Deathmatch the third: T.J. Ward v. Dennis Pitta

[Deus Irae]

Major improvement at safety, or a better TE2?









We 'report'. You decide.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

TJ. No question.


Draft is deep for TEs this year. And ward would really upgrade our back end of the D...something i want badly.

 

[patsinthesnow]

This one deserves a legit "neither" choice. Both will be too expensive IMO. We can't afford to lose out on Talib/other #1 CB.

 

[supafly]

Having TJ Ward would instantly improve our secondary tremendously, while also adding that physicality factor that we've been missing.

The safety position has been a borderline joke for awhile now, even though the presence of McCourty helped this year.

 

[mgteich]

We need a TE, but Pitta is going nowhere.

 

[supafly]

We need a TE, but Pitta is going nowhere.

I agree that TE is pretty much a need for sure, but it's also quite possible that spot can be filled via the draft for cheap.

 

[ausbacker]

T.J. Ward because the Patriots haven't had a quality thumper in the Secondary since 2007.

 

[patsderoer]

Definitely third option, and its not even close.

Rather have Alterraun Verner than TJ Ward. With a lockdown corner, this secondary looked very good until Talib went down.

Pitta would be a great acquisition, but I dont see the Ravens letting him walk.

 

[patsfan-1982]

I like T.J. Ward and I would pick him but a big part of his game will be taken away from him in the offseason, the way he hit gronk and his own team mate in the pro bowl im sure the coaches will talk about that in the winter meetings

 

[Sciz]

It's probably just a personal philosophy, but I'm not a fan of giving big money to a strong safety. Similarly, if I were giving a big contract to a tight end, I'd want a freak. Gronk is a freak. Hernandez was a freak. Pitta is one of the better receiving TEs in the NFL, but he's not a freak. He also turns 29 this summer.

So put me down for neither, I guess. I like single-high free safeties and freak tight ends more.

 

[Brady6]

Major improvement at safety, or a better TE2?

We 'report'. You decide.

Without question TJ Ward the only reason I think anyone would be against it is they’re view is skewed by the hit on Gronkowski.

The most impressive thing about TJ Ward is he had 10 stuffs (tackles for a loss) last season, his play against the run is outstanding to say the least. The combo of McCourty and Ward would easily be the best safety tandem in the NFL.

 

[ausbacker]

Without question TJ Ward the only reason I think anyone would be against it is they’re view is skewed by the hit on Gronkowski.

The most impressive thing about TJ Ward is he had 10 stuffs (tackles for a loss) last season, his play against the run is outstanding to say the least. The combo of McCourty and Ward would easily be the best safety tandem in the NFL.

Chancellor and Thomas are a pretty good pairing Brady6. If they could move toward them, that would be handy.

I'm not expecting any splashy moves. All these theoretical threads are great but I feel that I am setting myself up for Free Agency disappointment considering possibilities.

 

[Sicilian]

Ward. I'm on board with losing out on Talib if improvements are made to other parts of the defense. Having two quality safeties makes your corners better, whoever they end up being.

As for TE, thought I think we need an upgrade at TE2, I'm not sure Pitta is the best guy for it, and would rather draft a young kid. We've had decent luck drafting TE's (Watson, Graham, Gronk, Hernandez at least from a talent/fit perspective). I trust they can find a decent one who's cheaper with more upside than Pitta.

 

[The Brandon Five]

We are already acquiring the best TE in football: Gronk. Safety is a bigger need, IMO. As others have mentioned, the TE talent in this draft is deep.

 

[Kontradiction]

Patriots need a hard hitting safety to strike fear in the hearts of opposing slot receivers and TE's when entering the middle of the field so Ward wins easily. TE is also deeper than safety in this draft.

 

[Ring 6]

Neither. Pitta is an average at best starting TE.
We cannot afford a major contract for a S. Harmon and McCourty will be fine, bring in a vet as the 3rd and cut Gregory for cap space.

 

[sevengables_2207]

IMHO I think it unlikely the Patriots sign either of these players if/when they reach free agency because I feel resigning Talib and Edelman are higher priorities.

Be that as it may, Ward would be an upgrade over Gregory and make the safety combo with McCourty one of the better ones in the NFL.

 

[Deus Irae]

Another blowout so far. This is another surprise for me, as I thought people were making it pretty clear that they found TE a bigger need than S.



So far, these deathmatches have been very enlightening. People are saying one thing on thread after thread, but they're moving significantly away from those positions when actually put in positions where a decision needs to be made.

 

[JackBauer]

I don't think it's possible cap-wise for this to be a very realistic scenario, but absent that I'd take Ward because safety play is at a premium and I view Ward as a better safety than Pitta is a TE.

 

[Sicilian]

Another blowout so far. This is another surprise for me, as I thought people were making it pretty clear that they found TE a bigger need than S.



So far, these deathmatches have been very enlightening. People are saying one thing on thread after thread, but they're moving significantly away from those positions when actually put in positions where a decision needs to be made.

For me, TE is a higher priority in the draft because I see a rookie TE contributing right away more likely than a rookie S. If we're talking a vet coming in, I think a vet S versus a vet TE (which have not worked out so well of late) would make a bigger impact to the team.