Remaining FA Wide Receivers - or Do We Wait for Draft?

May as well wait for the draft. At this point we could cut Thornton, then try to sign him to a FA contract and still not be able to “burn some cash”…. And can somebody please notify M. Judon that he’s not our GM! I love the guy but he’s got to stop yappin snd callin up guys he wants us to sign - he’s about 0 for 11 now but he had picked some good ones.

PatsFan2 said:

50 I see what Wolf is trying to do it was good try If the GOAT GM did his job we wouldn't be in this predicament @ WR water under the Bridge now. I have full confidence Wolf will fix this and not Screw up the Top of our Drafts like BB I am sure you are aware of that.

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My biggest complaint about BB the last few year is that even when the team clearly wasn't going anywhere, he wasn't letting the kids play. McCourty getting 100% of the snaps in a meaningless game was counterproductive.

At one point in 2020, it should have been Stidham throwing exclusively to Asiasi, Keene, Harry, and Meyers...for example.

Players develop - if you don't play them, they can't (see Jennings, Anfernee).

So let's see Bourne and JJSS, sure, but let's get the survivors of Thornton, Boutte, Reagor, new draft pick(s), and Pop Douglas get their chances, lots of chances.

Since1960 said:

May as well wait for the draft. At this point we could cut Thornton, then try to sign him to a FA contract and still not be able to “burn some cash”…. And can somebody please notify M. Judon that he’s not our GM! I love the guy but he’s got to stop yappin snd callin up guys he wants us to sign - he’s about 0 for 11 now but he had picked some good ones.

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That ^ guy would be an interesting sign the year he signed with the Chiefs smart move by him the Patriots was his next visit he never left their building. He's nothing special one trick pony who occupies a Safety unlike clueless Boney T with all that speed.

upstater1 said:

??

I said I'd give $30m to a top tier WR

I didn't say I wouldn't.

I'm saying don't give crazy money to guys that aren't at that level

As far as being BEHIND the market, I don't think anyone is making $30m per. I'm actually ahead of the market

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Youre the definition of behind the market considering that's what second tier guys are already being paid. That's been happening if you looked at contracts like Kirk, Godwin, Cooks, DK etc All recent contracts. All right at, around or above 20.
Adams, Hill, Terry and others are right around 30 if not at it. Jefferson will have a aav over 33+ and Chase, Lamb etc will top that.

It's just some fans here are way too picky when it comes to wanting to spend money.
It's one thing if we were able to draft them on a cheap contract.

I've been pounding the table for a trade for a while now but I heard pushback on trading 34 for Higgins and then obviously paying him.

No one likes overpaying but very few guys are worth what they get paid.

I am both leery and hopeful about landing help at the WR position from the draft. Hopeful in that last season proved that even in the later rounds, there are NFL quality WR's to be found even in the lower rounds (Douglas) Usually there are 1 or 2 WR's in the draft who are consensus first half of the first picks and even some of THOSE guys fail. This year there might be 4 or 5. But if we take a QB at 3 as we are very likely to do, none of those guys are going to be there at 34 anyway. Everyone else is pretty much a crap shoot. A few will succeed and more will fail. A 2nd round guy like Thornton fails and a 6th round guy like Douglas appears to be succeeding. Go figure.


So for THAT reason alone I'd want to invest is a more "known" player and add via the FA market. It's not that I'm against drafting a WR,, its more an understanding that I'm just taking a shot in the dark. It could be great or it could suck. With a FA you are more likely to get what you want since there is a definitive track record. The negative is that while you raise the floor, that definitive record lowers the ceiling you have with draft picks.

For that reason, if you are drafting position this year, I'd rather go QB, OT than QB, WR, and add to the WR room in FA. Then add a WR in rounds 3-7

Free agency kinda sucks for WR, a mediocre 1/strong 2 got bananas overpaid and everyone else is super meh. The Pats can't magically change who is on the market, and trading draft picks for a WR in a strong WR draft feels stupid.

LT is kind of the same way. Bad year to get them in FA but maybe a good draft for them. It's not like 30+ guys with injury histories aren't a gamble too.

PatsFan2 said:

Well BB is GOAT of HC's but is also the GOAT GM the latter is not a compliment.

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Big Mike Williams is out there, cmon wolf do it! Williams and brown at this point would be sufficient for me.. I don't want to rely on a rookie soley

Wait. We're now venturing into the 2021 FA fiasco.

Real fan 02 said:

Big Mike Williams is out there, cmon wolf do it! Williams and brown at this point would be sufficient for me.. I don't want to rely on a rookie soley

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Mike Williams Injured knee *ACL* is not good and he's in Parkers non separation territory I don't want to watch that movie again.

MahomestoKelce said:

Do you really think the Patriots would draft MHJ at 3 and take Nix/Penix later on?

What are the odds of it actually happening?

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Cousin, That is the most logical move........ but I would say perhaps with the Giants and wind up at #6 for their first pick in 2025 and theii third round pick this year #70. That would be a fair trade.
Take your best OT or WR at #6 ......or trade down once again to the Broncos at #12 and get WR Sutton (they still have Mimms) and a second rounder in 2025 (they have not got one in 2024). You still get a blue chip OT or a WR AT #12......or if you have a bowling ball bag for a jock strap you swap pick #12 to Washington Then you trade #12 to Washington for second rounders #36 and #40 and third rounder pick #100. Or stay pat at #12.
You can still get your QB at #34 though.
So for that little transaction of the #3 pick, you get a real 1 WR in Sutton, you keep #34 in the second and add #36 and #40. You also get your pick #68 in the 3rd round, #70 in the third round and #100 in the third round and then a first rounder and second rounder in 2025.

So you get 4 picks in the second and third Round and a first and second in 2025 plus Sutton. All fair deals according to thew chart. Would you swap Drake Maye for this deal? OK you might wind up with Penix or Nix or Rattler....how terrible. So 6 picks in the top 100 plus a real WR. I outdid Sonny.
DW Toys

There is no WR1 out there. Not even Ridley was. Paying big bucks for yet another WR2/3 is not an exciting prospect. They can offer their 3rd rounder to Cinci for a trade + extension with Higgins. If they don't trade for him he'll just sign with Tenessee next offseason.

BaconGrundleCandy said:

Youre the definition of behind the market considering that's what second tier guys are already being paid. That's been happening if you looked at contracts like Kirk, Godwin, Cooks, DK etc All recent contracts. All right at, around or above 20.
Adams, Hill, Terry and others are right around 30 if not at it. Jefferson will have a aav over 33+ and Chase, Lamb etc will top that.

It's just some fans here are way too picky when it comes to wanting to spend money.
It's one thing if we were able to draft them on a cheap contract.

I've been pounding the table for a trade for a while now but I heard pushback on trading 34 for Higgins and then obviously paying him.

No one likes overpaying but very few guys are worth what they get paid.

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??

We have some weird disconnect.

The $30m figure is above what anyone is getting paid right now.

I just threw it out as a number that the top guys are worth.

I'm saying I would not pay $20m for either Hollywood or Ridley, not because they are 2nd tier guys, but because giving a headcase 30 yr old WR $50m is absolutely crazy, and because Hollywood isn't that good.

If they are healthy, even Brown and Williams are better than anything we have on the roster now, even though they are no longer WR1 material.

upstater1 said:

??

We have some weird disconnect.

The $30m figure is above what anyone is getting paid right now.

I just threw it out as a number that the top guys are worth.

I'm saying I would not pay $20m for either Hollywood or Ridley, not because they are 2nd tier guys, but because giving a headcase 30 yr old WR $50m is absolutely crazy, and because Hollywood isn't that good.

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But he would be a #2 here.

PatsFan2 said:

Mike Williams Injured knee *ACL* is not good and he's in Parkers non separation territory I don't want to watch that movie again.

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We only have really 2 WRs who can get open right now KB, and pop. Supposed Thornton has put on weight, however he will get hurt walking to his car.

BaconGrundleCandy said:

Youre the definition of behind the market considering that's what second tier guys are already being paid. That's been happening if you looked at contracts like Kirk, Godwin, Cooks, DK etc All recent contracts. All right at, around or above 20.
Adams, Hill, Terry and others are right around 30 if not at it. Jefferson will have a aav over 33+ and Chase, Lamb etc will top that.

It's just some fans here are way too picky when it comes to wanting to spend money.
It's one thing if we were able to draft them on a cheap contract.

I've been pounding the table for a trade for a while now but I heard pushback on trading 34 for Higgins and then obviously paying him.

No one likes overpaying but very few guys are worth what they get paid.

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in my dream scenario we send a third and late rd pick to the bengals for higgings, draft a qb at 3 and an OT at 34

This team right now is not ready for a young qb
neither the pass catchers nor O-Line have improved

You have to surround the rookie qb with weapons and protection to see what you have in him and give him support to develop.

One argument might be they know that the qb needs to sit in year 1 so the tank is on for the 2024 season and they will spend a lot in 2025

Because right now compared to other weak teams from last year the pats improved the least

patsfanfromoversea said:

in my dream scenario we send a third and late rd pick to the bengals for higgings, draft a qb at 3 and an OT at 34

This team right now is not ready for a young qb
neither the pass catchers nor O-Line have improved

You have to surround the rookie qb with weapons and protection to see what you have in him and give him support to develop.

One argument might be they know that the qb needs to sit in year 1 so the tank is on for the 2024 season and they will spend a lot in 2025

Because right now compared to other weak teams from last year the pats improved the least

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I agree, and honestly JB compared to Mac and Zappe is a better QB. So he's the bridge/mentor for the pick.

At this point I believe Higgins is still attainable for us also.

Brotherblues said:

There is no WR1 out there. Not even Ridley was. Paying big bucks for yet another WR2/3 is not an exciting prospect. They can offer their 3rd rounder to Cinci for a trade + extension with Higgins. If they don't trade for him he'll just sign with Tenessee next offseason.

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Cousin, You are right. Ridley was a number 2 WR. Did not think of that. Go KJ Osborne in FA and trade for Higgins.
DW Toys

Real fan 02 said:

I agree, and honestly JB compared to Mac and Zappe is a better QB. So he's the bridge/mentor for the pick.

At this point I believe Higgins is still attainable for us also.

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Not if they let this sit on the backburner. Typical Pats,
What is the reason to wait until the Draft?....none.
DW Toys

DW Toys said:

Not if they let this sit on the backburner. Typical Pats,
What is the reason to wait until the Draft?....none.
DW Toys

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Cousin! I absolutely agree. For the interim JB will be a sufficient enough QB it was disastrous last season.. Zapp played well here and there, but he is a PS ,backup at best. Something is brewing, a trade or something I can't imagine them just being content at WR.