BradyManny
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2006
- Messages
- 11,103
- Reaction score
- 1,520
Perhaps this position has been discussed enough that I won't generate much talk (I'm already skipping CB as that's been covered well by other threads...), but what the heck:
TIGHT END (3), 2 signed, 1 unsigned
TE - Watson (2009)
TE - Thomas (2009)
FA
TE - DeVree
LOCKS (2):
Watson and Thomas are both under contract and are locks to make the roster.
SPOTS UP FOR GRAB (1):
With both Tight Ends hitting FA in 2009, the Patriots likely need to invest in a #1 TE for the future. The team might also consider investing in a blocking TE, but they seem unlikely to carry 4 TE next season, so that might be on hold.
CURRENT COMPETITION FOR OPEN SPOTS (1):
- DeVree doesn’t seem to be the answer to any of the Pats long term needs at TE.
PLAN OF ACTION IN DRAFT/FREE AGENCY:
Both Thomas and Watson have played pretty well when healthy, but it’s unknown whether either are the long term answer as the Pats #1 TE. With both hitting free agency in 2009, it would make sense to draft a Day 1 Tight End to groom as one of their replacements.
Bottom Line: 1 players is needed. An impact Tight End with high upside. A quality blocking TE may be taken in the mid to later rounds.
UPDATE: 12-17-08 (I wrote the above probably a month ago, some more things to ponder...)
- Watson has not done much to prove himself as a #1 option, unfortunately. I will say that his blocking has continued to exceed my expectations, but that he's no Dan Graham in that sense. But when I do focus in on him as a blocker, he seems pretty good, not that I'm necessarily qualified at making said judgments. Perhaps the good news is that his lack of pass production and the fact that - as of yet - he doesn't have the same resume Graham had when he hit free agency should mean the Pats could retain him for less. I would be for it, but I think we have to a) see if Thomas can be an upgrade in the pass catching realm b) if we can upgrade via the draft.
- As Reiss has made note of recently, with Cassel's remarkably swift improvements, most notably in his pocket presence, the team has gone back to using more 1 TE sets. If this continues, perhaps the need at TE is less. Is the mediocre production at TE a product of the system, or of the personnel, or of both? It's not as if there is much to complain about this offense once Brady is healthy (or with Cassel for that matter), it's explosive. Is there a TE in the draft who could make it even more deadly?
TIGHT END (3), 2 signed, 1 unsigned
TE - Watson (2009)
TE - Thomas (2009)
FA
TE - DeVree
LOCKS (2):
Watson and Thomas are both under contract and are locks to make the roster.
SPOTS UP FOR GRAB (1):
With both Tight Ends hitting FA in 2009, the Patriots likely need to invest in a #1 TE for the future. The team might also consider investing in a blocking TE, but they seem unlikely to carry 4 TE next season, so that might be on hold.
CURRENT COMPETITION FOR OPEN SPOTS (1):
- DeVree doesn’t seem to be the answer to any of the Pats long term needs at TE.
PLAN OF ACTION IN DRAFT/FREE AGENCY:
Both Thomas and Watson have played pretty well when healthy, but it’s unknown whether either are the long term answer as the Pats #1 TE. With both hitting free agency in 2009, it would make sense to draft a Day 1 Tight End to groom as one of their replacements.
Bottom Line: 1 players is needed. An impact Tight End with high upside. A quality blocking TE may be taken in the mid to later rounds.
UPDATE: 12-17-08 (I wrote the above probably a month ago, some more things to ponder...)
- Watson has not done much to prove himself as a #1 option, unfortunately. I will say that his blocking has continued to exceed my expectations, but that he's no Dan Graham in that sense. But when I do focus in on him as a blocker, he seems pretty good, not that I'm necessarily qualified at making said judgments. Perhaps the good news is that his lack of pass production and the fact that - as of yet - he doesn't have the same resume Graham had when he hit free agency should mean the Pats could retain him for less. I would be for it, but I think we have to a) see if Thomas can be an upgrade in the pass catching realm b) if we can upgrade via the draft.
- As Reiss has made note of recently, with Cassel's remarkably swift improvements, most notably in his pocket presence, the team has gone back to using more 1 TE sets. If this continues, perhaps the need at TE is less. Is the mediocre production at TE a product of the system, or of the personnel, or of both? It's not as if there is much to complain about this offense once Brady is healthy (or with Cassel for that matter), it's explosive. Is there a TE in the draft who could make it even more deadly?
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