What to do at WR & TE

[Keegs]

People don't want to hear it but Welker is a liability and has to go. I watched every game this year and swear every single game but one he had 2+ drops. (Can't remember what week but might have been one of the Buffalo games, they blew someone out)

He took a minimum of 6 points of the board this game with his early deep drop and then drop on 3rd down later in the game.

The Pats screwed up bigtime and should have traded him for a 2nd or 3rd last year rather then let him walk this year for nothing.

Anyone who says they feel confident with a pass going his way at a critical moment in a game is either a fool or full of crap.

 

[edboc]

Here's the list of WR free agents:
KFFL - 2013 NFL Free Agents

What are some possible names that won't be asking for a ridiculous long term contract with a lot of guaranteed money? Amendola, Bowe, Jennings...?
I'd rather see a FA or trade for a Vet than drafting a WR, they always seem to have problems drafting WRs that fit the system & it always takes a rookie a long time to learn the system and for Brady to get comfortable with.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

It's not a perfect group but I do not understand how people can realistically expect to upgrade this area. Like I said in the other thread:

GRONK: Best in the game, paying him top dollar
Hern: Stud, paying him top dollar
Welker: Stud but aging, paid close to top dollar if he is brought back
Lloyd: 900+ yard WR
Edelman: Great potential if kept around

How can you afford to put more $$ into that group? If an upgrade comes it's through draft, and we know how the team is at drafting WR's.

 

[UofApatsfan]

With the exception of a few people who are probably still fuming after yesterday, I don't see people claiming Welker is a problem or claiming that letting him leave immediately improves the team, while Welker supporters are creating those strawman arguments and ignoring the actual situation.

Welker is one of the best in the NFL at picking up yards in the middle of the field. The chemistry he and Brady have with routes over the middle is unreal and lead to big plays because he catches so many catches over the middle in perfect stride. Letting him leave would unquestionably worsen the offense in a lot of aspects, and anyone who disputes that is kidding himself. The problem is that when he has to run outside routes and catch passes that aren't perfectly thrown, it's when the crucial drops happen/the bad timing between him and Brady happens.

Most of the time you would keep Welker because of how good he is in that area. This circumstance is unique simply because of the financial commitment New England just made to two tight ends a year ago who also thrive in the middle of the field while they need help outside the numbers. They cannot afford to make another financial commitment to another receiver who plays in the middle of the field when they have limited cap space, other important players (Talib, Vollmer) who need to be resigned, and also a need for an outside threat. It's nothing against Welker and it isn't a vendetta due to his crucial playoff drops, it's a business decision that makes sense given the money tied up with Gronk and Hernandez.

 

[UofApatsfan]

It's not a perfect group but I do not understand how people can realistically expect to upgrade this area. Like I said in the other thread:

GRONK: Best in the game, paying him top dollar
Hern: Stud, paying him top dollar
Welker: Stud but aging, paid close to top dollar if he is brought back
Lloyd: 900+ yard WR
Edelman: Great potential if kept around

How can you afford to put more $$ into that group? If an upgrade comes it's through draft, and we know how the team is at drafting WR's.

No one should be realistically expecting them to resign Welker AND add a noticeable outside threat. The only real discussion is whether or not they should let Welker leave and replace him with an outside threat since he is too redundant next to Gronk, Hernandez, and Lloyd.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

We absolutely have to give Brady a tall physical outside the numbers WR, he can take us so far with our small and shifty approach (far further than any other QB could get btw) but you aint going to win it all without that deep threat

Look what he did with Moss as the prime example

....can't resist....

"Lose in the Super Bowl?"

But yes, it would be nice to have a complimentary deep threat.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

No one should be realistically expecting them to resign Welker AND add a noticeable outside threat. The only real discussion is whether or not they should let Welker leave and replace him with an outside threat since he is too redundant next to Gronk, Hernandez, and Lloyd.

That's a major risk because finding someone who will click with Brady that way is going to be TOUGH. Nobody out there is proven to work in our system, would be a huge risk giving his $6-7M to an unknown. I'd imagine that's the minimum it would cost for a Jennings or Amendola or whoever people want. Wallace is going to require somewhere around $10M per.

 

[zipster9]

That's a major risk because finding someone who will click with Brady that way is going to be TOUGH. Nobody out there is proven to work in our system, would be a huge risk giving his $6-7M to an unknown. I'd imagine that's the minimum it would cost for a Jennings or Amendola or whoever people want. Wallace is going to require somewhere around $10M per.

Sorry, Amendola may be younger, but he has a injury-prone history. Brady needs someone to play, day-in, day-out, and that he relies on. IMO - I'd pay $2m more per year, for that type of insurance.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Sorry, Amendola may be younger, but he has a injury-prone history. Brady needs someone to play, day-in, day-out, and that he relies on. IMO - I'd pay $2m more per year, for that type of insurance.

That's what I'm saying, all these FA come with a major risk and none are even proven with Brady. With Welker you have a guy who you can count on year in year out until he's done.

 

[zipster9]

People don't want to hear it but Welker is a liability and has to go. I watched every game this year and swear every single game but one he had 2+ drops. (Can't remember what week but might have been one of the Buffalo games, they blew someone out)

He took a minimum of 6 points of the board this game with his early deep drop and then drop on 3rd down later in the game.

The Pats screwed up bigtime and should have traded him for a 2nd or 3rd last year rather then let him walk this year for nothing.

Anyone who says they feel confident with a pass going his way at a critical moment in a game is either a fool or full of crap.

Yeah, and you are the type that says, Edelman can easily replace Welker... NOT. Welker may drop a few balls, BUT, he plays EVERY game and gets open.


You cannot throw to a WR that does not even play in the game (ala: Edelman). So, you don't know what you are talking about....

 

[TFB*]

I have an eery feeling that if we let WW walk, he'll be in a donkeys uniform next year.

 

[Kevin]

I'd like to see the Patriots sign Domenik Hixon and resign Julian Edelman. Let go of Welker and Branch. Then sign another cheap backup wide receiver for deph Both Edelman and Hixon can be punt returners. No reason to draft a receiver with a high pick, Hixon is a very serviceable player, as is Edelman. Hixon brings one thing that the other receivers don't. Size. Letting go of Welker would increase Hernandez's role in the offense, which in turn, could increase Jake Ballard's role in the offense if you saw Hernandez in more of a Wide Receiver type role.

Two types of sets we could see on the field
1.
WR- Lloyd/Hernandez
TE- Gronkowski/Ballard
RB- Ridley

2.
WR- Lloyd/Hixon/Edelman
TE- Gronkowski/Hernandez

Hixon isn't a great player but he is no doubt a good role player. He's a perfect fit for this team, in my opinion.

In terms of the draft, I don't want to go wide receiver in round one or any round for that matter. I'd like us to draft defense early and just highest player on the board later.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Most of the time you would keep Welker because of how good he is in that area. This circumstance is unique simply because of the financial commitment New England just made to two tight ends a year ago who also thrive in the middle of the field while they need help outside the numbers. They cannot afford to make another financial commitment to another receiver who plays in the middle of the field when they have limited cap space, other important players (Talib, Vollmer) who need to be resigned, and also a need for an outside threat. It's nothing against Welker and it isn't a vendetta due to his crucial playoff drops, it's a business decision that makes sense given the money tied up with Gronk and Hernandez.

Nobody's saying Welker should be signed to a five-year deal, either.

But they can certainly afford to keep Welker for another two years.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

Lol You all hating on Wes Welker, remember our offense at the beginninng of the year without him. Real sold lmfao. 2 plays before that drop he caught a diving catch in double coverage while getting drilled by Pollard. Sometimes drops do happen thats part of the game. You all need to light the bong or something and just chill and relax. I think Welker will take less to stay here.

 

[DocHoliday]

Lol You all hating on Wes Welker, remember our offense at the beginninng of the year without him. Real sold lmfao. 2 plays before that drop he caught a diving catch in double coverage while getting drilled by Pollard. Sometimes drops do happen thats part of the game. You all need to light the bong or something and just chill and relax. I think Welker will take less to stay here.

That's ideal of course. But if he wants money that makes it impossible to get a tall stud speed guy, sayonara.

 

[Snake Eyes]

That's a major risk because finding someone who will click with Brady that way is going to be TOUGH. Nobody out there is proven to work in our system, would be a huge risk giving his $6-7M to an unknown. I'd imagine that's the minimum it would cost for a Jennings or Amendola or whoever people want. Wallace is going to require somewhere around $10M per.

There's also a lot of risk by throwing big money at Welker. He has his limitations and we've been seeing them, Greg Jennings makes that catch in the SB and a bunch of others that Welker cannot.

 

[fumbrunner]

Just a thought, and I could be completely off on this one but do you guys think Lloyd could take on that slot/security blanket role? He's as shifty as Welker, similar size, etc.

Edelman showed a bit and will likely be in play next year. If they draft/sign a true WR, what are the chances Lloyd drops into the slot?

 

[ATippett56]

2013 New England Patriots Offense (players currently under contract):

QB: Brady, Mallett, Kafka
HB: Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, Demps
FB: Larsen, Develin
TE: Gronkowski, Hernandez, Fells, Ballard, Herman, Hoomanawanui (RFA)
WR: Lloyd, Aiken, Ebert, Slater
OC: Wendell, McDonald
OG: Mankins, Connolly
OT: Solder, Cannon, Zusevics, Hix

2013 New England Patriots Offense unrestricted free agents:

Woodhead
Welker
Edelman
Branch
Stallworth
Thomas
Vollmer

 

[Sciz]

Just a thought, and I could be completely off on this one but do you guys think Lloyd could take on that slot/security blanket role? He's as shifty as Welker, similar size, etc.

Edelman showed a bit and will likely be in play next year. If they draft/sign a true WR, what are the chances Lloyd drops into the slot?

0 chance. Lloyd is an outside receiver, and that's not going to change.

 

[satz]

Just a thought, and I could be completely off on this one but do you guys think Lloyd could take on that slot/security blanket role? He's as shifty as Welker, similar size, etc.

Edelman showed a bit and will likely be in play next year. If they draft/sign a true WR, what are the chances Lloyd drops into the slot?

No way,. lloyd does not like contact and YAC is so bad he was getting benched.how is he going to turn into this freak who gets knocked around and become a YAC monster... He is what is in his career.