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

Keeping Branch and cutting Rufus could come back to haunt the Pats, yet only having Siliga and a rookie as wide bodies is dicey. Tough calls there

I'm glad someone made this thread because I've been thinking about this lately. And the answer to that would be yes.

Look at it this way: we have Hightower and Collins whose contracts will be up in a couple years. Both players are a higher priority than Chandler, and would be tough to replace. Meanwhile, we have 2-3 candidates at defensive end right now in Flowers, Grissom, and Johnson who could take his role if he were to leave.

I am very high on Flowers myself. I'm hoping he can end up proving to be the replacement to Chandler so we can lock up our stud Linebackers with a bit more ease.

Luxusdk said:

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

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BB loves Big Athletic guys Rufus fits the mold would hate to see him end up on one of our rivals.

Concussion Protocol said:

Keeping Branch and cutting Rufus could come back to haunt the Pats, yet only having Siliga and a rookie as wide bodies is dicey. Tough calls there

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I agree to an extent, but it seems like the last few years we've had success finding interior guys mid-season that can contribute in the event of injuries. That's how we ended up with Siliga and Branch in the first place. Obviously you don't want to get caught in a Chris Jones/Joe Vellano starting situation like we had in 2013, but if you really want to keep Rufus it might be worth the risk, knowing there will be big bodies available to plug in later.

Concussion Protocol said:

Keeping Branch and cutting Rufus could come back to haunt the Pats, yet only having Siliga and a rookie as wide bodies is dicey. Tough calls there

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At a minimum Rufus stays over Moore.

They put Rufus in last night as a inside rusher for a bit. Interesting.

robertweathers said:

At a minimum Rufus stays over Moore.

They put Rufus in last night as a inside rusher for a bit. Interesting.

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rw? How did Zack Moore look this preseaon?

Sicilian said:

I agree to an extent, but it seems like the last few years we've had success finding interior guys mid-season that can contribute in the event of injuries. That's how we ended up with Siliga and Branch in the first place. Obviously you don't want to get caught in a Chris Jones/Joe Vellano starting situation like we had in 2013, but if you really want to keep Rufus it might be worth the risk, knowing there will be big bodies available to plug in later.

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Ya, I'd roll the dice and cut Branch. Sign a fatty to the PS. Hope for the best.

PatsFan2 said:

rw? How did Zack Moore look this preseaon?

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Seemed ok. Didn't jump out like Rufus, Trey or Grissom though.

Think it just comes down to numbers nothing that he did badly.

PatsFan2 said:

rw? How did Zack Moore look this preseaon?

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Haven't heard his name mentioned much, but this was a different preseason than normal.

Sheard is an upgrade over Jones. Flowers would be way better than any #3 DE we had last year.

Sheard, Ninkovich, Flowers, Grissom, Johnson would be a strong group.

Jones is a luxury for us IMO and our best trade asset.

PatsFan2 said:

rw? How did Zack Moore look this preseaon?

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Moore had a golden opportunity to steal the #5 DT role with Chris Jones on PUP, but he hasn't stood out and it's looking more and more (no pun intended) like the "#5 DT" roster spot could go to the #6 DE instead, given that 4/6 of them have played some DT as well.

PatsFan2 said:

rw? How did Zack Moore look this preseaon?

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He jumped big time, in size - Think hes at 290 or something now and more of a DT then DE. Reminds me of Tommy Kelly in size now, long arms etc.

the goal of the GM is to find great value when it comes to talent.......if someone like flowers performs as well as someone like jones, then the money that would be spent on jones would be better spent somewhere else.

by the same token, if you can have that kind of depth at little additional cost, then you're sitting pretty for the course of the season......

having flowers perform that well is a good problem to have

I would rather Chandler to stay as well, we have a good thing going and if the NFL doesn't cheat the on field game we have a good shot to make it to the SB again, and he's a vital piece but talking about market, is it too much homerism or Chandler would net a 1st or two 2nd round picks? I think having 2 years still to play in a rookie contract + the option for 1st rounders, he's worth a 1st and probably from a team ending up drafting in the top 20.

The problem is that that rat scum of the earth Goodell acted in total bad faith forfeiting our highest 1st round pick and not our 1st round pick by record in the previous season, which is a total absurd and should be unconstitutional. Man I hope Goodell dies in pain.

I could easily see a DE set of Ninkovich,Jones,Sheard,Flowers,Johnson....Grissom is behind Flowers and johnson....maybe there's a spot for him at LB

patsinthesnow said:

Sheard is an upgrade over Jones.

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I like Sheard, but I'm not sure I can get behind this before he's played a regular season snap for us.

Joey007 said:

I'm glad someone made this thread because I've been thinking about this lately. And the answer to that would be yes.

Look at it this way: we have Hightower and Collins whose contracts will be up in a couple years. Both players are a higher priority than Chandler, and would be tough to replace. Meanwhile, we have 2-3 candidates at defensive end right now in Flowers, Grissom, and Johnson who could take his role if he were to leave.

I am very high on Flowers myself. I'm hoping he can end up proving to be the replacement to Chandler so we can lock up our stud Linebackers with a bit more ease.

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The contract situation reminds me of 2009 a bit. We had Richard Seymour, Logan Mankins, and Vince Wilfork. We knew that retaining all of them would be a huge cap drain, so we jettisoned Seymour for the first rounder and extended both Logan and Vince. Of course, 2009 was a dud year anyways (not sure if they were thinking that at the time).

If someone offered us a first rounder for Chandler would you take it? Next year would be better timing for a trade IMO. Chandler might increase his value this season, and the cap savings next year is more substantial. That would also make it easier on using the franchise tag on other players.

signbabybrady said:

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.

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Picks stolen by a—holes aside, this is almost impossible to carry off in practice. The rookie salary allotment to sign that player stays with the team that drafts him, even if the player is traded. In other words, the Pats would have to figure out how to fit a first-round salary without having the salary cap allotment to do so.

I really hope Mayo stay Healthy this year him and Jamie Collins would be sick tandem for Offenses to worry about among other things. I think this will be the Best Front Seven we have ever!

Patriots DC Matt Patricia on first-year DE Rufus Johnson, who has made charge for a roster spot: "He's explosive, long and strong."

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Nuff said!