Would you try a different strategy for this unique draft year?

[slam]

Given how the draft process has been disrupted this year, I wonder if there will be any unique strategies that you wouldn't see in a typical year. For example, there are some players who won't have the usual round of Pro Days and medical checkups and face to face meetings, and will be viewed with more uncertainty than usual. I'm wondering if there are any teams this year who will try to go with a quantity over quality approach and accumulate late round picks through trade downs to try to take chances on multiple question mark players.

Or if there are any teams who will try to trade assets into next year where you'll hopefully be more comfortable with the draft process.

Or some teams who will trade up to only take blue chip players.

And of course, advocating for three more rounds of draft this year.

 

[jboston19]

I think a lot of teams will try and push assets in to next year. Perhaps BB will find value in adding more or higher picks this year then.

There was a thread on twitter yesterday, detailing the chaos of UDFAs, and made an excellent case for a slightly expanded draft this year. This close to the event, I’m not sure if they’re considering it, but it’d make sense.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Given how the draft process has been disrupted this year, I wonder if there will be any unique strategies that you wouldn't see in a typical year. For example, there are some players who won't have the usual round of Pro Days and medical checkups and face to face meetings, and will be viewed with more uncertainty than usual. I'm wondering if there are any teams this year who will try to go with a quantity over quality approach and accumulate late round picks through trade downs to try to take chances on multiple question mark players.

Or if there are any teams who will try to trade assets into next year where you'll hopefully be more comfortable with the draft process.

Or some teams who will trade up to only take blue chip players.

And of course, advocating for three more rounds of draft this year.

It'll be interesting to see. The problem with everyone wanting to move out is that, of course, it takes two to tango.

I've heard that trades might be down because of the difficulty in executing them. Personally, I think the biggest change will be that players with medical red flags will slip significantly farther than they would in a normal year.

 

[scott99]

I don’t see how this will cause huge difficulties. Most drafts are done via phones from team’s war rooms. Every coach/scouts have landlines most likely. And Now with video meetings like Zoom, there shouldn’t be too many issues.

 

[Sciz]

As it looks more and more like there could be no rookie camp, OTA’s, or mandatory minicamp, I think the expectations for every rookie may need to be lowered. It's not quite as extreme as the 2011 lockout when teams weren't in contact with their rookies at all, but there seems to be a real chance that they might not step on the practice field with the team until training camp.

That would seem to hurt the players who would normally be thought of as "NFL-ready" but now might not quite be, and benefit the rawer prospects that weren't expected to start immediately anyway. The 2011 pick of Solder (who we thought was going to sit behind Light and Vollmer for a year) over Castonzo (immediate starting left tackle) is one example. This year, maybe it benefits Yetur Gross-Matos at the expense of AJ Epenesa. Or maybe it pushes Ashtyn Davis, Jeremy Chinn, and Kyle Dugger up closer to Xavier McKinney.

Another interesting note from that 2011 draft is that the Patriots used two late picks on a pure blocking tight end and an athletic special teamer who wasn't even a defensive starter in college. Even though both were cut, it does make sense to target players with very specific paths to making the roster rather than general developmental players.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Another interesting note from that 2011 draft is that the Patriots used two late picks on a pure blocking tight end and an athletic special teamer who wasn't even a defensive starter in college. Even though both were cut, it does make sense to target players with very specific paths to making the roster rather than general developmental players.

For reasons I still don't quite understand, Belichick decided it wasn't worth keeping a 3rd TE behind GRONK and the Murderer.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Facts:
1.) this year, we have holes on our roster post free agency.
2.) We have little cap space.
3.) we have quite a few draft picks, but nothing in the second round.
4.) we could potentially trade some players, thuney and Edelman and maybe even trade a retired player, gronkowski.

Priorities:

1.) can we extend thuney? If not, do we trade thuney? Do we let thuney play this year on the franchise tag?

2.) is there a market for Edelman and maybe even gronkowski? Do we or can we trade them? Are we better off keeping Edelman? There is one team that should be very interested in Edelman and gronkowski.

3.) what is the health of injured 2019 players? How do they factor in filling holes in our 2020 roster?

4.) how many draft picks do we use? Is this the year to trade up when lots of teams appear to want to move down?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

2.) is there a market for Edelman and maybe even gronkowski? Do we or can we trade them? Are we better off keeping Edelman? There is one team that should be very interested in Edelman and gronkowski.

As I've pointed out before:

Welker with Brady, 2007: 112 catches
Welker with Cassel, 2008: 111 catches

I can't see a realistic scenario in which trading away Edelman is a net benefit.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

As I've pointed out before:

Welker with Brady, 2007: 112 catches
Welker with Cassel, 2008: 111 catches

I can't see a realistic scenario in which trading away Edelman is a net benefit.

Are we talking about a net benefit for the 2020 or 2022 season?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Are we talking about a net benefit for the 2020 or 2022 season?

Given that developing a new QB is a critical need, I would argue both.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Given that developing a new QB is a critical need, I would argue both.

mans you think Edelman can help in 2022?

 

[Rdforty2]

mans you think Edelman can help in 2022?

Without speaking for him, I think he's saying Edelman is important in the development of a young QB. The benefit he provides now will help the QB's growth, therefore being a potential positive even if Edelman is done in 2 years.

And I would agree. Trading Edelman isn't going to bring back any big return. Most likely a day 3 pick, which we have plenty of. His value to the team and the development of a young QB is worth more than a 4th or 5th rounder imo.

 

[JerseyShore99]

Without speaking for him, I think he's saying Edelman is important in the development of a young QB. The benefit he provides now will help the QB's growth, therefore being a potential positive even if Edelman is done in 2 years.

And I would agree. Trading Edelman isn't going to bring back any big return. Most likely a day 3 pick, which we have plenty of. His value to the team and the development of a young QB is worth more than a 4th or 5th rounder imo.

Madden and reality are so different

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Pick 87, Edelman and the rights to gronkowski for Howard.

this helps out stidham more than Edelman could because Howard can block this helping in the run and pass game.

 

[Rdforty2]

Pick 87, Edelman and the rights to gronkowski for Howard.

this helps out stidham more than Edelman could because Howard can block this helping in the run and pass game.

Not a chance.

The point of Edelman being a benefit is that he is a smart, polished football player. He puts in the work, knows what it takes to win, and on the field, knows where he needs to be and when he needs to be there. The experience he has gained is a huge benefit to a young QB.

Howard is a guy that has disappointed on his time in the league, being benched for effort and mistakes. Hes had the same QB his entire career, and they couldn't get on the same page. Hes run the wrong route on numerous occasions.

While I like Howard's physical ability and I would be in favor of adding him to the team for the right price, he is not a bigger help to a young QB than Edelman at this point. Trading a 3rd rounder and Edelman for him is overpaying, before even factoring Gronk into the equation.

 

[Sfpat]

The rights to Gronk would be the most I would give for Howard. He's been in the league for three years and still doesn't get it. If he was a Pat, most on this board would be calling for his head

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The rights to Gronk would be the most I would give for Howard. He's been in the league for three years and still doesn't get it. If he was a Pat, most on this board would be calling for his head

Kinda like everybody pining for Dez Bryant back in the day. Brady would have frozen him out before his rookie season was over.