We Might Have Traded For A Wide Receiver

[mgteich]

Folks say that one player wouldn't have made the difference. We are a play away from being very competitive in the playoffs, so I do think one player could have made the difference

Consider that the Bills offense was awful until they traded for Stephan Diggs. For those who think that we had no cap money, we could have restructured the contract of Gilmore at any time, pushing his cap hit to the future. We also didn't need to franchise Thuney, since we were unable to secure a long-term deal.

Folks here just haven't been willing to trade a 1st and more for a receiver or for a QB. Well, we get what we truly deserve with that strategy: mediocracy and whining.

BOTTOM LINE
1) Trading for a WR at any point, including after the season started, would have made a serious difference in making the patriots a playoff team.
2) Going forward, the team will need to decide what resources to use on QB and WR. We haven't been willing to spend enough on either this year.

 

[jah]

What discussions are you referring to when you say "Folks here just haven't been willing to trade a 1st and more for a receiver or for a QB"? Were there specific WR/QB targets being discussed? Because I would absolutely do that for the right QB (which is very seldom available via trade unless we're talking about trading up in the draft). I would even consider it for a game changing WR, but not before the QB situation is settled.

If you're talking about the Patriots front office when you say "folks", I would make the same general argument that the available options might not have been right. I can't think of any QB we could have traded for, and not sure we had the ammo to go get Burrow or Tua. This rebuild was never going to be completed in less than a year and patience can ensure the right pieces are brought in rather than the ones who happened to be there.

 

[mgteich]

What discussions are you referring to when you say "Folks here just haven't been willing to trade a 1st and more for a receiver or for a QB"? Were there specific WR/QB targets being discussed? Because I would absolutely do that for the right QB (which is very seldom available via trade unless we're talking about trading up in the draft). I would even consider it for a game changing WR, but not before the QB situation is settled.

OK, let us wait until all of us agree that our quarterback is a top 5 QB. THEN, and only THEN, we can consider trading for a top WR or for a NT. Nonsense!

Just BTW, with the WR's of TB or almost ANY OTHER competitive team, THIS TEAM would be a favorite to win the division and to compete deep into the playoffs. And that is without present QB situation: a top veteran, and a mediocre prospect. Sure, we need to add another QB next year.

 

[mgteich]

What discussions are you referring to when you say "Folks here just haven't been willing to trade a 1st and more for a receiver or for a QB"? Were there specific WR/QB targets being discussed? Because I would absolutely do that for the right QB (which is very seldom available via trade unless we're talking about trading up in the draft). I would even consider it for a game changing WR, but not before the QB situation is settled.

If you're talking about the Patriots front office when you say "folks", I would make the same general argument that the available options might not have been right. I can't think of any QB we could have traded for, and not sure we had the ammo to go get Burrow or Tua. This rebuild was never going to be completed in less than a year and patience can ensure the right pieces are brought in rather than the ones who happened to be there.

BTW, do you believe that everyone is agreed that we should have been willing to trade a 1st for a Diggs or a Jones (or choose your own target, who might be available of not).

I said "folks". I suppose, I could have said "some folks".
===========
AS AN ASIDE
Are we ever going to have enough ammo to trade for a Tua or Burrows? Is the alternative 4th rounders?

 

[Ring 6]

OK, let us wait until all of us agree that our quarterback is a top 5 QB. THEN, and only THEN, we can consider trading for a top WR or for a NT. Nonsense!

Just BTW, with the WR's of TB or almost ANY OTHER competitive team, THIS TEAM would be a favorite to win the division and to compete deep into the playoffs. And that is without present QB situation: a top veteran, and a mediocre prospect. Sure, we need to add another QB next year.

Wide receivers wouldn’t change much. We don’t have a qb who can get them the ball.
With an average Qb this team is at least 5-3 and probably 6-2.

 

[mgteich]

Wide receivers wouldn’t change much. We don’t have a qb who can get them the ball.
With an average Qb this team is at least 5-3 and probably 6-2.

So, you believe with Diggs on the team instead of Dugger there would be no difference in our likely record. I disagree.

 

[Triumph]

The Pats wasted a 2nd pick on Sanu for an 8 game rental. NE waited until AB shot his malcontent way out of Oakland so he would cost nothing and then paid him 9 million valuable cap dollars. Harry has been a complete joke and its a pipe dream to believe that he will ever pay off.

Its the people picking the WRs and not an issue of cost.

 

[holyredeemer]

So, you believe with Diggs on the team instead of Dugger there would be no difference in our likely record. I disagree.

You just oversimplified something a wee bit more complicated than that.

 

[farn]

So, you believe with Diggs on the team instead of Dugger there would be no difference in our likely record. I disagree.

One question could be “how different” ? Does a high draft pick, from a rebuilding team, warrant a Diggs ? Does it make sense ? If the record would be 4-4 instead of 3-5, do you think it’s worth it ?

While I agree that Diggs > Duggar in terms of 2020 record, it’s too early to know if it’s still Di>Du long term. I do not think Diggs makes this team a SB contender. And, after two decades of serious contending, I’m not that excited about squeaking into the playoffs. My two cents.

 

[Tony2046]

You just oversimplified something a wee bit more complicated than that.

I disagree. I think he's right. But I do think Covid complicated things in that this team prides itself in preparation and missing preseason plus weeks during season plus their starting QB plus plus plus has made a huge difference.

 

[Mack Herron]

Priority for me is defensive front.

 

[upstater1]

The Bills overpaid for Diggs. I know he's very good, but my oh my. That was too much.

Giving up multiple high picks for 1 player, & then paying them a huge amount--well, it's just not smart thinking, UNLESS you're very close to being a top team, and this guy will put you over the top. Bills are more like teams #10-13 than they are like teams #1-3.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Folks say that one player wouldn't have made the difference. We are a play away from being very competitive in the playoffs, so I do think one player could have made the difference

Consider that the Bills offense was awful until they traded for Stephan Diggs. For those who think that we had no cap money, we could have restructured the contract of Gilmore at any time, pushing his cap hit to the future. We also didn't need to franchise Thuney, since we were unable to secure a long-term deal.

Folks here just haven't been willing to trade a 1st and more for a receiver or for a QB. Well, we get what we truly deserve with that strategy: mediocracy and whining.

BOTTOM LINE
1) Trading for a WR at any point, including after the season started, would have made a serious difference in making the patriots a playoff team.
2) Going forward, the team will need to decide what resources to use on QB and WR. We haven't been willing to spend enough on either this year.

Going into the season we had 26M in dead cap and 8 players opted out. I hear you. I don't disagree. I wonder if it's worth burning draft capital compared to just ride out the year and go into 2021 with 120M in cap space and a lot of good picks saved up. And figure out who from this year's roster should stay as part of the new foundation (kind of like a 2000 reset year)

 

[Froob]

Priority for me is defensive front.

That and a QB in the draft. Pay for some FA receivers. Wouldn’t be surprised if a DT is the first pick.

 

[NormZauchin]

That and a QB in the draft. Pay for some FA receivers. Wouldn’t be surprised if a DT is the first pick.

I hope it's not a long snapper.

 

[Ring 6]

So, you believe with Diggs on the team instead of Dugger there would be no difference in our likely record. I disagree.

Who’s going to throw the ball to Diggs?
yes a pro bowl level player at any position is better for a team than an injured rookie. That’s not really the point though is it? Of course we could also pretend we had a chance to trade for Diggs and his 13 mill cap number when we never had 13 mill in cap room.
And as I said with average qb play and this roster we would be far better than with Diggs and still having abysmal qb play.

 

[Boomer B]

The main issue going forward is finding our next QB. I hope that’s where our 1st round pick goes this year. We nail our QB we can rebuild with the money we’ll have in free agency, the draft, and be back on track within 2-3 years. If we don’t find the right QB we might be middling around for many years. We’ve seen the other teams in our division suck for an extended period of time because they never found a QB.

 

[mgteich]

Going into the season we had 26M in dead cap and 8 players opted out. I hear you. I don't disagree. I wonder if it's worth burning draft capital compared to just ride out the year and go into 2021 with 120M in cap space and a lot of good picks saved up. And figure out who from this year's roster should stay as part of the new foundation (kind of like a 2000 reset year)

If that's true, we shouldn't have franchised THuney. Since, we didn't care much about this year, the $15M surely would ahve helped in the future.

 

[mgteich]

The main issue going forward is finding our next QB. I hope that’s where our 1st round pick goes this year. We nail our QB we can rebuild with the money we’ll have in free agency, the draft, and be back on track within 2-3 years. If we don’t find the right QB we might be middling around for many years. We’ve seen the other teams in our division suck for an extended period of time because they never found a QB.

Would it have worth it for us to move up to trade for Tua or Herbert?

 

[Boomer B]

Would it have worth it for us to move up to trade for Tua or Herbert?

I was listening to the radio the other day and they mentioned there was a strong rumour the Pats really loved Herbert. I wish they had made a move for him. Herbert looks great and should be a quality QB for the next 15 years if he stays healthy.