Pats trade for Kony Ealy

[Marciano490]

So, you expect Ealy to be a STer? I'm perfectly fine with the move but this is a young player who's had success on a big stage, has a skill set that is in high demand, and is making relative peanuts.

I'm surprised nobody wanted to top this. Or maybe I'm just manufacturing concern because being a Pats fan is pretty fun right now.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me can come up with a list of great players Pats got for relative peanuts - Welker, Moss, etc.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me can come up with a list of great players Pats got for relative peanuts - Welker, Moss, etc.

Tom Brady

 

[Marciano490]

Tom Brady

In a trade.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

In a trade.

Ah yeah . . . I'll try to keep up.

 

[BigSoxFan]

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me can come up with a list of great players Pats got for relative peanuts - Welker, Moss, etc.

Not sure those are perfect comparisons. Moss had zero value after his Raiders debacle. Welker was traded for a 2nd round pick, which he obviously significant outperformed but is still decent price.

Ealy was traded for the right to move up 8 spots in the 3rd round. Price just seems off for the potential that he provides. So, I'm just wondering if there's something I don't know that may have depressed his value a bit.

I obviously trust the Pats' evaluation of him.

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

Anyone else concerned that we basically got him for free?

Do you get the same feeling when you win $20 on a $1 scratch ticket?

 

[jsinger121]

Why would it be a concern? CAR is deep at the position and didn't want to spend $1M on him after they re-signed Peppers, Patriots need some depth at Edge rusher and special teams so figured they'd take a no risk dice roll on him. He's basically the replacement for Mingo.

He's a much better player than Mingo in that he can actually get to the QB.

 

[NobodyInteresting]

Do you get the same feeling when you win $20 on a $1 scratch ticket?

This is more like CAR winning $20 on a $1 scratch ticket and then trading the ticket to the Pats for $1 anyway.

I mean, how bad can a trade be when you're only giving up 8 spots in the 3rd round, so I'm on board. But it's reasonable to question why this is all CAR could get. Even if they don't want Ealy, doesn't anyone else? And if no one else wants him either, what's wrong with him?

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

Here is the Charlotte Observer article on the recent moves by the Panthers

From the Panthers perspective, its about as far from a "Belichick" move as you can imagine. So train your brain for a second to think about adding a 38 year old UNC player to appease the banker blue bloods who pay for tickets. Moving pieces to give Peppers snaps is all they were concerned about.

Some nuggets from the article

Ealy

Not long after Ealy’s virtuoso performance in Super Bowl 50, Panthers coach Ron Rivera revealed that Gettleman thought Ealy had a little bit of Josh Norman in him, which is to say – a stubborn streak.

It was not intended as a compliment

Peppers

“He’s like one of those cool players, like Cam is,” former Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross said. “People look up to Peppers because he kind of has that cool factor. Even if he plays 12 snaps and has four tackles this season, he’s going to elevate the defense just because he’s on their team.”

.

 

[BigJimEd]

Moving down 8 picks at that spot is similar to a late 4th or early 5th going by some of the draft trade charts out there.

That seems like a good deal for the Pats but not too far out of line to other trades.

Only one year left on his deal. I look at Ealy as more of a Chris Long replacement. Should be productive in a rotation.

 

[AB in DC]

Why would it be a concern? CAR is deep at the position and didn't want to spend $1M on him after they re-signed Peppers, Patriots need some depth at Edge rusher and special teams so figured they'd take a no risk dice roll on him. He's basically the replacement for Mingo.

$1 million is not particularly expensive for a back-up edge rusher. And Carolina seems to have tons of cap space. What was their hurry in trading him? Was the Patriots' offer just that good that the Panthers had to pull the trigger? (Per some old draft boards, the difference between 64 and 72 is somewhere around a 4th round compensatory pick.)