Could Flowers, Grissom and R. Johnson threaten C. Jones' future with the Pats?

Chandler Jones contract expires after next season and he will probably demand a good, fat contract (Although his ceiling is high, he has yet to have consistency to prove himself elite). We all know that, in order to keep the team competitive, sometimes you gotta let some good players go, especially if they take a big chunk of the Salary Cap.

While we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves, It's getting though not to be excited by our Rookies. If they keep this level and improve as time goes on, I think perhaps Chandler Jones will be playing for someone else in 2018 and beyond.

Let's see them play in a regular season game before we make these decisions. Jones is a good pass rusher which means he is likely to get overpaid on the open market. So I think the Pats are hoping one or two of these guys steps up, but they have a lot to prove and we have two years to worry about it.

No ****, I literally just posted this in the game thread:

Oswlek said:

Thanks for the reminder. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but Flowers has impressed me so much that I'm starting to wonder how necessary Chandler Jones is to keep beyond his option. With Grissom and (hopefully) Rufus on board as well, that is a lot of young talent and DE is an expensive position.

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Oswlek said:

No ****, I literally just posted this in the game thread:

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great minds think alike?

That he plays out his contract and leaves to a better bidder I think is almost a sure thing, BB is not going to play 10+ Mi/year for him.

The real question is if he's not on trade talks right now.

varjao said:

The real question is if he's not on trade talks right now.

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He's not.

Jones is in that good-not-great category for whom the Pats may not be willing to outbid everybody else.

That said, I'm sure they'll try to extend him at a discount in return for giving him earlier financial security.

I have no prediction for what choices he will make. His brothers and their careers will surely affect him somewhat, but I don't know how.

varjao said:

That he plays out his contract and leaves to a better bidder I think is almost a sure thing, BB is not going to play 10+ Mi/year for him.

The real question is if he's not on trade talks right now.

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I'd be that emphatic if Ninkovich were younger.

In addition to Chandler's situation, Sheard signed a 2-year deal I believe, so in a couple years there will be some big decisions to be made. Nink will be pretty old at that point too, so that will add to the potential upheaval. I'm just glad that they drafted some guys now to prepare for the future as opposed to letting the position erode like the LB corps a decade ago.

What if a team calls today and ask what jones would be worth in a trade? What would you take? Two 2nd rounders?

First I thought this was gonna be about Chris Jones.

I would say let this season play out before deciding on Chandler.

Lastly I find this board funny sometimes. If you get to high on a guy like Butler guys come out and ask to pump the brakes but then there is this replacing a guy like Chandler with a rookie (i know the op didn't mean now) just with an eye toward saving money 2 years from now. I appreciate the eye toward GMing and good roster management but why at the sake of just evaluating the talent. Can't Chandler still be beast here and have the rising rookie.

nabwong said:

What if a team calls today and ask what jones would be worth in a trade? What would you take? Two 2nd rounders?

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I would tell the guy talk to me the day before and after the draft. If you draft the player I want in the first round then I'll make the trade with one extra condition we both announce the trade by cursing out Goodell.

Oh and not for Chandler he is too good.

Can I ask who ppl wanna use the money at instead? Because it has to be a FA pick ups, since Patriots should have more then plenty the next 2 seasons atleast.

Oswlek said:

No ****, I literally just posted this in the game thread:

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Concern is Ninko's age. Then we need 2 guys.

nabwong said:

What if a team calls today and ask what jones would be worth in a trade? What would you take? Two 2nd rounders?

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I'd say no, he's still a bargain this season. Rather have him this season and have extra help for the title.

He is the one player that could bring back something in trade talks. its possible. especially with BB.

I don't think it l happen though.

The key with Chandler is health. In his one healthy season from start to finish he had 11.5 sacks, and was on a decent pace in his 2 other seasons prior to getting hurt. We were begging for a pass rusher for years between the end of Colvin/McGinest/Vrabel up until the Jones/Nink emergence, I don't think it's all that prudent to look towards throwing away our best proven one when he's only 25. While I like Flowers I see him as more of a right end, technical guy like Nink rather than the long bend the corner type pass rusher that Jones is. Grissom was never a great rusher in college, and while he has been ok, certainly hasn't flashed like Chandler did his rookie year. Sheard emerging as a better player than Jones is the only real threat to Chandler's long term spot on the roster IMO.

This team's cap situation past this season is pretty good. Cut one of the tackles, cut Amendola, or cut Mayo. There are a lot of ways to open up cap space past this season. If we were going to take the cap savings and directly invest it in a CB I'd be fine with it, but outside of that I'd say we're best off sticking with what we've got in Jones.

One or more of those guys, as well as Sheard if he plays well but not well enough to price himself off the team, will replace either one or both of Jones and Ninkovich in the next 2-3 years. Just my opinion. I feel like we could see Jones walk and Nink retire around the same time.

On Rufus Johnson I think his size is too intriguing to gamble on our PS. Also I am hoping WR Chris Harper makes it over one of our Safeties knowing how they suck egg at WR development the kid looks like a real find.

PatsFan2 said:

On Rufus Johnson I think his size is too intriguing to gamble on our PS. Also I am hoping WR Chris Harper makes it over one of our Safeties knowing how they egg at WR development the kid looks like a real find.

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So you wanna keep Rufus as 6th DE ? or whats your plan?