New England is about to get even tougher...

NFL Network just said that it looks like Stephon Gilmore is signing with New England today.

Like we say on here, the rich get richer...

 

This is true... but now New England has their own share of issues. Even with their high level of cap space, depth must be retained.. among other side bumps in the road.


For one, this just means that Logan Ryan is more than likely headed to a team. Someone will elect to pick him up for sure.

Most importantly, Malcolm Butler is on the outside looking in. Even in the event a team does want to part ways with a first round pick, there is no gurantee that said pick will make an instant impact like Butler does. Granted, a player like Duron Harmon can ensure the Patriots do have a contingency plan via the three safety nickel formation but that is just about it. A team cannot run the same formation and expect the same outcome; Bill Belichick doubly so.



While I do agree that this does make New England a far more dangerous team... given the nature of this deal, Malcolm Butler will not go so kindly towards a lesser deal. Should Malcolm obtain a deal that is similar to Stephon's... then there is the issue of facing both. $51 million for New England in cap space is nice to have... but much of that must be for the purpose of retaining depth. One player cannot eat up that level of space all by himself or essentially another "Albert Haynesworth" is created; one that will dearly cost the team in terms of cap space in the coming years.



Until that happens however, New England is still the juggernaut... but just not as fearsome as some may believe.

 

They added Kony Ealy. My guess is he will now live up to his first round grade. He'll be an All-Pro next year.