Player Signing Patriots Sign WR Stefon Diggs

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

Those of you wringing your hands about the money, it’s not your money. Why do you even care? Maybe years of baloney sandwiches allowed the Krafts to save substantially more cash. Who cares, GREAT SIGNING

The guaranteed money isn't bad, and I'm sure the real numbers will be less than $69 million for those 3 years. I don't have an issue with the signing.

But people that complain about any contract completely understand it isn't their money, they complain because the understand every contract connects. If you overpay for a player, agents will push for you to overpay for their client.

The Texans gave Stingley a $30 million/year extension. Not our money, who cares?

If Sauce Gardner gets $35 million/year from the Jets, it's still not our money, so who cares?

But those two contracts 100% impact the cost of extending Christian Gonzalez.

Every top WR is now much more expensive because of Chase. Every top DE is much more expensive because of Garrett.

I can't imagine a single person here is complaining about the cost because they just feel so bad about Bob Kraft having to write such a big check. It's always all about the salary cap and building the deepest team you can.

 

[Thelonious]

I have Mack Hollins as a lock too, due to his contract.

Current lock %

Diggs 100%
Hollins 100% (basically his entire first year is already paid for
Boutte 99% (super cheap deal, very young with more than slight upside due to his age.. only 22)
Polk 99% (I have never heard of a team giving up on such a high pick due to bad play and no off field stuff after 1 horrible year... it's possible he's cut... but unlikely)
Douglas 95% (Super cheap deal, young <24> with slight upside and is a serviceable depth piece Maye knows)
Bourne 5% (His contract sucks compared to Boutte/Douglas... he is getting up their for a WR and if we draft a guy it will be a numbers game. Cutting him saves 5M)

Since i think we will draft a guy i think Bourne gets the ax as i am very positive we won't hold 7 guys.

The only way i see Douglas gone is if the guy we draft instantly shows he's legit + Either one of Polk gets it or we draft a 2nd WR who also seems ready to go.

The only way i see both Douglas AND Boutte being cut is if Polk gets it and lives up to his pick + we draft 2 guys that also seem like legit NFL threats. But in this case we are also potentially likely to hold 7 just to see how it turns out by mid season...

This sounds reasonable to me. I wonder if Bourne would have any trade value at all. Probably not. "Pats' Receiver" is not exactly a hot trademark these days. If he has no trade value, I guess you let him compete in the hope that someone else - draftee or otherwise - will show enough to beat him out. As I type this, i get pissed all over again that David Andrews didn't get a chance to compete for his job. Surely he earned that opportunity more than Bourne has.

 

[Patsfan1645]

I get it. But camp is how you carve out a role on the team. I don't think Mayo did the right thing with polk and baker during camp/preseason. Polk and baker were making plays.. left and right in camp as they were with the first team offense.

However in the games they didn't start. It's just an odd thing to do. The competition, the roles, all that comes to fruition in camp and then translates to the playing field typically.

I don't disagree with your take, that's why I think all players should get a clean slate this year. But there will be expectations and the need to see improvement in players who have yet to show they belong in the NFL.

 

[PatsFan2]

Indeed! Take Hunter, and then use every other pick on a potential left tackle

I'm biased towards Travis Hunter too: he's like having Two players. That said if it's Abdul Carter we got the Best DE in the Draft.

 

[Real fan 02]

That's the big question for me. If Josh wasn't here he would 100% be gone. But he thrived in Josh's offense and I bet Josh would like to see if he can do it again. Will be interesting to see who is on the game day roster this year.

Thing is Josh isn't running the Mac Jones/brady offense. Josh said himself he's morphing the offense around Drake. Expect to see a fluent, sound, professional offense utilizing Drakes abilities. Vrabel said he feels like everything in the playbook can be ran in the playbook with Drake .

 

[Ross12]

I have Mack Hollins as a lock too, due to his contract.

Current lock %

Diggs 100%
Hollins 100% (basically his entire first year is already paid for
Boutte 99% (super cheap deal, very young with more than slight upside due to his age.. only 22)
Polk 99% (I have never heard of a team giving up on such a high pick due to bad play and no off field stuff after 1 horrible year... it's possible he's cut... but unlikely)
Douglas 95% (Super cheap deal, young <24> with slight upside and is a serviceable depth piece Maye knows)
Bourne 5% (His contract sucks compared to Boutte/Douglas... he is getting up their for a WR and if we draft a guy it will be a numbers game. Cutting him saves 5M)

Since i think we will draft a guy i think Bourne gets the ax as i am very positive we won't hold 7 guys.

The only way i see Douglas gone is if the guy we draft instantly shows he's legit + Either one of Polk gets it or we draft a 2nd WR who also seems ready to go.

The only way i see both Douglas AND Boutte being cut is if Polk gets it and lives up to his pick + we draft 2 guys that also seem like legit NFL threats. But in this case we are also potentially likely to hold 7 just to see how it turns out by mid season...

IMO, while I agree that it would be pretty strange to cut Polk as a 2nd round pick after one year, by that same coin he would still have some trade value. That said, I am sure he can rebound and I think he's probably a better fit in JMD's offense as a Meyers-type anyway.

 

[RobertWeathers]

That's the big question for me. If Josh wasn't here he would 100% be gone. But he thrived in Josh's offense and I bet Josh would like to see if he can do it again. Will be interesting to see who is on the game day roster this year.

He also was on a good pace in 2023 before he knee blew out.

IMO their WR room in Sept will be:

Diggs
Douglas
Hollins
Boutte
Polk or Bourne
Hunter or Bourne

 

[Ross12]

I'm not convinced KB will be moved as he did well under Josh.

I think that has merit, though at the same time Hollins has also played for Josh, and Diggs played for Daboll in Buffalo so there's probably some crossover. Douglas and Boutte played year 1 under BOB. Douglas was effective; Boutte was a ghost.

 

[Real fan 02]

I don't disagree with your take, that's why I think all players should get a clean slate this year. But there will be expectations and the need to see improvement in players who have yet to show they belong in the NFL.

I can assure you one thing is for sure.. a the WRs will have a tough time against the secondary.. with gonzo and Davis locking down the perimeters it will be a very competitive, feisty camp this Year....

 

[GreenCow]

I’m shocked he was able to demand so much.

I thought he was toward the end of his career when the Bills traded him and that was an ACL tear ago.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Thing is Josh isn't running the Mac Jones/brady offense. Josh said himself he's morphing the offense around Drake. Expect to see a fluent, sound, professional offense utilizing Drakes abilities. Vrabel said he feels like everything in the playbook can be ran in the playbook with Drake .

I dont care about what offense this will be I trust Josh knows how to get the most out of players he has coached before.

 

[Patsfan1645]

I can assure you one thing is for sure.. a the WRs will have a tough time against the secondary.. with gonzo and Davis locking down the perimeters it will be a very competitive, feisty camp this Year....

No doubt.

 

[Sect140]

A WR who won't constantly be in his young QB's ear telling him how open he is on every single play would be a nice start... Tyler Lockett from the same draft class as Diggs would've been my first choice, especially if they were going for that same body type anyway.

My concern also when they brought him in for a visit but each team seems to get two years out of him before he starts erupting.

 

[Steve102]

They are childish. They are asinine. They are an alternative to actual thought followed by actual expression. Perhaps your post demonstrates the dismal results when those who suffer from a need for such crutches attempt to express themselves in an adult manner, using words. It might indeed be best for you to stick to posting pictures. As for your adolescent compulsion to "push the buttons" of those who do not share your limitations, that is an embarrassment you would do well to overcome.

 

[Wozzy]

I’m shocked he was able to demand so much.

I thought he was toward the end of his career when the Bills traded him and that was an ACL tear ago.

He really didn't get that much in relation to what WR's are getting paid. 26 million guaranteed is not a lot.

Also the Patriots couldn't attract veteran free agent WR's, they had to pay more than the next guy and sign a player coming off knee surgery.

 

[Real fan 02]

I dont care about what offense this will be I trust Josh knows how to get the most out of players he has coached before.

Becuase it's not the same exact offense.. I see occasionally post some reference to Josh offense.. no it's not the Brady statue stand in the pocket offense. Josh is modifying it to his QBs skills set. Wich benefits EVERYONE.

 

[varjao]

 

[Toofy]

I have Mack Hollins as a lock too, due to his contract.

Current lock %

Diggs 100%
Hollins 100% (basically his entire first year is already paid for
Boutte 99% (super cheap deal, very young with more than slight upside due to his age.. only 22)
Polk 99% (I have never heard of a team giving up on such a high pick due to bad play and no off field stuff after 1 horrible year... it's possible he's cut... but unlikely)
Douglas 95% (Super cheap deal, young <24> with slight upside and is a serviceable depth piece Maye knows)
Bourne 5% (His contract sucks compared to Boutte/Douglas... he is getting up their for a WR and if we draft a guy it will be a numbers game. Cutting him saves 5M)

Since i think we will draft a guy i think Bourne gets the ax as i am very positive we won't hold 7 guys.

The only way i see Douglas gone is if the guy we draft instantly shows he's legit + Either one of Polk gets it or we draft a 2nd WR who also seems ready to go.

The only way i see both Douglas AND Boutte being cut is if Polk gets it and lives up to his pick + we draft 2 guys that also seem like legit NFL threats. But in this case we are also potentially likely to hold 7 just to see how it turns out by mid season...

Great post.

My locks are

Diggs , Hollins, Pop and Boutte (4) -- pop will work out well with Josh and Boutte had a stellar second season and could be even better and his contract is peanuts.

Bourne - getting traded or cut. Don't see how he makes the roster.

Assuming Hunter is drafted that's 5 draft positions.

Polk or Baker most likely competing for 1 roster position and if they feel baker has more upside, he might be retained while they cut Polk and hope he makes it to PS. No way any team will claim polk on their 53. If we leave him out of 53 on team with worst receiving corps , that says a lot.

 

[PatsFan2]

I think that has merit, though at the same time Hollins has also played for Josh, and Diggs played for Daboll in Buffalo so there's probably some crossover. Douglas and Boutte played year 1 under BOB. Douglas was effective; Boutte was a ghost.

Bob's last Offensive stint here left a lot to be desired: he bolted at the first opportunity. You're sleeping on Boutte Ross: even with his amateur Offense AVP thought Boutte was > than the the trio of Bourne - Polk and Baker.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Becuase it's not the same exact offense.. I see occasionally post some reference to Josh offense.. no it's not the Brady statue stand in the pocket offense. Josh is modifying it to his QBs skills set. Wich benefits EVERYONE.

I think Josh's new offense will look a different because he has evolved as a coach and is open to new concepts and ideas but we will still some of the old because it was effective. Will be interested to see if Bourne sticks around and how his production looks.