Player Signing Patriots signing guard Alijah Vera-Tucker

FreeTedWilliams · Mar 10, 2026

Rob0729 said:
According to Bedard, he thinks Belichick would have taken Vera-Tucker over Mac Jones if he was available in the 2021 draft.

Belichick took Cole Strange over Trent McDuffie too, so there is that

Wingy · Mar 10, 2026

Not a fan of it. When every post contains “if healthy” “when healthy” “if he can ever stay healthy”…these guys just don’t typically do that - get healthy. Not a whole lot of guys tend to get healthier as their NFL career progresses, much less a guy injured this much.

Feels like the FA version of Dominique Easley.

Plus a Jete draftee. Think I just puked in my mouth.

manxman2601 · Mar 10, 2026

Hammer of Thor · Mar 10, 2026

Wingy said:
Not a fan of it. When every post contains “if healthy” “when healthy” “if he can ever stay healthy”…these guys just don’t typically do that - get healthy. Not a whole lot of guys tend to get healthier as their NFL career progresses, much less a guy injured this much.

Feels like the FA version of Dominique Easley.

Plus a Jete draftee. Think I just puked in my mouth.

He’s played in more NFL games than Easley ever did.

Not wasting a 1st round pick on him; if he suffers another season ending injury, Pats can get out of the rest of the deal other than his signing bonus and 1st year money. Really no different from many free agency deals. Just make sure you’re comfortable with the backup should he get injured again.

Wingy · Mar 11, 2026

Hammer of Thor said:
He’s played in more NFL games than Easley ever did.

Not wasting a 1st round pick on him; if he suffers another season ending injury, Pats can get out of the rest of the deal other than his signing bonus and 1st year money. Really no different from many free agency deals. Just make sure you’re comfortable with the backup should he get injured again.

It wasn’t intended to be a literal comparison of the two guys. I said it is like the FA version of Easley.

Meaning - it’s a non-trivial cost to gamble on upside when the injury history of evidence points to it being highly unlikely to workout.

Not a perfect parallel given a late first is more valuable than mid-level starter money, but still not the kind of player I’d want us to invest in.

Seems like the kind of guy that comes in this year, has a good season. Some fans feel vindicated and point out the awesome move. Then we’re relying on him and dude gets another significant out for season injury whether it be this year or the next.

Plus Jete stank.

LightSkinSmurf · Mar 11, 2026

Wingy said:
Not a fan of it. When every post contains “if healthy” “when healthy” “if he can ever stay healthy”…these guys just don’t typically do that - get healthy. Not a whole lot of guys tend to get healthier as their NFL career progresses, much less a guy injured this much.

Feels like the FA version of Dominique Easley.

Plus a Jete draftee. Think I just puked in my mouth.

Pretty much my thoughts. Potential means nothing if you can't stay on the field.

dliverey44 · Mar 11, 2026

Betterthanmost said:
Two triceps tears, both arms, Achilles. Appears to be someone who developed muscles or weight bigger than his tendons can handle. I like the risk reward but these injuries hint there may be an underlying issue. Perhaps yoga and pliability/ and full commit stretching can help before weight lifting, practice and games.

I am not overly religious, but I find myself praying for AVTs health every night.

mike_usagisan · Mar 11, 2026

dliverey44 said:
I am not overly religious, but I find myself praying for AVTs health every night.

Are you Drake Maye!?! Oh wait, you said you're not overly religious...

BUSTAMOVE · Mar 11, 2026

dliverey44 said:
I am not overly religious, but I find myself praying for AVTs health every night.

Do you start that prayer with ”bless me father for I have sinned”. Because I do

maust · Mar 12, 2026

Wingy said:
Not a fan of it. When every post contains “if healthy” “when healthy” “if he can ever stay healthy”…these guys just don’t typically do that - get healthy. Not a whole lot of guys tend to get healthier as their NFL career progresses, much less a guy injured this much.

Feels like the FA version of Dominique Easley.

Plus a Jete draftee. Think I just puked in my mouth.

Your (and others) concerns seem to have been shared by the Pats front office when his contract was created it has $14.75M over the life of the contract in playing time incentives, it is brilliant I've never seen anything like it and I'm not alone

Alijah Vera-Tucker deal includes $4.25 million in per-game roster bonuses — per year

As the details regarding various free-agent deals make their way into PFT headquarters, some things stand out.

www.nbcsports.com

TommyD4207 · Mar 12, 2026

maust said:
Your (and others) concerns seem to have been shared by the Pats front office when his contract was created it has $14.75M over the life of the contract in playing time incentives, it is brilliant I've never seen anything like it and I'm not alone

Alijah Vera-Tucker deal includes $4.25 million in per-game roster bonuses — per year

As the details regarding various free-agent deals make their way into PFT headquarters, some things stand out.

www.nbcsports.com

He'll be motivated to really watch his juice intake for sure.

PatsFan2 · Mar 12, 2026

manxman2601 said:

Hopefully he stays out the Tub: we don't want another Isaiah Wynn or Cole Strange on our hands.

BUSTAMOVE · Mar 12, 2026

maust said:
Your (and others) concerns seem to have been shared by the Pats front office when his contract was created it has $14.75M over the life of the contract in playing time incentives, it is brilliant I've never seen anything like it and I'm not alone

Alijah Vera-Tucker deal includes $4.25 million in per-game roster bonuses — per year

As the details regarding various free-agent deals make their way into PFT headquarters, some things stand out.

www.nbcsports.com

If he plays we are getting a steal. If he gets injured the contract shrinks or gets voided.
Paid to Play. Nice move

Zuma · Mar 12, 2026

PatsFan2 said:
Hopefully he stays out the Tub: we don't want another Isaiah Wynn or Cole Strange on our hands.

I will go to my deathbed believing Wynn should have been at LG from the beginning and would have far less injury issues there playing his more natural position.

maust · Mar 12, 2026

BUSTAMOVE said:
If he plays we are getting a steal. If he gets injured the contract shrinks or gets voided.
Paid to Play. Nice move

The deal really says good things about both the Pats front office and the player. Pats are more than happy with pay to play for a player of his caliber and Vera-Tucker is good with betting on himself. Win-win, gotta love it

jimnance · Mar 12, 2026

BUSTAMOVE said:
Do you start that prayer with ”bless me father for I have sinned”. Because I do

So I went to Catholic school grades 1-6.
By 6th grade I think a lot of us were actually lieing to the priest about our sins in confession lol.
Because the nuns and all the other kids were also in the Church, we all knew that people took note of how long you were in the confessional ; the longer you were in, the more sins you had. Not only that but the priest would give you penance at the end which you had to do at the kneeler outside the confessional; so everyone would note how long you were kneeling saying penance.
So you learned to rattle the Hail Mary's Our Fathers and Glory Be's off as fast as you could. That's also a reason you would lie to the priest- so instead of saying " Bless me father, I have sinned, I lied 7 times- when in truth you lied 25 times-so you would get a shorter penance and the whole school wouldn't think you're a reprobate- especially that cute red-headed girl. Amen.

BUSTAMOVE · Mar 12, 2026

jimnance said:
So I went to Catholic school grades 1-6.
By 6th grade I think a lot of us were actually lieing to the priest about our sins in confession lol.
Because the nuns and all the other kids were also in the Church, we all knew that people took note of how long you were in the confessional ; the longer you were in, the more sins you had. Not only that but the priest would give you penance at the end which you had to do at the kneeler outside the confessional; so everyone would note how long you were kneeling saying penance.
So you learned to rattle the Hail Mary's Our Fathers and Glory Be's off as fast as you could. That's also a reason you would lie to the priest- so instead of saying " Bless me father, I have sinned, I lied 7 times- when in truth you lied 25 times-so you would get a shorter penance and the whole school wouldn't think you're a reprobate- especially that cute red-headed girl. Amen.

Public school kid but did have CCD and the nuns hated us.
Then it came to a point where you went into the confessional and the priest said “what are your sins”
Then you could say “you first” lol
I’m doomed

jimnance · Mar 12, 2026

BUSTAMOVE said:
Then it came to a point where you went into the confessional and the priest said “what are your sins”
Then you could say “you first” lol
I’m doomed

Oh ****, that was good. I legit laughed out loud

Raccoonsuit · Mar 13, 2026

Wingy said:
It wasn’t intended to be a literal comparison of the two guys. I said it is like the FA version of Easley.

Meaning - it’s a non-trivial cost to gamble on upside when the injury history of evidence points to it being highly unlikely to workout.

Not a perfect parallel given a late first is more valuable than mid-level starter money, but still not the kind of player I’d want us to invest in.

Seems like the kind of guy that comes in this year, has a good season. Some fans feel vindicated and point out the awesome move. Then we’re relying on him and dude gets another significant out for season injury whether it be this year or the next.

Plus Jete stank.

Oh man. Dominique Easley. Totally agree.

Ras ir dowling. That was the time period when every busted down former great player was in belichick cross hairs.

I remember being excited at the Albert haynesworth signing! Yikes!

neuronet · Mar 13, 2026

Great signing/contract. People want to come to the Pats!

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Player Signing Patriots signing guard Alijah Vera-Tucker

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