NFL Free Agency Thread

[primetime]

I don't like the player at all, but to be fair

09-10 99-2013-16
11-12 136-2009-16
13-14 140-1792-15

Statistically that is not a pattern of decline.
On the other hand, if you watch the games and analyze football not numbers, he has not been a good player since leaving Pitt.

He's also played with QBs who didn't really play to his strengths. That said, I'm not sure Brady is a QB who plays to his strengths.

 

[DW Toys]

I know that you and facts don't have a good relationship, but I'll rely on them..

Mike Wallace

His Yards are down. His YPC are down. His longest reception in the last 3 years was 57 yards.. His avg number of TDs is down from 8 during his time in PITT to just under 6.

Two items. Tannehill and Bridgewater. Look at the Dolphins as the litmus test. Remember he had AB when he was with Pitt. I can make numbers read what I want too. Think 14o receptions and 15TDs with the Dolphins.
Edelman is pretty good right? I love guy's work 21 TDs
They started the same year. Wallace has 49 TDS. How many TDs would Wallace have with TB?
Nuff said.
DW Toys

 

[Gronk]

Re: Mike Wallace, much like if you're looking at Anquan Boldin purely from statistics, there is a little more complexity there than on it's face.

The 2012 Steelers were bad, and Wallace's dip in numbers his last year there was mirrored by a dip in Antonio Brown's numbers.

2013-14-15 Wallace played with Tannehill and Bridgewater, particularly MIN was not a very good passing offense. I'll admit I didn't watch much of him last year, but if his dip in production has caused any sort of dip in price that could be worth looking at. Not judging the guy, seems there's character/work ethic questions that probably make this a non-starter, just saying that the numbers lie a little bit here.

 

[Ring 6]

He's also played with QBs who didn't really play to his strengths. That said, I'm not sure Brady is a QB who plays to his strengths.

I don't put a lot of stock in who the QB is affecting WRs numbers, because outside of the top and bottom few, if you really look at it, every team is within roughly 10% of each other, and a WRs stats shouldn't vary much.
People who say 'look what he did with Tanneyhill' should see that Tanneyhill, for as much as he sucks puts up at least an average amount of volume stats, so its not an excuse.
While Brady is miles and miles better, than doesn't mean a receiver gets more opportunities with him, and I could be less because he won't force the ball.

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Mike Wallace, much like if you're looking at Anquan Boldin purely from statistics, there is a little more complexity there than on it's face.

The 2012 Steelers were bad, and Wallace's dip in numbers his last year there was mirrored by a dip in Antonio Brown's numbers.

2013-14-15 Wallace played with Tannehill and Bridgewater, particularly MIN was not a very good passing offense. I'll admit I didn't watch much of him last year, but if his dip in production has caused any sort of dip in price that could be worth looking at. Not judging the guy, seems there's character/work ethic questions that probably make this a non-starter, just saying that the numbers lie a little bit here.

There is a big difference between looking at his numbers and looking at his ability.
He is severely overrated.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Restructure Dola ( fell like you can't drop him now) will save $$. But Collins, Butler, DH looming will be BIG bucks

 

[Tom meets Kaepernick]

Everyone seems to forget our offense was almost unstoppable with a healthy Gronk, Edelman, Lewis. If they're all back and healthy, any additions will be useful but, relatively, bit players. LaFell was still on the PUP list when our offense was at it's best.

So when our 3 most injury prone players were healthy? Yeah, let's just hope they are all healthy this year. That couldn't possibly backfire in any way.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Considering that the Patriots need space for #52, #53, the PS, the Rookies, and injury signings, I agree. $16M or 17M isn't enough. And definitely not when you figure in them trying to get Collins, Hightower, and Butler to extensions as only Hightower's extension might free up money..

A common misconception is that the team needs to literally cover the entire salaries of all rookies.

That's not actually true, because most of those salaries are already part of the cap. As a rule of thumb, teams only need to cover the signing bonus prorations of players taken in the first four rounds; for the Pats this year, that's about $1M.

 

[primetime]

I don't put a lot of stock in who the QB is affecting WRs numbers, because outside of the top and bottom few, if you really look at it, every team is within roughly 10% of each other, and a WRs stats shouldn't vary much.
People who say 'look what he did with Tanneyhill' should see that Tanneyhill, for as much as he sucks puts up at least an average amount of volume stats, so its not an excuse.
While Brady is miles and miles better, than doesn't mean a receiver gets more opportunities with him, and I could be less because he won't force the ball.

Ben Roethlisberger is a Hall of Fame quarterback who is in that "top few" that does affect his wide receivers, especially considering he's a huge-armed guy and Wallace is a burner. The other quarterbacks he played with were Tannehill and Bridgewater, both of whom are among the worst deep ball hurlers in the league. In other words, he was miscast in both offenses. It's questionable whether the Patriots offense would be any better for him, but it is worth contextualizing Wallace's production drop-off following his departure from Pittsburgh.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Arian foster still out there but is coming off torn Achilles

 

[primetime]

Arian foster still out there but is coming off torn Achilles

My guess is he won't sign until the summer, since he'll need to pass a physical.

 

[Todd Bradley]

When Lewis, Amendola, and Edelman were all healthy, it was an offense on an historical pace. Chandler was horrible and LaFell mostly useless and Dobson didn't play that much. Hogan would be an important piece because he offers versatility in case of injury, can be productive with a decent amount of snaps, and plays special teams.

No one is debating the potency of last year's offense.

But the point remains, you cannot count on the team from the start of the season to the playoffs, to remain healthy and be the exact same. Injuries can, will and do happen and you have to have depth, much more so than we did last season. You can't have Brady throwing to Martin, Dobson and a backup TE again.

 

[primetime]

No one is debating the potency of last year's offense.

But the point remains, you cannot count on the team from the start of the season to the playoffs, to remain healthy and be the exact same. Injuries can, will and do happen and you have to have depth, much more so than we did last season. You can't have Brady throwing to Martin, Dobson and a backup TE again.

I agree, and I've made this point earlier in the thread, but you also can only carry and pay for so many wide receivers. And you have to assume they're going to draft someone.

 

[Ross12]

I'm bored.

 

[Todd Bradley]

I agree, and I've made this point earlier in the thread, but you also can only carry and pay for so many wide receivers. And you have to assume they're going to draft someone.

Agreed, but I think the main worry here is that Belichick has a horrendous history drafting WRs (and no Edleman does not count, as he was selected as a QB based on his potential in the wildcat formation)

Dobson is likely gone, Harper as well and we know LaFell is history.

If we replaced Dobson, Harper and LaFell with Kearse, Boldin and a rookie, I certainly wouldn't be one to complain. I think that's all posters here are looking for.

Not extra WRs that we carry, but sure fire talent instead of the JAGs we've been carrying around as depth.

 

[scott99]

The main concern with Randle is that his knees are shot. He's still young, but even last year in New York he missed a ton of practice just to try to keep him available for games.

I do think Gresham is intriguing, though.

Living in NY, I get to see a lot of Giant's games, Randle looked pretty good last year. He's not a superstar, but a serviceable #3 or #4 receiver. Would be a decent replacement for Lafell. I could see him putting up Lafell type numbers (2014 version) with more playing time, has good size and would be a decent red zone target.

 

[DaBruinz]

Two items. Tannehill and Bridgewater. Look at the Dolphins as the litmus test. Remember he had AB when he was with Pitt. I can make numbers read what I want too. Think 14o receptions and 15TDs with the Dolphins.
Edelman is pretty good right? I love guy's work 21 TDs
They started the same year. Wallace has 49 TDS. How many TDs would Wallace have with TB?
Nuff said.
DW Toys

Yes. Just ignore the fact that Wallace's stats fell drastically during his final season with Pitt..

Wallace wasn't a conversion project. Edelman was.

Wallace doesn't run routes. He just goes and tries to get open.. It's one of the biggest knocks on him.. Yet you think he could be successful here?

Again. You and facts don't get along. Never have..

 

[primetime]

Agreed, but I think the main worry here is that Belichick has a horrendous history drafting WRs.

Dobson is likely gone, Harper as well and we know LaFell is history.

If we replaced Dobson, Harper and LaFell with Kearse, Boldin and a rookie, I certainly wouldn't be one to complain. I think that's all posters here are looking for.

Not extra WRs that we carry, but sure fire talent instead of the JAGs we've been carrying around as depth.

There's no real advantage to cutting Dobson now with a year left on his contract. I suspect he'll be back on the roster next year and may even yet play a role. I agree Harper can be done away with, and I would be happy with your scenario of Kearse and Boldin.

 

[signbabybrady]

I'm bored.

I'm signbabybrady.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

I'm bored.

Knowing my luck, when I start working on my powerpoint presentation that is due tonight, the Patriots will sign someone then I won't be able to concentrate!