What to do with Wes Welker?

[ivanvamp]

After being almost invisible the first two games of the year, Welker is on pace for 123 receptions and 1419 yards.

Franchise him again?
Sign him to a 2-3 year extension?
Trade him? (I do wonder what they could get for him)

 

[ctpatsfan77]

After being almost invisible the first two games of the year, Welker is on pace for 123 receptions and 1419 yards.

Franchise him again?
Sign him to a 2-3 year extension?
Trade him? (I do wonder what they could get for him)

The first day they can:

Sign the beast.

 

[goheels22002]

Throw him the ball.

 

[p8ryts]

Pay the man. He shows up for every game, he's humble and he is the lead dog

 

[Double TE]

Release him and sign Eddie Royal.

They are the same guy, just that Royal never played with Brady.










GOTCHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MTM558]

Welker had a 2 year deal on the table, but turned it down for some reason (presumably money). We franchised him this year, and considering our Free Agents to be, we may want to use that tag on someone else (Vollmer possibly), not to mention the price tag for Welker would increase if we franchised him again.

It's clear that Welker is still the key cog that makes this offense go. Let's hope both parties can settle on a salary and have him remain in Foxboro for at least another 2 years. I would go no higher than 3, for obvious reasons.

 

[resdubwhite]

just pay the man.

 

[Double TE]

He and Brady are buds and he is less a speed guy but more a quickness guy. I'd sign him for two years at $15Mil with $9Mil guaranteed.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

After being made almost invisible the first two games of the year, Welker is on pace for 123 receptions and 1419 yards.

Franchise him again?
Sign him to a 2-3 year extension?
Trade him? (I do wonder what they could get for him)

Fixed that for you. Can't trade him unless they franchise him and that would cost $11.4M. And he'd have to sign the tender which he likely would not do early enough to facilitate a trade. Bedard is convinced he is gone, and I think he has some access in regards to the player. I guarantee you Manning would love to spend the off season getting to know Wes better. The time to sign him to an extension that could have worked for the cap passed over the course of the last two seasons. Unfortunately I think potential replacements haven't panned out. Edelman isn't Welker, and neither is Amendola from a durability standpoint. Brady may yet exert some influence. He noted in his post game presser that he is glad he has him here this season... Had he not, might not be arguing about seeds.

 

[ivanvamp]

Fixed that for you. Can't trade him unless they franchise him and that would cost $11.4M. And he'd have to sign the tender which he likely would not do early enough to facilitate a trade. Bedard is convinced he is gone, and I think he has some access in regards to the player. I guarantee you Manning would love to spend the off season getting to know Wes better. The time to sign him to an extension that could have worked for the cap passed over the course of the last two seasons. Unfortunately I think potential replacements haven't panned out. Edelman isn't Welker, and neither is Amendola from a durability standpoint. Brady may yet exert some influence. He noted in his post game presser that he is glad he has him here this season... Had he not, might not be arguing about seeds.

Well, the thought of Welker in Denver really scares me. I have no doubt he'd be just as effective with Peyton as he his with Brady. The image of watching the Pats try to defend Welker in a playoff game is not one I relish.

 

[Double TE]

Hold on...Denver has much $$$ invested in Decker/Thomas not to mention Manning. They'll really pay another receiver big money? I do not see that happening at all.

Possibly a team like Oakland with Palmer or SD with Rivers I could see it happen.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

He and Brady are buds and he is less a speed guy but more a quickness guy. I'd sign him for two years at $15Mil with $9Mil guaranteed.

What makes you think he'd take it? They offered him 2 years at $16M guaranteed almost a year ago and he said no thanks. They wouldn't go to 3 years with more than $18M guaranteed this season. That was the miscalculation. They've invested a lot of money in a couple of crucial younger guys who are having issues staying on the field. Not to mention spending quite a bit more to back them up with guys who can't. They targeted two potential replacements, neither of whom are durable and one of whom may not even be available depending on what his team decides to do given that same scenario.

If they want to hang on to Welker it's going to have to be on a market deal now. Probably 3/$24 would do it but they'd have to guarantee more than half of it because the market will.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

2 year extension sounds good. He's clearly still in his prime, at worst we might overpay him for a season but that's unlikely.

 

[Double TE]

What makes you think he'd take it? They offered him 2 years at $16M guaranteed almost a year ago and he said no thanks. They wouldn't go to 3 years with more than $18M guaranteed this season. That was the miscalculation. They've invested a lot of money in a couple of crucial younger guys who are having issues staying on the field. Not to mention spending quite a bit more to back them up with guys who can't. They targeted two potential replacements, neither of whom are durable and one of whom may not even be available depending on what his team decides to do given that same scenario.

If they want to hang on to Welker it's going to have to be on a market deal now. Probably 3/$24 would do it but they'd have to guarantee more than half of it because the market will.

So he got $9Mil this year, doing the deal I suggested basically means $18mil guaranteed (including the $9mil this year) and $24mil total? Also includes $18mil guaranteed if you take this year's $9mil and next year's $9mil? He may not take it but he also may not get a better offer. I'd at least start there.

 

[Reckedtrek]

I would hope they see his true value *to this team*. His comments earlier in the season (I'm JUST a slot receiver) shows how the team was trying to spin it in their negotiations.

Hopefully the the two sides can find middle ground. He may not be able to keep this up for another 3-4 years, but he is crucial to this teams passing offense. If he can be even close to what he's been the last 5 in the next 2-3 years, you eat one more year of salary. I don't usually feel this way about players, but in this case, this season, I've seen all I need to know that Wes is NOT "just" a slot receiver.

The thought of Wes on the Broncos, Steelers, Ravens, jets, GIants, etc... would make me sick.

 

[JJDChE]

Gotta sign him at this point, right? The guy is on track for his 5th 110 reception season. No one else has ever had more than TWO. I understand it's hard to put a lot of value on the slot receiver position, but damn, at some point you just have to accept that the guy is special and pay him.

 

[kennyb]

I wondered why they gave gronkowski and hernandez expensive new contracts...I thought the advantage of a rookie deal was getting the players cheaply. I can see how Welker would want as much as they get, he's actually on the field more.

IMO the patriots are making a mistake in giving too many high dollar contracts, mankins, gronk, hernandez, mayo...

Ridley will want an upgrade and is deserved....Vollmer if he ever gets his back right, Solder would get a huge raise, Welker...is there enough money in the bank?

 

[Double TE]

I would hope they see his true value *to this team*. His comments earlier in the season (I'm JUST a slot receiver) shows how the team was trying to spin it in their negotiations.

Hopefully the the two sides can find middle ground. He may not be able to keep this up for another 3-4 years, but he is crucial to this teams passing offense. If he can be even close to what he's been the last 5 in the next 2-3 years, you eat one more year of salary. I don't usually feel this way about players, but in this case, this season, I've seen all I need to know that Wes is NOT "just" a slot receiver.

The thought of Wes on the Broncos, Steelers, Ravens, jets, GIants, etc... would make me sick.

Broncos: Thomas/Decker...not signing another big $$ receiver.
Steelers: Wallace, Brown, Sanders: Not happening
Ravens: Boldin, Smith, Rice: Not happening
Giants: Cruz (basically same role, Nicks, Hixon, Barden...not happening.

As I said possibly Oakland or SD.

 

[JJDChE]

I wondered why they gave gronkowski and hernandez expensive new contracts...I thought the advantage of a rookie deal was getting the players cheaply. I can see how Welker would want as much as they get, he's actually on the field more.

IMO the patriots are making a mistake in giving too many high dollar contracts, mankins, gronk, hernandez, mayo...

Ridley will want an upgrade and is deserved....Vollmer if he ever gets his back right, Solder would get a huge raise, Welker...is there enough money in the bank?

The Gronk/Hernandez contracts aren't too crazy money-wise. I don't know how they are structured, but I would guess that they allow flexibility for signing someone like Welker to 2-3 years.

 

[Double TE]

I don't think NE is anywhere close to salary cap jail. Sign Welker and bring back Talib too!