How will the Patriots replace Stefon Diggs?

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1:00Xfinity tech support? How can I help? I can't get Jurassic Park back online without... Oh, you just need Xfinity. Plug in your gateway and you're good. All set. Luckily, Xfinity has reliable, self-healing Wi-Fi that keeps you safe from threats. Wow. You can even boost speeds to your most important devices. Get reliable Wi-Fi at one price for five years. Guaranteed. Watch Jurassic Park with Xfinity. Restrictions apply, select plans only. Hey, what's up, everybody? Welcome to The Time Front Pee. A treated stock podcast. Still very alongside. We are driving headlong towards free agency in the Patriots with Florida on step on digs. The finances of it are very interesting.

2:00Phil will be in Gustav. More interesting though, was the timing and what its signals. Patriots now are going to have a projected $55 million in cap space with free agency due to begin next week. And that's according to over the cap. $55 million puts them easily in the top 10. The savings on digs against the cap is $16 million. $20 million salary. He was going to count $20 million. Excuse me, $26 million. One almost said none. So now they're going to save. $16 million. $9 million dig cap. All of that. Great bookkeeping. The obvious question that. Now comes clear is what's the plan? I mean, the Patriots are smart people. And now extracting 80 plus catches in over a thousand yards from their offense for a team that went to the Super Bowl and still has aspirations of building

3:00so that it becomes a perennial contender. They're not elite. They're trying to get there. They were trying to get the mediocre. They leapfrog it. Now they're trying to get to elite and contender status. Someone's going to have to make up that difference though. You can't walk him with a straight face and say we're just going to do this. Better, younger, cheaper. Like variable said, that is the mantra. So that's why they have said goodbye to step on digs. 33 years old. Kind of expensive. So what are the avenues bringing in the standard or feel perry? What do you think of the digs move? And then we'll dive into some of the options. Your Alec pierces, AJ Browns, et cetera. Yeah, I think this is the right move. Tom, you know, you just look at. The amount of money that it frees up. You mentioned the cap space just in terms of the cash. So over $20 million and whether you want to allocate it. To that receiver position or elsewhere. You know, that becomes a valuable asset for you. And you know, if we're just dealing. In reality, right. There's a team that's going to be working with budgets.

4:00Mike Vrable, Elliott Wolf. These guys have bosses. The crafts aren't going to want to spend the way they spent last off season. Every single year. So when you free up that kind of cash. Okay, now it should allow you to go. And spend it elsewhere. And the reason I think that's a good thing, Tom. If they end up reinvesting it to the receiver position is. Even with digs, they needed to get better. And so when you're looking at. Maybe an opportunity for growth. Maybe you call it forced growth. I like the idea of moving on from a player. As great a season as he had last year. And that went about as well as it could have gone. He exceeded all their expectations. Never mind hours. 80% completion rate throwing him. Go ahead. A tremendous, tremendous year. And a good fit for Mike Vrable's culture. And a positive influence on the locker room. But I think if you're looking at it on paper. And if you're a team builder there in Foxboro. Wouldn't it have been a little bit easier? Not better.

5:00But maybe easier to just sort of keep him around for a little while. And just say, you know, that's. We're comfortable with this. If this is it, we'd be okay. He's going to be 33. But he did have a thousand yards last year. And boy, it was important. Now you're forced to upgrade time. You have to get better now. Excuse me. That's why in talking about the Alec Pierce. AJ Brown conversation. And there's other guys we can delve into as well. I kept saying the Patriots were in a good spot. Because they had a burden hand. Now the burden hand wasn't exactly what they wanted. A 33 year old receiver who is not an outside receiver. And has a moving court issue. But he's still an 80 catch guy for a thousand yards. So they could kick the tires on Pierce and find out what's going on. They could talk to Nick Seriani and. How he rose me and find out what they can exactly try and get out of Philadelphia. And what they'd have to give up. But they'd always be able to fall back on digs. So now having moved on from digs.

6:01As I said, they're not stupid. They must be. I'm sure. That they're going to get somebody to replace that. Because I can't imagine that they are with a straight face going to think that Kyle Williams. And Casey on booty. Are together going to. Go from 33 catches and 10 catches to. I mean, maybe combined for 80, but that's two positions on the field. I mean, you want to ideally from those guys. Maybe get 110 catches total. Whatever. Don't go down a stupid road to them. Let's look at the free agent market. Alec Pierce of the Colts is going to hit free agency spoke to Kay Adams and said he owes it to himself to make sure that he can find out what's out there before deciding to return to Indianapolis. How much percentage of cap. Will be allocated to to whatever player they bring in as a big deal to me. We don't talk enough about that. I hate when people say that. Since who I say it.

7:02In this instance, because the cap goes up so quick. The contracts become obsolete. $30 million contract is not going to be obscene for Alec Pierce. It's going to be a lot. It's not going to be obscene. For example, digs with 7.6% of the cap this year. At that 26 million cap is 301 million. So. 7% it's a working number for better than average receiver. Jamar Chase signed a four year 161 million dollar deal. His cap percentage the next three years is 8% 10% 12% and as the cap goes up. The percentage will go down because he's already locked in. So the upshot to me is the Patriots should be going into this expecting to spend. 10% of their cap. On a high profile wide receiver. Right now they're spending $27 million on that position this year.

8:02They're spending $14.5 million allocated to tight end. They can spend 10% of their cap on a wide receiver cap hit this year. 30 million. Phil, your turn. Move. I don't think the money should be an issue. This is a team that has the means Tom to take a big swing or two. That also shouldn't necessarily hamper their ability to build their young core. So whether that's Alec Pearson for agency and that would be my top option. If I was the Patriots because it allows you to retain that number 31 overall pick that asset. To help you get a relatively cheap and still potentially impactful player there. In a way that an AJ Brown trade for instance probably wouldn't you probably saying goodbye to that first round pick. So you have the means and you have the quarterback and.

9:02You know a handful of other pieces that are still on manageable contracts where you you have the ability the flexibility. To be aggressive while also building the way you want to build this thing. So to me there's really not much of an excuse. They'll probably have competition for both Alec Pierce and AJ Brown. But to me at this point after having said goodbye to Stefan Diggs. I'm not sure there are other upgrades out there and available aside from those two. Now if you tell me there's a Brian Thomas junior trade that comes down from the clouds. That we're all you know just missing right now and it happens in five minutes. Good for them that's that's a guy to be interested into. But right now it feels like either Pierce or Brown and I would be leaning Pierce because I would like to keep that draft pick. Did the Patriots leap before they looked. Did they cut off their nose despite their face did they throw the baby out with the bath water. Did they let the burden hand.

10:03You know what I'm saying. Yeah, I know what you're saying. Let's game this out. Let's game this out. What I'm saying is what if they don't replace digs they just bring in friggin. I just have my list where those receivers give me a bastards. And they bring in a non Mike Evans is too good but he gets hurt all the time. Say they bring in. Christian Kirk. That ends up being your guy. Can't he's number eight. That can't be it. No, can't be. That means you can't be Brandon. I you could tell him on your ankles. It's not it's not Christian Kirk. It's not Brandon. I you it's not Mike Evans. Sorry. Like that. That to me is a last ditch effort. That's an emergency option. That's a panic button. Which is what it was last year. It's what he was last year. And he far exceeded everyone's expectations. I just wouldn't be the type to gamble on that happening again. You've got a well looks like a great young quarterback. And so anybody you bring in that has some ability. It's going to give you something because of Drake May.

11:04And I would add because of Josh McDaniels. So I would be confident that they'll get production out of. Whoever it is they bring in. I just feel as though you need an obvious upgrade because you needed an upgrade even with digs in the fold. Now with him gone it has to be clear and obvious. And so to me I could did did they look before they leaped. Time you're not supposed to do this week. You're not supposed to do this. But we were just an Indianapolis last week. And you know who's an Indianapolis all bumping into each other at the JW Starbucks and at St. Elmo's. And you know all sorts of just different hotel conference rooms and having meetings with agents like. You think that maybe just maybe the Patriots have an idea of what Alec Pierce is looking for in free agency. Maybe they happen to bump into Alec Pierce's representative CJ LeBoi. And maybe you had a conversation that you're not supposed to do that. I wouldn't call it a legal tampering. I would just call it sort of a a chance encounter.

12:06That's what I might call it. I think something like that could have. Yeah. Yeah. I think something like that could have happened. And so maybe they do have a decent idea that they've got a good shot at this guy. I think something happened today right before we're recording this. That I think actually gives them a better shot of adding Alec Pierce. Yeah, give it up. We had a little break in news on the wide receiver front fill. And it's interesting because. Cutting to the chase. If the Patriots are fairly certain they're going to get either Alec Pierce or AJ Brown. They set the stage for it. Then maybe this move that Phil will unveil right now. Is it reaction to remove on the part of an AFC. He's. The cover their own ass. We'll get to that after the break. No, give it to us now. DJ Moore is going to the bills for a second round pick. And the bears are getting the second round pick. They're actually giving a fifth with DJ Moore. So to me, that's still about a second round value. Those those five, six and sevenths. Those aren't worth a ton when you're looking at the old Jimmy Johnson point chart,

13:07draft value chart, which teams do still look at apparently. So that to me is important for a couple of reasons. Number one, I think it helps maybe set a value for AJ Brown. If DJ Moore is worth a two and you were hoping to only part with a two for AJ Brown, that ain't happening. AJ Brown's the same age and he's better. Period point blank. So that's probably going to cost you a one for AJ Brown. Number two, I think this actually is good for the Patriots in that. It takes a receiver needy team out of the mix for either Brown or Pierce. And so to your point, maybe the bills again with all this very legal. Uh, chance encounter conversation type of thing happening. I'm going to pin you down. No, I'm just saying. No, I don't know anything. I'm just saying. Okay. Why would they? How would they be reacting to that, Tom, unless they knew that Alec Pierce, who's still on the Colts, by the way, was going was planning on signing with someone else.

14:07If again, you're correct. And this is a reactionary move by them and they know they're not going to get Alec Pierce. This is the kind of thing that happens though. And it's the reaction, Jackson Brown. The tampering is wild and it's, it happens all the time and it's not a big deal. And it's, it is what it is. If you had to bet, move the thing along. I know. Yeah. Keep the train running on time. But we're all adults here. Phil. Who do you think is more likely to be on the Patriots next week? AJ Brown, we're Alec Pierce. Well, shit. AJ Brown probably not because it's got that June 1st. You got to cut him after June 1st or trade him after June 1st. You're going to have a $43 million cap hit and Philly. Which does that enter into it too? But go ahead and tell me which one's more like you. You also, I think you have a hard time waiting until June 1st, though, because when you want picks for this year, teams usually are, are valuing those picks for the up here and now,

15:08much more than they are. So maybe they'll swallow hard and take the $43 million cap hit. And restructure half their roster and just figure it out. The cap stuff to me, the way it was put to me by a general manager years ago was, it's basically funny money. You can, as Bill Belichick once very famously said, maneuver it in a variety of different ways. And so I bet they've got some means of figuring that out because if they didn't, I don't think we'd be talking about it so much. I think they would be ruling it out and it would just not be a thing. I am going to get mild pushback because I don't think you're saying cap is crap. I kind of am. Because eventually I'm leading. I'm leading. I'm leading. The credit card bill comes. If you're the Saints and that's the one rare example. Yeah, they're doing great. No, I know. So like if you really screw with it, it can screw you up. Okay.

16:08I'm sorry. I mean, that was a very snide comment by me and I'll take it back. No, I just. I do. I think that cash stuff is much more. And you're going to pay $330 million to Drake May in two years. And you're going to pay $160 to Christian Gonzalez. And that's going to be massive amounts of the cap. So cap percentages are going to go up. Most of the sudden Drake made it with 10-year deal. So 10 and 103. Actually, initially, it's probably not going to be a huge chunk of the cap. Because you're going to be able to spread out the base and the, or sorry, spread out the signing bonus and the base would be relatively low. And I just, Tom, there are too many instances of like what the chiefs just did with Patrick Mahomes and just clear out. Look at Mark Chase's 40 million cap space or something. Like just at the flick of a switch. Yeah, his deal goes to 55 million. So after the first four years that I mentioned where it's percentage wise, you can't tell what the percentage is

17:08because well as a new CBA coming in. But additionally, there's probably all kinds of options to pick up later in the deal. So the $40 million a year. Anyway, I don't want to get too far into the business side. I don't need that. But I do think it's more, I think, you know, the cash to me is a significant thing here. And you know, I spent half my week in India asking people about the Patriots spending this off season. Because last year for the first time we heard from Robert Kraft basically say they're a cash to cap team. So whatever the cap is over three year period, that's what he's willing to spend in cash. And after spending as much as he did last off season, it doesn't leave them. If he holds true to that rule of thumb of his, it doesn't leave them a ton of room. But I think this is a relatively rare circumstance where you have the quarterback on still a cheap rookie contract. You're coming off a Super Bowl. He needs certain things the quarterback does in order to continue to succeed moving forward. And so I think you might be able to get a little loose with those rules that they've laid out for themselves.

18:10I just don't think they're going over the top. So that's why I say one big swing or two. Like I think they could, they could very easily give Alec Pierce $30 million a year. It probably means they're not going to, for example, sign a Daffy Oway, who I think might be the most expensive edge rusher in the free agent market this year. Or, you know, sign a Tyler Lindbergh or trade for a Max Crosby. Right. Like I don't see, I don't see two massive ones like that. But I guess we'll say, how about him? That's a sure, that's probably a short term. Hendrickson, I don't hate. It's probably, I don't know, could you get away giving him a two year deal? That's expensive. Again, it's, it's probably a big payout initially. But short term deal for a guy in his thirties, or how about even older guys like Khalil Mac, as you mentioned, or Jadavi and Clownie, or Joey Bosa, all those guys at pretty good years last year. I wouldn't hate a move like that to give you some depth on the edge. It's actually a pretty deep position in free agency.

19:12So if you can get a Pierce, if you can get a Pierce and an edge guy, and Jalen Phillips, who, you know, again, maybe that's a short term move because he's dealt with so many injuries over the course of his career. I like the idea of that. I am still struggling with your question as to which guy is more likely to be here. I'm going to lean Pierce for now, but variables love for Brown is very, is very obvious. And it makes me think they're going to, they're maybe going to try hard to get that done. And the Patriots realistically expect to make up for digs. Say 70 or 80% of his contribution with their own players. No, I don't think so. I think what you could do, and this is something somebody in the organization suggested to me, hey, you know, if you get an Alec Pierce, for example, or even an AJ Brown, you're not really replacing digs as role, right? His role is a slot guy. Those are, those are outside guys. So what do you do? Like Kyle Williams is an inside guy.

20:12Keishan Booty really hasn't been an inside guy. But one person suggested to me, you know, Booty could do it. You know, he just hasn't, but, but he could because he's smart enough and he's got good hands and he works in contested situations. And so maybe that's, that's a guy whose numbers you see tick up, even if the yards per catch come down. I just, I don't see, I don't see that kind of bump in production from the guys they already have in the building there to you. I see a tick up. I see Kyle Williams being a more valuable player. I mean, 10 catches in his apprentice year with four touchdowns on the 10 catches is a pretty good return. He should be a 45 catch guy in his second season. If you're getting what you expect for what you. That would be great. That would be great for them. Sorry to interrupt because Booty, where's Booty last year Booty was 37 catches.

21:12I think if he gives you a booty-esque season, you're thrilled. Phil, one other question here, just on the Patriots cap, you got Milton Williams. He's not going anywhere. Carlton Davis, most likely not going anywhere. If the Patriots wanted to make other considerations. Carl Landry has a big cap hit. I think he's got a lot getting happy. They take no cap savings on him actually. No, so scratch him. Can I throw a name at you? Let me throw a name at you. Mike, big Mike, Michael, when you. 17.5 million dollars cap savings. If they move on from him, he's got a 25 million dollar cap number. He's got a 16 million dollar base. I would have plays. Sorry, go ahead. He plays an average right guard. Maybe a bit above average. Am I being unfair? I thought he was talking. I thought especially sort of like late in the year.

22:15It may be, you know, posse is not included where it felt like that offensive linehead issues across the board at various points. But I thought he was above average and I would just say like I'm not, I'm not saying they should do that. I'm just saying if they were looking for more in the couch cushions, you know, like that might be the place to go just because he plays a position that should be relatively relatively easy to fix. You have a guy in Ben Brown that they just resigned during the season last season who started a bunch of games, Tom, and I think is a pretty good player. They do still have Garrett Bradbury under contract. If they want to keep him, you could move Jared Wilson to center. Now you're looking for a left guard and a right guard. If you end up moving on from a window. Mate, but that's a position. You know, can you find it in the draft? Can you find it in the third or fourth round? I don't know. Maybe then you're getting a little too young on the offensive line. But again, you can't try that out there on opening day and say this is going to work fine. I mean, it's still a good player who you know you the level of performance you're going to get from him.

23:17I'm just saying 25 million is a big cap number for him. So I wouldn't be surprised there's a conversation. Yeah, just sticks out. Yeah, none of it's guaranteed. So, you know, they could still do something Tom all the way up until, you know, week one of the right before week one of the regular season. So it's just an interesting one. I would not want to mess too much with the interior of the pocket with me because he is such a step up guy. I just wonder if, you know, a when who is what he is as a player, there's certain things you kind of you kind of can't. You can't do necessarily consistently with him. He's such a big guy and he's so good at getting downhill. But if you want to do more wide zone stuff bootlegs off it like that's probably not his game. So, you know, all different factors when it comes to the types of conversations they could be having behind the scenes in New England. But I just for the record, I would not move on from him again because I think you got to do what you can to protect your quarterback and getting worse at guard, not a great idea.

24:20Yeah, you don't want to get worse on your offensive line. And when I said it's average, it's kind of relative to the contract. All right, they're own guys who are going to be free agents. There's three main ones. Caleb on chase on Austin Cooper and Jalen Hawkins. Likelihood that they have all three back. I mean, they have to get better and younger a tight end that that to me is a very underrated. Under discussed position that can really help drake may enter Henry is going to be 33 as well. He's been incredibly reliable, but I think you have to get more dynamic. And there are a ton of tight ends coming in this draft and there were a bunch in last year's draft. Can I ask you, when you say dynamic, do you mean you would like to see more of a receiving kind of tight end? Or would you like to do what I did in my most recent mock draft? If you're listening to us now and you haven't read it, it's on NBC SportsBoston.com.

25:21In the third round, I gave the Patriots a guy by the name of Sam Roush. Oh, yeah, who is 267 pounds and is going to block his face off and can do enough. He's a very good athlete tested as a great athlete. We get the what do we get the sexy music on when I start talking about heights and weights and speeds at the combine and the underwear Olympics. Is that what we do? Jeremy. I know that's Jeremy. That's Jeremy back there. What's Jeremy in a certain kind of mood? I understand that. Listen, I'm as big a draft guy as there is. Anyway, are you looking for that type? Are you looking for like a receiver? I'm looking for Sam Roush. I'm looking for Sam Roush. And when I say dynamic, no, a 6, 7, 265 pound tight end is not, you know, Brock Bowers ask. Or Kyle Pits. Or Kyle Pits. That's a guy who's been franchise. But I think the Patriots look at their tight end situations and would probably prefer to see somebody who's a little bit of a road of tiller in the blocking department as well.

26:30And can be a complimentary target more than complimentary 3040 catch guy compliment the 60 to Henry gets. So that's another place you can get pass catches. If you're going to be a two tight end offense. And you're going to be a meat and potatoes run the ball and let your quarterback make dynamic throws down field. And you have to populate your roster with those types of things. And Sam Roush to me in my limited draft. Investigations research. That's the word that I've done so far was the one who stood out to me as possibly being the biggest target who can do the most blocking and as a good athlete. Hawkins would seem to be somebody they're not they're not going to want to let go, right? You know, I would I would think so. It's actually it's an interesting position in free agency. It's another one that's. I think relatively deep. Kobe Bryant. From the Seahawks is like a starting caliber safety who's going to be out there. Cam Curl is a starting caliber safety who's going to be out there.

27:34There's a there's a handful of them. Hawkins included. Hawkins might actually end up being among the most cost effective. So for a guy who we know already works well with Craig Woodson and understands the scheme and you know good fit for the locker room. Like that to me is a pretty. Pretty sensible. I would I would think would be a relatively simple one to try to get him back because you know the fit is is great. And I don't think it's going to cost you like an exorbitant amount. And how about Caleb on chase on seven and a half sacks last year. Coming in on a one year deal after not being able to really. I'll live up to his first round status when he came into the league a few years ago and now he's he's kind of found a home does he. So I want to stay here I found a place of likes me and I like it. Or should he say you know what maybe I can leverage this because he can't blame if he does. Oh not at all and I think he should.

28:34I just I wonder what his market will be because there is some depth at that position in this year's free agent class. So how long does he wait does he wait for the the high high end guys or the higher end guys. You know the Odafe always the Jalen Philipses the tray Hendrickson's does he wait for those guys to sign. And then he's got a better idea of what his market is or does he you know does he just jump at the first. What he thinks is a really good deal put in front of him because he doesn't want to wait and he doesn't want those those chairs those musical chairs to be filled right. So I don't know I got the sense of the combine that people felt as though he was going to get more money somewhere else. But the Patriots are in a spot on where they're kind of desperate at that position. I mean they do have Harold Landry but he's been banged up they have Elijah Ponder they have Anthony Jennings. But I think they they want more juice there and they want somebody who's going to be able to beat a very good tackle consistently.

29:34And I'm not even sure that's what Jason was Jason was was good and fine for them. I think they might be looking for for more at that spot and so. You know maybe they if they wait around too long and they can't get one of these higher end guys maybe they end up coming back together. We will be back with you on Monday for a live. So we appreciate when you guys join us on that and fire up questions as if we go it's tampering period will begin and generally speaking tampering period means signings are announced that day. So it's going to be a busy weekend. I think the New England Patriots will be busy as well keeping up on that. I also wanted to note this the Patriots I said were Siberia last year. Are they a Rubin now? You're a big Aruba guy that's a that's high praise coming from you. Huge Aruba guy like everybody I've never been. It seems like you're going to get there you're going to love it. Just like walking around your hometown.

30:35I don't know are they a Rubin? Are they a Ruba or are they like. Myrtle Beach Jacksonville. Where? Myrtle Beach. It's a great great comp. No, I think that they are closer to a Ruba because they have a coach they have a quarterback they have money. I do wonder how that report card impacts. Players and with our other teams say, look what they did up look at their plane. We're going to put a quirk in it. I have to go on WWE. I feel and I will be on early edition tonight after the quick snap podcast air is at six o'clock. Those guys are doing a special one to get you ready for free agency. We hope we got you up to date on the dig stuff and a little bit of the free agency. We'll be back with you on Monday for the lab. Have a great weekend everyone.

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