Move Marcus Cannon at right guard, trade him, or continue to use him as a backup?

[Brady6]

I thought that Marcus Cannon played very well in place of Vollmer last season; he certainly proved he could start at right tackle in the NFL. I think that gives us some options on how to proceed with him.

1. We could continue to use him as the backup tackle but he will likely walk after 2014 when his contract ends to pursue a starting job.
2. We could move him inside to right guard and give him a chance to be a starter, and if he succeeds we could resign him long term at the end of the season.
3. We could attempt to trade him and recoup some value; there are a number of teams in need of a starting right tackle.

One thought I had is Mallett and Cannon to the Texans for the #33 pick. That thought aside personally I would move him to right guard, and gives him a shot to be a starter; I think he could be very effective.

What do you all think is the best play?

 

[chasa]

I have heard Nothing about any team having any interest in trading for cannon.

The texans are not trading the first pick of the second round for a backup qb and a backup tackle. not when Cassel is a free agent/

 

[mayoclinic]

Starting RG + backup RT.

 

[JackBauer]

He didn't look great at RG when he played, but that may be due to inexperience.

I'd do what it takes to keep him around. Vollmer doesn't exactly exemplify durability.

 

[Brady6]

He didn't look great at RG when he played, but that may be due to inexperience.

I'd do what it takes to keep him around. Vollmer doesn't exactly exemplify durability.

That is what I was thinking, I would like to see what we have with him though, and RG seems to be the only place we could use him currently. I thought Thomas was a big loss for us after 2012, I would hate to see Cannon go the same route.

 

[50-yard-line]

Keep Cannon around, definitely.

Starting RG? Not if the Pats use their first pick to draft Xavier Su'a'Filo...and they just might do that.

 

[Brady6]

I have heard Nothing about any team having any interest in trading for cannon.

The texans are not trading the first pick of the second round for a backup qb and a backup tackle. not when Cassel is a free agent/

I feel Cannon is capable of starting at right tackle, and proved it last season; he replaced Vollmer in week 8 and played very well the rest of the way.

 

[varjao]

Keep, he's a serviceable backup;

 

[Froob]

Mallett, Cannon, Ridley for Texans #1 & #33 and Watt. Maybe a conditional 7th.....

 

[signbabybrady]

I think Cannon played very well at RT last year and I would leave him there. I never really thought he looked good at guard.

You need 3 tackles in this league and one of them needs to play both sides in our case that guy is Volmer. I wouldn't do it this offseason but if anything I would trade Volmer next offseason and keep Cannon but that decision would be for next year. For this year you need all 3. If Volmer bounces back and has a healthy year then you probably keep him and let Cannon walk but if Cannon fills in again and is good again you resign him as he would likely be cheaper and you move Volmer or carry both until Volmers contract ends again as you need 3 tackles.

 

[OhExaulted1]

I thought that Marcus Cannon played very well in place of Vollmer last season; he certainly proved he could start at right tackle in the NFL. I think that gives us some options on how to proceed with him.

1. We could continue to use him as the backup tackle but he will likely walk after 2014 when his contract ends to pursue a starting job.
2. We could move him inside to right guard and give him a chance to be a starter, and if he succeeds we could resign him long term at the end of the season.
3. We could attempt to trade him and recoup some value; there are a number of teams in need of a starting right tackle.

One thought I had is Mallett and Cannon to the Texans for the #33 pick. That thought aside personally I would move him to right guard, and gives him a shot to be a starter; I think he could be very effective.

What do you all think is the best play?

We know he can block, so can he catch balls and run routes? Maybe try him at TE?

Trading him is unrealistic, this ain't baseball and we need to keep versatile OL's.

And I'm sorry to squash your dreams of #33, but it looks like Cassel may wind up as Houston's starter. I'd call that "Tattoo Nightmares" show, maybe than can cover up that "Mallet for #33" emblazoned across your chest.

 

[patsfan-1982]

there are a lot of starters on the pats roster that no one would trade for so trading a backup is not going to happen, he is a good backup T will he start at RG I don't know but I would like to see a upgrade at C or RG not a patch job

 

[jmt57]

As I mentioned in OTG's Draft Talk Forum thread, I don't believe the Patriots are going to get much of anything for Cannon due to his lack of NFL starting experience. Realistically, the Pats are not going to get anything more than a late round draft pick, perhaps conditional based on playing time. To me Cannon is more valuable on the club's roster, even if it is strictly as a backup and for depth purposes.

The counterpoint is that at this point a coaching staff now has a better feel for his ceiling than they did when he was drafted, and perhaps it is better to roll the dice again on another late round pick. I'm all for balancing long range and short term goals, but in this case I would be much more comfortable with a player like Cannon coming off the bench than a newcomer. One thing about offensive lines, they are more productive with continuity and familiarity; with injuries in the NFL the rule rather than the exception, I want a guy that has been in the system for a while making those blocks for my team's quarterback.

Bottom line is that I don't see the team getting enough in return to make it worthwhile to trade him.

 

[ashley]

I thought he actually looked better at tackle last year than he did at guard. I know it was a small body of work, but I would keep him around. Vollmer has an injury history and I feel pretty confident at the minimum of Cannon being around to fill in nicely. I would like to upgrade the interior OL though by either selecting an OL in the draft or signing one in Free Agency.

 

[upstater1]

In the second round, teams can find players like T Antonio Richardson (Tenn), T Morgan Moses (Virginia), G Gabe Jackson (Miss St), C Travis Swanson (Ark), T Cyrus Kouandijo (BAma).

I doubt anyone is going to want Cannon over any of these players. Some of thes guys, like Jackson, have perennial Pro Bowler written all over them.

 

[mgteich]

We need a backup OT. Cannon has performed well in that role for a couple of years. I see no reason for moving him in what likely will be his last season with the patriots.

As with all backups, he will have the opportunity to compete for a starting job in camp. I don't think that he will be our starting RG. To out it another way, we need a better RG than Cannon and Cannon at RG would leave us with a bigger hole at backup OT.

 

[cstjohn17]

Pencil him in at Guard and let him win (or lose) the position.

Keep, don't trade. Can never have too much depth.

 

[Nunchucks]

Why would the Patriots trade Cannon? He played well enough at RT when Vollmer went down. He also put some time in at RG. He is right on target for developing into a beast OLmen.

This is basically his second full year of playing in the NFL.

 

[stinkypete]

You don't trade a versatile lineman with starting experience and a 5th rounder's salary. No draft pick outside of the first round is going to out-value Cannon.

I've seen no indication that Connolly is on the outs. He had a down year in '12 but he was also playing on a depleted line in an offense that had it's timing way off. He is an above average RG. There are too many positions that need significant depth to go cutting him, creating a need where there is non, and forcing use of a high round pick at a low value position.

Cannon stays on as the #6 OL. If he shows the ability to start full time, you resign him to replace Connolly on the line once his deal is up, otherwise, the value is in keeping both players.

 

[mgteich]

Connolly and Cannon are both in the last year of their contracts. I think that we will keep them both, certainly through camp.

Belichick must decide what do at center, and what draftees/backups to bring in. We already have several backups from last year's team: Cave, Kline and Barker (also Zusevics, Devey and Mattes). We might even draft an OT who is a prospect at RG.

You don't trade a versatile lineman with starting experience and a 5th rounder's salary. No draft pick outside of the first round is going to out-value Cannon.

I've seen no indication that Connolly is on the outs. He had a down year in '12 but he was also playing on a depleted line in an offense that had it's timing way off. He is an above average RG. There are too many positions that need significant depth to go cutting him, creating a need where there is non, and forcing use of a high round pick at a low value position.

Cannon stays on as the #6 OL. If he shows the ability to start full time, you resign him to replace Connolly on the line once his deal is up, otherwise, the value is in keeping both players.