Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

Barring injury, in great contrast to last year, we have significant depth at WR... so much so that our 5/6 WR could be a solid 3, or maybe even #2 WR on another team.

So here's the question

again, barring injury, do you see the team trading a WR? If so, who - and for what? A draft pick? If so where? Or perhaps a trade for a position player. Any insights on what teams have need at WR - and where they might have depth that could benefit us?

Seems to me that Gaffney and Washington are the most likely trade candidates. One can debate keeping Gaffney or Caldwell - I'd say Caldwell has the edge with timining with Brady - though I think Gaffney does some things better than Caldwell - hence good trade value.

Washington's effectively in a "show me" first year of a contract that - if he produces for a team, can be a real value. If he doesn't he renegotiates or gets cut - again, worth taking a chance for a team.

Maybe its conditional picks for either - that always strikes me as fair.

Doug Gabriel garnered only a 5th rounder from us last year - though I think we'd all agree even that was overpaying. I'd say a 4th round draft pick is possible - maybe higher if its a conditional pick and the players do well with extra playing time on another team. Of course much depends on the performance of the players in pre-season, but let's just assume everyone plays to general expectations.

So all things being equal, whos' the best trade bait from our WR depth should everyone remain healthy and perform to expectations?

Re: Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

I don't think the Pats are going to be able to trade with anyone. Teams will just wait until the Pats have to cut one of them and then sign.

The only way I see this happening is if a team is extremely desperate for a WR (like the Pats last year) and have the luxury of forfeiting one if their draft picks. Even then, it's a long shot.

Teams are going to wait until after the mandatory cuts are made and then sign whomever gets cut.

Re: Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

personally i agree with you

Re: Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

Maybe the Pats could get a 6 out of someone for Washington. A team like the Texans or Raiders may be willing to cough up.

While trades are unlikely this time of year, don't forget we pulled off 2 preseason trades last year.

Re: Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

:agree: Besides, you never know how the WRs will interact and what the best combo will be. I'm rooting for Bam.

Re: Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

As others have pointed out before, the advantage to not waiting is that there's less competition. I could definitely see the Pats trading one of the lower WRs to, say, the Titans.

Re: Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

Very possible...I also think an offfensive lineman might be gone.

Re: Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

We can probably get a low pick - no point in waiting for them to be cut then the team has to compete against 30 other teams. Toss a #6 our way and the player is their's.

Re: Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

The problem with this theory is that it assumes there's only one team out there that needs a WR. As soon as there are more than one team that has need, you create a situation where a team might be willing to compensate the Pats for the surety of a trade.

Re: Trade value for our WRs? Who - to where - and for what?
 

Right - that's why trades happen - if there's a player you want, or a player you need, you trade for him. There's always injuries and high need during pre-season at different positions. It's tough to imagine there won't be a team in need of WR depth.

If you wait until the player is cut you're pretty much not interested in that player in the first place and willing to take the risk that 29 other teams might sign him before you.

Most GMs understand this - which is why I think a trade is very possible given our depth.