With Flowers gone, do the Patriots do anything about the Edge Position....

[PatsFan2]

There's a lot of nice names but our scheme for OLB/Edge requires smarts and versatility. Wise and Uche should be able to get us through the year and Anfernee Jennings is really emerging. His athleticism and playmaking the past couple games has been huge. Getting White back will be a cherry on top.

The more the merrier those guys get banged up a lot.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Seems like a wasted pick when you needed oline help

I mean…don’t get me wrong, I like White and think he will have a good career, but don’t see him as a pass rush guy just yet

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I think the Pats should hang onto their draft picks. They're going to need them.

agreed, although i prefer trading the later picks to move up into the top 4 or so rounds to grab the key guys they covet rather than see what falls later

Although that did work out well with Demario Douglas

 

[n6249c]

I think the Pats should hang onto their draft picks. They're going to need them.

Trading a draft pick for a player is the same whether it’s in the draft or trading for a player under contract.

In the draft you trade a pick for a player. How’s that different from trading a pick for a player now? Except maybe now you get a little more than a raw rookie straight out of his college dorm room.

There aren't many "EDGE" players whom I think would be a schematic fit that are Free Agents. Still kinda surprised that the Pats haven't at least kicked the tires on Matt Ionnidis as a replacement for Ekuale, but that could be more about what he's looking for in a contract.

There are supposedly some Edge players available for trade:
Atlanta - DeAngelo Malone - 3rd round pick in 2022. Has been relegated to Special Teams now that Dean Pees is no longer the DC there. 6'3 2/8 inches, 243 lbs. Out of Western Kentucky. Malone is just 24, so plenty of time to mold him..

Philly - Derek Barnett - He's at the back end of Philly's rotation. He's in the final year of a Contract so shouldn't cost much. He's HEALTHY this year, which is good because he is pretty decent when healthy. He seems to be the most well-rounded option of what's available. Barnett is 27 and will be 28 in June.

Seattle - Darrell Taylor - Another guy who is the odd man out in an edge rotation. Been very good in rotation for his 1st two years. Has the size the Pats seem to look for and still relatively young. He's improved his tackling since his rookie year. His one downside looks to be on setting the edge.


Others considered/Rejected :
Houston - Jerry Hughes
Green Bay - Preston Smith
NY Jets - Carl Lawson (don't see the Jets trading him to the Pats)
Washington - Montez Sweat / Chase Young - Too Expensive. Would require a 1st round pick at the minimum.

Seems to me that trading for Malone would be a good deal, especially if he can be acquired for a late round pick. Seems he has some upside and is no more of a gamble than keeping the pick and using in the draft, probably less of a gamble.

Barnett being in a contract year makes him seem less of a growth prospect to me, but that’s without a hard look at cost benefit tradeoff. YMMV

Taylor seems less attract to me because you flagged setting the edge as a downside and that’s a very important part of his job.

 

[archstanton543]

Trading a draft pick for a player is the same whether it’s in the draft or trading for a player under contract.

In the draft you trade a pick for a player. How’s that different from trading a pick for a player now? Except maybe now you get a little more than a raw rookie straight out of his college dorm room.


Seems to me that trading for Malone would be a good deal, especially if he can be acquired for a late round pick. Seems he has some upside and is no more of a gamble than keeping the pick and using in the draft, probably less of a gamble.

Barnett being in a contract year makes him seem less of a growth prospect to me, but that’s without a hard look at cost benefit tradeoff. YMMV

Taylor seems less attract to me because you flagged setting the edge as a downside and that’s a very important part of his job.

It's different because a vet comes with some sort of baggage especially if the team their on is selling at the deadline. Whether it be injury history, an attitude problem or something else.

A draft pick you can mold into your system and you don't have to pay them like a vet. I'm not a fan of the Pats "more bites at the apple" draft philosophy but...that's what we're stuck with until BB the GM leaves.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I will add that until Bill the GM is removed entirely from all personnel decisions, the team should radically curtail any trade/acquisition activity. We have seen enough of Bill's GM work to make this obvious, surely.

If Bill lands one of the 2 left tackles things could change quickly.

 

[archstanton543]

If Bill lands one of the 2 left tackles things could change quickly.

Not going to happen. LT is a premium position. He's not going to give up that kind of draft capital for a rental.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Not going to happen. LT is a premium position. He's not going to give up that kind of draft capital for a rental.

Was referring to the draft. Joe Alt or Olu Fashanu.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Trying to think of a impact player Bill has traded for in season that has made a impact? Normally He does most of his work offseason.

 

[Thelonious]

If Bill lands one of the 2 left tackles things could change quickly.

I'm not opposed to trades at all, if they will contribute to the quality of the team NEXT year and preferably for somewhat longer than that. Any anticipated benefit for this year's team is very much secondary, a minimal consideration in evaluating the trade.

 

[Thelonious]

Seems like a wasted pick when you needed oline help

I get this. O-line should obviously have been a greater priority in the draft. I think White will have a fine career, but reliably solidifying the O-line should (obviously in retrospect) have been the priority. It's a little like a guy buying a first-rate new kegerator when the kids are starving.

 

[archstanton543]

I get this. O-line should obviously have been a greater priority in the draft. I think White will have a fine career, but reliably solidifying the O-line should (obviously in retrospect) have been the priority. It's a little like a guy buying a first-rate new kegerator when the kids are starving.

Penny wise, pound foolish.

 

[rkarp1]

I think Jennings has been really solid there

I would agree. I would also add that Tavai and D Wise have also played well. need to get White back and his snap counts every game up and up. same with Uche, if he is not moved. can he come in the 2nd half and get some QB pressure?

 

[n6249c]

It's different because a vet comes with some sort of baggage especially if the team their on is selling at the deadline. Whether it be injury history, an attitude problem or something else.

A draft pick you can mold into your system and you don't have to pay them like a vet. I'm not a fan of the Pats "more bites at the apple" draft philosophy but...that's what we're stuck with until BB the GM leaves.

There are two sides to that coin, because with vets you know what their baggage is so you have more to evaluate than with a draft candidate. Their baggage may be a poor fit in a scheme that’s different than you play for example.

anyway, my point is that trading a pick doesn’t throw it away or waste it. You still get a player. Quite possibly you get a better chance at hitting than with a draft pick. Draft picks are notoriously a shot in the dark.

Or, maybe thinking of trades as a different way to get a bite of the apple would help? So it’s an alternative to that draft philosophy you don’t like?

 

[n6249c]

I get this. O-line should obviously have been a greater priority in the draft. I think White will have a fine career, but reliably solidifying the O-line should (obviously in retrospect) have been the priority. It's a little like a guy buying a first-rate new kegerator when the kids are starving.

The OL wasn’t ignored, in fact 25% of the players drafted were OL. Can’t ignore other needs entirely, and there were several FA signings of veterans on the OL as well. Saying it was not a priority is revisionist history.

Results were not as good as hoped. Injuries were really a ****show. Most of those FA vets ended up sick or hurt, and that stunted development of rookies drafted for OL depth. I’m sure if BB knew then what he knows now about how things would turn out he would’ve done some things differently. But 20-20 hindsight is always accurate.

To use your analogy, it’s more like buying a non-returnable kegerator the day before your employer announces a big layoff and you’re out of work.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

The OL wasn’t ignored, in fact 25% of the players drafted were OL. Can’t ignore other needs entirely, and there were several FA signings of veterans on the OL as well. Saying it was not a priority is revisionist history.

Results were not as good as hoped. Injuries were really a ****show. Most of those FA vets ended up sick or hurt, and that stunted development of rookies drafted for OL depth. I’m sure if BB knew then what he knows now about how things would turn out he would’ve done some things differently. But 20-20 hindsight is always accurate.

To use your analogy, it’s more like buying a non-returnable kegerator the day before your employer announces a big layoff and you’re out of work.

They really invested minimal resources in upgrading the line... Rounds 1-3 should've been one ol... And they signed poor free agents... Addressing it would've been like when the chiefs signed thuney

 

[mgteich]

There aren't many "EDGE" players whom I think would be a schematic fit that are Free Agents. Still kinda surprised that the Pats haven't at least kicked the tires on Matt Ionnidis as a replacement for Ekuale, but that could be more about what he's looking for in a contract.

There are supposedly some Edge players available for trade:
Atlanta - DeAngelo Malone - 3rd round pick in 2022. Has been relegated to Special Teams now that Dean Pees is no longer the DC there. 6'3 2/8 inches, 243 lbs. Out of Western Kentucky. Malone is just 24, so plenty of time to mold him..

Philly - Derek Barnett - He's at the back end of Philly's rotation. He's in the final year of a Contract so shouldn't cost much. He's HEALTHY this year, which is good because he is pretty decent when healthy. He seems to be the most well-rounded option of what's available. Barnett is 27 and will be 28 in June.

Seattle - Darrell Taylor - Another guy who is the odd man out in an edge rotation. Been very good in rotation for his 1st two years. Has the size the Pats seem to look for and still relatively young. He's improved his tackling since his rookie year. His one downside looks to be on setting the edge.


Others considered/Rejected :
Houston - Jerry Hughes
Green Bay - Preston Smith
NY Jets - Carl Lawson (don't see the Jets trading him to the Pats)
Washington - Montez Sweat / Chase Young - Too Expensive. Would require a 1st round pick at the minimum.

1) Get White healthy.

2) Get Uche healthy and involved.

3) Extend Jennings.

4) Sure, we could use a draft choice to acquire an EDGE rusher to replace Uche. A better choice, if it is there, is to extend Jennings and Uche.

 

[TheRainMaker]

If anyone was counting on Flowers this year, then I have something to sell you.

Some posters gave me resistance when I balked at him taking any playing time away from Wise. The injuries have been plaguing him for a few years now and was pretty bad in Detroit when healthy. Miami didn’t even want him after the 2022 season. He’s done.

He was a nice find by Bill in the 4th round and was a good player for the Pats.

 

[Uptown]

Trying to think of an impact player Bill has traded for in season that has made an impact? Normally He does most of his work offseason.

Maybe Akeem Ayers, but that was ages ago.

 

[DaBruinz]

1) Get White healthy.

2) Get Uche healthy and involved.

3) Extend Jennings.

4) Sure, we could use a draft choice to acquire an EDGE rusher to replace Uche. A better choice, if it is there, is to extend Jennings and Uche.

1) White is a Jumbo Edge Rusher ala Deitrich Wise.
2) Uche being healthy still leaves them short at the position with Judon gone for the season.
3) Extending Jennings does nothing for the here and now. Just guarantees next year. A lot of people are against extending Uche because he's really just a 3rd down pass-rushing specialist. That's why I see trading him while adding someone like Barnett would be an upgrade at the position.