Some thoughts on Patriots free agency as we burn some cash in our pocket:
- I tried to warn you this methodical approach, the Ron Wolf Way, was likely coming to the Patriots. It's not sexy at all. It's not fun at times, especially during free agency. But there's a method to the madness. It just takes a lot of patience. If the goal is a sustainable, competitive team year in and year out - no one is going to approach six Super Bowl titles, so we're trying to be realistic - then this is a proven system. I'm not saying it's going to work here, but the Packers are 2 for 2 doing it this way, and the third iteration under Brian Gutekunst looks like it's about to payoff big time again.
- What happened with Calvin Ridley, who ended up signing with the Titans? What I was told earlier in the day that the Patriots believed it was between them and the Jaguars. New England's offer was stronger than Jacksonville's in terms of AAV and guarantees, but Ridley really didn't want to leave the Jaguars due to personal reasons. Now, was that true? Could be. Ridley's wife has her own businesses - perhaps she didn't want to leave the south in general for the Northeast (his stops now: grew up in South Florida, Alabama, Atlanta, Jacksonville and Tennessee ... sensing a trend). The other possibility was the Ridley camp was just using that as an excuse to prolong negotiations. Ridley had very competitive offer from the Patriots. An old agent trick is to delay and see if someone gets stupid and jumps in at the last minute.
- The Titans came out of nowhere over the top with $50 million guaranteed. I mean, good for the agent, David Mulugheta of Athletes First, and the Ridleys. No one around the league thought he would get north of $22 million. My sense is the breakdown came on the guaranteed money. I don't think the Patriots would ever go to $50 million for a 30-year-old receiver who sidelined himself with mental health issues in 2021, and was suspended for the 2022 season for gambling. The belief is the Patriots were around $40 million in guaranteed money, but we'll have to see if that holds up. The Patriots/Krafts often have creative guarantee structures, at least they did under Bill Belichick. Is that continuing?
- The Patriots viewed Ridley as a potential No. 1 receiver. He may be 30, but he has low mileage after entering the league at 24 and his other issues. They will sign players like that. They are not going to just throw money at any player. If there was a franchise left tackle, they would sign them. They just don't see those players on the market. They are not going to overpay for X just because it's a hot name. They will pay for players they view as part of their future core. If they aren't, the Patriots aren't going to extend themselves.
- The Patriots may be looking for short-term deals at both spots. Mike Williams and Michael Thomas are street free agents. As far as unrestricted free agents: Marquise Brown, Tyler Boyd, Curtis Samuel, KJ Osborn, Cedrick Wilson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
- Seems like "burn some cash" is the new "full-throttle" in terms of statements that franchise chiefs would like back. Just because Jerod Mayo misspoke doesn't mean Eliot Wolf should be held to it. And in baseball, you have to spend to get back into contention. It doesn't work that way in football. Draft trumps all. And the Patriots will be burning more cash in short order - on extensions for Christian Barmore and Rhamondre Stevenson.
- If the Patriots draft a quarterback, offensive tackle and three receivers in the draft, would that constitute "weaponizing" the offense if they all play right away? Would that be an upgrade over last season? There's a long way to go.
- My updated depth chart. If the Patriots get a QB, OT and WR with their first three picks - which is very possible - things look a lot better.
- I'm telling you, offseasons are going to be boring around here. I understand the frustration. I heard it all the time in Green Bay with Ted Thompson. Fans and Brett Favre hated him at times as they were 4-12 and 8-8, and Thompson wasn't really signing any free agents. Man, the postgame chats I used to have to do with Packer Insiders members were BRUTAL. Then suddenly they were 13-3 and one play away from the Super Bowl.
- The draft will be and has to be the lifeblood of this team. It's going to be tough for a while, but if those guys do their job in the draft, it will look a lot better in time. It just won't be all that fun around free agency.
- That's not to say they will never spend money - they will when they are close. I think Wolf is much close to his father, Ron, and Brian Gutekunst in that regard. Gutekunst just paid for a top safety, Xavier McKinney, and running back, Josh Jacobs. You can do that when you nail the draft to the point where every starter but one (Preston Smith) was homegrown, and you're knocking on the door of contention with an ascending QB and roster. That's where the Patriots want to be. But it's going to be a process.
- Then we'll judge it all. You can definitely compare it to what the Titans are doing, and see which method has lasting success. Titans think they have a QB in Will Levis (we'll see). They gave him Ridley, RB Tony Pollard and a center in Lloyd Cushenberry. They also added CB Chidobe Awuzie and LB Kenneth Murray. Patriots could have used help at some or all of those spots. They'll likely do most of their work in the draft, and the secondary market. Which method wins out?
- A lot of people are clamoring for Justin Fields, whose market is so extinct the Colts just signed Joe Flacco. I asked an NFL executive who I thought might have interest in Fields, about his lack of a market:
60% completion percentage (last in NFL)
30 INTs
16 Fumbles
135 Sacks (3.5 a game) (average 45 per season)
In 40 games
He can’t process
He isn’t accurate
He has to have the offense simplified continually
That’s why he has no market
These guys aren’t winning championships - EVER…
Have to be able to think and throw!!!
