NFL: News and transactions

Kenny F'ing Powers

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I cant imagine the Rams have any interest blowing more draft capital on a RB. At least not anything more than a 6th or 7th. Henderson was a game changer in college. They drafted him early in the third round, even moving up to do so. In part time work, he averaged 4.5ypc last season, and I dont see anything that screams out that he can't be a receiving threat as well (not that the Rams use their RBs as receivers that much).

I dont think they can invest much more on the RB group right now. Akers cost a mid-2nd. Henderson an early 3rd (plus the late 3rd and early 4th they used to trade for him). The Rams have a little over $7m left in cap. I cant imagine they'd trade a mid round pick (despite having plenty) and use half of their remaining cap on what would essentially be a backup RB.

If Sony beats out Henderson on the depth chart, then the RB spot is weak. If he plays as a backup, they overpaid. They're probably better off paying a 6th round pick for backup RB that doesnt cost them over $3m.
 

JM3

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Counterpoint: the Rams don't care about draft capital.

Sony would also only cost an acquiring team $1.8m, but yeahhh, it's probably not happening.

I was prepared to fade Akers hard in fantasy this year because he was being crazy overhyped mostly because of the one good Patriots game imo.

Henderson is pretty similarly talented, but they'll probably want to add some other depth layer. They never gave Henderson a huge snap load, even before Akers.

Funk is injury prone & a change of pace guy, & don't really see XJones or Calais as NFL RBs. So yeah, they'll probably need something & are just trying to appear not desperate. & they shouldn't be desperate because there's plenty of time to figure it out.
 

johnmd20

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Counterpoint: the Rams don't care about draft capital.

Sony would also only cost an acquiring team $1.8m, but yeahhh, it's probably not happening.

I was prepared to fade Akers hard in fantasy this year because he was being crazy overhyped mostly because of the one good Patriots game imo.

Henderson is pretty similarly talented, but they'll probably want to add some other depth layer. They never gave Henderson a huge snap load, even before Akers.

Funk is injury prone & a change of pace guy, & don't really see XJones or Calais as NFL RBs. So yeah, they'll probably need something & are just trying to appear not desperate. & they shouldn't be desperate because there's plenty of time to figure it out.
Counterpoint to the counterpoint. Sony isn't worth any draft pick at this point.
 

DJnVa

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What about a conditional 4th, that could become a day 2 pick if say he gains 1000 yards? Or they make the playoffs. Is that even allowed?
They can put certain kinds of conditions, but I am not 100% sure they can base it on stats. Playing time, yes.

I could be wrong. If I am I am sure someone will politely correct me.
 

JM3

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Counterpoint to the counterpoint. Sony isn't worth any draft pick at this point.
If he's healthy? Sure he is. He ran for 5.7 ypc on 79 rushes last year. Of RBs with over 26 carries, only JK Dobbins averaged more.

Yes, he's a free agent after this year, but either he has a great season & that's a high class problem, or if he has an OK season & let him walk, he could garner a later round comp pick, so you're basically renting him for a season for $1.8m, which is fine.

How much that's worth to another team like the Rams, & if it would be enough to interest the Patriots is another question, but his value is non-zero.
 

McBride11

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Watson will report to camp today in part to avoid fines.
View: https://twitter.com/WerderEdESPN/status/1419295178012209157

Quarterback Deshaun Watson will report to the #Texans today to avoid being fined $50K per day during their training camp, according to a source. Watson’s trade request remains in effect with source saying nothing has changed in that regard.
“Nothing has changed”....

pretty sure a lot changed off the field this season in terms of Watson’s appeal to other teams
 

Phil Elliott

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Aug 12, 2020
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Huge Chandler fan. Really wish we never lost him. He'd be a huge addition to any D. But Just can't see any logical fit back in New England
Just gotta keep him away from the Foxborough Police Station when he's short on clothing...
 

SMU_Sox

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BB should get on the horn and try to trade Sony...
Henderson improved from his first year when he had so many mistakes behind the LOS. Vision was an issue. Even with his improvement in year 2 I think Sony Michel is a better option between the tackles. He is bigger and showed something at the end of last year. Sure we’re talking about a stupid sample size of 2 games but he also still has his 2018 to lean on too. They’d make a good duo. The problem is I’m not sure they’d give more than a 5th for him. If they think Stevenson will be healthy enough to contribute at all (if he’s healthy he should be a valuable ST contributor - one of the better aspects of his game coming out and we all know Bill loves his special teamers) they should have the depth to deal Sony. This year is going to be a deep draft class as a ton of guys went back to school last year. Now a 5th round pick is still going to be a low-chance to materialize but a 5th rounder in 2022 might be equivalent to a 4th rounder in the average year assuming the holdouts last year declare this year.
I would trade Sony for a 5th. This is his last year, they have two between the tackles guys who should be able to replace him in Harris and Stevenson, and his roster spot would be more useful for a different position.
Quick edit: I’m also assuming a normal year for underclassmen declaring.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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@Kenny F'ing Powers I would trade Sony for a 6th because it also frees up that roster spot. Would you?
I hadnt really thought about it deep enough. If you opened up that roster spot, who would take that roster spot that would provide equal value?

My gut instinct says no. I dont think the combination of a 6th rounder and a depth player replaces what Sony brings to the table.

The Patriots have never fully handed the reigns over to a rookie running back. Ridley got less than 100 carries, so we'd probably have to go back 15 years to Maroney's rookie season when he split carries with Dillon. So, even if Stevenson plays well, were going to need a second back to gobble up 200ish carries. Maybe more, since I'm sure the team will want to lean even heavier on the running game than they did in 2006.

One injury to Harris - who we all like, but is still unproven - leaves you with guys like Gaffney, Taylor, or Bolden getting 10 carries a game. Or putting White in a position he really shouldnt be in.

Sony is a question mark, but he could be just as potent (or better) than Harris or Stevenson. None of them are proven, they all could fail, but they all have upside. With the risk of injury, I think I'd rather keep Sony than whatever depth player we add with his roster spot + a flyer 6th rounder.
 
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pappymojo

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Sony is also on the last year of his contract and likely a free agent next year. So the potential comp pick they could receive if they keep him this year and let him sign elsewhere next year needs to be considered in any potential trade evaluation.
 

lexrageorge

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I don't see Belichick dumping Sony for a 6th rounder. He has value to the team, and his salary cap hit is not a problem for them. RB's get hurt; better to have some backup depth and take the comp pick if he leaves.
 

Super Nomario

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Sony is also on the last year of his contract and likely a free agent next year. So the potential comp pick they could receive if they keep him this year and let him sign elsewhere next year needs to be considered in any potential trade evaluation.
Not really, given what RB typically get in second contracts and Sony's performance to date. Eyeballing OTC's comp pick cancellation charts, the only FA RBs that earned picks this year were Melvin Gordon (5th rounder, $8 MM / year APY) and Jordan Howard (6th rounder, $4.875 MM). Obviously Sony's not making what Gordon did. I don't even think he'll make what Howard did, but even that got one of the last five comp picks, outside of the top 200.
 

EL Jeffe

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If you trade Sony and Harris gets hurt (he hasn't exactly been Mr. Durable), then you're looking at a lead back of either Bolden (yikes), JJ Taylor (a stretch), or Stevenson (a 4th round rookie I like, but still a 4th round rookie). I'd just as soon keep Sony for the insurance.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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Nov 17, 2010
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If you trade Sony and Harris gets hurt (he hasn't exactly been Mr. Durable), then you're looking at a lead back of either Bolden (yikes), JJ Taylor (a stretch), or Stevenson (a 4th round rookie I like, but still a 4th round rookie). I'd just as soon keep Sony for the insurance.
When did you put me on ignore? Smart move.
 

Captaincoop

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If you trade Sony and Harris gets hurt (he hasn't exactly been Mr. Durable), then you're looking at a lead back of either Bolden (yikes), JJ Taylor (a stretch), or Stevenson (a 4th round rookie I like, but still a 4th round rookie). I'd just as soon keep Sony for the insurance.
In the event an injury occurs, there will also be free agents available, and at any given time during the year, some will be better than those other three options.

I'd have no problem trading Sony if there's a 4th out there for him. If the best he yields is a 5th or 6th, maybe he's better kept for depth.
 

EL Jeffe

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In the event an injury occurs, there will also be free agents available, and at any given time during the year, some will be better than those other three options.

I'd have no problem trading Sony if there's a 4th out there for him. If the best he yields is a 5th or 6th, maybe he's better kept for depth.
I mean, maybe. But I can also remember Bill signing Steven Jackson's corpse when this sort of scenario popped up a few years ago in 2015 (Blount and Lewis both went down in-season) and we all know how that turned out. The lack of RB depth played a big role in sinking that season. We can't predict what the street free agent market is going to look like, or what available player Bill will have the confidence in to handle pass pro and NE's system. I also can't imagine any scenario where a year of Sony nets a 4th round pick--that doesn't seem realistic to me. I'd just as soon keep Sony.
 

Shelterdog

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I mean, maybe. But I can also remember Bill signing Steven Jackson's corpse when this sort of scenario popped up a few years ago in 2015 (Blount and Lewis both went down in-season) and we all know how that turned out. The lack of RB depth played a big role in sinking that season. We can't predict what the street free agent market is going to look like, or what available player Bill will have the confidence in to handle pass pro and NE's system. I also can't imagine any scenario where a year of Sony nets a 4th round pick--that doesn't seem realistic to me. I'd just as soon keep Sony.
I think Jonas Grey and the success of backs in the shannahan system (and perhaps too much madden) has convinced people that free agent backs are better than they are. Every now and then you strike gold but that's very very rare; usually those end of the roster in season pick up
 

Captaincoop

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I mean, maybe. But I can also remember Bill signing Steven Jackson's corpse when this sort of scenario popped up a few years ago in 2015 (Blount and Lewis both went down in-season) and we all know how that turned out. The lack of RB depth played a big role in sinking that season. We can't predict what the street free agent market is going to look like, or what available player Bill will have the confidence in to handle pass pro and NE's system. I also can't imagine any scenario where a year of Sony nets a 4th round pick--that doesn't seem realistic to me. I'd just as soon keep Sony.
Valid point, but 2015 is a rough comparison since they were so thin at WR by the playoffs, they had two WRs touch the ball in the AFC Championship, both of which were under 6 feet tall and best suited for the slot. In most years where the team is otherwise a contender, they could probably survive the scenario described above without Sony Michel.
 

lexrageorge

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Why the need to trade Sony Michel in the first place? He was decent last season and they don't need the cap space. The IR rules also give the team added flexibility with the roster if it comes to that.
 

SMU_Sox

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Stevenson coming out was a prototypical patriot in that he is excellent on special teams, is a natural gap runner, and showed some of the best pass pro in the class. With such a deep roster I think if he shows he can handle any sort of decent load this year they would be better off keeping an extra corner or OL vs Sony who Stevenson should replace next year anyway. If Stevenson has a good or great camp it will make it a lot easier to get rid of Sony. But Stevenson needs to show something.
 

Over Guapo Grande

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Stevenson coming out was a prototypical patriot in that he is excellent on special teams, is a natural gap runner, and showed some of the best pass pro in the class. With such a deep roster I think if he shows he can handle any sort of decent load this year they would be better off keeping an extra corner or OL vs Sony who Stevenson should replace next year anyway. If Stevenson has a good or great camp it will make it a lot easier to get rid of Sony. But Stevenson needs to show something.
I was actually going to ask you if you thought that Stevenson would maybe threaten Bolden's roster spot.
 

Van Everyman

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Humphrey

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This screws the Eagles chances of getting a first round pick from the Colts, since one of the required conditions is Wentz taking 75% of the snaps this season.
Wonder if there's going to be any controversy about the "previous foot injury".
 

Ale Xander

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I’d happily trade a Patriots future first to the Eagles in return for the Clement Super Bowl
 

Erik Hanson's Hook

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Judge has been desperately trying to convince the New York media that is "that guy" from day one. This is LOL funny.

They miss the playoffs and he is on the hot seat.
 

Erik Hanson's Hook

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Good. I feel like NY said "Oh, New England!" , and hired him. In the meantime, he spends his free time talking up his NE roots and yelling at players. Cuz, you know, he coached a special teams unit with Matthew Slater on it!11

Jones is not the guy, either. Has wiffs of Dave Brown all over him. Neither is Gettleman as GM. Basically I love seeing this team circle the drain.

Yes I'm still bitter :)