Patriots trade for WR Mohamed Sanu, for a second-round pick

To have enough money for Sanu, don't we have to cut or restructure someone before the signing is official?

Assuming the Patriots don't ditch a WR, this team now has a situation where it can limit Edelman's snaps a bit, or at least give him some more routes where the likelihood of heavy hits is less. And it can have Gordon running fewer high impact routes, as well. And, with regards to personnel packages, they're not going to want to overuse Watson, so we should see a fun amount of personnel package rotation.

With our offense and O-line situation, I think a WR gaining wide separation 20-30 yards down the field based on blazing speed & shiftiness is a whole lot less important than a WR who wins off the line (by footwork or strength) and gains some separation 5-10 yards down the field, either inside or outside, and can hold leverage (i.e. "box out" the defender) or get low ala Jules.

It seems like taking 2 seconds or less to throw is the plan.

It also seems to me that Sanu fits that plan pretty well.

Double TE said:

Not with those WR monsters blocking for you.

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Good blocking TEs can be competitive even against DEs. This is not even close to being the same.

You won't force opponents into base even with tall blocking WRs. But that is where you often want them in as it is easiest to exploit due to less versatile personnel and more basic coverage rules.

long distance said:

btw Izzo is the only TE that can actually block on the roster..

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lol holy ****

lancerman said:

So we either give up a 3rd and a 4th for Sanders or a second for Sanu. Lack of injury concerns and extra year worth it?

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I'll take Sanu over Sanders. Sanu has a bigger body, better blocker, great route runner. We also get an extra year of control so it's not just a 1 year rental. Also Sanu is 2 years younger than Sanders. We basically get Sanu for his prime years.

2nd round pick seems like a lot but we have a huge gap at the WR position, thanks to lots of injuries. Edelman is playing with some nicks and bruises. Jakobi Meyer a UDFA rookie is the only fully healthy body.

I really like this move the more I think about it. I'd rather have Sanu for 2 years, then draft another bust at DB with that 2nd round pick.

So...Sanu wearing 17?

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

To have enough money for Sanu, don't we have to cut or restructure someone before the signing is official?

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Might as well drop Stidham now that we have Sanu

Froob said:

So...Sanu wearing 17?

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14

Apparently Patriots signing Justin Bethel, per Doug Kyed.
Special teams ace - Baltimore cut him because Brent Urban was released elsewhere, which negated a potential fourth-round comp pick. They valued the future comp pick higher, and dropped Bethel to negate his entry in the comp pick ledger.
So who goes? Need two slots.

BB is talking about the trade on WEEI, so we can consider it done.

luuked said:

Good blocking TEs can be competitive even against DEs. This is not even close to being the same.

You won't force opponents into base even with tall blocking WRs. But that is where you often want them in as it is easiest to exploit due to less versatile personnel and more basic coverage rules.

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Oh I agree. It would be ideal to have a great TE but we don’t have that luxury so maybe that’s the next best thing?

Urgent said:

Apparently Patriots signing Justin Bethel, per Doug Kyed.
Special teams ace - Baltimore cut him because Brent Urban was released elsewhere, which negated a potential fourth-round comp pick. They valued the future comp pick higher, and dropped Bethel to negate his entry in the comp pick ledger.
So who goes? Need two slots.

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Richards and Gunnar

Deus Irae said:

BB is talking about the trade on WEEI, so we can consider it done.

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Following up on this (sort of), BB was asked if Bennett would be with the team and at practice tomorrow, and he said that he expected he would.

So, that would seem to indicate that there's no Bennett trade pending, at least not yet.

Edit: Reiss has it

Bill Belichick tells @OMFonWEEI that he expects DE Michael Bennett back in the building tomorrow after his week-long team suspension.

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ZoisKing said:

Might as well drop Stidham now that we have Sanu

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Convert him to TE, aka The Tebow Maneuver.

Deus Irae said:

Following up on this (sort of), BB was asked if Bennett would be with the team and at practice tomorrow, and he said that he expected he would.

So, that would seem to indicate that there's no Bennett trade pending, at least not yet.

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Hm seems to be positive. Guess he could have said he expects all healthy players to practice or some blanket bs.

Maybe just a happy hangover from the game last night, but I like this trade a lot, especially for how it will lighten the duties of others, as @Deus Irae mentioned.

Then again, I'm basically always in "win now" mode.

Nehalem said:

So 2 more good post season runs and it could look a little more like

(1) Julian Edelman
(2) Jerry Rice

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I think you mean 2 good post season games..

The Patriots are releasing DB/special teamer Jordan Richards, per league source.

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One roster spot cleared.