5 potential cap casualties the Patriots could sign on offense
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The Patriots find themselves with some cap problems this offseason, as they currently only have $3.9 million in projected cap space. As a result, they will likely be making some moves themselves, with guard Dan Connolly one of several likely candidates to be cut. I'd personally expect the Patriots to be more active in the draft than free agency due to their financial situation, but they certainly could bolster the roster with a veteran or two at the right price. Lets take a look at five potential cap casualties around the league that the Pats could add to their offense.
Roddy White
At 32 years old and coming off of a injury-riddled 2013, White will likely need to either restructure his deal or sign an extension to stay in Atlanta. The rebuilding Falcons have expressed a desire to sign him to an extension, but will save $5 million by cutting him if the two sides can't come to terms on a deal.
Whether White becomes a realistic option for the Patriots will depend entirely on how the market develops for him. White has been extremely productive and consistent throughout his career, but 32 year old receivers rarely get paid well, regardless of their production. If White is forced to take a shorter, less-expensive deal (and if he wants a chance at a ring), the Patriots could emerge as a landing spot.
On the field, White would be a natural fit in the Patriots offense. White is an excellent route runner with great hands who has made his money working the intermediate zones. It's a skillset that would logically mesh with the Patriots precision passing attack. Also, don't let White's down 2013 (his catches, yards and touchdowns were his lowest since 2006, his second year in the league) fool you. White gutted out most of the season through a painful high ankle sprain that clearly limited his effectiveness, but averaged 8.6 receptions and 100.4 yards per game during the season's final five weeks.
Owen Daniels
The 31 year old Daniels has been a rock solid tight end in the passing game throughout his career, but his $6.25 million cap hit might be too much for a rebuilding Houston team. He was on pace for another solid season in 2013 before a broken fibula ended his season after just five games.
Unfortunately for Daniels, injuries issues aren't anything new for him. He missed 13 games in a two year span from 2009-2010 thanks to a torn ACL. He followed that up with back-to-back 15 game seasons before missing 11 games in 2013. The glass half-full type will point to the majority of his time missed coming from two unlucky injuries; the glass half-empty type will note that he hasn't played a full 16 game season since 2008.
Like White, Daniels could find the market for his services diminished by his age and most recent injury plagued season. If the price is right, the Patriots could view him as a solid alternative/complement to Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots had no viable threat in the passing game from their tight ends whenever Gronkowski was out, something that really hurt their offense towards the end of the season. With Gronkowski now recovering from a torn ACL, there is a clear need to bring in a starting caliber tight end to fill in, a role Daniels is capable of filling if healthy.
Jermaine Gresham
With the Patriots looking for a Gronk fill-in, why not kick the tires of the only tight end selected before Gronk in the 2010 draft? Gresham hasn't been terrible, but he's come well short of expectations for a first round pick. With a $4.8 million cap hit and 2013 first rounder Tyler Eifert waiting in the wings, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Cincinnati move on.
While Gresham never turned into the star the Bengals were hoping for, it's hard to say he wasn't productive. He's averaged 54.5 catches, 566.25 yards and 4.75 TDs per season in his career, solid numbers that are actually brought down by career lows across the board in 2013. However, that slight decline in production was more due to the Bengals spreading out their passing attack amongst their considerable group of playmakers more than any noticeable decline in Gresham's play.
Like any free agent this year, Gresham's availability to the Pats will depend on how his league-wide market develops. Gresham does have a little bit of a "bust" label on him, but he's also only 26 years old with plenty of physical talent and a solid if unspectacular resume of production. His upside will likely net him a deal out of the Pats price range.
Chris Snee
A fixture at guard with the New York Giants, Snee was still an effective player until 2013, when hip and elbow surgeries ended his season in early October. At 32 and with an enormous $11.75 million cap hit, Snee is just about guaranteed to be cut. In fact, there's a chance that Snee takes the Matt Light route and retires young with his health relatively intact.
Most of the offseason talk about the Patriots has been about upgrading Tom Brady's weapons, but the interior of their offensive line could see the most new faces in 2014. Center Ryan Wendell is a free agent, and guard Dan Connolly is a likely cap casualty. The Pats will likely be looking to upgrade there, as both players struggled in pass protection in 2013.
Snee is most likely a longshot; if he does choose to keep playing, it will likely be with the Giants, the only team he's played for in his career, on a significantly smaller contract. However, if the Giants opt to go with youth at that position, the Boston College alum could find his way in New England, where he'd have a good shot of winning Connolly's old job at right guard.
Davin Joseph
At 30 years old, Joseph's play no longer warrants his $6 million price tag, opening up the possibility that Tampa cuts him lose. He turned in an inconsistent season in 2013, making his return from a season ending torn patellar tendon suffered in the 2012 preseason. Before that, Joseph was one of the best guards in football, making two Pro Bowls in his eight year career.
Will a full offseason help Joseph rediscover some gas in the tank, or is that kind of knee injury too much for an aging guard to overcome? That's a question the entire league will be asking if the Bucs cut Joseph loose.
I would consider this one a longshot as well. The Patriots have had a lot of success finding interior offensive linemen in the draft, and all it will take is one team to overpay Joseph due to name recognition. However, they'd be remiss to not at least look into him should he become available. Joseph made two Pro Bowls for a reason; at his best there are few guards better in the running game. If there's a chance to get that player (or something close to it) for cheap, it could be a worthwhile gamble.
Brandon Weeden
Just kidding. Cleveland, your QB. Woof.
For a full list of potential cap casualties, check out Over the Cap
