Matt Mosely say the Pats have had a strong interest in Leodis McKelvin

[patchick]

Teams never tip their hand this early for the draft. If they do it's to create a diversion away from a player they are really interested in.

and yet everybody seems willing to take as gospel that jerry jones is ready to trade the farm for darren mcfadden....

 

[363839]

We have four TEs on the roster and dozens of Olinemen. Granted, these positions can still be upgraded, but so can the defensive backfield.

The team currently has 13 dbs. Lots of guys there that could
step up for us.
While at least half the TE roster are of the receiver variety.
We need a good blocking TE more than a corner.
I can't speak of the OL, Thought we could use more competition there, though.

 

[IcyPatriot]

If the Patriots keep #7 they will draft someone either they:

a) Did not work out.
b) Did not interview.
c) Was never mentioned in any mock drafts for the Patriots.

 

[sebman2112]

If the Patriots keep #7 they will draft someone either they:

a) Did not work out.
b) Did not interview.
c) Was never mentioned in any mock drafts for the Patriots.

They made contact with Meriweather about three different times (that I know of) prior to the draft last year, and it was discussed on this forum.

Chad Jackson met with BB, and NE sent team officials to meet with Maroney in '06, too.

 

[bradmahn]

Kyle Snyder blows.

Now that I've got that off my chest...

Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson earned a $2.45 million payment for surpassing 701 rushing yards this season. He received another $250,000 for winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Other incentives will pay off in later years of his rookie contract.

For example, if Peterson rushes for 1,000 yards in two of his first three seasons, his 2010 salary increases from $2.7 million to $5.2 million. Peterson easily surpassed 1,000 yards this season, so he is on his way.

Peterson’s 2011 base salary of $4 million could go up in a big way. He already bumped it up to $5 million by exceeding 1,300 yards this season. If he does that another time before 2011, he’ll make $7 million that season.

There’s more. If Peterson ever gains 2,000 yards or scores 20 touchdowns in a season, he adds another $1 million to his 2011 salary. If he eclipses both milestones in 2008, 2009 and 2010, he gets an extra $6 million in 2011.

“It would be a win-win situation for the Vikings and for Adrian Peterson,” Angelo said.

link

Of his contract, that's over $14 million in incentives (some likely, such as the 1300 yards one, others unlikely, such as gaining 2000 yards and 20 touchdowns concurrently and consecutively for three seasons). He's guaranteed $17M.

But take a look at the way the Eagles have structured the deal. As we expected, the vast majority of the guaranteed money ($14 million of $20 million) will come in two separate roster bonuses, to be paid in 2008 and 2009. Because those result in an immediate cap hit, rather than being prorated over the life of the deal, Asante is really only impossible to cut for the first two years. After that, if things don't work out, he can be moved on without significant penalty.

link

The cap charges for Samuel are relatively consistent throughout, so it is not a "backloaded deal." Unless Samuel completely blows in Philadelphia (still a possibility) there is very little evidence to support the notion that he will not see all of that money.

I assume we're all familiar with the AAV of Samuel's deal (roughly $9.5M), and for the sake of the argument I will also assume that Peterson gains another 1300 yards within the next two seasons, and will be generous (IMO) and say he tops 20 TDs twice between '08 and '10, but will not make 2000 yards in that period. With the other money he made last season ($2.7M) and the assumed incentives he'll make in the next couple of seasons, that will give his contract roughly a six year deal worth $35M, or over $20M cheaper than Asante would be over that same time period (six years).

This is by no means a strong indicator of what the Patriots would sign a player to (they could wind up paying less for the same draft position, just look at the contracts of players in the top ten from 2006 and 2007) and Peterson is a pretty rare talent. I, personally, don't believe either a rookie cornerback or rookie linebacker will come in and start from day one, which would limit some of the likely incentive money they could earn (most likely double digit sacks/number of interceptions, playing time, games started, Pro Bowls, etc.).

I would rather see the team go in a different direction than CB at #7, but there is a huge difference between the contract given to AS and the one they would potentially give to his replacement at seventh overall.

 

[BradyManny]

link

The cap charges for Samuel are relatively consistent throughout, so it is not a "backloaded deal." Unless Samuel completely blows in Philadelphia (still a possibility) there is very little evidence to support the notion that he will not see all of that money.

Look at your own graphic with the dead money hits and the salaries for every given year. The cap hit is the least relevant number when considering how much of that $$ Asante sees. It is a backloaded deal when you look at the salaries. They can release him in the final years without facing a great burden of dead $.

Yes, Asante's contract is going to pay him more money over 6 years, if he is retained all 6 years. I'm not arguing that. But the point remains - would you rather pay Asante 6 x 50 or a roookie 6 x 30+? They are both big contracts, neither present good value, but I think between the two, the value would clearly be with Asante. Which is why I still think there's no way they pick a CB at #7. A CB just isn't worth that amount of $$ and that pick when there are really good CB options later in the draft.

 

[bradmahn]

Look at your own graphic with the dead money hits and the salaries for every given year. The cap hit is the least relevant number when considering how much of that $$ Asante sees. It is a backloaded deal when you look at the salaries. They can release him in the final years without facing a great burden of dead $.

Yes, Asante's contract is going to pay him more money over 6 years, if he is retained all 6 years. I'm not arguing that. But the point remains - would you rather pay Asante 6 x 50 or a roookie 6 x 30+? They are both big contracts, neither present good value, but I think between the two, the value would clearly be with Asante. Which is why I still think there's no way they pick a CB at #7. A CB just isn't worth that amount of $$ and that pick when there are really good CB options later in the draft.

He is not making significantly more at the back end of the deal than he is at any other time in the course of the contract. If the salary (and bonuses) for his final two years are even remotely comparable to the rest of the contract it is (by definition) not "backloaded." Being able to release someone without a burden of dead money does not mean his contract is backloaded.

Samuel is overpaid and will probably be overpaid throughout the life of that contract, the question we have to ask is will there be a time in the course of the rookie cornerback's contract where he is worth the 7 or so million his contract averages out to be? Said rookie has the opportunity to be a better player than Samuel, too (and if you're drafting him seventh overall there is, or should be, great confidence that he will pan out). If he is better than Samuel and paid less it would be the better value.

As I said before, I don't think it's the best move to draft a cornerback with the seventh pick, but it has more to do with the value of cornerbacks in the Pats' scheme and the availability of other cornerbacks in the draft, but saying they will not replace Samuel with the first round pick because of either of their contracts is beyond shortsighted.