This really has just been a disaster of a season. The Patriots just got dunked on by the Buffalo Bills after going 29-3 against them between 2001-2019 with Tom Brady under center. It was a blowout, it was a changing of the guard, but to say it was embarrassing would imply that the end result was surprising. It was not. In the infamous words of Trent Dilfer, the Patriots aren’t good anymore. It’s the first time the Patriots have been swept in a season by a divisional opponent in 20 years, they are dead last in the NFL in passing TDs with 8 (one of which came from WR Jakobi Meyers), and the team is uncharacteristically undisciplined, which was only exacerbated by that head scratching challenge flag Belichick threw on what was clearly a catch directlyin front of him and his son.
Someone clearly told Bill to throw the red flag though so Ernie must be going blind up in that fucking lighthouse.
There is a lot of grave dancing, which is to be expected after the run the Patriots just went on over the last 20 years. But for people to already be comparing the Patriots to the Jets is hyperbole of the highest order. Lets just let this marinate for a little more than 15 weeks before locking the Pats in the NFL basement with the likes of the Jets. I fully expect Bill is going to Execute Order 66 this offseason and just start taking people out left and right because you can tell this season has stung, which can only be worsened seeing Tom Brady’s march to the playoffs down in Tampa. The Pats will have some of, if not the most, cap room in the league this offseason and a Top 15 draft pick so there are some assets there to work with. Whether that means trading up to snag a top tier QB, trading down and rebuilding with even more picks, or hoping another QB shakes loose in free agency, there are plenty of routes back to respectability. I will settle for respectability and then we can discuss returning to championship contender status at a later date.
The best the Patriots can hope for right now is a 2012 Seahawks scenario where they overpay for a backup QB free agent and then hit on a QB with a pick later in the draft. Best case scenario is the Pats sign Marcus Mariota, then draft a QB in the 3rd Round, and Mariota never takes a snap for the team. Similar to how the Seahawks and Pete Carroll gave career backup Matt Flynn a monster 3-year deal before realizing a few weeks later that they had hit the jackpot with Russell Wilson. But stumbling onto another Hall of Fame QB with a late round draft pick isn’t exactlyy probable so I can’t say I am expecting that.
What about former Washington QB Dwayne Haskins? The fastest a 1st Round QB has been outright cut by a team in the last 20 years. Nope. Moving on.
The Patriots unfortunately do not have a lot of elite talent and just about all of their best players are on the wrong side of 30. All of their best offensive players under 30 are linemen and runningbacks, which is why the running game is the only thing thats looked impressive at times. Tight ends we’ll get to in a minute, but the receiving corps is nothing I would bet money on. N’Keal Harry is looking like a gigantic bust and Damiere Byrd and Jakobi Meyers are nice 3rd or 4th receivers, but they are not true No. 1 guys. Things aren’t much better on the defensive side of the ball with their best players under 30 including guys like JC Jackson (who got robbed of a Pro Bowl this year), Chase Winovich, Deatrich Wise, and the book is still out but early signs have looked good on Josh Uche and Kyle Dugger. You can debate anyone I may have left out, but there’s not a lot of young elite talent on the roster except for Jackson (who sneaky got torched last night).
Cam Newton is a great dude, a seemingly beloved teammate, and he has been a model Patriot, but unfortunately he just looks cooked. I don’t know if it’s his shoulder or what, but he just cannot deliver the ball. It’s not all his fault though as the weapons around him have been more like Dollar Store Super Soakers. Even when he does deliver a good pass, he has bum receivers dropping balls like Byrd letting a would be TD bounce off his face mask.
Or rookie (3rd Round pick) TE Devin Asiasi dropping a key first down and adding to his grand total of Zero receptions on the season. Fellow 3rd Round TE Dalton Keene has a measly Two receptions on the year too so Tight End, a historically important position for young/new/mobile QBs, has been BARREN in New England.
Newton can still takeoff for an electric TD run though, which he did Monday night for his 12th of the year. However even that came after what realistically should have been another sack as Newton’s pocket presence and awareness has seemed non-existent this season. But even with the 2nd Most Rushing TDs by a QB in a season (trailing only himself in 2011 with 14), passing for just 5 touchdowns over 14 games simply isn’t going to cut it. I wish it had worked out better, I was really excited to see Cam as a Patriot, but it just hasn’t materialized. It’s not for a lack of effort or attitude, which has been admirable, but even the ever positive Newton sounded dejected after last night’s effort (5/10 for 34 yards, 47.6 QBR).
On Monday he looked exhausted and sounded frustrated. He has been away from his children for months, and not even an admirable work ethic and a team-first attitude has produced much.
“It’s extremely frustrating knowing what you’re capable of but it’s just not showing when it counts the most,” Newton said. “… I’ve sacrificed so much this year and it hurts when you have the outing that you had tonight …
“I’m more or less venting,” he acknowledged.
Jarrett Stidham: Alright down 20+ points, time for me to get in there and start slinging it!
To be fair, Jarrett Stidham, who it looked like might not even see the field, was also terrible, completing 4 of 11 passes for 44 yards with a QBR of 3.7. Again, this team is devoid of elite talent at Wide Receiver (Julian Edelman is still out with a knee injury) and Tight End so it’s hard to evaluate anybody under center, but lets just say Stidham does not appear to be like a young Aaron Rodgers with his path to playing time merely blocked by a former MVP veteran QB.
To make matters even worse, the commentators were borderline depressing too. They will usually try to carry a game broadcast during a blowout, but they were talking about Newton and the Patriots like a “too old to be in the ring” heavyweight boxer that they were legitimately concerned for. And this was with 10 minutes left to go in the 4th quarter. Quite a lot of time to fill as the broadcasters pondered the precarious future of the Patriots.
So we’ll see what the Patriots do and whether they attack the offseason like they did after 2006 when they spent big in free agency and made splashy trades for studs like Randy Moss and Wes Welker, but even then that team had elite building blocks already in place.
All we know is this: Bill has the cap space, an unusually high draft pick, and all the motivation in the world to turn this thing around. Now let’s just hope this is a rebuild and not a tear down.
I am not a draft expert nor do I do enough research to put together mock drafts like some of the other bloggers here at The 300s, but hindsight is more fun anyways. With that being said, I have a pretty wait and see type attitude on the draft because it’s impossible to grade a draft before anyone even laces up their Nikes. Anyone who says they know otherwise is lying to you.
1st Round: Patriots trade the No. 22 pick to the Charges for two 3rd rounders, No. 37 and No. 71
Least surprising (non) pick of the draft, which doesn’t make it any less frustrating for everyone waiting for the Patriots to pick for 3 hours before they traded out. Schefter also said the Pats could still get the guy they wanted at No. 37 instead of picking him at No. 22. Well I guess give them credit for not reaching on their first pick THIS far, but maybe that says more about overvaluing a guy a bit much? Remains to be seen.
Their first pick of the night was a safety from a Division II school I’ve never even heard of. At first glance this seems like an absolutely bananas reach, but most mock drafts didn’t have Dugger too much lower than where the Pats took him. From all the reports I’ve read he seems to be a freak athlete with the ability to float around position-wise on the field plus he returns punts, which the Pats desperately need someone besides Edelman to do well. All things that Belichick loves. At 6’2″ he adds another big body at corner for the Pats next to 6’1″ Stephon Gilmore and 6’3″ Joejuan Williams. Projects to be an eventual replacement for Patrick Chung and could likely drop down to cover tight ends like Chung.
Also, Scott Zolak shamed anyone for shitting on a Division II player because of his experience playing with a DII player himself.
You can all sit there and laugh at D2 kids. I played with Ben Coates. One of the greatest TEs of all time. Stud, went to Livingstone College. It’s now defunct. We laughed at him til he took that pass in fiat 55 yards vs Bills. It’s football
Uche is an undersized edge guy who didn’t start a game at Michigan until his senior year, which doesn’t sound great, but is a high ceiling freak athlete who excelled at the Senior Bowl against other top competition. He also has the positional flexibility to play LB or on the line, which the Pats love.
Josh Uche can play linebacker or as a pass rusher in the Patriots' defense. Think Kyle Van Noy or Jamie Collins. Super athletic. He can fill multiple roles in the Patriots' defense. Shorter but super long arms.
This team is BARREN at tight end so I expect Asiasi to compete for the starting role Day 1 if he can pick up the playbook.
Oh hell yeah, Belichick. #Patriots draft Devin Asiasi, one of my favorite tight ends in the draft. Burst and speed to get vertical up the seam and change of direction. Pass-catcher. https://t.co/GH7iPEnAKo
3rd Round No. 101: Virginia Tech TE Dalton Keene (6’4″ 253 lbs):
Dalton “The Cooler” Keene. Dalton “Pain Don’t Hurt” Keene. This kid better have seen Roadhouse because I am not referring to him as anything other than Swayze references from here on out. People complained the Patriots did nothing to plan for life after Gronk last year so this year they went ahead and drafted two tight ends back to back in the 3rd. Seems aggressive, but the Pats got next to nothing out of the position last year and had one of the worst tight end groups in the league (37 catches, 2 TDs). The Pats haven’t taken two tight ends in the same draft, let alone back to back, since the Gronk/Hernandez draft in 2010.
Another tight end for the #Patriots: Dalton Keene was the best tester at tight end at the combine this year. https://t.co/7b52viqz2x
Kicker was a big need for the Pats after the debacle last season and cutting Gostkowski this offseason. Taking a kicker in the fifth round though is questionable. Taking a kicker that wasn’t really on anyone’s board also isn’t ideal. Oh and apparently there wasn’t even much game film of him except for a few YouTube clips. Sweet! Before the next pick was even in though the internet had descended on Rohrwasser for a tattoo on his arm that apparently symbolizes some right wing gun nut group the 3 Percenters. Jemelle Hill wasted no time in labeling his a white supremacist. Rohrwasser quickly denied that he supported the group saying he didn’t understand what the tat meant and he’d be getting it covered up. A bad look for the kid out of the gate, but not entirely unbelievable. He also had a questionable IG post about a controversial public speaker. Not a great start, but maybe we give the kid more than five minutes in the public eye before collectively deciding to #cancel him.
6th Round No. 182: Michigan OG Mike Onwenu (6’3″ 350 lbs):
New Patriots guard Michael Onwenu allowed two sacks in 1,198 pass-blocking snaps at Michigan, per @pff. Zero last season.
Patriots just got the OL steal of the draft imo. Michael Onwenu is a stud. Late 3rd rd grade from me. People overvalue traits a little bit at guard, plenty of guards that aren't elite athletes but physically and technically do just fine. That's him
6th Round No. 195: Wake Forest OL Justin Herron (6’5″ 305 lbs):
Herron was a four year starter and a team captain at Wake Forest last year.
The Patriots select Wake Forest OT Justin Herron with their next sixth-round pick, No. 195. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Herron was a team captain last year, when he was a grad student at the school.
Absolute MONEY name. Mike Reiss projects him as a special teamer.
The Patriots select Wyoming LB Cassh Maluia with their next sixth-round pick (No. 204). He is 5-foot-11 and 231 pounds, and ran a 4.53 in the 40. Could be eyed with core special teams contributions in mind.
My biggest gripe with this draft was that the Patriots didn’t take a single WR in a loaded receiver class or a single QB even as guys like Jake Fromm continued to slide. It seems like Bill is pretty comfortable with Stidham throwing to the current depth chart of Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Mohamed Sanu, and Jacoby Meyers. Not terrible, but it also wasn’t enough last year with Tom Brady throwing to them. So hopefully the combination of a young QB actually throwing to fellow young players, the addition of a couple tight ends, Sanu getting healthy, oh and the addition (for now) of WR Marquise Lee is a serviceable receiver core.
Almost as if he could hear all of our bitching from his place on Nantucket, Bill then signed two quarterbacks, four receivers, and another pair of tight ends (not including Thaddeus Moss) immediately following the draft. All four receivers are 5’11” or shorter though as the team may be looking to plan for the future at slot.
Undrafted free agents signed by the Patriots (via Patriots.com)
QB Brian Lewerke, Michigan State (6’2″, 213 lbs)
QB J’Mar Smith, Louisiana Tech (6′, 228 lbs)
WR Will Hastings, Auburn (5’10”, 175 lbs)
This one intrigues me the most as Hastings was Jarret Stidham’s go to slot receiver at Auburn.
WR Sean Riley, Syracuse (5’8″, 178 lbs)
WR Isaiah Zuber, Mississippi State (5’11”, 184 lbs)
WR Jeff Thomas, Miami (5’9″, 170 lbs)
TE Rashod Berry, Ohio State (6’3″, 263 lbs)
TE Jake Burt, Boston College (6’3″, 260 lbs)
Hey a guy I’ve actually seen play in person before! He also got a pretty big signing bonus so the Pats clearly see something.
Boston College TE Jake Burt, an undrafted free agent, is signing with the New England Patriots and is receiving $80,000 guaranteed to do it, one of the larger guarantees for undrafted TEs, per source.
As a fellow short, I love this pickup. The little wrecking ball racked up over 3,000 rushing yards in college so he’s not just a third down guy.
DT Bill Murray, William & Mary (6’4″, 280 lbs)
DE Nick Coe, Auburn (6’4″, 280 lbs)
DE Trevon Hill, Miami (6’3″, 248 lbs)
LB Kyahva Tezino, San Diego State (6′, 235 lbs)
LB De’Jon Harris, Arkansas (5’11”, 234 lbs)
“Per NESN, the Patriots gave Harris a significant deal to join the team, perhaps illustrating how high his chances are to make the team as an Elandon Roberts, early-down linebacker replacement.”
NFL mock drafts are largely useless, except The 300s Mock Draft from Mattes, but nobody really knows what the hell is going to happen in the draft. Joe Burrow is definitely going No. 1 overall, but after that its anyones guess which way the draft unfolds. With that being said there has been some chatter around the potential of the Patriots going against everyone’s expectations and trading up to draft Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Is that really a possibility?
Over at Pro Football Talk Peter King has the Patriots trading up to No. 13 to snag a sliding Tua after the Dolphins take Oregon QB Justin Herbert at No. 5. Well that would assume Detroit (could use a young QB), Jacksonville (could definitely use a QB), and the Chargers (Tyrod Taylor is QB1 right now) all pass on him. Even with the medical red flags considered, I find that pretty hard to believe. King’s breakdown of the scenario below:
I don’t think that would even be enough to get up to No. 3, especially considering Thuney’s on the franchise tag for one year at $15M.
In the past 20 years Belichick has traded up in the first round four times, but not since 2012 when he traded up twice to land Dont’a Hightower and Chandler Jones. They do have 12 draft picks and obviously BB loves to wheel and deal having made 77 draft day trades over the years so the Pats will likely be moving one way or the other.
On Sports Illustrated Bert Breer has the Dolphins taking Justin Herbert at No. 5 and Tua going No. 6 overall to the Chargers, but hedges by saying it’s a hunch because the Chargers GM Tom Telesco is “as cagey as they come.” Meaning they could legitimately take a Tackle here and ride with Tyrod Taylor at QB or it could just be the Chargers trying to throw people off the scent. Breer does go on to say though,
“And if Tagovailoa doesn’t go here? I really don’t know how far he’ll fall.”
That would seem to be the prime scenario for the Patriots and potentially fit in with King’s prediction. Tua slides a bit so the Pats don’t have to give up the farm to trade into the Top 5. Maybe Tua does fall to No. 13 and Bill swings a deal with San Francisco who just so happen to owe the Pats a franchise QB after the Jimmy G deal.
And with reports of the Patriots being nowhere close to an extension with Joe Thuney, who they franchise tagged, maybe he gets included to sweeten the deal for SF along with a few picks. This almost makes too much sense because what kind of team is going to trade for a guard on a one year $15 million deal? Oh I don’t know, maybe a team that feels like it’s on the cusp of a title and maybe even lost a close one in the Super Bowl last year?
The biggest knock on Tua leading up to the Draft has obviously been his health after dislocating his hip last season at Alabama. He’s also has had surgery on both of his ankles and has broken his wrist twice.
Belichick has NEVER been shy about drafting guys in the first round with blatant injury histories though, sometimes bordering on malpractice as the GM. Sony Michel has been on the field, but already had a repaired ACL when the Pats took him in 2018 and just this past offseason had a “minor” knee surgery quietly. In 2014 Dominique Easley already had two ACL tears when he was coming out of Florida and wouldn’t ya know it, could never stay on the field for the Pats because of ACL injuries. So don’t let injury history make you think Belichick won’t take a guy with potential because he will.
Plus then we have the well known Belichick mouthpiece Michael Lombardi with this quote below.
“That’s got to get around, that at least one team failed the physical on Tua,” Lombardi said on The GM Shuffle podcast. “Others have to be concerned now as well. … It’s not just his hip. … I mean, he’s brittle. You can’t deny it. … Look, I’m not disputing the evaluation. I’m saying that they flunked him on not just the hip [but] on the multitude of injuries. The risk far outweighs the reward.”
Is that Bill using an NFL media pundit to try and tank Tua’s stock value around the league?
Jesus christ did I just talk myself into Bill Belichick trading up to draft an injury prone QB? I think I did. If Tua slides and the team can get him without completely mortgaging the future with a Ricky Williams type trade then I say absolutely do it. I’m of the mindset that you should draft a QB every single year because they’re that valuable. Throw as many darts at the board as possible until you hit the bullseye because until then it doesn’t really matter how strong the rest of your roster is. With Tom Brady gone, that should be a draft strategy the Patriots strongly consider. Does Tua’s injury history and size concern me? Sure, but this is also a league that just saw a 5’9″ guy in Kyler Murray go No. 1 overall last year as QBs get hit less and less every year. Tua’s ceiling is so high as he was the hands down No. 1 pick heading into last season and was the 1A after Joe Burrow’s monster year before his hip injury. So if you can get him without completely hamstringing yourself, do it.
So the NFL Draft is going on as originally planned Thursday night, except due to the coronavirus the entire thing is being done remote. Imagine your job being on the line and the future of an NFL organization relying on your Zoom account? Well apparently there have already been technical difficulties and that is not a good sign for Thursday night.
More on today’s mock draft technical glitch: The Bengals didn’t do anything wrong; wasn’t their fault. But the glitch resulted in a two-and-a-half minute delay, per source. https://t.co/q70MLZ14D4
I was on the phone with a head coach talking about the mock draft today and he was losing his mind because his Internet went down…apparently his young children were all on their iPads using up the band width. “ everybody get off the Internet”-in loud dad voice. I hung up.
I’m really hoping for some live streams of coaches and GMs sitting at their draft war rooms kitchen tables because I need to see these old football guys losing their shit like me in a fantasy football draft when the laggy internet drafts the wrong guy.
I’ve been searching for the best program for video chatting coworkers or doing happy hours with friends and guess what? They all suck. I don’t know how people do these calls with more than 3 or 4 people. Some have horrific audio and video delays, others are legitimately overloaded from the surge of people working from home, and none of them run smoothly consistently. And thats just me talking about client campaigns or crushing a few crafties with some buddies, not trying to manage the future of a billion dollar franchise.
Some of these GMs are better prepared than others or at least are pretending to be. Take John Elway for example, who looks like he’s opening up a Buffalo Wild Wings in his house.
But then you’ve got guys like Bill Belichick who don’t even know what Facebook is so this shouldn’t be a disaster at all.
I’m just waiting for Leeroy Jenkins to bust in when someone’s on the clock and really throw a wrench into this draft.
The time has arrived, folks! The annual Mattes NFL Mock Draft is here! (I know you have all been waiting with BATED breath. Right, Lippa??)
With no sports on the docket now or anytime in the foreseeable future, the prospect of the NFL draft taking place in just a few weeks is truly one of the only things keeping me going during these very dark times. For those of you whom, like myself, still can’t wait till then, here’s a deep – and I mean DEEP – dive into how I think the first round will shake out come Thursday, April 23.
This ain’t your daddy’s mock either; this big boy comes complete with five trades and a full write-up for every selection. (None of that “no mocked trades” B.S. Get outta here with that garbage.)
Do I have connections or sources for any of these? Nope! Nothing but hours and hours of research and faithful Twitter surfing.
For what it’s worth, I hope you enjoy! And be sure to tell me how wrong I am on Facebook or in the comments section!
1. Cincinnati – Joe Burrow, QB, LSU: Really no need to overthink this one. The Bengals aren’t passing on the best QB to come out of the draft since Andrew Luck, no matter what they’re offered. Lock this one in. Moving on.
2. Washington – Chase Young, DE, Ohio State: Much like Burrow, Young is one of the best players to come out at his position that we’ve seen in years. (Besides maybe Myles Garrett.) While Washington could be tempted to trade back, it would take quite the haul to pass on a talent like Young. Especially with Ryan Kerrigan being on the wrong side of 30, Ron Rivera needs another talent to pair with Montez Sweat along the defensive front. To be honest, the idea of what those two could become together is absolutely frightening. (Also, for anyone thinking there’s even a chance they take Tua here after drafting Dwayne Haskins last year AND trading for Kyle Allen, you’re delusional. Please stop with that nonsense.)
3. (TRADE w/ DET) Miami – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama: Don’t fall for the smokescreens!!! There have been numerous reports this week, from very credible sources, that the Fins are souring on Tua and might instead want to draft Justin Herbert. Ironically, this was right after Tua was cleared (once again) after yet another perfect medical check-up in early March, which should finally put to rest the “injury concerns” people seem to have with him. Brian Flores has also stated he wants a QB who has “it,” and that screams Tua. (See: 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship). If anyone in Miami’s brass honestly believes Herbert is the better prospect, they need to be fired immediately. Like right now. If the Dolphins pass on Tua, they could regret it for years.
4. (TRADE w/ NYG) Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon: Now, I know it seems like I just took a shot at my guy J-Herb a moment ago, but that was more about Tua’s potential for greatness as opposed to anything about the former Ducks leading man. From a physical standpoint, Herbert has the size, arm, and tools to be a very solid NFL starter, but he’s far from a sure thing. Still, the Chargers pretty much placed all their eggs in the “drafting a rookie QB basket” this offseason, and that’s exactly why they need to trade up to get one here. No, I don’t believe either the Giants or Lions would take Herbert at No. 4 or 5, but a team like the Jags (or another sneaky darkhorse) could choose to leapfrog L.A. and completely A-bomb the Chargers’ entire plan. Plus, I think Tyrod Taylor could be the perfect mentor for a guy like Herbert, who shares some similar traits. Anthony Lynn and Co. choose not to mess around and will get their guy here.
5. (TRADE w/ MIA) Detroit – Isaiah Simmons, DEF, Clemson: The Lions might win the draft simply by getting the most talented overall football player in this class, bar none, while also picking up a few more draft picks in the process. Simmons is a true rarity: a defender who can play either linebacker, corner, or safety and did so across multiple seasons at an elite level for one of the nation’s top programs. A lot of people think Jeff Okudah should go here, and cornerback is a big need. But former Belichick-disciple Matt Patricia will likely value Simmons’s versatility above all and jump at the chance to take a game-changing defensive weapon here.
6. (TRADE w/ LAC) New York Giants – Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa: In a class with someserious tackle talent, the Giants will have their pick of the litter. Wirfs is widely regarded as the top dog and blew away everyone at the Combine. Not only will he serve as a great protector for Daniel Jones, but his mauling run-blocking style could also help pave the way for Saquon Barkley for years to come. He’d likely start off on the right side, and then simply slide over to left once the Giants cut ties with Nate Solder.
7. CAR – Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State: The best corner in the draft goes to a team in desperate need of help in the defensive backfield, especially after losing James Bradberry in free agency and (for whatever reason) cutting Eric Reid. Fortunately, Tre Boston was re-signed to a three-year deal and Juston Burris was an OK acquisition. Even still, though, the Panthers really need some help, particularly on the boundary. Okudah would immediately help in that regard from Day One.
8. ARI – Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama: Not nearly as polished as Wirfs, what Wills lacks in completeness and brute strength, he makes up for in athleticism. His ability to move in space and keep up with speedy edge rushers will help allow Kyler Murray extend plays out of the pocket. And while he does have lapses in pass-protection at times, he can develop on the right side of the line for a few seasons since the team already signed left tackle D.J. Humphries to a new three-deal in February. Besides Humphries, the Cards need O-line help in a huge way, and Wills will provide that.
9. (TRADE w/ JAX) Denver – Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama: Courtland Sutton broke out in his second season, and he and second-year signal-caller Drew Lock could be quite the explosive pair again in 2020. However, Lock still needs more weapons, and Jeudy is probably the most complete, pro-ready receiver in the draft. His ability to play inside and outside will compliment Sutton’s dominance on the sideline very well. Jeudy also has the jets to take it the house on any pretty much any play (24 TDs in his past 28 games at ‘Bama). He and CeeDee Lamb are very close in terms of being the top wide-out in this class, but I gotta give the edge to Jeudy.
10. Cleveland – Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia: Jack Conklin was an excellent signing to shore up the right side of the O-line, but Baker Mayfield still needs help on his blindside. While Wirfs and Wills are the exciting, shiny sports cars with more upside, Thomas is the less sexy but super reliable Toyota Corolla who you know will always get the job done and is guaranteed to last for years. Much like the soon-to-be Hall of Fame left tackle the Browns used to have with the same last name, this Thomas will also be an anchor and team staple in Cleveland for the next decade or more.
11. New York Jets – CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma: As I said, you could easily make the argument for Lamb being the top WR in the draft, and Sam Darnold should do cartwheels if the former Sooner lands in the Big Apple. Especially after losing Robby Anderson to Carolina this offseason, Darnold needs some talent to throw to in a big way. The Breshad Perriman signing was nice, but especially with Quincy Enunwa’s health being a big question mark, Lamb would likely become the WR1 for the Jets right out of the gate. This dude is a PROBLEM in the open field, and he’ll become the best playmaker the Jets have had in quite some time. Seriously, though, just look:
12. Las Vegas – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU: After Jeudy and Lamb, most view Henry Ruggs as the next best receiver in the class, and many might feel this is too high for Jefferson. However, Raider’s GM Mike Mayock made it pretty clear last year that he values high-character, championship-experienced guys above all else, and he doesn’t give a flyin’ you-know-what about others’ “projected draft slots” (e.g. his choice of Clelin Ferrell at No. 4 overall last year). Jefferson fits the Mayock Mold to a T, and let’s also not forget that the dude put up 111 catches for over 1,500 yards as Joe Burrow’s No. 1 guy last season. He also posted a 4.43-second 40 at the Combine. To be honest, he’s probably better than Ruggs, and he is tailor-made for the Raiders.
13. San Francisco – Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina: Kinlaw might be the prospect with the highest range of outcomes in the class. A formerly homeless teen who worked his way up from JUCO to becoming an AP All-American and potential first-round pick, the dude is obviously a warrior. He’s also got an incredible blend of skill and physical traits (6’5”, 324 pounds) that would make most D-coordinators drool. However, he’s also dealt with injuries (hip surgery) and, at times, inconsistent play which gives some pause. Still, after trading away DeForest Buckner and acquiring another first-round pick in the process, the Niners can afford to take a gamble on the 22-year-old’s immense upside.
14. (TRADE w/ Tampa Bay) Philadelphia – Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama: Jeudy was the go-to target for the Tide for the past few seasons, but Ruggs was the ace-in-the-hole, speed demon with insane 4.2-second speed. While he does possess some all-around ability, Ruggs could end up being exactly what the Eagles were hoping the second coming of DeSean Jackson would become. He’ll serve as the new deep threat for the big-armed Carson Wentz, and the Eagles will have no issue trading up to get him. If they don’t, he won’t last much longer than this.
15. (TRADE w/ Denver) Jacksonville – Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn: Once considered a top-five pick, a weak Combine performance and positional value is cause for a bit of a drop. Unlike Kinlaw, Brown is a bit more rigid in terms of where he can play along the line and doesn’t have quite as much burst. Still, he was a First-Team All-American and can absolutely dominate opponents across from him in the trenches. After trading away Calais Campbell, Brown could soon become the new anchor on the D-line for the Jags.
16. Atlanta – Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State: While the Falcons could go for another corner here, I’m actually a fan of Isaiah Oliver and they need more pass-rushers, even after signing Dante Fowler. Gross-Matos is a high-upside, versatile defender who can play standing up or as a down lineman in a 4-3. He also compiled 17.5 sacks and over 90 total tackles across his past two seasons for the Nittany Lions.
17. Dallas – Grant Delpit, S, LSU: While Gross-Matos would’ve been a nice replacement for Robert Quinn, the Cowboys have also needed safety help for a while now. And after losing their former leader of the secondary in Byron Jones to free agency, they need another field general to man the back half of the defense. Though he may be a bit lacking in the pass-coverage department, he can set the tone and lay the wood with the best of ‘em. Again, he lacks the range and technique many might want from a first-round safety, but the potential for more is definitely there and he was a title-winner. The team also went out of its way to meet with Delpit specifically at the Combine last month.
18. Miami – Austin Jackson, OT, USC: A lot of people might be shocked to see Mekhi Becton still on the board at this point, and they might think I’m foolish to think he wouldn’t be the pick here. However, per multiple reports, Jackson has been skyrocketing up many draft boards lately, and much like Becton people are also in love with his potential. Both are raw, but there might actually be less red flags with Jackson, specifically in terms of weight/size management. Flores and Co. are also the perfect type of crew to coach a guy like Jackson up, and there’s no doubt that Miami is in desperate need of help along the O-line.
19. Las Vegas – C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: Henderson might be the most undervalued player in the entire draft. The 2019 First-Team All-SEC cover man put up some solid stats (11 PBUs and 33 tackles) in only nine games last year against some serious competition. The Raiders also gave up the eighth-most passing yards per game in the NFL last season. Henderson would be a welcomed addition.
20. Jacksonville – Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Before all the Minshew Maniacs attack me for this one, this pick actually makes a lot of sense. I do not expect Love to beat Gardner Minshew in camp this season, but his long-term upside is WAY higher. (Think poor man’s Patrick Mahomes in terms of ability and playing style. Yeah, I said it!) Also, if the team was really sold on Minshew, Foles wouldn’t have had a chance of getting back on the field at the end of last year, contract-related reasons or not. This is also the second of Jacksonville’s two first-rounders this year, and I mocked them to get even more picks with my previously predicted trade with Denver. In the NFL, teams are smart to hedge their bets, and there’s really not a lot for the Jags to lose by rolling the dice on Love here.
21. (TRADE w/ PHI) Tampa Bay – Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville: The slide finally ends for the 6’7”, 364-pound mountain of a man. His titan-esque size and power alone guarantee that he’ll be a force to be reckoned with against any level of competition. At the same time, though, these very same attributes can cause for significant issues with movement and technique. But his upside is too much to pass on here, and the Bucs are in desperate need of an upgrade at right tackle. Donovan Smith, who is a much better pass-protector, can protect new QB Tom Brady’s blindside, while Becton serves as a monster, road-grader on the other. In fact, Becton’s presence will be key for who I expect for the Bucs to take with their next selection (oooh foreshadowing). It’s going to be fun watching to see what this guy ultimately becomes, which truly could be great.
22. Minnesota – K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU: There’s no doubt that there is a GLARING hole at cornerback after the team saw its top three from last year all leave this offseason. However, there are still a couple solid potential choices left at the position, and the Vikes can grab one with their next selection at 25. Getting another rusher off the edge is also a big need, especially after losing long-time stalwart Everson Griffen. Chaisson is a long, quick but still powerful rusher who served as one of the Tigers’ team leaders since he was a freshman, even though he did miss all but one game in 2018 with an ACL injury. Last year, he bounced back in a major way, posting 6.5 sacks, 13 TFLs, and helped secure a national championship to boot.
23. New England – Patrick Queen, LB, LSU: Queen is exactly what the Pats defense has been missing for the past few seasons. Not a major thumper or pass-rusher, Queen is instead super fast and excels in coverage and playing sideline to sideline. He could probably even play safety in a pinch, if necessary. He can be what the team was hoping Jamie Collins was going to be (both the first AND second time around). Losing Kyle Van Noy to Miami is also going to hurt a lot more than most people think. And while Queen is not the same type of player, he’ll add a new element and bring versatility to what is already a pretty loaded D in Foxborough.
24. New Orleans – Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma: Murray is basically Queen with a bit more size, and honestly these last two picks could easily end up being flip-flopped. Murray takes a bit more risks than Queen, but he also has more concrete college production to back him up. Demario Davis can handle one side of the field, and Murray can be relied upon to make plays on the other. For a team with little needs, the Saints just keep getting better.
25. Minnesota – Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama: The Vikings get their cornerback here, and maybe one of the biggest steals of the first round so far. He has it all: size, speed, strength, and four years of experience under the legendary Nick Saban. OH, and he also happens to be Stefon Diggs’s little bro (YUP!). This should be fun…
26. (TRADE w/ MIA) Detroit – A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa: Kind of like Andrew Thomas, Epenesa is a no-nonsense, consistent, experienced, reliable player at his position. A coach’s dream who won’t win with outstanding traits or athleticism, but someone who still put up 23 sacks the past two seasons and does very little wrong. He’s the exact type of guy Matt Patricia wants on his team and will almost be a mirror-image of Trey Flowers on the other end of the defensive line.
27. Seattle – Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama: To be honest, McKinney is probably the better all-around safety talent than Delpit, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he went first. I just think the Cowboys like Delpit better. Good for the Seahawks, who get an incredibly smart, consistent backfield leader at the end of the first round. He can bring the type of talent and leadership that’s been severely lacking since the end of the old Legion of Boom.
28. (TRADE w/ BAL) Tampa Bay – Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin: As a Patriots fan for the past two decades, I can tell you that a Tom Brady offense without a consistent running game is like pizza without a topping; it’s still pretty damn good and gets the job done, but it is far from being at its best. The G.O.A.T. uses the ground game to set up play action better than anyone, and through two seasons now, Ronald Jones has just not proven that he can be the guy. Taylor is an absolute STUD, who put up over 6,100 yards and 50 TDs on the ground for the Badgers over the past three seasons, and he can be relied upon to tote the rock 20-25 games per game right away. His presence would also allow RoJo to focus on being a pass-catching weapon out of the backfield, where he excels.
29. Tennessee – Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU: Some people might be confused to see the team with last season’s leading rusher take another back with their first pick. But two things: 1) Derrick Henry was tagged and not given a long-term deal, and 2) Edwards-Helaire is not the same type of player. CEH will give the team an elite pass-catcher out of the backfield (what Dion Lewis was supposed to be), and he could even take over a featured role for a bit if Henry ends up leaving next offseason.
30. Green Bay – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU: Basically a clone of former Aaron Rodgers favorite Randall Cobb (5’10”, 194 pounds, 4.46-second 40), Reagor (5’11”, 206 pounds, 4.47-second 40) is a smidge bigger and would give the Packers a counterpart to superstar receiver Davante Adams. Guys like Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Geronimo Allison (who’s now in Detroit) just didn’t work out as planned, and A-Rodg needs more playmakers. Plain and simple.
31. San Francisco – Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU: Small, speedy, and silky like his teammate taken one spot before him, Gladney would help the Niners at a position without a ton of talent behind Richard Sherman. Gladney would also be able to focus on the more explosive opponents Sherman can’t keep up with anymore, and he could learn the finer points of the game from the future HOF.
32. Kansas City – Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU: Yup, that is officially SEVEN former Tigers off the board in the first round. (Guess that’s what happens when ya win the big one.) Anyway, Kendall Fuller departed for Washington, and at this point, it doesn’t look like Bashaud Breeland or Morris Claiborne are coming back either. For a team that was already pretty shaky against the pass to begin with, they’re kind of forced to go corner here. Fulton remains the best of the bunch and is also coming off a title-winning season of his own. Fulton is also very talented and received plus marks from PFF; had it not been for a lengthy suspension for masking a urine sample a few years back, he’d likely have gone much higher than this.
I hate even typing these words, it’s like saying Candyman five times in the mirror; just don’t. But what if Tom Brady does leave? What are the options and who do you want under center in Foxborough? With the legal tampering period beginning on March 16th and Free Agency beginning on March 18th, we should have an answer one way or another in the next 2 weeks. If Brady does decide to take his talents elsewhere, the Patriots have a host of different options available, some more attractive than others. Lets break it down.
Options Currently on the Patriots Roster
Jarret Stidham
Drafted in the 4th round last year, the Patriots clearly saw something in Stidham who has impressed in the pre-season, but most fans remember him as the guy that blew the spread with a pick six against the Jets in relief duty of Brady last season. It’s too early to say if Stidham is the guy or not, but I don’t think his presence will prevent the Patriots from exploring any and all other options.
Cody Kessler
Kessler has been running the scout team on the Patriots practice squad and despite Belichick’s odd fascination with the career backup, he’s not the answer.
Trade Options
Andy Dalton
I hate to besmirch a fellow redhead because these are my people, but I just cannot get behind the Patriots starting the post-Tom Brady era with the Red Rifle. He’s had some decent seasons and has been dealing with a TON of injuries over the years to his top weapons in AJ Green and Tyler Eifert so maybe take his lack of sustained success with a grain of salt. He’s only thrown more than 25 touchdowns twice in his career though and hasn’t done it since 2013 so he hasn’t exactly been lighting it up. Whether thats more of a reflection on him or the disaster that is the Bengals is debatable, but this isn’t the guy I am pining for.
Matt Stafford
This one gained steam towards the end of last week when Patriots color commentator Scott Zolak floated it out of nowhere on 98.5 so it probably has at least been discussed by the Pats. Stafford has never gotten a ton of love, but has always been a legitimate (fantasy) quarterback despite playing for a desolate franchise in the Lions. His contract is also surprisingly cheap based on the way it’s structured so it definitely makes sense for the Patriots if they can get Stafford for a reasonable price. However he did BREAK HIS BACK last year though so proceed with caution on this one. With the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft the Lions could be thinking the same thing and looking to move on from Stafford so keep your eye on this one.
Free Agency
Marcus Mariota
Alright, hand up, I am a Mariota stan and watched as many of his games at Oregon as I possibly could so this may be a little biased. Granted, he’s not the only Heisman winning QB to flame out in the NFL (looking at you Troy Smith), but I honestly think with Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick coaching him the Pats could turn him into a legit starter. Like most scrambling QBs, Mariota hasn’t been the same since he broke his fibula in Week 16 of the 2016 season. Before that though he was pretty solid with 26 TDs and 9 INTs in his first full season before his TDs and Yards dropped off for 2+ seasons resulting in him getting benched. With a 7.5 Yards per Attempt he definitely doesn’t air it out, but even Brady was 26th in the league at 6.6 Yards per Attempt last season. In fact, you know what Brady’s average Yards per Attempt is for his career? That would be the same exact 7.5 as Mariota so you obviously don’t need to air it out to be successful in this offense.
Philip Rivers
I wouldn’t hate it as Rivers is only one season removed from making the Pro Bowl with 32 TDs and 12 INTs before getting upset by the Pats in the playoffs. He has thrown 15+ INTs six different times though so the Pats may not be keen on a 38-year-old cowboy.
Jameis Winston
Winston most likely gets franchised by the Bucs unless Tampa somehow convinces Brady to sign there. It would be a hard sell to bring in a guy that just threw 30 picks too. So despite Bruce Arians’ complete inability to hide his disdain for Winston, he may not be on the market unless Brady shocks everyone and moves to the strip club capital of the world.
Ryan Tannehill
Similar to the situation in Tampa, the Titans will probably franchise or workout a deal with Tannehill unless Brady signs with the Titans, which is the reported favorite outside of New England. Tannehill was excellent last year as were many of his former Dolphins teammates who all seemed to thrive after Miami traded them away. After never posting a rating higher than 94 in six years as the Dolphins QB, Tannehill had a rating of 117.5 last year for the Titans. That’s an absurd improvement. So I wouldn’t bank on Tannehill all of a sudden having turned into an elite QB.
Dip Into the Draft
Tua Tagovailoa
Barring a massive and unforeseen slide in the draft, the Pats would have to trade an absolute haul of picks to move up far enough to snag Tua so this ain’t happening.
Justin Herbert
The former Duck could go anywhere from No. 5-25 depending on how his combine and interviews go so it’s possible the Pats could trade up if he slides a bit, but I doubt they lust after him enough to move up too much.
Jake Fromm
This is the guy that I think makes the most sense for the Pats. An undervalued, smart guy who doesn’t have a monster arm but can still make all the throws, ran a pro style offense and has a ton of experience with 43 starts at Georgia. As someone who’s projected to go late in the first (or later), Fromm is someone the Pats could take without overextending themselves.
Jordan Love
A big arm, scrambling ability, and a ton of potential without a lengthy track record, Jordan Love is basically the 2020 version of Josh Allen. The Patriots have met with the Utah State QB so there is some interest, but this isn’t the type of player Belichick typically wants under center.
Random 6th round dart throw
Hey it worked for them once right?
Those are the best options barring a blockbuster move nobody sees coming, but the list of Free Agent quarterbacks is LITTERED with bums so pick your poison. If you don’t like any of the names above you can always pick from the likes of Case Keenum, Colt McCoy, AJ McCarron, Blaine Gabbert, Blake Bortles, Geno Smith ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ENOUGH. The point has been made.
An intriguing option nobody has mentioned is Kyle Allen, who had a pretty good stretch filling in for Cam Newton before falling back to Earth. The Panthers have said they are planning to roll with Newton in 2020, but Carolina may be wary of trading a solid backup with Newton’s health far from certain. Allen’s numbers weren’t exactly lights out finishing with 17 TDs, 16 INTs, 3,322 Yards, and an abysmal 6.79 Yards per Attempt, but he could be a dark horse candidate for a young QB the Pats think they can coach up.
So lets all just pray to the old gods and the new that Tom Brady doesn’t go anywhere, but if he does who do you want under center next season?
NY Post – Jerry Jeudy was a five-star recruit coming out of Deerfield Beach, Fla., but that does not explain why he proudly and boldly wears a gold six-pointed Star of David around his neck.
Jeudy sported the necklace Tuesday as he took the podium at the NFL Combine, with the Jewish star on full display. Jeudy got the idea after hearing how many people shorten his last name when they referred to him.
“People call me ‘Jew’ for short,” he explained. That prompted him to get the Jewish star, which he wore while playing at Alabama.
“I’m not Jewish, though,” he said.
So this happened at the NFL Combine last week, but I never got a chance to blog it and I couldn’t let the story pass without touching on it. The Alabama product is the top rated wide receiver and is projected to go in the first handful of picks in the draft so this became a headline. Now I don’t watch a ton of Bama games so I have no idea if this nickname is a long time thing or not, but Jeudy was rocking a blinged out Star of David necklace at his combine press conference. Plenty of athletes have diamond encrusted Jesus pieces so this is no different. Except Jeudy isn’t actually Jewish. Nope, he said he wears the chain because his nickname is “Jew/Jeu.” Predictably Jeudy had to apologize on twitter for potentially offending anyone, but when I heard this I was howling. This is an episode synopsis right out of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
“Larry’s long suffering football team the New York Jets drafts Jerry Jeudy, but when Larry learns of the receiver’s Star of David necklace he must decide between his religion and his football team.”
The annual NFL Combine kicks off this week. For those completely oblivious and yet still reading this very much niche blog, the combine is a post-season but pre-draft event where most draftable players vying for a spot in the NFL are measured, weighed, timed, and put through every speed test imaginable in an effort to quantify their legitimacy as an NFL prospect. There are many arguments in terms of how much weight to put on combine performance. I personally think it should be viewed on a macro level i.e “that guy is 6’5 and ran a 4.8 as a WR, so he’s way too fucking slow but was huge for the college game” as opposed to nitpicking details on a micro level. For the most part that seems to net out. Choose for yourself.
As of Monday night QBs, WRs, and TEs had their height measured and they had weighed in, which makes sense as every physical for a job that requires a physical generally takes such measurements into account. The peculiarity of the NFL Combine’s first assessment of their players, however, lies in the additional measurement that is taken: hand size. Every player’s hand is measured, from pinkie tip, across the palm, to thumb tip, to get a sense of the true size of their paw. So I guess the question you may be asking, or possibly, having figured out the question, pondering the validity of the inquiry itself, is: why does it fucking matter?
I’m going to focus on offense as this is more an offensive-minded measurement, at least from what I’ve gathered over the years. All in all it has to do with ball security.
For WRs and anyone else who may be asked to catch the football, the bigger your hands the easier you are theoretically able to secure the ball. This makes sense, doesn’t it? Particularly in some of the harsher conditions an NFL player might play in, having dinner plate-esque mitts you can envelop the ball in certainly seems to be an advantage.
For QBs, it is a little different and a little harder to decipher just how much hand size matters. QBs have, in theory, two reasons to worry about hand-size. One is the aforementioned weather. The bigger the hand, the more control over the football and the easier you’re able to sling it in rain, wind, and snow. Ok, maybe? I guess? I mean if your hand is big enough to grip and control a football, it’s big enough, right?
The second reason makes sense until it kind of doesn’t. This is where teams are concerned that if your hand is too small, the easier it will be to strip the ball or otherwise dislodge it when the QB has it, whether that causes a fumble, a pop up INT, or a regular incomplete pass. Again, the bigger the hand, the more control over the ball they assert overall, right? I can honestly say I think this all goes back to Daunte Culpepper. He was singled out as fumble-prone and as also having abnormally small hands for a guy his size. So that had to be it right? Welllll Culpepper is also the 52nd most sacked QB of all time, having been dropped for a loss 298 times over 10 seasons*. To put that in perspective, Rich Gannon who ranks one spot above Culpepper at 51st, was dropped 4 more times, having been sacked 302 times, but over a much lengthier 17 seasons. Basically, Culpepper wasn’t the most aware QB of all time, if we are going to use Madden terminology. And with the level today’s pass rushers are playing at, if you don’t know whats coming and they get a clear shot, that ball is coming loose.
So this brings us to Joe Burrow, the record-setting LSU QB coming off a Heisman Trophy and National Title win and who is arguably the best QB prospect in this draft. His hand size, at 6’3 221 lbs, was measured at 9″. Not small for an average human, but third smallest of the 17 QBs measured. For comparison, fellow top QB prospects Justin Hebert (6’6 236 lbs) and Tua Tagavailoa (6′ 217 lbs) both had 10″ hands and last years top pick and QB prospect, Kyler Murray (5’10 207 lbs) came in with 9 1/2″ hands. So needless to say eyebrows were raised and questions were asked, in both whispers and shouts, regarding Burrow’s hands.
Joseph Lee Burrow, of the The Plains, Ohio, was having none of it.
He immediately dropped this A-bomb of a tweet:
Considering retirement after I was informed the football will be slipping out of my tiny hands. Please keep me in your thoughts.
This is an incredible tweet because it says so much with so few words. He is absolutely ethering the very much capital-J NFL media and attempting to discredit the fact that they have a fucking clue how to judge a QB prospect. He’s saying “I’m going number 1 or 2 (Ohio State DE Chase Young being the variable) no matter how many articles you write and there ain’t shit you can do about it”. He’s showing the kind of moxie you’d want from a QB1. Like a humorous, not child-laden Philip Rivers, if you will.
The other unintended consequence of that tweet is that people are now talking about Burrow’s response more than the measurement itself, which might make sense. He showed all through high school and college he can toss the rock. The NFL ball is only slightly difference in size. Get over it.
I’ll check back in after some more folks are weighed-in, measured, and timed. Hopefully there will be some drama so I have something to write about.
-Joey B.
*Counting from when he was drafted, Culepper appeared in 11 seasons but did not record stats in his rookie season, 1999.
The #Falcons are planning to allow starters TE Austin Hooper and De’Vondre Campbell to test free agency, GM Thomas Dimitroff said today. The likelihood is that both players receive large deals in free agency, but Atlanta hasn’t ruled out keeping them for the right price.
The Patriots traditionally don’t make a big splash in free agency, but it’s a myth to say they never do. They gave Antonio Brown a 1 year $15 million deal last year, the $65 million deal they gave to Stephon Gilmore in 2017, the Revis deal in 2014, Danny Amendola in 2013, and of course the disaster that was the Adalius Thomas contract in 2007. So while I don’t expect them to make a huge move, especially because of the precarious cap space situation with Tom Brady’s contract, but don’t put it past them.
These are uncharted waters for the Patriots, who haven’t had to think about the tight end position since they drafted Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in 2010. Obviously Hernandez had his own demons, but Gronkowski was a staple for the team for a decade. The biggest question mark was always “how long will Gronk be out for?” rather than “who is going to be our tight end?” Last year the team seemingly thought they could coax one more year out of the big fella as they waited on baited breath until Gronk finally announced his retirement (late) and the Pats missed out on legitimate replacements like Jared Cook.
So this is really the first year the Patriots are fully IN on the tight end market and I can’t think of a better guy to take over than Austin Hooper. Despite my all-time bad break in missing the fantasy football playoffs last season I did have the wherewithal to roster Austin Hooper yet again. I have watched him closely over the past few years. To put it simply, Hooper has been a stud and only has continued to get better as the team around him continued to deteriorate.
75 receptions 787 yards 6 TDs
71 receptions 660 yards 4 TDs
49 receptions 526 yards 3TDs
19 receptions 271 yards 3 TDs
Hooper finished 6th among tight ends in fantasy points last year, while ranking 5th in receptions, 6th in yards, and 4th in TDs. Travis Kelce is a much flashier player, but Hooper is a guy I would take tomorrow. He did miss three games last year with a sprained MCL, but it wasn’t an injury that seemed to hamper him when he returned as he had 7 catches in each of the last two games.
With all the top tight ends in the league earning $9-$10 million per year, expect that to be the starting point for Hooper. However that could jump a bit if the Chargers do franchise Hunter Henry, leaving Hooper as the de facto No. 1 guy on the open market. Yahoo Sports noted that “Salary-cap analyst Joel Corry predicts free agent TE Austin Hooper will command at least a four-year, $44 million contract.” So it may be a stretch for the Pats financially, but they reportedly considered trading for him last year, and it is a crystal clear area of need.
Not to mention Hooper Drives the Boat t-shirts would sell themselves in Massachusetts so I would really appreciate that as well.
The 300s 