Would you trade a first rounder for Deion Branch?

[Water Boy]

I think this is an interesting philosphical question. Seattle was clearly banking on Dieon being the one missing piece in their offense that would get them to the Super Bowl. They went "all in" this season by over-paying Branch and trading away a No. 1 pick for him. Seattle, was probably thinking that they were trading away a very late first rounder in the deal. With Seattle struggling this year with injuries, that pick is now, in all likelihood, going to be in the mid-first round.

If you were BB/Pioli, if the deal was offered, would you trade Seattle's pick back to them for Branch?

If you were Holmgren, would you make this deal?

 

[DB15]

depending on the situation of course but yes I think deion is worth a number 1

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Timing.
Were I able to keep the player who-is-dead-to-me via 'trade' in September, I'd have kept him and signed him to the offer the Pats publicized. We'd be much stronger going into this season's playoffs.

Now we've moved on and I would not make the trade.

 

[SWelker]

I don't even see Seattle with that many holes at WR without Branch on their team, it seems like Hackett is a good WR and has played well lately. I would keep Seattle's pick and go with the guys we have.

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't think either team would. It definitely doesn't seem to be working out for Seattle. But I wouldn't trade a #1 for the right to pay $6M a year to Branch.

 

[bradmahn]

No, you may get Deion's play, but you also get his $39 million contract. No thanks.

 

[PromisedLand]

No.

1. He is not worth what Seattle paid us for him plus the salary he is getting from them. For that money we can do better.

2. He has proven to be a guy who will not honor a contract.

3. He hasn't exactly set the world on fire with his performance in Seattle. Maybe he's just another guy who was "made" by BB and Brady.

BTW Reche Caldwell's numbers are almost identical to Meion's (receptions/yards/avg/long/TD):

Branch 50 687 13.7 38 4
Caldwell 57 626 11.0 54 3

 

[CTPatsFan]

Not for the money he'd want. I think the team has moved on at this point.

 

[IcyPatriot]

No way ... you can get a player in the 1st round locked up for 5 years at way less $$$. There are other Branch's out there in rounds 2 and 3 if you do your homework and catch a break in the draft.

 

[BelichickFan]

BTW Reche Caldwell's numbers are almost identical to Meion's

And Football Outsiders has Caldwell's performance ranked ahead of Twig's.

Per play they have Caldwell ranked 4.3% over the average WR and Twig 3.3% below the average WR.

Catch% (% of balls thrown to him that were caught, not the same as 1-drop%), Caldwell is at 60%, Twig at 53%.

Seattle's best ? Hackett who is 29.3% better than the average WR and who has a Catch % of 67%. Then Jackson at 8.7% and 56% respectively.

Ha ha ha.

 

[PromisedLand]

And Football Outsiders has Caldwell's performance ranked ahead of Twig's.

Per play they have Caldwell ranked 4.3% over the average WR and Twig 3.3% below the average WR.

Catch% (% of balls thrown to him that were caught, not the same as 1-drop%), Caldwell is at 60%, Twig at 53%.

Seattle's best ? Hackett who is 29.3% better than the average WR and who has a Catch % of 67%. Then Jackson at 8.7% and 56% respectively.

Ha ha ha.

That's good stuff, BF. Thanks.

 

[dhamz]

I wouldn't.

I think the question that will play itself out over time is did the Pats not accurately predict the changes in the market and the impact it will have on Branch's contract.

With all the cap space there is going to be over the next couple offseasons what looks like a crazy deal for Branch this past September might end up being a good value over the next 4 years.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

I think this is an interesting philosphical question. Seattle was clearly banking on Dieon being the one missing piece in their offense that would get them to the Super Bowl. They went "all in" this season by over-paying Branch and trading away a No. 1 pick for him. Seattle, was probably thinking that they were trading away a very late first rounder in the deal. With Seattle struggling this year with injuries, that pick is now, in all likelihood, going to be in the mid-first round.

If you were BB/Pioli, if the deal was offered, would you trade Seattle's pick back to them for Branch?

If you were Holmgren, would you make this deal?

Umm, no.

Seattle must be kicking themselves knowing they are in line with several other NFL teams who got the wool pulled over their eyes by Bill Belichick.

 

[Digger44]

I think a lot of you guys are being very unrealistic. First of all, you cannot judge DB's worth by his output this year. He is in a brand new system and wasn't even in camp to learn the system. He was playing cold turkey. That's tough for any WR.

Second, Darrel Jackson's contract is coming to an end. He is a health risk and will require more than Seattle wants to pay. I am sure the thought is that DB can take his place.

Third, some QB called another QB about how good DB was. Who was that again?

Yes, I have posted these ideas b4, but you cannot judge the trade over the present info. Try again in 5 years when we have our draft pic in full motion.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

I think a lot of you guys are being very unrealistic. First of all, you cannot judge DB's worth by hi output this year. He is in a brand new system and wasn't even in camp to lear the system. He was playing cold turkey. That's tough for any WR.

Second, Darrel Jackson's contract is coming to an end. He is a health rish and will require more than Seattle wants to pay. I am sure the thought is that DB can take his place.

Third, some QB called another QB about how good DB was. Who was that again?

Yes, I have posted these ideas b4, but you cannot judge the trade over the present info. Try again in 5 years when we have our draft pic in full motion.

The problem is the Seahawks made this trade for THIS YEAR. They were going for the ring. Bad trade for Seattle. Branch seems to be one of those guys like several others who are made for NE and aren't the same when they leave.

 

[Digger44]

The problem is the Seahawks made this trade for THIS YEAR. They were going for the ring. Bad trade for Seattle. Branch seems to be one of those guys like several others who are made for NE and aren't the same when they leave.

While most teams want a ring this year, there is no evidence that what you state is true. You don't know what they had in mind. It certainly cannot be judged as a bad trade for Seattle this early. You have no proof either that DB is a system player. If these are your opinions than that is fine, but these are certainly not facts.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Would I trade a first round pick for an established WR (with a Superbowl MVP trophy) who knows my offense and QB better than any other receiver on the planet, and whose $39M contract included a $12M signing bonus that would remain the dead cap responsibility of the trading team leaving me with 5 years of Deion at around $25M in salary only that could be converted to lower his cap hits or enable the team to cut him at will?

Thet's a no brainer and I'm not stupid - and neither is BB. Unfortunately Holmgren and Co. would never make that trade which would involve their admitting they made an expensive mistake and cost them $10M in dead cap just to recoup their first round.

Remember Bill's admonition that what a player does in another system doesn't mean anything. It's what he can do in this system, and in this system Deion was a #1 WR Bill was fully willing to pay $5M per year to retain.

 

[alamo]

The problem is the Seahawks made this trade for THIS YEAR. They were going for the ring. Bad trade for Seattle.

The possibility of going back to the SB certainly inspired them to overpay, but that doesn't mean it was a trade just for one year. As has been mentioned, Jackson might soon be gone.

As to whether I'd consider taking him back... it depends in part on how much of his 13M guaranteed has already been paid. If most of it is an option bonus next March, for example, then forget it. But if after a trade the team getting him would end up with a 26M 5 year contract, that's a lot more reasonable. Still probably too much, but that contract will soon be market average or even below market, if Branch can resume his previous Pats performance.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

While most teams want a ring this year, there is no evidence that what you state is true. You don't know what they had in mind. It certainly cannot be judged as a bad trade for Seattle this early. You have no proof either that DB is a system player. If these are your opinions than that is fine, but these are certainly not facts.

Well, there were a lot of "getting Branch puts Seattle over the top" stories when it was made. No proof he was a system receiver? Isn't that what a lot of critics were saying of Branch when he wanted to be paid as one of the top wideouts in football? Prove to me he is a top flight receiver and that, considering the hazy state of Seattle's WRs last fall coming off a Super Bowl year, that he wasn't brought in to win this year. Go for it.

Giving him that much money and their first rounder is absolutely laughable for a guy like Meion.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

The possibility of going back to the SB certainly inspired them to overpay, but that doesn't mean it was a trade just for one year. As has been mentioned, Jackson might soon be gone.

As to whether I'd consider taking him back... it depends in part on how much of his 13M guaranteed has already been paid. If most of it is an option bonus next March, for example, then forget it. But if after a trade the team getting him would end up with a 26M 5 year contract, that's a lot more reasonable. Still probably too much, but that contract will soon be market average or even below market, if Branch can resume his previous Pats performance.

You'll never see Deion back here as long as BB is in charge. I think there's a good chance Givens returns, but Deion burned his bridges. Let him rot in Seattle for all I care.