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EPISODE 76 - PATRIOTS FREE AGENCY BREAKDOWN!
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Transcript
NFL Tampering Period & Failed Max Crosby Trade
00:00:00
Savage Boston
Alright guys, welcome back to the Savage Boston Podcast. We are here. It is March 10th. We got a lot of shenanigans going on right now in the NFL in general, not just the Patriots, but in the entire NFL. 830 at night. This is one day into the ah and NFL tampering period.
00:00:19
Savage Boston
And I'm just going to kick it off. Obviously, we're talking mostly Pats, but we just had massive, massive NFL news that the Max Crosby trade fell through. So i just want to touch on that quick. We were talking about a little bit before the pod, but it sounds like Max Crosby was in Baltimore, went to Baltimore, they worked him out and just the Ravens as an organization just decided unilaterally that they're not going through the trade and they feel this physical.
00:00:44
Savage Boston
Um, again, something that is like basically completely subjective. Like there's no, like they agreed to the trade, but because it's not official, um, they can go back on their deal and it's, they just decided maybe they didn't like the way he looked. Maybe they said, his knee doesn't, i don't know. It's not good enough. He's not fast enough, whatever it may be. me personally, I just think it's buyer's remorse by the Ravens. They spent way too much money on Crosby.
00:01:13
Savage Boston
Um, they gave up two ones and now they're realizing they could get an edge on the market. Maybe even like someone like Trey Hendrickson for just money rather than giving up two first round picks. So, Um, yeah, when you guys, you guys jump into it, tell me your thoughts just quick. We'll get with the Crosby, uh, trade failing just cause that's such massive news.
00:01:33
Bret
I mean, right when it dropped, i my thought was, holy fuck, I can't believe that fell through. And i I've been thinking about it since saying this is the biggest named athlete to have been traded and then not gone through due to a failed physical.
00:01:51
Bret
I have had a hard time trying to figure that out.
00:01:53
Savage Boston
It's crazy.
00:01:55
Bret
And so the fact that this fell through and that Crosby's not going to Baltimore, like obviously wild and you take it from the Baltimore perspective, it's like, okay, they're back to where they were before, but they just basically let one of their edges go and we picked them up.
00:02:14
Bret
um And they thought they were going to have, you know, Stallworth, DN and they don't have it. And then from the Raiders perspective, it's like they just signed a whole bunch of guys with the understanding that they weren't going to have Max Crosby's contract. So like, holy shit.
00:02:31
Bret
It's crazy. This is probably going to change a lot of dynamics for the value for Crosby, whatnot.
Patriots' Opportunities Post-Crosby Trade
00:02:37
Bret
ah The Raiders got to move him, but It's just I'm having a hard time imagining anything like this happening before, especially like right at the start of free agency kickoff and right at the start of where the trades would go. like It just shakes up the entire NFL. And I think everyone's board just shifted quite a bit.
00:02:58
Savage Boston
It's crazy.
00:02:58
Snooty
Yeah, I mean, I think realistically, I think what'll end up happening is they'll just have to delay signing, officially signing some of their guys um until they like actually move Crosby.
00:03:09
Snooty
But To your point, I think like the return that they're going to get for Crosby isn't isn't going to be 2-1s. um
00:03:15
Bret
Yeah, especially mid round.
00:03:16
Snooty
not like yeah Especially 14 or whatever they were going to get from Baltimore. right like I just don't think that's going to happen anymore. i mean From a Patriots perspective, selfishly, swoop in and go the discount, boys. Let's let's go, Brable. Let's get in there. you know um I don't think he's going to go... i could see a one and maybe a two plus, like if it really dips that far and they really are.
00:03:38
Snooty
um Cause ah that's the other part. Maybe a lot of suitors don't have the cap space anymore cause they sign guys. Right. So like, you know, Dallas traded for Rashawn Gary, not, and I'm not suggesting that anybody, anybody signed is better than Crosby, but you know, it's kind of shitty to back out on a deal just cause something else happened.
00:03:56
Snooty
Right.
00:03:56
Savage Boston
Well, let me bring this up really quick.
00:03:56
Snooty
Like, or
00:03:59
Savage Boston
Someone tweeted this out. I just read. They're saying, Will, do you think that Ravens can now take those picks and pursue A.J. Brown?
00:04:07
Snooty
Maybe. They were one of the other teams supposedly in on them.
00:04:09
Bret
good
00:04:11
Savage Boston
You know, those maybe they're like, eight we can go get A.J. for a one and a two. You what mean? I think there's a there's a lot here, man, and how much that changes.
00:04:22
Snooty
Then go get Crosby.
00:04:25
Bret
and i I don't know.
00:04:26
Bret
it will definitely It would open things up for us. it's It's crazy. You're right. I mean, there's no way he's going to get two ones, especially where Baltimore was at with the mid one. So at this point, like at a minimum, you're dropping one of those ones. It's probably to a two and it's probably next year.
00:04:26
Savage Boston
I have alcohol.
00:04:45
Bret
I just don't know if a one at 31 is enough or what that would be. i mean, we have the money. See, that's the other thing. Like you say, like you have guys that other teams like a Dallas that we're going for an edge and it's like, well,
00:04:58
Bret
There you go. Like they're not going to be able to make that move. Whereas the Patriots still had some bullets in the chamber, which was good because I think they've been using it for AJ Brown. You know, now the question becomes, who would you rather them go after? Because they're probably equal cost at this point.
00:05:14
Bret
I would say before it was definitely Crosby was more. Now they're probably equal. So who do you think iss a better go for
00:05:21
Snooty
They're probably equal to what the Eagles are demanding, and I would rather pay that for Crosby than I would for Brown.
00:05:29
Savage Boston
I mean, that's what i mean. Like, we know AJ Brown has, as I say, bad knees too. He's got degenerative knee conditions. Like, the Patriots have to pass his physical. They could get him in there and be like, meh, we don't like your knees.
00:05:37
Bret
okay
00:05:40
Savage Boston
You know, like, they're aware there's a problem. Crosby just had a fucking meniscus repair. he's gonna His knees are going to look like shit. You know, like...
00:05:48
Bret
But what's crazy is like Snooty and I were talking about this before, like all the reports coming out of Oakland was he was mad that they were forcing him to sit and thought he could play, thought he could have gone at the end of the year.
00:06:00
Bret
So it's like, how bad are we really talking here?
00:06:00
Snooty
Yep.
00:06:03
Savage Boston
He's been like a strong player his entire career. I mean, Ironman type guy, every play three down. And they're saying he failed his physical. Like this to me is a little fishy.
00:06:13
Savage Boston
That's someone being like, hey, you know, can we, how do we get out of this? That's, that's my opinion. i mean, it's because it's so subjective and unilateral and there's no, there's no strict deal, right?
00:06:26
Savage Boston
Like they're like, we, we gotta get out. Like we paid too much.
00:06:28
Bret
But why?
00:06:30
Savage Boston
Well, because I think they got buyer's remorse. It's just like any deal. I think they realize they don't either can get other value. What if they go get Trey Hendrickson for 30 million? So you're getting similar-ish value from a guy who you don't have to give up two first-round picks for.
00:06:48
Savage Boston
Right? What if they're talking Trey Hendrickson, the agent? You're like, yeah, we'll just give we'll give you 32 million a year. Then you don't give up the two firsts. Like there could be any reason. If they go and sign... Trey Hendrickson after this, then you could really be like, oh, this shit, this shit's dirty.
00:07:01
Bret
Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:02
Savage Boston
you know what mean?
00:07:03
Bret
yeah
00:07:04
Savage Boston
You'd be like, this shit's real. Like that to me would be really sneaky shit if they just decided to do that.
00:07:10
Snooty
Or they may have seen Hendrickson's market dwindle, and he's not going to get 32. So maybe they're like, pay him 18. It's much better value.
00:07:19
Bret
I wonder what you – I have to imagine there's going to be some level of contingencies or things like that. There's probably some more to it that's – like Baltimore I would think would get penalized there unless there's like a blatant issue. you know I don't know. It's just, again, it's it's insane that someone would go to this extent to get a guy like Crosby and then be like – No, we're good.
00:07:43
Bret
So there's got to be more there. I know they said the physical. and That's what's been coming out quick. This is all really fresh.
Patriots' Roster Moves & Strategy
00:07:51
Bret
I'm curious to see what else comes out.
00:07:54
Savage Boston
yeah that's wild, man. All right. Well, let's, you know, that's just massive news that dropped. There's going to there's going to so many, there's going be so many ways that this can go. was just laughing because someone, ah someone tweeted out, I told Snooty before this, someone said like, if Max Crosby comes to Baltimore, I'll shave my head.
00:08:12
Savage Boston
And an hour ago, the guy showed a picture online of him with his fully BIC, fully bicked head, like right before the news drops. He shared the photo of Crosby failing the physical. It just got retweeted by like Field the Aids. Just unbelievable. Just all-time tweet. It's about to go incredibly viral. Hilarious. Anyway, so let's let's dig into obviously the Patriots free agency because that's what we're here for. And we can kind of talk about what they've done slash not done slash what do you want them to do.
00:08:43
Savage Boston
um And obviously just just starting off, man, like so today, obviously they get Romeo Dobbs for what's really like a $17 million AAV over four years and with a max up to $80 million based on whatever incentives, right?
00:09:00
Savage Boston
um So, I mean, you could put it at $17 million. So, you know who else got $17 million? was Rashid Shahid. So, I mean, first question would who would you rather have, Rashid Shahid or Romeo Dobbs at wide receiver?
00:09:14
Snooty
Yeah,
00:09:16
Bret
Yeah.
00:09:16
Savage Boston
Because I would 100% rather have Dobbs. I don't think it's debatable as like a receiver. Like, Shahid is not even like, like that to me was a pretty outrageous payday from Shahid.
00:09:27
Savage Boston
From a guy who's really good and fast, but he's a one-trick pony and like a special teams guy.
00:09:27
Snooty
I was going to say, he's not useless. He's a good receiver. He's very dynamic and explosive, but I don't think he's as good an overall receiver as Dobbs is.
00:09:38
Savage Boston
What's 17?
00:09:43
Savage Boston
No, I think Dobbs could be a really good, people are underselling Dobbs. He's been a really solid, good player and a good red zone target for years. And he's going to be a productive player. And I think people are going to really like him when he gets here.
00:09:57
Savage Boston
think he's going to classic kind of like solid Patriots receiver. like a step up from Keishon Booty, a little more dynamic than Booty, a better red zone target than Booty. So I think he's going to do really, really well. So know. When you guys give me your thoughts, your initial take on the Dobbs signing.
00:10:14
Snooty
So I'm a fan of Dobbs. I think he's underrated because he played in Green Bay where they have a thousand receivers and um kind of an up and down passing in the past couple of years.
00:10:26
Snooty
um And also we don't generally watch a lot of Packers games. Most people around here. um I think he has a chance to replicate the production that Diggs gave you. um Obviously Diggs in his prime would have been a better receiver, but I think he can be a thousand yard receiver in that type of role, an expanded role.
00:10:46
Snooty
um He's not the proverbial wide receiver one, which is a phrase I hate, um but he's like, you know, he's a good receiver and he's better than just about everything else that the Patriots have at this point.
00:10:58
Snooty
So I don't see why people hate it. I don't see why people think it's a bad signing. I also don't understand the like, oh, they overpaid him. and It's like, I wouldn't have given him more than 15. It's like, you gave him 17. Like, what the fuck, guys? Like, the cap $335 million dollars or something stupid. Like, it's it's not that big a deal. Stop penny pinching. Like, you're we aren't the ones, I mean, technically we are collaboratly collectively paying for these salaries, but like, we aren't the ones actually paying for the salaries.
00:11:27
Snooty
Like stop penny pitching, stop. I don't give a fuck about that. You don't find value in free agency. That's just not what happens. So I think he's an underrated signing. I think he's going to be a big contributor this year. And I think he's going to surprise a lot of people.
00:11:39
Bret
It's got a lot of incentives built into. So like nothing's guaranteed on that side. i agree. I think in a green Bay ah offense where they spread the ball out a lot and it comes around like for a guy that's been able to get,
00:11:54
Bret
you know, mid fifties for receptions and 600, 700 yards, it in an offense here where he's going to get probably more targets, more attention, uh, for bringing it up. He'll, he should be able to produce here and get some bigger results. You know, he filled in a different role than he's probably going to fill in here, but.
00:12:15
Bret
At the end of of the day, it's an upgrade. And I agree with the contract. I think the contract is pretty favorable for what you're going to get out there in the market. And it doesn't preclude us from going out there and doing a move like A.J. Brown, right? And that was the immediate reports. Like Schefter talking about, like, I don't think this takes them out of the Brown conversation by sending a guy like Dobbs. And you look at it and say, like, imagine the team if they are able to somehow land Brown And Dobbs, like, that is insane of of an upgrade across the board. So I like the move because I think it brings in a solidified wide receiver that can help the wide receiver room.
00:12:55
Bret
I'm assuming they're going to go in for the draft and they're going to draft a wide receiver. And I still don't think A.J. Brown's probably going to happen. And at least I don't think it's going to happen until after June 1st.
00:13:07
Bret
But I'm leaning like less than 50% chance that Brown's going to get signed. So I think we're going to go into the draft, maybe draft someone in the top first round, second round that can fill in kind of that traditional X role.
00:13:19
Savage Boston
I think it's crazy that I agree with Sudi that it's people's responses to this were about outrageous. It's more like, don't know, people just wanted the big hit, the big signing, the big bang to be AJ Brown today. Like that, that was it. It's like, they just needed the big hit to be some mega superstar player.
00:13:41
Savage Boston
And like, there's nothing wrong with the price or the player about Romeo Dobbs. He'll be a good, productive player. I understand. like I don't think they're done at the wide receiver position. I think there's i think they're going to be in on A.J. Brown for through the summer.
00:13:58
Savage Boston
like i like i think they shouldn't I think they might go into the season with this room, maybe they with other tweaks, right like at tight end whatever, little tweaks. that I think they're going to go in and say, all right, like fuck it. Let's see how it goes.
00:14:13
Savage Boston
you know If you get to the summer, the thing with Howie, the problem will be you both lose leverage and somehow like, no one, like then he would know you want AJ Brown even more. And then, you know, that he has a better cap situation. So it's like, you're both on a worse footing. So in that regard, I think the price would be ultimately lower.
00:14:34
Savage Boston
And i don't know. I don't know what they're going to do. I think they want AJ Brown period. They want Brown. They want to trade for Brown. I don't think it matters if it's in the summer. And I think if you got AJ Brown in this room with, you know, with Romeo Dobbs and with Booty and Matt Collins, like, I don't know. That's a pretty, it's pretty good.
00:14:52
Savage Boston
It's pretty good.
00:14:54
Snooty
I just, my whole thing with Brown, like, it's more than just Brown. It's the fact that, like, look how much money Alec Pierce just commanded on the free agent market, okay?
00:15:05
Snooty
Now, imagine if, and no one thinks he's, like, a true, legit, quote-unquote, wide receiver one. Imagine if a legit wide receiver one hit the free agent market. They would get $45 million dollars a year because it's the fucking free agent market, okay?
00:15:15
Savage Boston
Yeah.
00:15:18
Snooty
Patriots are never going to pay that, okay? If you're going to try to trade for a legit number one, you're going to have to give up a boatload of picks to do so. Everyone keeps like trying to make jj um Justin Jefferson available for some reason.
00:15:32
Snooty
I don't understand why they think they're like, dream bigger.
00:15:35
Bret
Three ones.
00:15:35
Snooty
And it's like, dream bigger. It's just Justin Jefferson. i'm like, what the fuck are you talking about? like That's not going to happen. So the only way you can get a quote-unquote wide receiver one is by drafting them. That's the only way you can do it.
00:15:50
Snooty
It's either they're never going to pay for one. They're never going to mortgage the future to to trade for one. Right. So like they have to draft them, go get the kid from Indiana, go get the kid from Arizona state. If you can go get the, you know, you have to draft them. You have to draft and develop. It's the only way you're going to get that type of impact receiver. It's like, everyone's complaining. They're the dogs is a two. We still need a one.
00:16:14
Snooty
all right, who the fuck are you going to get, man? Like, who's available to go get it? You want to overpay for Brown just so you can say you got a one? That's dumb. You're going to fucking ah somehow trade for Brian Thomas Jr., who's not available? Like, why are you Like, that's dumb. Like, it's the you can't just make things happen just because you want them to happen. it doesn't work that way.
00:16:35
Bret
It's the same thing that we were talking about with left tackle, right? People just say, oh just go sign a left tackle that's a premier left tackle. They don't fucking exist, okay? If they're a premier left tackle, they are with the franchise until they're broken, okay? So you're not going to be able to get those guys in that position. Wide receiver is a premium position as well.
00:16:58
Bret
These are not positions that become available that you wouldn't have to overpay out of like – like through the roof and you're not going to be able to trade without trading a ton of assets. So look, I like the dogs one. i would have liked Pierce,
00:17:17
Bret
29, I think I would have been happy with. that We talked about it before, 25 to 30. Anything more than 30, I was going to be like, I don't know about that. For me, the one I felt like we missed out on day one was Pittman. I thought that was good value and to sign and extend.
00:17:32
Bret
I almost look at it and say, i wouldve route if you gave me the choice of saying 29 million or trade a late round swap and get Pittman and sign and extend, I would have taken Pittman all day, every day.
00:17:43
Bret
Just because
00:17:44
Savage Boston
Yeah, but they how much did they have to pay Pittman? What was the deal?
00:17:48
Bret
like three at 60.
00:17:50
Snooty
say I think it's like 20.
00:17:52
Bret
It's like 20 per.
00:17:52
Savage Boston
was a 25.
00:17:53
Savage Boston
I remember reading it. I thought it was like 24. don't know. I remember thinking it felt like a lot for a guy that wasn't who he was, in my opinion, who he used to be. Like Pittman was a pretty good wide receiver for a few years there, and I think he he fell off.
00:18:07
Bret
Yeah. Three 59.
00:18:07
Savage Boston
um Oh, yeah.
00:18:08
Bret
To
00:18:09
Savage Boston
Okay. I mean, ah you know, but again, who would you rather have, Pittman or Romeo Dawes?
00:18:14
Bret
to me, I would have.
00:18:17
Savage Boston
I say Dobbs right now.
00:18:17
Bret
lot.
00:18:18
Savage Boston
I think Dobbs is a stronger player.
00:18:18
Snooty
Probably Dobbs.
Patriots' Offensive Line & Free Agent Impact
00:18:20
Savage Boston
And I know you might like Michael Pittman. I just don't, I just think Pittman Dobbs to me is young and on the up and it is a tough good good he's that good soldier and for everything i'm hearing and reading everyone says he really liked in the in the room he's a tough guy he'll do everything he's gritty he'll block like he seems like a good patriot which is why i think people will love him when he gets here probably um but like pitman to me i'm sure pitman's great i i just don't i don't know he's fallen productivity wise from where he he used to be um
00:18:51
Bret
Yeah, I kind of, I like a guy like Pittman. I mean, you got remember who was thrown to him. So I don't really know what they were going to get out of that.
00:18:57
Savage Boston
Yeah.
00:19:00
Bret
To me, he's a bigger body guy. He's 28 years old. I mean, you're talking equal value. And again, it's a pick swap at the end. So personally, I'm more of a, in favor of Pittman, but again, like I'm, I'm still happy with Dobbs.
00:19:14
Bret
Like, don't get me wrong. I think Dobbs is a good signing. All I'm saying is, is When you look at it, it's like you're going to pay a premium when it comes to free agency signing. That's just what happens when guys hit the market.
00:19:23
Savage Boston
Yeah.
00:19:25
Bret
So you're going to pay a premium and you're not going to get like the premier guys because those guys don't in like the premier positions because those guys don't leave their teams. They get there themselves extended, re-sign, re-sign, and they don't leave.
00:19:36
Savage Boston
The only way to get that, the only way to get that is, as we're saying, is to make a trade. And which is, we said earlier, Dobbs was, I guess, the last guy they liked in the free agency room. And I thought, I think you did get him for a fair deal.
00:19:48
Savage Boston
17 is a fair deal. I don't, especially in this free agent market. Like that to me is a fair deal.
00:19:52
Bret
Oh, yeah.
00:19:54
Savage Boston
I'm fine with that look it. Look at, look what the edges we're getting. Do you remember, we were I was in a space on here when the Jalen Phillips deal dropped, 30 mil per.
00:19:58
Bret
Yeah.
00:20:02
Bret
Insane.
00:20:03
Savage Boston
We were like, whoa, like people didn't know, you know what i mean? Like for a dude that's been out, again, kind of like Elijah Vera Tucker, who we'll talk, like Jalen Phillips has been hurt many seasons. Like, you know, to get that bag was crazy. OA got 25 million, Mafia got 20 per. Like these guys are getting paid on this market, like really paid. And so I think ultimately the Patriots have kind of,
00:20:27
Savage Boston
they took They had their one deal set out the gate, right? Which, um again, we'll talk about the other deals too. But Draymond Jones, they had. like They're just like, yeah, he was coming here. like They had it. The agent, it was in. They're like, we like him. He likes us.
00:20:40
Savage Boston
He's come. like it was It was set. That was out out the gate. So Draymond Jones, who i I like as a player, and I think he's going to be solid. I think he'll be maybe better than Chaseon was. you know And I think he's he's a solid player. he had a lot of QB hits.
00:20:55
Savage Boston
a lot of pressures. Like it was something like 55 pressures. Like he was a good player last year. So I think Draymond Jones is good at 13 million. Again, compared to like Boye and Mafé got 20. So do you want Mafé at 20 or do you like Draymond Jones at 13?
00:21:10
Savage Boston
Like they they have, the Patriots have the numbers, the number that they want to hit at certain positions, right? Like, you know, to go into it, right?
00:21:21
Savage Boston
So Elijah Barry Tucker, which broke last night,
00:21:23
Snooty
Thank you.
00:21:25
Savage Boston
And I was asleep for and happy to wake up to the news this morning because it was such an obvious fit. So they could have done either like Joel Batonio at, you know, one year, what, 8 million or something like that.
00:21:36
Bret
Thank you.
00:21:41
Savage Boston
Like, like Joel Batonio, who was a veteran new Vrabel, but connections, maybe 10. I don't think it's that much more, but like he might retire. Like it's a guy that knows, it's a guy that knows Vrabel, their buds, whatever. Right.
00:21:54
Savage Boston
and So you're like, okay, do they want that stopgap deal? But they seem to value Elijah Vera Tucker more, gave him a huge incentive-laden deal because his upside is so freaking high.
00:22:07
Savage Boston
So, you know, you just got to – their thought process must have been like they wanted the ceiling of the player.
00:22:15
Snooty
Well, I think there's two parts of it because it's a three-year deal, right, for Tucker. He's younger, obviously way younger than Petonio. um
00:22:23
Savage Boston
Yeah.
00:22:24
Snooty
If he – because think he's only like 25, 26. Like he's not that old.
00:22:27
Savage Boston
Yeah, this is his second. this is his his He's just coming off his first contract.
00:22:32
Snooty
Right.
00:22:32
Bret
Yeah, he was 26.
00:22:32
Snooty
So – 26. So he, yes, he's been injured. Um, the one thing I understand the Achilles is bad. The triceps are, I mean, obviously tearing your triceps isn't good. I'm sure it hurts like hell too. Um, but like, it's not like, it's like a chronic knee injury or chronic ankle injury type of thing where it's like, you know, recurring. So maybe you hope for some rebound luck on the injury front where he's just like,
00:22:58
Snooty
you know, on that front, but he's super athletic for the position. He's a very, very good player when he's healthy. And if you look at his contract, he has like an absurd 4.125 million, I think tied to roster bonuses.
00:23:12
Snooty
So in the first year, so every game he dresses, he gets like $250,000 or something like that. It's some like obscene figure where they be every, every reporter was like, I've never seen it this high before.
00:23:22
Bret
Yeah, his gang day his game day check is insane.
00:23:25
Snooty
Right. So, like, you know, so basically he's betting on himself and they're like, cool, if you play, like, if you're healthy and you play, we'll pay you, like, for what you're worth.
00:23:26
Savage Boston
Thank you.
00:23:34
Snooty
And, like, so I think there's a real chance that he's going to pan out. I love the signing. I love the fact that he's familiar with Morgan Moses. They played together on the Jets. And I love the fact that you can you can stamp and you can just place a left guard.
00:23:48
Snooty
He played left guard as a rookie and in college. So you can just stamp him at left guard and just say, like, Good. Go help the two guys because Wilson's going to need help at center. I know he's second-year player. He's going to take a jump, et cetera, but still it's a center. It's a different position. And Campbell, you know, you can get him to settle in a little bit at left tackle as well.
00:24:08
Snooty
You can help him grow and and develop. And the other part, I think Taylor Kyle's had this where he said um they res re-signed Ben Brown to an extension. And Brown's a pretty good spot starter. He's not like a full-time starter at left guard, but like he can play there a little bit too. So, you know, if Tucker does miss a couple games for whatever reason, like you do have depth, you know, in the system here. Finally, you have a little bit of depth on the O-line. So you're not, you shouldn't fall apart right wide or away if you start to get hurt. Yeah.
00:24:37
Bret
the The contract is a smart contract for a guy like Tucker. So I'm glad he signed it because it's kind of a prove-it type contract. The guy's upside is there. I mean, he was a mid-first-round pick by the Jets.
00:24:48
Bret
Like, premier talent.
00:24:48
Snooty
Thank you.
00:24:50
Bret
he just He's just had the Achilles, had the, you know, torn triceps. Like, he's he's had injuries. Like, he's missed more than half the games, I think. So it's obviously tough for a guy like that. But I also look at it and say, you know,
00:25:05
Bret
It's not like he – you could always get injured, right? I don't know if this guy's got the injury bug, and if he does, well, you know, we have the contract, not going to kill us. But I'm happy because I've been asking for them to get a guard this entire offseason. That was one of my big asks that we wanted to be able to do. And I just, I'm glad they did it. I still want us to draft and I expect us to draft a guard, probably like third round pick or so fourth round pick um depending on things shuffle. But to me, I look at a guy like Vera Tucker and I say to myself, that could be a freaking steal.
00:25:38
Bret
And that could be a guy that we just happened to get um, fell to us at a great value. And we're going look back on this and say, wow, that was fucking amazing. Or it's going to be one of those situations where look at it swinging a miss and miss it's like, well, okay, it's not the end of the world.
00:25:54
Bret
We're still developing guys around it and kind of going through. And to your point, if it totally shits the bed, we got a guy like Ben Brown who's serviceable and going to get us so that, you know, May doesn't get freaking killed.
00:26:03
Snooty
Yeah. He
00:26:07
Savage Boston
Like people are also sleeping on like how good he was when healthy, like in 2024, he was a really fucking good player and good guard run block and pass block.
00:26:11
Bret
Mm-hmm.
00:26:14
Snooty
did.
00:26:16
Savage Boston
Like he was a pro. I don't know if he actually made the pro bowl. I don't remember, but he did, but he was excellent.
00:26:20
Snooty
he did
00:26:23
Savage Boston
So, you know, if you get anywhere close to that, man, you you're looking good. And you know, it's just the line will come back to how's Jared Wilson at center. If he starts there, did he bulk up? Does he get better at his natural position?
00:26:37
Savage Boston
And then how's Will Campbell look? And, you know, well we can handle all those things when when it comes to that time. But I tell you what, they're a better line than they were yesterday. That's for certain. And it's something where you really improved, I think, um
Patriots' Roster Improvements & Market Trends
00:26:53
Savage Boston
drastically. If he's healthy, you've drastically improved. so that's why I like the deal.
00:26:57
Savage Boston
How do you guys feel about these? So how do you feel about Terry Gilliam, the fullback? You like the fullback move?
00:27:03
Snooty
I mean, I do it's an ah It's an integral part of McDaniel's offense. They've always had a fullback. um He's a good player. He's special teams player. Kind of takes something away from the Bills, too, so I like that aspect of it.
00:27:15
Savage Boston
Yeah. The guy they liked a lot.
00:27:16
Snooty
um Yeah, I mean, they obviously liked him. They targeted him. I thought fullback was a weak spot on the roster last year. Westover, you know, he was... He did what he could, you know but he's a tight end. He's not a he's not a fullback. did they Lampy, Lamp or Lampy, whatever his name is, he got hurt, and they were like, can you play fullback? and That's how he made the roster. I don't blame the kid, but he's a tight end, Moonlighting is a fullback.
00:27:40
Bret
I mean, he could definitely help. And even just from establishing the run, sure. Like he he obviously helped, you know, Buffalo do what they did. But it's also in pass protection. You know, you can keep him in pass protection where he comes.
00:27:54
Bret
I thought it was good signing. I mean, I'm not like blown away and jumping through hoops. It's a serviceable signing that I'm not upset by. i don't think it was crazy. I think at the context to which it came, it was like more frustrating than anything because I was wanting more at the time yesterday.
00:28:12
Bret
ah Whereas you know now that you have a full 24 plus hours to digest. You look at it and say, yeah, that's going to improve the roster. right And I think that's at the end of the day, that's what you got to look at across the board. We got to improve the roster at every position. So you went from Westover Gilliam.
00:28:30
Bret
Great. you know You went from What putting Wilson in that left tackle to now Vera Tucker. Okay. I think that's an upgrade, clear upgrade provided he's healthy, clear upgrade, a wide receiver. I don't think it's been a clear upgrade. I mean, I think Dobbs is going to be a good wide receiver for us. He's, can he produce a thousand yard catches like digs did?
00:28:51
Bret
I don't know. I think that's yet to be seen.
00:28:54
Snooty
Thank
00:28:54
Bret
Um, So, yeah, when I look at a guy like Gilliam, I just say bottom line, he improved the roster. I'm good with it. I think it's going to help with pass protection as well as a grease nudie.
00:29:05
Bret
McDaniels has always had a fullback in his system. um We didn't really have one last year, so it's good to have one coming in.
00:29:15
Savage Boston
Well, yeah, obviously it's, um I think it's, I think it's been largely good so far. The signings they made have been good. I like them all. I think they're, <unk> I don't know. think they're all smart signings so far.
00:29:30
Savage Boston
You know, again, a little bit of risk with the Tucker signing, but still I like it a lot. I think it was a good one. So you have four signings that are all pretty solid. um You know, as far as where they go from here, you still have a few positions you need to hit on and need to re-sign.
00:29:45
Savage Boston
I would say like a couple guys that would make that really simple is number one, like Jalen Hawkins. Like you need to sign him back and a cheap deal. Like that feels like a home run.
00:29:57
Savage Boston
And number two is, is the edge role again. What do they do at the other edge? Do you just bring back chase on? Cause chase on again, he's sitting right there. Like, do you bring back chase on her and how does that play out? So um yeah. Where, do I mean, where do you guys see them going from here in the next few days?
00:30:13
Bret
I'd like to see them get a tight end.
00:30:14
Snooty
Thank you.
00:30:16
Bret
I wouldn't be upset if they got a guy like Njoku who could help us with some blocking. So to me, think a tight end would be good move here. There's still some guys out there.
00:30:28
Bret
If we're going on another edge guy, i think it'd be okay getting another veteran stopgap kind of guy. um Again, we can't fill out the entire roster in a season. it's gonna We still got to build it through the draft.
00:30:41
Bret
And it's still got at at least another two years before we can say confidently whether or not we've made progress to be able build it. Right. So these free agent signings are essentially stopgap players.
00:30:52
Bret
And that's what I'd look at here. I'd probably look at a an older edge, like a Joey Boza kind of a guy, or I'd look at an Njoku type guy for tight end, I think would be good.
00:31:05
Bret
And i agree. I mean, take care of all, um, Oh, my God. Take care of your safety. Make sure you Hawkins.
00:31:11
Snooty
Hawkins.
00:31:13
Bret
And make sure that you get that guy taken care of because, I mean, he fit the role. He did well here. It obviously worked pretty well with him and Woodson. So I'd like to see him go. I was a little upset that Tongo went out the door.
00:31:26
Bret
So i think give me another edge guy, lock up Hawkins, and I would be happy with the tight end. And I think that would be a good free agency.
00:31:35
Snooty
Yeah, I mean, I think they need off-ball linebacker depth, but I think they're going to try to draft there because they really need speed at that position. They don't have any speed, and really, ah like like any other position, fast, effective linebackers don't generally hit the free agent market, right? like And if they do, it's huge money like Lloyd got.
00:31:54
Snooty
um I think
00:31:55
Savage Boston
like What about ye but leo Leo Chanel or whatever?
00:31:59
Snooty
he signed already.
00:32:00
Savage Boston
Yeah, I know. It was like $8 million.
00:32:02
Snooty
Yeah, but maybe they...
00:32:03
Savage Boston
like that's the People aren't paying money. like That position, you talk about other like running back, what happened to the market? What happened off-ball? Because Leo Chanel is an off-ball linebacker, right?
00:32:12
Snooty
Yeah, it's because they spend money at edge rush guys, not on off-ball linebackers.
00:32:16
Savage Boston
Yeah, just off-ball linebacker market just died. Like it died. Like Devin Lloyd is ah is a beast. they're beast and he And he's the top of off-ball linebackers.
00:32:22
Snooty
Yeah.
00:32:26
Savage Boston
He got 15 million.
00:32:28
Snooty
fifty Yeah, 15 a year.
00:32:28
Savage Boston
it's just
00:32:29
Snooty
Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:30
Savage Boston
Yeah, 15 a year. I mean, they he thought he'd get 20. got 15. Like just surprising where people are like, we don't we don't value that. Like you're just another – You're just another safety at like, they're they're getting small and fast.
00:32:41
Snooty
yeah
00:32:42
Savage Boston
So it's just like, you're basically, instead of being a nickel, you just have to like seven DBs on the field.
00:32:50
Snooty
Well, that's – well, that's the – I was just about to say that.
00:32:50
Savage Boston
It's like, it's it's like, so it's like Seattle's defense, dude. You have, you have four good linemen, really good. And you have seven DBs every play.
00:32:59
Snooty
Yeah.
00:33:00
Savage Boston
And then two of the DBs are pretty good at tackling.
00:33:00
Snooty
Yeah.
00:33:02
Savage Boston
Like that's like,
00:33:03
Snooty
It's – your linebackers and safeties are – it's like a basketball Positionless like defense, right?
00:33:08
Savage Boston
Yeah, they're all the same height and weight.
00:33:09
Snooty
Like – yeah.
00:33:10
Savage Boston
They're all 230. You're all the same. Yeah.
00:33:12
Snooty
right, the corners are the corners. The lineman the lineman. Everybody else, you're all the same.
00:33:17
Savage Boston
all the same
00:33:17
Snooty
You're all... um But that's kind of where you're getting. and like you know And that's kind of why McDaniels works a little bit because they like to run a little bit more power. you can kind of beat up in some of the smaller fronts a little bit, just lean on them. But what's interesting is the... the with Vera Tucker, like he's a very good athlete. And so was Campbell. And so was Wilson.
00:33:37
Snooty
Like now the other two Moses and, and, and when who are, you know, for the position fine, but they're not like what you would, yeah.
00:33:44
Bret
Big boys.
00:33:45
Snooty
You what I mean? Like he wouldn't really define them as the lean Uber athletic types. um You know, so how do you take advantage of that? Right? Like, how do you, are you trying to is that like their goals to get, like, to be more athletic up front?
00:33:59
Snooty
I mean, at this point, I think anybody they sign in free agency is that, like, stopgap guy. It's going to be an older player. It's going to be short in terms of length of contract, shorter money. It's going to be that type of thing. um it's going to be It's going to be stuff like that. It's not going to be, you know, like, it's not going to be...
00:34:18
Snooty
like a younger cornerstone type player. its But that's what free agency is. They're going to have to draft. They're going to have to hit on the draft and develop receiver edge. They need an edge guy in the draft somewhere. They need a tight end but of the future.
00:34:30
Snooty
They have one tight end. Who's going to be 31 and he declined down the down.
00:34:35
Savage Boston
They have to draft a wide receiver, dude.
00:34:36
Snooty
He,
00:34:37
Savage Boston
I was like, absolutely, they have to draft a wide receiver. I mean, a ah tight end, excuse me, a tight end.
00:34:40
Snooty
they, they have to draft a tight end.
00:34:42
Savage Boston
Have to draft a tight end.
00:34:43
Snooty
They have to like, they, they, they,
00:34:43
Bret
Well, I was going to say, let me let me pose this question.
00:34:45
Savage Boston
And probably a wide receiver.
00:34:48
Bret
What's more important that they draft, a wide receiver or tight end?
00:34:51
Snooty
Tight end.
00:34:52
Savage Boston
they're just going to draft both. To be honest, I think they're to shoot their shot at a wide receiver at some point. It doesn't have to be in the first two rounds. Unless you really love Omar Cooper, June, like you might love Omar Cooper, Jr. Or Chris Brazel or where, you know, someone they just fall in love with. But like, i don't know. I think having that big, why tight end, like this is the thing I was just going to mention, because he talked about changing the meta of the league, right? What, what offenses are are still doing well and, and, and succeeding.
00:35:21
Savage Boston
are offenses that can run and they have fullbacks like even mcdaniel's offense and like yo um mike mcdaniel and with miami although two has sucked like he still had a runs a good offense they have a fullback you know the the the ravens have a fullback pretty sure the rams use a fullback seattle i think use a full like y'all need you know, to run the football. Seattle was a great running team.
00:35:47
Savage Boston
Like, because everyone's small, small, small, every fucking play, every position other than down linemen are small.
00:35:54
Bret
Thank you.
00:35:54
Savage Boston
So you have to run the football. And think that if the Patriots are going keep being in a good offense and McDaniels will do this, like they are going to have to just pound the football and that opens up the rest of the game. But that's, that's just how the meta is going to go.
00:36:08
Snooty
The other part of that is they need a tight end who can block. I'm not saying, you know, a Charlie Kohler, like an exclusive blocking tight end, although I wouldn't hate that.
00:36:13
Savage Boston
Yeah. Yeah.
00:36:17
Snooty
But like they need they need tight ends who can block like Henry's not a great blocker.
00:36:17
Savage Boston
No, but theyve that's what they need.
00:36:23
Snooty
He was never a great blocker. He's, you know, serviceable to an extent. and That's fine. But like you need a tight end who can block. And they don't have any. They need a tight end of the future. They need a tight end of now. They don't i don't... I know they had success with the six alignment sets, you know, going through the playoffs and shit, but like...
00:36:41
Snooty
I don't like that because it's I want a tight end who can block and then actually has the potential to to release, you know, who's Thayer Mumford or what at Mumford or whatever. Like, i I don't think defenses were scared of him leaking out into the flat and, you know, catching a ball and taking it, you know, 12 yards or whatever.
00:36:58
Snooty
i need I want a guy who can block and who poses some semblance of a threat to to catch the ball.
00:37:03
Bret
See, I think tight ends the most unique position right now to see where they go between now and the draft, because if they don't make a free agent signing, we're going to be drafting a tight end high because you just, you can't say Henry is the guy that's going to be another carryover. And we have no one behind, you know what I mean? Like we, Hooper just left, right? You know, you're not going to use West over in any capacity. You were going to use him. or Like we just don't,
00:37:33
Bret
We need to go out and get tight end. So whether we do it in free agency or we go and prioritize in the draft, we need to get a tight end. So I think if we do a stopgap like an Njoku, we're probably not going to draft a tight end.
00:37:48
Bret
Or if we do, it'll be like sixth round. you know I think if we don't get signed free agent, then I think you're probably going to see a tight end go in the first light within the first, second, or third round.
00:37:58
Snooty
Bye.
00:37:59
Savage Boston
pretty I'm pretty sure they're going to sign a tight end at some point. I'm only saying this because I would have said you just draft somebody and and go for it that way. But I think Greg Bedard mentioned something earlier today where he thinks like, you know, pretty much according to his guy, he thinks um he thinks they're working on a tight end right now.
Controversy & Reactions to Crosby Trade
00:38:18
Savage Boston
I don't know who that's going to be, though. is that an athletic small guy like Chigakankwo or is that Njoku? Yeah. you know, who's, who's a good tight end too. You can use, but i agree. I'd rather like Hunter Henry to me is the receiving tight end.
00:38:30
Savage Boston
Like I want someone who can do, who can do both. And there's that kid. How about that kid rising Roush from Stanford and the kids of a house.
00:38:36
Snooty
Yeah. So that's what was say. This isn't a very good tight end draft. um There's like the kid from Oregon, Kenyon Sadiq. He's the only like – he won't be there at 31.
00:38:48
Savage Boston
He's receiver, man. Like he ran a four three, like he's a receiver.
00:38:50
Snooty
Yeah, I know, I know. He won't he will not be there at 31. He just won't.
00:38:54
Savage Boston
no He's a beast, dude.
00:38:54
Snooty
But – um like you Like you said, that kid Roush, he's I think 6'5", 6'6", like 250. Like a big kid, runs, like moves pretty well. like That's the kind of guy.
00:39:05
Snooty
i would like to see that I wouldn't even mind seeing them trade for someone. they received The tight end from Notre Dame is kind of in that same family a little bit. um of A little bit more athletic than physical.
00:39:16
Snooty
But I wouldn't mind them seeing trying to trade for someone like Michael Mayer from from Vegas. I'm not sure Vegas will trade with you. But, um you know, like that's a tight end.
00:39:25
Savage Boston
Vegas not making any more trades ever again.
00:39:27
Snooty
Yeah. um But that's like a, that's a tight end who can block. He's big. Like McDaniels drafted him. Right. So like he fits what you want. Like that's the kind of guy wouldn't mind going after. He should be pretty cheap. Pellissario tweeted something out.
00:39:42
Snooty
Pellissario.
00:39:43
Savage Boston
What?
00:39:43
Snooty
ah One GM summarized the feelings around the league. Quote, this is pretty, this is very much bullshit on Baltimore's part. End quote. So like,
00:39:51
Savage Boston
I think both. I mean, who who makes that call? like So John Harbaugh is out the door, right? John Harbaugh is gone. So who made that call today? Is that the GM now that Harbaugh doesn't have control? Because Harbaugh, I probably had too much respect to do that. He's out the door with New York.
00:40:08
Savage Boston
So who's in charge now? Is it the GM? Is it the head coach?
00:40:11
Snooty
It's probably a jam.
00:40:13
Savage Boston
Right? So... Whoever this GM is, I mean, talk about, I mean, to be real, that's a really scummy fuck move. And that's something that doesn't happen that often. in The NFL is a tough game, right? But when you see a trade of this caliber get rejected at a physical? Like that is buyer's remorse bullshit. They've said, we need to get out of this. So they make him fly to fucking Baltimore, celebrate with his family, just so they can be like, sorry, buddy.
00:40:40
Snooty
Ricky scoops hearing that Trey Hendrickson is now going to the Ravens.
00:40:45
Savage Boston
Come on. ah Ricky, Ricky's been not right on so many things.
00:40:48
Snooty
I'm just, look, I'm just saying.
00:40:51
Savage Boston
I know, but Ricky, i listen, I like Ricky. I used to love a lot of Ricky's takes because he was right on a ton of stuff. And obviously he is sourced, but he has not been right that often in this off season.
00:41:05
Savage Boston
Like I think he's missed frequently on a lot of his, his players.
00:41:07
Snooty
Yeah. Hey, look, just saying.
00:41:09
Savage Boston
So I would say if Trey Hendrickson to preface this, if Trey Hendrickson goes to Baltimore um they need to have an investigation.
00:41:18
Snooty
Thank you.
00:41:19
Savage Boston
and And I'm being serious. I think they actually need to have an investigation because you can't accept a fucking deal under real pretenses and just be like, oh, whoops, like there's a different guy. And then like, like don't do the fucking deal then.
00:41:35
Snooty
no There's no investigation to be had, though, because like they can just be like, we didn't like his knee. We just didn't like it worse than we thought.
00:41:41
Savage Boston
i understand, they
00:41:43
Savage Boston
they can
00:41:43
Snooty
So the only the only retribution against them is the rest of the league being like, okay, good, fuck off.
00:41:48
Snooty
like Next time you call me,
00:41:49
Savage Boston
not Yeah, I don't think anyone should trade with him. mean, he thinks unbelievable. I mean, it's just like shocking, to be honest with you. Like, it's why this doesn't why this doesn't happen.
00:42:00
Savage Boston
Yeah, Ricky Scoops with his crazy tweet about Hendrickson is going to triple platinum tweet, I'm sure. um I just think it's like, ah yeah, it's it's insane. Yeah.
Hopes for Patriots' Next Moves
00:42:14
Savage Boston
The Dallas Cowboys are not expecting. So Diana Rossini, this is which how much news comes out. Like at the same time, Diana Rossini has tweeted that Cowboys are not expected to re-engage in a Crosby trade at this time.
00:42:25
Snooty
because they already traded for Gary.
00:42:27
Savage Boston
Yeah. So they don't need him.
00:42:28
Snooty
What I'm saying, like the the ravens just like they ate theyre the ah Raiders just lost a ton of leverage. They either have to make good with Crosby, or which I don't think is happening, or trade him for pennies on the dollar.
00:42:39
Savage Boston
Hey man, do they want it? Do they want it too?
00:42:41
Snooty
How about pick 63?
00:42:44
Savage Boston
How about, how about just like, do you want to pick 31?
00:42:48
Snooty
I would do that. I would do that.
00:42:50
Savage Boston
Just one. Do they want it? 31.
00:42:52
Snooty
I would do it.
00:42:53
Bret
Oh, yeah. For sure.
00:42:56
Savage Boston
I mean, being serious.
00:42:59
Bret
That'd be fucking easy.
00:42:59
Savage Boston
Would they take 31 overall? I would do that deal. All right. Well, um, I mean, again, we could, I'm sure we can keep going. I'll probably cut it now just to have it at a crisp kind of crisp time. um Just before we get off here, what's what's one move? Give me one move, anything you're looking for tomorrow. do you have a player you want? Or, again, some sort of – what's a move you want them to make tomorrow?
00:43:24
Snooty
Joku. joku
00:43:25
Savage Boston
Njoku.
00:43:27
Bret
Yeah, I mean, that's what I was calling for.
00:43:28
Savage Boston
Tight end. Yeah.
00:43:29
Bret
so I would say tight end because that's where I think the biggest need is, and and I would be happy with that.
00:43:32
Savage Boston
Yeah, I like that.
00:43:35
Savage Boston
I'll just take Jalen Hawkins back.
00:43:40
Savage Boston
I think that'd be the most like, I'd be the most chill.
00:43:40
Bret
I'd like to...
00:43:42
Savage Boston
Like, yep, come on back. You know the whole thing. Just come on in. Like two-year deal, 12 million or something, whatever. Like, come on down.
00:43:50
Bret
Just so I'm not consistent in saying the same thing, I'll say Gonzo extension. I want that figured out.
00:43:56
Savage Boston
Ooh, okay.
00:43:57
Bret
I want that figured out quick.
00:43:59
Savage Boston
it it's
00:43:59
Bret
The price is only going to go up the longer it takes.
00:44:00
Savage Boston
It's going to happen. It's going to happen. So, all right, guys.
00:44:04
Snooty
Yep.
00:44:04
Savage Boston
we'll we'll We'll see you next week. We'll talk to you then. Peace.