Patriots Rumor LaCanfora: WR Mike Evans and LT Rasheed Walker Could Be On Patriots’ Radar

[jdlboot14]

Man, people are so dumb. So over reactionary. It's like if tik-tok had a jump to conclusions mat.
Campbell was 22yrs, played next to another rookie (out of position) all year, and went to the freaking SB.

He certainly has some holes in his game - which really showed up after his injury + facing all the best DL's in the NFL.

He has the swag and the character to be a pro LT. Let him try for another 1-2 years before you send him out to pasture.

 

[jdlboot14]

As for Evans - no way. We already wasted a ton of money on JSS & Parker.
I'm all in on Pierce - he's like a less-talented mix of Moss & Edelman.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Not Mike Evans,
Alec Pierce please.

Not Alec Pierce, Tyler Lindebaum please.

 

[dliverey44]

Not Alec Pierce, Tyler Lindebaum please.

Not either one please

 

[Huckleberry1]

Not either one please

Yep, it would suck to have the best OL in free agency go to the Patriots.

 

[Real fan 02]

Lowe stinks but will get a big payday.

He needs to remain here as a back up swing OT.. ?

 

[Triumph]

If Rham doesn't get cut or benched early in the season for all the fumbles this year then you can bank that Campbell gets at least another year to show if can anchor the left side. Book it.

Apples and oranges.

Rham fumbling does not get Maye lit up.

 

[Ian]

Sort of don’t understand the “second half” discussion on Campbell. He played well and his name wasn’t mentioned at all up until he got hurt in Week 12. In fact, I think most people were pleasantly surprised by him.

After his injury, I don’t believe he registered another offensive snap until he came back in the final week of the season. So there wasn’t a “second half” of the year to really say he was bad in.

That being said I don’t think he was 100% in the postseason and I mentioned it previously that his footwork has been his asset that allowed him to overcome his arm length. Not having that I’m sure hurt him, but unless his knee is an issue, him healthy was a pretty solid player that I don’t recall any of us talking about prior to him getting hurt.

I do agree that maybe Lowe should have gone if he was battling, but as a former player, I’m sure Vrabel wanted him out there for the experience. Same with Wilson. The outcome was disappointing, but with time having passed, Campbell was a bright spot all year until he got hurt. So I don’t think that’s a concern. Provided he plays the way he did before the injury.

Although if Lowe walks, that’s a problem. Because if Campbell gets hurt again in 2026, they don’t have anyone close to his level to step in for him. Tackle depth absolutely needs to be a priority this offseason.

 

[Triumph]

Well and it’s a terrible look to move the #4 pick in the draft to RT. Optics isn’t everything, but it isn’t nothing either.

Maye leaving the game on the back of the John Deere is a worst look.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Not Mike Evans,
Alec Pierce please.

Still can't believe that he, George Pickens, and Trey McBride all went within 5 picks after BB drafted a human toothpick in Tyquan Thornton.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Makes no sense.

LG is what NE needs yesterday. Every LT gets schooled by Myles Garret and lots of LTs have been blown up by that Seattle DL. Stay the course in 2026 with Willie Campbell @ LT and hope for the best. Its all good.

I'm firmly in the camp of leaving WC at LT and being encouraged by how he played overall before the injury. So I just want to establish that.

But I absolutely HATE when I see posts like this. He was legitimately GARBAGE against Myles Garrett and down the stretch. To just say that it was against good competition that everyone struggles with and act like it was normal is so disingenuous. Sure, everyone does struggle to some degree against better players but how WC played was just totally unacceptable. That's an "not in this league for long" level of play.

He rebounded in the 2nd half vs. Garrett and I chalk a lot of the late season stuff up to injuries. So again, I want to leave him at LT. But I can't in good faith pretend that his level of play there was just normal for better competition.

 

[dliverey44]

Yep, it would suck to have the best OL in free agency go to the Patriots.

I put my concerns on a different thread, but want to get your opinion. I do not know the Pats usage of zone vs power in the run game nor do I know Baltimores. The concern is that Lindy is roughly the same size as Bradbury and I wonder if Lindy will have similar issues as Bradbury in McD run game.

When it comes to the pass game, Lindy allowed more pressures, sacks than Bradbury. PFF (grain of salt here) rated Lindy about the same as Bradbury and Wilson in Pass blocking. It was a down year for Lindy, but given that he will garner about 18M a year I am hesitant to dish that money out.

I would rather see Wilson move to Center and a vet LG brought in to play between WC and Wilson. Maybe Wilson is not the Center of the future but 18M is too much at Center for me.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

It's very hard to comment on one potential signing without more context. What is the price? What else are they doing? It's easy to say "I want Alec Pierce instead of Evans" but what is Pierce signing for? And who else are we signing? If we're going for Linderbaum and Jaelen Phillips then Pierce probably isn't realistic but maybe a shorter term deal for Evans is more realistic to help the WR room, for example. You really need the full context to give an honest assessment of any potential signing.

I could get behind signing Evans. Team lacks an actual X receiver. I think Boutte would benefit from not having to play the X. If Evans is being signed to replace Diggs, it's a lateral move in talent IMO but with a play style that might fit better in the overall receiver room and I'd expect Evans' cap hit to be lower. If Diggs is staying with Evans then just like Boutte benefits from playing Z instead of X, Diggs would benefit in the slot from having better outside threats. Evans/Diggs/Boutte is a strong 3 WR set.

Love having Hollins on the team but I'm not losing any sleep if all his WR time is taken. I like KWilliams as a developmental guy but I'd prefer for him to have to beat out Hollins for that role and then, if he wins it, be used rotationally. That as opposed to being given a top 3 WR job which is essentially a starting spot. And then Chism is fine to be a gameday inactive type another year. Injuries happen and he can eventually get a shot.

Depends on price of course and how that fits into heir overall plan though. But just on first pass the idea of signing Evans is fine for me. I'm on the Alec Pierce train and even if they didn't get him I'd favor other younger options (Wandale Robinson, Doubs, etc.) so not my favorite. All depends on price though.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

I'm firmly in the camp of leaving WC at LT and being encouraged by how he played overall before the injury. So I just want to establish that.

But I absolutely HATE when I see posts like this. He was legitimately GARBAGE against Myles Garrett and down the stretch. To just say that it was against good competition that everyone struggles with and act like it was normal is so disingenuous. Sure, everyone does struggle to some degree against better players but how WC played was just totally unacceptable. That's an "not in this league for long" level of play.

He rebounded in the 2nd half vs. Garrett and I chalk a lot of the late season stuff up to injuries. So again, I want to leave him at LT. But I can't in good faith pretend that his level of play there was just normal for better competition.

Good points. I want WC to be successful. But if Vedarian lowe had similar outings as Will folks would have called for him to be cut immediately

 

[UGAPatsfan]

I put my concerns on a different thread, but want to get your opinion. I do not know the Pats usage of zone vs power in the run game nor do I know Baltimores. The concern is that Lindy is roughly the same size as Bradbury and I wonder if Lindy will have similar issues as Bradbury in McD run game.

When it comes to the pass game, Lindy allowed more pressures, sacks than Bradbury. PFF (grain of salt here) rated Lindy about the same as Bradbury and Wilson in Pass blocking. It was a down year for Lindy, but given that he will garner about 18M a year I am hesitant to dish that money out.

I would rather see Wilson move to Center and a vet LG brought in to play between WC and Wilson. Maybe Wilson is not the Center of the future but 18M is too much at Center for me.

There’s another thought track here to explore…if they feel like a better C would help WC, and Wilson to stay where they are, there are some very good centers in this draft who would cost very little.

 

[Grogan14]

La Canfora has been wrong so many times.
Walker makes a lot of sense.
Pats would have to overpay to get Evans. He is on the wrong side of 30 and coming off bad injury.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I put my concerns on a different thread, but want to get your opinion. I do not know the Pats usage of zone vs power in the run game nor do I know Baltimores. The concern is that Lindy is roughly the same size as Bradbury and I wonder if Lindy will have similar issues as Bradbury in McD run game.

When it comes to the pass game, Lindy allowed more pressures, sacks than Bradbury. PFF (grain of salt here) rated Lindy about the same as Bradbury and Wilson in Pass blocking. It was a down year for Lindy, but given that he will garner about 18M a year I am hesitant to dish that money out.

I would rather see Wilson move to Center and a vet LG brought in to play between WC and Wilson. Maybe Wilson is not the Center of the future but 18M is too much at Center for me.

Lindebaum is 26 and a phenomenal athlete for a player his size. My focus this offseason is the OL, and spending for high quality OL is more than worth it. When you upgrade the OL you improve every aspect of your offense, and they won't go anywhere next season unless they improve the OL significantly.

 

[Ring 6]

He needs to remain here as a back up swing OT.. ?

Why? He isn’t good and someone will probably pay him started money.
I’d give him maybe 2.5-3 mill a year but that’s not going sign him.

 

[Ring 6]

Lindebaum is 26 and a phenomenal athlete for a player his size. My focus this offseason is the OL, and spending for high quality OL is more than worth it. When you upgrade the OL you improve every aspect of your offense, and they won't go anywhere next season unless they improve the OL significantly.

Think about the throws Maye made down the field this year when he had time. Now imagine an OL that can protect him.

OL >>>>>>>>>>>> WR

 

[javajunky]

The rumor of Campbell moving to RT would suggest Moss is considering retirement.