RayClay

Just a Philosophy question here.

I am hopeful we sign Graham and Watson, when his time comes. But I'm not confident of either.

We've hit the jackpot with our DL 1st rounders IMO and I think we're prepared to pay them like 1st rounders.

Are we with tight ends?

We're upgrading talent at RB and OL after getting by with JAGS in the past.

We've gotten good value out of Fauria and Wiggins and Thomas looks good.

Can we get almost as much production out of FA's and lower picks and sign them long term? There are blocking TEs available who can make a catch once in a while.

It's worth thinking about.

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Box_O_Rocks

At $4mil/annum, what draft spot would Grahambo be drafted to earn equivalent dollars? Sey was a top 6 draftee and got paid that way when he resigned. Grahambo seems to be drawing similar interest as the second Pats first rounder to test the home market.

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Digger44

For me it depends on who is available and at what pick. IMO #24 needs to address the def. #28 could be a BPA pick. If so, it is hard to argue with Greg Olsen if he is available. He was pre-combine but I have not seen any new mocks.

If we got Olsen I am not worried about blocking duties either. I am hoping we switch to a zone scheme and use more of Evans and Mills in the blocking so a TE doesn't have to. The TE in motion towards the middle got very predictable last year. SD ate it up, and said they were looking for it.

JoeSixPat

Given the fact that TEs generally haven't cost as much in free agency, and that 1st round picks are generally set into salary slots - and that gaining a starter at a more "expensive" position in that salary slot is more efficient, the general answer would be yes.

But in the end with the draft picks we've used its not a huge amount we're not saving - and we all respect BB's tendency to pick the best player available, rather than focus on positional needs or other factors

So I'd say just let BB & SP do whatever they want

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RayClay

I'm not really concerned about the money, that's the teams problem.

I am concerned that these 2 players won't want to stick around for what we're willing to pay them. Also, what top draft pick wants to split catches among three guys?

It seems to me other teams, (colts?) get similar production from less costly TE's. I've no time to look up stats now so I'll accept my facts could be wrong.

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spacecrime

I don't understand. In FA Graham is worth more than $4 mil a year. How is that cheaper than drafting a guy in the second half of the first round and paying him under $2 mil a year?

JoeSixPat

$4 million a year is the Franchise Tag amount for the BEST TEs in the NFL (or at least the Top 5)... (and it remains to be seen if Graham really got offered that amount)

However the comparison that needs to be made is paying an unproven rookie TE taken in the first round $1-2 million, or paying a proven veteran TE at the same amount.

I'd take the proven veteran over the unproven rookie all things being equal.

Now look at someone like a Left Tackle - what's the franchise tag - $9 million or so?

So taking a LT in the 1st round at $1-2 mllion over a veteran makes a whole lot more sense when compared to taking a TE with the same pick, when proven production can be had for the same price.

But again, I'll leave it to BB & SP to take the guy they think is best.

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Box_O_Rocks

I thought Clark was a first round pick? He's a one dimensional receiver, how is that getting more out of a TE? Does he even play on STs like Grahambo, Ben, and Dave do? Utecht is a more well rounded TE, but I don't know that his stats or usage is even marginally better than what either Grahambo and Ben do. As far as this year's draft, Thomas would be a first round value with his timed speed and college production, it's all in the line-up.

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RayClay

I thought I made a bad example there, but I had to go to class.

Clark was a #24, but Utrecht and Fletcher are both 6th rounders. I'm pretty sure the Colt's run a lot of two tight end offense too.

I've seen teams get more out of their tight ends with low picks and FAs.

I just don't know if the Pats get more utility out of playing 2 high draft picks than one star and 2 or 3 role playing tight ends.

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MrBigglesWorth

I'm defintiely not a big fan of the double tightend set. This past season, despite the injuries, ullustrated that they weren't able to exploit matchups on a constistent basis and went to the 3 wr set.

They need a functional offense and a dominant defense.

I say stack the defense with playmakers again. It was pretty good this past year. Imagine some more youth and palyemakers on this defense.

Plus they need a weapon as a punt returner, start getting some production out of that position.

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