Patriots 2021 Offseason Thread

Rapsheet saying teams are concerned about Mariota's Max Value (starter incentives) and that has slowed down his market for trade. Rap wondering if it could lead to a release.

Agreed

More details on Mariota's incentives. overthecap.com/is-marcus-mariota-tradeable/


I'd rather play in the Trubisky/Fitz/Dalton realm where you can created a better incentive structure if draft or Cousins/Jimmy G/Ryan aren't options. If Mariota is released, I'd probably take him over either of the first 3.

Mel Kiper, bless him, allows for trades for the first time ever in a Mock, and he goes a bit nuts.

Lawrence at 1, Atlanta moves to 2 for Wilson, SF moves to 7 for Fields, Mac Jones at 8 to the Panthers, and Lance to the Pats at 9. Others of note are Kyle Pitts to the Jets at 4, CB Caleb Farely from VT at 15, and 5 WR but no running backs in the 1st round.

I highly doubt Jones goes over Lance, just because NFL GMs seem to lean into upside and Lance also has a running game that the kids love so much these days. But I'd be all for the Pats moving up to 9 for one of Lance/Fields/Wilson. I trust their evaluation if they're willing to invest that much, and QB purgatory isn't fun 1 year in.

On a non-QB note, anyone have thoughts on Kadarius Toney? He's shot up draft boards since late fall and now seems like a sure-fire first rounder. He's definitely quick, I just never see these smaller gadget guys succeed. Percy Harvin was bigger but really only had 3 good years. Tavon Austin is a classic bust. Can't think of a similar guy I'd spend a 1st rounder on.

espn.com/nfl/draft2021/insider/story/_/id/30957145/nfl-mock-draft-2021-mel-kiper-new-predictions-all-32-first-round-picks-including-mac-jones-trey-lance-three-trades

I lean towards Jimmy being my preference for a veteran QB (though not in a trade but if/when he's cut). My only hesitation is that I'm not sure he (or any other realistic Vet QB) is the answer anyway. Let's say that's true for a moment. Does BB try to "force it" with him to prove that he was right (passing on other opportunities - the draft - to get the right guy in here)?

UMass' questions about who is "their guy" and BB staying true to his board vs picking for need are the most compelling for me this draft. Every other year, the answer is easy. But QB has never been THIS much of a need before. So will that change his line of thinking?

At this point, I don’t think there’s much of a reason to believe Jimmy is or will be available.

I was just using Fitz as an example, but he’s already on record as saying he’d play here.

And your opinion is a fair one, it’s just not shared by the guy you were questioning. Which is perfectly ok.

I have no clue, there are still so many shoes to drop this year that will determine what happens. It's why I had a big list, I'm confident that I can get one of those guys in my salary range.

Trubisky, Mariota and Winston fall into my group of young guys that have shown you they can play in the NFL. They just have certain issues and aren't game changing type players. Yet they aren't close to trainwrecks either, so certain coaches think they can fix them, coach then up. I'm not surprised Gruden and Payton signed Mariota and Winston.

Trubisky has had a major amount of bad press and basically been blamed for killing the team for years. I watched that Bears playoff game and was like Damn he makes throws Newton can't. I'm intrigued what he'd look like in a more creative offense, that loves to dink and dunk it's way down the field.

This team has a lot of needs. I find it a little funny you pick on taking a safety, because who was the last one? I've thought they needed a young safety for years and he looks good. At the same time he could have just taken Claypool, who fills the biggest need. A matchup nightmare, that makes big plays and stretches the field. Instead of Keene, take one of the three guys that were rated higher and played much better. Instead of a kicker in the 5th, which you easily could have taken in the 7th round, take one of the many good players available. That was just crazy, you had WRs, DTs and a center there that would all help more. Yet then he hits gold in the 6th round, which you can't overlook.

We just have a lot of needs, so I won't say he should do this or that. Bunch of ways to find talent and build teams. I just wish he'd stop way overdrafting certain players. He trades up to take Keene a few rounds early and takes a kicker who wasn't getting drafted in the 5th. While most people top rated kicker goes undrafted and has a damn good year. I actually prefer the trading down and taking more players, than trading up and only taking a few. Yet trading back up for Keene and waisting a 5th round pick kinda defeat that strategy.

That being said, he does need to start drafting WRs and it can't be guys in the 6/7 rounds either. Frankly we just need an epic draft or a good draft and a darn good free agency.

Who are your non first round QBs?

I'd say that says a lot more about the Steelers team and culture frankly. I watched every game of his in College, he never did that crap, Brian Kelly wouldn't allow it. 

It sucks that Brock Purdy went back to school, I thought he would be a good fit.

Top 4 likely top 15 picks or around there, Lawrence, Wilson, Fields and Lance. Games played 40, 30, 34 and 18.

So you see the big issue with Trey Lance, that's a crazy low amount of games.

Mac Jones and Kyle Trask, games played 30 and 27. The only two old school no running at all QBs. Yet starting QB level arm talent, with intangibles.

Kellen Mond and Jamie Newman, this is the tier I'd have Purdy if he declared. Games started 46 and 19. This is the end of basically starting level QB upside. Two good dual threat QBs one with tons of games, the other a crazy low amount. Newman was a big hype guy going to Georgia, yet sat out the year and wasn't very good at the senior bowl. Do they have the drive, intelligence, football IQ/junky part? I don't feel great about this tier, yet they have a chance. If you had Purdy here, I like the depth of the draft a lot more.

I will say Peyton Ramsey stands out as a late round/free agent backup type QB. Brian Hoyer type guy. Lacks really good arm talent, adequate at best, yet does everything else you'd want. 40 games played, top three in 2020 draft Wonderlic test with a score of 30.


If you assume Lawrence, Wilson and Fields go before pick 15, which seems likely. You could hope Trey Lance falls yet you do you comp him too? 18 games played in a low level conference. He's one of the least experience QBs every to be talked about as a high first round pick. Even Josh Allen played in 27 games. I'm really leaning towards making a choice at 15 with him, yet I have very limited information.

Jones and Trask are highly intriguing players from the Patriots point of view. Could very well be undervalued because they aren't able to make plays with their legs. Yet you have to dig into how much was them and his much was the systems and talent. I'd spend a crap ton of time looking at these two guys and figuring out where you value them, from 15th pick to 2nd/3rd round. A trade down to pick them late first could make a ton of sense for that extra year on the contract.

Mond is kinda like this year's Hurts for me, yet a lite version. Jamie Newman is intriguing, yet who really knows what he is in 19 games. Getting to see him on a good team with Talent was going to be massive for him over what Wake forest had. How Georgia could refine his mechanics. Yet he's 6'4" 230 pounds plus who's a tough runner with a very good arm. Your third to fourth round guys for me.

He was threw picks at a worse rate than Newton did, I feel like the people I’ve seen discuss him keep thinking he’s the QB he was before almost dying from a leg injury. He’s not and it’s very understandable- maybe you bring him in to mentor a rookie like Mac Jones and have him start a handful of games before turning the team over to Jones. But yeah I don’t even really view him as a stopgap. He’s more of a backup to me.

Van Noy is getting cut by Miami and that interests me on a relatively cheap deal (like 2/12 or something)