Jason LaCanfora: Pats really want Higgins "He's going to New England"

[Grogan14]

I'm very amused by the Eagles won with the lines view all of a sudden everyone has.

To get WR Brown traded a 1st and a 4th and signed him to a 4 year 100-million-dollar deal
WR Davonta Smith taken with #10 pick in the draft.
Adding in the Brown trade they spent 3 firsts on WR in the last 6 years.
Barkley, the non-QB MVP is the RB. Before Barkley they didn't win any Super Bowls with this top O Line

1 O line starter drafted in the first round.
Seems like they won on offense by investing in skill players.

Chiefs Offensive line was good enough to go 17-3 yet they couldn't handle the Eagles. They would have been better off with skill players that got open quick and a QB that was a fast processor.


Here are the top 7 offensive lines using the average of 6 different ratings:

Detroit
Eagles
Falcons
Chiefs
Browns
Colts
Jets

4 out of 7 missed the playoffs.
The top 6 offenses were
Lions, Bills, Ravens, Bucs, Commanders, Bengals-Only 1 was top 7 in Offensive Line.

I'm all on board with a defensive line investment but Tee Higgins is a better WR than any Tackle available, so you take the WR

The Eagles first built the OL and DL then they invested in skill players.
Skill players were successful because of the OL

 

[Ray Ray 717]

Thoughts and prayers for Drake. Another season of his development throwing to JAGS

Yup,

All these fat armchair patriots fans in this forum will be screaming at the TV next year for shouting “build the trenches” as we win only 5 games

Maye ain’t Brady. He can’t win without weapons

 

[Ray Ray 717]

Not sure what all the ****ing tears are about. Maye proved last year that when he had time, and even when he didn’t, that he can be successful with the crap set of receivers we had.

He did? He lost almost every game he started. Doesn’t sound like much of a success

 

[hornetfb85]

He did? He lost almost every game he started. Doesn’t sound like much of a success

Ok

 

[KCSVEN]

The Eagles first built the OL and DL then they invested in skill players.
Skill players were successful because of the OL

What? Smith and Brown acquired in 2021 and 2022.
****erson, Jurgens and Becton were 2021, 2022 and 2024, Malaita was a 7th round pick, not a lot of investment in him.
Hurtz was 2020. Goedert was 2018.
The only skill guy they got after the lineman was Barkley. Your theory is if they got Barkley 3 years ago and ****erson in 2024 they would have been worse this year and the last 3?

The year they drafted their franchise QB in the 2nd round they drafted a wr in the first. The VERY NEXT year they drafted a wr in the 1st again.

What you said is just not true, they did not invest in the O-line and then skill players.

 

[Lansdowne]

I was in On Chad Jackson, and Tyquan Thornton.
God Help me.

Thinking back on it, I was a David Terrell truther like many others. It all worked out with Richard Seymour. I was also in on Chad Jackson and that didn’t work out. I was happy when they drafted N’Keal Harry because he was one of the more highly touted prospects at the time. I wanted D.K. Metcalf more but I felt better about it when he dropped a whole round after Harry. That is until the games started. I was livid when the Pats took Tyquan Thornton when George Pickens was still available, would’ve even have been okay with Alec Pierce over Thornton at the time. In hindsight, it would’ve been better if they just drafted a different position with that pick. Then with the Ja’Lynn Polk pick, I originally wanted them to stay at 34 and take Adonai Mitchell, Troy Franklin, or Ladd McConkey. Mitchell ended up dropping more and Franklin much, much more, but McConkey ended up being a stud. I liked Polk as a prospect but thought there were still better receivers available at that spot. It all goes to show what a crapshoot it can be. And sometimes we as fans know less of what we’re talking about than we think we know.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

 

[slash83]

Well it’s tomorrow I believe will find out if they tag him or not, believe the deadline is the 4th. Bengals and Chase reportedly are far apart on a new contract, no way they tag Higgins and tie up money when they aren’t close with Chase, makes no sense.

 

[Love The Drake]

Well it’s tomorrow I believe will find out if they tag him or not, believe the deadline is the 4th. Bengals and Chase reportedly are far apart on a new contract, no way they tag Higgins and tie up money when they aren’t close with Chase, makes no sense.

If he becomes a free agent I’m thinking 4 years 120 million.

 

[Headcase]

Well it’s tomorrow I believe will find out if they tag him or not, believe the deadline is the 4th. Bengals and Chase reportedly are far apart on a new contract, no way they tag Higgins and tie up money when they aren’t close with Chase, makes no sense.

It's Tuesday at 4pm EST

 

[PatsFan2]

Suicide and climax watch will be on some tomorrow: myself included.

 

[PatsFan2]

It's Tuesday at 4pm EST

Intrigued.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

On the Eagles stuff... I think the takeaway is that you need both skill players and great OL play to succeed. I think that great OL play is probably more 'foundational" than the skill players, but the talent comes available as it comes available. Take the Chiefs for instance... remember when they lost to the Brady-Bucs with the OL collapse? They had the skill players but then lost because of the OL. Then they poured resources into it to fix it (until this past year, obviously, but it's not like skill players hadn't deteriorated too). You can say PHI went OL and then skill, while KC went skill and then OL. Order isn't important, you won't win without being good enough at both, whatever path you take there.

We have probably the worst OL and the worst non QB skill players in the whole league. There's no way they're gonna "solve" them both this offseason. Probably unlikely to even solve one group fully. The key is to just start chipping away with what's available. Sift through the options in free agency and the draft and add what you can. Keep doing that every year and hopefully in a few years you're looking at two great units, whatever order that came about in.

 

[PatsFan2]

On the Eagles stuff... I think the takeaway is that you need both skill players and great OL play to succeed. I think that great OL play is probably more 'foundational" than the skill players, but the talent comes available as it comes available. Take the Chiefs for instance... remember when they lost to the Brady-Bucs with the OL collapse? They had the skill players but then lost because of the OL. Then they poured resources into it to fix it (until this past year, obviously, but it's not like skill players hadn't deteriorated too). You can say PHI went OL and then skill, while KC went skill and then OL. Order isn't important, you won't win without being good enough at both, whatever path you take there.

We have probably the worst OL and the worst non QB skill players in the whole league. There's no way they're gonna "solve" them both this offseason. Probably unlikely to even solve one group fully. The key is to just start chipping away with what's available. Sift through the options in free agency and the draft and add what you can. Keep doing that every year and hopefully in a few years you're looking at two great units, whatever order that came about in.

There's a possibility if we Hit in the Draft and FA we haven't had a good Draft in a Very Long Time. Hope this Regime fixes that.

 

[PatsFan2]

On the Eagles stuff... I think the takeaway is that you need both skill players and great OL play to succeed. I think that great OL play is probably more 'foundational" than the skill players, but the talent comes available as it comes available. Take the Chiefs for instance... remember when they lost to the Brady-Bucs with the OL collapse? They had the skill players but then lost because of the OL. Then they poured resources into it to fix it (until this past year, obviously, but it's not like skill players hadn't deteriorated too). You can say PHI went OL and then skill, while KC went skill and then OL. Order isn't important, you won't win without being good enough at both, whatever path you take there.

We have probably the worst OL and the worst non QB skill players in the whole league. There's no way they're gonna "solve" them both this offseason. Probably unlikely to even solve one group fully. The key is to just start chipping away with what's available. Sift through the options in free agency and the draft and add what you can. Keep doing that every year and hopefully in a few years you're looking at two great units, whatever order that came about in.

Imagine getting Tee Higgins - Ronnie Stanley or Cam Robinson in FA. WR and OL improved overnight: get a RT in the Draft with another DT and LB: we are back in business. Hitting on more than one player is imperative to getting this right. We absolutely Stunk in FA and the Draft and this Started with the declining BB years.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Imagine getting Tee Higgins - Ronnie Stanley or Cam Robinson in FA. WR and OL improved overnight: get a RT in the Draft with another DT and LB: we are back in business. Hitting on more than one player is imperative to getting this right. We absolutely Stunk in FA and the Draft and this Started with the declining BB years.

Ronnie Stanley is going to be 31 with a concerning history or not being available. If we do sign him, I don't feel confident thinking he'll play more than 1/2 to 2/3 of the season which means for the rest we'll have the same garbage at LT as last year and with his age/injury history I don't feel confident thinking he'll be starting caliver for much longer. Doesn't seem like someone who will hold up past their early 30s. Cam Robinson is a similar story with multiple season ending injuries to the same left knee in his career so far and set to turn 30 this year. I don't count on him for full availability in the short term nor him holding up in the long term.

And that's just the LT position. Considered a pretty weak OT class so it isn't exactly a given to just get a RT in the draft. Onwenu's deal is set up that he's unlikely to be back next year. Strange hasn't even emerged as a good starter and is a FA after the year. DAndrews might be toast and even if he isn't probably his last year here. Outside of Onwenu, we don't have a single starting caliber offensive lineman under contract for this year and like I said, his deal is set up to be let go of next year because it's waaaaaay too much for a less than elite guard.

Even if we get Tee Higgins, the rest of the depth chart is weak. Boutte/Douglas should be #3/#4 at best. Even if we assume Higgins is a #1, they still need a legit #2.

What you're describing is obviously improvement but not "solving" the issues at the skill positions and OL. Still a lot of work to be done even after what you describe. And based on the stop gap nature (IMO) of the LTs you listed, it probably goes back to being a hole before you can sort out the rest of the OL and skill positions longer term.

Again, improve =/= solve. I think it's going to take multiple offseasons of hitting on more than one players before we solve those spots. Because remember, the rest of the team is weak too and springing leaks everywhere so it's not even like we only have to worry about those spots.

 

[PatsFan2]

Ronnie Stanley is going to be 31 with a concerning history or not being available. If we do sign him, I don't feel confident thinking he'll play more than 1/2 to 2/3 of the season which means for the rest we'll have the same garbage at LT as last year and with his age/injury history I don't feel confident thinking he'll be starting caliver for much longer. Doesn't seem like someone who will hold up past their early 30s. Cam Robinson is a similar story with multiple season ending injuries to the same left knee in his career so far and set to turn 30 this year. I don't count on him for full availability in the short term nor him holding up in the long term.

And that's just the LT position. Considered a pretty weak OT class so it isn't exactly a given to just get a RT in the draft. Onwenu's deal is set up that he's unlikely to be back next year. Strange hasn't even emerged as a good starter and is a FA after the year. DAndrews might be toast and even if he isn't probably his last year here. Outside of Onwenu, we don't have a single starting caliber offensive lineman under contract for this year and like I said, his deal is set up to be let go of next year because it's waaaaaay too much for a less than elite guard.

Even if we get Tee Higgins, the rest of the depth chart is weak. Boutte/Douglas should be #3/#4 at best. Even if we assume Higgins is a #1, they still need a legit #2.

What you're describing is obviously improvement but not "solving" the issues at the skill positions and OL. Still a lot of work to be done even after what you describe. And based on the stop gap nature (IMO) of the LTs you listed, it probably goes back to being a hole before you can sort out the rest of the OL and skill positions longer term.

Again, improve =/= solve. I think it's going to take multiple offseasons of hitting on more than one players before we solve those spots. Because remember, the rest of the team is weak too and springing leaks everywhere so it's not even like we only have to worry about those spots.

I'm not as down on Older Tackles Stanley and Robinson as you are: they played very well for Potent Offenses and Protected their QB's. On the WR's I think both Pop and Boutte could improve more with a Tee Higgins: I think neither have Reached their Ceilings. I would still Double dip @ WR in this Draft being unsure of Polk and Baker. That said we need a couple swing Tackles from this Draft: I don't ever want to see V Lowe Starting for this Team.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I'm not as down on Older Tackles Stanley and Robinson as you are: they played very well for Potent Offenses and Protected their QB's. On the WR's I think both Pop and Boutte could improve more with a Tee Higgins: I think neither have Reached their Ceilings. I would still Double dip @ WR in this Draft being unsure of Polk and Baker. That said we need a couple swing Tackles from this Draft: I don't ever want to see V Lowe Starting for this Team.

I wouldn't say I'm "down" on Stanley or Robinson. I feel pretty good about them as big time improvements when healthy. They're solid players, even better than solid.

BUT they're both in their 30s and both have struggled with injuries in their careers. Those are just statements of fact. Today, right now I think they're good players but their history suggests you shouldn't expect them to play more than 10-12 games consistently which means a not-insignificant portion of the season that you're back to last year's depth chart at LT or something comparable with backup caliber players. And guys with injury histories aren't generally the type of player

I'm not down on the players they are right now. I'm down on them as long term solutions. Sayin they played for potent offenses and protected their QBs doesn't really counter what I'm saying because it's talking about them now when my concern is how they'll age. I think signing either of them would be stop gaps vs viable long term solutions is all I'm saying. And while in and of itself that isn't a problem, it kind of is when you factor in that the rest of the roster is in total shambles right now to the point that we're probably 2-3 offseasons away from being able to view ourselves as contending type of team, by which point I'm not sure you can count on Stanley and Robinson being great options at LT anymore. So even if we do sign one of them, I think we still have to approach LT as one of the biggest needs on the roster because I think it still is if you forecast out past the next year or two into what I think our primary competitive window will be.

And let me be clear that saying 2-3 years from now will be our real competitive level does not mean I think we can't improve or even make the playoffs in the mean time. There's levels to that though. Some teams fight for a wild card spot. Some teams are solidly in the playoffs but not looked as real threats to go deep. Others are seen as real contenders. I think it's going to take 2-3 years before we're in the last group (if we ever get there) and that's USUALLY the group the champion comes from.

 

[Steve102]

Sure.

 

[signbabybrady]