Should the Patriots Trade for Washington WR Terry McClaurin? (8/16 update: off PUP)[8/25: signs 3yr extension]

[captain stone]

Why S Diggs who's a slightly better player career wise??

Seriously?

 

[Huckleberry1]

I started out liking the idea of trading for MacLaurin and talked myself right out of it.

 

[Uptown]

 

[n1997y]

I’d trade Diggs straight up for McLaurin in a heartbeat. Might be willing to throw in a fifth to sweeten the deal (but not a top shelf bottle, just average rotgut), or a fourth plus Polk.

More interesting would be not Diggs but either Boutte or Bourne along with a pick. How would that sound?

 

[JohnJH]

What are you going to pay him?

Me? Nothing (but then I'm just making ends meet on a Good Month). As for Kraft? That's the big question. If he was 26 year's old (and no older than 27 by the end of the upcoming season, I'd consider giving up a 1st Round Pick (as he's got good size and is very fast and consistent). But, as he's 30, I'd only give up a 2nd and a 4th. Even so, as Pape said, they probably won't trade him. And even if they did, he won't come cheap, which wouldn't be so much of a problem if he were 4 or more year's younger. I'd prefer a WR that will be around for the next 4 season's for Maye. I'm hoping that Diggs can give us something when he's back to full strength (even just for a couple of year's), and that Kyle Williams proves to be an absolute steal in this past draft. Then, just continue to add skill position talent for Maye via the draft and maybe next year a young and impactful FA WR can be had.

 

[jeremy2020]

I’d trade Diggs straight up for McLaurin in a heartbeat. Might be willing to throw in a fifth to sweeten the deal (but not a top shelf bottle, just average rotgut), or a fourth plus Polk.

More interesting would be not Diggs but either Boutte or Bourne along with a pick. How would that sound?

Apparently, Diggs is going to be on PUP and miss the 1st 4 games so it would be quite the coup to trade him for McLaurin or.. well anything.

 

[ScottishPatriot]

Terry C is disgruntled in DC, maybe this opens up an opportunity to swing a trade.

One of the most consistent WRs in the game and in his prime. Not a elite elite like Chase, Jefferson or Lamb but damn good, definitely a number one that requires other teams to adjust game plans.

Not sure of compensation but maybe two 2nd rounders or a 2nd and 3rd the next year.


I would make this deal, we have the cap and have a dire need for playmakers in the passing game.

Can see the appeal, but we have too much rebuilding still to do to start trading away premium draft picks, even on a guy like this.

Got to think long-term.

 

[DC Patriots]

Watching the situation in Washington, I would say now that there is a slight chance this will get to the point where he gets traded.

McLaurin has been a good soldier for the Commanders, a team leader, not critical of teammates or coaches even when there was a fair amount to complain about.

I still think both sides want him in DC, but it seems like the difference over a new contract has gotten contentious. I think the Commanders are content to let him play it out and then franchise tag him after which he’ll be 33. He’s saber rattling a bit, but has stopped short of saying he just won’t play without a new contract.

If available I think he’d be a better WR for the Patriots than Diggs. He’s bigger (not taller, bigger) and faster, more of a true X who can stretch the field and keeps the safeties deep. He would open up a lot underneath for Henry, the slot guys and Henderson in the passing game.

It’s probably still a pipe dream but I’d do Diggs and a 3rd or 4th for him

 

[Grogan14]

Mclaurin is not getting traded.
Washington front office is not stupid
Its a pipe dream

 

[n1997y]

Apparently, Diggs is going to be on PUP and miss the 1st 4 games so it would be quite the coup to trade him for McLaurin or.. well anything.

I would not say it’s “apparent” Diggs is going to be on PUP. From the videos of him working out it appears he’s healthy and ready to go.

So why do you say he’s apparently going to be on PUP?

 

[JoeSixPat]

I'll reiterate my "YES" on this as the trade rumors heat up again.

Even with him looking for $30 million a season, the BEST thing the Pats could do to help Maye develop into a Super Bowl contending QB is give him a consistent lock for 80 catches a season right from the get go.

The commanders are between a rock and a hard place so can't demand a ton for a guy who seems prepared to sit out the season.

They've got $67 mil in cap space that they WOULD have spent on a WR if they could attract anyone - the best chance of landing someone of McLaurin's caliber is to work this trade and sing. Might as well invest in Maye sooner rather than later.

Latest report on amount WR Terry McLaurin is seeking in new deal

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport shared an update on the amount of money wide receiver Terry McLaurin is reportedly seeking in a new deal.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Patriot Missile]

I’d love to have him but he will be 30 in a couple of months. A first rounder would be a resounding no for me but a 2nd might be interesting. I get he’s going for his last big contract and he’s going to maximize his value as much as he and his agent can. Hopefully it would be for something like all front loaded in first 3 years with 4th and 5th yr options.

In the meantime, I think the team could get 3 really good years out of him to help the Pats as well as enhance Maye’s development. By that time the franchise should be back in a spot to start attracting elite free agents again.

On the negative side of a signing like that. It would dampen Kyle Williams ability to flourish early by taking up valuable game time reps.

 

[Triumph]

It's the same old song and dance.

Washington will trade to the highest bidder and McLaurin only agrees to go to the highest bidder.

 

[DC Patriots]

I’d trade Diggs straight up for McLaurin in a heartbeat. Might be willing to throw in a fifth to sweeten the deal (but not a top shelf bottle, just average rotgut), or a fourth plus Polk.

More interesting would be not Diggs but either Boutte or Bourne along with a pick. How would that sound?

 

[Dec54]

This is all a pipe dream. The two sides will sort it out......Move on, nothing to see here

 

[Clonamery]

This is all a pipe dream. The two sides will sort it out......Move on, nothing to see here

Don't be afraid of the pipe.

 

[patfanken]

Spending $30MM/yr and a high draft pick on a 30 year old WR is something you do when you are already a championship contender looking for a player that will put you over the top, NOT for a team looking for "respectability".

He is a VERY good WR in both tangible and intangible ways and would be an excellent addition to any team. Maye is a second year QB who is starting brand new offense with a new OC and HC. He doesn't need a WR who will be entering his dotage just when he is entering his prime.

 

[stinkypete]

Spending $30MM/yr and a high draft pick on a 30 year old WR is something you do when you are already a championship contender looking for a player that will put you over the top, NOT for a team looking for "respectability".

He is a VERY good WR in both tangible and intangible ways and would be an excellent addition to any team. Maye is a second year QB who is starting brand new offense with a new OC and HC. He doesn't need a WR who will be entering his dotage just when he is entering his prime.

I've thought this for a while, and my stance on trading for a high price WR is almost always "hell no", but I'm turning around on this one.

We have a potentially elite QB on a cost controlled contract. Typically we think of this as a 4 year window to overspend in other areas of the roster. However, when a young QB emerges among the elite, he is almost always extended after year 3 or 4. This means our window to maximize Maye's contract value is really 2 - 3 seasons.

This timeframe may be perfect for both McLaurin and Maye. The team can absolutely afford 3yr/$90, and McLaurin will be slowing down just as the deal is ready to run out, and as Maye becomes eligible for his payday. The contract won't be prohibitive on the cap.

Perhaps the team is not "ready" for such an all in move, but often NFL teams don't progress on a linear timescale. The reality is that Maye is a franchise QB, or he's not. If he is, this team is a contender very soon, if not already. If he is not, then we'll be back here in another half decade. If the cost is something in the range of a 2nd round pick, why not go all in? It might be the best chance we get.

 

[Wozzy]

Wait to see what you have in Kyle Williams, DeMeer Blankumse, Jeremiah Webb and Efton Chism first… you might have some good WR’s already and don’t have to overpay.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Wait to see what you have in Kyle Williams, DeMeer Blankumse, Jeremiah Webb and Efton Chism first… you might have some good WR’s already and don’t have to overpay.

I'm pretty confident we do too - but it can be a HUGE boost to the development of a young QB to have a completely dependable pass catcher.

We know the Pats were in the market for WR and LT but were not the preferred destination, with Diggs being the best they could do (who, if healthy, I also think will be good.)

Rather than wait until free agency next year, when the Pats might again be snubbed regardless of their ability to pay top dollar, I'd rather see them invest in Maye now. We've seen teams like the Jets kill QB careers by not investing in the key guys around them and don't want to go down that same road. If there's a chance to give Maye a WR who he can depend upon for on average 80 receptions a year for the next 3 years, I'm all in.

That being said, Washington's signing of Von Miller for a relative bargain and the remaining cap space should allow them to stil sign McLaurin (note that players now WANT to go to DC, in part because of what McLaurin helped accomplished)

The fan base is NOT happy with these games and very much want him back