Where Will We Sign Or Trade For Players

mgteich said:

Possibilities include a vet OT, a vet TE (or two), a DT, a DE, and a LB/ST.

OL
I still think a veteran OT is likely. A rookie swing tackle with Croston as the 4th doesn't seem right.

TE
Watson can't sign soon enough, presumably in the next 2 weeks. The question is whether also bring in another. We've been spoiled. Watson, ASJ, and Lecosse may be fine for 2019 with Belichick. Obviously, Belichick really disliked this supposed great TE class. We'll be looking again every year, but Belichick seem OK for 2019.

WR
We could always add a JAG or 2 (in addition to all the UDFA's), but we're ready to go with Edelman, Harry, and Dorsett. We also have DT and/or Gordon. Plus we have Berrios, Ellington and Harris competing for another spot, which may not be there.

DL
I still expect us to sign a free agent, or even two. The DL we have could be as good as last year, but players get injured and there is room for competition and upgrade.
DE: Bennett, Winovich, Wise, Simon, Davis/Rivers, (Harris, Kamalu)
DT: Guy, Pennel, Butler, Coward/Parry

LB
a special teamer is possible

DB
I don't see anyone making the team

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Donald Penn? One year deal with low base but healthy snap count bonuses?

TommyBrady12 said:

Hope on our part, but the Pats know something we as fans don’t. No TE drafted, no press conference announcing Gronk’s retirement = good chance he is returning.

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If Gronk wants to come back, and has a plan in place with the team, this is a pretty sweet deal for him. He can avoid training camp, and all of the off season hassles of being under contract with the NFL, including this:

If he does this, I could foresee an uproar about the Pats and him manipulating the system so he can go off and train without out PED oversight, and some kind of new rule put in place to keep players from using the "retired" status for this purpose.

Id like to see another deep ball WR. Perhaps a trade with a team in the AFCW trying to screw over the Chiefs or a disgruntled NFC WR shipped out of the conference. Maybe as camp draws near a relationship between WR and team will go south and the Pats will move in for the kill.

The way I figure it, Gordon will get at least a 6 game vacation. Emperor Roger will impose something like 8 games, but reduce Gordons sentence down to 6 games thereby proving that Pontius Pilot is a fair and just ruler.

Looks like TE will be like last season. Serviceable, but no longer the focal point of the NE offense. The Pats got by pretty well with Vrabel as part time TE. Sure seems like Gonk schooling a 2019 draftee TE would have been the plan, but the Pats were looking for a TE when they found Gonk.

The PFW boys made serious suggestions that the Pats really liked Warring and would have taken him in the late 3rd but Houston got him.

Tom Curran said nothing doing with Rudolph just yet. Personally I’m not sure I want him at his price tag. If we get really desperate then sure but let’s see if Watson has anything left yet. Can always make a trade in training camp once we have let the TE battle play out.

I would also like an experienced back up offensive tackle but not sure who is available. Teams don’t normally give those away.

I think we sign a DT too once May 7th passes.

TommyBrady12 said:

Hope on our part, but the Pats know something we as fans don’t. No TE drafted, no press conference announcing Gronk’s retirement = good chance he is returning.

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I would think the chance is somewhere around 5-10%. BB investing first round resources into skill position players imo was motivated by Gronk not being available to produce mismatches anymore. Hell, I'd argue that there is a bigger chance we see Gordon this season than Gronk.

I would love to see him back as much as anyone else but I am getting the feeling some people here are in denial about the situation. He is retired as far as the team is concerned. There are no wink/wink nudge/nudge deals in the background or between him and BB. That would actually constitute breaking several rules and could result in a very costly punishment especially with that ******** but still existing "repeating cheater" angle.

Maybe La'Adrian Waddle comes back - the Bills picked up 6! OL free agents, then drafted Cody Ford. Some OL players are falling off that train. Waddle signed a 1-year deal with only 400k guaranteed - saves 1.6 if cut.

TE possibly although BB does not seem too concerned.
I’m a No on Watson
I’m a yes on Rudolph only if we do not pay the 7.6 million due on his current contract. That would mean a trade with the Vikes picking up part of his contract. Or if he gets cut and we sign him with a 2019 cap hit around 4 million

Nehalem said:

I think moving away from the TE dominant is obviously what BB is doing.

Look where he has spent his money and draft capital on offense. Its not TE. Its RB.

Even before the draft we had: White, Michel, and Burkhead. That is a pretty good group. Especially if Michel can develop more as a pass catcher. At that point you would have 3 RBs capable of running and catching the ball.

Then he drafts Damien Harris. From his NFL draft profile: "Very capable as dump-off pass catcher with soft hands and desired ball skills"

So possibly up to 4 RBs capable of both running and catching the ball.

The 2-TE offense is almost 10 years old at this point. Maybe its time for the 2-RB offense?

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I had mentioned in a post a few months back to not be surprised if we go with a dominant Defense and Running game theory. We transitioned that way in the playoffs and SB. This is not to say we will not throw it. We still have the best QB every to play. I don’t even want to get into the aging Theory with TB because he has showed no signs of decay. I just think we started to become predictable and teams were pinning their ears back on TB and diagnosing our quick out and screen plays. With a good running game Brady will have a field day throwing whichever pass play is dialed up because of the commitment to stop the run. Also it would not hurt to preserve an aging QB

BUSTAMOVE said:

I had mentioned in a post a few months back to not be surprised if we go with a dominant Defense and Running game theory. We transitioned that way in the playoffs and SB. This is not to say we will not throw it. We still have the best QB every to play. I don’t even want to get into the aging Theory with TB because he has showed no signs of decay. I just think we started to become predictable and teams were pinning their ears back on TB and diagnosing our quick out and screen plays. With a good running game Brady will have a field day throwing whichever pass play is dialed up because of the commitment to stop the run. Also it would not hurt to preserve an aging QB

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I don't think they wanted to go into this direction but Gordon not being there forced him into their luck basically. I absolutely love it because it should extend TB' career and we also have a 2nd good RB now, depth on the OL and got a big play WR (also for screens, PA etc).

Bailey, Rudolph and Penn with 4 mill needed for the rookie pool and 1 mill for practice squad
That only leaves us with 8 mill

Penn, I think could be a 1.5 mill a year chance for a ring type player.

and 1 of these two
Bailey while not having a Hicks type impact should command 3/15 at age 30
Rudolph- the same as Hicks.

I hate that we lost Waddle.

Noooo

Report: Browns Interested In Trading For McCoy

There are still potential extensions that could free up cap money.

patman52 said:

Bailey, Rudolph and Penn with 4 mill needed for the rookie pool and 1 mill for practice squad
That only leaves us with 8 mill

Penn, I think could be a 1.5 mill a year chance for a ring type player.

and 1 of these two
Bailey while not having a Hicks type impact should command 3/15 at age 30
Rudolph- the same as Hicks.

I hate that we lost Waddle.

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TommyBrady12 said:

The TE will be Gronk at some point next year. ASJ will be a place holder until that happens.

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No he will not.

Gronk has back problems. He is not coming back.

Reimer: Rob Gronkowski's unforgettable career was always on borrowed time

The two areas where this roster might still use some good veteran help are DL and TE. I guess we will have enough room for a one year prove-it deal or a restructured contract post-trade. Ziggy Ansah's health status is worth monitoring, same as Tampa's asking price for Gerald McCoy, if he can be had on the cheap. As for TE, they could go for a young guy like Adam Shaheen if they still see some upside in the 3rd year veteran, or make something work for a more proven Kyle Rudolph. Otherwise they stand pat and just wait for the TC/53-roster cuts, while hoping that either Gronk or Unicorn decides to come back from "Yo Soy Fiesta" assignment.

AHoodieWorshipperInParis said:

Ziggy Ansah's health status is worth monitoring, same as Tampa's asking price for Gerald McCoy, if he can be had on a cheap.

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Hard to imagine either of these players coming here at a reasonable cost. I hope that I’m wrong and they can manage to sign a decent vet at a cheap(ish) cost, but as we know, that’s always easier said than done.

AHoodieWorshipperInParis said:

The two areas where this roster might still use some good veteran help are DL and TE. I guess we will have enough room for a one year prove-it deal or a restructured contract post-trade. Ziggy Ansah's health status is worth monitoring, same as Tampa's asking price for Gerald McCoy, if he can be had on a cheap. As for TE, they could go for a young guy like Adam Shaheen if they still see some upside in the 3rd year veteran, or make something work for a more proven Kyle Rudolph. Otherwise they stand pat and just wait for the TC/53-roster cuts, while hoping that either Gronk or Unicorn decides to come back from "Yo Soy Fiesta" assignment.

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I always forget about Shaheen. Would be a nice coup.

mgteich said:

Possibilities include a vet OT, a vet TE (or two), a DT, a DE, and a LB/ST.

OL
I still think a veteran OT is likely. A rookie swing tackle with Croston as the 4th doesn't seem right.

TE
Watson can't sign soon enough, presumably in the next 2 weeks. The question is whether also bring in another. We've been spoiled. Watson, ASJ, and Lecosse may be fine for 2019 with Belichick. Obviously, Belichick really disliked this supposed great TE class. We'll be looking again every year, but Belichick seem OK for 2019.

WR
We could always add a JAG or 2 (in addition to all the UDFA's), but we're ready to go with Edelman, Harry, and Dorsett. We also have DT and/or Gordon. Plus we have Berrios, Ellington and Harris competing for another spot, which may not be there.

DL
I still expect us to sign a free agent, or even two. The DL we have could be as good as last year, but players get injured and there is room for competition and upgrade.
DE: Bennett, Winovich, Wise, Simon, Davis/Rivers, (Harris, Kamalu)
DT: Guy, Pennel, Butler, Coward/Parry

LB
a special teamer is possible

DB
I don't see anyone making the team

Click to expand...

OL
I still think a veteran OT is likely. A rookie swing tackle with Croston as the 4th doesn't seem right. --> They PROBABLY are gonna carry 3 QB's and 5 RB's i don't think they will carry 9 OL. Cajuste is probably a ST, Karras is a G/C backup and our other rookie will be the top backup

TE
Watson can't sign soon enough, presumably in the next 2 weeks. The question is whether also bring in another. We've been spoiled. Watson, ASJ, and Lecosse may be fine for 2019 with Belichick. Obviously, Belichick really disliked this supposed great TE class. We'll be looking again every year, but Belichick seem OK for 2019. --> I think they would select Fant or Hock in a heart beat. I think it was more about the range of the selections. Maybe they did not like the guys the fall into their range (Irv and Sternberger). If i had spare money i would bet in a 2 TE roster. 2 of them Izzo/Lacosse/ASJ if they don't trade for Rudolph or Watson is back. There is no point to carry a player that won't crack the 46. Anderson could not, and i don't know if this Beck can. Try to stash one or 2 into PS and move on.

LB
a special teamer is possible --> I hope the UDFA or Sam to make the 53. King is a GOOD STer but KVN and Elandon are set to be FA. Bentley was a nice surprise but i let's hope he can stay healthy first.

DB
I don't see anyone making the team --> Keion is gonne IMO. Ster only player, not much upside.

As of now:

Quarterbacks

12 Tom Brady (2019)
2 Brian Hoyer (2019)
5 Jarrett Stidham (2022)

Running backs

26 Sony Michel (2022)
33 Damien Harris (2022)
28 James White (2020)
34 Rex Burkhead (2020)

Fullback

46 James Develin (2020)

Wide receivers

11 Julian Edelman (2019)
15 N'Keal Harry (2023)
(2) Phillip Dorsett (2019) vs. Demaryius Thomas (2019) vs. Jakobi Myers (2022) vs. Braxton Berrion (2021) vs. Bruce Ellingon (2019)
*10 Josh Gordon (2019)

Tight ends

(3) Matt LaCosse (2020) vs. Ryan Izzo (2021) vs. Austin Seferian-Jenkins (2019) vs. Stephen Anderson (2019)

Offensive linemen

60 David Andrews C (2020)
61 Marcus Cannon RT (2021)
62 Joe Thuney LG (2019)
66 Hjalte Froholdt iOL (2022)
75 Ted Karras iOL (2019)
69 Shaq Mason RG (2023)
68 Yodny Cajuste T (2022)
76 Isaiah Wynn LT/LG (2022)

Offense = 23

Defensive linemen

70 Adam Butler DT (2019)
58 Michael Bennett DL (2020)
93 Lawrence Guy DT (2020)
90 Mike Pennel DT (2020)
95 Chase Winovich DE (2022)
96 Byron Cowart DL (2022) vs. Ufomba Kamalu DT(2019) vs. David Parry (2019)
91 Deatrich Wise Jr. DE (2020)
55 John Simon DE (2020)

Linebackers

51 Ja'Whaun Bentley (2021)
54 Dont'a Hightower (2020)
52 Elandon Roberts (2019)
53 Kyle Van Noy (2019)
(1) Brandon King LB (2019) vs. Terez Hall LB (2022) vs. Christian Sam LB (2021)

Defensive backs

23 Patrick Chung SS (2021)
29 Duke Dawson SS (2021)
24 Stephon Gilmore CB (2021)
21 Duron Harmon FS (2020)
27 J. C. Jackson CB (2020)
32 Devin McCourty FS (2019)
31 Jonathan Jones CB (2019)
30 Jason McCourty CB (2020)
35 Joejuan Williams CB (2022)
22 Obi Melifonwu FS/SS (2019) vs. Ken Webster CB (2022) vs. Keion Crossen CB (2021)

Defense = 22

18 Matthew Slater (2019)
38 Brandon Bolden (2020)
35 Terrence Brooks FS (2020)
43 Nate Ebner FS (2019)

''Only'' ST = 4

Special teams

49 Joe Cardona LS (2022)
3 Stephen Gostkowski (2020)
6 Ryan Allen P (2019) vs. Jake Bailey (2022)

SammyBlueCat said:

Gronk has back problems. He is not coming back.

Reimer: Rob Gronkowski's unforgettable career was always on borrowed time

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Really good article. Thanks for the link. All the Gronk fans hoping he will return as the Pats’ savior should read it.

mgteich said:

There are still potential extensions that could free up cap money.

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I don't want to extend McCourty or Hightower. McCourty doue to his age and Hightower not staying on the field.