- Joined
- Mar 25, 2005
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You were doing great until your first apostrophe. The Patriots have to be looking for the next Steve Young, now. TFB is going to be 35 in a few seconds. If the Patriots do anything, they keep re-stocking the cupboard and have done an impressive - unprecedented - job of replacing everyone from the 2002 SB team and still making it into the big game. There's only one guy left to replace. Belichick and the Krafts and Brady know that.
But who knows about either one of those guys? Mallett has the physical tools and Hoyer has the smarts and experience in the system, but neither is proven. Maybe one of them is the Chosen One. We just don't know.
As for listening for a trade opportunity, the Patriots will always do that. With the rookie cap being such a friendly thing, maybe this is the year of the big trade up to grab an elite player - probably a top offensive or defensive lineman - both areas where top-flight talent is needed. With the flat cap and $11 million in space right now, a rookie salary for three years is a bargain compared to any previous year.
I could see trading Mallett or Hoyer plus the #27 pick for a top ten selection to get a guy like Mankins or Seymour. There are a couple of rookies in each category that fit the profile but who will be long gone at #27.
They got Mankins at #32 without having to trade up. In fact some claimed he was a reach at that point... They got Seymour without trading up, much to the chagrin of some who claimed he was not all that...and the price they paid for him was sucking in BB's first season here as he dismantled and rebuilt the team. The profiles of which you speak are developed by scouts and pundits who are generalists and often talent or measurables centric. Bill is looking for talent that fits his specific system. His draft board therefore may bear no resemblance to the valuations others have placed on certain players.