NFL Trade Deadline Discourse

[TommyD4207]

That's not the point.

Do I feel that Wilson will eventually become a starting-level talent at either LG or Center? Yeah probably. But the dude left college WAY too inexperienced, including at the position he's currently playing. And as of right now, he's the Weakest Link on the OL; so what's wrong with trying to strengthen your weakest link, anywhere?

Nothing, in theory.

You're advocating giving draft capital up for a 35 year old guard who is on his retirement tour, and constantly hurt, who isn't that much better than the guy he'd be replacing.

This is just another setup by you. If Wilson figures it out, you say nothing, if not, Kevin Zeitler is suddenly a 15 time all-pro we could have had for a 7th round pick swap.

 

[captain stone]

Nothing, in theory.

You're advocating giving draft capital up for a 35 year old guard who is on his retirement tour, and constantly hurt, who isn't that much better than the guy he'd be replacing.

This is just another setup by you. If Wilson figures it out, you say nothing, if not, Kevin Zeitler is suddenly a 15 time all-pro we could have had for a 7th round pick swap.

You don't think a 7th-round pick swap is a fair deal for Zeitler? I do.

 

[TommyD4207]

You don't think a 7th-round pick swap is a fair deal for Zeitler? I do.

Why

Why would you trade for a guy who's going to retire at the end of the year, rather than give the rookie reps? To make your line, what, 2% better? For what reason?

 

[TheRainMaker]

You don't think its possible to fix a roster in one season? What league have you been watching for the past 30 years? Before free agency began in 1994, I would have agreed with you but ever since free agency began plenty of teams have in fact fixed bad rosters in one season, including our very own New England Patriots in 2001. This is a league where at least one team has improved from worst to first virtually every season since free agency began.

There have been many quick turnarounds throughout the years. I could list many examples, but the latest was the Commanders in 2024 who had an atrocious team in 2023. They had some help along the way with other NFC teams imploding like the Lions, 49ers and Cowboys, but they went 12-5 with a trip to the NFCCG. They have come back down to earth since then. 2025 Patriots are going to be the next quick turn around example.

The myth that the Pats had the worst roster in the NFL even after this off-season is not aging well. Going into the season, the Pats roster was by far the best in their division. In fact, I'm not sure what people are actually watching around the league this days as it continues to get worse. You could take any team in the NFL today and find a multiple major weaknesses - including coaching. It's not the same as it was in the early dynasty days when the league was still strong. 2010's is when it started to weaken. We are in an era where a team like the Bills are getting worse, yet the media and fans think they are a Super Bowl favorite. That's how bad the NFL is getting as an overall product.

 

[mayoclinic]

You don't think a 7th-round pick swap is a fair deal for Zeitler? I do.

I think your supplier is cutting your stash, Captain.

 

[dliverey44]

No, but there are cries to bench him for Ben Brown, or to trade for a veteran LG. That's more than pointing out growing pains for a rookie transition to a new position in his first 7 games.

I understand that people want the OL to perform better, in run and pass blocking. But to suggest that a rookie get benched while learning the intricacies of the OL would be gut wrenching for the kid and imo severely hamper his confidence.

While I have fallen prey to the "get him outta there" mindset, it would not be wise for the sake of his long term benefit and ours

 

[mayoclinic]

Yup.

To me the idea of trading for Kevin Zeitler is subtraction by addition:

(i) It uses up draft capital
(ii) For a short term rental, not a long-term addition
(iii) Who is only marginally (at most) better in the short-term than the guy we currently have
(iv) Thus ******ing that player's development.

Of those, (iv) is by far the most important.

Imagine the following conversation:

Doug Marrone: "We need more young talent on the OL."

Mike Vrabel: "Agreed. We got you Will Campbell and Jared Wilson. Planning to add more in 2026. Coach them up."

Doug Marrone: "Awesome. Just one thing ... Wilson's having a few growing pains adjusting to LG. Can we bench him and trade for 35yo Kevin Zeitler?"

Would love to see the response to that one on Forged in Foxboro. I would imagine it would involve using a broom to perform a proctectomy.

 

[mgteich]

I think people are being way too hard on Jared Wilson. He will be fine (though the Cleveland game may be rough).

Yup!

We drafted our future center and signed a good veteran for him to learn from and hopefully replace in 2026.

Wilson was a fine pick to train to be our center for the indefinite future.
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When none of the SIX possible left guards in camp worked out, Vrabel needed to move to Plan B (or Plan C or Plan D or Plan E).

Vrabel chose a rookie center to start at LG and chose a JAG center to be the backup LG. The number #3 LG was whoever Vrabel elevates that week. When Wilson was out for a week, Brown started and his backup was a Practice Squad player. Wallace wasn't even active. It is not clear what position is in his future NFL career, if there is one).
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CONGRATS to Wilson and Brown. They have done OK, not great, not even close to average, but OK.
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When we came to Game One, the biggest question marks for me were LG and backup LG.

 

[TommyD4207]

I think your supplier is cutting your stash, Captain.

Nah this is the Classic Cap Setup. Plant these seeds during the season, hope **** goes wrong, so he can SEEITOLDYOU all over himself and the rest of the forums.

You know the players picked 15 places down from where the Patriots did 20 years ago. That stuff.

 

[mgteich]

You don't think its possible to fix a roster in one season? What league have you been watching for the past 30 years? Before free agency began in 1994, I would have agreed with you but ever since free agency began plenty of teams have in fact fixed bad rosters in one season, including our very own New England Patriots in 2001. This is a league where at least one team has improved from worst to first virtually every season since free agency began.

As you already mentioned we've already replaced 4/5 of the starting OL from last year. Why would it be so unreasonable to plug the remaining leak. If there is a reliable OG in the last year of his contract that a team is willing to let go of, we DEFINATELY need to talk to that team before the trade deadline? Wilson isn't playing well. He only had one year of starting experience in college and simply isn't ready to be a starting OG on a team with Super Bowl aspirations. He's the weak link on this team. Plug that hole and this team become a Super Bowl contender right now.

Sure, if a starting quality LG is available, Vrabel will talk to them. However, let's be real. We came out of camp with two centers scheduled to try to play LG with no #3. If a veteran LG were available, Vrabel would have traded for one. LG was the one serious weakness on the 53. [He believes in Woodson and Hawkins for 2025]. I suspect that Vrabel would have given a 5th or even a 4th in the week after the final cuts (when everyone knew what they had).

 

[mayoclinic]

This is a long-term rebuild. We are ahead of schedule, but I don't see the leadership mortgaging the future to be in "win now" mode.

If opportunities present themselves to make the team better in both the short and long term, sure. But I suspect we will likely live with what we already have for 2025 for the most part.

 

[n1997y]

I didn't see those cries. I imagine it is a tough assignment, and the opposing DL is not going to be nice to Wilson, just the opposite.

It might not be a bad thing to let Wilson sit a bit and let Ben Brown play. Sometimes if a guy clears his head it helps. I know the cries are probably not thinking that way, but there are different ways to handle various situations.

Jake Andrews, Michael Jackson, and Cole Strange are all starting across the NFL. Maybe they are not having the greatest success, but they are starting so Ben Brown can not be bad if he beat them out. Brown was OK in the one game he played.

Read the post immediately above yours in this thread.

 

[n1997y]

If Campbell or Moses go down you are good with Vederian Lowe or Bryant? Can’t say I am.

Yes I’m good with them as backups atm, not panicking if we have to play one of them, or Wallace.

 

[Huckleberry1]

No, but there are cries to bench him for Ben Brown, or to trade for a veteran LG. That's more than pointing out growing pains for a rookie transition to a new position in his first 7 games.

I'm sure those cries are coming from the same people who have been wrong about everything.

 

[Toofy]

You don't think a 7th-round pick swap is a fair deal for Zeitler? I do.

@captain stone , I think at this point we need continuity and more reps . Just see what more reps has done to Boutte. We have been extremely impatient in discarding rooks, some of them are valid, some are not .

In case of Wilson , potential of him growing into all pro guard or center is really high. Considering that , there is no way we can get anyone and limit his reps and future growth . We may or may not win super bowl this year but next year we are one of the contenders and for that we need a young core of Olinemen and Wilson is one of them and we need him to get all the experience he needs to polish his trade . Nothing beats live reps and match experience.

We are still winning and our schedule is a cupcake this year . If you don't play your rookies this year, when will we ?

Another thing, if we trade for someone we need to move someone out from the roster. So we need to remove Ben Brown because of zeitler ?

 

[Uptown]

I mentioned this a while back. Apparently, he was benched…

 

[mayoclinic]

Was a fan of Wilson coming out. But benched for the Bengals not very encouraging.

 

[Family]

If Campbell or Moses go down you are good with Vederian Lowe or Bryant? Can’t say I am.

I am.

Of course everyone would prefer An All Pro at backup, but Lowe and Bryant are serviceable for backups, especially considering where we were last year.

I doubt many other teams have better 3/4 tackles.

 

[mayoclinic]

Any team that likes it's top LT for the season is going to struggle.

Exhibit A: The LA Chargers.

 

[Zuma]

I am.

Of course everyone would prefer An All Pro at backup, but Lowe and Bryant are serviceable for backups, especially considering where we were last year.

I doubt many other teams have better 3/4 tackles.

For the first 7 weeks I've been wanting the team to get quality OL backup help (especially OT) but I didn't think Moses would make it this far...nor did I think Campbell would be this good and consistent. Yes...Lowe and Bryant are good enough backups but I thought one or both would be starting by now and then the problem becomes....if they get hurt....who comes in to replace them? But both Moses and Campbell have hung in there as starters...so I'm changing my tune with the belief backup OT is not much of an issue as I previously thought.