POLL: If Pats were to go FA WR route, who's most realisitic?

How about a 1 year deal for Brandon Marshall if he gets released?

Michael Crabtree, 68 receptions, 698 yards.

Does he block downfield better than JoJo LaFell? Fewer receptions, fewer yards per catch. Where's the upgrade?

Aaron Dobson/Danny Amendola/Julian Edelman/Daniel LaFell. If healthy, that's all you need.

I would think that running a little more consistently and giving Brady a little time in the pocket would be the two biggest offseason goals for the New England Patriots. To me, this screams O-line as the biggest need. I don't think they are far away with youngsters Stork and Flemming, two decent tackles, and a swing tackle/guard. But, I can see looking to add another piece or two.

Honestly if we lose Amendola I ask myself "who do we need to beat Seattle that is comparable price

My main options are

#1 Eddie Royal
#2 Cole Bealsey (if he gets cut... he is a RFA)
#3 Nicks

I don't want an overpriced option.

Deep threats cost too much and it takes time for the route to develop.

I hope Bill is smart enough not to go the free agent route for WRs. Build up the trenches first and foremost.

Danger Zone said:

He certainly has that history (recent?) of injuries thing going for him that Belichick doesn't put a lot of emphasis on.

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The fortunate thing is that others may not, so it's possible he's able to be had for relatively low money.

He strikes me as a hard worker. Wasn't he from division III? Talk about a Cinderella story. I think Bill likes having those sort of guys around, it promotes the message of "do your job and anything is possible."

trade for brandon marshall, sure he's nuts but he's a great player.
marshall might even get cut. none of that inside the nfl stuff though

Tunescribe said:

Aaron Dobson/Danny Amendola/Julian Edelman/Daniel LaFell. If healthy, that's all you need.

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as long as gronkowski's healthy, it doesn't matter.
another tight end would be nice. hooman offers little in the passing game. tim wright isnt a real TE.

Gronkowski123 said:

tim wright isnt a real TE.

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Neither was the killer but nobody complained.

My dark horse candidate is Joe Webb, he doesn't seem to be catching on as a QB and he has exactly the athleticism we need to open the deep/wide zones, and as a former QB he'll hopefully be well suited to reading defenses and getting on the same page as TFB.

I really don't think any of these guys other than Crabtree are remotely realistic and that's only if the bottom completely falls out of his market.

Gronkowski123 said:

as long as gronkowski's healthy, it doesn't matter.
another tight end would be nice. hooman offers little in the passing game. tim wright isnt a real TE.

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Let's reserve judgment on Tim Wright for the moment. Don't forget that Wright was asked by Tampa to lose weight and convert to WR last offseason/TC, before being traded to New England where he was then a TE again. An offseason of proper strength training and coaching to be an actual tight end could make a world of difference.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/jamison-crowder?id=2552415

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/titus-davis?id=2552426

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/rashad-greene?id=2552425

The draft is deep at WR again and has a decent amount of great fits in our offense that can be had in rounds 3-7 (route running, shifty, YAC WRs).

I wanted Crabtree earlier in the season, but screw that. Hopefully Danny restructures and we draft one of these kids making 700-800k over four years rather than spending $$$ on a FA WR.

The rest of the FA WR crop is silly. We have established starters in Edelman/Lafell and need to resign Revis/McCourty with limited cap room.

This offense scored 36 ppg vs. the Ravens, Colts, and Seahawks!

I could see Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald if one gets cut and wants last shot at a title. These guys are past their primes but could still help.

Crabtree would be a good addition IMO

I honestly don't think Torrey Smith would break the bank, he wouldn't need to be our #1, and he could really take the top off of a defense, he'd create plays for everyone just by being around the talent we already have.

As Miguel has already pointed out, there are a hundred different ways to get us into decent cap shape.

No matter what happens to Revis we're going to save a bunch there, I can't imagine Wilfork playing at his current cap hit, he might be gone all together because he's a hardball negotiator. Mayo probably won't play at his current cap number either given that he's missed 20 games in the past 2 seasons.

I love what Amendola did for us and we probably don't win the SB, or maybe even make the SB, without him, but Bill isn't sentimental too often, I think Torrey Smith would be an instant upgrade and for not more more money than Amendola is on the books for.

I also really don't think we *NEED* another WR. It'd be absolutely great to upgrade, but Tom makes it work with the guys he has and he's built good chemistry with the contributors we have.

But for the sake of the thread, give me Smith at say 4/28-32 if he'd take it, no more, though. He'd be a great #3 or #4 target behind Edelman/Gronk and on equal footing to LaFell most likely.

strngplyr said:

But for the sake of the thread, give me Smith at say 4/28-32 if he'd take it, no more, though. He'd be a great #3 or #4 target behind Edelman/Gronk and on equal footing to LaFell most likely.

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And he'd be making as much as Edelman and LaFell combined. I can't see that happening for a guy to be a possible co-#2 WR.

Give me Justin Hunter for a 5th round pick, and his rookie contract over Torrey Smith anyday.
If not then I grab Stephen Hill or any receiver cut by New Orleans they seem to give up on young talent cheap.

Lets be honest, we aren't going to sign any notable big name wide-outs. But to answer the question, signing Eddie Royal would be right up BB's alley. From the few times I've seen him play this year for SD, he made some pretty clutch catches. Would be perfect considering the offense's tendency for screen plays and quick passes.