How the Patriots can increase cap room

So many of Patriots nation thought the Pats were going into free agency with a lot of cap room. Few of us realized how many valuable Patriots were going free agent. The team is sitting around a projected $43 Million and they have a lot of players to resign and draft picks to pay.  Here is a list of players the Patriots could cut or trade to increase the salary cap room.  Doing so would save the Patriots about $16,635,974 before adjusting for dead cap. 

Corners: Jason Mccourty and D. Ross.

Defensive linemen: D. Wise and B. Cowart.

Backer: D. Rivers

Running Back: R. Burkhead 

Safety: M. Gant

Offensive Lineman: K. Cunningham

Tight End: M. Lacosse

Wide out: G. Olszewski

Quarterback: C. Kessler

The Patriots should also work to ask wide out Sanu to take a $2 Million dollar pay cut.

This won't solve all the salary issues going into 2020 but it will make them manageable. The Patriots are going to lose key free agents and fan favorites. That is inevitable and we as fans must prepare for it, instead of freaking out like we do every year. We must also prepare ourselves that we could see Brady try to break the team to get paid and be allowed to walk. 

Like with Gronk when Belichick signed Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Ben Watson to answer and fill the hole for Gronk, Bill will sign someone to replace Brady but will they stick around and will they contribute.

Patriots are in complete rebuilding stage of their coaches

The Patriots lost Bill O'Brien in 2014 but replaced him with Josh McDaniels. The Patriots lost Matt Patricia in 2018 to the Detriot Lions. In 2019 they lost Brian Flores, Chad O'Shea and Jerry Schuplinski.  Going into 2020 so far the Patriots have lost Joe Judge. Nick Cesario and Josh McDaniels leaving are still possibilities.

Judge is looking to build his staff and is reportedly looking to raid the Patriots staff, and is Interested in Bret Bielema the Patriots defensive line coach and former Arkansas head coach. As Joe Judge builds his team it is reasonable to believe he may go after a few more of the Patriots coaching staff. 

When Josh McDaniels was going to leave for the colts Judge and several other Patriots were going to go with him. If McDaniels leaves who will jump ship? The Patriots had hired Greg Schiano to be their DC in 2019 but he quit. With all the Patriots free agents Belichick will be stretched thin trying to rebuild his coaching staff.

Ranking the NCAA QBs after the 2019 season, Pre decloration.

I have little Idea at the moment who is making themselves eligible for the 2020 NFL draft. I did a top 25 non offensive line , offense ranking on who I thought would be good fits in New England. After the season I compiled a list of Quarterbacks and took the few remaining from my pre 2019 season list and compiled and ranked 40 quarterbacks who I think will be good. Since I am a Patriots fan I rated where I thought Jarrett Stidham would be. Stidham on my list coming out of college would be 21.5 out of 40. Perry from Navy is too talented to leave off this list, and earned it more for his legs, than Arm.

Some of My Criteria is 2 years of starting or a previous year with near 200 attempts. Quarterbacks had to have a decent competition percentage in 2019, with exception to like 3 players who were added after the list was compiled because they were on my pre 2019 top 25. Remember stats don't tell everything, so my list might not be statistically the way others rank their boards. I like to think my ranking is more analytical. There are people on the list that are or will be considered busts. For me Joe Burrow had a good 2019 but looks like a future bust.

1) J. Hurts OLK
2) J. Burrow LSU
3) T. Tagovailoa ALA
4) T. Huntley Utah
5) J. Herbert Oregon
6) C. Brewer Baylor
7) I. Book ND
8) S. Ehlinger TEX
9) B. Perkins VIR
10) B. White MEM
11) C. McDonald HAW
12) B. Purdy ISU
13) Z. Thomas APP
14) J. Luton ORST
15) M. Perry Navy
16) C. Garbers CAL
17) C. Robertson FAU
18) S. Buechele SMU
19) J. Fromm UGA
20) M. Fine UNT
21) D. Ellington GAST
22) J. Love SJSU
23) K. Bryant MIZ
24) J. Eason WAS
25) J. Smith LAT
26) K.J. Costello Stan
27) C. Evan's ULM
28) P. Ramsey IND
29) T. Storey WKU
30) N. Stanley IOWA
31) K. Mond TA&M
32) S. Montez COLO
33) K. Tate ARIZ
34) J. Abraham S.MISS
35) J. Blackmon FSU
36) F. Franks FLO
37) R. Agnew SDSU
38) J. Love USU
39) K. Pickett Pitt
40) J. Adkins MNSU

The good thing about my list is for every player that stays in college or doesn't go to the NFL, Everyone else moves up by one on my board. Feel free to let me know who's staying in college in the comments.

Brady's Pass Catchers

Tom Brady threw for 4000 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2019. And from watching Tom Brady play, yes I do believe he slipped a little bit at age 42. However, not in the way many are saying. Tom Brady is not falling off a cliff.

If you look at the tier pass catching talent Tom has had, it's no wonder why the offense looks so bleak.

Tier 1:

Antonio Brown (Played like a 2)

Tier 2: Josh Gordon (played like a 3), Julian Edelman, Muhammad Sonu ( Played like a 4), N'Keal Harry (Played like a rookie), D. Thomas

Tier 3: Phillip Dorsett, James White

Tier 4: Jakobi Meyers, Rex Burkhead

Tier 5:  Sony Michel, Damien Harris, Brandon Bolden, Elandon Roberts, Jacob Johnson, James Devlin, Matt Lacosse, Ben Watson, Ryan Izzo, Gunner O., Matthew Slater and anyone I forgot. 

Add to this The offensive line injury, lack of running game, and the predictable and conservative play call of Josh McDaniels. Brady had to Check out way to much.  

There's a saying, "The best offense is a good defense". The Patriots Defense had to put way too many points on the board in 2019. The good news is the Patriots have money to play with in 2019, and better draft stock due to an early playoff exit. The Worry is reports are saying Brady is no longer willing to take a pay cut. 

I do think the league has caught up to Josh McDaniels, I also think he has peaked in his career. So what do the Patriots do, Let an OC go or stick with someone the everyone knows what's coming?

Dynasty Not Over

All over the internet people in Patriots Nation are saying the Dynasty is over. The fairytale is dead. It's bad enough we have to hear it from talking heads and haters, but from the family? Come on.

The Patriots are a machine. By failing to reach the Championship game, the check engine lights just came on. The Patriots won the division so there's no need to panic because we missed our second superbowl in six years. 

Like I said the patriots are a machine. Now it's time for Belichick to take the machine apart, look for the bad and worn out parts and order replacements so he can have it put back together come September. 

Someone on instagram said "Bill lost to Miami on purpose." I didn't believe it. Then the Patriots lose to Tennessee and I catch Master at Work's video on youtube, where he says "The Patriots offense wasn't built to win a ring." I respect his opinion and it got me thinking.

The Patriots offense was horrible this season, especially the first eight games when they were undefeated. I thought of what the Instagram viewer said. I then thought about the fact that during the 2019 offseason, people were saying the 2020 draft is going to be quarterback friendly.

Now I'm not saying Belichick is going to draft a quarterback in the first round, but he is going to have a couple of third round picks.  if Bill Belichick decides trade up the number 23 pick going to net him a better draft pick then a 31st or 32nd draft pick.

There's no reason to think Bill couldn't get a top 10 pick or trade down with one of the playoff finalists and end up with a late first and late second. Honestly, finishing where the Patriots did, if it was planned, expect the Patriots to move into the top 10 for a player. Bill is a football guru. Hopefully, He doesn't move on from Brady.

Remember the Patriots have key players on injury reserve. Don't write them off yet. The team has some free agents to resign and a bit of money to play with to sign new players. This off season, we will find out who's in it for money and who wants to win a ring. In Bill We Trust.

Patriots Offseason Moves

First, let me start by saying I am just a fan and not a professional analyst. Take this with a grain of salt, after the Patriots playoff loss.

Looking at The Patriots Tom Brady must be resigned. He is one of many free agents the Patriots must lock up. The fact he has never been money hungry should hold well for the Pats. 

Jason Stidham, nobody truly knows what we have in the young rookie who will be going into his second season. The Patriots must draft a quarterback to either compete with him or to replace Brady. Brady is on a short clock and the team must be smart at quarterback.

The Patriots carried five running backs in 2019. The team must eliminate one. I believe it's time to move on from Burkhead, I also believe the Patriots lost their window to trade him. Bolden can do it all and The Patriots should look into bringing on a back who can be an improvement  and compete with him.

Dorsett has shown what he has. He is nothing more than a number three at best. Matthew slater is getting old and only plays special teams. Gunner didn't show anything special. It's time to Bring in AJ. Green and then someone who can catch and replace both Gunner and slater on special teams. 

The Patriots need an experienced pass catcher who can block at tight end. Journeyman Eric Ebron could fill that role. The team then needs to draft someone to replace Lacosse unless Gronk decides to return. I wouldn't count on that. Ryan Izzo hopefully can build on his 2019 season.

The Patriots must resign Joe Thuney and then resign Ted Karras. The team should look at resigning Waddle. Cajuste and froholdt will be back from injured reserve.

Adam Butler and Danny Sheldon need to be resigned and the Patriots need to sign Arik Armstead. 

Patriots need to resign linebackers Collins, Roberts, and Van Noy. The linebacking core is solid. The team then needs to replace Calhoun and Wise. 

The Patriots must resign D-mac, Ebner, and Bethel. The Patriots could bolster their secondary even more by signing Clinton-Dix, and resigning Aqib Talib. 

The Patriots need to resign Folk or Draft a kicker to compete with Gostkowski. In case he doesn't come back healthy.

If McDaniels stays, he needs to be the Offensive coordinator only. Bring in someone like Jason Garrett for a year to further help Lombardi get prepared for the position by 2021. The Tight ends have seen a decline the past three or four years. Replace Nick Calcy. Make Judge Joe special teams only. Bring in Troy Brown or Chad O'Shea to coach the receivers. Promote Steve Belichick to defensive coordinator and bring in an assistant DB coaches, and an assistant for Bielema. 

The Patriots were one and done in the playoffs. This is a sign that they need to get to work. They dynasty isn't over but won't stick around if they continue to be passive. The Patriots need to get hungry. Change needs to come, regardless if it's popular at the moment. Bill has created a way, a system in New England. It's time we returned to the Belichick way. No more boogieman talk. No more media conversations. Just Bill saying very little and a closed locker room. Back to the corporate mentality of this isn't a game it's business. Have fun by winning rings. 

It's too early to think the Patriots figured out their offense.

During Saturday's game vs Buffalo, All over social media and the internet during the first two and a half quarters, People were complaining about the offensive play calling and stalling, although they controlled the clock.

The final quarter to quarter and a half the Patriots put points on the Board and looked like a powerhouse offense. Suddenly, Everyone is scared of the Patriots offense. I don't buy it. They haven't played 4 quarters of solid offense yet. They also wont play a real opponent until the divisional round of the playoffs. 

So the Patriots will be playing Miami next. If the Patriots really have found their Identity on Offense they wont have a close game. It will not be a 24 or 27 to 14 or 17, It will be a slaughterhouse, and the Patriots won't need the defense to score for a blowout.

The Offensive line will bully the defense all four quarters. The run game will be nearly unstoppable. The pass catchers will get separation and yards after the catch. Bailey won't be needed, as the Patriots will settle for nothing short of field goals. 

Brady, Stidham and the offense will have an 80% 3rd down and redzone scoring percentage. We wont be hearing fans criticizing the play calling because the team won't be going three and out. 

Honestly, I don't think the Patriots have found their identity. Patriots nation will be upset for most of the game. People will be making excuses for the lack of productivity and play calling and in the fourth quarter the Patriots will take the lead and hold of Brian Flores. 

I am not a naysayer, I am a realist and until I see four quarters of offense, this team has not found their identity. If they want to prove they found it last week, they can show me what I predicted above. 

Tom Brady vs Houston 2019

Over the 2019 season the Patriots offense has struggled. In 2018 the pass catchers sucked and we knew it was them to blame. In 2019 however, the offense has so many people to point to.

This season the Patriots have played a very predictable offense. Teams know when it's a run or pass. James white has not been utilized properly. The team has dealt with injuries, that have hurt the run game. There has been a revolving door at wide receiver and both Izzo and Lacosse have dealt with injury. Ben Watson was suspended, DT was traded and Maurice Harris was cut before the season started.

Tom brady has not played like Tom Brady. There are some reasons for this. Team injuries, The revolving door at receiver, Marshal Newhouse. However, Tom has not looked as accurate in 2019. Some fans want Brady to be held accountable but all Patriots fans seem to come out and defend him when he is held accountable. We cannot have it both ways. What Tom has done coming into the 2019 season doesn't matter after week one kicked off. All that matters is last weeks game and the upcoming game.

Tom Brady versus Houston had a pick and a couple of near picks. He was hanging on to the ball too long when guys were open, not throwing it to open guys, throwing it away or out of reach for his own players, forcing it to receivers, not taking what the defense was giving him, not scrambling when he could have, and lastly either Brady wasn't seeing the field, didnt trust his guys, was protesting for AB, or made up his mind on where the Ball was going. Brady looked like a rookie and not a near 20 year veteran.

Brady is the goat, he is better than two thirds the quarterbacks in the league. However, Brady is human. He admits he can improve, we need to remind him on occasion that he messed up. Doesnt matter how often. He screams at his teammates. Disfunction starts at the top. Nobody is above the law, and nobody is above criticism.