Team can almost double its cap space
Plenty of moves can be made ahead of free agency
In two weeks, NFL free agency will unofficially kick off behind closed doors in Indianapolis.
Agents and front-office executives will meet at various hotels, bars and steakhouses during the NFL scouting combine for initial contract talks. Two weeks later, the league will announce the start of its “legal tampering” period for free agency, during which time negotiations between teams and agents can officially begin. Then, voilà.
New deals will be reported across the league within hours, maybe even minutes. By the time free agency actually opens on March 15, most major business will be concluded. During this time, expect the Patriots to be busy.
The Pats are currently projected to hold $33.9 million in cap space ahead of free agency, sixth-most in the NFL. The Bears lead the league at $94.4 million, followed by Atlanta ($56.5 million) and the Giants ($47.8 million). If the Patriots want to ensure they compete for all their top free-agent targets, they could theoretically double their cap space before early March without sacrificing much roster talent.
How? Follow along. (All salary figures below are courtesy of Over
The Cap.)
Extensions, restructures
Start with the best player on the roster.
The Patriots can create $4.9 million in cap room by restructuring the contract of four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Matt Judon, who has two years left on his deal. Most contract restructures in the NFL convert non-guaranteed base salary into a signing bonus, an amount paid up front to the player and spread over future years on the team’s books.
The downside for the Patriots would be eating into their cap room next season. The Pats have
carefully protected their future cap space ever since the wild spending spree of 2021, and they are again positioned to rank in the top 10 for most cap room in 2024. That offseason will also mark the first time quarterback Mac Jones will be eligible for a contract extension
Whether Jones is deserving of an extension — or will be next winter — is relevant. What matters is that possibility looms and must be considered before the front office decides to kick any financial cans down the road through restructures. But for our purposes, let’s say the Patriots believe the short-term gain outweighs any long-term risk and pull the trigger on a Judon restructure. The Pats’ available cap space jumps to $39.4 million
Other moves could include extending tight end Hunter Henry, who’s entering a contract year. Last season, Henry endured his worst statistical season since 2016 playing under a misfit coaching staff. That dropoff
in production could either motivate him to leave next year or find comfort in long-term security.
If the Patriots can lure their 28-year-old tight end into an extension, they could generate $6.7 in additional cap room, per Over The Cap, bringing them to $46.1 million in total room. Again, this would come at the cost of their 2024 cap space, something the team must weigh.
Other veterans to watch include safety Devin Mccourty, who, whether he returns or retires, should reach revised terms before his contract expires next month. His contract is currently set to leave the Pats with $9.7 million in dead money next season.
Coming off a career year with two seasons left on his deal, defensive end Deatrich Wise could also receive a request to restructure. Wise, 28, is a rising leader in the locker room and a one-time defensive captain. He could help create $2.2 million in cap space with a revised deal, taking the Patriots to $48.3 million in total room.
Trades
The Pats’ pool of trade candidates is basically a
in the majors. Still, the clear appeal of batting him in the leadoff spot is his ability to get on base; over seven seasons in Japan’s Nippon league, the 29-year-old displayed mind-blowing plate discipline, drawing 427 walks to 307 strikeouts in 781 career games between the Orix Buffaloes and their minor-league affiliate.
It makes sense that the manager wouldn’t want to put two lefty hitters at the top of the lineup, but it brings up another issue: If not Yoshida, who will protect the superstar?
A former superstar would like to know. In January, David Ortiz went on WEEI and publicly voiced concerns that the Red Sox lineup couldn’t bolster the young slugger, leaving him exposed to strategic pitching.
“If I’m facing him, I’m pitching around him, regardless. No doubt about it… I have been there before, and if I had no one behind me, they won’t pitch to me… You have to find someone who can consistently protect him so he can continue to keep seeing pitches,” he said.
Remember Game 6 of the 2013 World Series? Ortiz had collected 11 hits over the previous five games, including pairs of doubles and home runs, and hadn’t struck out once. In what turned out to be the deciding game, St. Louis waved the white flag, intentionally
A three-year lettermen, Becotte has been a key cog in a Pelham High hoop machine which has gone 14-1. Its lone regular season loss came in a close five-point affair against Milford. And with a berth in the upcoming NHIAA Division 2 bracket at stake, there is no letting up.
“We have two more big games this week,” said Becotte. “Not sure how the standings are going to fall, but we’re doing well. This team has great chemistry. Our defense is one of the best in the division. We have so many scoring options, our bench is so deep. We have so many good players to rely on when we need them.”
One of the team’s captains, Becotte is certainly holding up her end of the bargain. The 5-foot-10 point