Pats Roster Planning: Offense

BaseballJones

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That's weird, and I'm not sure I believe it. Fournette had such a strong playoff run that youd think hed have some suitors willing to spend a little for him. I know the Patriots like having a stable of backs, but I'd have to imagine Fournette is priced a little too high to replace Burkhead.

They need to replace Burkhead and White. Fournette isnt a pass catcher, and hes too expensive for the Burkhead role (I think).
Fournette had 76 receptions in 2019. I wouldn't say he "isn't a pass catcher".
 

RG33

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Jonnu/Hunter with this WR corps, power run game, and Asiasi/Keene as split/Hback types has me really excited.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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Jonnu/Hunter with this WR corps, power run game, and Asiasi/Keene as split/Hback types has me really excited.
Close.

Itll be Jonnu/Keene as split/HB types. Jonnu has already done it with success.

I came.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I am intrigued by possibility they are going old-school and using a power game with short-passing versatile options as the base. That would be interesting to watch with Cam, but also would work with a younger QB.

After showing some interesting creativity in the first few games of 2020, and little after, I'm very curious to see what they have in mind for all these pieces.

If you don't have a great QB can you design the offense which won't require one?
 

Cellar-Door

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I am intrigued by possibility they are going old-school and using a power game with short-passing versatile options as the base. That would be interesting to watch with Cam, but also would work with a younger QB.

After showing some interesting creativity in the first few games of 2020, and little after, I'm very curious to see what they have in mind for all these pieces.

If you don't have a great QB can you design the offense which won't require one?
We just watched teams make the SuperBowl with Jimmy G, Jared Goff, and Nick Foles within the last 5 years. You don't need a great, or arguably even good QB, if you can scheme up offense and spend money elsewhere.
 

OurF'ingCity

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If you don't have a great QB can you design the offense which won't require one?
Was Brady a "great" QB in 2001? Because in some ways I feel like BB is taking a similar approach to this team as to that one - short passes, strong running game, etc. Maybe that's an overly simplistic comparison and obviously Brady was still a very good QB in 2001 (he made the Pro Bowl after all) but I get the sense that is kind of the mindset BB is bringing to this team (with the added wrinkle that Cam brings a component to the running game that Brady obviously didn't).
 

BaseballJones

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SeoulSoxFan

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I don't see what makes those numbers so "crazy". They're all good players, but none of them is ELITE. Huge, HUGE improvement over what they had, but those numbers aren't "crazy".
I phrased that all wrong. The crazy part is that those are terrific numbers across an unprecedented number of signings in a single FA period.
 

Cellar-Door

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I don't see what makes those numbers so "crazy". They're all good players, but none of them is ELITE. Huge, HUGE improvement over what they had, but those numbers aren't "crazy".
Agholor is arguably elite, here are the players with a higher rating on 80+ targets: Adams, Hill. Godwin, Brown, Evans, Lockett, Thielen, Kelce, Davis, Diggs.
 

BaseballJones

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I phrased that all wrong. The crazy part is that those are terrific numbers across an unprecedented number of signings in a single FA period.
Yeah definitely that. Four high-quality receivers at two positions where they definitely needed major upgrades. Just incredible work by BB.
 

brandonchristensen

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I think the best case scenario is Cam unfucks himself and can play ball for 3 more years like he did at the start of the season.

But it would be a lot more exciting as a fan to get a young QB.
 

RedOctober3829

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12 personnel is suddenly en vogue in Foxboro again. The possibilities are endless with these two in the fold. Please, please try to add someone like Kenny Golladay or Curtis Samuel and this offense is top 5 in the NFL.
 

BaseballJones

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12 personnel is suddenly en vogue in Foxboro again. The possibilities are endless with these two in the fold. Please, please try to add someone like Kenny Golladay or Curtis Samuel and this offense is top 5 in the NFL.
Well........ you still kinda have an issue at QB....
 

RorschachsMask

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I would. Maybe they can trade Harry and a sixth for a fourth, though.
If multiple teams are interested, I think it shows that he still has actual value.

Not expecting a great return or anything, and a 4th may be slightly optimistic, but I wouldn’t be too surprised.
 

DeadlySplitter

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They have to consolidate picks somehow, right? Not necessarily a trade up for a QB (albeit that continues to make more and more sense), but some type of consolidation? They must be running out 53-man roster spots with all these FAs a virtual lock to make the team.
 

nattysez

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Here's some possible center help:
Tafur: #Raiders will release Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson as Jon Gruden moves on to Plan C
So, when the two sides met and Hudson said he would be willing to void the $3.5 million guarantee that kicked in last month if he was released, Jon Gruden said yes rather quickly. (Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez first reported the request.)

The Raiders still take a $12.1 million salary-cap hit — which is now less than the $13.6 million cap hit if he had stayed — and there is no dead-cap hit next year. Plus, the Raiders save $9.9 million in cash, no small detail for a team that did not host fans at its home games due to the pandemic.

***

The three-time Pro Bowl selection signed a three-year, $33.8 million extension in 2019 and restructured it last year to help with the salary cap and take more money on the back end.
View: https://twitter.com/VicTafur/status/1371966049789210624
 

nighthob

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Assuming that there's a team willing to move down. That's always a big assumption.

The top three teams likely won't deal, or won't deal to the Pats. Atlanta may be looking to pick a QB of their own at 4, Cincy could want Sewell to protect Burrow, Philly might have its heart set on Pitts, etc.
The Texans are going to deal #3 to New England in order to start rebuilding around Tua. ;)
 

JM3

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The Texans are going to deal #3 to New England in order to start rebuilding around Tua. ;)
Sure... let's do it...

Dolphins get:
DWatson (from Texans)

Patriots get:
#3 pick in 2021 draft (from Dolphins via Texans)
#95 pick in 2021 draft (from Bucs)

Texans get:
#15 pick in 2021 draft (Pats)
#18 pick in 2021 draft (Dolphins)
#36 pick in 2021 draft (Dolphins)
#46 pick in 2021 draft (Pats)
2022 1st (Dolphins)
2022 1st (Pats)
2023 2nd (Dolphins)
QB Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)
CB Stephen Gilmore (Pats)
LB Ja'whaun Bentley (Pats)

Bucs get:
WR Edelman (Pats) [cuz why not?]
#241 pick in 2021 draft (Pats)
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Sure... let's do it...

Dolphins get:
DWatson (from Texans)

Patriots get:
#3 pick in 2021 draft (from Dolphins via Texans)
#95 pick in 2021 draft (from Bucs)

Texans get:
#15 pick in 2021 draft (Pats)
#18 pick in 2021 draft (Dolphins)
#36 pick in 2021 draft (Dolphins)
#46 pick in 2021 draft (Pats)
2022 1st (Dolphins)
2022 1st (Pats)
2023 2nd (Dolphins)
QB Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)
CB Stephen Gilmore (Pats)
LB Ja'whaun Bentley (Pats)

Bucs get:
WR Edelman (Pats) [cuz why not?]
#241 pick in 2021 draft (Pats)
Fail. I don't see Larry Fitzgerald in there anywhere.
 

bsj

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Pats released Marquise Lee.

Thats a shame, I really wanted to see what he could this year. I thought he could be a piece of the puzzle.
 

RG33

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Pats released Marquise Lee.

Thats a shame, I really wanted to see what he could this year. I thought he could be a piece of the puzzle.
He had 63 and 56 catches in 2016 and 2017 and has done almost nothing since in the NFL (3 catches in 2019 before he was hurt). Kind of a strange take, especially considering all of your angst with Agholor.
 

bsj

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He had 63 and 56 catches in 2016 and 2017 and has done almost nothing since in the NFL (3 catches in 2019 before he was hurt). Kind of a strange take, especially considering all of your angst with Agholor.
Well, let's be clear. I dont have "angst" with Agholor. He may be good. I hope he is. But I feel like he is a roll of the dice when there were guys in that price range that were safer. Lee is a roll of the dice who was waaaaay cheaper. He was probably in my ~15 or so range of guys I wanted here before we signed him. Some people have a tendency to recalibrate to justify the signing. I'm not. But I still hope he is good and proves to be the WR bargain of the FA class. He may well be.

Regardless, not a big loss, just wish we got to see what he could do
 

dynomite

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In 5 years, BB has traded that pick 5 times and it's a 2nd rounder.
Totally, he's like that kid who started with a paper clip and after 15 trades ended up with a house.

Not sure when Lee would have even seen the field. He's below, Agholor, Bourne, Edelman, Meyers, Gunner and Harry.
I wonder whether this is one of the reasons a lot of NFL players actually like and respect Belichick -- unless there are salary or other considerations I'm missing, he could have kept Lee & Beau Allen until OTAs or maybe even camp just as injury/craziness insurance. Instead he released him now, as soon as he had been pushed off the depth chart, so they can find a better situation.
 

Captaincoop

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Not sure when Lee would have even seen the field. He's below, Agholor, Bourne, Edelman, Meyers, Gunner and Harry.
Is there reason to actually believe he would have been behind Gunner and Harry on the WR depth chart? What have either of those guys shown to put them ahead?

It doesn't really matter, because he was an easy cut. But if he were around, I would probably rather have him play than either of those guys.
 

Shelterdog

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Is there reason to actually believe he would have been behind Gunner and Harry on the WR depth chart? What have either of those guys shown to put them ahead?

It doesn't really matter, because he was an easy cut. But if he were around, I would probably rather have him play than either of those guys.
3 receptions in 3 years? N'Keal isn't very good, we all agree, but he did have 30 catches last year--and gunner as an all pro so possibly of use on receiver screens.
 

Captaincoop

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3 receptions in 3 years? N'Keal isn't very good, we all agree, but he did have 30 catches last year--and gunner as an all pro so possibly of use on receiver screens.
He's only 29, and when he's been on the field, he's been way more productive than either of them have ever been. Maybe he's finished with the injuries and time off. But I still wouldn't bet on either of Harry or Gunner being more productive than him. Those guys both stink even when healthy.
 

Shelterdog

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He's only 29, and when he's been on the field, he's been way more productive than either of them have ever been. Maybe he's finished with the injuries and time off. But I still wouldn't bet on either of Harry or Gunner being more productive than him. Those guys both stink even when healthy.
29 is old in the NFL. By my quick count there were only 17 receivers in the league last year who caught a pass and some of those are your former top five draft picks who even at 29 or 30 are pretty dominant physcially.
 

Cellar-Door

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He's only 29, and when he's been on the field, he's been way more productive than either of them have ever been. Maybe he's finished with the injuries and time off. But I still wouldn't bet on either of Harry or Gunner being more productive than him. Those guys both stink even when healthy.
29 is pretty old in the NFL, 29 and basically hasn't played for 3 straight seasons is basically a corpse.
I'd much rather Harry, whose first two years compare pretty favorably to Lee's. Harry may never have it in the NFL, but he's a young guy who was highly thought of in his draft year, and has shown flashes of NFL level skills, particularly in his hands and contested catch abilities. I think we trade him, but he has some real goalline and 3rd down potential.
 

ZMart100

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I'm a Gunner fan. He's great as a returner and I think those skills could translate to the open field. He's still relatively new to the position and has room to grow. I think this is the year we figure out if he is special teams only or if he can contribute on offense as well.

I wonder if Lee asked to be released. There is no real pressure for roster spots or cap space at this point, but it might make sense if he wanted to find a team with a better role after the FA signings.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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He's only 29, and when he's been on the field, he's been way more productive than either of them have ever been. Maybe he's finished with the injuries and time off. But I still wouldn't bet on either of Harry or Gunner being more productive than him. Those guys both stink even when healthy.
I fully understand the Harry hate. The guy looks like hes running in cement. Lee still wasn't close to him on the depth chart. Maybe 3 years ago? As for Gunner, why the hate there? I feel like he's done well when called upon.