I think a low #1 is fair for Asante... there are a lot of people on this board who hugely overvalue Pats players ("Cassel for a #2! Britt for a fourth!") and there's maybe a tendency to not want to sound like too much of a homer when speculating about these trades. But the fact is that Asante Samuel is a top-tier corner and top corners are very valuable. After quarterbacks and tackles, the hardest positions to fill are at the corners. Asante would help any team much more than any rookie corner coming into the league next year, ergo he's worth a #1 -- I'd say worth anything from a #12-13 pick on down.
Normally you'd have to say you'd want the Pats to hold on to Samuel, but another way of looking at it is that the Pats are in a rare position to let a guy like this go. He's overvalued right now -- we all know Asante played a little above his head last year -- and the Pats are good enough that they could survive losing him. And if you can't sign him now, it may make sense to cash him in and get his replacement in the draft. Personally I'd rather spend the big money on Wilfork and Warren, and then maybe turn Wilson back into a corner. Although who knows -- maybe Miguel knows, how many more big deals can we even afford?
Cousin,
I think you might have been referring to my little fun deal about Cassel going to the raiders. It was Randy Cross who suggested it. It would not amount to a #one or even two for Cassel, but it Schaub got to the Texans for some decent return why can't Cassel bring us some return before 2008 when we lose him?
This was a blockbuster that makes sense for three teams. It's not just a #2 for Cassel. The Raiders need a QB. Who is more ready, Russell of Cassel? Cassel has a history with new Raiders HC Kiffin. They also need more than a QB. They need an OL AND an DL player. They sign Russell, That is what they get only.
We just signed Britt. We are not going to let Kczur go. O'Callaghan has some promise at OT and started six games. We have a log jam there. One OT is going to go IMO. He is an upgrade over any Raiders OT including Galllery. DE Hill will never play here but has potential to play in Oakland. We trade Cassel, O'Callaghan (two CA guys), Assante and Hill plus our #28 for their #1 and their CB Nnamdi Asomugha, who had 8 interceptions and a sack in 2006 and is 6' 2" and 206 lbs. and S Safety Michael Huff whom we wanted in 2005 who had 78 tackles in 2006. That is five for three but....we can get more for the #1 choice.
Al Davis does NOT want to pay Russell #1 money and would trade down. That doesn't mean the Pats want to pay or need a top three guy either. They cut a deal with the Falcons, who covet the best player in the draft Johnson and who own the #8 pick and have two juicy picks in round two (#39 and #44). Ironically one from the Schaub trade.
The Pats get number eight from Atlanta for our number 1 and their two choice in round two. It gives Atlanta a win in the draft value game. They get a 3,000 point choice for three choices that have a value of about 2,400 points BUT........we aren't stuck paying number one in the draft guaranteed money. Atlanta does, but they have some CAP dollars left. They get Calvin Johnson. We still keep number 24. We get Willis? We now have SS Huff and an equal Samuel replacement, plus two solid second round picks.
A win for three teams and we certainly can replace Cassel. Remember he's gone in 2008 unless we sign him long term.
Maybe sign a Fiedler who can play well for a few games if needed and get a QB in round six (that is where they work best for us).
People tell me I am on glue.....Hey its' for fun but makes sense. We get rid of a headache and get a pretty darn good CB and SS plus a couple twos. So it wasn't just Cassel for a second rounder.
DW Toys
