Likely Receiving core: What do you think?

[Nunchucks]

Even with Sanders, they're banking a lot on potential and durability.

By the way, Edelman is a WR, too.

Right, which crowds the position with "knowns" even more.

They won't carry more than 5 WRs

 

[Kontradiction]

I think we still need at least one more guy. Two more it Pittsburgh matches the offer.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

CORPS!!! Receiver CORPS!!!! NOT "core."

:bricks::bricks::bricks:

At least he didn't write "receiving corpse"

 

[Ozymandias]

At least he didn't write "receiving corpse"

Well if it were last season's roster, he wouldn't be wrong to say so with Deion Branch around.

 

[MTM558]

I don't think the Patriots are in as bad a spot as some make them out to be, especially when you look at least year's roster.

Last year at WR, the Patriots finished with Aiken, Branch, Lloyd, Slater, and Welker. They had contributions from Stallworth and Edelman as well.

At TE, they had Gronkowki, Hernandez (both injured), Fells (did nothing) and Hoomanawanui.

Fast forward to this year. The Patriots would have replaced Welker with Amendola (Appears a downgrade, but we will see), but have otherwise upgraded or brought back the remaining receiving corp. Edelman returns, Slater returns, Sanders is better than branch (and could be better than Lloyd, not to mention he is much younger than both). Jones has shown flashes and maybe Jenkins can give you something. Overall, the Patriots may or may not have gotten better, but I refuse to believe they have gotten worse, especially with the draft coming up.

At Tight End, despite Gronkowski's infection, there is hope that he and Hernandez will be healthy (Can't fault Hernandez for spraining his ankle the way he did). That will be huge. Ballard comes in, and Fells and Hooman could return.

The offense will be in fine shape. Focus more on the running game if concern is raised.

 

[VJCPatriot]

It looks a LOT better if we land Sanders. I think we still lack a #1 outside WR. But we'd be in much better shape if Pittsburgh doesn't match. We'll find out in 5 days. To me, Sanders is the younger version of Lloyd without the attitude. Sanders is also a much more known quantity than a 3rd round rookie draft pick.

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

Lets see....
Danny Amendola - play both inside and out, pretty much a star when healthy
Emmanuel Sanders - play both inside and out, young speedster with YAC attack and deep ball capability.
Donald Jones - showed flashes, played in wrong system, had wrong qb throwing him the ball, and again can play both inside and out, even in the backfield. also a young guy.
Julian Edelman - self explanatory. No where on the field that he couldn't line up, and was getting hot before he got hurt. I think could easily be a superstar slot guy anywhere else.
Michael Jenkins - veteran leadership, experience, 6'4 frame, never had a qb and can even play in slot.. I bet you he can out produce any freakin rookie we sign.
Rob Gronkowski - best all around Tightend in the NFL
Aaron Hernandez - top 5 TE who can play some X.
Jake Ballard - good receiving TE
Shane Vereen - good pass catching runningback

That's at least 3 more extra capable receivers than last year and an extra pass catching tightend that's actually good.

So you mean to tell me this isn't an upgrade from last year? All of these guys, while may not be as popular as Brandon Lloyd can line up at different spots on the field and produce. And its not like any of them are scrubs.. or a bunch of young, unproven rookies. These are very solid to good guys that a few of them have star-quality potential if in the right system with the right qb and coach combination. If we could do it with our 03-04 group.. then we definitely can with this corps, its all ABOUT THE DEFENSE

 

[Brady6]

Well, with Edelman resigning and Sanders looking like he'll be coming too, in addition to the other free-agent signings what do you think about the likely receiving core and TE core?


WR
Danny Amendola
Emmanuel Sanders
Donald Jones
Julian Edelman
Michael Jenkins
/ Aaron Hernandez (Extra WR/X-Man)
Shane Vereen
Leon Washington

TE
Rob Gronkowski
Aaron Hernandez/ WR
Jake Ballard - pass catching/ receiving type

My only concern is that Amendola, Jones, Sanders and Edelman all have spent most of their time playing in the slot over their careers. I feel that Jones and Sanders both have the capability to play outside but they do lack experience.

I would be really happy to see us go out and draft a guy like Hunter who can add an elimate of size to a group of mostly 5'10-6'0 WR's. I think it would play dividends in the red zone area expecially if we are without Gronk.

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

My only concern is that Amendola, Jones, Sanders and Edelman all have spent most of their time playing in the slot over their careers. I feel that Jones and Sanders both have the capability to play outside but they do lack experience.

I would be really happy to see us go out and draft a guy like Hunter who can add an elimate of size to a group of mostly 5'10-6'0 WR's. I think it would play dividends in the red zone area expecially if we are without Gronk.

Yeah true, but Jake Ballard is 6'6! lol that's plenty of size, and he is a very good receiving tightend so I think that would help. Our tallest receiver in 2004 was David Givens, who was only 6'1... if that. But of course, Graham and Christian Fauria were our big bodies in the redzone. And they aren't as talented as Jake Ballard which is scary.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

If we land Sanders I'd be happy with what we have + a draft pick.

 

[Tunescribe]

At least he didn't write "receiving corpse"

I'd take that before "core."

 

[MoneyFX]

More youth, speed, size, depth, versatility (inside and outside) and potential than what the Patriots had at the position past several seasons. Assuming the Steelers don't match with the 3rd rounder for Sanders.

 

[Brady2Moss]

Deep threat capabilities are overrated, though I wouldn't mind some height.

Overrated, but much needed when literally every receiving threat on this team operates between the hashes.

 

[tonyto3690]

The of you hoping for a drafted receiver need to reevaluate how you value positions. With or without sanders we don't need to waste a draft pick on receiver. Gronk Hernandez and amendola are enough by themselves, let alone Edelman and the other secondary options. On top of that, we need to become less of a pass heavy team and wasting draft picks on wrs is moronic.

And even more moronic is this obsession with a prototypical #1 wr. We need to spend our remaining resources on fixing our defense, not on improving our #3 greatest offense of all time.

The only way we draft a receiver is if a mid high first round talent falls to our second rounder and I'm not sure I'd want to blow a pick on him anways

 

[mgteich]

Perhaps because the draft is more about future production than rookie production.

No WR they draft this year will be able to contribute, so, why waste the draft choice?

 

[mgteich]

I agree.....

I think we still need at least one more guy. Two more it Pittsburgh matches the offer.

 

[mgteich]

C'mon. We can play with four slot receivers and five TE's.

My only concern is that Amendola, Jones, Sanders and Edelman all have spent most of their time playing in the slot over their careers. I feel that Jones and Sanders both have the capability to play outside but they do lack experience.

I would be really happy to see us go out and draft a guy like Hunter who can add an elimate of size to a group of mostly 5'10-6'0 WR's. I think it would play dividends in the red zone area expecially if we are without Gronk.

 

[Brady6]

C'mon. We can play with four slot receivers and five TE's.

We can do a lot of things with 4 slot receivers and 5 tight ends unfortunately you can only have 11 players on the field and QB's, RB and OL usually are needed too...

 

[Brady6]

Overrated, but much needed when literally every receiving threat on this team operates between the hashes.

I don't think deep threat is that important either but if we could add a big athletic WR who could add a deep threat and also go up and get the football in a red zone matchup that would take us to the next level for sure.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Receivers on the roster sans Slater

ht wt age year
Aiken, Kamar WR 6-2 213 23 2 Central Florida
Amendola, Danny WR 5-11 188 27 4 Texas Tech
Ebert, Jeremy WR 5-11 195 24 R Northwestern
Holmes, Andre WR 6-4 223 24 2 Hillsdale
Jenkins, Michael WR 6-4 214 30 9 Ohio State
Jones, Donald WR 6-0 208 25 3 Youngstown State

And Sanders if the Steelers do not match.

I just don't see them drafting a guy that they will expect to stick, I think they will see other places to improve the team right now.

Kamar Aiken looks like he has some potential to be a solid BIG receiver that we need. I also like Ebner's potential, he has very good speed and hands. If those 2 have been soaking up the playbook in the offseason, and have good training camps, it's like 2 free draft choices.

If we lose a 3rd round pick for Sanders (I don't like this move, hoping Pitt matches), the Pats definitely have to trade down for more picks. IF Pitt matches, I'd still like to trade down, get more picks, and draft a receiver or 2 in rounds 2 and 3.