Niklas signed

[JMC00]

Not really expecting much but who knows maybe coming to a team with the GOAT QB and offense that actually use TEs maybe Niklas well show glimpses of why he went in the 2nd round.

Arizona was a terrible place for him to come into the league Jermaine Gresham who had been their #1 TE for the last 3 years his best season was 390 yards and the TEs became less of a factor with David Johnson.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

now draft Sony Michel, and pound.

 

[TBR]

now draft Sony Michel, and pound.

Hopefully he's still around with that early 2nd round pick.

 

[Wozzy]

If healthy he is a devastating blocker and a tall big if slightly slower red zone threat with soft hands. He hasn't been able to stay healthy, hopefully he can reverse that trend with us. Kyle Brady 2.0

 

[Love The Drake]

now draft Sony Michel, and pound.[/QUOTE
Jeremy Hill says hi

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Yikes this Guy is slower than Allen I don't see an upgrade.

I thought we were trying to get Faster on Offfense we minus the hare and add a tortoise??

I was not consulted.

 

[maineman209]

Gronk?
No it couldn't be a thing

You're on a major roll here, dude!

 

[maineman209]

Can we release Allen now??

No reason to do so before they complete their Camp battle.

 

[TomPatriot]

Gronk trade confirmed.

Yep, for two first round picks and a slice.

 

[luuked]

Love it. Vintage Patriots buy low signing of a once highly regarded player in terms of draft. Worst case he gets cut for peanuts at the end of camp and bothers Allen enough to take a pay cut. Best case he replaces Allen. It would require a very strong camp and quick learning of the blocking schemes and receiving routes but he has the physique to be an effective blocker. Maybe not as good as Allen but he is considerably cheaper.

 

[maineman209]

He's essentially a blocker only, so it's definitely in the Allen mold.

Well, the "Allen" performance with the 2017 Pats. Allen was a decent receiver with the Colts. He could still get back to that. Niklas has never been a decent receiver in the NFL.

 

[fnordcircle]

I thought we were trying to get Faster on Offfense we minus the hare and add a tortoise??

Major screw-up by the team that they didn't even check his 40 time. What a clown show of a front office.

 

[TomPatriot]

I thought we were trying to get Faster on Offfense we minus the hare and add a tortoise??

Bigger is the new faster. You're stuck in 2017 when the fleet Falcons almost won. Now the enormous Eagles won so the Pats are trying to get bigger and more physical.

 

[mcmurtry86]

Expected. Good. Hopefully the TE saga writes a better chapter this year..
____

EDIT: This was the only position (outside QB) Pats didn't address at all this offseason. Now they added pieces to every unit (as they usually do in FA) except S (Chung ext.). Quite a few good S options still available. They might also be happy with how D.Jones and Travis are developing. Plus another deep, quality, versatile S class in draft.

LB and OT haven't been added to in any meaningful way and they're arguably the weakest positions on the roster

 

[mgteich]

LB and OT haven't been added to in any meaningful way and they're arguably the weakest positions on the roster

There are two positions to focus on. Not bad, as we go into the draft with 5 picks in the first 100.

LEFT TACKLE
Belichick is indeed prepared at LT. he has secured the #23 draft pick. He now has plenty of ammunition to draft his choice of LT, even if it takes moving into the top 10 to do it. More likely Pick 23 will be fine.

Also, it is quite possible that Scar has judged that Garcia is still the LT of the future, in which case there is little to be done. After all, Cannon can move over to LT and Waddle and Tobin can handle RT for the season.

LINEBACKER
Well, Belichick did bring back last year's injured: Hightower, Rivers, Langi and Davis. In any case, we play 2 linebackers almost always. I would think that the need is for a top backup. Hightower and Van Noy are fine as starters. And yes, I would support signing a veteran.

However, the greater need may be at DE. In any case, we are likely to us a draft pick before #50 on a LB or DE.

BOTTOM LINE
There is more than one way to address needs. Leaving LT and LB for the draft seems reasonable when we have 5 draft picks in the top 100, and there are reasonable opportunities in the top 50 where we have 3 picks.

 

[Jimke]

It won't take very much for Niklas to be an improvement over Allen as a pass catcher. Allen had no rapport with Brady and looked very awkward as a receiver.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Hope he doesnt take poorly too constructive criticism !!

 

[RobertWeathers]

Jake Ballard 2.0

Lol Rod Rutledge 2.03d

 

[Clonamery]

Major screw-up by the team that they didn't even check his 40 time. What a clown show of a front office.

Well, he was just a subject not a target of their interest so it's ok.

 

[rkarp1]

recruited by ND as a LB. worse case, could be a 4 unit ST player
great size, athletic, soft hands.
has battled injuries
if the team carries 3 TE's, he has a very good chance. if the team carries 4, he is a lock