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

[Ring 6]

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.

Our scheme is not conducive to an X receiver putting up big numbers. They are much more often the window dressing than the target in our passing game play designs.

 

[dliverey44]

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.

I agree with all of the above. The fact that Wilson is as good of an athlete as Lindy makes me lean toward trying Wilson at Center. Like I said, maybe Wilson is not the guy.

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.

Possibly, but I think that a quality vet between them would make more sense because that LG would hopefully be better picking up stunts and twists which was a significant problem with the left side.

I think its a moot point because I do not see Baltimore not re-signing Lindy.

 

[Joey007]

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.

Not only that, but to make that move for a mediocre LT.

 

[Joey007]

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.

How did he look in that Miami game? Cant really recall.

 

[Ring 6]

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.

Lowe won’t be hard to replace. I assume we will draft the 2027 RT this year and he can be the swing tackle in 2026, but there are a lot of tackles that are as good as Lowe. Better to get a young one cheaper than pay Lowe more than his value because he has starts.

 

[Ring 6]

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

It’s not a rumor. It’s “one gm suggested they might”

 

[Real fan 02]

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.

Well we have to see when's FA starting March 15th?? Lowe is so far the depth chart on the list of available FA if he does sign elsewhere he's probably a training camp veteran minimum.. Lowes value isn't going to be any higher than it would be him staying in NE.. he played well when Campbell went out and I argued perhaps maybe Lowe should have remained.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

I thought they want to get “younger and cheaper”?

 

[Grogan14]

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.

Pierce is getting franchised. Colts are not that stupid.
No chance to sign him

 

[Ring 6]

Well we have to see when's FA starting March 15th?? Lowe is so far the depth chart on the list of available FA if he does sign elsewhere he's probably a training camp veteran minimum.. Lowes value isn't going to be any higher than it would be him staying in NE.. he played well when Campbell went out and I argued perhaps maybe Lowe should have remained.

Watch. He is a LT with starting experience. Someone will pay him low end of starter $$
Lowe didn’t play well, he got by against mostly JAGS

 

[Ring 6]

I thought they want to get “younger and cheaper”?

No one said that. Vrabel said “like every year we’d like to get better, younger and cheaper”.
Thats what every team tries to do, replace old guys, upgrade weaknesses and dump overpaid players.

 

[dliverey44]

Watch. He is a LT with starting experience. Someone will pay him low end of starter $$
Lowe didn’t play well, he got by against mostly JAGS

To piggy back on your claim that someone will give him starter money, just look at Dan Moore last year who got 4/82M. Not saying Lowe will get that but Moore was not good and the desperate Titans gave him a load of money. Jaylon Moore got 2/30 from the Chiefs despite never being a starter.

 

[Real fan 02]

Watch. He is a LT with starting experience. Someone will pay him low end of starter $$
Lowe didn’t play well, he got by against mostly JAGS

You're right ring.. I'm just of the mind at least try to retain him... I believe he's the only back up LT on the roster currently?

 

[JohnJH]

That would be a wild twist if the Pats pursue Rasheed Walker at LT.

If they did, they would move him to Rt (as it's much easier for a LT to transition to RT, especially a Veteran LT).

 

[mgteich]

.

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.

.

OK, but I just don't understand bringing back injured players to play in the playoffs in order to order to get experience. Some think that a better strategy in the playoffs is to play the players who are most likely to help us win. At the time, and in 100% hindsight, I think that the OL would have been better with Lowe starting instead of Campbell, and Brown starting instead of Wilson.

How does giving Wilson experience in the playoffs at LG help the team?

 

[JohnJH]

Evans is way too old and would be a one year bandage at best. Vrabel has said since day one that his goal each year was to get more Talented AND Younger. Evans is as far from younger as one can almost be, and there's better talent alone to be had than him.

 

[mgteich]

Lowe won’t be hard to replace. I assume we will draft the 2027 RT this year and he can be the swing tackle in 2026, but there are a lot of tackles that are as good as Lowe. Better to get a young one cheaper than pay Lowe more than his value because he has starts.

Vrabel will announce the signing of one of the LT's that is younger, cheaper and better than Lowe on the first day of tampering. If it were so easy, Vrabel would have signed one for this past season.

 

[Real fan 02]

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.

It's gets even worse.. N'Keal Harry.... need I say more..

 

[Real fan 02]

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.

Who would we had turned to had lowe not been available? He's even said himself the coaching He's gotten from Marrone has helped him.. I was a main one wanting him dropped off at Logan but he's serviceable and knows the system.. but if you believe there is a better option at back have at it..

 

[Ring 6]

Vrabel will announce the signing of one of the LT's that is younger, cheaper and better than Lowe on the first day of tampering. If it were so easy, Vrabel would have signed one for this past season.

A backup T for cheap $ isn’t a day 1 signing.
He signed Moses last year and drafted Campbell and Bryant.
The bar of being as good as Lowe is not high.