What’s our plan at Wide Receiver?

[RobertWeathers]

There's an expectation at 4 that we're going to get someone amazing. A lot of the time, as has been shown, the 4 pick busts out. Let's just get a solid, blue chip player with a high floor, whether that's Hunter, Campbell, Warren, etc. and I think we'll feel fine as long as they can play.

I agree. Drafts are crap shoots. Everything is a projection. There have been 1st pick busts, 2nd, 3rd 4th, etc....

Things talent evaluators can always bank on are performance against top-tier competition, physical ability, and work ethic. Projecting scheme fit, physical development and thinking the player will mature/conform to a program are risks.

If Hunter is not there at 4 and they draft Campbell, move him to G and he then becomes a 8x All-Pro and future HoF, will the majority of the fan base complain about the pick in 2034?

I sure as hell hope not.

 

[Real fan 02]

Trade up

Strong possibility?..

 

[Ross12]

I would not be surprised if the Pats waited til Kupp was cut, then actually paid him MORE than he's making now, at least as far as guarantees. Let's say - 2 years (plus a void year), $36M with a $25M signing bonus. First year salary of $1M (gtd), $8.3M per year in bonus proration, so first year cap hit is only about $9.3M. Second year salary of $10M, $8.3M bonus proration, second year cap hit around $18.3M. Then $8.3M in dead money in third year. Add some incentives to make it sound nice. Would be reported as "2 years, up to $40M with $26M fully guaranteed"

 

[Brotherblues]

I'm coming around to Kupp being too smart and hard working to be ineffective yet.

I don't think either 1 is what people think is A PROFESSIONAL FB player.

Hunter may be good, but he will NEVER BE the 2 way player he was in Colorado, which is a weak ass division.
I swear some folks think he's an honest to God 2 way every play player.
Seriously? He'll never be that guy, it's not possible in the Pros.

1. What's your definition of a professional FB player? Hunter won the awards for best WR and best defender in the nation while hardly ever leaving the field. That's an insane combination of both talent and commitment to greatness.

2. Who are these folks saying he's a "two-way every play" guy in the pros? If any exist, I agree they are crazy. I just haven't met any. Everyone I've read and heard has expressed a vision for Hunter to be primarily one thing, while being part of packages on the other side. Something like 40 snaps per game with the bulk tilted to one side.

You could argue Hunter himself has hinted he wants to go both ways full time. Which just makes him the perfect amount of crazy in terms of ambition to excel. A guy who coaches have to rein back because his hair is too on fire is the kind of attitude I want in the locker.

You might be underestimating the level of work and toughness required to do what he has done because he plays skill positions associated with diva attitudes.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Godwin left 20 million on the table NOT to come here...

Sounds like a take that you would expect to hear F and M, and that obviously isn't a compliment.

More likely, it had little to deal with the Patriots and everything to do with the fact that Godwin wanted to stay in Tampa and if they had a certain number he would resign with them and ultimately they hit that number. Very likely that he would've made the same decision even if it had been the Chiefs blowing the Bucs offer out of the water.

 

[yukon cornelius]

I'm coming around to Kupp being too smart and hard working to be ineffective yet.

1. What's your definition of a professional FB player? Hunter won the awards for best WR and best defender in the nation while hardly ever leaving the field. That's an insane combination of both talent and commitment to greatness.

2. Who are these folks saying he's a "two-way every play" guy in the pros? If any exist, I agree they are crazy. I just haven't met any. Everyone I've read and heard has expressed a vision for Hunter to be primarily one thing, while being part of packages on the other side. Something like 40 snaps per game with the bulk tilted to one side.

You could argue Hunter himself has hinted he wants to go both ways full time. Which just makes him the perfect amount of crazy in terms of ambition to excel. A guy who coaches have to rein back because his hair is too on fire is the kind of attitude I want in the locker.

You might be underestimating the level of work and toughness required to do what he has done because he plays skill positions associated with diva attitudes.

bilitnekoff winners 2014-2023:

2023	Marvin Harrison Jr.	Ohio State
2022	Jalin Hyatt	Tennessee
2021	Jordan Addison	Pittsburgh
2020	DeVonta Smith	Alabama
2019	Ja'Marr Chase	LSU
2018	Jerry Jeudy	Alabama
2017	James Washington	Oklahoma State
2016	Dede Westbrook	Oklahoma
2015	Corey Coleman	Baylor
2014	Amari Cooper	Alabama

bednarik awards, same time period:

2024	Travis Hunter	Colorado
2023	Payton Wilson	NC State
2022	Will Anderson Jr.	Alabama
2021	Jordan Davis	Georgia
2020	Zaven Collins	Tulsa
2019	Chase Young	Ohio State
2018	Josh Allen	Kentucky
2017	Minkah Fitzpatrick	Alabama
2016	Jonathan Allen	Alabama
2015	Tyler Matakevich	Temple
2014	Scooby Wright III	Arizona

 

[RobertWeathers]

I would not be surprised if the Pats waited til Kupp was cut, then actually paid him MORE than he's making now, at least as far as guarantees. Let's say - 2 years (plus a void year), $36M with a $25M signing bonus. First year salary of $1M (gtd), $8.3M per year in bonus proration, so first year cap hit is only about $9.3M. Second year salary of $10M, $8.3M bonus proration, second year cap hit around $18.3M. Then $8.3M in dead money in third year. Add some incentives to make it sound nice. Would be reported as "2 years, up to $40M with $26M fully guaranteed"

I agree in spirit with your contract structure and am somewhat OK "overpaying" on guarantees, but i'd rather have more dead money and less guarantees in 2025 and a ton more incentives in the deal.

The fact that he's missed 35% of the games the last 3 years and will be 32 when the season starts seems to me like a 1yr deal.

 

[signbabybrady]

Strong possibility?..

Probably not it can be expensive but I'm trying anything to get Hunter lol

 

[Real fan 02]

Probably not it can be expensive but I'm trying anything to get Hunter lol

Lol.. I like Hunter too SBB.. I just don't know if he'll be there for us.. as you said u less we somehow move up..

 

[Brotherblues]

bilitnekoff winners 2014-2023:

2023	Marvin Harrison Jr.	Ohio State
2022	Jalin Hyatt	Tennessee
2021	Jordan Addison	Pittsburgh
2020	DeVonta Smith	Alabama
2019	Ja'Marr Chase	LSU
2018	Jerry Jeudy	Alabama
2017	James Washington	Oklahoma State
2016	Dede Westbrook	Oklahoma
2015	Corey Coleman	Baylor
2014	Amari Cooper	Alabama

bednarik awards, same time period:

2024	Travis Hunter	Colorado
2023	Payton Wilson	NC State
2022	Will Anderson Jr.	Alabama
2021	Jordan Davis	Georgia
2020	Zaven Collins	Tulsa
2019	Chase Young	Ohio State
2018	Josh Allen	Kentucky
2017	Minkah Fitzpatrick	Alabama
2016	Jonathan Allen	Alabama
2015	Tyler Matakevich	Temple
2014	Scooby Wright III	Arizona

Good company, especially among WRs.

Linebackers bring the success rate down among the defensive winners, but that's due to specifics of the position itself. Stuffing a stat sheet as a college LB is very situation dependent.

 

[scott99]

I don't want Hunter OR Tet.
I don't think either 1 is what people think is A PROFESSIONAL FB player.

Hunter may be good, but he will NEVER BE the 2 way player he was in Colorado, which is a weak ass division.
I swear some folks think he's an honest to God 2 way every play player.
Seriously? He'll never be that guy, it's not possible in the Pros.
No fkn chance. And Tet beat up ****ies, and did just OK vs REAL talent
Will these 2 guys be good players? Probably, does anyone REALLY THINK TET OR Hunter are going to be perennial All-Pros? Isn't that idiocy is what's expected?
Hill is a fkn cancer, and a punk.

I love draft geniuses like you. You act like what you see now, is who the player will be 5 years from now, you seem to think prospects can’t improve from the level they are at right before the draft.

 

[yukon cornelius]

bilitnekoff winners 2014-2023:

2023	Marvin Harrison Jr.	Ohio State
2022	Jalin Hyatt	Tennessee
2021	Jordan Addison	Pittsburgh
2020	DeVonta Smith	Alabama
2019	Ja'Marr Chase	LSU
2018	Jerry Jeudy	Alabama
2017	James Washington	Oklahoma State
2016	Dede Westbrook	Oklahoma
2015	Corey Coleman	Baylor
2014	Amari Cooper	Alabama

bednarik awards, same time period:

2024	Travis Hunter	Colorado
2023	Payton Wilson	NC State
2022	Will Anderson Jr.	Alabama
2021	Jordan Davis	Georgia
2020	Zaven Collins	Tulsa
2019	Chase Young	Ohio State
2018	Josh Allen	Kentucky
2017	Minkah Fitzpatrick	Alabama
2016	Jonathan Allen	Alabama
2015	Tyler Matakevich	Temple
2014	Scooby Wright III	Arizona

my point being, winning the award still doesn't translate to automatic, high end success in the league.......there's some tops at their position guys, some decent starters, and some note quites.......granted, he won two big awards, but they are not an automatic indicator of success, especially out of the 4 slot

 

[mgteich]

one day at a time, or even one week at a time
====
We all are waiting to see whether we sign Kupp and where we are a week into free agecy.

 

[Headcase]

I'm coming around to Kupp being too smart and hard working to be ineffective yet.

1. What's your definition of a professional FB player? Hunter won the awards for best WR and best defender in the nation while hardly ever leaving the field. That's an insane combination of both talent and commitment to greatness.

2. Who are these folks saying he's a "two-way every play" guy in the pros? If any exist, I agree they are crazy. I just haven't met any. Everyone I've read and heard has expressed a vision for Hunter to be primarily one thing, while being part of packages on the other side. Something like 40 snaps per game with the bulk tilted to one side.

You could argue Hunter himself has hinted he wants to go both ways full time. Which just makes him the perfect amount of crazy in terms of ambition to excel. A guy who coaches have to rein back because his hair is too on fire is the kind of attitude I want in the locker.

You might be underestimating the level of work and toughness required to do what he has done because he plays skill positions associated with diva attitudes.

He has also said that he will do whatever the team that drafts him wants him to do; he wants to play both ways, but it doesn't seem like he will make a stink otherwise.....Everything that is out there about him says he is pretty level headed for a guy with as much talent as he has.

 

[Brotherblues]

my point being, winning the award still doesn't translate to automatic, high end success in the league.......there's some tops at their position guys, some decent starters, and some note quites.......granted, he won two big awards, but they are not an automatic indicator of success, especially out of the 4 slot

When I mentioned him winning both awards simultaneously it was in response to someone who was questioning Hunter's professionalism. I think winning both of those awards in one year in the way he did shows the work ethic and toughness of a real pro.

Agree that nobody ever is even close to being a guarantee and nothing is an automatic indicator of success. Hunter is just close to being as good a bet as it gets.

 

[jdlboot14]

Legit question. Is Cooper a better FA bet than Kupp?

Kupp is 1 year older, more recent injuries, less productive in the last 3 seasons than Cooper.

Cooper has been so quietly consistent. He's not flashy, no highlight plays, but his '22 & '23 numbers in CLE were excellent.
avg. ~ 75 / 1200 / 7 TD His #'s were down last year going between CLE & BUF. But, he plays a classic X WR, and still offers quality more than anyone we've had around here for a while.

 

[signbabybrady]

Lol.. I like Hunter too SBB.. I just don't know if he'll be there for us.. as you said u less we somehow move up..

I actually think from what I've been reading that Tenn likes Carter but also could go QB. Browns I don't have a read on but a cost controlled QB makes too much sense for them. Giants seem like they really want Ward but I'm not sure they are sold on Sanders.

So what I've been thinking is if no one gets too greedy and the price makes sense that 2 of us should swap picks and everyone can potentially get what they want/need.

Tenn and Giants swap each still getting the player they wanted Carter and Ward are gone with Ward going #1.

Browns now have to decide if they want Sanders and if they do they mine as well save a little cash and flip with us. We get Hunter and they take Sanders. It's a safe trade for them because Tenn would have already declared their intentions by passing on Ward so hopefully that lightens the price tag on us a little.

Maybe all 4 of us sort of collude on this ahead of time.

 

[bakes781]

They've drafted 4 in the last 2 years and they've been in on the big names,so you can't say they haven't tried. But FAs don't want to come here!

Keep trying to hit with one in the draft. I'm not advocating to draft one at 4 overall this year though. This crop is crap! There's a few names worthy at 38 though.

 

[JohnJH]

Right. But get Robinson and hope to keep his head on straight long enough to find/develop the LT either this season or the next. Robinson's not the long-term answer.

Agreed. Even if they had gotten Stanley, he wasn't considered a long-term answer either. But, if he stayed healthy, he would have been a solid OL stabilizing and positive mentoring force to the rest of the OL players who could have possibly given us 2 to 3 years of solid LT play while we found his replacement. In reality, even if they find their LT of the future in this draft (wherever that LT is drafted), they just need much better LT play from whoever (even if it's short-term). I have no idea what their specific plans regarding this are.

 

[Real fan 02]

I actually think from what I've been reading that Tenn likes Carter but also could go QB. Browns I don't have a read on but a cost controlled QB makes too much sense for them. Giants seem like they really want Ward but I'm not sure they are sold on Sanders.

So what I've been thinking is if no one gets too greedy and the price makes sense that 2 of us should swap picks and everyone can potentially get what they want/need.

Tenn and Giants swap each still getting the player they wanted Carter and Ward are gone with Ward going #1.

Browns now have to decide if they want Sanders and if they do they mine as well save a little cash and flip with us. We get Hunter and they take Sanders. It's a safe trade for them because Tenn would have already declared their intentions by passing on Ward so hopefully that lightens the price tag on us a little.

Maybe all 4 of us sort of collude on this ahead of time.

All sounds really interesting. I'm leary ok the Giants as they really wanted to do business with us last year for Drake.. obviously wolf was smart enough not to to it.. lol.. now do you think if Hunter falls to them they would do us solid? They may want Hella capital though??