WR might still be a huge draft day need

[Bobs My Uncle]

It's quite possible that neither Stallworth nor Washignton are here beyond this next season. It's also quite possible that Troy is gone and it's quite possible that Jackson never materializes into anything. And Caldwell and Gaffney are UFA after this season.

If so then the Pats are left with nothing of significance at the WR spot beyond next season.

Don't be surprised if the Pats value a WR high this coming April.

 

[notex]

isnt gaffney and caldwell only signed through this year as well??? seems like they just signed a bunch of WR and whoever performs gets the extensions...

 

[spacecrime]

A huge need compared to what? LB? S? CB?

It is certainly an option to draft a WR because we might cut all our current WRS, but I would hardly call it a huge need.

 

[holyredeemer]

It's quite possible that neither Stallworth nor Washignton are here beyond this next season. It's also quite possible that Troy is gone and it's quite possible that Jackson never materializes into anything. And Caldwell and Gaffney are UFA after this season.

If so then the Pats are left with nothing of significance at the WR spot beyond next season.

Don't be surprised if the Pats value a WR high this coming April.

Good post. I was actually just thinking the same thing this morning. I honestly would not be surprised if the pats spend on of their first 3 rd. pics on a WR. Actually, its BB, so we shouldnt be surprised about anything. I guess I am not doing a mock draft this yr. nor am I going to make any assumptions. Ill just let our FO do their thing, which is probably draft the BPA.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

A huge need compared to what? LB? S? CB?

It is certainly an option to draft a WR because we might cut all our current WRS, but I would hardly call it a huge need.

It MIGHT be viewed as a huge need by management for the simple fact that it's entirely possible that none of the WR starters currently on the roster will be around after this coming season. No other position on the team has such a possibility facing it that I am aware of.

 

[PromisedLand]

It's quite possible that neither Stallworth nor Washignton are here beyond this next season. It's also quite possible that Troy is gone and it's quite possible that Jackson never materializes into anything. And Caldwell and Gaffney are UFA after this season.

If so then the Pats are left with nothing of significance at the WR spot beyond next season.

Don't be surprised if the Pats value a WR high this coming April.

I think this could be described as "worst case scenario". The Pats in essence have an option on a long term deal on both Stallworth and Washington beyond this season, and more than likely CJ will amount to more than nothing. Also remember that we found guys like Caldwell and Gaffney on the street and there is no reason to think we can't do it again, if the front office does decide not to try to re-sign them or extend them, or if one or both suddenly finds himself with significant market value.

So yes, your scenario is possible, but IMHO drafting a WR in the first round is unlikely as their are many other needs.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Or Stallworth and Washington could both be locked up to long term deals if the Pats "excercise the option" so to speak. I think WR is set for this year. Beyond that, I'm not sure. Nobody can really be sure about 2 years down the road. Might be interesting to see Meachem drafted as then we would have the Florida Alums going head to head vs the Tennessee Alums.

WR is not a huge draft day need in the short term imo however they might dip their toes in just because the talent is so deep at receiver this year.

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't think so. For one thing we have much bigger needs to get younger on defense. But second, while you can look at the worst case, the reasonable case is much better looking. Welker and Jackson are signed for 4 and 2 years after this year respetively. We have options on Stallworth and Washington. Caldwell and Gaffney can almost certainly be re-signed at reasonable money.

Belichick isn't one to run scared and feel like he has to draft another WR just in case. He has 6 guys with varying skills and talent. Two are already signed. Once the other four sort themselves out it shouldn't be too difficult to get the correct two signed.

Plus, unless Jackson is IRed we have 6 WR spots taken already.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Knowing how BB and Pioli operate I'd be very surprised if they assumed that they have the services of Stallworth, and Washington, beyond this upcoming season. If they did believe this to be the case then they would have simply signed them long tern and been done with it. I don't see any automatics that either or both of Stallworth or Washignton will be on the team next year.

And, where Caldwell and Gaffney are concerned, I think the fact that the Pats have been so aggresive in trying to find better WR's speaks volumes about how they feel about them two in the future.

The only SURE thing where WR is concerned in the future is Wes Welker. Beyond that it's a dart throw.

 

[BelichickFan]

Knowing how BB and Pioli operate I'd be very surprised if they assumed that they have the services of Stallworth, and Washington, beyond this upcoming season. If they did believe this to be the case then they would have simply signed them long tern and been done with it. I don't see any automatics that either or both of Stallworth or Washignton will be on the team next year.

And, where Caldwell and Gaffney are concerned, I think the fact that the Pats have been so aggresive in trying to find better WR's speaks volumes about how they feel about them two in the future.

The only SURE thing where WR is concerned in the future is Wes Welker. Beyond that it's a dart throw.

So unless you're locked into IRing Jackson, where are you going to put another WR ? We have 6 already and only carried 5 most of last year.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

So unless you're locked into IRing Jackson, where are you going to put another WR ? We have 6 already and only carried 5 most of last year.

Personally I'd see no problem in subbing a stud draft prospect for either Washington, Gaffney or Caldwell. In fact I'll be shocked if all 3 of these guys make the 53 cut.

 

[dtbrks]

Nothing, nothing the pats do on draft day is predictable, esp in early rounds.

watson in the first round - surprised me.
mankins in the 1st round - surprised me.
Thomas in the 3rd - again.. surprised me..

You never know. If the right player is there, they will take him, WR or not

 

[carolinatony]

You don't think we will go TE in the first. Please no!

 

[RayClay]

I personally have never seen a team really utilize 5 receivers.

Three good receivers and 2 scrubs/special teamers, (Childress, Kight types), will do most teams IMO.

If they get value out of a decently paid 5th receiver it will be a surprise to me.

Meanwhile, except for the DL, the defense is ready to fall apart.

OK, bring the abuse.:bricks:

 

[Seneschal2]

Might be interesting to see Meachem drafted as then we would have the Florida Alums going head to head vs the Tennessee Alums.

Was just going to post this. What's that they say about small minds, err...I mean great.

 

[DW Toys]

You don't think we will go TE in the first. Please no!

Cousin,
It would not shock me if they went TE in the draft. I am not saying first but third or fourth?. That kid Spaeth from Minn. or Scott Chandler from Iowa seem to have the blocking skills that Watson or Thomas don't and K. Brady is just a stop-gap for Graham leaving. Love Mills but he is strictly FB/H-Back.
DW Toys

 

[spacecrime]

It MIGHT be viewed as a huge need by management for the simple fact that it's entirely possible that none of the WR starters currently on the roster will be around after this coming season. No other position on the team has such a possibility facing it that I am aware of.

Well, yeah, sure. If your ground rules are that we cut all the WR starters then we will need help, sure. If we cut all our CBs after this year, we'll need CBs, too. And QBs.

The fact is that we have adequate WRs, and we DON'T have adequate LBs, CBs, SSs and FSs.

If we need the WRs next year, we won't cut them, or we will sign other WRs as we did this year.

Everyone is so concerned about the option year as areason we won't keep the player. The Pats have used this in the past. Keeping Stallworth, Welker and Washington for the entire length of their contracts isn't overly expensive. Cost per year for Stallworth is aboukt what we offered Deion (and less than he got), and Washington's offer is similar to what we offered Givens (and less than he got).

 

[GHOSTOFSAMGASH]

IMO it is quite possible there is a receiver that they might covet and could be part the reason for all of these backloaded contracts.

BB and pioli probably dont really intend for stallworth or washington to see most of their money so they could end up just with 1 year stays. its the best case scenario for stallworth who could end up having a great year with TB throwing to him and get cut and make a big contract next year or who knows they might pick up his option

i think they will draft the best player available to them like they always do whether it be s, cb, lb, te , wr, ol, dl:rocker: anything except k,p, qb:rocker:

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Well, yeah, sure. If your ground rules are that we cut all the WR starters then we will need help, sure. If we cut all our CBs after this year, we'll need CBs, too. And QBs.

The fact is that we have adequate WRs, and we DON'T have adequate LBs, CBs, SSs and FSs.

If we need the WRs next year, we won't cut them, or we will sign other WRs as we did this year.

Everyone is so concerned about the option year as areason we won't keep the player. The Pats have used this in the past. Keeping Stallworth, Welker and Washington for the entire length of their contracts isn't overly expensive. Cost per year for Stallworth is aboukt what we offered Deion (and less than he got), and Washington's offer is similar to what we offered Givens (and less than he got).

It's not about "cutting" the players. It's about having them signed to contracts!

And, while we might have adequate WR's this year we very well might only have 1 of this years adequate WR's on next years roster. That guy being Welker.

If Stallworth can perform to hsi talents and abilities the money he's going to make isn't the problem. The problem with Stallworth is whether or not he's going to be able to stay clean and actually be around to play WR for us. As for Washington I don't expect him to see any of his future contract money from the Pats.

 

[ClevTrev]

Nothing, nothing the pats do on draft day is predictable, esp in early rounds.

watson in the first round - surprised me.
mankins in the 1st round - surprised me.
Thomas in the 3rd - again.. surprised me..

You never know. If the right player is there, they will take him, WR or not

I think that's a guarantee. If the right WR is available, the Pats will draft him.

Good post.