Re-Assessment: After a Good Draft/FA, These Players are maybe on the Proverbial Hot Seat

[jah]

Please spare me any more of Bentley. Also I could get by without any more Deatrich Wise.

Are you aware that we signed Wise to a new contract 2 months ago and supposedly told him his role would increase?

 

[RIpats88]

I honestly don't see how any of these guys are on the hot-seat except maybe Bentley because we have so many linebackers now. For some sure its the last year of their rookie deals. but all that means is they will be let go after this season if there is a suitable replacement.

Perfect example, sony Michel. How is he on the hot-seat? hes our #2 back to spell harris and did a pretty decent job last year of it. We drafted his replacement but I see no threat of him being released.

Wynn? we dont have a replacement for him. and N'keal Harry is going to be #4 receiver unless we can find a trade partner and a better replacement.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I honestly don't see how any of these guys are on the hot-seat except maybe Bentley because we have so many linebackers now. For some sure its the last year of their rookie deals. but all that means is they will be let go after this season if there is a suitable replacement.

Perfect example, sony Michel. How is he on the hot-seat? hes our #2 back to spell harris and did a pretty decent job last year of it. We drafted his replacement but I see no threat of him being released.

Wynn? we dont have a replacement for him. and N'keal Harry is going to be #4 receiver unless we can find a trade partner and a better replacement.

I think there are two tiers of hot seat-ness.

1. There is risk of getting cut/traded
2. There is risk of not playing as much as we expected, but remaining with the team

Sony probably falls into the 2nd bucket. Rham would need to be the second-coming of Jerome Bettis to justify BB trading Sony before Week 1

Harry has been in the 1st bucket for a while. The draft did not impact his status.

As Ivan said earlier, Rham may have pushed Bolden out the door.

Jones clearly put Stidham in the 2nd bucket but if he shows the ability in camp to be #2, Stid might is gone.

Barmore pushed one if not two DLs off the roster.

Perkins pushed Berry, Bower off and quite possibly cut into Wino's potential time in edge-setting roles.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Michel in the Burkhead role would not shock me. He can absolutely catch the football, it's just never thrown to him, plus he's cheap on his rookie deal and it's "prove it" time. Unless injured again (the perennial equalizer) his situation absolutely dictates "put up or pack up".

Good point. Michel still has skills, contract isn't expensive, it might be he has a role, plays out his contract, not sure if he gets extended while Stevenson grows. I didn't realize Stevenson was the best pass protecting RB in the draft while also being a power runner.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I wouldn't want to be Keane or Asiasi. This will be a make or break camp for Cajuste. I thought he was a steal and stash pick, lets see if he can stay healthy. It will be interesting to see if Wynn and Michel get their 5th year options picked up. I'm leaning towards "yes" for both of them.

I was over at OTC and cut the roster down to 54:

I thought that Terez Hall showed a little something, but he is in for a roster spot fight with Bentley, and McMillan only one of those three make the team.

I think Bolden's time might have come. Other notable cuts: Bethel, Cody Davis, Keane, Asiasi, King, Vitale, Spence, Bower, Stidham, Reynolds, Montavius Adams, Virgin, Devin Smith, Cunningham, Marcus Martin, Carl Davis, Aguayo

I think all the draft picks aside from Nixon get a roster spot, Nixon will have to beat our Gunner.

I can see why no UDFA, just not enough room on the roster, plus one less pre-season game.

Great point. Tough to see a future for Keene or Asiasi when there are 2 TEs newly added for big multi-year contracts. But that's how important TE play is and how bad it was to not have any quality TE play in 2020.

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[Scotty]

Just to be clear is Burkehead gone ?...he is listed as a UFA on the team roster (and recovering from an injury) , but would he come back to fight for a place with Bolden or does he need to be signed first.....I am not clear on how this works

 

[Ring 6]

If you mean 2019 Brady, then...NO. Came in late, when Brady was pissed off, got on Tom's bad side quickly, and never got a chance.

Right he missed half the season, after Brady didn’t show up for OTAs, and when he got back Brady was injured and not practicing. They never had a chance to work together

 

[Ring 6]

I wouldn't want to be Keane or Asiasi. This will be a make or break camp for Cajuste. I thought he was a steal and stash pick, lets see if he can stay healthy. It will be interesting to see if Wynn and Michel get their 5th year options picked up. I'm leaning towards "yes" for both of them.

I was over at OTC and cut the roster down to 54:

I thought that Terez Hall showed a little something, but he is in for a roster spot fight with Bentley, and McMillan only one of those three make the team.

I think Bolden's time might have come. Other notable cuts: Bethel, Cody Davis, Keane, Asiasi, King, Vitale, Spence, Bower, Stidham, Reynolds, Montavius Adams, Virgin, Devin Smith, Cunningham, Marcus Martin, Carl Davis, Aguayo

I think all the draft picks aside from Nixon get a roster spot, Nixon will have to beat our Gunner.

I can see why no UDFA, just not enough room on the roster, plus one less pre-season game.

When did special teams stop mattering? We need 3 TEs.

 

[masterbouncer]

Just to be clear is Burkehead gone ?...he is listed as a UFA on the team roster (and recovering from an injury) , but would he come back to fight for a place with Bolden or does he need to be signed first.....I am not clear on how this works

he is not on the roster, his contract expired this off-season, thus he is just a FA, can sign anywhere

 

[moosekill]

Undrafted Meyers had more production and trust in Brady in the exact same 2019 season. The excuse making for Harry is not in the realm of rationality anymore.

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Just because I enjoy clubbing baby seals. Meyers played 15 games and had 26 catches in 2019, 1.7 per game. In 2019 Harry played 3 snaps in the preseason before he was hurt, played in 7 games at the end of the season and made 12 receptions 1.7 per game. Not quite sure where you are getting the whole Brady trusted Meyers and didn't trust Harry stuff from. In Malcom Mitchell's first 7 games with Tom Brady and a full preseason he had 6 catches.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Not quite sure where you are getting the whole Brady trusted Meyers and didn't trust Harry stuff from.

This is great you're going to need a deeper shovel for the hole you're digging defending NKeal Harry. Meyers came in as an undrafted free agent and was getting targets from Brady starting in early Sept. So what's with the excuses of Tom missing OTA's and whatever, he still shows up, sees Meyers and Meyers starts seeing targets pretty much immediately. Then the subsequent season it becomes even more pronounced. Bad QB in Cam, Harry has be force fed reverses and gimmick plays to get touches, Meyers puts up 750 yards in 11 games (1200 yard pace) despite being double teamed because there are no other TEs or WRs to catch the ball. It's no comparison, 1st round pick Harry is a total bust compared to undrafted free agent Meyers. This is like that movie For Love of the Game, total unknown guy being better than the bust high draft pick.

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[moosekill]

Meyers wasn't targeted more, with Brady, I just posted the freaking numbers. Meyers had an entire preseason and season to work with Brady. Last year Meyers out performed Harry, I completely agree. But the qb sucked. We will know more this season. If you can't comprehend this, just go someplace else and tell us about Josh McDaniels.

 

[Sicilian]

I think for Michel, we have to temper some expectations for Stevenson right off the bat. Harris looked good last year, but barely played in 2019. People think of RB as this plug-and-play position because the guys that DO contribute right away seem to do so in dramatic ways. But it wouldn't surprise me if Stevenson plays mostly ST in year 1 (with some spot carries or starts if there are injuries) and then is ramped up more in year 2. Sony has value for this year in that scenario. Now, if we get through TC/Preseason and all the backs are healthy and Stevenson looks GREAT (in both running and pass protection), Sony could be reasonable trade bait. But even then, with a run-first team, I'm not sure willingly damaging your RB depth is worth a late round pick, which is likely all you're getting for Michel at the end of his contract.

For Harry, until we sign or trade for another WR, he's on the team. I'm not going to say I have a lot of hope for his production, but right now unless Gunner shows some leaps, there's no one better on the roster. But we've got a little space and not many other areas that need significant depth, so I wouldn't be surprised to see another vet brought in or traded for, in which case Harry is as good as gone. So I wouldn't say "hot seat" per se, but the Sword of Damacles is there for sure.

Bentley I agree with. Hightower and Van Noy back, Hall progressing last year, plus additions of McMillan and McCrone. There's a numbers game there, and Bentley hasn't shown enough for me to even say he's the front runner for a position. I feel like after HT/VN that competition is wide open, and I love that. May the best thumper win.

 

[mgteich]

Based on numbers alone we have a ****load of 2-6 technique DLs.

I see us at the most keeping 6.

Montravius Adams
Henry Anderson
Christian Barmore
Byron Cowart
Carl Davis
Davon Godchaux
Lawrence Guy
Bill Murray
Akeem Spence
Nick Thurman

my guess is 5: Guy, Barmore, Godchaux and 2 more

 

[ashley]

The Patriots went into free agency and the draft with team issues at QB, offensive weapons in general, and inability to stop the run in the defensive front-7.

In free agency got a ton of expensive pass catchers including 2 TEs and 2 WRs to pair with Meyers who is a 1000 yard WR talent. Also got a big-name OLB, DT, and versatile DBack.

Isiah Wynn: Undeniably skilled but has missed 70% of his 48 possible NFL games. OLine constantly shifting around to compensate because he's unreliable. The Pats have to decide on his expensive $10M 5th year option soon, he'll get it because he's talented, but I would say his long-term extension LT seat is warm if he gets hurt again.

I would agree with most of the names except Wynn, I think we pick up his 5th year option given the fact that we didn't select a high pick on an OT.

 

[mgteich]

I think for Michel, we have to temper some expectations for Stevenson right off the bat. Harris looked good last year, but barely played in 2019. People think of RB as this plug-and-play position because the guys that DO contribute right away seem to do so in dramatic ways. But it wouldn't surprise me if Stevenson plays mostly ST in year 1 (with some spot carries or starts if there are injuries) and then is ramped up more in year 2. Sony has value for this year in that scenario. Now, if we get through TC/Preseason and all the backs are healthy and Stevenson looks GREAT (in both running and pass protection), Sony could be reasonable trade bait. But even then, with a run-first team, I'm not sure willingly damaging your RB depth is worth a late round pick, which is likely all you're getting for Michel at the end of his contract.

For Harry, until we sign or trade for another WR, he's on the team. I'm not going to say I have a lot of hope for his production, but right now unless Gunner shows some leaps, there's no one better on the roster. But we've got a little space and not many other areas that need significant depth, so I wouldn't be surprised to see another vet brought in or traded for, in which case Harry is as good as gone. So I wouldn't say "hot seat" per se, but the Sword of Damacles is there for sure.

Bentley I agree with. Hightower and Van Noy back, Hall progressing last year, plus additions of McMillan and McCrone. There's a numbers game there, and Bentley hasn't shown enough for me to even say he's the front runner for a position. I feel like after HT/VN that competition is wide open, and I love that. May the best thumper win.

I think of McMillan as a STer replacing King as a STer. McCrone is unlikely to be on the 53.

 

[Jimke]

I suspect that we will being in a veteran or two to compete in camp with Meyers, Harry and Gunner. But, Harry should be happy with his situation for now. He will get a chance. Also, he has been given a vote of confidence, with no draftee other then a 7th.

My gripe with Harry is how he is dominated by much smaller defensive backs. Today, I saw one
of his pre-draft releases which included a video. He was terrific and not the same player I have been watching for two years.

 

[RobertWeathers]

my guess is 5: Guy, Barmore, Godchaux and 2 more

To round it out, i'll go with Anderson and Cowart. I think Carl Davis has a lot to offer as well. Head injuries are a problem with him.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

My gripe with Harry is how he is dominated by much smaller defensive backs. Today, I saw one
of his pre-draft releases which included a video. He was terrific and not the same player I have been watching for two years.

It wasn't a good sign when all the predraft reports said his biggest problem was getting separation from CBs and getting open. This is like saying a QBs only issue is he can't read a defense.

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[p8ryts]

Are you aware that we signed Wise to a new contract 2 months ago and supposedly told him his role would increase?

I am totally aware and was disappointed. I am only too willing to be proven an inept evaluator. (Wouldn't be the first time).