What’s our plan at Wide Receiver?

[Ray Ray 717]

We’ve thrown massive amounts of money at star defensive talent already in FA. Our defense should be strong next year, very excited about that.

On offense, we just signed a very reliable starting RT.

Now…the wide receiver position. What is this front office going to do to solve this WR curse?

Higgins is franchised, we already missed the boat on a couple of big names who were available.

Our franchise QB needs weapons. We cannot rely on him to put up pro bowl numbers with JAGs and castoffs like Tom Brady did at various times.

We have a whole slew of number 3-4 WRs including the new addition of class clown Mack Hollins.

Most of this forum seems dead set on drafting a LT at 4 overall, even though there is no one talented enough in the draft that is worthy of that pick.

So we go WR when? In Round 2 where we’ve been the epitome of anemic ?

It’s not fair to Maye to expect huge development without investing in a high quality receiver. I hope the patriots have a plan

 

[Hugepatsfan]

They entered this offseason with:

the worst WR room in the NFL
0 starting caliber OTs
only 2 starting caliber interior OL for 3 spots (Onwenu & Strange)
only 1 NFL caliber DT and that guy is recovering from blood clots
0 starting caliber edge rushers unless Keion White learns how to contain the QB
one of the worst LB position groups in the NFL
no #2 CB, no coverage FS

Add it all out and they probably needed:

2 starting WRs
2 starting OTs
1 IOL starter
2 starting EDGE defenders
1 starting DT
1 starting CB
1 starting FS
1-2 starting LBs

It's very hard to add 11-12 solid pieces in one offseason. Some of that likely goes unaddressed. In the game of musical chairs, I suspect a true #1 WR might be one of those unaddressed spots.

 

[PaulThePat]

Kinda wonder if a trade back from 4 and taking Tet somewhere 6-10 is becoming more likely. Suppose it depends on the rest of FA and whether we have an issue with LT's with alligator arms.

 

[Grogan14]

There is no plan.
Waiting for a one to fall from sky into their lap.
If Metcalf were not such a **** he could have been the plan

 

[TheRainMaker]

Could be the pick at #4.

I think a couple veterans will brought in.

 

[billdog3484]

im still holding out hope for Aiyuk or Higgins. probably fools hope, but thats my hope. the way i see it most likely unfolding is Will Campbell in 1st round of draft, WR in 2nd and another veteran WR signing.

 

[PaulThePat]

There is no plan.

I think you're wrong. There will be a plan. You may not like it. But there will be one.

 

[chasa]

The plan is to run the ball and win games 9 to 6

 

[hornetfb85]

Looking at our roster. This is not a one year rebuild. I do agree they went to town on D, which was a little bit of a surprise. Wanted a WR like everyone else, but there is really nothing there. Trade maybe, but who knows who is really available.

The #1 goal for the rest of the offseason should be to protect our #1 asset. Build up the OL. Lots of work still needs to be done there. Maybe the in-house options for C and G are sufficient enough. Everyone knows LT is the biggest area of concern. That might be a draft upgrade at this point.

Cooper Kupp on a one year, try to show I still have it kind of deal would be welcome. Other than that I’m not sure what’s out there really to improve over what we have. Maybe Hopkins or Diggs.

 

[Brotherblues]

If Hunter is there at 4:

A) Draft him. Instant WR1 and we'd have the most fearsome Dime package in the league.

If no Hunter at 4, draft Membou and then:

B) Take J. Higgins or Tre Harris at 38 if they fall or with a very slight move up.
C) If you can find a taker, move from 38 to the mid-late 1st for Golden.
D) Trade down multiple times from 4, come away with Golden + Josh Simmons + extra picks.

Bottom line is that barring some improbable trade, strong solutions to WR and LT have to come from the draft. And there is plenty of flexibility to work with there.

 

[PatsFan2]

We’ve thrown massive amounts of money at star defensive talent already in FA. Our defense should be strong next year, very excited about that.

On offense, we just signed a very reliable starting RT.

Now…the wide receiver position. What is this front office going to do to solve this WR curse?

Higgins is franchised, we already missed the boat on a couple of big names who were available.

Our franchise QB needs weapons. We cannot rely on him to put up pro bowl numbers with JAGs and castoffs like Tom Brady did at various times.

We have a whole slew of number 3-4 WRs including the new addition of class clown Mack Hollins.

Most of this forum seems dead set on drafting a LT at 4 overall, even though there is no one talented enough in the draft that is worthy of that pick.

So we go WR when? In Round 2 where we’ve been the epitome of anemic ?

It’s not fair to Maye to expect huge development without investing in a high quality receiver. I hope the patriots have a plan

I was wondering where you were welcome back.

 

[Water Boy]

If there was any easy fix in 2025 we'd do it. We're suffering from chronically bad drafting at that position and our WR development has been piss poor too.

There are a lot of highly talented WRs in the college ranks these days. Last year's draft was epic and we wiffed. We wiffed big time in the NKeal Harry draft, when there were numerous studs for the taking.

This years draft is lacking blue chippers, but likely some top notch receivers available.

I'd much rather draft and develop WR and get some years on a rookie contract than trade draft capital and pay top of the market salary for FAs if possible.

As far as team building is concerned there is a school of thought that WR is the last piece of the puzzle. I'm good with that. If we have a solid defense, running game and Drake has time to throw we'll be ok.

Look at what Mac Jones was able to do his rookie year.

 

[Wozzy]

Draft them.

 

[Ring 6]

They entered this offseason with:

the worst WR room in the NFL
0 starting caliber OTs
only 2 starting caliber interior OL for 3 spots (Onwenu & Strange)
only 1 NFL caliber DT and that guy is recovering from blood clots
0 starting caliber edge rushers unless Keion White learns how to contain the QB
one of the worst LB position groups in the NFL
no #2 CB, no coverage FS

Add it all out and they probably needed:

2 starting WRs
2 starting OTs
1 IOL starter
2 starting EDGE defenders
1 starting DT
1 starting CB
1 starting FS
1-2 starting LBs

It's very hard to add 11-12 solid pieces in one offseason. Some of that likely goes unaddressed. In the game of musical chairs, I suspect a true #1 WR might be one of those unaddressed spots.

I disagree that you can’t fix them all in one year.
We have already addressed 5 of them and have roughly 60-70 mill left. the 4th pick a second and 2 3rds.

That is plenty to add 2 WR, 1 OT, 1 IOL, 1 edge, 1 S that are upgrades to what we had last year. It’s enough for many of them to be substantial upgrades.
We have the resources to fill every hole.

 

[TommyD4207]

I disagree that you can’t fix them all in one year.
We have already addressed 5 of them and have roughly 60-70 mill left. the 4th pick a second and 2 3rds.

That is plenty to add 2 WR, 1 OT, 1 IOL, 1 edge, 1 S that are upgrades to what we had last year. It’s enough for many of them to be substantial upgrades.
We have the resources to fill every hole.

The players might not all be there this year, is the issue, and why it's going to take multiple years.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Our plan at Wide Receiver is to draft or sign someone with Cat Like Quickness!

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I disagree that you can’t fix them all in one year.
We have already addressed 5 of them and have roughly 60-70 mill left. the 4th pick a second and 2 3rds.

That is plenty to add 2 WR, 1 OT, 1 IOL, 1 edge, 1 S that are upgrades to what we had last year. It’s enough for many of them to be substantial upgrades.
We have the resources to fill every hole.

Upgrades to what we had last year =/= "fix" in my book. We were pretty dreadful across the board. We can improve off last year but still not "fix" things at many positions.

We have resources to fill every hole, yes, but there's not the enough availability of players to "fix" all of those holes because there's 31 other teams competing for the unsigned guys. At most of the positions you listed, I think the talent pool of actual "fix" type of players is pretty dried up actually. We're in the stop gap and lottery ticket phase for the most part, probably outside of IOL where it looks like there's a good starter to be had and maybe at FS too with Justin Reid (though he might be another better at SS type).

 

[PatsFan2]

We’ve thrown massive amounts of money at star defensive talent already in FA. Our defense should be strong next year, very excited about that.

On offense, we just signed a very reliable starting RT.

Now…the wide receiver position. What is this front office going to do to solve this WR curse?

Higgins is franchised, we already missed the boat on a couple of big names who were available.

Our franchise QB needs weapons. We cannot rely on him to put up pro bowl numbers with JAGs and castoffs like Tom Brady did at various times.

We have a whole slew of number 3-4 WRs including the new addition of class clown Mack Hollins.

Most of this forum seems dead set on drafting a LT at 4 overall, even though there is no one talented enough in the draft that is worthy of that pick.

So we go WR when? In Round 2 where we’ve been the epitome of anemic ?

It’s not fair to Maye to expect huge development without investing in a high quality receiver. I hope the patriots have a plan

Regarding WR's I think Vrabel thinks he can break the curse. It's not like we couldn't hit when we spent Draft capital at the position: it's just that BB choose the wrong ones. You how I feel about WR's but we have to sure up that LT spot: No WR is getting open with that Jag Lowe @ LT. That said I would take a Tackle on a Trade Down and Double dip @ WR in the Second and Third: I think they're some Gems available. Also I would move a Third Rounder to the 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I kind of wonder if we have an agreement in principle with 49ers for Aiyuk but we won't pull the trigger until the draft to see if we can come away with Hunter instead.

 

[Ring 6]

Upgrades to what we had last year =/= "fix" in my book. We were pretty dreadful across the board. We can improve off last year but still not "fix" things at many positions.

We have resources to fill every hole, yes, but there's not the enough availability of players to "fix" all of those holes because there's 31 other teams competing for the unsigned guys. At most of the positions you listed, I think the talent pool of actual "fix" type of players is pretty dried up actually. We're in the stop gap and lottery ticket phase for the most part, probably outside of IOL where it looks like there's a good starter to be had and maybe at FS too with Justin Reid (though he might be another better at SS type).

Between renting free agents and the draft and trades we can fill every one of those with average or better players.
It’s not about 22 all pros.

Sign Kupp, Cooper or Diggs or 2 of them
Trade down and take LT in the first and WR with the picks you gain.
Draft a FS in the 2nd (or sign Reid)
Sign one of the many guards
Sign a veteran pas rusher to play opposite Landry on passing downs when white moves inside.

All of that can easily be done.