Remaining Free Agency LT Options ... we still need to draft a guy

[n1997y]

I think one of Hunter or Carter will be there at 4 so you pick the one that falls; can't pass up a blue chip with minimal chance of missing. I would like Robinson signed so you are not forced to trade up to cover the position and lose draft capital. I am not a fan of trading multiple draft capital for a project in the 20's.

What if they’re both there?

 

[Pape]

And you didn’t expect that to go poorly?

SMH.

Of course I did. That's why I did it. I am a 2 on Sam's list.

 

[whybob]

I'd just rather have the best chance of a sure thing with Hunter or Carter then take a chance with Membou or Campbell at 4. I think any tackle left at Pats pick in 2nd round is going to be a project and no guarantee to be able to play their 1st year. Even Simmons who some feel is the best tackle in the draft is hurt and most likely won't be starting this season. This team is void of good players and I don't think their in a position to pass on the players that are the safest bet to decrease that void. That's why I want Robinson or any upgrade over Lowe in FA. Lowe is incompetent and Im not interested in trotting out an unproven rookie day one to protect the franchise.

What if they’re both there?

I go with Hunter

 

[Pape]

Agreed. But, would you and should the team make such a deal? And, with keeping either player, the Chargers would have a Franchise LT either way and can easily add a Starting RT in this Draft. Plus, a few years down the road, they will not be able to pay both. And, they could get a stud DL (Graham from Michigan for Harbaugh?), or trade back and add multiple assets. There's no way the Chargers would loose on such a trade with us. Bottom line Pape: Would you make that trade of you were the Patriots? This would be one of the trades where it would be a win for both teams.

The questions I would ask if offered this deal are this... Can you guarantee that Joe Alt can manage the load at LT as well as Slater? Can they adequately replace Joe Alt? Seeing as how teams struggle with line play, they are in a enviable position... Hard to give that stability up... And lastly, can we guarantee the chargers that one of the two blue chip prospects in the draft will be there? You can't.

So, really, what is in it for them? Herbert is good, but he isn't great... Will monkeying with the line hurt or help? We both know that answer...

It's an interesting question though... Would I take Slater for the 4? I would... but... Only if he agrees to a new deal before hand... otherwise it's a very expensive one year rental... Would I do it for Joe Alt? Probably not

 

[Pape]

@n1997y did you at least listen to the song?

 

[Toofy]

I think we should forget about getting glitzy (and expensive and likely aging) WR's to please the fanboys and devote as much of the draft, and trade initiatives, to building the O-line. To some extent, given the breadth of our O-line need, the scarcity this year generally of good O-line prospects, and the general reluctance of teams to part with decent O-linemen, we are inevitably going to an extent to have to indulge in a few shots in the dark: secondary options who might or might not work out. That's just how it is. But let's stop feeding the need for flashy moves on the part of fans and set to serious work rebuilding the actual core of the team, which must begin with the fat guys who make the flashy stuff work.

Draft OL with first 2 picks if Hunter is not available. I seriously want them to make a run at conerly Jr. He is my highest rated binkie higher than membou .

 

[Lavictoire]

Could we trade our 4 for Joe Alt? I wanted him but Im glad we got Drake.

 

[n1997y]

@n1997y did you at least listen to the song?

Yeah, but it really varied from my personal experience. Suspect that may reflect different personal hygiene standards used to curate my friends list compared to that of whoever wrote those unique lyrics. Or maybe I’m just a pig that doesn’t mind some of that. I dunno.

 

[Pape]

Yeah, but it really varied from my personal experience. Suspect that may reflect different personal hygiene standards used to curate my friends list compared to that of whoever wrote those unique lyrics. Or maybe I’m just a pig that doesn’t mind some of that. I dunno.

John Valby is a r rated comedian who puts his jokes to song... The dirtier the better for Dr Dirt... He's a funny guy

 

[Thelonious]

Could we trade our 4 for Joe Alt? I wanted him but Im glad we got Drake.

I would do that.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Nothing that has happened, didn't happen, could still happen, or won't happen in free agency was ever really going to change my stance on drafting a LT other than had they signed Alaric Jackson. That's the ONE played I viewed out there who could be seen as someone worth deprioritizing the LT position through his combo of youth, current level of player and future projection. Stanley, as good as he is, would only be a stop gap IMO because he's older and injury prone. Dan Moore is a JAG. Jaylon Moore was a projection. Cam Robinson, if signed, is a stop gap. So is Tyron Smith. Through all the hand wringing, i think we're all seeing how difficult it is to find a viable starting LT. It's the biggest positional need and I'd still view it that way even if they had a quality stop gap or placeholder starter.

However, teams win with positional weaknesses every year. What teams don't win without is a collection of elite players across the roster. You can build it in different ways for what the strengths are, but you need to have multiple pro bowl/all pro caliber players across your roster to win at a high level consistently. So as much of a need as one position is, you can't pass up prospects you see elite potential in IMO.

My priority in the draft still is and always has been:

1) Pro bowl/all pro players at ANY position (besides QB because of Maye and then obviously the positions like K, P, LS, ST, FB)
2) Starting caliber player at LT
3) Starting caliber players at any other positions

Seeing the draft board, it does not feel like any of the LTs fall into tier 1 and it honestly seems questionable to a lot of people if any fall into tier 2. The prospects are the prospects and they don't get better or worse because we need them to. It feels like Hunter and Carter are just simply too good to pass up on at #4 for any of these LTs.

If those guys aren't there then you have to think long and hard about how the LTs measure up to others too. If we draft a LT but he's not a quality starting option then we still need a LT and essentially it's a wasted pick.

 

[BTTA]

There's no reason to think that the Pats' evaluation of the OT's in the draft mirrors, in any way, that of the "popular consensus that's initially shaped by the ESPN money machine. We've no idea what they are thinking, although it is more likely to be similar to Scar's thinking than what the media draft experts are saying out loud.

And FWIW, Scar has been saying that arm length isn't a big deal, and that he'd rather have three guys from the middle rounds than one guy from the first round, for well over a decade.

 

[Wozzy]

It’s easy for us fans to be critical of a player in the last year of his rookie deal making “a business decision” not to play hurt. It’s not our future, health or money we’re playing with… it’s somebody else’s future.

If Jedrick Willis is healthy, I’d sign him and expect Vrabel and Marrone to get the most from him after getting paid.

 

[Ray Ray 717]

I think we should forget about getting glitzy (and expensive and likely aging) WR's to please the fanboys and devote as much of the draft, and trade initiatives, to building the O-line as is required. To some extent, given the breadth of our O-line need, the scarcity this year generally of good O-line prospects, and the general reluctance of teams to part with decent O-linemen, we are inevitably going to an extent to have to indulge in a few shots in the dark: secondary options who might or might not work out. That's just how it is. But let's stop feeding the need for flashy moves on the part of fans and set to serious work rebuilding the actual core of the team, which must begin with the fat guys who make the flashy stuff work.

Please the fanboys or please Maye?

You really think Maye is happy having soda pop Douglas as his number 1 wide receiver?

Pape made some good points about some veteran LTs we can sign or trading down and drafting a LT in round 2. I’m all on board with those two options

 

[Ray Ray 717]

Unless they get a haul for #4, LT is the pick. Arm length is overblown according to Scar.

No absolutes: A lesson on o-line arm length with Dante Scarnecchia

Are Will Campbell's undersized arms a red flag? Phil Perry turned to coaching legend Dante Scarnecchia for an in-depth breakdown of arm length and its imapct.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

If you’re going to quote scar then you should listen to his own advice

“If you’re picking in the top 5 of the draft, you take a player who can score touchdowns or sack the QB.” - Scar

 

[Thelonious]

Please the fanboys or please Maye?

You really think Maye is happy having soda pop Douglas as his number 1 wide receiver?

Pape made some good points about some veteran LTs we can sign or trading down and drafting a LT in round 2. I’m all on board with those two options

I would rather see him frustrated with his receivers than lying on his back, injured, because after YEARS the d----d team can't build an O-line.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

It’s easy for us fans to be critical of a player in the last year of his rookie deal making “a business decision” not to play hurt. It’s not our future, health or money we’re playing with… it’s somebody else’s future.

If Jedrick Willis is healthy, I’d sign him and expect Vrabel and Marrone to get the most from him after getting paid.

The problem is that his level of play hasn't been very good, so it doesn't make sense to pay him at a high level. A 1 year prove it deal makes more sense, but we just saw how he handled that situation in CLE last year with the "business decision" stuff.

 

[Wozzy]

The problem is that his level of play hasn't been very good, so it doesn't make sense to pay him at a high level. A 1 year prove it deal makes more sense, but we just saw how he handled that situation in CLE last year with the "business decision" stuff.

They don’t have to pay him a max contract, just more than the next team.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

They don’t have to pay him a max contract, just more than the next team.

Sure, I guess maybe I'm just confused a bit. You talked about the player he would be "after getting paid". I took that to mean that you think with a lucrative long term deal he'd be fine with the business decision stuff since he's taken care of. My point is that I don't think his level of play warrants a lucrative long term that deal that makes him feel taken care of. I think he's a one year prove it deal type of player, and that was the spot he's in last year and seemed to have a bad attitude about it.

So yeah, you can outbid another team and pay him more for that prove it year, but big picture I don't think that changes things. You're still putting him in a spot where he needs to play well and stay healthy to get paid long term and last year he didn't handle that well.

 

[PatsFan2]

Seems like we have too much intel on Jedrick Wills and Cam Robinson. Vrabel and Marrone would know know first hand: consider ourselves lucky.