Patriots 2021 Offseason Thread

As someone who doesn't really know the players, would we have rather had Fields or Jones? In terms of fit for the offense, etc

Lol

Chris Simms has been the best in sports media projecting quarterbacks off their film over the past 5 or 6 years. Here’s his take on Jones:

I'd point out Chris Simms really liked Stidham. Had him 5th, yet said he was very close to #4, who he had as a first round guy. Said floor Brian Hoyer, ceiling Tony Romo.

I know everyone keeps saying they will trade back from 46 to fill in the Gap between 46 and 96 but it makes more sense to trade up from 96 to fill that gap. They need quality not quantity from this class. Very few roster spots.

They are already down one pick next year with no Comp picks coming.

For the 2nd year in a row, I created an aggregate board with specific focus on what some feel the Patriots look for in their draftable guys (certainly beats any attempts I might make in evaluation, believe me). So I look at Kyed's "Fit" score based on their measurables, Phil Perry's Protypical Patriot Series, Evan Lazars top 50 Patriot Draft Board and Mike Dussault's top 50 as well. I think use the rankings from 6 boards (Kiper, McShay, Brugler, Miller, Jeremiah an the Bleacher Report team - admittedly, the latter was really a holdever from when Matt ran the board so I'm not sure if I'll keep them in the future) that I've used/trusted in the past for overall rank ranges and potential descriptions (I hid the descriptions bc Miller is now a sub service as is ESPN, of course - their rankings are buried within the ranges so that seemed okay).

There were about 20 guys that "fit" looking at the Pats' specific "grades" and, not surprisingly, Mac Jones was comfortably on that list.

With all that set up, here is a version of a board for day 2 and 3 prospects (it should be noted that S Trevon Moehring was the only guy that was considered a sure Day 1 Prospect that I moved to Day 2 given his drop).

Also - pls forgive the formatting. I've quickly become the old guy who doesn't quite understand how to use some basic skills on message boards.

Fit PP EL MD High Rank Low Rank
Javonte Williams RB 0.37 PP 20 25 49
Michael Carter 3RB 0.1 PP 23 54 114

Elijah Moore Z-WR 0.23 PP 14 18 16 35
Terrace Marshall Jr. X-WR 0.3 PP 26 32 48
Rondale Moore Z-WR 0.5 PP 33 17 38 77
Nico Collins X-WR 0.25 PP 37 68 122
D'Wayne Eskridge Z-WR -0.23 PP 34 47 33 141
Amon-Ra St. Brown WR -0.57 25 16 67 133

Pat Freiermuth TE 0.04 PP 42 71
Tommy Tremble TE 0.28 PP 46 133

Teven Jenkins OT 0.47 PP 24 12 36
Landon Dickerson C N/A PP 30 8 45
Liam Eichenberg OT -0.21 PP 20 28 54
Samuel Cosmi OT 1.25 PP 31 36 66
Quinn Meinerz OG N/A PP 34 36 78
Walker Little OT 0.03 PP 43 76
Dillon Radunz OT 0.27 PP 27 37 103
Spencer Brown OT 1.36 PP 40 45 66 100
Brady Christensen OT 1.01 PP 47 238

Christian Barmore 3T 0.24 PP 29 20 43
Levi Onwuzurike 3T 0.07 PP 36 29 99
Daviyon Nixon 3T 0.29 PP 11 119
Milton Williams 5T 1.05 PP 44 69 90
Alim McNeill 3T 0.25 PP 70 142
Dayo Odeyingbo 5T 0.25 13 76 109

Joseph Ossai EDGE 0.96 PP 12 27 88

Pete Werner ILB 0.38 PP 64 101
Baron Browning LB 0.87 PP 44 65 133

Tyson Campbell CB -0.41 43 25 34 93
Ifeatu Melifonwu CB 0.3 PP 57 107
Benjamin St-Juste CB 0.03 PP 40 66 174

Trevon Moehrig S -0.04 PP 14 13 43
Richie Grant S 0.23 PP 32 40 96
Jevon Holland S 0.34 PP 24 42 44 65
Hamsah Nasirildeen S 0.37 43 93 138
Divine Deablo S 0.28 PP 64 202

In the post-pick highlights reels, I saw quite a few throws where a receiver was schemed to open a window but Jones had perfect touch into the right place where only the receiver could get it; many of his best plays were reminiscent of Tommy  (the touch, the pocket movement, smart decisions). He definitely COULD be really good, and I hope he does.

I still worry about offensive predictability. At its worse in recent years it was too easy to predict pass vs. run based on personnel and formation, but the mix of schemed and coverage runs from Cam last year helped a bit. Obviously the passing game itself was much more predicable and less successful.

You have to love how they rushed to make the Pick. There was no debate, no trade talk, etc. They just rushed the card in.

Mac Jones tape is great. I'm going to trust Bill. The lack of game tape with him under pressure does scare me though. You know how he does with crazy talent and time to throw, he looks great. No NFL QB will get what he had at College though. Only QB I studied who didn't have games under duress, he's going to face more pressure in a single NFL game than he did in a whole season at Bama. That just had to be said.

Yeah I think he's Bill's guy, he's not like other teams when they need a QB and they'll just take whatever one they can get. If he liked Fields he should and likely would have traded up.

The only thing that's scary with Mac Jones is what you don't see. After I first watched him Nesmith tape came to mind. The tape was awesome, yet how easy everything was scared me. Bill already said Newton's the starter, he'll deal with it if Stidham and Jones show they are ready. Which is smart, I'm a big believer in giving guys time. Let him adjust before you throw him into the fire.

I don't know, so much of that depends on how the team develops them and uses them. Fields is a crazy athlete, so his bar is crazy high. I don't like the fit with the Bears though, I didn't like how they used Trubisky. That wasn't a creative offense, I thought the 49ers and Patriot type offense would be better for him. Use his accuracy and allow him to grow. So I'll say Mac Jones because I know the Patriots offense fits him.

Enter back to the days of duel TE's and the predictability is not there. Great O-line, elite running game, 2 tight end sets..... 

Few things on the Fields vs Jones front (as BB is concerned) that I had read prior:

- Much of the Fields interest reporting SEEMED national (maybe that's just the way I'm remembering it and I don't want to go back and look). Then I had read where 1 GM was asked about all the Fields to Patriots rumors and he reminded us that "Years later, we STILL don't know why Malcolm Butler didn't play in the SB". I took that to mean that if it's out there, this GM believes the team WANTS you to believe it.

- Bedard kept referring to Mike Lombardi's comments that, to get a Top Half of the 1st grade, the player should be perceived as a Top 10 player at his position immediately. His thought was that Fields needs more work to become the guy he's projected to be where Jones might be more ready Day 1. Top 10, Day 1??? Tough to see. But less of a project (and an easy mental step to take is that, at the QB position, top 10 rule may be relaxed).

- Lazar had tweeted prior to the draft that he believed NE liked Fields but not necessarily MORE than Jones (he might have said "more than the others" but the point still remains).

So it just feels to me like Jones was the guy.