Do we upgrade our WRs this offseason?

mgteich said:

LaFell will likely be replaced. That being said, when the line gives your QB 2 seconds or less to throw, it is difficult to respect downfield threats.

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True. No matter what we do, the line needs to be addressed. That doesn't mean other areas of weakness have to be neglected.

An upgrade would clearly be welcomed, and should be explored...not sure how there's any debate there.

Sometimes it seems like people are compelled to stake out these stark positions and defend then, when I'm guessing almost everyone here is in general agreement on the issue. Not as much fun that way, I suppose.

ChrisR2223 said:

Calvin or Jeffrey would be great
I dont think Hue would trade Gordon
If you want to go cheaper Rod Streeter could be worth a call.

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Between Rod Streater and Sammie Coates, your suggestions would have netted the Patriots an additional 2 receptions this season. Yeah, these are difference-makers.

A few things:

• Anyone who still pines for a deep threat, give it up. This team isn't a deep threat type of team unless you can get an once in a lifetime player like Randy Moss for cheap. Brady was never a great deep ball passer and he isn't going to be nearly as good at age 39 as he was in 2007.
• People saying the Pats can't win it all without big receivers, look at last year, 2004, 2003, and 2001. This team can certainly win with the smurfs.
• I expect LaFell and possibly Amendola to be cut. If so, they need to replace them. They do not need a great WR though. I still think Amendola will take another pay cut and LaFell will be replaced with another LaFell type of player (an average quality #2-3 WR with upside).
• Keep dreaming about Alshon Jeffries or Megatron.
• This offense was on its way to compete with 2007 for the league record for scoring before Dion Lewis, Nate Solder, and Edelman went down. This offense needs to return to full healthy more than being upgraded.
• The focus of upgrades on the offense should be on the offensive line and RB and not WR. The Pats need to upgrade the depth of the receivers, but not so much the starters.

PatsFan2 said:

LaFell not to be confused with a down field threat in fact he was No! Threat at all. I would drive him out 0f town right now LaFell is what he is there is nothing more to see.

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This team doesn't need LaFell OR a down the field threat. Get rid of LaFell and replace him with a big WR who can catch passes outside (not deep) and in the red zone.

Rob0729 said:

This team doesn't need LaFell OR a down the field threat. Get rid of LaFell and replace him with a big WR who can catch passes outside (not deep) and in the red zone.

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The one thing about a deep threat is that it takes a safety away from others like Gronk. I agree we don't need to have a top outside WR. Just someone the other team has to respect. Bill's been trying for one but he's missed on his outside WRs in the drafts. Still would help the O to have one.

Boomer B said:

The one thing about a deep threat is that it takes a safety away from others like Gronk. I agree we don't need to have a top outside WR. Just someone the other team has to respect. Bill's been trying for one but he's missed on his outside WRs in the drafts. Still would help the O to have one.

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People say this like defenses let our deep receivers run uncovered. Every team defends the deep route regardless of who the receiver is. Sure obj gets extra attention but how many deep balls do you actually think he catches. Defenses don't hold 2 guys deep in his side, or not put any coverage on lafell or amendola going deep.


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Boomer B said:

The one thing about a deep threat is that it takes a safety away from others like Gronk. I agree we don't need to have a top outside WR. Just someone the other team has to respect. Bill's been trying for one but he's missed on his outside WRs in the drafts. Still would help the O to have one.

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Deep threats are the most overrated thing in football unless you get an elite one. A WR that is a legitimate threat no matter if he is a deep threat or an outside threat or an over the middle threat will take coverage off of Gronk.

The biggest problem with most deep threats are that they are one trick ponies. They can basically run go routes and vertical routes and cannot run the route tree. Which means you have a Donte Stallworth who can make one or two plays a game, but needs to stand on the sidelines for most of the game. If you want to add a deep threat for 5-10 plays a game as a 4th or 5th WR, it might be worth adding one. But unless the Cowboys want to trade Dez Bryant (or a trade for a deep threat of similar quality), you cannot add one as an #1 or #2 WR because they cannot run the route tree and cannot do presnap reads and Brady is not Jump Ball Joe Flacco.

AndyJohnson said:

People say this like defenses let our deep receivers run uncovered. Every team defends the deep route regardless of who the receiver is. Sure obj gets extra attention but how many deep balls do you actually think he catches. Defenses don't hold 2 guys deep in his side, or not put any coverage on lafell or amendola going deep.


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Yeah, the fact that the Pats have quick receivers who can catch the ball in the 5-10 yards range and then pick up large chunks after the catch requires them to play at least one safety deep a lot of the time anyway.

Just throwing it out there - if they did cut Amendola, Martin could probably be the "Edelman insurance". He's not as shifty as Danny but he can run the same kinds of plays/routes as Danny is.

Greatest scenario that's still remotely possible - Danny restructures, cut LaFell, acquire Josh Gordon on the cheap on a 1-year "prove it" deal. Edelman & Gordon outside, Amendola in the slot, Martin as the 4th receiver - that's a hell of a corps.

primetime said:

Between Rod Streater and Sammie Coates, your suggestions would have netted the Patriots an additional 2 receptions this season. Yeah, these are difference-makers.

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Streeter was a very productive player til his injury.
Your kidding yourself if you dont think he has a chance to be a upgrade.

English Patriot said:

Clearly Bill takes Tom for granted and thinks he's some kind of robot machine otherwise he would get him a guy to help him go down the field in 1 play instead of what normally takes 6-10. We simply don't have that guy, nobody can say otherwise because they are wrong and are in denial.

Gronk is on full life support on a weekly basis because he's the only one who stretches a game and thus takes punishment no normal man could take that often.

It's not fair on Tom nor Gronk but Bill obviously sees otherwise.

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They have won 4 Lombardi's without that threat and none with it.

Ivan said:

They have won 4 Lombardi's without that threat and none with it.

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2001 was a crazy miracle but the other 3 came with the Patriots having solid possession receivers that could go deep. 2003/04 had Branch and Givens. 2014 had Lafell. We need an equivalent going forward.

Ross12 said:

Just throwing it out there - if they did cut Amendola, Martin could probably be the "Edelman insurance". He's not as shifty as Danny but he can run the same kinds of plays/routes as Danny is.

Greatest scenario that's still remotely possible - Danny restructures, cut LaFell, acquire Josh Gordon on the cheap on a 1-year "prove it" deal. Edelman & Gordon outside, Amendola in the slot, Martin as the 4th receiver - that's a hell of a corps.

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I really don't get the desire to get rid of a tough clutch player who delivers at receiver and returner for a guy who is always a piss test from banishment for a year. One of the things I love about the team Belichick has put together isn't just young and really good it is also battle tested and most of them have a Lombardi and AFCCG experience and they know who can be counted on and Amendola has been one of their best players in the last two postseasons. I don't think, They will have much problem, coming to terms with Amendola on a reworked deal and see the question of who plays the deep, threat as a totally different question, and I don't see Martin in the role of the slot WR who gets open, instantly but more of the role Edelman plays when he is out wide.

I like Gordon and think it's criminal they are talking years out of his career over weed, especially when they are simultaneously whistling right past Manning's HGH use, but it's too fine a line for him and Cleveland isn't going to just give him away which people keep thinking they will.

Martin has replaced LaFell. Amendola will almost assuredly sign a restructure.

EDELMAN, AMENDOLA, MARTIN, HARPER

Sure, we should sign more. But, if these are healthy (and also Gronk and Lewis), we are in fine shape, or rather we are in the kind of shape that has won several Super Bowls.

That being said, I suspect that we will sign 2-4 Gibson types, perhaps even Gibson himself.

Finally, Boyce is basically free for camp (and ERFA). Dobson costs nothing to bring to camp. Tyms is an RFA and could be brought back. Let's be clear. I don't expect any of these to anything but camp fodder. However, the fact that they are here could reduce the need to sign more camp fodder.

VectorPrime said:

2001 was a crazy miracle but the other 3 came with the Patriots having solid possession receivers that could go deep. 2003/04 had Branch and Givens. 2014 had Lafell. We need an equivalent going forward.

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I think LaFell can get back to that form next season and would focus more on who well be the choice at the deep threat position. Right now Dobson and Tyms are their choices but hopefully they bring in a challenge for it. If they want to bring in a veteran to challenge LaFell them they should be able to do it with a guy like Jason Avant, who played great against them in the KC game.

Ivan said:

I really don't get the desire to get rid of a tough clutch player who delivers at receiver and returner for a guy who is always a piss test from banishment for a year. One of the things I love about the team Belichick has put together isn't just young and really good it is also battle tested and most of them have a Lombardi and AFCCG experience and they know who can be counted on and Amendola has been one of their best players in the last two postseasons. I don't think, They will have much problem, coming to terms with Amendola on a reworked deal and see the question of who plays the deep, threat as a totally different question, and I don't see Martin in the role of the slot WR who gets open, instantly but more of the role Edelman plays when he is out wide.

I like Gordon and think it's criminal they are talking years out of his career over weed, especially when they are simultaneously whistling right past Manning's HGH use, but it's too fine a line for him and Cleveland isn't going to just give him away which people keep thinking they will.

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I didn't say to cut Amendola for Gordon, I said if they cut Amendola, Martin can do lots of the same stuff. I then said in the next paragraph that the best case scenario would be for Amendola to restructure, and them to also get Gordon. Not either/or.

TommyBrady12 said:

the reason they couldn't get open was because the broncos were applying pressure up front without blitzing. they just dropped an extra guy into coverage. again it all comes down to the o-line. if the o-line does its job, Wade goes blitz happy and more of our WRs get open.

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Tom Brady has made a living on his quick release. I am not saying you are wrong however the Broncos coverage was excellent. I am not certain that Edelman, Gronkowski, or Amandola were healthy as advertised.

Ross12 said:

I didn't say to cut Amendola for Gordon, I said if they cut Amendola, Martin can do lots of the same stuff. I then said in the next paragraph that the best case scenario would be for Amendola to restructure, and them to also get Gordon. Not either/or.

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I disagree on Amendola and Martin, I don't think Martin can give Brady the immediate relief that Amendola and Edelman give him and without Amendola they have no replacement for Edelman in that role and they are screwed without it.
If you were saying they should redo Amendola i missed it, my apology.

Ross12 said:

I didn't say to cut Amendola for Gordon, I said if they cut Amendola, Martin can do lots of the same stuff. I then said in the next paragraph that the best case scenario would be for Amendola to restructure, and them to also get Gordon. Not either/or.

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As far as Gordon goes I would love to see them get a shot at him I just don't think there is much likelihood of it. I do like the idea of going after Benjamin though. I don't think he will be one of the 10 million dollar plus receivers and he can give them a deep threat and has good possession WR skills.