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[NE_Zealot]

Per ESPN: "Crosby has been dealing with a nagging knee injury since the Raiders' 31-0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7 but has managed to play in every game thus far."

I find it funny that Goofell and Co are all about the integrity of the shield when several teams are intentionally tanking and not trying to hide it at all. Raiders, Jets, Giants should all be docked draft picks. **** the NFL, that is all.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

OR...IF we have 2 top guys we want. Use 2nd to trade up in R1 and use 3rd plus to get back close to R2
OR lots of similar scenarios
As always need a partner

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

OR...IF we have 2 top guys we want. Use 2nd to trade up in R1 and use 3rd plus to get back close to R2
OR lots of similar scenarios
As always need a partner

Right.
Depending on how this year finishes, we may be as close as a couple of difference makers away from being one of the top contenders (yes, you could argue we are there now).
If we need to move up to get those guys, I'm all for it.
Realistically we aren't drafting 11 guys that are going to make our roster. My guess would be 8 or 9 would be tops, and even that is high to have 8/9 rookies make the team.
If those 11 pick turned into 5 or 6 contributors with 2 or 3 being difference makers, that would be a homerun imo.

 

[Uptown]

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Right.
Depending on how this year finishes, we may be as close as a couple of difference makers away from being one of the top contenders (yes, you could argue we are there now).
If we need to move up to get those guys, I'm all for it.
Realistically we aren't drafting 11 guys that are going to make our roster. My guess would be 8 or 9 would be tops, and even that is high to have 8/9 rookies make the team.
If those 11 pick turned into 5 or 6 contributors with 2 or 3 being difference makers, that would be a homerun imo.

Agreed
Also these days a 4th or 5th... anything after 3rd is worth less because of too many comp picks
I do like 7th to get otherwise UDFAs you like

 

[Uptown]

 

[TommyD4207]

This explanation of why the Ravens are expected to lock up Linderbaum and not let him hit FA covers a lot of the reasons I’m skeptical about using FA to improve the IOL. Good IOL players are scarce and their present employer will pay to hold on to them.

I mean, they absolutely should re-sign him.
If they don't, he's Patriots FA target #1.

 

[Uptown]

It’s crazy because both Linderbaum & Bradbury are considered a bit undersized for the position, yet Linderbaum is a significantly better player.

 

[n1997y]

Were we to meet Kraft should give sideline passes to 2021 FOTY Randy Pierce and others with support dogs.
Yes, I am a bad, bad person

Schedule an appreciation day for all the police K-9 units in New England.

 

[Uptown]

 

[maust]

I like the player, but not sure paying 18-20M for a Center is smart.

I like the player too and I'm sure that paying $20M for a center is no smart at all. The cap pie is not big enough to give a center that big a slice of it

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

 

[Uptown]

Mack has a gift for Bo Nix if we meet in the AFCCG…

 

[Huckleberry1]

Fair points, and again I'm not saying we have to add starter level players via FA, but we can't count on talking an OG in the 6th rd and developing him into a high level starter.
There are always exceptions (Owenu), but there is years of empirical data that proves acquiring starters, especially good ones, diminishes greatly as the rds of the draft progress.
Based on where we should be picking, that's right around the spot the top IOL should start coming off the board. Unless there's a DLine player or LB that slips and the value is too great, IOL will definitely be in play with our 1st. WR and TE could be wildcards too. That's why I hope we do what we did last year and try to improve our weaknesses as much as possible via FA, so we can be truly open to any position (outside of QB) if the value is there.
Philly did a great job of that over the past few years, just let the board come to them, and take the best player available even if isn't the biggest need. That's how you build a deep talented roster.

Agree with much of this. With both the draft and free agency they need to repeat their approach and just take what value gives them, don't try to force it. Everyone wanted a left tackle in free agency but teams resigned all of the good left tackles, and mediocre ones, like Dan Moore got paid franchise money to suck, Tennessee still needs a left tackle and are paying him over 80 million. Instead the Patriots paid Milton Williams, who has been excellent for them. They then got their franchise left tackle in the draft, and despite the bleating of the short armers he too has been excellent this season. I'm not going to rehash every decision they made in free agency and the draft because most understand where I'm going with this. The key is to not force things in free agency or the draft, take good value where you find it. I would love Lindebaum, and like guys like McGovern, but if they aren't there, or teams grossly overpay for them then pivot and fix other positions, and then draft interior linemen.

The other thing that has to be taken into consideration, and the Patriots have already started this process, is that they neeed to re-sign and extend important players to this team, but not overpay grossly to keep them. Unlike Belichick I think they will offer fair market deals to players up front, I don't believe they will bring them in and try to beat them down. I do think they will do some restructures or releases, Onwenu comes to mind, but they will pay Gonzalez big money while not setting a record for cornerbacks, and make it clear they want him, but also want to be able to create and sustain a Championship caliber team. This might not always work, some players will place value on staying and take a little less, others may want to max out, but i also think that this is where playing for Vrabel will be a big factor in keeping the players they really want to keep. The next few years will also seriously test Wolf's ability to create smart deals with their big money players, as Gonzalez, Maye, and Campbell come due.

 

[Uptown]

Looking at you, Zak Kuhr….

 

[TommyD4207]

I like the player, but not sure paying 18-20M for a Center is smart.

It is if he's one of the top 1 or 2 at his position (he is) is still young (he's 25), and they can afford it (they can easily).

Mike Onwenu is making that much right now as we speak, and he's terrible.

 

[Clonamery]

It is if he's one of the top 1 or 2 at his position (he is) is still young (he's 25), and they can afford it (they can easily).

Mike Onwenu is making that much right now as we speak, and he's terrible.

Agree. Though I would say Onwenu's play is inconsistent (some would translate that as "terrible" which is fair) and certainly doesn't translate to his contract's value.

 

[TommyD4207]

Agree. Though I would say Onwenu's play is inconsistent (some would translate that as "terrible" which is fair) and certainly doesn't translate to his contract's value.

If he were making 2 million and not 20 million, I might moderate my adjectives about him.

He was THE #1 highest-paid player on the team last year, and even with the big FA offseason, he's still the #3 highest paid player on the entire team.