Somewhere between $7-9M+ lies the truth. He's not worth prototype #1 money because of the nature of his game. He's ultra productive but he's not a game changer so much as a chain mover (although he moves them less of late). Teams do still have to game plan around him and he completes roughly 70% of his targets wherever they may fall. If he or his agents want top 5 money (5/$50) they're dreamin due to size, skillset and age. If they want top ten money (5/$42) there is a deal to be made.
This makes no sense to me.
It is exceedingly clear that Welker is one of a kind. There is no way we can replace him with anywhere near as effective a player in his role.
He gets trashed as not a prototype receiver yet just had the 15th most productive season by a WR in NFL HISTORY. C Johnson had more yards than him this year, A Johnson had more once in his life and no other active reciever has ever had a season with that many yards.
Jerry Rice and Randy Moss only had more yards once in their career and only 12 men in history had 1 better season ,and only one (M Harrison) had 2.
So if Welker is downgraded as not a 'real weapon' and can't produce like those guys he must be 50 times better than any slot reciever.
Our offense revolves around Welker. Since he is irreplacable letting him goes means changing the offense.So your post had valued changing the offense at 1.6 million of cap space.
That makes no sense to me.
I am all for saving as much as can be on every contract, but there isn't a number that anyone else would be willing to pay for Welker that we shouldn't gladly match.
He is not irreplaceable. We won 3 SB's before Welker showed up in town. Yea, a guy named Troy Brown had 3 pretty good years
Comparing Rice and Moss, hands down the two GREATEST impact receivers in the history of the game to Welker is assinine, with all due respect. The NFL Rice and Moss played prime years in is quite different since 2006 after rule changes, in which Welker has played
Welker benefits from the fact the rest of the WR corps on the Patriots has been one big pile of horse in in terms of depth or quality. When Moss was here it was Wlker and Moss. Now Gronk and Moss. If Welker was the be all end all, BB would not have been drafting Chad Jackson, Tate, Price, Slater, Stinko, bring back Branch.
He's been a good player, just like Troy Brown was a good 8th round pick who had years of 101, 97, 82 catches from slot position. He benefits from the fact Brady can trust him with the underneath stuff since before this year we had garbage for TE's and Welker was the only option, and we've given up on RB catching balls out of the backfield.
Welker at anything over 6mill aint happening. He is what folks would say a SYSTEM generated player. First was Troy Brown, then came Welker. A Slot receiver is Brady's comfort zone since Pats do not focus on outside WR speed or deepball. They prefer to have the surehanded slot receiver and take the 5-8yard dumpoffs all day long.
