scott99

I'm all aboard for the Thomas, Brady & Morris moves (especially the Thomas move), but 5.5mill for Wes Welker, plus we give up a second round pick ? To me, that's a bad move.

Don't get me wrong, I love his heart, I love his versatility, but really, all he is, is a replacement for Troy Brown's versatility. Certainly not a #1 receiver type. 5.5mill and a #2 pick for a #3 receiver is just wayyyyyyy toooooo much. I like the kid, but we really need a replacement for Deion Branch, not a #3 or #4 receiver.

I much rather the Pats would have spent some free agency money on Donte Stallworth, a perfect replacement for Deion Branch, or a #2 receiver at worst case scenerio. If we wanted a Welker type, Bradon Stokely is available (cheaper and without giving up a #2 pick).

I really don't like this move, and since it's such a high offer, no way do the Dolphins match this. Wes Welker is a Patriot, not my favorite move, but I guess I have to accept it. We really need to stock up on some more receivers (need a #1 or #2 type, Welker, Gaffney, Caldwell & all our other WR's are #3's), linebackers, and defensive backs. Hopefully Jarrett or Ginn are on the Pats next year, as well as Willis or Poslunsky are on the Pats.

pats1

$5.5 million? Where are you getting that number?

It's a 6 year deal at about $18 million, with a poison pill $20 million year 7.

BradyManny

I'm not keen on giving up draft picks, but Welker is definitely going to make the team better, there's no arguing that. It's not our draft picks, and it's not our money (plus, a lot of that money is phoney poison pill money)...soo...if it makes the team better and helps us win the championship, what's the problem?

pats1

Welker had 67 catches last year. He'll have about a $3 million cap hit for the Pats in 2007.

Mason had 68 catches last year. He'll have about a $4.4 million cap hit for the Ravens in 2007.

Fitzgerald had 69 catches last year. He'll have about a $6.4 million cap hit for the Cardinals in 2007.

...

Think of Welker AS the Pats' 2nd round draft pick. He's being paid a bit more, but that's because he has PROVEN himself already, and still only 26 years old.

fgssand

Look at it from this perspective........If we were to get a player like welker with our #2 draft choice, would you be happy?? Looking at most (Exception Deion) of our # 2's - I am elated.

Welker, given his production and flexibility, at 18MM - 6 years is great value.

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pats63

Welker is young and most important he is proven....He will make impact on day one....A rookie will take a year or even possible 2 years....Who next are going to pick up????GO PATS!!!!

BelichickFan

Right, it's a low ceiling, high floor move. There will be guys available at our #2 that will do better and a lot that will do worse. If we get Welker it GUARANTEES, barring injury, that our #2 pick improves our team.

Brarrell

I saw somewhere that its going to be a 4 yr contract worth 12 mil basically 3 mil a year and I totally disagree with notion that this was a bad move. As a reciever he came into his own last year and he is a great punt returner.

BradyManny

Exactly, that's a great way of putting it. I think it wasn't until I viewed it that way that I started to get excited about this deal.

We're a draft-pick obsessed fan base (or at least I am), we have to view this just as you say - as if we just drafted Wes Welker with our 2nd round pick, which I think everyone would be happy with.

BradyManny

Yup, exactly, and thinking about it - isn't that exactly what we need right now? We were 4 points from a Super Bowl - to take a team that is already very strong and upgrade it is a tough thing, and I think it requires sure things like Welker. Between Maroney, Jackson, Thomas & Mills, we have plenty of offensive potential to develop, it's time for a sure bet, like Welker.