Two Key Players No One Is Talking About

[JohnJH]

Ju-ju will be moved as soon as we get someone to pay for part of his 2024 salary. Otherwise, he will simply be cut.
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Thornton is another story entirely. Bourne is likely to start on the PUP list. Thornton would be kept through camp. If he has an OK camp, he could be on the 53 until Bourne comes back, and/or he could be traded for a 6th round pick. Another team might take a chance on Thornton. The commitment would be small. He has a very low contract and he would be available for cheap.

I know that the cap hit is a consideration. However, if JSS isn't worth it AND he takes snaps away from the two young (and hopefully promising Rookie WR's), isn't the upside of reps for the Rookies WR's worth eating JJS's cap hit? Because keeping him means you're stuck with the cap hit anyway while also possibly hindering the growth of two hopefully promising WR's.

 

[ralmat55]

Tiguan Thornton is 2 for 2 in his NFL career. Two season both started on the IR. You’d have to think that he has to stay healthy through the OTAs and trading camp if he’s going to continue his career with the Patriots.

 

[signbabybrady]

So, you think that we are going to keep 6 WR's. OK.

I would note that to play Thornton would means that TWO of the following will be inactive in any game that Thornton plays: Osborne, Polk, Baker, Bourne and Douglas. [in addition to ju-ju being gone]

I just don't see this happening.

Given the log jam at WR I don't think it's crazy to think we end up carrying 6.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Thornton has a clean slate. If he doesn't get it by this training camp, he never will.

 

[mgteich]

Given the log jam at WR I don't think it's crazy to think we end up carrying 6.

I disagree. If we have 6 WR's that should be playing in the NFL, we should trade one of them at the end the of Training Camp.

 

[Real fan 02]

WR has historically been the most difficult position to adjust from college to pro.

And we're talking two WR's who weren't top 10.

I see your point, but I believe these guys will come in ready.

 

[signbabybrady]

Wrong thread

 

[40yrpatsfan]

It's common in the league for a receiver to do so.

His career doesn't look great right now, but it can be salvaged.

He also got behind the defense a number of times and our QB’s didn’t see him.

 

[Clonamery]

I disagree. If we have 6 WR's that should be playing in the NFL, we should trade one of them at the end the of Training Camp.

No do rb's.

 

[Triumph]

Key players?

They just drafted key players at these positions.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Anderson is the interesting one to me because LT is a big question mark right now. it could be Okorafor. It could be Anderson. it could be Wallace. It could be one of the others. One of them needs to step up. Maybe the year off really helped Anderson get in football shape. Or more likely he's a JAG and doesn't make it out of camp.

 

[PatsFan2]

BoneyT and Calvin Anderson. If they break out this season after their struggles, we might just make the playoffs. The missing deep threat burner and the adequate nfl LT.

The chances of this happening…?

He has no choice because Polk and Baker are already Better. That said if Tyquan brings it Juju is off the Roster.

 

[PatsFan2]

James White thinks that Thornton has a chance to break out because of the new scheme.

Former Patriots RB picks struggling offensive weapon as team's breakout player in 2024 | Sporting News

Could a former second-round pick finally show something on the field?

www.sportingnews.com

Saw that but KJ Osborne is pretty good a Bourne clone who's going to make it. We always carry Five WR's unless we plan on carrying Six.

Baker - Polk - Pop Douglas - Bourne and Osbourne are Five already don't see anymore room in the Inn unless they plan of carrying Six WR's.

 

[Since1960]

Gonna be tough to replace the contribution of our “One Catch Wonder”. I wouldn’t *bet* on Boutte but maybe Baker will be the guy…

 

[Wozzy]

Even when he has been healthy, at what point in his short career has Thornton had great blocking or a QB with the ability to utilize a deep strike WR?

Never is the answer, he needs to stay healthy and catch the ball. Julian Edelman’s breakout season came in year five, Darren Waller’s came in year four… he needs to stay healthy and the team around him has to be good. A lot has to go right for deep passing to be successful.

Hopefully Calvin Anderson recovers from his mystery illness and it doesn’t hinder him. Some diseases and maladies don’t mix well with football.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Saw that but KJ Osborne is pretty good a Bourne clone who's going to make it. We always carry Five WR's unless we plan on carrying Six.

Baker - Polk - Pop Douglas - Bourne and Osbourne are Five already don't see anymore room in the Inn unless they plan of carrying Six WR's.

That will be the competition: Douglas-Osbourne-Polk-Bourne-Baker-Thornton-JuJu = 7, for 5 spots. There's always an injury and/or we could keep 6 on the roster, so maybe only 1 cut or possibly a trade.

 

[Wozzy]

That will be the competition: Douglas-Osbourne-Polk-Bourne-Baker-Thornton-JuJu = 7, for 5 spots. There's always an injury and/or we could keep 6 on the roster, so maybe only 1 cut or possibly a trade.

5 or 6 depending on how many of them can contribute on special teams.

 

[rkarp1]

improved WR play starts with better coaching and scheme.
part 2 is better OL play.
the WR's in the teams new offense better be able to block.

 

[InRodWeRust]

Given the log jam at WR I don't think it's crazy to think we end up carrying 6.

Don't worry the inevitable injury bug will thin the heard in training camp. We'll probably end up scrambling for more wide receivers before week one.

 

[mgteich]

I know that the cap hit is a consideration. However, if JSS isn't worth it AND he takes snaps away from the two young (and hopefully promising Rookie WR's), isn't the upside of reps for the Rookies WR's worth eating JJS's cap hit? Because keeping him means you're stuck with the cap hit anyway while also possibly hindering the growth of two hopefully promising WR's.

Cutting Shuster has a cap hit of $2M over keeping him on the roster.

Given that we have at least 5 WR's locks for the roster, and Thornton and Reagor waiting in the wings, there is no reason for us to even consider keeping Shuster.

As an aside, the better Shuster looks, the better chance we will have of increased trade value.