NFL Draft: Day 3

[Patriot Missile]

This. We won 3 Super Bowls before Gronk, one when he was injured, and another in his last year where he was a shadow of himself. We only won with prime Gronk in 2014. That's not to say he wasn't tremendously important to this team, but it's possible to win without a super elite all time great TE on the roster and for most teams their TE is just a serviceable guy who can put up some production and block, or a glorified WR.

I agree, but that Shadow came up with game changing catches in the last 2 playoff games. Hoping, going to some big receiver sets will give the team similar results in dire situations.

 

[DaBruinz]

Yeah but realistically the only one on that list you can be certain of is Edelman and even he's getting up their in age. Harry is actually the guy that is the most likely to be the next best producer after him and he's a rookie. Thomas is coming off a serious injury that could end him, Gordon might not get cleared this year and if he does he has never stayed clean so you can't rely on him, Dorsett just is at best a solid 3, then everyone else is just kinda okay or fringe.

Realistically our best case scenario is that Edelman stays Edelman, Thomas returns healthy and can contribute and be a solid stretch receiver who can open up some plays, Harry being a strong contributer as a big body, Gordon coming back and being a force of nature and our true number 1. Then Dorsett and one of the other guys being more depth and a solid 4th/5th option. If that happens we will have one of the most dangerous corps in the league.

But there's also a VERY REAL possibility that it's just Edelman and hoping Harry can make a quick transition because we never get Gordon back and Thomas' injury is too much to overcome. In which case we are in as bad shape as last year

It's funny you talk about Thomas' injury being too much to overcome. Do you really think the Patriots would have signed him at this point if that was the case? I don't. That's not BB's style.

It's been reported that Thomas is well ahead of schedule and projected to make a full recovery. He's supposedly in Foxboro for the voluntary workouts.

The bigger question is whether Thomas can learn the play-book.

People keep knocking Dorsett but the guy had the highest catch % of anyone with more than 10 targets. Higher than Edelman. Higher than Hogan. Higher than Gronk. The problem was that he was stuck behind Hogan and Gordon. Now, he'll be on the spot and we'll get to see what he does.. Especially if he's lined up opposite Harry on a regular basis in 3WR sets..

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I agree, but that Shadow came up with game changing catches in the last 2 playoff games. Hoping, going to some big receiver sets will give the team similar results in dire situations.

Harry, Meyers, Thomas etc... All are 6'2+ & give you that big play/catch radius. NE wants to give Brady reliable, big targets along w the usual quicks we've seen over the last 10 years.

 

[mgteich]

We need 4 WR, really three plus an inactive backup. Sometimes we carry five as we did last year because Patterson also was a RB and a KR.
====
You agree that Edelman is a starter, a Dorsett a 3 (at best a "solid" 3).

So we have DT or Gordon or Harry as our #2.

We have the rest competing for any spots that are left (could be zero).

COMPETING/POSSIBILITIES IF MORE IS NECESSARY
Ellington
Harris
Berrios
UDFA's
future fa signings if deemed necessary (very unlikely)
trades or signings after the final cut

Yeah but realistically the only one on that list you can be certain of is Edelman and even he's getting up their in age. Harry is actually the guy that is the most likely to be the next best producer after him and he's a rookie. Thomas is coming off a serious injury that could end him, Gordon might not get cleared this year and if he does he has never stayed clean so you can't rely on him, Dorsett just is at best a solid 3, then everyone else is just kinda okay or fringe.

Realistically our best case scenario is that Edelman stays Edelman, Thomas returns healthy and can contribute and be a solid stretch receiver who can open up some plays, Harry being a strong contributer as a big body, Gordon coming back and being a force of nature and our true number 1. Then Dorsett and one of the other guys being more depth and a solid 4th/5th option. If that happens we will have one of the most dangerous corps in the league.

But there's also a VERY REAL possibility that it's just Edelman and hoping Harry can make a quick transition because we never get Gordon back and Thomas' injury is too much to overcome. In which case we are in as bad shape as last year

 

[FortressX]

A day 3 choice from the Giants was shot last night.

Ballentine, 23, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Topeka Police said. The former Ichabod, who had been drafted by the New York Giants just hours earlier, is expected to make a full recovery, the University added

Washburn football player killed, Giants draftee injured in overnight shooting

Giants statement
Washburn, Giants release statements on Simmons' death, Ballentine's injury

 

[TBR]