Rumor from a friend in the know...

[super36]

If you think Lawrence is the QBOTF, you trade what you have to. You go full Ditka.

As others have said, it'll be virtually impossible to make a Ricky Williams trade for a generational quarterback.

The only options are to either have the worst record in 2020/2021, or to predict which teams will have the worst record in 2020/2021 and trade for their first-round picks this year.

Bill would have to hedge his bets in case Lawrence returns for his senior year.

Being able to predict which teams will have the worst record in 2020/2021 and managing to trade for their first-round pick would be like trying to win the lottery. The teams that expect themselves to be terrible are unlikely to trade, so Bill would likely end up only trading with teams that think they're going to be good in 2020/2021. The only way those teams would end up with the worst record would be from injuries to their star quarterback and star players, which is impossible to predict, so Bill would deserve to be called a real-life genius if he could somehow manage that.

 

[Biffins]

If Tom is determined to play in a different jersey this year, then it's now all up to Kraft

...to finally undo what he did to us a quarter century ago...

"...Still time for us to win #7..."

All of Patriots successes have come in blue and silver. The red jersey is a relic of yesteryears of pain and suffering. Leave it there.

 

[supafly]

All of Patriots successes have come in blue and silver. The red jersey is a relic of yesteryears of pain and suffering. Leave it there.

I’d like to see it busted out a couple times per season or something, but I do agree that it’s tough to want to go back to the red jerseys when all of the success over the past 20 yrs has been with the blues.

 

[DarrylS]

I’d like to see it busted out a couple times per season or something, but I do agree that it’s tough to want to go back to the red jerseys when all of the success over the past 20 yrs has been with the blues.

Also like to see them update the Old School Pats logo, to compliment the red jerseys, that I always thought was a product of a 6th grade art school contest..

 

[Triumph]

If Brady returns this easily, he should not complain about the play of the WR’s/TE. It’s now on him to get them on the same page.

Dorsett is terrible. Gordon was more trouble than he was worth. Harry did not make a difference. No TE but old Ben Watson. NE ranked at the bottom in TE production last season. The Pats didnt even have a TE in the top 50 2019 TEs.2019 NFL TIGHT END RATINGS | Football Outsiders

Look who is in the Super Bowl

Kittle 1053 yds 5 tds
Kelce 1229 yds 5 tds

The 2019 post season

Saints Cooks
Vikings Rudolph
Ravens Andrews
Titans Smith
Eagles Ertz

Dont bring Brady back unless youre going to go out and get some good players on offense.

 

[Kontradiction]

If you think Lawrence is the QBOTF, you trade what you have to. You go full Ditka.

I get that but woof. You’re going to go into cap Hell quickly trying to protect him, give him weapons, and a defense that can compete. It’s either that, or you’re going to get the **** beat out of the kid when your OL can’t stop a 94 year old woman from penetrating into the backfield and ruin him anyway.

 

[NuckyDuck]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh yyyeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

 

[FCB02062]

I’d like to see it busted out a couple times per season or something, but I do agree that it’s tough to want to go back to the red jerseys when all of the success over the past 20 yrs has been with the blues.

You can almost be assured that when Brady leaves, whenever that is, the Pats will do some sort of uniform change - major or minor...perhaps along the lines of Miami's slight revision a few years back....will help sell jerseys...

 

[jah]

Also like to see them update the Old School Pats logo, to compliment the red jerseys, that I always thought was a product of a 6th grade art school contest..

I think you're into something. It would be great if the next logo/uniform iteration was a modernized take on the classic. Going to the actual throwbacks wouldn't seem right for a number of reasons, both aesthetic and otherwise, but the blue/silver color scheme is boring and played out.

 

[Deus Irae]

I get that but woof. You’re going to go into cap Hell quickly trying to protect him, give him weapons, and a defense that can compete. It’s either that, or you’re going to get the **** beat out of the kid when your OL can’t stop a 94 year old woman from penetrating into the backfield and ruin him anyway.

People here seem intent on coming up with reasons that the common action of trading up in the draft can't be done. It's just not true.

 

[Kontradiction]

People here seem intent on coming up with reasons that the common action of trading up in the draft can't be done. It's just not true.

Not sure if this is directed at me or not, but I’m not commenting on merely trading up in the draft. Of course it can be done. But trading up to #1 overall is a very steep price to play and is an easy way to deplete your team of young talent. The 2019 Patriots offense should provide a good example of what can happen when that scenario takes place.

 

[billdog3484]

I don’t think anyone is making the claim that they should take a QB on day one unless Tua falls into their laps. In that case? Yes, they should absolutely take Tua. Without question. But that won’t happen.

i think a lot of people think the patriots should take a quarterback in the first round. i dont think anyone is saying to reach, but i for one think we should take one if available and/or for the right trade package.

 

[Deus Irae]

Not sure if this is directed at me or not, but I’m not commenting on merely trading up in the draft. Of course it can be done. But trading up to #1 overall is a very steep price to play and is an easy way to deplete your team of young talent. The 2019 Patriots offense should provide a good example of what can happen when that scenario takes place.

The Patriots poor recent drafting has done a pretty good job of that already. Why worry about it at this point, when you need to get a QB for the next 10-15 seasons?

 

[mgteich]

With or without Brady, our cap hit for veteran QB will likely be about $20M. A 3 year Brady contract with a fake year or options gets you there. If Brady doesn't come back, we have the $13.5M dead cap hit plus about $6.5M for a 2nd or 3rd tier vet ( could also be a 3 year contract).
========
So, for me, the questions will be the issues of every year. How will we fill our needs: our own free agents, free agents of others and the draft. Sure, Belichick may make different decisions depending on Brady, or not.

I suspect not. We have needs on the OL, WR and TE no matter who is QB. And we have to deal with free agents on defense, and any possible retirements.

I get that but woof. You’re going to go into cap Hell quickly trying to protect him, give him weapons, and a defense that can compete. It’s either that, or you’re going to get the **** beat out of the kid when your OL can’t stop a 94 year old woman from penetrating into the backfield and ruin him anyway.

 

[Deus Irae]

With or without Brady, our cap hit for veteran QB will likely be about $20M. A 3 year Brady contract with a fake year or options gets you there. If Brady doesn't come back, we have the $13.5M dead cap hit plus about $6.5M for a 2nd or 3rd tier vet ( could also be a 3 year contract).
========
So, for me, the questions will be the issues of every year. How will we fill our needs: our own free agents, free agents of others and the draft. Sure, Belichick may make different decisions depending on Brady, or not.

I suspect not. We have needs on the OL, WR and TE no matter who is QB. And we have to deal with free agents on defense, and any possible retirements.

Yeah, I'm not sure about the particular number, but the underlying notion seems about right to me. If you sign a QB for a pittance, you can get some savings, but to what end? That potential $13.5m hit largely, if not completely, negates the notion of cap savings, unless you're just going to go with Stidham/rookie or a guy who's been playing like a complete stiff in the past year or more, and that means that you're conceding the season.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

What makes the most sense from a cap perspective is Stidham and Trading for Rosen or Stidham and a rookie.
Mariota is a choice I’d entertain if he takes a prove it deal.
As much I’m a Tom Brady fan it doesn’t make sense unless he isn’t going to take top 10 money.
Or we get incredibly creative with the cap.

 

[Deus Irae]

What makes the most sense from a cap perspective is Stidham and Trading for Rosen or Stidham and a rookie.
Mariota is a choice I’d entertain if he takes a prove it deal.
As much I’m a Tom Brady fan it doesn’t make sense unless he isn’t going to take top 10 money.
Or we get incredibly creative with the cap.

If you're all about the cap, you're not bringing back Van Noy, Thuney, McCourty, Shelton, Ebner, Slater, Karras, Folk, Gost, Roberts (unless you can pay him pennies and make him your starter), or Collins. You're also not signing any free agents of note or skill, since you won't be spending the cap money.

In short, if you're all about "What makes the most sense from a cap perspective", you're turning into the #3 or #4 team in the AFCE.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Dorsett is terrible. Gordon was more trouble than he was worth. Harry did not make a difference. No TE but old Ben Watson. NE ranked at the bottom in TE production last season. The Pats didnt even have a TE in the top 50 2019 TEs.2019 NFL TIGHT END RATINGS | Football Outsiders

Look who is in the Super Bowl

Kittle 1053 yds 5 tds
Kelce 1229 yds 5 tds

The 2019 post season

Saints Cooks
Vikings Rudolph
Ravens Andrews
Titans Smith
Eagles Ertz

Dont bring Brady back unless youre going to go out and get some good players on offense.

I agree. And people are naive to think Brady is going to come back so easily without changes being made upfront.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

If you're all about the cap, you're not bringing back Van Noy, Thuney, McCourty, Shelton, Ebner, Slater, Karras, Folk, Gost, Roberts (unless you can pay him pennies and make him your starter), or Collins. You're also not signing any free agents of note or skill, since you won't be spending the cap money.

In short, if you're all about "What makes the most sense from a cap perspective", you're turning into the #3 or #4 team in the AFCE.

It’s a balance
If you are too top heavy in one position for example QB you are hurting in other spots.
Do you move on from McCourty?
I would love to have Dev at 7 Mill or so.
However I think some team will blow the bank for him.
Van Noy only stays if he takes a below market deal.
Jamie Collins I would bring back with a middle market deal.
I would bring Calhoun back on the cheap.
I would bring back Elandon Roberts because his position flexibility but he has a big fan In Flores and he may overpay.

Again I’m going to sell my pitch to trade Gilmore at his all time value.
I’m trading him To a team for a first this year or second this year and next.
Then I’m locking up JC Jackson.

 

[Joker]

you know, off topic a bit but...I, Joe Kerr, was an idle roomer...for about 20 years...(until she threw me and the cat out)