2022 Free Agent Receivers - Will the Patriots Target One?

[mgteich]

Welker = nissan
Edelman = Volkswagen
Gunner = gremlin

gunner = yugo

 

[Ross12]

So you want Mac to have these guys as receiving targets:

Juju Smith Shuster
Nelson Agholor
Kendrick Bourne
Isaiah McKenzie
Jakobi Meyers

Plus:

Hunter Henry
Jonnu Smith
James White

I don't recall previous SB-winning teams having that depth of receivers.

I don’t think that’s too crazy - the team has little on the roster beyond 2022 at WR right now so signing a couple guys who could be had at a decent value makes sense IMO. That said, getting BOTH Smith-Schuster and McKenzie is probably not gonna happen.

 

[PatsFan2]

After the disaster signing that was Kenny Golladay coming off a major injury last year, I could see the market not so robust for Godwin and Gallop. They may only get one year prove it deals.

Timing of ACL injuries stinks for some of those players considering the needed time off. They are Couple of prospects in the Draft that have that same dilemma. I could see BB jumping on either players you mentioned especially Godwin knowing they are already proven and might be ready later in the year. BB loves those low risk high reward type deals.

 

[PatsFan2]

Will Fuller V intriguing prospect can blow the Top off a Defense when healthy that's the problem when healthy.

William Fuller V - Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver - ESPN

View the profile of Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver William Fuller V on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

 

[Love The Drake]

Will Fuller V intriguing prospect can blow the Top off a Defense when healthy that's the problem when healthy.

William Fuller V - Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver - ESPN

View the profile of Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver William Fuller V on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Rather have Cooks than Fuller.
Fuller got busted with Peds.
I’m sure it was to recover from Injury.
But he is a IR case waiting to happen.

I’ve been banging the DJ Chark gong for a while.

My hope is Ridley and or Chark.

What I think Patriots do it overpay JU JU Smith Shuster.

 

[PatsFan2]

Rather have Cooks than Fuller.
Fuller got busted with Peds.
I’m sure it was to recover from Injury.
But he is a IR case waiting to happen.

I’ve been banging the DJ Chark gong for a while.

My hope is Ridley and or Chark.

What I think Patriots do it overpay JU JU Smith Shuster.

Pats overpay blasphemy! Big fan of Juju here and DK Chark - Ridley heck anybody that can elevate this current cast. I really like W Fuller V when he came out low risk high reward type player we wouldn't be breaking the bank.

 

[50-yard-line]

Pats overpay blasphemy! Big fan of Juju here and DK Chark - Ridley heck anybody that can elevate this current cast. I really like W Fuller V when he came out low risk high reward type player we wouldn't be breaking the bank.

I don't see him as high reward at all - statistically, he's Agholor.

 

[Jim Beankie]

I looked through the last 20 SB winning teams, and I didn't see a single big splash free agent WR signing who changed teams in the offseason (not trade) that eventually ended up being the best WR / most valuable WR on a SB winning team except maybe Plaxico (ugh - certainly not for big money). For fairly significant contributors, we're looking at ESanders and maybe AlshonJ (again ugh) or even McCardell, but the last 2 would be considered JAGs. Mostly, I'm seeing home grown talent and maybe a trade (Anquan/Keyshawn) / in season flyers (OBJ or AB). Am I missing something glaring here?

Here are (imho) the best wide receivers on those 20 (+1) SB winning teams and the rounds they were drafted in. All except 3ish are home grown. I'd expect a lot of people here would consider only half of these guys to be "true" WR1s:

Kupp (3rd)
Evans (1st)
TyHill (1st oops - 5th round - Doh!)
Edelman (7th)
Agholor (1st)
Damaryius (1st)
Golden (2nd)
Anquan (Trade - orig 2nd)
VCruz (Undrafted)
GJennings (2nd)
Colston (7th)
Hines (3rd)
Plaxico (FA - orig 1st)
MHarrison (1st)
Givens (7th) / Patten (FA - orig Undrafted) - tied here
Branch (2nd)
Keyshawn (Trade - Orig 1st)
(Bonus: my guy in the 8th round)

So the answer for me I guess is a pass.

Side note: Funny reading old posts here about Edelman when he was a FA in 2013 with Ian calling him a WR4 at the time (and he was far from the only one). Maybe he made it to "elite WR2," after all...

 

[PatsFan2]

I don't see him as high reward at all - statistically, he's Agholor.

No offence 50 but I was never a fan of Agholor. I think he's just an above average WR who hasn't lived up to his First Round billing. I think Fuller would easily do what we were expecting from Agholor. Fuller have done that more in limited time he has serious wheels when healthy.

 

[Rob0729]

I read somewhere that this year's crop of WR draft prospects are well above average and we will see this as a trend going forward. You are going to be able to find a lot impact receivers in the draft every year (well, relative to other positions) because the way college, high school, and lower level football has changed. College teams are running pro style offenses at a higher rate than ever. High school football too has become more passing based than in the past. And the trend is now that talented young players from the pee-wee level on are looking to become receivers because of these trends.

So I am torn whether the Pats find an upgrade to the receiving corp in free agency or the draft. Belichick's history with drafting WRs is awful, but the Pats have changed the way they approach the draft a bit and that could affect their ability to draft WRs. I think think they should get a slot receiver in free agency because there are several good ones that will come at a value.

That said, I don't want Smith-Shuster. He is not built for the Patriots' offense. He is more suited for a Steeler offense where Roethlisberger played school yard football where receivers just ran to get open and Roethlisberger extending the play. The Pats need a quick slot who can get open quickly and run rub routes and go over the middle. That isn't JuJu. I would rather have Jamison Crowder or Isiah McKenzie at a lesser price.

 

[DaBruinz]

An improved OL?

We could stay the same by relying on Brown (re-sign), Karras, and Herron.

Where is you improvement coming from? Two re-signs AND an upgrade who could contribute in 2022?

For the RB's to be better, I would suggest that we need a better 3rd down back than Bolden.

Hey MG. How about you read everything you quote going forward. You'd have the answer to your question without having to post it. Because I specifically said O-Line PLAY. I stated several times that the O-line play wasn't consistent last year. And it wasn't. They got manhandled by Buffalo in games 2 and 3.

No. I don't think that Patricia is an upgrade over Bricillo when it comes to O-line coaching. I've wanted BB to bring in a guy from the NCAA like Matt Luke or Sam Gregg.

I don't see the Pats bringing Karras or Brown back. I think that there are starting positions around the league at Guard that someone will slot Karras into.

BTW, the RBs can be better just from improved O-line play. The O-line making sure the back-side guy doesn't blow up the play before it get's started. The O-line consistently opening holes for the RBs. That's going to have a bigger impact than the 3rd down back.

 

[captain stone]

Here are (imho) the best wide receivers on those 20 (+1) SB winning teams and the rounds they were drafted in. All except 3ish are home grown. I'd expect a lot of people here would consider only half of these guys to be "true" WR1s:

Kupp (3rd)
Evans (1st)
TyHill (1st)
Edelman (7th)
Agholor (1st)
Damaryius (1st)
Golden (2nd)
Anquan (Trade - orig 2nd)
VCruz (Undrafted)
GJennings (2nd)
Colston (7th)
Hines (3rd)
Plaxico (FA - orig 1st)
MHarrison (1st)
Givens (7th) / Patten (FA - orig Undrafted) - tied here
Branch (2nd)
Keyshawn (Trade - Orig 1st)
(Bonus: my guy in the 8th round)

So the answer for me I guess is a pass.

If the bolded name is Ty-reeks Hill from the KC Queefs, then I believe he was drafted in the 5th round of 2016 (he dropped due to justifiable off-field "issues"), not the first round...?

 

[Zuma]

I don't see the Pats bringing Karras or Brown back. I think that there are starting positions around the league at Guard that someone will slot Karras into.

Yeah Brown is highly unlikely unless he takes a large discount for the home team. Karras 50/50.

 

[50-yard-line]

No offence 50 but I was never a fan of Agholor. I think he's just an above average WR who hasn't lived up to his First Round billing. I think Fuller would easily do what we were expecting from Agholor. Fuller have done that more in limited time he has serious wheels when healthy.

That's how I feel about Fuller - and without the PEDs? We'll see.

He's a failed drug test away from a long suspension.

 

[Zuma]

Not a FA but just trade Harry for Campbell...

Chris Ballard: Colts are "not quitting" on Parris Campbell

The Colts drafted wide receiver Parris Campbell in the second round of the 2019 draft with the hope that he'd become a major contributor to their offense.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

 

[Snooky97]

Slightly OT -

 

[Zuma]

Slightly OT -

 

[goheels22002]

Maybe, instead of cutting just part of my post, you should read the entire thing because you'd have your answer.

Your argument is based solely around the idea that they only have 1 WR signed beyond 2022. The problem with that thought process is that things are going to change between now and TC in terms of contracts. You also seem to be ignoring that the reason behind the Patriots signing Smith and Henry last year was so they could make the 2 TE set their base formation.

You're over-looking the fact that Bourne, Henry and Smith were under-utilized last year with none of them seeing more than 68% of the snaps. These 3 need to be seeing closer to 75% of the snaps. All 3 of them.

My assertion is that the Patriots need only 4 WRs on the final roster with 2-3 on the PS for injury purposes. I think that Agholor and Harry were McDaniels wants. I would try and send them to the Raiders for a couple of picks.

I also assert that I think that Meyers isn't a good fit for the team despite what he's done. I think that allowing someone to sign him and agreeing to a 3rd round pick this year as compensation would be better use of the 3.98M that he'll be getting on the RFA tag. This would help the Patriots with flexibility to add to the defense as well as a WR like Burks, Christian Watson or Phillips.

ONLY THEN would I look at bringing in a FA WR. Because, then as the 4th/5th/6th receiving option (behind Bourne, Henry, Smith, 3rd down RB), they're likely to see more than 50% of the snaps in the 2 TE set.

I think that Schuster and Kirk are better options than Conley (who has issues with drops). But it's very likely that both of them are going to get contracts over $10M AAV. I think that Humphries is like Meyers. He's not a guy you can rely on to get you the 1st down in 4rd down situations. Humphries also has had issues with drops. If the Pats moved Agholor, I'd be all over signing Christian Kirk because Kirk can play the slot or outside. He's not as shifty as Edelman, but he's still a really good player. And then the Pats could lower WR as a priority in the draft.

I agree on everything except Meyers. If the Raiders would take Harry and Agholor (with his salary) off the Patriots hand for a draft choice or two, that would be addition by subtraction.

I'd keep Meyers and Bourne, find a mid-level free agent wideout like Conley or Smith-Schuster, and like you said. feature Henry and Smith in the passing game. James White coming back could be enormous for Mac Jones who developed a surprisingly good rhythm with Brandon Bolden.

Here's the broken record part of my 2022 posts, go all in on an OL in the first round and use the rest of the draft on defense. The bar is low for me in 2022. If the Patriots force the Bills to punt just once, the season is a smashing success!

 

[Jim Beankie]

If the bolded name is Tyreeks Hill from the KC Queefs, then I believe he was drafted in the 5th round of 2016 (he dropped due to justifiable off-field "issues"), not the first round...?

Thanks for catching that! I always assumed he was a 1st rounder, and he was the only one I didn't check.

 

[PatsFan2]

That's how I feel about Fuller - and without the PEDs? We'll see.

He's a failed drug test away from a long suspension.

Thanks scratch Fuller off the list then.