Wide Receiver and Tightend Depth predictions

[pencilneckgeek]

At this point, Amendola and LaFell are atop my next grouping as well. Not locks, however, as I define a lock as a player who I would be shocked if they are cut. I would not be shocked if either Amendola or LaFell are cut when all is said and done.

As both are proven NFL performers and cutting or trading either would cost the Pats well over $1M in cap space, they are locks. This is open to discussion, of course, but such discussion is exlusively the stuff of NFL silly season.

With respect to the depth chart:

Edelman
LaFell
Amendola
Dobson
Boyce
Slater

Thompkins better learn how use those get-off-the-line skills to be a gunner quickly, if he wants to stick. I like him, but without ST value, it's hard to give him a spot as the 5th or 6th receiver.

TE is a tough one because of Gronk's injury status. When I think about the hit he took, I can't help but expect him to open the season on PUP, rather than occupying a roster spot without playing like he did last year. Keller is a tough projection for the same reason. If he is ready to practice during training camp, I can see the signing happen, but if he's going to be watching film and riding a bike instead of working with TB, I'd expect the Pats to work with what they have. I'm going to guess that he heals up and signs with the Pats, which makes my opening day depth chart look like:

Hooman
Keller
Jones

Gronk (PUP)

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

As both are proven NFL performers and cutting or trading either would cost the Pats well over $1M in cap space, they are locks. This is open to discussion, of course, but such discussion is exlusively the stuff of NFL silly season.

Unlikely perhaps but silly?

Let's suppose Amendola continues on with his injury woes and LaFell turns out to be nothing more than the JAG that he has shown himself to be. Meanwhile, in their 2nd season on the job, both Boyce and Thompkins grow by leaps and demonstrate starter ability. For good measure Harrison shows high upside as the big WR type and Gallon excels in the return game.

Are you going to keep Amendola and LaFell and cut the promising kids? Now that would be silly!

 

[50-yard-line]

I like Thompkins and hope he makes the squad, but he'll never be the receiver Amendola is - and Thompkins had injury problems last year, too.

I'll go with:

LOCK:
Edelman
Amendola
Lafell
Dobson

Next likely:
Boyce (can't teach that kind of physical talent - no one else is close)

Fighting it out for maybe two slots:
Thompkins
Gallon
Harrison

It's possible they keep all 8, moving Harrison to TE...he won't be a TE, but they'll use him in the Move role.

So we'd have

Gronk
Harrison
Hooman/Jones battling for 3rd. Jones intrigues the hell out of me as a blocker and red zone target. How can he not?

If they found some way to acquire Andre Johnson or if they sign Keller, this all changes, of course.

 

[mgteich]

Sure, if Amendola is put on IR or if LaFell who Belichick gave a $3M bonus is worthless, then sure we will need a wide receiver.

And I suppose it is not "silly" to speculate how our one of our top signed free agents will be a bust and one of our top 3 wide receivers will come up lame.

But then, perhaps "silly" is not unreasonable.
============================================
Yes, it is possible for both Boyce and Thompkins to look great in camp and the preseason and for both to make the team. HOWEVER, it will not be at the expense of Amendola or LaFell unless they are traded or put on IR. Dobson could be on the PUP list. We could carry an extra WR. We could trade one of our receivers.
===========

When folks talk about locks, no one is talking about them being 100% likely to be on the roster. Injuries happen.

Unlikely perhaps but silly?

Let's suppose Amendola continues on with his injury woes and LaFell turns out to be nothing more than the JAG that he has shown himself to be. Meanwhile, in their 2nd season on the job, both Boyce and Thompkins grow by leaps and demonstrate starter ability. For good measure Harrison shows high upside as the big WR type and Gallon excels in the return game.

Are you going to keep Amendola and LaFell and cut the promising kids? Now that would be silly!

 

[mgteich]

I can't count that high.

Seriously, there is no reason to carry more than 5 position wide receivers. I agree that Boyce is most likely to be the #5, because of his upside and because he is one of our kick returners.

If a receiver makes the roster as a TE, then fine. Belichick indicated that Harrison is not being considered for that roles at as now. Obviously, tight end presents opportunities. Those immediately dry up if Gronk and Keller practice. Hooman is an almost lock.

I like Thompkins and hope he makes the squad, but he'll never be the receiver Amendola is - and Thompkins had injury problems last year, too.

I'll go with:

LOCK:
Edelman
Amendola
Lafell
Dobson

Next likely:
Boyce (can't teach that kind of physical talent - no one else is close)

Fighting it out for maybe two slots:
Thompkins
Gallon
Harrison

It's possible they keep all 8, moving Harrison to TE...he won't be a TE, but they'll use him in the Move role.

So we'd have

Gronk
Harrison
Hooman/Jones battling for 3rd. Jones intrigues the hell out of me as a blocker and red zone target. How can he not?

If they found some way to acquire Andre Johnson or if they sign Keller, this all changes, of course.

 

[Brady6]

@Beasly feel free to share your thoughts since it appears you see things differently.

 

[JMC00]

@Beasly feel free to share your thoughts since it appears you see things differently.

Judging by his few posts he's clearly a troll.

 

[Brady6]

Judging by his few posts he's clearly a troll.

He handed out 68 dislikes in under 5 minutes, and he has been a member for less than a week. So yeah trolling for sure.

 

[patsinthesnow]

KT in 12 games: 32 receptions 466 yards 4 TDs

My binky from last year is being written off too fast. He had an eventful rookie year from winning a starting job as an UDFA, struggling mightily then picking up his game (Bucs, Falcons, Saints games),
being sent to the doghouse, earning his way back on the field, then being rendered ineffective the rest of the season with a hip injury.

Certain players have qualities you can't coach. I attended TC nearly everyday last year and saw KT's initial burst off the line in person. We saw that at times in the regular season, however, drops, not keeping feet in bounds, incorrect route running dug him in towards the middle of the season. His problems are fixable.

Could KT be cut? Sure. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people though this year. As far as I'm concerned, the #1 WR position is up for grabs between Dobson, Lafell, and KT.

I've been way off before though on a 2nd year UDFAs. We'll see if the majority of fans are right and KT meets Sterling Moore's 2nd year fate.

 

[Bombdog]

Justin Jones is a big if. If he can grasp the playbook, and if he comes in and work his butt off there is a lot to like. But you know what they say about if. If worms had machineguns birds wouldn't mess with them

 

[Brady6]

KT in 12 games: 32 receptions 466 yards 4 TDs

My binky from last year is being written off too fast. He had an eventful rookie year from winning a starting job as an UDFA, struggling mightily then picking up his game (Bucs, Falcons, Saints games),
being sent to the doghouse, earning his way back on the field, then being rendered ineffective the rest of the season with a hip injury.

Certain players have qualities you can't coach. I attended TC nearly everyday last year and saw KT's initial burst off the line in person. We saw that at times in the regular season, however, drops, not keeping feet in bounds, incorrect route running dug him in towards the middle of the season. His problems are fixable.

Could KT be cut? Sure. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people though this year. As far as I'm concerned, the #1 WR position is up for grabs between Dobson, Lafell, and KT.

I've been way off before though on a 2nd year UDFAs. We'll see if the majority of fans are right and KT meets Sterling Moore's 2nd year fate.

What concerns me about Thompkins is that it took 70 targets for him to make those 32 receptions, which was the lowest catch ratio of any receiver in the NFL with over 50 targets. He is an interesting player, he made some plays last season that made you go wow maybe he could be something, and then he made some plays that made you think does he have the talent to stick in the NFL.

 

[mgteich]

FWIW, I think that your binky (Thompkins) has a better chance of making the team than the binkies of others at receiver (both WR and TE).

Much can happen. We have 7 WR/TE almost locks with months to go. We can carry a couple of more if we wish. For example, Thompkins might be considered more valuable than the #3 TE, especially with the UDFA's on the Practice Squad.

KT in 12 games: 32 receptions 466 yards 4 TDs

My binky from last year is being written off too fast. He had an eventful rookie year from winning a starting job as an UDFA, struggling mightily then picking up his game (Bucs, Falcons, Saints games),
being sent to the doghouse, earning his way back on the field, then being rendered ineffective the rest of the season with a hip injury.

Certain players have qualities you can't coach. I attended TC nearly everyday last year and saw KT's initial burst off the line in person. We saw that at times in the regular season, however, drops, not keeping feet in bounds, incorrect route running dug him in towards the middle of the season. His problems are fixable.

Could KT be cut? Sure. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people though this year. As far as I'm concerned, the #1 WR position is up for grabs between Dobson, Lafell, and KT.

I've been way off before though on a 2nd year UDFAs. We'll see if the majority of fans are right and KT meets Sterling Moore's 2nd year fate.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I think Lafell is a lock..for this year at least

 

[goheels22002]

WR
LaFell
Edelman
Dobson
Amendola
Boyce
Harrison
Gallon

TE
Gronkowski
Hoomanawanui
Asa Watson

Does anybody know what's up with Mark Harrison health-wise? He's a real x-factor at both big wide-out and slot TE.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Unlikely perhaps but silly?

Let's suppose Amendola continues on with his injury woes and LaFell turns out to be nothing more than the JAG that he has shown himself to be. Meanwhile, in their 2nd season on the job, both Boyce and Thompkins grow by leaps and demonstrate starter ability. For good measure Harrison shows high upside as the big WR type and Gallon excels in the return game.

Are you going to keep Amendola and LaFell and cut the promising kids? Now that would be silly!

Only one kid needs to be cut to keep them. Thompkins needs to show more than promise. He needs to show that he has earned playing time, because cutting LaFell or Amendola is equivalent to giving a $1.5M signing bonus to an UDFA who made one very big play last year, but couldn't consistently crack the line-up as the season went on. That's not impossible, but it is improbable, and the number of folks who keep saying that they "expect" LaFell or Amendola to get cut so that the Pats can take a $1.5M - $2.6M cap hit to keep the worst of our promising youngsters does get pretty silly.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Only one kid needs to be cut to keep them. Thompkins needs to show more than promise. He needs to show that he has earned playing time, because cutting LaFell or Amendola is equivalent to giving a $1.5M signing bonus to an UDFA who made one very big play last year, but couldn't consistently crack the line-up as the season went on. That's not impossible, but it is improbable, and the number of folks who keep saying that they "expect" LaFell or Amendola to get cut so that the Pats can take a $1.5M - $2.6M cap hit to keep the worst of our promising youngsters does get pretty silly.

If BB has shown anything in his time here as GM it is that he'll keep the player that he feels best helps his team win football game ..... without regard to their past history or cap cost, or draft position or current status on the team. I can't imagine a situation where either Amendola or LaFell would be exempt from this thinking.

And, should a couple of the kids show themselves as better than Amendola and LaFell in camp (a very distinct possibility IMHO) then it would be silly of BB to part ways with the demonstrably better player(s).