Karen Guregian: Pats are at the top or near the top of Reggie Wayne's list

[Rob0729]

From today's Herald:

Well, we have it on good authority, if things don’t work out with the Colts, which is the most likely scenario, the Patriots are definitely on the radar of the five-time Pro Bowl player. In fact, Peyton Manning’s landing spot notwithstanding, the Pats could be at or near the top of Wayne’s list.

Pats on WR Reggie Wayne’s radar - BostonHerald.com

Personally, at this point, I would only consider him if he took a more modest deal. Otherwise, I would go elsewhere.

Belichick loves him as a WR though. So who knows. Maybe the Pats will get him and Lloyd at least for one year and try to make a Super Bowl run. McDaniels loves the five wide set. Imagine a 5 wide set of Lloyd, Wayne, Welker, Gronk, and Hernandez? Who do opposing defenses cover?

 

[jmt57]

Free agency as well as the draft are both very deep at the wide receiver position. It would be nice if the Pats signed one or even two vet WRs, and then perhaps grabbed a WR that falls in say the 3rd round. Let them all battle it out in the off-season and training camp.

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

I'm irrationally excited about Reggie Wayne's potential to suit up for home games in Foxboro next season. I know I'm primed for disappointment here.

I'd rather have Wayne on the cheap than a more expensive bigger name, but can't ignore the dire need for the Patriots to get some young blood in there via the draft and Rookie FA's.

 

[condon84]

From today's Herald:





Pats on WR Reggie Wayne’s radar - BostonHerald.com

Personally, at this point, I would only consider him if he took a more modest deal. Otherwise, I would go elsewhere.

Belichick loves him as a WR though. So who knows. Maybe the Pats will get him and Lloyd at least for one year and try to make a Super Bowl run. McDaniels loves the five wide set. Imagine a 5 wide set of Lloyd, Wayne, Welker, Gronk, and Hernandez? Who do opposing defenses cover?

If this is who we have next year, then our team's breaking scoring and yardage records.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

If this is who we have next year, then our team's breaking scoring and yardage records.

Goodell would never allow that to happen.

 

[51Hits]

There's no way this team affords Wayne/Lloyd while adding defensive help.

That said, it's a little tough to get excited about an older Wayne when there's so much quality on the FA market this year for WRs. I think a good 3-4 (tops) year deal would be very much worth our time, if nothing else pans out.

 

[Ring 6]

From today's Herald:





Pats on WR Reggie Wayne’s radar - BostonHerald.com

Personally, at this point, I would only consider him if he took a more modest deal. Otherwise, I would go elsewhere.

Belichick loves him as a WR though. So who knows. Maybe the Pats will get him and Lloyd at least for one year and try to make a Super Bowl run. McDaniels loves the five wide set. Imagine a 5 wide set of Lloyd, Wayne, Welker, Gronk, and Hernandez? Who do opposing defenses cover?

We cant afford Welker, Lloyd and Wayne, and we don't need them with Gronk and Hernandez already here.
You can't pay huge dollars for your 5th receiving option.

 

[Ring 6]

If this is who we have next year, then our team's breaking scoring and yardage records.

Defensively?

 

[patsfan13]

I'll take Branch on a vet min contract a lot younger than Wayne.

 

[Sicilian]

We cant afford Welker, Lloyd and Wayne, and we don't need them with Gronk and Hernandez already here.
You can't pay huge dollars for your 5th receiving option.

Agreed. We really only need one more weapon on offense to cover depth and injuries, as I believe a healthy Gronk wins us the Super Bowl this past season. If we invest in improving the defense, there's no reason to think the offense needs a major overhaul.

If Light or Waters retire, we need to grab another OL, but otherwise I think re-signing Welker, Branch (to a modest deal), and adding Lloyd is enough to complete this team offensively.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I would rather have Wayne than Lloyd or Wallace (at least at Wallace's cap number).

I'm surprised people don't realize how much better our offense would be with Wayne. We would bring back Branch, and we'd an offense capable of running tons of different sets. This team would be almost as good as '07. Imagine our options on field with Gronk, Hernandez, Welker, Wayne, and Branch. Virtually unstoppable. We could also run two TE sets with Welker and Wayne spread wide and throw Woodhead in the backfield. Good luck defending that when you literally have four guys that need double coverage.

 

[ivanvamp]

Imagine a 5 wide set of Lloyd, Wayne, Welker, Gronk, and Hernandez? Who do opposing defenses cover?

Part of what makes our TEs so difficult to cover is that we run no-huddle, 2 TE with a RB often. If the defense goes heavy to stop the run, Gronk and Hernandez are matchup nightmares for slower LBs. If the defense goes light to stop the pass, the Pats can just run over people.

I still think Gronk is a very, very difficult matchup for anyone under any circumstances, but if you go 5-wide you at least take one entire option off the table - the running game. You are fully committed to a pass, which allows the defense to only have to play for one kind of play instead of two.

I mean, granted, that lineup would be tough to deal with no matter what, but I like having the run/pass option.

 

[Deus Irae]

Part of what makes our TEs so difficult to cover is that we run no-huddle, 2 TE with a RB often. If the defense goes heavy to stop the run, Gronk and Hernandez are matchup nightmares for slower LBs. If the defense goes light to stop the pass, the Pats can just run over people.

I still think Gronk is a very, very difficult matchup for anyone under any circumstances, but if you go 5-wide you at least take one entire option off the table - the running game. You are fully committed to a pass, which allows the defense to only have to play for one kind of play instead of two.

I mean, granted, that lineup would be tough to deal with no matter what, but I like having the run/pass option.

Hernandez can be put in the backfield

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Still would rather sign Lloyd, younger and more familiar with the system.

 

[condon84]

Defensively?

Why would you want those guys playing defense?

 

[Bostonian1962]

I'll take Branch on a vet min contract a lot younger than Wayne.

Branch is 32. Wayne is 33.

 

[JackBauer]

I'd rather have Lloyd than Wayne, but I also wouldn't mind signing both.

 

[Deus Irae]

The issue with Wayne is contract length. As his former GM noted, he's not able to get the sort of separation that he used to. That's not going to improve with time, and he's going to be a relative non-factor downfield in another year or two.

If he takes a one year deal, it's a great signing. If he gets 3 year deal kind of numbers, it's just asking for trouble.

 

[Sicilian]

The issue with Wayne is contract length. As his former GM noted, he's not able to get the sort of separation that he used to. That's not going to improve with time, and he's going to be a relative non-factor downfield in another year or two.

If he takes a one year deal, it's a great signing. If he gets 3 year deal kind of numbers, it's just asking for trouble.

I agree, and the only sign that he might accept a short deal here would be he turned down a five year deal with the (admittedly dysfunctional ATM) Colts. This could indicate he's more interested in going to a good situation than in breaking the bank long term.

Still, I would be surprised if Wayne doesn't get a three-year deal offered from a contending team, so I doubt we see him here.

 

[Rob0729]

We cant afford Welker, Lloyd and Wayne, and we don't need them with Gronk and Hernandez already here.
You can't pay huge dollars for your 5th receiving option.

I really don't think it is a real possibility. Only if Wayne takes a value contract due to his age, but that is unlikely. I am just kinda dreaming aloud.