2018 Patriots/NFL offseason thread

With the practice squad looking like it adds depth at most positions outside safety, but I think our corners cover that. So what about QB Davis Webb? He was seen as a developmental QB after playing at Texas Tech and California in two spread offenses. He excells at short passes, which has long been the bread and butter of our offense.

I trust Bill, but Etling looks like the player he was in College, not some Diamond in the rough type guy like Brady or even Cassel/Hoyer. I'd love to see him compete and earn that practice squad spot. If Etling is better you cut Webb or vice versa. It most likely has zero chance of happening, just Webb seems like a good fit over guys like Lynch.

Well Bedard also didn't have Grissom making the team and called him a special teams player. The really shocking part is why keep him over Flowers? Both are good core special team players, yet Flowers has shown more on D. Trent Harris outplayed Grissom by a fairly wide margin on D this preseason, having 2.5 sacks in 4 games and a bunch more QB hits. I guess I shouldn't be surprised they went with special teams again and I'd rather Grissom over Bolden, but wow once again special teams is being handled by basically special team only players. I'd rather have the slight downgrade with Harris playing Special teams for the huge upgrade on D. Luckily no one claimed Harris, but in the past that has cost us a lot of players. I get the value in special teams, but they already had 4 guys just for that, not even including Patterson. So I don't see the value in that 5th guy over a much better developmental guy. Every year tons of players, decent money and draft picks spent on special teams. Its one of the reason we have one of the older rosters in the league.

On another note just as I expected they already cut Darboh and signed Brain Schwenke to the 53 man roster so they now have 8 OL. I liked Hansen better, but I wonder how long he'll be here. Same crap every year, they claim guys then cut them a few days later. Some day someone will have to explain the true value in that, over exposing your own players to getting claimed. They did it with Karras last year, cut him then brought him back before the first game. I just don't see how a few days of an up close look is worth the risk of losing a player they clearly value.

My biggest concern going into the season is the tackle spot, very disappointed that Wynn is out for the year. I know he is mainly a guard but the drop off from Wynn to the Brian Schwenke... yikes.

www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2016/09/what_does_it_mean_when_an_nfl_player_is_waivedinju.html

It was past the first cut down day, so if the Patriots wanted to keep Darboh all they had to do was keep him on 53 spot for cut down day then transfer him IR. No one can claim him, you get the next 3 years and the option he can come back after 8 weeks this year. Instead they waived him with an injury destination, giving all teams a chance to claim him. The only benefit of that is you could have a team claim him, or you can work out an injury settlement/pay him less like the article mentions. Straight to the IR gives the player his full salary, not his split amount. No injury settlement gives him his split salary. That's if he even has a split level deal and maybe he doesn't as a third round pick. I just don't know enough about split level deals, if they are the norm or just for low picks or undrafted guys. They knew he was injured when they claimed him, it's why he got cut. He wasn't 100%.

Never said you did, just the guy that made those comments did.

Dawson to the IR, McCarron moved to 53 man roster. I really like that move. Sure it sucks Dawson is going to miss half or more of the season, but it allows us to keep the two other rookies. Otherwise I was thinking one had to go when Edleman came back. Also adds a 5th WR and gives us at least 4 WR Brady knows.

Anyone remember like 5-10 years ago the Patriots couldn't draft or develop CBs and now they have more than they need. Wish they'd turn that magic to WRs next.