NFL Free Agency Thread

[VectorPrime]

Both Edelman and Gronk work the middle. We need someone to work the sidelines.

 

[supafly]

Not to beat a dead horse, but what the hell is with people complaining about Brady's options when he was the biggest, badest, best TE in the history of the world, and an unstoppable 100+ catch guy per year?

How many teams have a 1-2 as good as JE and RG? Lol

I guess people just don't count them because one is a small "slot" receiver and the other is a TE.... Newsflash.. They count, and they are option 1 and option 2. Options 3,4 and 5 aren't going to be expensive big names, and they shouldn't be.

The concerns are:

1) Edelman and Gronk being able to get through the entire season without injury, particularly when both have had significant injury histories, and Edelman was just quoted a couple of weeks ago as stating that he's still unsure if he'll need a 2nd surgery on the foot or not.

2) Basically having jack **** behind those two. Guys like Amendola etc are fine role players that any team could use at the right price, but you need to have someone with the ability to step up and take over just the same. There's no coincidence to the fact that the last 2 seasons that we had a capable WR2, we went to the Super Bowl (2014 LaFell, 2011 Llyod).

3) While Gronk is obviously in a class by himself as a TE, let's not pretend that most other teams don't have comparable 1st and 2nd receiving options just the same--at least the teams that compete at a high level. How do you compare our top two receiving options to say, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell? How about Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb? Demarius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders? There are pros and cons to each group that you try and compare, but the Patriots certainly don't corner the market on having two very good options of players who can catch the ball.

4) If Edelman is making about 4m dollars a year, where is all of the skill position player money going? It isn't to the QB. It's not to the RBs. It sure as hell isn't to the WRs, particularly if you remove or lessen Amendola's cap hit, which is obviously expected and necessary. Gronk is basically the only player making anything close to his value, and even that's still a 6.6 million dollar cap hit. I'm not meaning to question Belichick's expertise or high level of success, but perhaps it's time to a) swap out Amendola's cost/production, and/or b) add another viable weapon to the offensive side of the ball, even if it's at a middle tier kind of cost? Keep in mind I don't fall into the category of "fantasy" wants like those who bring up Gordon, Megatron, or Fitzgerald every year.

5) We still don't have a real outside WR, despite many failed attempts. At this point, I'm seriously questioning whether or not Belichick even sees it as a need, because he does so very little to address it every year. Either way, it would help open up our usual bread and butter routes and possibly increase the production. Obviously, cost is a major issue, but is should still be addressed on some level.

 

[gobesmug]

There's no coincidence to the fact that the last 2 seasons that we had a capable WR2, we went to the Super Bowl (2014 LaFell, 2011 Llyod.

Lloyd was not on the team for the 2011 Superbowl. He was signed for the following season, however you still make a point, since we had AH to fill that outside the numbers role.

 

[Cunk]

I mean as far as the flex TE goes, good luck every striking gold like we did with AH for a short short time. He has RD1 talent just fell due to...well we all know the story.

The closest thing to him is Jordan Reed present that in my humble opinion (and we won't ever be able to afford Reed now) I wanted the Patriots to draft Reed badly, but thats a diff point.

Point is, I don't know if we will ever get that type of production from the Flex TE position while still having Gronk. That was something that just played out insanely perfect and it came to a tragic end.

Well have to be a little fortunate in the draft. This year there are plenty of potentials...

How about picking up Colston and using him in a flex TE fashion? Can't teach an old dog new tricks? Perhaps, but the Saints planned on using him as such when they drafted him.

 

[jimnance]

Both Edelman and Gronk work the middle. We need someone to work the sidelines.

Wrong! Edelman has more catches OUTSIDE the numbers than inside. He is NOT a slot receiver. He IS a very versatile wr who can line up anywhere.

 

[JMC00]

Wrong! Edelman has more catches OUTSIDE the numbers than inside. He is NOT a slot receiver. He IS a very versatile wr who can line up anywhere.

Ya he's the Z receiver

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

How about picking up Colston and using him in a flex TE fashion? Can't teach an old dog new tricks? Perhaps, but the Saints planned on using him as such when they drafted him.

I dont think he's quick enough and like you said...teaching old dog new tricks. Usually if it's going to be a project of converting a WR to a Hybrid TE, you want to start early...fresh after the draft /udfa signings early... Not years into a career. It's not as seamless as Corner turning Safety. I think , again being the armchair GM I am , if it were up to me and I wanted to get back to having a flex TE become a huge part of the offense that was so devastating you have to etheir A) trade for jodan Reed (never gonna happen)... B) invest a high pick in the best player that fits the mold.

Dan Vitale, ftw.

 

[JMC00]

2) Basically having jack **** behind those two. Guys like Amendola etc are fine role players that any team could use at the right price, but you need to have someone with the ability to step up and take over just the same. There's no coincidence to the fact that the last 2 seasons that we had a capable WR2, we went to the Super Bowl (2014 LaFell, 2011 Llyod).

Name me some teams that have a guy behind the top 2 receivers (WR & TE) that can step up and take over consistently when he becomes the #1 thing the defense tries to take away.

Didn't hear people *****ing about no #2 WR when they were putting up 30+ in the first half of the season before the injuries to basically everyone on offense except for Brady and White happened.

I also can't really buy into the theory about the X WR and the SB.. Because there was a good chance they would have gone to the SB if Ghost doesn't miss the XP or BB decides to kick a FG with 5 minutes left instead of going for it and I know you'll say "but they didn't go to the SB" and that's fine you can take that stance but reality is Ghost hits the XP or BB takes the 3, good chance Pats are in the SB.


Also with this offense in its current state I think a solid #1 RB is as important as the X WR, maybe even slightly more important. People are really underselling Blount going out in the Texans game. Ya he's not some elite back but he was having a solid season, was on pace for 1000 yards and when he went down that was it for the running game .

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

It's just not that easy.. Patriots have trouble acquiring sufficient talent at WR becauase those players require a ton of targets to get paid. Without it, they are valued less and simply put make less money as a result. In this offense you have both Gronk an Edelman already getting a healthy amount of targets followed by Lewis/White.. It's just the way this baby is built. Any WR coming in is coming in as a 3rd,4th or even 5th receiving option given the situation. Not exactly the best scenario for someone looking to make $$$. I think they are aware they need talent outside , they try. Players have to to want to come to... And usually the WRs that are attracted to NE are guys who at the end of the line looking for one more shot, guys buried in depth charts..

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Name me some teams that have a guy behind the top 2 receivers (WR & TE) that can step up and take over consistently when he becomes the #1 thing the defense tries to take away.

Didn't hear people *****ing about no #2 WR when they were putting up 30+ in the first half of the season before the injuries to basically everyone on offense except for Brady and White happened.

I also can't really buy into the theory about the X WR and the SB.. Because there was a good chance they would have gone to the SB if Ghost doesn't miss the XP or BB decides to kick a FG with 5 minutes left instead of going for it and I know you'll say "but they didn't go to the SB" and that's fine you can take that stance but reality is Ghost hits the XP or BB takes the 3, good chance Pats are in the SB.


Also with this offense in its current state I think a solid #1 RB is as important as the X WR, maybe even slightly more important. People are really underselling Blount going out in the Texans game. Ya he's not some elite back but he was having a solid season, was on pace for 1000 yards and when he went down that was it for the running game .

Emmanuel Sanders only one I can really think of.

 

[JMC00]

Emmanuel Sanders only one I can really think of.

Emmanuel Sanders is the #2 receiver

 

[DaBruinz]

Emmanuel Sanders is the #2 receiver

Pittsburgh with Wheaton and Heyward-Bey.
Arizona with their core of John Brown, Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald, Nelson

Those are the only teams that I know of.

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Emmanuel Sanders is the #2 receiver

Was thinking more of when it was DT and JT last year (WR & TE as you said)

 

[long distance]

appetites aside - if pats are still shopping wrs that doesnt look good for danny boy
not even for his restructure (and im not sure if i would like that)

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

He will restructure and stay..

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

So, we need to over spend at WR because we are options 1 and 2 might get injured?!

Gee, I wonder how other teams overcome losing their top two options.. Let me guess, NOT GOOD.

If Gronk and JE11 are out for significant time, we are screwed anyways

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

So, we need to over spend at WR because we are options 1 and 2 might get injured?!

Gee, I wonder how other teams overcome losing their top two options.. Let me guess, NOT GOOD.

If Gronk and JE11 are out for significant time, we are screwed anyways

Most teams who lose their top two receiving options suffer, never mind top 3 (Lewis) ....most probably wouldn't make the conference championship.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

So far our only splash in free agency is Chris hogan?

 

[AvocadoIceCream]

So far our only splash in free agency is Chris hogan?

would you rather them blow money on an aging FA and lose out on Hightower, Collins, or Butler?

 

[JMC00]

appetites aside - if pats are still shopping wrs that doesnt look good for danny boy
not even for his restructure (and im not sure if i would like that)

If Amendola was gonna be cut he would have been with LaFell