aabtec

I have a feeling that there will be a new CBA before the draft. If there is do you think that the Pats will change their draft strategy?

Trade picks for next year?
Just reload this year and be done with it?
Reload this year with a bunch of us going .."Who is that guy?"

Thoughts....

cstjohn17

I hope to hell you are right, the thought of no football with Brady is him prime is too much to bear. As for the rest of the post I don't think a CBA will dramtically impact thier draft strategy, where they will be picking the rookie salaries will be managable.

MaineMan

I kinda doubt that a rookie's potential salary has ever dissuaded the Pats from drafting a guy, though the prospect of having to negotiate with certain agents may have, but more wrt the possibility that the guy might miss significant pre-season practice time than wrt to actual $$/contract outcome. IOW, the trading down has less to do with avoiding shelling out big bucks than with increasing the odds of having a bunch of solid, young "do your job" type players in OTAs and training camp.

So, a new CBA with a possible rookie pay scale (which might not even be implemented until the 2012 draft) probably won't make any difference compared to how BB/scouts/coaches rate the available prospects - except insofar as how much a rookie cap affects which juniors come out.

Metaphors

Exactly, but the important date there is January 15th (or something like that) when players must declare for the draft. At the point, players have to start preparing for all-start games and the combine so there really isn't an option to slide that date back. So this means it is likely that players will make their decision without a new CBA in place. I think that makes it likely that a new CBA will not change the rookie salary structure in 2011 since that might leave the league open to lawsuits (players were forced to make choices based on old CBA but sign contracts under rules of new CBA).

Unless there is some revelation between now and Jan 15th, I would expect all the juniors that have 1st round grades to declare. While this should be the case every year, waiting for 2012 could cost players millions.

kurtinelson

I do think Pats consider a rookie's potential salary when drafting high in the first round - as well they should under a salary cap system. The current rookie pay scale is a joke and requires teams drafting high in the first round to shell out tens of millions of guaranteed money for unproven college players who've never played a single snap in the NFL.

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Wolfpack

I think their strategy will likely depend on if there is a new CBA and, if so, what it says. Popular opinion says that the new CBA - whenever it actually gets done - will have a slotted system for rookies to ensure cost certainty. So I am sure that is one of many factors the Patriots' braintrust takes into account.

jeffbiologist

If the CBA isnt redone before the onset of Free Agency I can see teams forgoing high priced free agents and placing a greater emphasis on the draft...which should increase the value of picks this year.

MaineMan

Excellent point!

MaineMan

The thing is, the Pats have rarely had a pick up in the range where rookie salaries are truly stratospheric and difficult to manage against the cap: #7 in 2001 (spent on Seymour), #7 in 2008 (traded down to #10 for Mayo and an extra pick). After the 9-7 2002 season, they spent the #13 on Ty Warren. The Oakland pick is likely to be around #15.

The point being that, on the rare occasion they've actually had a "high" first round pick, they've spent it on a guy. OTOH, if they hadn't had Seymour, Warren or Mayo rated high for the Pats' system, OR, if they thought these guys would fall further, they would have traded down for extra picks. Rookie salary considerations would have had nothing to do with it.

MaineMan

Especially for the Pats if the same free-agency restrictions are in place for the "Final Eight" teams (which the Pats will be among if they beat GB tonight).