Evaluating 25 FA signings at midseason mark:

[Vindicate]

At some point we will have AI grading - again it won't be perfect, but at least it will be reasonably consistent and objective.

It will not be objective, companies will infact be able to mask a lot of its bias through the facade that it's AI. However, it is beholden to the parameters of who programmed it, and who programmed it is beholden to the interest of who paid them to program it. AI merely cuts down on the labor and time to process. The PFF AI will still be ****ty.

Just some food for thought.

 

[Real fan 02]

He's got an under 50 player grade from PFF - which makes him worse than anyone on the Jets OL that gave up 9 sacks in a game and has their team with 0 wins.

Which illustrates points made elsewhere that some of those ratings seem to miss the forest through the trees.

Of course, that's partially luck as they sure didn't go into the pre-season expecting that two rookies would helm the left side, but he earned the position and continues to do so. None of us are expecting perfection either.

Steve102 made the point. I've used PFF before, but have noticed odd irregularities with thier format. From what I've seen Wilson has been solid. The titans game is probably where i could say he had his biggest struggle.. but good points you make.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Let's be clear. This was an excellent draft. The OP said that free agency was better (and many added "much" better"). I agree

But let's be clear. The draft was excellent. We are likely to make the playoffs because we drafted quality STARTERS in
CAMPBELL
WILSON (he'll get much better in his NEW position)
WOODSON (he'll get better, a GREAT 4th round pick)
BORREGALES
ASHBY

plus
FARMER (who has shared reps with Tonga)
==========
IN ADDITION, we are disappointed in not yet getting value out of
HENDERSON
WILLIAMS
=========
and as BONUS
BRYANT (our backup RT)
CHISM (I'm not a great fan, but he is a returner and a WR prospect)
PONDER (a bottom of the roster sub)
============================
Judging this draft at half-time, I would give it an A, not as good as free agency.

If Henderson and Williams do not work out, the draft is not an A. Hopefully one or both work out so the draft is an A or A+.

I also think there is a lot of upside in Farmer, Chism, Ponder, maybe Bryant (I dont really know), which you mentioned. There is also Swinson on the PS and a couple of guys on IR, L Larison and Lampe.

 

[n1997y]

II would also agree that Wilson might be their OC for the next 5 years after this season. but fact is that Wilson is playing at below league average after 7 games, albeit as a rookie with upside.
Facts also is that Woodson falls into a similar grade as Wilson.

what is the basis for your claim that Wilson is playing below league average?

I think he’s generally been playing very well, with some rough spots in the last game when he had difficulty handling some stunts. That’s not surprising for a rookie, and shouldn’t detract from the rest of his performance. Before the Titans game he’s been pretty consistent with few bad plays. At least that’s my impression and recollection. If you’ve got some reference to correct me please tell me about it.

Also I don’t see Woodsone as being similar to Wilson as far as performance goes. As I said I think Wilson has been pretty consistent for the entire season apart from his rough spots against the Titans. Woodson started the season slowly and has improved as the season goes on. He is currently playing fairly well, and again I’d like to know what basis you have to say he’s below league average, please. TIA!

 

[rkarp1]

what is the basis for your claim that Wilson is playing below league average?

I think he’s generally been playing very well, with some rough spots in the last game when he had difficulty handling some stunts. That’s not surprising for a rookie, and shouldn’t detract from the rest of his performance. Before the Titans game he’s been pretty consistent with few bad plays. At least that’s my impression and recollection. If you’ve got some reference to correct me please tell me about it.

Also I don’t see Woodsone as being similar to Wilson as far as performance goes. As I said I think Wilson has been pretty consistent for the entire season apart from his rough spots against the Titans. Woodson started the season slowly and has improved as the season goes on. He is currently playing fairly well, and again I’d like to know what basis you have to say he’s below league average, please. TIA!

honestly, I have watched every snap of the Pats season, either in person, or on TV, at least twice (replay). I see the sacks, pressures and hurries that we all see. I also see some of the miscommunication between Wilson and Campbell. (not all attributed to Wilson)
I am very high on Wilson, and believe he could be great, given time and coaching. But thru 7 games, I see him struggle, and continue to think replacing him with Brown will be good for the team in the short run, and bad for Wilson and the team in the long run.

but I don't see every team of course. So I look at PFF for reference. not for 100% undeniable fact, but for reference. how do they see Wilson stacked against the other OG play thru the league.

thru week 7, PFF has Wilson listed as the #69th OG of 82 OG's graded. for further reference they grade Onwenu as the 14th OG of 82 OG's graded. additional Pats OL grades;
Campbell #30 of 77 graded at OT
Moses #35 of 77 graded at OT
Bradbury #15 of 35 graded at OC

 

[Bill Lee]

IN ADDITION, we are disappointed in not yet getting value out of
HENDERSON
WILLIAMS

That's on us fans for being incredibly impatient.

Judging this draft at half-time, I would give it an A, not as good as free agency.

Not quite half time, need to be half way through game 8 to be there.

 

[TommyD4207]

honestly, I have watched every snap of the Pats season, either in person, or on TV, at least twice (replay). I see the sacks, pressures and hurries that we all see. I also see some of the miscommunication between Wilson and Campbell. (not all attributed to Wilson)
I am very high on Wilson, and believe he could be great, given time and coaching. But thru 7 games, I see him struggle, and continue to think replacing him with Brown will be good for the team in the short run, and bad for Wilson and the team in the long run.

but I don't see every team of course. So I look at PFF for reference. not for 100% undeniable fact, but for reference. how do they see Wilson stacked against the other OG play thru the league.

thru week 7, PFF has Wilson listed as the #69th OG of 82 OG's graded. for further reference they grade Onwenu as the 14th OG of 82 OG's graded. additional Pats OL grades;
Campbell #30 of 77 graded at OT
Moses #35 of 77 graded at OT
Bradbury #15 of 35 graded at OC

If you think Onwenu has played *better* than Wilson, never mind THAT much better, that tells you all you need to know about PFF grades.

 

[Real fan 02]

If you think Onwenu has played *better* than Wilson, never mind THAT much better, that tells you all you need to know about PFF grades.

 

[TommyD4207]

If you watch the right side of the line week after week and say 'Wow, Morgan Moses is just as good at Will Campbell', unironically, I don't know what to tell you. Words fail me.

 

[Real fan 02]

If you watch the right side of the line week after week and say 'Wow, Morgan Moses is just as good at Will Campbell', unironically, I don't know what to tell you. Words fail me.

Oh I agree. Just wanted to get your take on that ranking.. Moses is 34 and played alot of ball.. Ownenu is getting older... the right side will look totally different next season.. Bradbury will be the oldest OL there. However Moses was needed for many reasons this off season.. after what I had to watch for a joke of an OL essentially past few seasons.. I'm rolling with it for now.. anything is better than 32nd ranked...

 

[TommyD4207]

Oh I agree. Just wanted to get your take on that ranking.. Moses is 34 and played alot of ball.. Ownenu is getting older... the right side will look totally different next season.. Bradbury will be the oldest OL there. However Moses was needed for many reasons this off season.. after what I had to watch for a joke of an OL essentially past few seasons.. I'm rolling with it for now.. anything is better than 32nd ranked...

I'd say overall, it's an average unit - before you start putting qualifiers on it.
And as you said, I'll take an average unit (and many of us said this before the year started) over whatever dogshit they ran out there last year.

We're seeing the results of an average line in comparison.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'd say overall, it's an average unit - before you start putting qualifiers on it.
And as you said, I'll take an average unit (and many of us said this before the year started) over whatever dogshit they ran out there last year.

We're seeing the results of an average line in comparison.

Absolutely.. they are operational and functional.. we have professional, fluid offense now. I don't recall very seeing offensive play as wretched as last season was. I mean RKK should have been issuing fans thier money back for some of the home game we had to endure last season.. with that OL.

 

[rkarp1]

If you think Onwenu has played *better* than Wilson, never mind THAT much better, that tells you all you need to know about PFF grades.

yet further down the thread, you are saying the Pats OL is playing "average", which of course would mean you have some knowledge of how all the other teams are playing. but you do not, right?
so your opinion or grade is worthless.

PFF has seen every team. every game. every player. every snap. you may disagree with their grades, but they are making an unbiased evaluation, consistent thru out.

again, agree or disagree with them, but who or what is available for a better evaluation of every player?

 

[TommyD4207]

yet further down the thread, you are saying the Pats OL is playing "average", which of course would mean you have some knowledge of how all the other teams are playing. but you do not, right?
so your opinion or grade is worthless.

PFF has seen every team. every game. every player. every grade. you may disagree with their grades, but they are making an unbiased evaluation, consistent thru out.

again, agree or disagree with them, but who or what is available for a better evaluation of every player?

Every cult needs their true believers.

 

[rkarp1]

If you watch the right side of the line week after week and say 'Wow, Morgan Moses is just as good at Will Campbell', unironically, I don't know what to tell you. Words fail me.

actually, I thought Campbell did not have one of his better games last Sunday, and Moses was outstanding.
I also believe Campbell and Onwenu have been the teams 2 best OL taking into account the entire season

 

[patchick]

Borregales/Ashby have been very good, but did the team us draft capital when they could have got these players as udfa's?

On Borregales, I'd say definitely not. He was not the only PK drafted, and a couple are chosen almost every year. If you want the best kicker in the draft, you have to take him.

Ashby is more interesting. It's rare for long snappers to be drafted, and they certainly could have found a UDFA. I have to assume that they didn't want *a* long snapper (they could always have kept Cardona). They wanted *this particular* long snapper -- the top-ranked one who trained intensively with Borregales in the offseason and already had mechanics down pat with him. And that would have been a crapshoot after the draft, since he had a ton of team workouts and was even allotted a predraft visit by one team.

 

[rkarp1]

Every cult needs their true believers.

and then there are fans that watch their favorite team, have biased opinions, and don't see any other teams play that week other than the team that played opposite the Pats. yet we are to believe those fans have informed opinions.
no anyone like that? asking for a friend

 

[Urgent]

Looking back at the draft with almost half a season of hindsight - the draft looks very strong.
We all moaned at winning that meaningless last game and dropping meaningfully from one to four.
Now there may have been great trade value lost. But that’s the outcome of that game, not the Patriots draft performance.
Right now Will Campbell looks like a very good pick. Absolutely a position of dire need. Had the Patriots been able to get Carter or Hunter the next tackle available in the second was Aireontae Ersery.
PFF, I know, but a directional metric, has Campbell at #30 tackle and Ersery at #67 out of 77.

Cam Ward has about the worst stats of the current starting QBs and looks like maybe a top 10 pick but not a top one.
Abdul Carter has half a sack.
Hunter is the #57 WR and is an infrequent DB.
Comparing these rookies early in their careers, Campbell seems to be the winner.
And, as noted, getting contributions from Wilson, Woodson, Farmer, Borregales, and Ashby.

We often say free agency is a crapshoot and you’re fortunate to hit on half of them.
Right now Williams, Landry, Tonga, and Chaisson have seriously upgraded this line to maybe the best since Vrabel played. Spillane is fine and seems worth what they paid. Gibbens is fine for what they paid.
Davis is maybe underperforming.
Diggs has been huge. Moses has been a leader and a big upgrade and is earning what they paid. They are paying less than half what the top tackles got in free agency and hes playing about as well as anyone of that free agent class. Dan Moore (PFF 32) got $20M, Jaylon Moore got $15M (PFF 31), and Cam Robinson got $12M (PFF 71) to Moses $8M (Pff 34). Bradbury (PFF 15 Center) has looked league average.
Hollins is another positive leader mentoring younger receivers and offers a unique receiver type at X.

So maybe one overpay in Carlton Davis?
All the other big money free agents earning their pay?
No cap immediate constraints from these deals?
That’s amazing.

Best free agent class and best draft class in many years.