Patriots sign WR Jordan Matthews to a 1 Year Deal

[supafly]

Here's two:

1) How badly damaged are his legs, and when - if ever - will he be as healthy as he was before he started to break down in Philly?

2) How much will he be paid, how much is the dead cap hit if he is released before week 10, and how does this effect our (should be) 4 compensatory picks in 2019?

Fair questions.

I’m not sure that his health was an issue during his Philly years, though. I don’t think he and HC Doug Pederson agreed on how to utilize his talent, as Pederson wanted him to play more of an outside role. I think his durability issues first came to light while in BUF, last season. During that season, he only played in 10/16 games.

Hopefully, we can assume that Belichick gave him a thorough workout and had the medical team check him out. I think that’s a fair assumption to make, along with continuing to keep in mind the fact that he really wouldn’t need to be full go for at least another 4 months. Seeing as how the contract was finalized, he must have passed the physical now, of course. I don’t think we’re going to see anything too expensive, considering that Sportrac predicted his new deal last month to average out at 8.8m annually. I’d have to guess that we got him at 50% or less of that amount for the coming year.

 

[maineman209]

Fair questions.

I’m not sure that his health was an issue during his Philly years, though. I don’t think he and HC Doug Pederson agreed on how to utilize his talent, as Pederson wanted him to play more of an outside role. I think his durability issues first came to light while in BUF, last season. During that season, he only played in 10/16 games.

Hopefully, we can assume that Belichick gave him a thorough workout and had the medical team check him out. I think that’s a fair assumption to make, along with continuing to keep in mind the fact that he really wouldn’t need to be full go for at least another 4 months. Seeing as how the contract was finalized, he must have passed the physical now, of course. I don’t think we’re going to see anything too expensive, considering that Sportrac predicted his new deal last month to average out at 8.8m annually. I’d have to guess that we got him at 50% or less of that amount for the coming year.

According to Matthews himself (from an interview at the start of the Eagles 2017 Camp), he'd played through a left knee issue for most of the 2016 season that the Eagles' medical staff had diagnosed as "tendonitis". Because he was compensating for the problem with his left knee, Matthews said, his right knee frequently got sore and he ultimately injured his right ankle. He'd considered off-season surgery, but chose rest and rehab instead (and had missed 2017 OTAs doing so).

This interview took place in late July, 2017. He was traded to the Bills two weeks later.

He was pretty good with the Bills for his first four games (10/13 for 162 yds and a TD) before injuring his thumb and missing a game. He struggled through another six games (and a bone chip in his sternum) before the Bills' medical staff finally put him on IR and sent him to see a surgeon about his knee and ankle. He underwent surgeries to repair the left knee and right ankle in mid-December.

In an interview just a month ago, Matthews claimed that his surgeons told him that his original knee issue and subsequent ankle injury had worsened to the point that he'd have been risking potentially permanent damage had he continued to practice and play. Without going into detail about what the injuries/surgery involved, Matthews (rightly or wrongly) criticized the Eagles medical staff for misdiagnosing his original injuries and for clearing him to continue practicing and playing on them in 2016 (which he wanted to do, anyway).

@captain stone

 

[supafly]

According to Matthews himself (from an interview at the start of the Eagles 2017 Camp), he'd played through a left knee issue for most of the 2016 season that the Eagles' medical staff had diagnosed as "tendonitis". Because he was compensating for the problem with his left knee, Matthews said, his right knee frequently got sore and he ultimately injured his right ankle. He'd considered off-season surgery, but chose rest and rehab instead (and had missed 2017 OTAs doing so).

This interview took place in late July, 2017. He was traded to the Bills two weeks later.

He was pretty good with the Bills for his first four games (10/13 for 162 yds and a TD) before injuring his thumb and missing a game. He struggled through another six games (and a bone chip in his sternum) before the Bills' medical staff finally put him on IR and sent him to see a surgeon about his knee and ankle. He underwent surgeries to repair the left knee and right ankle in mid-December.

In an interview just a month ago, Matthews claimed that his surgeons told him that his original knee issue and subsequent ankle injury had worsened to the point that he'd have been risking potentially permanent damage had he continued to practice and play. Without going into detail about what the injuries/surgery involved, Matthews (rightly or wrongly) criticized the Eagles medical staff for misdiagnosing his original injuries and for clearing him to continue practicing and playing on them in 2016 (which he wanted to do, anyway).

@captain stone

Ah, thanks for clarifying and correcting. I didn’t realize that his issues went back as far as Philly. I apologize to the good @captain stone for my misinformation. I was under the impression that his injuries were a product of his time in Barfalo.

 

[maineman209]

Ah, thanks for clarifying and correcting. I didn’t realize that his issues went back as far as Philly. I apologize to the good @captain stone for my misinformation. I was under the impression that his injuries were a product of his time in Barfalo.

Just the thumb and the bone chip in his sternum (apparently far less serious than it sounds) were from his time with the Jills.

 

[1960Pats]

41 in Aug 18.

Thanks for the correction.

 

[Urgent]

Compensatory Draft Picks Cancellation Chart | Over the Cap

You might bother to consult the comp thread or the comp site before making silly comments. Compensation for Solder and Butler are both 3rds. Lewis is a 6th and Amendola is a 7th. And yes, the last two could get bumped. Personally I don't care about comp picks at the end of the 6th round and 7th round. Belichick does at least as well with UDFA's.

As an aside, Niklas is not likely to ount, but Matthews will. So, the 6th is likely knocked out. I would happily give a pick between the 6th and 7th rounds in order to sign Matthews.

THAT BEING SAID
Belichick must and will be careful with regard to the comp 3rds.

As MGTeich notes, Matthews counts against a sixth-round compensatory pick. Or, most accurately, would count if he makes the team for the season.
So, through training camp, that is one little factor that will be considered as Dorsett, Britt, Matthews, McCarron, and draft picks/undrafted free agents compete for the final roster spots. Matthews would count against a 2019 sixth-round compensatory pick.

 

[maineman209]

As MGTeich notes, Matthews counts against a sixth-round compensatory pick. Or, most accurately, would count if he makes the team for the season.
So, through training camp, that is one little factor that will be considered as Dorsett, Britt, Matthews, McCarron, and draft picks/undrafted free agents compete for the final roster spots. Matthews would count against a 2019 sixth-round compensatory pick.

I doubt very much that the comp pick will be considered at all wrt whether Matthews makes the roster or not, if that's what you meant.

 

[Sciz]

Great deal.

 

[long distance]

BB price tag . 1M cap hit if he makes the team

 

[mgteich]

Great deal.

At this kind of price, the patriots can pick up dozens more players (well, all that we can get to sign) to compete with the players that we have.

 

[jah]

He may not even qualify for a comp pick at that price. Maybe a 7th...maybe.

 

[50-yard-line]

Now that is what's called, LOW risk, high potential reward.

 

[maineman209]

Great deal.

For comparison, Zay Jones was drafted at #37 by the Bills in 2017. His rookie cap hit was $1.23M, and his 2018 cap hit will be $1.54M.

 

[long distance]

Patriots now have Edelman (4.2M cap hit), Hogan (3.3M) and Mitchell (0.7M) as their core WR group and:

Mattthews, Dorsett*, Britt, Patterson*, C.Hollister*, McCarron*

fighting for roster spots on just a few K gtd money combined and around 1M cap numbers (apart from Patterson) if they make the team.

Not bad for a group that includes 3 1st round picks and 1 2nd rounder with considerable experience and production.


*ST players/potential

 

[Ring 6]

Patriots now have Edelman (4.2M cap hit), Hogan (3.3M) and Mitchell (0.7M) as their core WR group and:

Mattthews, Dorsett*, Britt, Patterson*, C.Hollister*, McCarron*

fighting for roster spots on just a few K gtd money combined and around 1M cap numbers (apart from Patterson) if they make the team.

Not bad for a group that includes 3 1st round picks and 1 2nd rounder with considerable experience and production.


*ST players/potential

And the top 3 players are a 7th, 5th and Udfa.

By the way, what would Dorset do in special teams?

 

[PatsFan2]

With how fragile this group is Jordan Mattthews should easily reach his salary escalators. So happy we are not depending on the likes of Dorsett and Riley McCarron. I think Kenny Britt could surprise given a full TC with Brady he has put up consistently decent numbers with average and below average QB's.

 

[maust]

Great deal.

Home jeten Run. That is a prove it deal's prove it deal. And that's just one more thing having TB12 & BB do for this team.

 

[Off The Grid]

By the way, what would Dorset do in special teams?

Run like Hell and hope to run into somebody...unless he's got the ball, of course.

 

[50-yard-line]

With how fragile this group is Jordan Mattthews should easily reach his salary escalators. So happy we are not depending on the likes of Dorsett and Riley McCarron. I think Kenny Britt could surprise given a full TC with Brady he has put up consistently decent numbers with average and below average QB's.

Dorsett has at least as good a chance as Britt of being a contributor. You have your opinion, sure, but I have the SB, where Dorsett played and contributed and Britt watched it on TV.

 

[supafly]

Wow. I was off on my 4m dollar projection. Never thought we’d get him for such a steal. I think it’s a safe assumption that he may have turned down better offers from the Packers, Cards, and Titans.

Solid signing.