Patriots 2021 Offseason Thread

I just wrote a long post that disappeared.... screw it time to go to work. DAMN it!!

Edelman played in 11 games his rookie year, starting seven and had 37 receptions. They had Welker in his prime, they traded for Branch, then drafted Gronk and Hernandez. It took him years to get time, yet he was darn good everytime he played. Back then no one was playing two slot WRs.

Gunner yes shows you some electric type stuff as a returner. Yet has shown you almost nothing as a receiver when we have lacked weapons for two years and teams play two slot WRs all the time now a days. He's a former DB, not QB. The list of good returners that played DB and tried to become WRs is very long. Not a single Edelman comes to mind. The list of QBs becoming good WRs is actually fairly big, look no further than Meyers. I won't say it can't happen, yet there's nothing to show he's ready to break out. He played 7% and 11% of our offensive snaps the last two years and has 7 receptions, while starting two games.

I like Meyers, have since his first preseason when he blew up. He's a 3/4 WR on a good offense. Good possession WR, yet he doesn't scare a anyone. His best trait is finding holes in zone coverage.

Now Harry has some upside if he can earn a QBs trust. Yet his upside is a Bolden type possession WR. He needs a QB to trust home to make those 50-50 catches because he has trouble getting open. At the same time they just brought in two TEs that likely play the role that he'd be good at. You don't want to be playing two TEs with Harry. He's a guy that likely looks better with Mac Jones at QB than Newton. The upside is there, yet players like him becoming really good is hard in the NFL. I hate to say this because he has the most untapped upside, yet he's more likely to be cut or traded than breakout. I hope I'm wrong!

If you look at this class and think it's more for 2022 than this year it makes not taking WRs even worse. Outside QB, WRs need time to develop more than any position. I want Mac Jones practicing and learning with his future WRs. Tell me that Perkins is going to be an upgrade at DE against the run this year okay. That Barmore is a key piece in the DL. That Stevenson plays a role, like I don't get redshirting RBs, easiest position in the NFL for rookies to play. That you love the OT and safety they took.

Last year's PFF grades, Meyers is #1 78.6, Agholor #2 73.8, Bourne #3 72.0, Gunner #4 66.5 and Harry #5 57.8. You can't feel good about that. Yeah it might be an improvement over last year, yeah the two TEs are going to be big. It's still one of the worst WR groups in the NFL. It's a group that lacks a true #1 WR and depth. Just remember Tom Brady isn't here to make decent WRs look better than they are. Your left hoping a 7th round WR can be a huge steal and add another guy that opens up the field for your TEs and RBs, while improving your depth. What happens if Agholor goes down or sucks? Hunter Henry has never been anything like a Gronk type down field TE. You'll be right back to last year with teams loading up the box to take away those short to mid range throws, daring you to beat them deep.

People's views on Mac Jones got out of whack with all that crazy 49ers traded up to three to take Mac Jones. Not that some people weren't high on him, yet his grades were more mid to late first round QB before that. You trade up if you think you're getting a steal. They basically drafted him where he was ranked. People need to remember before the 49ers trade and all that stupid crap, because it wasn't true. The 49ers traded up for a QB, not Mac Jones. If teams viewed Mac Jones that way other teams would have traded up. I'm perfectly fine with we take Jones at 15 if he's there, if not we do something else.

It’s also possible the 9ers traded up with the intention of taking a QB and for a time the number 1 guy they wanted was Jones then decided on Lance.

Sure, yet that's different than the reports we got at the time. Which is why I called bullcrap on them. It was they traded to #3 to take Jones. People saying it's 95%, I'd be shocked if it wasn't  him. Yet right after those reports, they did extra pro days with Fields and Lance. Like I said then, if it was Jones, why go to #3?

If it was even close, like they barely favored Lance, then they are idiots! They could have had Jones at 12 and a bunch of extra picks.

Pats picked up Wynn’s option for the 2022 season but not Michels. I’m slightly surprised about Sony as it was under $5m and he showed a lot of improvement last year, but it probably is a one year overpay for what he has brought thus far and solid backs can be had for pretty cheap. Here’s hoping it’s motivating for him.

Back to Wynn. He’s been very good when fully healthy, but missed a ton of time and has been only solid when playing banged up. All that concerns me and interests me. The option isn’t expensive for a really good left tackle, but it’s not cheap either. I really don’t know what to do with him. Here’s hoping he has a healthy year for once.

Time to give it a rest umass, you are not better at drafting than Bill and the Patriots scouts.

Mike Reiss theories on why no UDFAs

Because I'm so deep in QB watch, if Mac Jones doesn't work out Brugler has the following in top 15 for 2022

1. Spencer Rattler, OU
2. Sam Howell, UNC
6. Malik Willis, Liberty (the Trey Lance type/hype)
10. JT Daniels, Georgia (I say no way)
15. Phil Jurkovec, Boston College

Not mentioned: Kedon Slovis, USC, who decisively chased away JT Daniels as a freshman

No, I think there's VERY little chance we double dip 1st round QBs, but I can't help myself until we have a viable starter.

Couple of thoughts on draft rankings and trade ups:

1. There is a significant piece of information that is going to lead to a significant gap between the Pats board and any draft ranking, whether that be the "expert" boards, my attempts to aggregate NE focused information or UMass' work. The face-to-face work that the team does with the player. As an example, during the post-draft interviews, Rhamondre Stevenson talked about how Ivan Fears threw a bunch of scenarios at him and he was asked to identify the blocking assignment. Supposedly, he did VERY well on this. I gotta believe that is HUGE. Remember, the teams are trying to project how this player will fit into their organization now AND in the future. NOT just compare how they've done to this date.

2. When we talk about trading up (let's use this draft, for example), saying that BB used 2 4ths to trade up 7 spots is probably not the way to look at it. What's more likely happening in BB's mind is that he's trading 2 4ths to get the X-ranked player on his board. Would we find it hard to believe that BB had Barmore ranked with a clear 1st round grade? And, if so, is it that outlandish to trade a 2nd and 2 4ths to get up into the 1st? And I don't think this is a BB thing either. When they make a trade, teams are targeting a player on their board not the pick. Where that player ranks on THEIR board is really the exchange in their mind. Of course, without access to the board, that's something we can't really analyze.

That was an example of the cost of trading up in the second, for people that thought we should trade up in the first. I never said I was better, yet I do believe Bill needs to be called out for his lack of WRs. Go back and read my thoughts on WRs when they took Harry. I like the Barmore pick, yet he has some boom or bust to his game, hence why the trade up hurts.

How did my TE rankings do last year? Everyone still love the trade up for Keene? I'm certainly not perfect, yet I'm making informed opinions. I pounded the table for Claypool last year, I think that looks good no? I called Ian Book the most underrated QB in the draft, Sean Payton a brilliant offensive mind took him in the 4th. I loved Tylan Wallace, Todd McShay rated it his favorite Ravens pick and that team drafts darn well.

I love Bill, yet if we can't question some recent drafts I don't know what to say. They certainly haven't been HR type drafts.

now that the draft is over and we did not get a top WR, CB, or OT. And since we did get a new QB and presumably the Jimmy G talk is over we may have a bit of $ flexibility. Are there any remaining FAs who could supplement at WR, CB, S, LB, or OT? Preferably one who could stick for more than one-year to cushion us against defections after 2021? nfltraderumors.co/top-50-2021-nfl-free-agents/ a few interesting ones

OT
Eric Fisher age 30 PFF's 16th ranked OT last year. Coming back from injury

CB
Brian Poole 28 PFF's 11th ranked CB last year.

S
Malik Hooker 25 injuries injuries

I get why WR and CB are on this list but I’m not sure I see why OT, Safety or LB are....