Patriots Rumor Patriots potentially trading for Aiyuk (Update - Patriots Out of the Running)

[billdog3484]

Trading for or not trading for Aiyuk or another top WR isn't really directly relevant to us getting a LT. We have the cap space to pay a WR $30M/year and then pay a LT $40M/year after that if we really wanted to. Cap space isn't an issue for us. And draft pick wise, it's unlikely we'd have give up a 1st for Aiyuk (at least not next year's) and realistically a "real solution" at LT would take that 1st. The pick we'd likely have given up for Aiyuk would have been our 2nd and itd unlikely that pick lands us a LT because those guys usually go 1st round. There's some indirect impact because maybe the extra pick helps us move up, but overall trying to make it an either-or situation is silly.

You’re assuming our owner is willing to pay for both. I’m not sure he is. I would’ve like ld aiyuk but you don’t need a top receiver to win. Surely you’ve seen our team over the last 20 years. Surely you’ve seen chiefs. Gotta protect the franchise qb, that’s most important. Good quarterbacks will be ok with ok receivers. Don’t stress missing out on aiyuk

 

[lancerman]

All their cap except the 43 million sitting in krafts pocket.

Teams have to spend 89% of their cap over a 4 year period. You are making this a bigger deal than it is, he's going to pony up later down the line because of this and his team just made a massive offer that was declined that would significantly cut into your figure.

The Patriots got screwed because the cap got very extended in a year they had a ton of cap space and a lot of people that were speculated to be free agents ended up being able to get significant enough raises from their teams to stay so the free agent class was light.

 

[upstater1]

Mac’s a big part but Bill the GM is the biggest reason the franchise is in the shape it’s in.

I swear you guys thought winning was going to last forever.

Teams in the NFL rebuild. That's all this is. A few years ago the defense was totally lacking in talent. In 2 years that was turned around. A good QB and LT is really all the team needs.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

People need to get over this “cheap owner” boogeyman stuff. Kraft has always been willing to spend up to the cap and I have zero doubt he still is.

BB’s roster philosophy was depth. He wanted to make sure his team didn’t have any crippling weaknesses and he wanted to make sure they were versatile enough to be able to exploit any crippling weakness another team had. That requires good players over the whole roster over top players and no depth. So instead of spending on individual players, he spread the wealth.

If the new regime flips the script and wants to go for top guys at the expense of depth, I have no doubt Kraft will allow it. It requires a little more money up front with the signing bonuses, but then you’re giving those guys less in later years so if that’s your strategy it eventually nets out with each other over the long haul.

 

[slash83]

Gotta team build. Aiyuk would be nice but there’s more to real football than fantasy football. Can’t pass if you can’t block. Wil ruin a young quarterback.

That’s fine and dandy, but you aren’t getting a franchise LT via free agency so cap space is irrelevant in regards to that.

 

[Tunescribe]

I swear you guys thought winning was going to last forever.

Teams in the NFL rebuild. That's all this is. A few years ago the defense was totally lacking in talent. In 2 years that was turned around. A good QB and LT is really all the team needs.

Those pieces would help but the other BIG shoe to drop is coaching. Hoping for the best, of course, but I'm apprehensive regarding Mayo and his coordinator choices.

 

[1960Pats]

Hey...hey it ain't your money.

All of the NYFL's money comes from the fans.

 

[lancerman]

You’re assuming our owner is willing to pay for both. I’m not sure he is. I would’ve like ld aiyuk but you don’t need a top receiver to win. Surely you’ve seen our team over the last 20 years. Surely you’ve seen chiefs. Gotta protect the franchise qb, that’s most important. Good quarterbacks will be ok with ok receivers. Don’t stress missing out on aiyuk

Again, you have to spend 89% of the cap in a 4 year period. The owner just doesn't get out of not paying for that and they just put a 30 million a year offer on the table.

Also the league has changed and you need a number 1 pass catcher. The Patriots have won a single Super Bowl in the last 19 years without Gronk. The Chiefs never won without Kelce. Yes they aren't WR's. They are top end pass catchers. In the last 10 years the Super Bowl winning teams had Gronk, Demayrius Thomas, Edelman, Alshon Jeffrey before he declined, Gronk, Hill/Kelce, Evans, Cooper Kupp, Kelce, Kelce.

2016 and 2017 (Edelman and Jeffrey) were the only years in the last decade where the Super Bowl winner didn't have a bonafide top level pass catcher. And it's only gotten more prevalent as the years passed.

 

[lancerman]

All of the NYFL's money comes from the fans.

Actually it comes from tv deals and sponsors. Something like 17% of NFL revenue is ticket sales. Not a small amount by any means.

 

[1960Pats]

What's with with that?? The choir boy attitude have worked so well the last Four years.

Don't worry. Bill's gone.

 

[billdog3484]

Again, you have to spend 89% of the cap in a 4 year period. The owner just doesn't get out of not paying for that and they just put a 30 million a year offer on the table.

Also the league has changed and you need a number 1 pass catcher. The Patriots have won a single Super Bowl in the last 19 years without Gronk. The Chiefs never won without Kelce. Yes they aren't WR's. They are top end pass catchers. In the last 10 years the Super Bowl winning teams had Gronk, Demayrius Thomas, Edelman, Alshon Jeffrey before he declined, Gronk, Hill/Kelce, Evans, Cooper Kupp, Kelce, Kelce.

2016 and 2017 (Edelman and Jeffrey) were the only years in the last decade where the Super Bowl winner didn't have a bonafide top level pass catcher. And it's only gotten more prevalent as the years passed.

You’re acting like Brandon aiyuk is a hall of fame caliber player like the other guys you listed. He’s a very good receiver but he’s been the 3rd/4th option. I, for one, am skeptical that he is a game changer. Yes. I would have liked him. My point is we don’t need him. We can always get a top receiver. We don’t need him this year. It isn’t the end of the world we didn’t get him

 

[1960Pats]

Actually it comes from tv deals and sponsors. Something like 17% of NFL revenue is ticket sales. Not a small amount by any means.

Don't the sponsors and tv get that money from the fans and non-fans?

 

[billdog3484]

That’s fine and dandy, but you aren’t getting a franchise LT via free agency so cap space is irrelevant in regards to that.

Fine. What franchise receiver sre you getting in free agency? Calvin Ridley Lolol, ok. I would rather trade for a top tackle than receiver, that’s just me. I would be happy with aiyuk, but there are other recovers we can get down the road, just like all the other teams that have done so in recent years

 

[1960Pats]

Why would anyone want to live in Pittsburgh?

Home is where the heart is.

 

[slash83]

Fine. What franchise receiver sre you getting in free agency? Calvin Ridley Lolol, ok. I would rather trade for a top tackle than receiver, that’s just me. I would be happy with aiyuk, but there are other recovers we can get down the road, just like all the other teams that have done so in recent years

I never wanted Ridley. I’d rather trade for a franchise tackle as well but when was the last time that happened, only recent time I can remember was Trent Williams to SF, which is a lot less rare than a WR being traded. I agree again, more opportunities to trade for a WR will come next offseason.

 

[1960Pats]

Damn that sucks he didn’t wanna be here, oh well.

He probably heard about the traffic problems.

 

[lancerman]

You’re acting like Brandon aiyuk is a hall of fame caliber player like the other guys you listed. He’s a very good receiver but he’s been the 3rd/4th option. I, for one, am skeptical that he is a game changer. Yes. I would have liked him. My point is we don’t need him. We can always get a top receiver. We don’t need him this year. It isn’t the end of the world we didn’t get him

I agree I don't think he's a game changer. I do however think you need a top end pass catcher to consistently succeed in the NFL nowadays.

 

[lancerman]

Don't the sponsors and tv get that money from the fans and non-fans?

Networks get their money from advertisers who get their money from customers who may or may not be NFL fans. All they know is that a large amount of fans watch their product and they want to be relevant in the eyes of potential customers.

 

[1960Pats]

Teams have to spend 89% of their cap over a 4 year period. You are making this a bigger deal than it is, he's going to pony up later down the line because of this and his team just made a massive offer that was declined that would significantly cut into your figure.

The Patriots got screwed because the cap got very extended in a year they had a ton of cap space and a lot of people that were speculated to be free agents ended up being able to get significant enough raises from their teams to stay so the free agent class was light.

It was horrible timing for the Pats in their situation. They had the cap room but no players were available.

 

[Grogan14]

Aiyuk would not move the needle by himself and might slow down development of Douglas, Polk and Baker. Furthermore, a high 2nd round pick is an extremely valuable chip for a rebuilding team.
This was the right decision. I do not believe for a second it had anything to do with money.