Until Hunter Henry’s deal is signed, that is.Wow, that feels like a pretty massive overpay, that makes him what, the 3rd or 4th best paid TE in the league?
A lot depends on the structure, but it's probably a slight overpay. The comp I saw tossed around was Austin Hooper's 4/$42m last year.Wow, that feels like a pretty massive overpay, that makes him what, the 3rd or 4th best paid TE in the league?
PFF suggested his value was $10.1M per year over the next two seasons. I'd bet that the Pats figures will be somewhere around that number for '21 and '22.A lot depends on the structure, but it's probably a slight overpay. The comp I saw tossed around was Austin Hooper's 4/$42m last year.
I wonder if they proffered this deal to both guys -- first one to sign gets it.Until Hunter Henry’s deal is signed, that is.
I'd much rather have Smith than Hooper, but Hooper had been a more productive receiver & I thought he was a large overpay last off season.A lot depends on the structure, but it's probably a slight overpay. The comp I saw tossed around was Austin Hooper's 4/$42m last year.
I think Bellichick would prefer Smith, way less track record as a receiving threat, but he's definitely a much better blocker. Henry is a WR masquerading as a TE.I wonder if they proffered this deal to both guys -- first one to sign gets it.
Honest question, and not to derail the thread, but is Henry worth a big deal? I just don’t see it. Like huge medical red flags. I would definitely take Smith over Hunter Henry if they sign for similar dollars.Until Hunter Henry’s deal is signed, that is.
Yeah, I definitely don't hate it at all & I'm happy they did it, I think. But it's a full price contract which hopefully he can live up to.PFF suggested his value was $10.1M per year over the next two seasons. I'd bet that the Pats figures will be somewhere around that number for '21 and '22.
I mean, was there ever any doubt that they could sign guys if they offered them more money than anyone else? This is a pretty rich deal, but I like Smith and they had a massive need at TE, so fuck it, let's go!We can put to bed the narrative that the Pats can’t attract major free agents.
4 carries for 80 yards including a 57 yarder, according to that video SSF linked upthread.I've seen some sets where the Titans lined Smith up as an H Back and run him out of those sets too. I'm sure Josh McD will have fun with that.
I thought I had read the opposite elsewhere.I think Bellichick would prefer Smith, way less track record as a receiving threat, but he's definitely a much better blocker. Henry is a WR masquerading as a TE.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/titans-decide-not-to-franchise-tag-rising-tight-end-jonnu-smith-opening-free-agent-window/I thought I had read the opposite elsewhere.
The video SSF posted made me see Jonnu more as a Hernandez-type (less the murdering).
My thoughts exactly. Didn't think we had a chance to get Smith. Surprised Tennessee let him go. Very, very pleased with this signing. Just need a couple WR's and we're on to 2021.Absolutely LOVE this signing. He was my #1 get for FA. Gives them a young, durable, solid 2-way TE, and allows the hopeful trickle-down effect to happen th Asiasi and Keene where the former is the receiving threat/slot version and Keene is officially the h-back/slot receiving threat. Gives them a lot of options to work with.
Hernendez is who I thought of too. Especially taking carries out of the backfield, Hernandez did that a few timesI thought I had read the opposite elsewhere.
The video SSF posted made me see Jonnu more as a Hernandez-type (less the murdering).
Millions of posts in this forum suddenly cried out then suddenly went silent.We can put to bed the narrative that the Pats can’t attract major free agents.
No, it was Bedard over the weekend:https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/titans-decide-not-to-franchise-tag-rising-tight-end-jonnu-smith-opening-free-agent-window/
You may be thinking of the articles about them not tagging him and the assumption they wouldn't pay him. No release though.
Need #3: Starting Y (in-line) TE
1. Hunter Henry, Chargers ($$$$): The top two guys are equally great in different ways, and you can have your pick. Perhaps you pit them against each other. I’m going with Henry because if I’m going to pay near the top of the TE market (below George Kittle and Travis Kelce at around $15 million) then I want an all-around player who can really block when my team needs to just pound the ball. That’s Henry, not the next guy.
2. Jonnu Smith, Titans ($$$$): Terrific athletic playmaker down the field as a TE/WR. Will be a star in the right offense, and this could be it. Just a bit of a one-trick pony.
He can catch, run, and block. As long as all of those count as one trick, Bedard is right.No, it was Bedard over the weekend:
https://www.radio.com/weei/sports/patriots/nfl-rumors-patriots-agree-to-deal-with-te-jonnu-smithBelichick said ahead of the 2019 playoff game against the Titans. “Can do a lot of things. Blocks well. Runs well. Is a good receiver. Played him at tailback, he looked pretty good back there. He’s a very athletic player. Hard to tackle. Catches the ball well.
“(He’s) great after the catch, probably the best in the league. I mean, I can’t imagine anyone better than him after the catch.”
Shhhhhhhhh, don't tell him.Bedard says Henry is the better blocker???
You don't understand ... it's a massive overpay for a guy whose had three major knee injuriesMillions of posts in this forum suddenly cried out then suddenly went silent.
According to this note from Kyed, PFF had Henry graded higher as a blocker. That seemed to be the general consensus going into FA that I saw.I thought I had read the opposite elsewhere.
The video SSF posted made me see Jonnu more as a Hernandez-type (less the murdering).
PFF has graded Henry as the better blocker throughout his career, but both players are competitive in that aspect of their games and big enough to get in the way of defenders.
That can't be right. When Taylor Lewan tore his ACL, they were using Smith almost exclusively as a blocker in the run game on that side of the line and he was more than capable.Bedard says Henry is the better blocker???
"I can't imagine anyone better than him after the catch" is quite a statement. But it sounds like it's backed up. From the video someone linked up-thread, he was 4th in YAC amongst TEs, with 1/3 the targets and receptions of the 3 guys above him. Kind of crazy.
There's a thread for that amigo.View: https://twitter.com/brgridiron/status/1371511185086894085?s=20
Pats sign NT Godchaux away from Flores.
View: https://twitter.com/brgridiron/status/1371511185086894085?s=20
Pats sign NT Godchaux away from Flores.
Let's not tell him he's in the wrong threadView: https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/1371508741003210768?s=20
Andrews noted Godchaux as a "very tough matchup".
Thank god we got some run stuffing help.
I think they see Keane as something slightly different from a TE. He'll lineup up there, but I think he's going to be doing other things.I'm a little surprised simply because of the draft investment the Pats made at the TE position last season; clearly I don't think BB sees much in Asasi or Keene as potential top options at TE. Something this team desperately needed post-Gronk was just a big body that could make contested grabs in the red zone, and Smith has shown the ability to do that.