Patriots Spending More Than NFL Average On O-Line, Less On Cornerbacks

[RS12]

Here’s how the Patriots rank compared to the rest of the league at each position with how much funds are allocated.

OFFENSE: 6th, $87.1 million
QUARTERBACK: 19th, 15.4 million
RUNNING BACK: 18th, $6.4 million
WIDE RECEIVER: 15th, $19.3 million
TIGHT END: 2nd, $15.2 million
OFFENSIVE LINE: 7th, $30.5 million

DEFENSE: 26th, $64.4 million
DEFENSIVE LINE: 20th, $18.9 million
LINEBACKERS: 14th, $22.3 million
CORNERBACKS: 30th, $6.7 million
SAFETIES: 4th, $16.5 million

— The Patriots are able to spend far less than average on their quarterbacks because Tom Brady is willing to take less than market value and because they drafted their backup. A veteran backup generally costs less than a young second-round pick. The Patriots already have drafted their backup of the future in Jacoby Brissett.

— Bill Belichick has shown an unwillingness to spend big money on running backs. It’s almost surprising that ranking isn’t lower compared to the rest of the NFL.

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2016/05/patriots-spending-more-than-nfl-average-on-o-line-less-on-cornerbacks/

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I've long praised this about Belichick. I think corners are way overvalued. Man coverage is less needed these days and more hazardous to use. And IIRC (I could be wrong), I think cornerback is the most oft-injured position in the NFL. Lots of hamstring, knee and ankle injuries along with upper body injuries related to the corners trying to tackle.

I think Belichick is the best coach in football when it comes to coaching safeties. And that's where he spends his money instead. He runs a lot of zone coverages and has the right safeties who can play and do what he wants.

The good news is that with Marinelli he has a similar philosophy. He's not likely to go and spend a lot of money on corners and that's why guys like Terrance Mitchell get second chances...they are cheap and can play zone. The issue is that I don't see Marinelli spending a lot of money on safeties either.






YR

 

[RS12]

I've long praised this about Belichick. I think corners are way overvalued. Man coverage is less needed these days and more hazardous to use. And IIRC (I could be wrong), I think cornerback is the most oft-injured position in the NFL. Lots of hamstring, knee and ankle injuries along with upper body injuries related to the corners trying to tackle.

I think Belichick is the best coach in football when it comes to coaching safeties. And that's where he spends his money instead. He runs a lot of zone coverages and has the right safeties who can play and do what he wants.

The good news is that with Marinelli he has a similar philosophy. He's not likely to go and spend a lot of money on corners and that's why guys like Terrance Mitchell get second chances...they are cheap and can play zone. The issue is that I don't see Marinelli spending a lot of money on safeties either.






YR

Big picture: Their approach is to spend money on the offensive side and coach up the defensive side. They would be spending even more on offense if Brady wasnt on a team friendly deal. They also sent Chandler Jones packing before they had to pay him.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Big picture: Their approach is to spend money on the offensive side and coach up the defensive side. They would be spending even more on offense if Brady wasnt on a team friendly deal. They also sent Chandler Jones packing before they had to pay him.

Yes, but they are 4th in spending on safeties. So they know what they value on defense and it's not cornerback. They can find those guys that can play zone and some man fairly cheaply and they have found those guys in later rounds and those players have gone on to other teams and had successful careers. They just greatly value the last line of defense.




YR

 

[Manwiththeplan]

It's funny that most would see this and come to the conclusion that Bellicheck realizes that corners are over rated, but I would point out that the Patriots won the SB in 2014 and I'm pretty sure their CBs were well above league average.

 

[BAT]

I've long praised this about Belichick. I think corners are way overvalued. Man coverage is less needed these days and more hazardous to use. And IIRC (I could be wrong), I think cornerback is the most oft-injured position in the NFL. Lots of hamstring, knee and ankle injuries along with upper body injuries related to the corners trying to tackle.

I think Belichick is the best coach in football when it comes to coaching safeties. And that's where he spends his money instead. He runs a lot of zone coverages and has the right safeties who can play and do what he wants.

The good news is that with Marinelli he has a similar philosophy. He's not likely to go and spend a lot of money on corners and that's why guys like Terrance Mitchell get second chances...they are cheap and can play zone. The issue is that I don't see Marinelli spending a lot of money on safeties either.






YR

Not sure I agree that Belichick does not value corners. He signed both Aquib Talib and Darelle Revis in the last 6 years. He does like bargains however, so will take chances on guys with talent but off field issues.

 

[Idgit]

Not sure I agree that Belichick does not value corners. He signed both Aquib Talib and Darelle Revis in the last 6 years. He does like bargains however, so will take chances on guys with talent but off field issues.

I was going to post the same thing, but decided I was too lazy to go look up the timespan.

The Pats are flexible. They take advantage of good deals with players they can work with. I do agree with YR about Safety play overall, though. It's an underrated position, and one we've tried to get by at for way too long. I happen to like our CBs more than most, I think, but our Safety rotation has been middling or bad for almost as far back as I can remember. I'd have been very happy to add Ramsey in the draft and to have put that position to bed for 4-5 years if we could have.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Patriots already have drafted their backup of the future in Jacoby Brissett.

"Patriots already have drafted their backup of the future in Jacoby Brissett...until he proves he can.t play in the NFL successfully, then it's the next guy as their backup of the future."

 

[CowboyChris]

Not sure I agree that Belichick does not value corners. He signed both Aquib Talib and Darelle Revis in the last 6 years. He does like bargains however, so will take chances on guys with talent but off field issues.

was about to say this.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Yes, but they are 4th in spending on safeties. So they know what they value on defense and it's not cornerback. They can find those guys that can play zone and some man fairly cheaply and they have found those guys in later rounds and those players have gone on to other teams and had successful careers. They just greatly value the last line of defense.




YR

I was told on here safeties weren't that important compared to corners. Smh I still say get Byron a legit running mate next year.

 

[Techsass]

Those are weird numbers. Are they paying that much more for Gronk (TE) that it jumps the O cost all the way up to 6th overall? All the other positions seem pretty low. The opposite on the D. It looks like they're only paying 1 starting CB. Even if everybody is on a Mo deal, $7m seems extremely low.