NFL: Colts sign 1st rounder Anthony Gonzalez

[BelichickFan]

Its another case of 20-20 hindsight. IIRC, the Pats made Welker their SECOND target after AThomas, immediately making Gonsales a moot point. THEN Stallworth agreed to a contract followed by Washington, and then Moss after the first day was concluded. Given the talents of Stallworth and Moss, the Pats might have been more patient to have a guy like Gonsales split time with Brown/Caldwell, etc as potential slot receivers.

My guess is the Patriots are happier with :

Welker and SF 2008 #1

vs.

Gonzalez and Patriots 2007 #2.

 

[dryheat44]

It would have taken an entirely different scenerio for the Pats to have taken Gonsales. First there would have had to been no Welker deal. For that to have happen, the Pats would have had to decide that Gonsales' skills were THAT much better than Welker's, AND he had the capability to fit into the Pats complex offense quickly.

IF the Pats had felt that way then their draft would have taken an entirely different tack. They would have taken Merriweather when they did, and NOT have traded the other #1 to this year and taken Gonsales at #28. Now STILL with a #2 in hand we MIGHT have done some trading trading down for a pick next year and a better 4th round pick, and picked up Stuart Bradley in EARLY in the 4th, and STILL have had ANOTHER first day pick for next year.

That wouldn't have looked to bad, having Gonsales (plus Jackson moving forward) to go along with Moss and Stallworth...and Brown, etc. I would opine that it might have happen like this, IF the Pats knew that they were going to wind up with Stallworth and Moss at the end of the day.

Its another case of 20-20 hindsight. IIRC, the Pats made Welker their SECOND target after AThomas, immediately making Gonsales a moot point. THEN Stallworth agreed to a contract followed by Washington, and then Moss after the first day was concluded. Given the talents of Stallworth and Moss, the Pats might have been more patient to have a guy like Gonsales split time with Brown/Caldwell, etc as potential slot receivers.

But then again 20-20 hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Lost in all this is that Gonzalez was considered a reach by the Colts in the first round, and there is practically no way that Belichick would have considered him a first round value at #28.