The right wide receiver?

[Kontradiction]

Just going off of the first round alone, let Uncle Kontra give you his WR rankings based on skills such as route running, football intelligence, and measurables for the Pats...

1. Sammy Watkins
2. Mike Evans
3. Marquise Lee
4. Odell Beckham, Jr.
5. Allen Robinson
6. Brandin Cooks
7. Donte Moncreif

I'm not as high on Cooks as others. Watkins is obviously the stud WR of the draft but he, Evans, and Beckham should all be gone by the time the Pats pick. Since I don't see a trade up, that would leave Lee, Robinson, and Moncreif. They can also look into the second round where the likes of Jordan Matthews (love) and possibly one or both of Moncreif or Robinson may fall.

 

[patchick]

Just going off of the first round alone, let Uncle Kontra give you his WR rankings based on skills such as route running, football intelligence, and measurables for the Pats...

1. Sammy Watkins
2. Mike Evans
3. Marquise Lee
4. Odell Beckham, Jr.
5. Allen Robinson
6. Brandin Cooks
7. Donte Moncreif

I'm not as high on Cooks as others. Watkins is obviously the stud WR of the draft but he, Evans, and Beckham should all be gone by the time the Pats pick. Since I don't see a trade up, that would leave Lee, Robinson, and Moncreif. They can also look into the second round where the likes of Jordan Matthews (love) and possibly one or both of Moncreif or Robinson may fall.

Love your list. The one name I'm surprised not to see is Cody Latimer -- any thoughts?

 

[Kontradiction]

Love your list. The one name I'm surprised not to see is Cody Latimer -- any thoughts?

I have Latimer going in round two where that list was guys that could all go in the first. Nice size and speed combination but his route running needs a little work and his drops need to be fixed. I wouldn't expect him to contribute heavily in year one but he would be a nice guy to grab at #62 if that's the direction they want to go in. In all, Matthews is my favorite WR that should be available in Round 2.

 

[varjao]

I've been making that exact analogy. Both WR and DT have plenty of bodies, some with injury question marks, some with intriguing potential, but nobody we can really count on to be a difference maker. Yet DT is one of this board's consensus top needs, while WR is considered a luxury draft pick only. Why?

I imagine it's a combination of the relative value of the two positions, plus greater faith in the development/recovery of Dobson, Boyce and Amendola vs. the development/recovery of Siliga, Jones, Armstead, Kelly and Wilfork. But it seems to me that prospects like Marquise Lee and Dominique Easley are pretty comparable: electric but fragile athletes who could add a new dimension to the team, IF they can stay healthy.

Exactly, from this 2 positions plus LB I can pick up a few players as locks and players that I expect something, Edelman, Amendola, Chandler Jones, Hightower, Collins, Mayo. And yet there are injury concerns. All the other have bigger question marks.

The problem is, if we draft at these positions and they all perform well, we will end up with redundancy and good players on the bench or in a red shirt year , at the cost of other needs.

Might as well take our chances and draft for the positions we really lack starters and depth, like TE, O-line, even RB or Safety if one of the top prospects fall.

 

[JMC00]

I hope the 'right' WR means that he's a gamechanger. I do not want another Dobson or Boyce, a project. those two weren't able to come in an contribute effectively. They hopefully will be this year though.
^

Very few rookie WR contribute effectively.

 

[SalemPats]

My guess is if BB trades up he wants an Evans/Benjamin/Mathews type of guy. I think he feels we can get a slot/small guy later in the draft or free agency, but the big physical wideouts are tough to get.

 

[Kontradiction]

My guess is if BB trades up he wants an Evans/Benjamin/Mathews type of guy. I think he feels we can get a slot/small guy later in the draft or free agency, but the big physical wideouts are tough to get.

Doubt he trades up for Benjamin. Benjamin very well could fall to the second round. I'm think Mike Evans, if anyone. But if he thinks Lee will be available at #29, he might just stay put.

 

[joepatsfan]

Very few rookie WR contribute effectively.

exactly. I like Dobson and Boyce and think they can be very good but unless BB has a belief that the WR he is gonna draft can make an immediate impact I don't want him

 

[joepatsfan]

Doubt he trades up for Benjamin. Benjamin very well could fall to the second round. I'm think Mike Evans, if anyone. But if he thinks Lee will be available at #29, he might just stay put.

Rappaport quoted Ozzie Newsome saying that the Ravens have been taking calls about the 17th pick.
That could be us... A darkhorse kind of guy I could see BB trading up for is Cooks. Jump the Jets, KC, Philly, Saints, all the WR needy teams for him. or even Odell Beckham..

We will see, I hope BB stays put

 

[Brady6]

Doubt he trades up for Benjamin. Benjamin very well could fall to the second round. I'm think Mike Evans, if anyone. But if he thinks Lee will be available at #29, he might just stay put.

Do you think Benjamin is even that much better than Brandon Coleman who could likely be had in the fourth or fifth round?

 

[Brady6]

Rappaport quoted Ozzie Newsome saying that the Ravens have been taking calls about the 17th pick.
That could be us... A darkhorse kind of guy I could see BB trading up for is Cooks. Jump the Jets, KC, Philly, Saints, all the WR needy teams for him. or even Odell Beckham..

We will see, I hope BB stays put

Benjamin has dropped to #56 on NFL draft scouts prospect rankings. He is going backwards with concerns over his weight, speed, and blown off workouts.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Rappaport quoted Ozzie Newsome saying that the Ravens have been taking calls about the 17th pick.
That could be us... A darkhorse kind of guy I could see BB trading up for is Cooks. Jump the Jets, KC, Philly, Saints, all the WR needy teams for him. or even Odell Beckham..

We will see, I hope BB stays put

I don't think BB will trade up for a WR. If Lee or Benjamin are there at 29, he might grab one of them. I know I'm in the minority, but I'd be all over Benjamin if he was there. We've NEVER had a receiver with his measurables and upside. He may be a project, but man what a payoff when/if he works out. What I love about him is his body control. He looks like a gigantic Lynn Swann with his body control while jumping. Dobson and Benjamin with Edelman in the slot, and Gronk. Oh my, deadly red zone offense. Add Vereen out of the backfield.

 

[Brady6]

My guess is if BB trades up he wants an Evans/Benjamin/Mathews type of guy. I think he feels we can get a slot/small guy later in the draft or free agency, but the big physical wideouts are tough to get.

The only receivers he would trade up for is Watkins or Evans and both would be out of reach in my opinion.

 

[Kontradiction]

Do you think Benjamin is even that much better than Brandon Coleman who could likely be had in the fourth or fifth round?

More talented, yes. Coleman might have a better work ethic, though. Coleman is very stiff where Benjamin is very smooth in his routes.

 

[zimmy]

I understand people saying that Dobson could take a 2nd year leap but I don't know what people saw last year to suggest that Josh Boyce is going to contribute anything this year? He was a routine healthy scratch who had about 5 catches all year. Lets all be honest, which is more likely: a) Boyce becomes an effective contributer and catches 50 balls or b) Boyce basically never really gets on the field. The evidence suggests he goes the way of Wheatley, Crable, Bequette, Brace etc.

The evidence with Brady is that if you don't get his trust early, you'll never make it.

All this is to say that we shouldn't be put off taking a WR at any point in the draft if we think they are a good player just because we have Josh Boyce (or KT for that matter)

 

[Kontradiction]

I understand people saying that Dobson could take a 2nd year leap but I don't know what people saw last year to suggest that Josh Boyce is going to contribute anything this year? He was a routine healthy scratch who had about 5 catches all year. Lets all be honest, which is more likely: a) Boyce becomes an effective contributer and catches 50 balls or b) Boyce basically never really gets on the field. The evidence suggests he goes the way of Wheatley, Crable, Bequette, Brace etc.

The evidence with Brady is that if you don't get his trust early, you'll never make it.

All this is to say that we shouldn't be put off taking a WR at any point in the draft if we think they are a good player just because we have Josh Boyce (or KT for that matter)

Nobody saw anything to make them believe Boyce will make the leap outside of a sick juke against the Browns. It's all hope.

 

[joepatsfan]

The only receivers he would trade up for is Watkins or Evans and both would be out of reach in my opinion.

You say that but BB may love a WR that we don't know about. If we are to trade up, I agree I only want Sammy or Evans

 

[joepatsfan]

Nobody saw anything to make them believe Boyce will make the leap outside of a sick juke against the Browns. It's all hope.

Dobson had a relatively decent year for a rookie. 500 yards 4 TDs..
Not to jump to huge comparisons but, Alshon Jeffery rookie season: 375yds 3Tds... Sophomore season: 1400 yards 10Tds.

IMHO Dobson COULD make that jump, but I think a 1000 yd 8TD season is very well within reach

Boyce.... who knows. It'd be nice to see him put it together but idk.

 

[patchick]

I know I'm in the minority, but I'd be all over Benjamin if he was there. We've NEVER had a receiver with his measurables and upside. He may be a project, but man what a payoff when/if he works out.

Hmm...

Kelvin Benjamin 6'5" 240 4.61 13 32.5" 09'11" 4.39 7.33
Benjamin Watson 6'4" 258 4.57 34 35.5" 10'03" 4.15 7.39

I understand why KB's frame, wingspan and movement have enormous appeal. But I'm surprised that he's consistently portrayed as such a measurables freak. He had the single worst 3-cone time of any receiver at the Combine and the 2nd-worst shuttle, plus a lousy 10-yard split.

 

[dryheat44]

Agree.

Hmm...

Kelvin Benjamin 6'5" 240 4.61 13 32.5" 09'11" 4.39 7.33
Benjamin Watson 6'4" 258 4.57 34 35.5" 10'03" 4.15 7.39

I understand why KB's frame, wingspan and movement have enormous appeal. But I'm surprised that he's consistently portrayed as such a measurables freak. He had the single worst 3-cone time of any receiver at the Combine and the 2nd-worst shuttle, plus a lousy 10-yard split.

Agree. Seems like another Delanie Walker. Fine player, but nothing jaw-dropping....and at the end of the day, a good #2 TE.