FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Setting the odds on Patriots free agents and their return: The Patriots are projected to have about $30 million in salary-cap space when the league year begins in 2020, a figure that accounts for incentives and other commitments, per a league source. Before they can turn their attention to players from other teams, they must assess what to do with their own.
The list is plentiful, including some of their core players, and here is one view of the odds of their return:
Tom Brady: Because the Patriots aren't flush with cap space like other teams, it adds a layer of context to what level coach Bill Belichick might value Brady's return.