FIRST: Yes I am aware that we cannot trade players for picks under the current lack of CBA. This is more of a thought excerise than anything else. Assume for the purposes of this post that a new CBA gets done before the draft, and that there will be a 2011 season.
Now that being said, I think most Pats fans will agree that Meriweather doesn't deserve to be in the Pro Bowl this year. He isn't even the best safety on the team, let alone in the AFC. Sanders is more reliable, even if he is not as physically gifted as #31. The coaching staff seems to like Sergio enough to keep giving him more playing time. Meriweather admits that he freelances too much, among his traits that do not endear him to the coaching staff.
So it seems to me that with one year left on his contract, and coming off his second Pro Bowl, Meriweather's value couldn't get any higher. Further, the Patriots are probably unlikely to resign him anyways, as I believe 1) other teams would out bid, and 2) he isn't really a stereotypical Patriots player.
So given those, what do you think Meriweather's value is? Is he worth a 2011 second rounder? Could you get a 2012 first from some team foolish to think he is the answer for their secondary problems? Or is he at best a 3rd/4th round type?
Now that being said, I think most Pats fans will agree that Meriweather doesn't deserve to be in the Pro Bowl this year. He isn't even the best safety on the team, let alone in the AFC. Sanders is more reliable, even if he is not as physically gifted as #31. The coaching staff seems to like Sergio enough to keep giving him more playing time. Meriweather admits that he freelances too much, among his traits that do not endear him to the coaching staff.
So it seems to me that with one year left on his contract, and coming off his second Pro Bowl, Meriweather's value couldn't get any higher. Further, the Patriots are probably unlikely to resign him anyways, as I believe 1) other teams would out bid, and 2) he isn't really a stereotypical Patriots player.
So given those, what do you think Meriweather's value is? Is he worth a 2011 second rounder? Could you get a 2012 first from some team foolish to think he is the answer for their secondary problems? Or is he at best a 3rd/4th round type?