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

[Patsfan1645]

Just a REMINDER: Drake Maye took the 3rd most sacks in the entire NFL in the regular season with 47 and the most sacks taken of ANY QB in NFL history during the playoffs on the way to the Superbowl with 21.

With that in Mind why is hedging your bets shorts-sighted? Since when was injecting competition into an important position on the OL a bad idea?

I know you want to defend Campbell. Fine, you're entitled to that opinion. I'm not saying he's a bust at this point but he was exposed in the playoffs.

There's no harm in investing to protect your franchise QB. In fact it would be rather poor roster management not to prioritize protecting Drake Maye and exploring all the available options.

Like I already said we can HOPE Campbell gets better and his real issue was the injury affecting his play. But we can't count on that with no backup plan in place to protect Maye.

It would be a shame to turn such a talented player as Drake into the next Andrew Luck and cut his career short. That would be sheer negligence. Invest in the OL, in particular the left side. It's sensible to double dip in OL talent to try to bolster a line that could not protect Maye adequately in the playoffs.

Finally I know a lot of defenders will point to Vrabel saying Campbell is our LT. I would reply that was the ONLY thing he could sensibly say as a head coach. You don't throw your players under the bus after an emotional playoff loss. There's just zero positive benefits to that.

A few simple words of support buys a lot of loyalty in the locker room. That does NOT mean the Patriots shouldn't keep an eye on bolstering the OL in the future if the right opportunity presents itself.

And by the way if we either sign a veteran LT or draft an LT that doesn't mean Campbell suddenly goes away. A move to guard, if it serves the best interest of the team could still strengthen the OL overall.

I'm not defending Campbell, I am repeating what the coach has said. Sounds like you think he will walk it back, I dont believe he will. He has painted himself in a corner and if he is considering moving in a different direction he should have handle that question differently, but he didnt and I dont see Vrabel as a politician. I think he meant what he said. Right or wrong Campbell will start at LT and we will see how it all unfolds.

 

[mgteich]

KC
9
40
74
109
146
176

NE
31
63
95
125
131
169

I would choose to pick at the top of each round rather than the bottom.

OK. COnsider if KC trade the 9th pick for a player or for a 2027 1st. Or consider that a bored NE fan starts really watching the draft as we get to the 2nd half of the first.

At THAT point, you would rather have KC picks since they pick before us in every round.

I strongly disagree. Try listing the picks from 1 to 250 and ignore rounds. Once we get to the second half of the first, we and KC have approximatle the same number of picks. AND, New England, for the rest of the draft, picks BEFORE Kansas City.
=======
My BOTTOM LINE is if the #9 pick is the difference between KC being better than us, then so be it; congrats on a great pick. In any case, we have advantage in every pick for the rest of the draft.

 

[upstater1]

Just a REMINDER: Drake Maye took the 3rd most sacks in the entire NFL in the regular season with 47 and the most sacks taken of ANY QB in NFL history during the playoffs on the way to the Superbowl with 21.

With that in Mind why is hedging your bets shorts-sighted? Since when was injecting competition into an important position on the OL a bad idea?

I know you want to defend Campbell. Fine, you're entitled to that opinion. I'm not saying he's a bust at this point but he was exposed in the playoffs.

There's no harm in investing to protect your franchise QB. In fact it would be rather poor roster management not to prioritize protecting Drake Maye and exploring all the available options.

Like I already said we can HOPE Campbell gets better and his real issue was the injury affecting his play. But we can't count on that with no backup plan in place to protect Maye.

It would be a shame to turn such a talented player as Drake into the next Andrew Luck and cut his career short. That would be sheer negligence. Invest in the OL, in particular the left side. It's sensible to double dip in OL talent to try to bolster a line that could not protect Maye adequately in the playoffs.

Finally I know a lot of defenders will point to Vrabel saying Campbell is our LT. I would reply that was the ONLY thing he could sensibly say as a head coach. You don't throw your players under the bus after an emotional playoff loss. There's just zero positive benefits to that.

A few simple words of support buys a lot of loyalty in the locker room. That does NOT mean the Patriots shouldn't keep an eye on bolstering the OL in the future if the right opportunity presents itself.

And by the way if we either sign a veteran LT or draft an LT that doesn't mean Campbell suddenly goes away. A move to guard, if it serves the best interest of the team could still strengthen the OL overall.

Didn't we go over the sacks during the season.

Someone here came up with a stat that showed Drake wasn't losing much yardage with those sacks. Rather than being sacked behind the line, he was moving into the pocket and sometimes even trying to run before going down with a couple yards loss. Other QBs would throw it away there (and this is something we almost never see Drake doing [not saying he should]).

 

[Patsfan1645]

Didn't we go over the sacks during the season.

Someone here came up with a stat that showed Drake wasn't losing much yardage with those sacks. Rather than being sacked behind the line, he was moving into the pocket and sometimes even trying to run before going down with a couple yards loss. Other QBs would throw it away there (and this is something we almost never see Drake doing [not saying he should]).

This brings up a good point. How many times did a teams line fail but the QB just got rid of the ball rather than try to extend or take the sack. Is this tracked in some way? I mean you could play a game with two teams and only swap out one teams qb say Maye and Brady and have much different look on paper as far as how the line played even though it was the same line going against the same defense.

 

[dliverey44]

This brings up a good point. How many times did a teams line fail but the QB just got rid of the ball rather than try to extend or take the sack. Is this tracked in some way? I mean you could play a game with two teams and only swap out one teams qb say Maye and Brady and have much different look on paper as far as how the line played even though it was the same line going against the same defense.

This is a great point, there were several plays I remember that Landry or Chaisson were in range of the QB but the QB was able to throw the ball away. Not saying that Landry and Chaisson are amazing but I think people look at sacks to determine if a pass rusher is good or not.

I am more concerned about the pass rush win rate because that tells me that the rusher is able to win their matchup and get in the backfield. I don't know where that info can be found, if anyone has a source please let me know.

 

[DaBruinz]

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?

Incorrect. Both Munford and Bryant have LT experience. Munford has taken snaps at LT during his pro career. Bryant played LT his senior year in College.

 

[DaBruinz]

Why do you think that Vrabel was unable to find a "whoever" to sign as a backup LT last year?

Because they didn't go looking in free agency before the draft since the pickings were already slim. They already had Lowe under contract. They put their focus for OT into the draft (Campbell, Bryant, Birdow). They added Yasir Durant at the end of June. then they added guys like Rupcich, Gutierrez and Metz during the season..

 

[DaBruinz]

Didn't we go over the sacks during the season.

Someone here came up with a stat that showed Drake wasn't losing much yardage with those sacks. Rather than being sacked behind the line, he was moving into the pocket and sometimes even trying to run before going down with a couple yards loss. Other QBs would throw it away there (and this is something we almost never see Drake doing [not saying he should]).

There were a large number of Maye's sacks that were at the LOS. Because he'd moved out of the pocket and was trying to extend the play.. Maye lost 201 yards on the 47 sacks that he took.

Sacks for 0-1 yard / 2 yard
LVR - 2 / 1
MIA - 0 / 0
PIT - 1 / 0
CAR - 1 / 0
BUF - 1 / 3
NOR - 1 / 0
TEN - 1 / 0
CLE - 0 / 0
ATL - 0 / 2
TAM- 1 / 0
NYJ - 0 / 0
CIN - 0 /0
NYG - 1 / 1
BUF - 1 / 0
BAL - 1 / 1
NYJ - 1 / 0
MIA - No sacks

13 of 47 for 0-1 yards (27.7%)
8 of 47 went for 2 yards (17%)

21 of 47 for 2 yards or less. (44.7%).

To me, that's pretty significant.

 

[Triumph]

OK. COnsider if KC trade the 9th pick for a player or for a 2027 1st. Or consider that a bored NE fan starts really watching the draft as we get to the 2nd half of the first.

At THAT point, you would rather have KC picks since they pick before us in every round.

I strongly disagree. Try listing the picks from 1 to 250 and ignore rounds. Once we get to the second half of the first, we and KC have approximatle the same number of picks. AND, New England, for the rest of the draft, picks BEFORE Kansas City.
=======
My BOTTOM LINE is if the #9 pick is the difference between KC being better than us, then so be it; congrats on a great pick. In any case, we have advantage in every pick for the rest of the draft.

KC is in win now mode.

I seriously doubt that they will trade # 9 unless it's for a player of need who can start day 1.

Kelce is back and so is Hill, but they still need WE help. KC needs RB and OT help too.

 

[Real fan 02]

KC is in win now mode.

I seriously doubt that they will trade # 9 unless it's for a player of need who can start day 1.

Kelce is back and so is Hill, but they still need WE help. KC needs RB and OT help too.

It all hinges on the availability of Mahomes.. did you see how putrid thier backup QB situation was...

 

[PatsFan2]

It all hinges on the availability of Mahomes.. did you see how putrid thier backup QB situation was...

That's how most Teams are with Good/Great QB's. Would we be happy if we got to our Second String??

 

[Real fan 02]

That's how most Teams are with Good/Great QB's. Would we be happy if we got to our Second String??

Thier backup QBade Zappe look like an all pro... he couldn't complete a pass over 5 yards...

 

[Patsfan1645]

KC is in win now mode.

I seriously doubt that they will trade # 9 unless it's for a player of need who can start day 1.

Kelce is back and so is Hill, but they still need WE help. KC needs RB and OT help too.

So let me see if I understand what "win mode" looks like:

A QB who is coming off a torn ACL who relies on his mobility.

A soon to be 37 year old tight end who looks like a shell of his former self and is about to marry the biggest entertainer on planet earth.

A WR that they let walk in 2022 and will be 32 who is coming back from a gruesome knee dislocation, torn acl/ligaments and currently isnt even on the team.

 

[Triumph]

Moses back at RT

So let me see if I understand what "win mode" looks like:

A QB who is coming off a torn ACL who relies on his mobility.

A soon to be 37 year old tight end who looks like a shell of his former self and is about to marry the biggest entertainer on planet earth.

A WR that they let walk in 2022 and will be 32 who is coming back from a gruesome knee dislocation, torn acl/ligaments and currently isnt even on the team.

Delusional is not a river in Egypt.

 

[Triumph]

It all hinges on the availability of Mahomes.. did you see how putrid thier backup QB situation was...

Right

Mahomes won't play in 2026 even though he hand picked the OC, Kekce is coming back and Hill is going to resign.

 

[Patsfan1645]

win mode...lul

 

[Real fan 02]

Right

Mahomes won't play in 2026 even though he hand picked the OC, Kekce is coming back and Hill is going to resign.

They need to get a better back up QB.. someone who can complete a pass over 5 yards...

 

[Triumph]

They need to get a better back up QB.. someone who can complete a pass over 5 yards...

Mahomes is playing in 2026.

There is no point in Kelce coming back otherwise.

 

[mgteich]

It all hinges on the availability of Mahomes.. did you see how putrid thier backup QB situation was...

Yes, everything depends on Mahomes, as it has since 2018

 

[borisman]

Being a Pats fan I would take our draft picks (11) over KC draft picks (6). We need more depth. While KC will likely get the better player in this draft, we have a slightly better chance of getting more players who contribute.