If patriots lose out, Travis Hunter could be theirs

[PatsFan2]

Let's say we wind up with the # 2 pick in the draft. If that occurs, we HAVE to trade down if we are to get full value. This was probably not the year to get the #2 pick because if you pick a player in that spot, you are probably over drafting him. I believe that the value of the #2 pick is that it is likely that QB's are likely to picked in the first 2 spots. There are at least 2 teams that are desperate to get one of those 2 guys. I believe the value of that pick is worth a top 10 first this year along with a 2nd day pick, plus a first next year and a proven NFL starter or another 2nd day 26 pick. Other QB's will likely rise to be over drafted, but that is the NFL off season hype machine where all the toys get shinier and shinier as the process continues to late April.

I have changed my opinion on Hunter a bit. He is extraordinary, but when you step back IS he the best CB in the draft? Is he the best WR? I'm not sure and given the mental energy it would take for him to play both in the NFL, I'm not sure it can be done, even if he plays only part time on one side of the ball. I think drafting a WR or CB at #2 is not getting the best value for the pick. NONE of the OT's are worth a top 10 pick, but I can see the logic if we picked one late in the top 10.

The positions with the best depth at an impact player is at DT or Edge in this draft. So if we end up picking a player there, it needs to be one of them

Really?? If Wolf does that his NFL GM career will be over over: we can't pass on the Best Player in the Draft which is Travis Hunter.

 

[PatsFan2]

Strength of schedule is why the Patriots are at #2 over the other 3-12 teams.
Their strength of schedule is .461 currently - including all 17 opponents (Jets, Bills, Dolphins X2)
They are behind only:
Miami .418
Washington .436
Philly .455
Indy .457
(Buffalo also .461)
Note that all the AFC East teams are under .500 in strength of schedule.

Chargers need a win to clinch a wild card slot - they will be motivated to win Saturday.
The Bills have clinched the division, but cannot catch KC. So they will likely rest a lot of players in the finale. New England played them tough in the first half - they maybe have a chance.

The New England SOS will "improve" (opponents win rate will increase, dropping them in order) if their final two opponents win those games against them. The next team below them in SOS is Jacksonville at .479. There are still two games left for the Pats opponents - so still some movement potentially. If all the Pats opponents win and all the Jax opponents lose, that might tilt the SOS comparison - you'd have to model that out. But Jacksonville closes with Tennessee and Indy, so they could also potentially win a game. Lawrence is out, so we are all rooting for Mac Jones these final two weeks!

If New England loses out, and the opponents of New England and Jacksonville play about as they have through the season - if there is not a significant shift in SOS - then New England scores the #2 slot.
If New England loses out and Jacksonville beats Tennessee or Indy, that should solidify the #2, regardless of improvement in SOS. The Tennessee SOS is .510, so unlikely to change enough that Pats would drop below them after 15 games.
Because Jax and Tenn play each other this Sunday, one of them gets either a fourth win - or they both tie. Either way, there's one fewer three-win team (or two with a tie). Since Tennessee has a .510 SOS, better for the Pats if Jax wins that game.

If New England wins a game, and Jax-Cleveland-Las Vegas all lose out, Pats would drop to #6. (Would be #7 except both Jax and Tenn cannot lose out). If they win two games, could drop to #10.

Still a lot of moving parts.

You better hope that doesn't happen: this Team winning a meaningless game. What do we gain for winning the Final game?? Nothing!! The last thing I want to see or hear is a Mayo Presser after a Ridiculous Win that knocks us out of Excellent Draft position. This Team Drafting 6th or 8th is not beneficial in 2025. Nothing would make a Loser Head Clown like Mayo happy than a win against a Team that's resting Starters nice spring board for the upcoming season.

 

[PatsFan2]

If we sign Higgins, why do we need McMillan? We do not need two tall slow guys. We have to see McMillan's stats from the combine - can he be a 4.4 guy? I don't think so. I think you misinterpret posters comments about McMillan. He is a great prospect and possibly a high consolation prize, but guys like Hunter are rare. Higgins and Hunter would be amazing.

I'm not against Two 6'4 WR and K Boutte...nice WR room right there.

 

[Dec54]

I'm not against Two 6'4 WR and K Boutte...nice WR room right there.

I have always thought there was a good rec lurking in Boutte and am pleased he is starting to show just how good he can be. Put him on the field with Higgins and Hunter and Maye would wet himself. Perhaps me too.

 

[patfanken]

Really?? If Wolf does that his NFL GM career will be over over: we can't pass on the Best Player in the Draft which is Travis Hunter.

But here's the question. I haven't seen any of the draft analysts' state that Hunter is THE top WR prospect in this draft, or THE best CB in the draft. What makes him the best player in college football is that he plays both very well. I don't disagree. But this might be the #2 pick in the draft, P, do you really want to take a guy who IS that guy because he plays 2 positions well, but is the master of neither. And that doesn't count the issue of the likelihood he will only play a token number of plays on the "other side". Given the rigors of what it takes to play just ONE side of the ball, I just can't get past the fact that if he plays a significant number of snaps on both sides of the ball in the NFL, he will likely leave his best football on the field BEFORE his rookie contract is done

Now if we end up at #2 and take ANY player, I might be disappointed. At the #1 or #2 slot you are looking to get a franchise changing player, and I just don't see anyone being that this year except a QB, just because that really IS the most impactful position in the game. IF we trade down and stay at #6 like in the Giants trade there would be a number of players that I would be happy to get.

 

[gobesmug]

I implore members of this forum to re consider Tet McMillan. Watch him in the red zone and on 3rd down, areas in which we struggle emphatically. He is a monster weapon on 3rd down and in the red zone. Maye needs that security blanket. He needs a guy who can score touchdowns and generate first downs. Our offense would become instantly better

Hunter is the best player in the draft, but McMillan wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize

I watched him and was underwhelmed, a poor man's Mike Evans.

He put up 1/4th of his stats in game against a terrible team. Got shutdown against NFL caliber CBs.

I like to watch all snaps versus just watching highlight reels. In some of his highlights he looks great but when you watch an actual game, like Colorado he doesn't run routes to get open.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I'm not against Two 6'4 WR and K Boutte...nice WR room right there.

If we sign Higgins we need a burner to take the top off the defense. Who does Higgins play with now? Chase, a burner. I am sure two tall slow guys will work, but a tall guy with a burner works better.

 

[PatsFan2]

But here's the question. I haven't seen any of the draft analysts' state that Hunter is THE top WR prospect in this draft, or THE best CB in the draft. What makes him the best player in college football is that he plays both very well. I don't disagree. But this might be the #2 pick in the draft, P, do you really want to take a guy who IS that guy because he plays 2 positions well, but is the master of neither. And that doesn't count the issue of the likelihood he will only play a token number of plays on the "other side". Given the rigors of what it takes to play just ONE side of the ball, I just can't get past the fact that if he plays a significant number of snaps on both sides of the ball in the NFL, he will likely leave his best football on the field BEFORE his rookie contract is done

Now if we end up at #2 and take ANY player, I might be disappointed. At the #1 or #2 slot you are looking to get a franchise changing player, and I just don't see anyone being that this year except a QB, just because that really IS the most impactful position in the game. IF we trade down and stay at #6 like in the Giants trade there would be a number of players that I would be happy to get.

He's Both Unreal Hands and Ball awareness Hunter always gets the Football. Hunter is more talented than a Young Prime Time yeah he's that Good. I want us to be the Team with the Travis Hunter problem we won't regret it no Brainer #2 pick.

 

[PatsFan2]

If we sign Higgins we need a burner to take the top off the defense. Who does Higgins play with now? Chase, a burner. I am sure two tall slow guys will work, but a tall guy with a burner works better.

That WR Burner talk is overrated we need an accomplished guy one who can do a little of everything. Tee Higgins is that Guy!!

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

That WR Burner talk is overrated we need an accomplished guy one who can do a little of everything. Tee Higgins is that Guy!!

Chase, McLaurin, Hill, Waddle, Metcalf, and Williams (to name a few) are all overrated? Higgins with a burner is perfect for Maye.

 

[Drunken Cicerone]

Oh man I hope the rumors about Travis being a **** aren’t true.

He can happily watch the entire offensive line of his team run a train on his mom and girlfriend and I don’t care if he comes here and is an all pro

 

[Grogan14]

It's not that Hunter is a "burner", he isn't. He has very good speed but not Randy Moss or Worthy speed.
It's his quickness and his ability to turn on a dime. I would bet his three cone shuttle time would be 6.6 or faster.
With regards to Tet, if being a WR were simply about being tall..than N'Keal Henry would still be here as a #1.

I do agree that if Pats have #2 pick it will present a difficult decision. In this draft with no sure things at the top, I doubt any team will pay a king's ransom to get in top three. Also not team has 2 first round picks this year.

Perhaps for a top 3 pick you get an extra 1 next year and a 2 this year.

As for talent, I have no doubt Hunter is the safest pick at the top of the draft BUT he comes with Deion baggage nd ahveing to deal with his desire to play both CB and WR. Given the recent Harry draft pick fiasco, I think there is no way the pats seriously consider Tet.

 

[KCSVEN]

But here's the question. I haven't seen any of the draft analysts' state that Hunter is THE top WR prospect in this draft, or THE best CB in the draft.

Not sure where you are looking, the only guy most people list over him at WR is Tet yet he beats Tet at Tet's strength

Contested Catch win %:
Tet: 62.1%
Travis: 68.8%

Drop %
Tet: 8.7%
Travis: 3.2%

And Travis destroys him on separation rate.

As for Cornerback EVERYONE has him #1 just as a CB, I couldn't find a site that ranked Johnson ahead of him as a CB.

 

[Urgent]

When listed only as corner Hunter is consistently rated #1.
I have no problem fielding the top two corners in the league.
Go out and sign a pass rusher in free agency like Josh Sweat or Khalil Mack.
Then the defense is a real strength.

 

[lancerman]

Really?? If Wolf does that his NFL GM career will be over over: we can't pass on the Best Player in the Draft which is Travis Hunter.

Plenty of people pass up on the best player in the draft based on team need. We did last year. Maye was far from the best prospect last year on the board when we picked him and at least two consensus BPA were there when we picked. If you are sure Hunter is a starting WR (I don't think he is) then pick him. But he's not even considered the best pure WR in the draft and he's probably NOT going to be a primary WR. He's a CB.

 

[lancerman]

When listed only as corner Hunter is consistently rated #1.
I have no problem fielding the top two corners in the league.
Go out and sign a pass rusher in free agency like Josh Sweat or Khalil Mack.
Then the defense is a real strength.

The problem is we've had really good defenses over the last 6 years and they were undermined by our offense being awful. You have a QB of the future now. You REALLY can't afford to let him languish on a piss poor offense while he's developing. And right now of the three levels on defense, the secondary is the third in priority of needing help. The LB's are dismal and we have one of the worst run stopping defenses in the league. You're not fixing anything, you're letting a very lopsided team become even more lopsided. Our defense mostly sucks because of the run stopping and Hunter does nothing to address that. Teams will still be able to pass all over the place on our linebackers as well.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

When listed only as corner Hunter is consistently rated #1.
I have no problem fielding the top two corners in the league.
Go out and sign a pass rusher in free agency like Josh Sweat or Khalil Mack.
Then the defense is a real strength.

Sign both Josh Sweat, 27 years old, and Khalil Mack, although Mack is getting old, 34 in Feb, and slow. We have the cap space. Need a FS too. Draft a LB in R3.

 

[PaulThePat]

Last year I could understand wanting to lose when a QB was on the wanted list. Just doesn't feel like that this time. I want us to win out and we'll take who we get. The losing mentality needs to stop.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

The problem is we've had really good defenses over the last 6 years and they were undermined by our offense being awful. You have a QB of the future now. You REALLY can't afford to let him languish on a piss poor offense while he's developing. And right now of the three levels on defense, the secondary is the third in priority of needing help. The LB's are dismal and we have one of the worst run stopping defenses in the league. You're not fixing anything, you're letting a very lopsided team become even more lopsided. Our defense mostly sucks because of the run stopping and Hunter does nothing to address that. Teams will still be able to pass all over the place on our linebackers as well.

Valid points. And you could have added that we may be able to sign DJ Reed in FA to strengthen the DBs, and draft Mason Graham with a trade down. Graham has been good for years, great prospect with very little bust potential. Hard to be upset with Reed and Graham.

I still like Hunter as a WR and playing DB on 3rd down and long situations, like 10 to 15 defensive plays a game.

 

[lancerman]

Last year I could understand wanting to lose when a QB was on the wanted list. Just doesn't feel like that this time. I want us to win out and we'll take who we get. The losing mentality needs to stop.

Winning doesn't do anything for us though....

Like let's say we win the last two games.

-It's still a **** show of a season
-We beat a Bills team sitting most of their starters and an always up and down Chargers team
-There's nothing worth building off of and many of the current roster will be replaced.
-It's not culture building.
-It legitimately only forces us to continue this rebuild in a worse position.