Sign the Beast LX: Eagles' ILB Mychal Kendricks, anyone?

LB Mychal Kendricks anyone?



CSN Philly's Andrew Kulp would be "mildly surprised" if Eagles ILB Mychal Kendricks is not traded "before or during the draft."

The approach of "CB by mediocre volume" has not made the N.E, fan base at all comfortable with good reason. Even a highly rated Rookie CB pick will take his lumps. BB had a few reasonable FA CBs out there he passed on that had talent. And he sent Revis away for perhaps what amounted to guaranteed money. .....O.K. , Now what?

We added to our rush package with Sheard. That helps CB play. With LB's that can cover, you can protect underneath. That helps CB play for sure as well. We have one of the best in the business in Collins. How about Kendricks teaming with Collins for two of your productive speedy LBs who can cover? Mayo is a question mark anyway. Can he also cover anymore?

Kendricks is cheap at least for one year. If Mayo is not the answer, resign Kendricks. We have another question mark in Hightower coming off injury. Kendricks can cover ILB until Hightower is ready.

I think LB is a position of need. They tried to address it with Gachkar, McCarthy and McClain so something is up (all ILBs by the way as is Kendricks) . They are definitely going LB at some point in the Draft. You have Collins and two wounded guys. The backs up LBs are ST players at best.

Would you not throw a third rounder at Chip for this kid? BB always claims his deals are to make the Team better. Does this move make the Team better?

DW Toys

I'd throw a fifth.

No way a third

Well "Cousins", it's a good idea. I think LB wise we may need help with Mayo and Hightower both coming off injuries.

Listed as LB on the Patriots roster, besides Mayo and Hightower who are injured, and Collins who's legit are luminaries like Darius Flemming, Chris White, James Morris, Deontea Skinner, Jonathan Freeney, Eric Morris and Cameron Gordon.

Unless some of our DE's step into that role we're in trouble.

We only use 2 LBs on 75% of the plays. We have 3 very good ones already.
If Kendricks were special, I'd think we could find a creative way to use all the LBs if he fell in our lap.
But a 5'11 237 lb LB doesn't seem like a guy we could find a lot of use for.

I kinda remember him killing our starters and scrubs alike in the preseason one year.

I'd be all over this he is no Lavonte David but he is still pretty damn versatile and I think would do great things under BB

I'd trade a 3rd preferably a 4th

He's good but I don't see it. He's a starting-caliber player and is free to walk at the end of the season, which he'd do if he never played. They use 2 LBs most of the time and at most need quality depth - preferably young depth - not a starter.

AndyJohnson said:

We only use 2 LBs on 75% of the plays. We have 3 very good ones already.
If Kendricks were special, I'd think we could find a creative way to use all the LBs if he fell in our lap.
But a 5'11 237 lb LB doesn't seem like a guy we could find a lot of use for.

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With Mayo and Hightower sidelined, who's are good 3 ones?

OhExaulted1 said:

With Mayo and Hightower sidelined, who's are good 3 ones?

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We have one healthy quality LB. You are correct Cousin.

Kendricks is on the last year of his rookie contract so he will not break our CAP. If he works out, now you have a decision between he and a 31 year old Mayo next season as to who to sign. As it stands, he is way cheaper than Mayo.
Here is the question (I say a third rounder?). What is there in Round 3 right now in the Draft that the Pats can 100% count on to start and be as near as effective and Pro ready?
DW Toys

Trade a 3rd and 7th for Kendricks and Mathis, call it a day.

DW Toys said:

We have one healthy quality LB. You are correct Cousin.

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I don't know. As others have pointed out, we only use 2 on about 70-75% of the snaps.

Right now, there are FOUR linebackers in the mix, who are all proven at the position. We're hoping to have 2/4 healthy enough to take the high majority of the reps. Those are Collins, Mayo, Hightower, and Ninkovich.

I think most of us are all for a depth player at LB, but that can be had for much less than a 3rd round draft pick. As a matter of fact, if you're going to use a 3rd round draft pick, you'd be much better off having them on a longer term rookie deal for the next 4 years.

DW Toys said:

What is there in Round 3 right now in the Draft that the Pats can 100% count on to start and be as near as effective and Pro ready?

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I understand where you're going with this, and you'd be right that this could be said for ANY of the eventual draft picks that come next weekend, but a 3rd round pick is a very important resource in the salary cap era. For all we know, it will be turned into a 2nd rounder next year, a better player than Kendricks, or a quality draft selection like last year's Stork (4th rounder).

Ross12 said:

Trade a 3rd and 7th for Kendricks and Mathis, call it a day.

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They lost out (or passed) on Wisniewski, and will likely be drafting at least one mid-high round IOL. The fact that Connelly is still available makes me wonder if he'll be back for one more year.

I like the thought of Mathis, but the price tag may be too high--unless he is cut and immediately signed by us to a lesser deal. Even then, things have to line up just right, and one has to assume that they'll be willing to pay more than other teams.

No way do I pay a third to rent a player for a year that is not a "star" I am not worried about Hightower at all for the start of the season. Mayo should also be good to go. You got Collins and Ninko and a couple of kids that have a year in the system now. Trading a third for a guy that may end up playing 15-20 snaps a game is way too much.

supafly said:

They lost out (or passed) on Wisniewski, and will likely be drafting at least one mid-high round IOL. The fact that Connelly is still available makes me wonder if he'll be back for one more year.

I like the thought of Mathis, but the price tag may be too high--unless he is cut and immediately signed by us to a lesser deal. Even then, things have to line up just right, and one has to assume that they'll be willing to pay more than other teams.

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It was just a thought, I don't think it's likely. Would be nice to see. I trust Bill knows better than I do, though.

Ross12 said:

It was just a thought, I don't think it's likely. Would be nice to see. I trust Bill knows better than I do, though.

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There's no doubt that it would provide us with a solid left-center side of Solder/Mathis/Stork, and I think we'd all be very happy if it happened. I just wonder how much Belichick would be willing to pay, that's all.

Yes, sounds smart. Trade a 3rd round cheap guy, for a one year rental because Hightower maybe/probably/perhaps miss one or 2 games...

Early reports gave Mayo a six month recovery, and six months was last week. Even if he's not quite there, he has 4.5 months before a game that matters. Based on the timetables being mentioned (about six months for each but vastly different start dates), it seems like Hightower would be much more questionable while Mayo should be good to go barring a major setback or new unrelated injury.

If we were to assume Mayo and Collins are two of the three LBs, then I'd be looking for a Mike LB, not an undersized (by Belichick standards) Will. I know the Pats have shown interest in LBs, but on that list I see two clear backups (which they need regardless of the health of Mayo and Hightower) and a true Mike (Rolando McClain). I don't think you can use that list to assume they'd be interested in a smaller starting LB option. I have no idea if a Spikes reunion is realistic, but he's the style of player I'd be looking to have with Mayo and Collins, not a Kendricks type.

Sciz said:

Early reports gave Mayo a six month recovery, and six months was last week. Even if he's not quite there, he has 4.5 months before a game that matters. Based on the timetables being mentioned (about six months for each but vastly different start dates), it seems like Hightower would be much more questionable while Mayo should be good to go barring a major setback or new unrelated injury.

If we were to assume Mayo and Collins are two of the three LBs, then I'd be looking for a Mike LB, not an undersized (by Belichick standards) Will. I know the Pats have shown interest in LBs, but on that list I see two clear backups (which they need regardless of the health of Mayo and Hightower) and a true Mike (Rolando McClain). I don't think you can use that list to assume they'd be interested in a smaller starting LB option. I have no idea if a Spikes reunion is realistic, but he's the style of player I'd be looking to have with Mayo and Collins, not a Kendricks type.

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Ironically, Kendricks is listed as a ILB and played MIKE. He's 6' and 240lbs. He is as big as Bruschi if not bigger who was a BB designed ILB. Why do I not get this undersized stuff? Mayo is 6'1" and 250lbs (maybe). So Mayo is undersized? Alonzo who they just brought in and is why Kendricks might be available at MLB, is 238lbs (ironically Alonzo was from Newton Mass.!). The pretty good ILB from the Niners who just retired Patrick Willis, 6'1" 240 (same size). What am I missing?

He is a one year rental but you have a bunch of one year rentals (or extensions) on the D you must decide on. If he is better than Mayo you can still opt for Kendricks. I like Mayo but his contract for this year and the next two is $30m. I think they can sign a 24 year old for less. It's just business. Since 2011 as a test sampling because Mayo has been hurt three of the last four years at some point, Kendricks is the better player stat for stat. Mayo had a super 2012.
Kendricks has 4.47 speed and you can't teach that. He might be the fastest ILB in the league.
I liked Spikes but he was a two down guy.
DW Toys