When we signed Brady, I stated that we should abandon cap "discipline", mortgage the future, and go all in for a Super Bowl. Mission accomplished! I thought we should maintain this approach as long as we had an excellent quarterback.
Now, it's time to reverse course and get our cap back in order.
I've been reading all the news about re-signing as many of our FA's as possible, and it makes no sense to me UNLESS we have an above average QB for 2022... whoever that may be. With a good QB, I could understand trying to be aggressive for a run at the 2023 Super Bowl... if not, we won't win the 2023 SB and we're simply hurting our chances for the 2024 Super Bowl and beyond. I don't envision us securing an above average qb for this season... though I'd be delighted to be wrong :-)
Since our division will probably stink in 2022 (unless the Panthers get a good QB), we should be able to compete for the division and maintain a "winning" culture, even if we let some guys walk. I think we could accumulate a 3rd, 4th, and 5th round comp pick. We should absorb as much "dead money" as possible in 2022 and avoid pushing out cap hits as much as possible.
Other than LVD, I think most of our signed vets have at least 3 more productive years in front of them and make a quality core for the team, so I think it's unlikely that we fall off a cliff and regain a loser mentality.
I'd use 2022 to assess our qb situation (whoever he may be) and get ready to reload for the 2023 season.
Based on long-term team construction, I see the logic in re-signing Godwin (and drafting another early). It seems like all almost all the good offenses need at least 2 strong receivers and excel with 3.
I LOVE Jensen and Cappa, but they may be more expensive than reasonable for our cap. We do need to sign Stinnie if we let both walk. We would probably get a 4th-5th round comp pick (or two) here.
Lenny will command more money than I'd like to spend at RB if we're not true title contenders.
Arians traditionally doesn't emphasize the TE... we'll return to cheap big bodies who are good blockers.
Carlton Davis is a good CB, but I don't think he's a top 15 CB. He'll probably get top 15 money... as much as it hurts, I'd let him walk since I can't justify signing both him and Godwin. He'd probably return a 3rd round comp pick.
I'd try to keep Whitehead and Gholston at fair market value, as well as cheap roster fillers like Perriman/Grayson/Miller, Bernard, Wells, and others. FAs should be signed after the comp pick deadline. Some guys from the practice squad finally get their shot as depth pieces and I'd prioritize a behemoth DL, speed WR, and OL or CB in the first 3 rounds. Contributing RBs and blocking TEs can always be found in rounds 4-5.
Entering 2023, we'd be stocked with 2+ early comp picks (and can pray that one of our coordinators gets us another 2 3rds). We'd have more clarity on our QB situation and be ready to make a push as a competitor with more cap flexibility than many other teams. It's not a sexy approach, but I believe it would be our best approach for another Super Bowl without a total rebuild that loses the cultural gains gained by Brady's time here.
All that said, I'd be thrilled to push cap hits down the road if we could secure a stud QB (which would mean we'd have to sign Cappa or Jensen and others). I just don't expect it.
