster cutdowns).
Question from Twitter follower David Feingold What $ contract is JC Jackson on and will it change now that it seems he’s a starter?
Answer: Jackson is on his undrafted free agent deal and is signed through the 2020 season. His deal cannot be changed until after the 2019 season. His becoming a starter does not change his contract at all, but it does mean he will earn more money under the Performance-Based Pay program. Players with high playtime percentages and low salaries benefit the most from this program.
Question from Twitter follower Brett Bosse: What kind of contract do you think Stephen Gostkowski will get this off-season, and will it come from the Patriots? The run the Patriots have had at kicker over the last 23 seasons has been remarkable.
Answer: Expect his next contract with the Patriots will look a great deal like his current one.
Terms: Four years, $17.2 million; signing bonus: $6 million; total guarantee: $10.1 million.
2019 - Base salary: $2 million (fully guaranteed); Workout bonus: $100,000; Roster bonus: $200,000 ($12,500 per game if active); Salary cap charge: $3.8 million.
2020 - Base salary: $2.2 million (fully guaranteed); Workout bonus: $100,000; Roster bonus: $200,000 ($12,500 per game if active); Salary cap charge: $4 million.
2021 - Base salary: $2.7 million; Workout bonus: $100,000; Roster bonus: $200,000 ($12,500 per game if active); Salary cap charge: $4.5 million.
2022 - Base salary: $3.1 million; Workout bonus: $100,000; Roster bonus: $200,000 ($12,500 per game if active); Salary cap charge: $4.9 million.
The above deal would keep Gostowski as the highest paid kicker in the league.
Question from Twitter follower Dan Noonan: On the offensive line, what is the cap hit or savings if they cut Cannon since Waddle has shown he can fill the spot and Wynn is coming back?
Answer: If the Patriots were to release or trade Cannon before June 2nd, their dead money would be $2.8 million while their net cap savings would be $4,161,250.
Question from Twitter follower John Limberakis: Do you think Flowers or Brown would net us 3rd round comp picks in 2020 given the cap space we have to sign free agents and the expected price tag differential? If I am not framing it correctly please feel free to re-frame that question.
Answer: If Trey Flowers and Trent Brown do not re-sign, I expect their deals with their new teams to be large enough so the Patriots will be awarded third-round compensatory picks in the 2020 draft.
Question: What do you expect to happen with the Patriots free agents
Answer: I expect the below players to be re-signed. Shown are my projected 2019 cap numbers.
- Gostkowski - $3.8 million
- Jason McCourty - $3 million
- Trey Flowers - $10 million
- Ryan Allen - $1.2 million
- Phillip Dorsett - $2 million
- LaAdrian Waddle - $2 million
- John Simon - $1.5 million
- Albert McClellan - $745,000
- Ramon Humber - $745,000
- Jeremy Hill - $1.1 million
- Jeremy Hill - $1.1 million
- Ulrick John - $745,000
