Thread: Free-agent DT Okoye to meet with Bengals

NFL reporter and XM radio host Adam Caplan states that the Patriots are one of five teams interested in DT Amobi Okoye. Okoye was the 10th overall pick of the 2007 draft but never lived up to that draft status. With the Patriots getting away from being strictly a 3-4, two-gap defense it opens up the door to look at players like Okoye who would never have been a consideration just a couple years ago; he’s a bit undersized for that scheme but has enough speed and power where he could be productive in the right scheme. He’s only 25 years old, so under the right conditions he could have a great deal of productive time ahead of him – depending on whether or not he fulfills the Patriots’ commandment of “football is important to him”, as Tom Curran points out for CSNNE. The Bears (who he played for last year) are one of the teams reportedly showing interest; besides the Pats the others are Denver, Cincinnati and Tampa Bay.

Speculation on DT Amobi Okoye, RB Matte Forte, and week one schedule; Felger salary cap chat, and more :All Things Pats

we don't need him as starter...

Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

we don't need him as starter...

We need him in the rotation though. The way the Bears play defense who the starters are at DT and who backs them isn't as significant as on other teams. Okoye had the second most snaps of the DT's last year. Melton the most. He plays behind Melton and with Melton because he's the only other pure 3t DT we have on the team. Paea can play the 3t spot but he was used more as a NT last year.

We got Okoye cheap last year and he did well enough that he's attracting some interest. If the price gets too high I'm afraid we may lose him. The guy is young and he still has a lot of upside in the right system. I think the Bears have a spot for him that he fits into very well and he proved that last year. It all comes down to cost though and I believe were gonna come up short.

This is where Forte still being on his tag is hurting us. That tag is consuming around $2 mil of cap space we probably would have back if we got him signed long term.

Originally Posted by soulman

We need him in the rotation though. The way the Bears play defense who the starters are at DT and who backs them isn't as significant as on other teams. Okoye had the second most snaps of the DT's last year. Melton the most. He plays behind Melton and with Melton because he's the only other pure 3t DT we have on the team. Paea can play the 3t spot but he was used more as a NT last year.

We got Okoye cheap last year and he did well enough that he's attracting some interest. If the price gets too high I'm afraid we may lose him. The guy is young and he still has a lot of upside in the right system. I think the Bears have a spot for him that he fits into very well and he proved that last year. It all comes down to cost though and I believe were gonna come up short.

This is where Forte still being on his tag is hurting us. That tag is consuming around $2 mil of cap space we probably would have back if we got him signed long term.

2. Questions

#1: How many Cap Space is left as it is now and is this space with the Draft picks or without?
#2: Okoye wants starter money, right? If he wants this, I don't see Emery paying him that

Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

2. Questions

#1: How many Cap Space is left as it is now and is this space with the Draft picks or without?
#2: Okoye wants starter money, right? If he wants this, I don't see Emery paying him that

#1: I've got it at around $10 mil, maybe a little less, not counting a reserve for the draft picks. Figure $4.5 mil or so for picks but those dollars won't actually count against the cap until the contracts are signed and that could be June or July for some so there's time to clear more space if needed. Signing Forte would help.

#2: Okoye played for $1.3 mil and change last year and I'm betting he's wanting significantly more this year. I think Emery would like to keep him but his deal is a double edged sword. This is Melton's last year on his rookie deal and if he's our primary DT he'll be looking for more than whatever we give Okoye so one deal drives the other. I would guess Emery is hesitant to go too high for Okoye and paint himself into a corner with Melton.

I think it's safe to say we'll lose Okoye GBPH. Too much interest from other teams who have more money to spend on him than we do. Tough break but ya' can't win then all. My guess is some of what's left is earmarked for whatever Emery figured he'd be willing to go on Okoye, maybe $4 mil or so, but probably not much more than that and I don't think that will get it done.

Originally Posted by MPBears68

That really sucks. Not anyone's fault but a bad break for us. Losing a young guy like him who looks ready to really produce hurts pretty bad. We now have only 3 interior DLs--Paea, Toe, & Melton, right?

What's the plan from here for another DT? It's not like we have a bunch of un-allocated draft picks lying around...

I think the big mistake here was not getting him extended before the end of last year when he proved to be a pretty good find. I'd say this was another place where JA dropped the ball. We had the cap room to do it and no competition from others. Everyday that goes by I see more and more ways where he passed up opportunities to improve the team. Those bullshit efforts he made to sign Forte are just the tip of the iceberg.

There are DT's in the draft we can pickup but it's a shame if we have to burn a higher pick on one to get a player who could come close to being his equivalent. Him, Melton, Toe and Paea was the best DT rotation we've had in years.