If the Pats add a WR, then who is out?

[Shelterdog]

If anyone goes it will be Welker or Branch.

It's conceivable that Price is horrible and gets cut like a Chad Jackson or KOC; we just don't know anything about the guy.

Slater could certainly be cut for another gunner but he's not really a WR anyway.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I could conceivably see either Tate or Edelman going, depending on the skillset of the WR that we acquired. Also, I would be surprised, but not completely shocked, to see Welker traded. Doubt it'll happen, but it wouldn't be the most surprising move that Belichick has made.

Given the time and effort it takes to locate or identify and establish or develop WR's into this system I really would be beyond surprised to see Bill trade anyone away this year of all years... Moss went for lots of reasons including never being a genuine system or scheme fit. That's why trading him didn't surprise me... Welker has been both consistently. As was Branch, which is why after never intending to trade him he's back. Edleman is depth at a critical position as well as in the PR game. Tate and Price have a leg up on anyone he could have drafted this season or might trade for if the lockout ends before the 4th of July... Familiarity with the system and the QB and a NEP playbook to build on. Same reason Hoyer won't even be dangled this season.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I think the longer the lockout drags on the less likely it is to assume they add a FA WR let alone trade for or trade away one. The transition into this disciplined, demanding and precise offense and working with Brady isn't something that comes easy to even veteran WR's. Absent an offseason in the playbook and OTA's I just don't see anyone catching up or on in camp.

That is a cogent and thoughtful post. It is also further reasons and evidence that if we bring in a big, tall, vet "deep threat", it will be a fellow who knows the Pats passing game already, and wishes he could come here, Randy Moss...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

That is a cogent and thoughtful post. It is also further reasons and evidence that if we bring in a big, tall, vet "deep threat", it will be a fellow who knows the Pats passing game already, and wishes he could come here, Randy Moss...

Since I strive to be cogent and thoughtful, if you actually re-read it you will see it's neither reason nor evidence to bring back Moss...if in fact we even need a deep threat...

 

[Synovia]

If Tate doesn't learn that you don't have to jump every time you catch a ball, I suspect he won't make it through camp.

Tate was WR3 despite essentially being a rookie. The chances of him not making it through camp are probably lower than the chances of Welker not making it through camp.

 

[sbpatfan]

Not to mention Tate is the best KR we've had in years.

 

[Deus Irae]

Slater, but he's not in the poll option

 

[patsinthesnow]

If someone like Ochocinco is added when is inevitably cut, I would suspect the weaker of Edelman or Tate to be cut. Slater is a ST gunner.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

If someone like Ochocinco is added when is inevitably cut, I would suspect the weaker of Edelman or Tate to be cut. Slater is a ST gunner.

If Ochocinco gets cut it will have nothing to do with decisions relative to the NEP roster...

 

[NEGoldenAge]

I'm sorry, I didn't know you were blind. My condolences.

Since you have the games on your hard drive, you can learn of your mistake. Even Tates biggest highlight in the endzone, he jumped when he shouldn't have. You're usually pretty sharp, but you're dead wrong in this case.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Tate was WR3 despite essentially being a rookie. The chances of him not making it through camp are probably lower than the chances of Welker not making it through camp.

I could be wrong about him being cut, but his jumping when he shouldn't is a major problem in the Pats current offense. He also needs help running routes, but I think that is much more easily fixed.

 

[Sciz]

I don't see them adding a WR, but if they do, then Welker is going to get traded.

 

[Patspsycho]

Since you have the games on your hard drive, you can learn of your mistake. Even Tates biggest highlight in the endzone, he jumped when he shouldn't have. You're usually pretty sharp, but you're dead wrong in this case.

He still got the TD; if you're talking about the one in the Jets game.

 

[Patspsycho]

I don't see them adding a WR, but if they do, then Welker is going to get traded.

Why do you think so?

I would think that if someone had to be traded, it would be someone of lesser value than Welker, who is most of the time, on target with Brady in terms of being on the same page.

 

[Froob]

I think we're pretty good, if chad becomes an option though I'd go for him.

 

[Synovia]

Why do you think so?

I would think that if someone had to be traded, it would be someone of lesser value than Welker, who is most of the time, on target with Brady in terms of being on the same page.

Welker may have the least value to the team. Isn't his contract up at the end of the year? If they don't see themselves as resigning him, then he doesn't have a ton of value.

 

[Sciz]

Why do you think so?

I would think that if someone had to be traded, it would be someone of lesser value than Welker, who is most of the time, on target with Brady in terms of being on the same page.

Everybody complains about the lack of the deep threat, but another problem is that Welker is a starting WR who is never any threat at all to go deep. Only 12.8% of his receptions came more than 10 yards down the field. If we assume the young TEs and Edelman can pick up some of the slack over the middle, then a Steve Smith (Carolina), Sidney Rice, or Chad Ochocinco can contribute more along the sideline and down the field.

 

[Shelterdog]

Welker may have the least value to the team. Isn't his contract up at the end of the year? If they don't see themselves as resigning him, then he doesn't have a ton of value.

And Edelman can do a lot of what he can do, and they have Gronk and Hernandez for the short passing game, and as a pro bowler with 100 catches he may have trade value for a team looking to make a media splash.

If the tradeoff is a year of Welker for, for example, St. Louis's number two pick, I could easily see them doing it.

EDIT: Welker is great, I love rooting for him, but he just seems like a guy who's trade value may be higher than his actual expected future contributions to the team (i.e. one great year as a slot receiver and then some kind of 2013 draft pick after he departs as a free agent)

 

[JoeSixPat]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that what might happen is that they add a deep threat WR and let everyone battle it out in training camp.

I see no need to hypothetically cut anyone just yet

If the question is who's most on the bubble, it'd be Slater. Special teams contributions are nice, but that's generally a red-shirt spot for someone who has the potential to grow. With only a few exceptions, STers either take it to the next level or they're cut.

Thus far Slater hasn't done that.

 

[townes]

Keep them all. Their WR's are small for the most part and injury prone, I would go with 6 and would like to see them add a deep threat.