Patriots sign WR Jordan Matthews to a 1 Year Deal

[zipster9]

He will fight for a spot with Dorsett.

Mitchell is safe.

 

[supafly]

He brings size and versatility. Can line up in the slot or play the outside. Reiss also brings up the possibility of a move TE role, at times.

For a team who likes its options and likes to go no-huddle and use the same personnel for different plays, this makes him a keeper, in my opinion.

 

[50-yard-line]

He will fight for a spot with Dorsett.

Mitchell is safe.

I'd like to see the contract before I agree with that. If it includes a substantial guarantee, that might tell us how the Pats are viewing Mitchell and his knees.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

But the opposite is true as well, that Matthews' counting stats were generally the result of being in a Chip Kelly offense that never stopped running pass plays and that much of it was compiled well after the game was in doubt.

I have no dog in this fight other than hoping the Pats have an exceptional WR group this year. Regarding the "garbage time" stats with the Eagles, did you dig into this guy's method? Here it is:

The author:

- considered three entire games to be garbage time because no playoff spots were on the line; he went 9/170/3 in those games

- considered being down 10 points with less than 4 minutes to go garbage time. 5/67/1. This is what we call Brady Time, but to him it's garbage time.

The rest is legitimate garbage time stats, but the point is 35% - 40% of the stats he developed are from the above situations. Dubious to me.

 

[mgteich]

He will fight for a spot with Dorsett.

Mitchell is safe.

Mitchell is safe if he is healthy by the time the 53 roster is determined. Is that better than 50-50?

 

[Ring 6]

Mitchell is safe if he is healthy by the time the 53 roster is determined. Is that better than 50-50?

He certainly isn’t safe to be ahead of Matthews on the depth chart.

 

[mgteich]

He certainly isn’t safe to be ahead of Matthews on the depth chart.

One his advantages with regard to the 53 is that Mitchell signed though 2019 where Matthews, Britt and Dorsett are not (nor is Patterson). The only other WR signed for 2019 is Edelman. We certainly don't want to be looking for WR's on the FA market if we can avoid it. The obvious solution is extensions for those that are willing and able.

 

[maust]

But the opposite is true as well, that Matthews' counting stats were generally the result of being in a Chip Kelly offense that never stopped running pass plays and that much of it was compiled well after the game was in doubt.

And yet his last year in Philly with Pederson and a learning on the fly Wentz was pretty much identical to his 2 years with Kelly. I am not one of the folks that's out there saying Jordan Matthews is going to become the 2nd coming of Randy Moss but I find it hard to believe that playing with the best QB he has ever seen isn't going to result in at least a small jump in his production which on average has been more than adequate for a 2-3 WR

 

[RobertWeathers]

One his advantages with regard to the 53 is that Mitchell signed though 2019 where Matthews, Britt and Dorsett are not (nor is Patterson). The only other WR signed for 2019 is Edelman. We certainly don't want to be looking for WR's on the FA market if we can avoid it. The obvious solution is extensions for those that are willing and able.

Sorry but signed thru 2019 means nothing. If Britt and/or Matthews get it done and need to be here and MM has an uneven and or injury-filled year Bill will not hesitate to cut him. His dead cap hit is peanuts

 

[Ring 6]

One his advantages with regard to the 53 is that Mitchell signed though 2019 where Matthews, Britt and Dorsett are not (nor is Patterson). The only other WR signed for 2019 is Edelman. We certainly don't want to be looking for WR's on the FA market if we can avoid it. The obvious solution is extensions for those that are willing and able.

I wouldn’t be surprised that whichever of the new guys clicks with brady gets an in season extension.

 

[mgteich]

Sorry but signed thru 2019 means nothing. If Britt and/or Matthews get it done and need to be here and MM has an uneven and or injury-filled year Bill will not hesitate to cut him. His dead cap hit is peanuts

I agree that the dead money is peanuts, and irrelevant to Belichick in any case. My point is that part of the value of a player is his contract. If Dorsett, Britt and Mitchell are equal in competing for the usually inactive last WR spot, I could see us keeping Mitchell.

I expect to see Edelman, Hogan and Matthews as our top 3 WR's. I see Patterson being fine as the 5th WR and KR. Our 5th WR probably has average 1 catch every 3 games, so he's fine. Patterson may surprise us and be a real asset at WR.

All that I'm saying is that OTBE, Mitchell has a bit of an advantage. Also, I could see offering to extend Dorsett (or Britt) if they are about equal to Mitchell, and for Belichick to keep the player who would commit to 2019.

My BOTTOM LINE is that I'm not even sure that we need more than Edelman, Hogan, Matthews and Patterson, with McCarran and/or Hollister on the Practice Squad. However, if the roster spot exists, I would like the additional value of it being for a player who is available for the roster in 2019.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Giardi said Matthews was looking for 5M per elsewhere & the Pats got him for "much less than that." Looks like he's betting on himself. Not a bad bet as Brady's slot WR.

 

[mgteich]

Giardi said Matthews was looking for 5M per elsewhere & the Pats got him for "much less than that." Looks like he's betting on himself. Not a bad bet as Brady's slot WR.

If Matthews is looking good, perhaps belichick and Matthews can negotiate an extension (ditto for Patterson).

 

[Love The Drake]

Giardi said Matthews was looking for 5M per elsewhere & the Pats got him for "much less than that." Looks like he's betting on himself. Not a bad bet as Brady's slot WR.

Hopefully under 3

 

[VJCPatriot]

Look at it this way, if Matthews can give us a Brandon Lafell type of season he will have been a solid pickup for the Patriots.

When they Pats win a Superbowl they usually sign 2 or 3 underrated free agents that work out as well as 1 or 2 rookies that contribute more than expected. Hopefully that is the case again for this upcoming season. Bring on the draft!

 

[captain stone]

Giardi said Matthews was looking for 5M per elsewhere & the Pats got him for "much less than that." Looks like he's betting on himself. Not a bad bet as Brady's slot WR.

Hopefully under 3

Hopefully under whatever dollar amount will not mess with ANY of the compensatory picks that are owed us next year, which better include:
#97 for Solder;
4th-rounder for Butler;
5th-rounder for Dion Lewis (Edit: 5th/6th-rounder);
and a 6th-rounder for Amendola (Edit: 6th/7th-rounder).

So if that means that Matthews had to accept a one-year deal for under $3M, then so be it.

 

[supafly]

Hopefully under whatever dollar amount will not mess with ANY of the compensatory picks that are owed us next year, which better include:
#97 for Solder;
4th-rounder for Butler;
5th-rounder for Dion Lewis;
and a 6th-rounder for Amendola.

So if that means that Matthews had to accept a one-year deal for under $3M, then so be it.

The latest projections prior to the Matthews acquisition had us with 2 thirds (Solder, Butler), and 2 late rounders (6th or 7th—or one of each). Maybe @ctpatsfan77 can provide some clarity? He had provided us with a chart of sorts last week, showing which added players had canceled out the losses, and vice versa.

If I’m not mistaken, this was under the assumption that RJF would be signed with another team by now, but he’s not.

 

[Off The Grid]

The latest projections prior to the Matthews acquisition had us with 2 thirds (Solder, Butler), and 2 late rounders (6th or 7th—or one of each). Maybe @ctpatsfan77 can provide some clarity? He had provided us with a chart of sorts last week, showing which added players had canceled out the losses, and vice versa.

If I’m not mistaken, this was under the assumption that RJF would be signed with another team by now, but he’s not.

Can you even get 2 3rd Rounders?? That would be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

 

[supafly]

Can you even get 2 3rd Rounders?? That would be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Almost certain that’s actually what the experts are projecting. The Solder and Butler deals were massive contracts.

The rest of the additions and subtractions should be sorted out with lower level picks, but I’m pretty sure that @ctpatsfan77 had us getting 2 thirds and 2 sevenths, prior to the Matthews signing. We’ll have to see. Like I said, this was under the assumption that RJF would cancel out one of our lower level additions if he signed with the Lions, but then they went in another direction and didn’t sign him. The assumption was that someone else would, but at any rate, I wouldn’t see any changes as it pertains to the 2 thirds. We aren’t adding anyone who would cancel those out.

 

[oceansizer]

Most folks talk about Matthews as a slot WR but as I remember well he played in college and in his first year in Philly as an outside WR. I cannot see any reason why couldn't not he play outside again. He is not as speedy as Cooks and I do not expect him to replace him in numbers. However Matthews and for instance Dorsett can both be productive as a slot and outside Wrs. Their versality and at the same time different style of playing is an advantage. Some say Matthews dropped too many balls but the more snaps you play the more chances you have to do that. We are not talking about Julio Jones,Antonio Brown or OBJ but a WR who fits the system and we can afford to hire him. Top WRs do not demand let's say 4 mln. $ per season. All in all I like that signing a lot.