Bedard: let six free agents walk

[goheels22002]

An offseason to-do list for the New England Patriots - Sports - The Boston Globe

Bedard sums up his Patriots offseason plan with "let Welker, Lloyd, Talib, Donald Thomas, Chung and Vollmer walk in free agency. Re-sign Edelman, Arrington, Woodhead, Scott and Cole."

That is completely reasonable with the $18 million in cap space, but you can also keep Lloyd and sign one other free agent, if my calculations are close. I'd make a play for Welker after he tests the market if possible, and then re-sign Thomas. I'd let Talib, Vollmer and Chung go.

 

[Deus Irae]

This sort of output is why I follow Bedard for his reporting, and not his analysis.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Let Welker and Lloyd go? Who's our #1 at that point?

The Draft isn't our best shot at a starting WR and I don't think there are too many other options in FA.

I hope to god they find a way to get Talib back.

 

[Jimke]

Bedard suggests the Patriots go with a wide receiving corps of
Ebert, Edleman, and Slater? Possibly the worst receiving corps
in NFL history?

 

[eom]

lloyd is fa?

 

[mgteich]

Bedard's analysis is bad, even for Bedard. However, he did NOT suggest no additions at WR.
As is the case for many here, he suggest a major free agent addition as well as a draftee.

It is pretty crazy to set both Welker and Lloyd go and expect to replace their production in free agency and/or free agency.

Bedard suggests the Patriots go with a wide receiving corps of
Ebert, Edleman, and Slater? Possibly the worst receiving corps
in NFL history?

 

[Deus Irae]

Bedard suggests the Patriots go with a wide receiving corps of
Ebert, Edleman, and Slater? Possibly the worst receiving corps
in NFL history?

Bedard's analysis is bad, even for Bedard. However, he did NOT suggest no additions at WR.
As is the case for many here, he suggest a major free agent addition as well as a draftee.

It is pretty crazy to set both Welker and Lloyd go and expect to replace their production in free agency and/or free agency.

He wants the Patriots to be competing with the Jets on equal footing, apparently. I'm surprised he didn't suggest cutting Brady loose and trading for Chad Henne.


Here's the WR free agent list:

WalterFootball.com: 2013 NFL Free Agents - Wide Receivers

Everyone clamoring for WR change needs to take a look at that list. Realize that Welker and Lloyd obviously won't be options. Then take a look at the WRs who will either be tendered, franchised or at a cost that means little to no savings in comparison to Welker/Lloyd (i.e. Cruz, Bowe, Wallace, Jennings, Alexander, Hartline, Amendola) and quite possibly/likely with a drop in productivity, and then ask yourself how the hell such moves are supposed to make any sense.

There's no upgrade to Welker available, and there are precious few upgrades to Lloyd.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

I would start the rebuild now I would offer talib 3 years at 21 million with most of the cash pushed back to protect myself to see if he stays on the patriots way.
I would aggressively go after another quality defensive back as well such as Sean smith at about 5 million a year. Over 3 yrs.
I would let Welker cash his last big paycheck somewhere else.
I would resign Edelman at about 2 million a year over 4 years.
I would restructure the contracts of Brady Mankins and Wilfork.
I would offer Danny woodhead 2.5 million for 2 years but I see him walking cause all the depth and vareen and demps filling in his role.
I let vollmer walk his injury history and the big amount of cap space he would eat up plus the great job scar does we can find someone to fill his role.
I offer the kitchen sink to the Vikings for Percy harvin he's insanely talented very flexible in scheme and a home run threat everytime. Plus belichick was rumored to love him. Our 1 st could get that done. If the Vikings and Harvin are looking for a change.
I sign DHB the man has speed and maybe we can ressurect his career like we did for Moss
2 million a 1 yr prove it kind of deal great situation for him. I don't stop there I pick up a receiver like Louis Murphy off the scrap heap and kick the tires on him.
The Patriots may or may not go all in on the reed sweepstakes I'd personally pass and bring in Adrian Wilson from Arizona I would trade up to a 4th round pick and bring in this proven leader and warrior to reshape the toughness In the secondary the same way Harrison did.
I feel like this is a bad taste in Belichicks mouth and he will be incredibly aggressive to try to get past very good to get to elite status.
2 idle thoughts Mallett to the Cowboys for a high pick and if Spikes isn't in the long term plans mainly with his lack of coverage ability and the true need for a thumper becoming less and less maybe they like Fletcher to take over that role. And trade him for a few mid picks. .

Thoughts?

 

[Brady2Moss]

I would start the rebuild now I would offer talib 3 years at 21 million with most of the cash pushed back to protect myself to see if he stays on the patriots way.
I would aggressively go after another quality defensive back as well such as Sean smith at about 5 million a year. Over 3 yrs.
I would let Welker cash his last big paycheck somewhere else.
I would resign Edelman at about 2 million a year over 4 years.
I would restructure the contracts of Brady Mankins and Wilfork.
I would offer Danny woodhead 2.5 million for 2 years but I see him walking cause all the depth and vareen and demps filling in his role.
I let vollmer walk his injury history and the big amount of cap space he would eat up plus the great job scar does we can find someone to fill his role.
I offer the kitchen sink to the Vikings for Percy harvin he's insanely talented very flexible in scheme and a home run threat everytime. Plus belichick was rumored to love him. Our 1 st could get that done. If the Vikings and Harvin are looking for a change.
I sign DHB the man has speed and maybe we can ressurect his career like we did for Moss
2 million a 1 yr prove it kind of deal great situation for him. I don't stop there I pick up a receiver like Louis Murphy off the scrap heap and kick the tires on him.
The Patriots may or may not go all in on the reed sweepstakes I'd personally pass and bring in Adrian Wilson from Arizona I would trade up to a 4th round pick and bring in this proven leader and warrior to reshape the toughness In the secondary the same way Harrison did.
I feel like this is a bad taste in Belichicks mouth and he will be incredibly aggressive to try to get past very good to get to elite status.
2 idle thoughts Mallett to the Cowboys for a high pick and if Spikes isn't in the long term plans mainly with his lack of coverage ability and the true need for a thumper becoming less and less maybe they like Fletcher to take over that role. And trade him for a few mid picks. .

Thoughts?

Thoughts: What planet are you on and how did you get there?

 

[DarrylS]

Can see BB doing this, but the proposed replacements at WR leave us very thin... and does not seem all that fair to #12 and the rest of this team.

If they did do it, there would a lot of subsequent moves...

 

[Jimke]

Bedard's analysis is bad, even for Bedard. However, he did NOT suggest no additions at WR.
As is the case for many here, he suggest a major free agent addition as well as a draftee.

It is pretty crazy to set both Welker and Lloyd go and expect to replace their production in free agency and/or free agency.

The going rate for a good wide receiver in free agency is about double what
Lloyd will be making. In addition, there is no guarantee how he will fit in with
Tom Brady. With regard to the draft, our last success with drafting one was
2002 when the Patriots got Branch and Givens.

 

[Sticky Caulk]

Has one person that wants to let Welker go come up with a real solution to the receiver problem if that happens? Who replaces that production without costing as much, if not more than Welker will?

Releasing Lloyd is also a terrible idea. He wasn't signed to be Calvin Johnson. His numbers were way above the receivers that have been in his position the past few years.

Why do you think Ocho never saw the ball? Sure, he wasn't close to a great route runner and he came into new England slower than his Cincy days, but really, he wasn't a high priority target. Neither is Lloyd. Considering that, Lloyd did pretty well, almost exactly half of what Welker does as the top weapon on offense

Welk 2012: 16 games 118 Rec. for 1,354 yards and 6 TDs
Lloyd 2012: 16 games 74 Rec. for 911 yards and 4 TDs
Lloyd 2010: 16 games 77 Rec. for 1,448 yards and 11 TDs
Ocho 2011: 15 games 15 Rec. for 276 yards and 1 TD

Remember the type of routes Welker usually runs. Which part of the field he runs them in. You will not find someone who can take the consistent hitting of the slot and put up numbers even close to Welker's without spending a lot more time and money than it would take to just keep him.

 

[Ring 6]

Bedard: Lets go 7-9

 

[Ring 6]

Has one person that wants to let Welker go come up with a real solution to the receiver problem if that happens? Who replaces that production without costing as much, if not more than Welker will?

Releasing Lloyd is also a terrible idea. He wasn't signed to be Calvin Johnson. His numbers were way above the receivers that have been in his position the past few years.

Why do you think Ocho never saw the ball? Sure, he wasn't close to a great route runner and he came into new England slower than his Cincy days, but really, he wasn't a high priority target. Neither is Lloyd. Considering that, Lloyd did pretty well, almost exactly half of what Welker does as the top weapon on offense

Welk 2012: 16 games 118 Rec. for 1,354 yards and 6 TDs
Lloyd 2012: 13 games 57 Rec. for 650 yards and 4 TDs
Lloyd 2010: 16 games 77 Rec. for 1,448 yards and 11 TDs
Ocho 2011: 15 games 15 Rec. for 276 yards and 1 TD

Remember the type of routes Welker usually runs. Which part of the field he runs them in. You will not find someone who can take the consistent hitting of the slot and put up numbers even close to Welker's without spending a lot more time and money than it would take to just keep him.

Why do only 13 of Lloyds games count?

 

[mgteich]

Lloyd is scheduled to receive $5M of new money this year and $3M next year. Would replacing him really cost twice that?

The going rate for a good wide receiver in free agency is about double what Lloyd will be making. In addition, there is no guarantee how he will fit in with
Tom Brady. With regard to the draft, our last success with drafting one was
2002 when the Patriots got Branch and Givens.

 

[Ian]

Why do only 13 of Lloyds games count?

I was wondering the same thing but assume there's some method behind it?

 

[Sticky Caulk]

Why do only 13 of Lloyds games count?

I typed the numbers from a page that had 13, for one reason or another. I, somehow, didn't notice.

 

[Ring 6]

Lloyd is scheduled to receive $5M of new money this year and $3M next year. Would replacing him really cost twice that?

That is not accurate, capwise.
Cutting him now would cost 2 mill.
Excersing his bonus and contract would result in a cap hit of 4.5mill this year and 5.5 next.
So the net impact of keping vs cutting is 2.5mill this year and 4.5 next.

Yes it will cost double that to sign a good WR that will keep our offense in the area it is, esp if you are letting Welker walk too.
Letting both go will basically guarantee a big step back from the offense, but hey Bedard's plan lets us keep Edelman, Woodhead (an unnecessary cost after seeing what Vereen can do) and Arrington. Woohooo, if we are lucky we could have a top 10 offense to go with a bottom 10 defense.

 

[Ian]

On paper I don't fault Bedard pondering letting Welker and Lloyd walk - the problem is history has shown that finding viable receivers either in the draft or via free agency in this offense seems to be next to impossible. So if they lose Welker, I don't see how they can take the chance letting Lloyd go.

 

[Ring 6]

I typed the numbers from a page that had 13, for one reason or another. I, somehow, didn't notice.

All of the numbers are wrong too, you should edit your post.