BobDigital
Pro Bowl Player
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The Patriots drafted Garcia in the 3rd round and traded up for him. I think that was with an eye towards 2018 as do most people but the injury he has will keep him out at least 6 weeks and maybe more. The fact they didn't put him on IR is telling. It tells me they really want to try to get some development time this year and they see it as a fairly urgent matter where just putting him on ice for a year to heal and starting again next year might be the norm in years past. This has put the Patriots in a tough situation.
At best he has missed a lot of developmental time and will be behind the ball. Maybe he gets healthy and maybe not. Even if he is ready to go after week 6 it makes you wonder how up to speed he can get by 2018. There has been whispers this is Solder's last year and usually I find whispers like those are pretty accurate and the Pats traded up to get Garcia to have that young option in place and give him a year to develop like they did Solder.
This is further complicated by next years draft. Assuming the Pats keep Brady they are in the situation of either having to franchise Jimmy (I don't think it is likely any deal can be worked out to keep him cheaper) or trade him. Considering the good young QBs in this draft with 4-5 cheap years and the price teams will need to pay for Jimmy I don't think a first round pick is an option. Maybe a 2nd. Assuming he walks the Pats are a near lock to go QB in this draft fairly high. I would assume in round 1 to take a shot on one of the young QBs. By the time their next pick comes around assuming Jimmy isn't traded for a very high 2nd round pick (which i doubt) the ready to go year 1 OTs will be off the table. They probably will be by pick 25 anyway but for sure now.
As far as free agent LT or even OTs next year there really isn't anyone that you would feel comfortable putting at that spot. Trading for a guy is an option but not likely. Teams don't tend to trade away good LTs. Joe Thomas would be a great option if the Browns would trade him away for a short term deal. I don't think they will. They want him as a life long Brown and other top LTs are much less likely to move.
Of course a few things could happen to make this a non-story.
Maybe the Pats let Brady walk/trade him and keep JG and can go OT first next year.
Maybe Garcia comes back after week 6 and is able to get completely up to speed and ready to protect Brady's blind side come week 1 2018.
Maybe the whispers on Solder are wrong or he can be enticed back for 1 more year.
Maybe the Pats can somehow swing a deal to get a good LT in here.
All of these are possible but I see each by itself as unlikely at this point. It just is a concerning future situation to me and is not be talked about enough as such.
At best he has missed a lot of developmental time and will be behind the ball. Maybe he gets healthy and maybe not. Even if he is ready to go after week 6 it makes you wonder how up to speed he can get by 2018. There has been whispers this is Solder's last year and usually I find whispers like those are pretty accurate and the Pats traded up to get Garcia to have that young option in place and give him a year to develop like they did Solder.
This is further complicated by next years draft. Assuming the Pats keep Brady they are in the situation of either having to franchise Jimmy (I don't think it is likely any deal can be worked out to keep him cheaper) or trade him. Considering the good young QBs in this draft with 4-5 cheap years and the price teams will need to pay for Jimmy I don't think a first round pick is an option. Maybe a 2nd. Assuming he walks the Pats are a near lock to go QB in this draft fairly high. I would assume in round 1 to take a shot on one of the young QBs. By the time their next pick comes around assuming Jimmy isn't traded for a very high 2nd round pick (which i doubt) the ready to go year 1 OTs will be off the table. They probably will be by pick 25 anyway but for sure now.
As far as free agent LT or even OTs next year there really isn't anyone that you would feel comfortable putting at that spot. Trading for a guy is an option but not likely. Teams don't tend to trade away good LTs. Joe Thomas would be a great option if the Browns would trade him away for a short term deal. I don't think they will. They want him as a life long Brown and other top LTs are much less likely to move.
Of course a few things could happen to make this a non-story.
Maybe the Pats let Brady walk/trade him and keep JG and can go OT first next year.
Maybe Garcia comes back after week 6 and is able to get completely up to speed and ready to protect Brady's blind side come week 1 2018.
Maybe the whispers on Solder are wrong or he can be enticed back for 1 more year.
Maybe the Pats can somehow swing a deal to get a good LT in here.
All of these are possible but I see each by itself as unlikely at this point. It just is a concerning future situation to me and is not be talked about enough as such.