Patriots shopping Ben Watson?

[mayoclinic]

This is from a somewhat obscure source, for what it's worth:

Report- Ben Watson On Trading Block

"Fresh of the New England Patriots trading for Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Alex Smith, signing Chris Baker in the offseason to a five year deal and former third round pick David Thomas on the team, this more than backs up our report that tight end Ben Watson is on the trading block. Watson is in the last year of his contract and is expected to ask for big time money in free agency and this could just be a sign that Watson will be now re-signed during the offseason."

This sounds like speculation as much as report. Not sure what the source is, or if it's reliable.

 

[livinginthe past]

Sounds like the same modus operandi is being applied from the Hobbs trade.

Get some value from him before his contract becomes due for renewal but making sure they don't leave themselves short of depth.

Ben Watson should have been a force with his measurables - instead we got a TE who was an okay blocker, a decent pass catcher who bizarrely seemed to attract more than his fair share of poorly thown balls by Brady (ones that he'd invariable pull a circus move to touch then bat up in the air for the defence)

 

[JSn]

Watson is a good TE, but maybe the Pats is the wrong team for him. Still, I don't know how they recover more than what they lost on the new guy if they trade him.

Seems more likely the TE's have a wicked camp battle to me.

 

[mayoclinic]

My view of Watson will always be colored by the fact that I desperately wanted Karlos Dansby at #32 in 2004, and we took Watson instead. Dansby went #33. Oh, what could have been.

I think the contract year comment is right on. If Watson thinks he's going to get big money (and someone may be dumb enough to give it too him), then he's gone, so why not get something for him.

 

[MetalBleachers]

My view of Watson will always be colored by the fact that I desperately wanted Karlos Dansby at #32 in 2004, and we took Watson instead. Dansby went #33. Oh, what could have been.

I think the contract year comment is right on. If Watson thinks he's going to get big money (and someone may be dumb enough to give it too him), then he's gone, so why not get something for him.

Hence the question: why would anyone give Watson big money? Unless they need someone for the DB tip drills? What can the Pats get for him?

 

[fair catch fryar]

Hence the question: why would anyone give Watson big money? Unless they need someone for the DB tip drills? What can the Pats get for him?

My sentiments exactly.

 

[BTTA]

Yet this article says that this is a first step towards the Pats re-signing him. Odd.

"Watson is in the last year of his contract and is expected to ask for big time money in free agency and this could just be a sign that Watson will be now re-signed during the offseason."

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Yet this article says that this is a first step towards the Pats re-signing him. Odd.

That seems more like a rumor than a report.

 

[bakes781]

The only way Ben's value could be any lower right now is if we had drafted a TE. This makes no sense.

 

[Mack Herron]

Barring injury, it seems unlikely that they will carry 4, so among Baker, Smith, Watson and Thomas, at least one goes beforethe season (and it's not Baker). Could also be to improve competitiveness at the position and see who rises. I think we've seen the best of Watson. Thomas could still have some up side.

 

[TimU]

You know the Hobbs trade, and a Watson trade if it happens, is a trade of a sort you often see in baseball but rarely in football. In baseball teams often trade players with a year left on their contract when they have determined that they will not resign the player. They don't get full value, since the player only has a year left on the cheap contract before becoming eligible for full free agency. Usually the team gets back a few prospects. The Hobbs trade has exactly this form. In its own way, this may be an example of BB getting ahead of the curve, applying a sensible strategy he has picked up form another sport.

 

[Fencer]

I'm guessing they'll shop the loser of the battle for three TE roster slots. If one gets IRed they won't shop any.

 

[dryheat44]

We'd probably get more in compensation if we were to keep Watson another year and let him walk in the uncapped year. That being said, there is definitely salary cap savings to be had, as well as a numbers problem to be relieved, if he's traded now.

Perhaps Thomas can be traded to Kansas City or Denver.

 

[upstater1]

My view of Watson will always be colored by the fact that I desperately wanted Karlos Dansby at #32 in 2004, and we took Watson instead. Dansby went #33. Oh, what could have been.

I think the contract year comment is right on. If Watson thinks he's going to get big money (and someone may be dumb enough to give it too him), then he's gone, so why not get something for him.

Because maybe he'll play a lot harder.

Watson's best year of play is easily worth more than the 5th rounder we'll get in compensation, and then if he signs elsewhere we'll get a 5th round compensatory pick anyway.

I'm not a fan of trading players in their last year simply because you lose out on the play of their contract year, unless you can get a first day pick for them.

 

[Jimke]

The Patriots may have already approached some of their players

about extensions. Hobbs may have made an unreasonable demand

and was traded. Watson might be in the same boat.

 

[sieglo]

Let's see.

Watson: Pretty decent TE. Has been productive in the offense, though subject to annoying drops and miscues.

Thomas: Utterly useless. Biggest play in his NFL career was a penalty that literally cost the Pats a game. Injury prone.

The only possible reason any rational observer would even consider keeping Thomas over Watson is financial and cap related.

 

[dhamz]

We'd probably get more in compensation if we were to keep Watson another year and let him walk in the uncapped year.

But they would get more in a trade now than if they were to cut him in training camp.

 

[BelichickFan]

But they would get more in a trade now than if they were to cut him in training camp.

They aren't cutting Watson.

Like others, I'd cut Thomas if we had to rid ourselves of a TE but I would think there would be a decent market for Watson.

 

[MetalBleachers]

They aren't cutting Watson.

Like others, I'd cut Thomas if we had to rid ourselves of a TE but I would think there would be a decent market for Watson.

Yup. Too much of an asset. Why cut him when you can get something for him?

 

[Lord_Reginald_III]

that denver play on champ bailey was alltime, but... i doubt i would care all that much if he hit the road