I’m frustrated like a lot of us here that there hasn’t been a “splash” move so far, and may not be one at all in FA. However, I do really believe that overpaying just to mollify us fans is a poor strategy. If they had signed Ridley to what they offered him I wouldn’t have been thrilled, I’m not a fan of the guy, I think Tennessee overpaid him.
The guys I would have wanted them to pay top dollar to that are gone now were McKinney, Wilkins, and Hunter on defense, Schultz and Evans on offense. Of those left given where the Pats are money-wise I’d be fine with a splurge on Tryon Smith or Justin Simmons.
From my perspective this years FA class has been extremely weak. Keeping Onwenu was the best move they could have made and they got it done. I’m glad to see Bourne, Henry, Duggar, and Jennings back. I like the Gipson and Okorafor signings addressing two weak spots they had going into all this.
I love to snark here but doom and gloom sucks for something we look to as fun entertainment, an escape from the difficult realities of life. If they suck next season but have a young talented QB on board we will have much more reason to be hopeful than we had when last season ended, and even more so if we see that Mayo and the new coaching staff has been productive in developing their own draftees.