Player Signing Patriots Sign WR Stefon Diggs

[Real fan 02]

Quite frankly they need to feel the pressure. If they can't handle competitive pressure and expectations to perform then we don't want them on the team.

Oh don't get me wrong.. Vrabel and Josh will be on thier asses.. but they are looked to to be focal points in the offense like last season.. if they become such then that would be marvelous!

 

[Sect140]

Improved, yes; but that's damning with faint praise...

I found too many of the coaching hires were hit or miss for my liking: I feel we regressed at Tight Ends, and going from The Worst WRs coaches in the league, to a loyal buddy of the HC who has NEVER coached the position before and has a reputation of being quite the **** Head, is NOT the direction I would've gone... I also wish we didn't have another first-time Defensive Co-ordinator... And don't forget, the same nepo-clowns from last year (and the year before that, and the year before that...) are Still upstairs this Entire offseason too.

As for the personnel itself, on offense the only signing that has directly impacted a known position of need with a contract that reflected the need as well as the condition of the player filling it has been Morgan Moses at Right Tackle. Schweitzer & Bradberry are just More of the Same at the C/G positions; and Left Tackle? Absolutely ****ing NOTHING. 3rd-Down Back? More Nothing. WR until Steph infection Diggs? Even More Nothing (The Dirty Mack Hollins does NOT count).
For the defense, while we've found our Matt Judon replacement - maybe, we hope - I still don't understand what good having a Ridiculously Expensive pass-rushing 3-Tech DT is when we are Absolute Shyte at stopping the run and can't score Nearly Enough to take the leads that would provide opportunities for William$ to do what he does best anyway... And the other two positions on defense to address - Outside CB #2 and Free Safety - were "answered" by throwing away cash - most Especially and Egregiously toward the CB - at two unreliable, injury-prone and Declining players... For different reasons, All Three of those signings made No ****ing Sense to me for what we needed then, and in some cases - Run-Stopping DT, starting-caliber Free Safety (because I consider Peppers a better Strong Safety at this stage of his career) - still need now.

Unless this up-coming draft proves otherwise - and I have no reason whatsoever to believe that it will - then we're still the 3rd-best team in a 4-team division, 10th-best in the conference, tops.

I appreciate the in depth reply.

I feel the team is much improved. The coaching staff is a real coaching staff unlike last year which improves the team, I am leary of the new DC but Vrabel believes in him and I’m sure Vrabel will spend a lot of time with him discussing the type of defense they will be, I’m sure he’s better than the DC we had last year. The talent on defense is much better than it was last year, so to me the defense will be much better.

We now have an OC who understands that if an offensive tackle is struggling that he will scheme help for him, he will know what position is better suited for each receiver, he an experienced OC. To me I still have questions about the O-Line, I do like the new RT for short term, he doesn’t miss games and is tough. The center is good as long as we are running the ball, maybe Josh brings back a fullback in as extra protection up the middle.

Vrabel is so much better than Mayo so the overall management of the team will be so much better.

If they come out of the draft with a LT via a pick or trade then I’m looking for them to be battling for a playoff birth. Who knows it could just be me being a long time season ticket holder hoping that I’m watching competitive games in Foxboro again. LOL!

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

our new hope is Ward, Sanders, Patriots trade up 1 for Hunter, Giants select Carter. Or draft Jeanty to shut up the Barkley fans.
...

Sounds interesting, but why would the Giants pass up the opportunity to draft Hunter? If Sanders is gone at 3, they still have a temporary fix at QB, but have a big need at CB so they would take Hunter. And besides, it would cost something like a third to move up to 3 and the Patriots have so many holes to fill that it seems a bit unwise.

According to the Jimmy Johnson-esq value board, a move from 4 to 3 would cost 400 points. The Patriots second round pick is valued at 520 and their third is 245 so the Giant could try to extort a second from the Patriots which is definitely NOT what the Patriots should do; they will need that second for a LT.

If Hunter is off the board, the Patriots should move down and get some draft capital so they can maneuver around for a LT.

 

[Froob]

The roster locks (or near locks):

Diggs (X/Z/Slot): Roster lock
Hollins (X): Roster lock
Douglas (Slot): 80% locked

After that I think all of these guys are battling for 2 or 3 spots, with potential for draftees to be added too:

Bourne (Z): bit older, less effective post injury, but knows the offense, good character
Boutte (X/Z): produced OK last year but was a ghost in similar offense in year 1 under BOB
Polk (Z/Slot): can be used more naturally this year, will he pick up offense? Probably still has decent trade value
Baker (X): IMO, worth keeping around at back-end and developing as he has talent to (eventually) be pretty good; could just as easily be cut

Why is Mack Hollins a lock? I think he's likely here, but his guaranteed money does not indicate he is a lock. I think Diggs is the only lock.

 

[PatsFan2]

The roster locks (or near locks):

Diggs (X/Z/Slot): Roster lock
Hollins (X): Roster lock
Douglas (Slot): 80% locked

After that I think all of these guys are battling for 2 or 3 spots, with potential for draftees to be added too:

Bourne (Z): bit older, less effective post injury, but knows the offense, good character
Boutte (X/Z): produced OK last year but was a ghost in similar offense in year 1 under BOB
Polk (Z/Slot): can be used more naturally this year, will he pick up offense? Probably still has decent trade value
Baker (X): IMO, worth keeping around at back-end and developing as he has talent to (eventually) be pretty good; could just as easily be cut

K Boutte > Mac Hollins.

 

[Ross12]

Why is Mack Hollins a lock? I think he's likely here, but his guaranteed money does not indicate he is a lock. I think Diggs is the only lock.

Money certainly doesn't indicate he's a lock, but true X receivers are rare on this roster and I think they will highly value his skillset. Plus, his character and reliability as well.

 

[Real fan 02]

The roster locks (or near locks):

Diggs (X/Z/Slot): Roster lock
Hollins (X): Roster lock
Douglas (Slot): 80% locked

After that I think all of these guys are battling for 2 or 3 spots, with potential for draftees to be added too:

Bourne (Z): bit older, less effective post injury, but knows the offense, good character
Boutte (X/Z): produced OK last year but was a ghost in similar offense in year 1 under BOB
Polk (Z/Slot): can be used more naturally this year, will he pick up offense? Probably still has decent trade value
Baker (X): IMO, worth keeping around at back-end and developing as he has talent to (eventually) be pretty good; could just as easily be cut

KB will likely be moved I sense. Boutte has upside he has shown abilities to make plays on the outside as he and Drake have a nice connection.. Pop will succeed well under Josh. However I tend to agree with your format too.

 

[Patsfan1645]

When I mentioned pressure meaning they were asked to be focal points on offense coming in as rookies.. both polk and bakers had fantastic camps last year. Starting off with Brissett who can't throw pass the line of scrimmage and when you aren't seeing targets affects rookies.

Seen as how N'Keal Harry stuck around for 3 plus seasons and Tyquan Thornton as well I think they both have some time.

I only put so much weight in training camp performance. We have seen training camp heroes before that disappear in games. As for Harry and Thornton that was old leadership, I don't think the new management will be as patient. I think Polk had pressure early in the season but when he laid an egg and became a nonfactor he just disappeared. I am all for giving these guys another shot this year but if there is no real noticeable production improvement then I am ready to cut bait and open spots for players who can actually help the team.

 

[BobDigital]

Why is Mack Hollins a lock? I think he's likely here, but his guaranteed money does not indicate he is a lock. I think Diggs is the only lock.

I have Mack Hollins as a lock too, due to his contract.

Current lock %

Diggs 100%
Hollins 100% (basically his entire first year is already paid for
Boutte 99% (super cheap deal, very young with more than slight upside due to his age.. only 22)
Polk 99% (I have never heard of a team giving up on such a high pick due to bad play and no off field stuff after 1 horrible year... it's possible he's cut... but unlikely)
Douglas 95% (Super cheap deal, young <24> with slight upside and is a serviceable depth piece Maye knows)
Bourne 5% (His contract sucks compared to Boutte/Douglas... he is getting up their for a WR and if we draft a guy it will be a numbers game. Cutting him saves 5M)

Since i think we will draft a guy i think Bourne gets the ax as i am very positive we won't hold 7 guys.

The only way i see Douglas gone is if the guy we draft instantly shows he's legit + Either one of Polk gets it or we draft a 2nd WR who also seems ready to go.

The only way i see both Douglas AND Boutte being cut is if Polk gets it and lives up to his pick + we draft 2 guys that also seem like legit NFL threats. But in this case we are also potentially likely to hold 7 just to see how it turns out by mid season...

 

[Real fan 02]

I appreciate the in depth reply.

I feel the team is much improved. The coaching staff is a real coaching staff unlike last year which improves the team, I am leary of the new DC but Vrabel believes in him and I’m sure Vrabel will spend a lot of time with him discussing the type of defense they will be, I’m sure he’s better than the DC we had last year. The talent on defense is much better than it was last year, so to me the defense will be much better.

We now have an OC who understands that if an offensive tackle is struggling that he will scheme help for him, he will know what position is better suited for each receiver, he an experienced OC. To me I still have questions about the O-Line, I do like the new RT for short term, he doesn’t miss games and is tough. The center is good as long as we are running the ball, maybe Josh brings back a fullback in as extra protection up the middle.

Vrabel is so much better than Mayo so the overall management of the team will be so much better.

If they come out of the draft with a LT via a pick or trade then I’m looking for them to be battling for a playoff birth. Who knows it could just be me being a long time season ticket holder hoping that I’m watching competitive games in Foxboro again. LOL!

Great post. We will be playing meaningful games this season. When we were bad in the late 80s and early 90s the ownership wasn't as good and the stadium was a dump. It was a chore to go to a patriots game.

We adopted a culture of winning Vrabel was one of the guys who helped instill that culture.. who pushed brady on the practice field. Drake has the benefits of having champions around him in Vrabel and Josh specifically. This signing shows the the team is committed to winning and bringing competitive football and big games back to Foxboro.

 

[RobertWeathers]

KB will likely be moved I sense. Boutte has upside he has shown abilities to make plays on the outside as he and Drake have a nice connection.. Pop will succeed well under Josh. However I tend to agree with your format too.

I'm not convinced KB will be moved as he did well under Josh.

 

[Grogan14]

Why do you think boute gets cut

Polk and Baker were higher draft choices and are given another year to prove thenselves
Boute had good year but is a 6th rounder and does not have the upside of Polk and Baker
But
Boute could make the team
Its all about TC performance

 

[sb1]

Now that Diggs is a Patriot I can be impressed with this. Lol

 

[Real fan 02]

I only put so much weight in training camp performance. We have seen training camp heroes before that disappear in games. As for Harry and Thornton that was old leadership, I don't think the new management will be as patient. I think Polk had pressure early in the season but when he laid an egg and became a nonfactor he just disappeared. I am all for giving these guys another shot this year but if there is no real noticeable production improvement then I am ready to cut bait and open spots for players who can actually help the team.

I get it. But camp is how you carve out a role on the team. I don't think Mayo did the right thing with polk and baker during camp/preseason. Polk and baker were making plays.. left and right in camp as they were with the first team offense.

However in the games they didn't start. It's just an odd thing to do. The competition, the roles, all that comes to fruition in camp and then translates to the playing field typically.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'm not convinced KB will be moved as he did well under Josh.

He did. However we have diggs not Nelson Alghlor.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

This is exactly what got us into this mess in the first place. If you had not noticed, drafting over the last 10 years has been atrocious. The value of getting more picks has outweighed the value of one pick. If a guy like Cater is there, you take him. I love BB, but Drake May would not be out QB if he drafted last year. There is no boatload of pics in this draft. The roster has to be fixed one player at a time. When one has pro-bowl potential, you don't pass on him for mediocrity.

I hate to say this, but I was not impressed with the highlights I saw of Carter. He is not the next Lawrence Taylor. I saw a lot of sacks, but he had wide open lanes to rush through.....now that being said I only saw a few minutes of him. Maybe he can indeed run over guys, maybe he can shed blocks, maybe he is stout against the run, maybe he can wreck game plans, etc. I am not sure,

Howerver....

What I saw of Hunter leaves no doubt that this is a blue chip guy. He has incredible agility, hands, and quickness.....

 

[Patsfan1645]

I'm not convinced KB will be moved as he did well under Josh.

That's the big question for me. If Josh wasn't here he would 100% be gone. But he thrived in Josh's offense and I bet Josh would like to see if he can do it again. Will be interesting to see who is on the game day roster this year.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Well hmmm, it does sort of present a conundrum if Hunter is still on the board at 4. Do you take another blue chip WR, do the boring thing and take Campbell, or trade down. Being a typical rah-rah fan, I say take Hunter, but maybe the wise thing to do would be to trade down--we should be able to get a boatload of draft capital for Hunter.

Indeed! Take Hunter, and then use every other pick on a potential left tackle

 

[RobertWeathers]

I hate to say this, but I was not impressed with the highlights I saw of Carter. He is not the next Lawrence Taylor. I saw a lot of sacks, but he had wide open lanes to rush through.....now that being said I only saw a few minutes of him. Maybe he can indeed run over guys, maybe he can shed blocks, maybe he is stout against the run, maybe he can wreck game plans, etc. I am not sure,

Howerver....

What I saw of Hunter leaves no doubt that this is a blue chip guy. He has incredible agility, hands, and quickness.....

I watched every single Penn State game and hes fine vs the run. No need to worry if he falls to us.

 

[PatsFan2]

Now that Diggs is a Patriot I can be impressed with this. Lol

Now?? I always was: the Aints snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.