Pats tender their RFA’s, release TE Baker

The Patriots have announced their restricted free agent tenders for their 3 RFA’s, Logan Mankins, Stephen Gostkowski, and Pierre Woods. Their most important RFA, Mankins, received the highest tender, meaning a team will have to give up a first and third-round  pick in order to sign him away, a hefty price to pay. It is likely that Logan Mankins will remain a Patriot for the 2010 season, and it would make sense to lock him up long-term so they don’t find themselves in a bidding war for him next year. Stephen Gostkowski received the second-round tender, also virtually locking him in place for the 2010 season. I highly doubt that a team will give up a second-round pick for a kicker, unless it was the Raiders. However, the Raiders already locked up their own kicker so that takes the major doofus out of the picture. Pierre Woods received the lowest tender, meaning the Patriots would receive no draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere because he was a rookie free agent. The tender does give the Patriots the right of first refusal to a deal and the right to match it.

The tight end cupboard is officially bare. The Patriots released TE Chris Baker today, making him an UFA. That leaves only Robbie Agnone and Rob Myers, who I believe have zero game experience. This likely means one of two things. It is possible that the Pats plan to re-sign Ben Watson and not allow him to become an UFA at midnight tonight. The other possibility is a trade for Greg Olsen or a RFA TE (Owen Daniels? Tony Scheffler?). Of course, the Patriots will likely also draft a TE in the draft, but I give them a zero percent chance that they go into 2010 with a rookie TE and those other two guys. Things are getting much more interesting as we are mere hours away from free agency.