Multiple teams have expressed interest in trading for Dion Lewis

[Oswlek]

Just my observation. Feel free to disagree

I do.

 

[rochrist]

Lewis WAS an explosive player. When healthy he creates nightmares for the defense.

That being said if we can get back a player on defense who can help us now I think you need to make that trade. Our D averaged giving up 30ppg in preseason and that number inflated to 40ppg in the regular season. We clearly need some defensive help.

If the offers are only mid round draft picks I would pass though. Picks don't help us win this year.

Fixed that for you.

 

[supafly]

Donald reported to the team today.

Thanks. I'm still avoiding mainstream media for a few more days so I hadn't heard.

 

[supafly]

He's been injured and only started 8 and 7 games in each of the last 2 years.

And I'm not sure what their cap situation is like but perhaps it frees up some money to get their even bigger defensive staple, Donald, back on the field.

Just a fan proposal I was throwing out there. I'm no GM or expert in player evaluations.

I'm just teasing you. All meant to be in good fun.

I'd love a player like Quinn, who is dominant when he's playing.

 

[Love The Drake]

Why Blount? How about Dion for Kendricks? With maybe late round picks involved

I proposed that earlier as well

 

[Bruins29]

Just my observation. Feel free to disagree

What made you think that?

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

I do.

What made you think that?

There were several dramatic things Belichick did this offseason to improve his roster, many of which were unprecedented by Patriots standards. I'm speculating what the aim is of course, but trading so much draft capital to obtain proven NFL talent (even to the point of risking it for someone with questions, like Kony Ealy) and making Gilmore the highest paid CB in free agency -- are all consistent with wanting to take advantage of some kind of limited time window (hence, going "all in")

Even trading Brisett (and holding onto Garoppolo, despite the bigger long-term haul Jimmy could have yielded earlier this year) is telling.

Which leads me back to Lewis.......we knew based on the offseason and roster projections, that the Pats would have limited depth at OLB and DE, heading into the season. And there were trade rumors involving Lewis all summer long.

So given the trades Belichick has already done up to this point, why hasn't Lewis been traded? Granted his trade value may still be high while NFL rosters are still in flux..... and the Pats are clearly still experimenting with their defense, e.g. Jordan Richards as linebacker.....but Lewis is still taking snaps and doing kickoff returns. This leads me to think the coaches likely are planning to use him, especially with the growing need for pass-catching out the slot and on underneath routes, where Brady excels.

And if the Patriots truly feel like DJ Foster can replace Lewis and are that eager to upgrade their LB and DE depth, then they should give Foster his reps right now so he can develop and contribute right away. Doesn't make sense to hold Lewis on their roster, if their aim is to trade him.

 

[Oswlek]

There really is nothing out of character about Bill's actions this off-season. Trading marginal draft capital for a wildcard like Ealy isn't, signing a highly regarded FA isn't, and entering the RFA market isn't either. Cooks has a superficial appearance of being so, but that was more about a coveted player who became surprisingly available. It's the same mistake people made in 2014 by saying Revis was a sign of Bill being "all in". Both Revis and Cooks were transactions NE would do every year (or, at least, similar profiles), what makes them unusual is that those opportunities are rare.

The only move that a legitimate case could be built around is JG, but it is purely speculation until we see what happens next. If Jimmy brings in a haul this year, or if NE somehow retains him, then any argument crumbles.

 

[Bruins29]

There were several dramatic things Belichick did this offseason to improve his roster, .

Keep in mind though that they had 60 million in cap room, the most I think they ever had to spend. So while it did seem like they went all out, it was cap money they had to use.

With our WR group and leading TE dinged up Cooks was a no-brainer as well as Gilmore given Butlers status.

They diddnt do anything abnormal given the cap room they have.

 

[ViperGTS]

Just my observation. Feel free to disagree

No they aren't. They had cap space and used it. They could have traded Jimmy and that would have changed things.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Saw someone make this comment on Patspulpit.com ....It seems spot ona

"I doubt he’d net much in terms of draft picks (at best a future 5th) given he’s signed for only this year and is likely viewed as a 3rd-down option only. Likewise, the only players other teams would be willing to part with for him are their own depth players, or those with other issues. Another team’s depth player at WR or DE isn’t going to move the needle much, especially relative to what the team could get just off of FA (e.g. Akeem Ayers, Keshawn Martin, etc.)."​

 

[n1997y]

DE is a huge need. Maybe we send Dion to Philly and get Blount back plus a draft pick

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? WTF?

you say DE is a huge need, then suggest trading for a run-out running back and a draft pick? how does that do squat for the DE need you just called out?

 

[supafly]

Saw someone make this comment on Patspulpit.com ....It seems spot ona

"I doubt he’d net much in terms of draft picks (at best a future 5th) given he’s signed for only this year and is likely viewed as a 3rd-down option only. Likewise, the only players other teams would be willing to part with for him are their own depth players, or those with other issues. Another team’s depth player at WR or DE isn’t going to move the needle much, especially relative to what the team could get just off of FA (e.g. Akeem Ayers, Keshawn Martin, etc.)."​

Yeah, that's because they flat out stole my comments, including my projected round and idea of a role player.

(straps on tin foil hat)

 

[maineman209]

He's been injured and only started 8 and 7 games in each of the last 2 years.

And I'm not sure what their cap situation is like but perhaps it frees up some money to get their even bigger defensive staple, Donald, back on the field.

Just a fan proposal I was throwing out there. I'm no GM or expert in player evaluations.

Lewis' cap hit is $1.49m for 2017 (UFA in 2018) - cheapest RB on the roster, aside from Bolden (obviously).

 

[maineman209]

And if the Patriots truly feel like DJ Foster can replace Lewis and are that eager to upgrade their LB and DE depth, then they should give Foster his reps right now so he can develop and contribute right away. Doesn't make sense to hold onto Lewis if their aim is to trade him.

Foster has had two seasons worth of OTAs, two camps, and spent all but six days of the 2016 season on the 53-man. That's a lot of reps, and he's still getting reps, at least as part of the PS/scout team. Seems reasonable to assume that the Pats know what they have with him.

How they value Foster vis-a-vis Lewis is an open question for which we'll have to wait for an answer. If Lewis stays a couple more weeks and plays a bigger role than he did in the opener and Foster stays on the PS, we'll be a little closer to that answer.

It's possible that the Pats have been listening to the (alleged) offers for Lewis and simply haven't heard or chosen an acceptable one yet. And I think it's premature to read much into Foster being risked on waivers since they did the same with Karras and, voila!, he's back.

 

[Jackson 2]

The browns might be dumb enough. Maybe we can get a guy like Ogbah

Yeah, maybe they'll throw in a couple of #1 picks, too.

 

[Froob]

Why do people think the Texans want to get rid of Mercilus and would want to give him to us lol?

 

[Uptown]

Why do people think the Texans want to get rid of Mercilus and would want to give him to us lol?

The same reason you offer some of your food to someone when you really don't want to:

It sounds nice

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

If we can learn anything from how Belichick has dealt with reclamation projects in the past, is that he rarely discards players simply for their injury history - especially if he feels they bring something valuable to the team.

One of the reasons Gillislee was ever even on the Bills, was because he has a chronic issue with his hamstring, and a slight history of concussions.

Belichick knows the injury risks Lewis has, and may feel pressure to look for defensive depth on the trade market. But with so many new personnel who are still learning the playbook and developing chemistry with Brady, it’s good to have players with experience in the system. Remember, we thought our WR depth was great too, but that changed really quickly! The Patriots don’t want to end up in a similar situation at RB.

With Amendola hurt now, there’s more opportunities for multi-RB packages where one or more of them are lined up as receivers. With Lewis’ shiftiness against linebackers, maybe he ends up making plays out the slot, along with White and Burkhead?

 

[patriot1136]

I'd rather we keep Lewis and try to turn him more into Wes Welker.