Patriots Roster Cutdown Thread 2022: Deadline August 30, 4 pm

Cellar-Door

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Agreed, but the fact is Hoyer is better than Zappe right now. What stinks more is that they drafted Zappe in the 4th round, which likely influenced their decision to roster him. In the end, though, I'm not sure that they cut a lot of young talent. Ray looks promising, but he was undrafted so there's a chance we see him again. Harris and Sherman were late picks, Asiasi, to this point, was a failed pick, etc. McGrone didn't stand out.
Is there someone you had in mind?
Russey, Ray and Harris mostly, but I do understand why Harris was a tough cut just due to RB depth.
 

mcpickl

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I get it, but.... you couldn't get that cheaper? Or agreed to sign him, cut him for 53, then bring him back at more money after you made the IR moves?
I just think using 2 roster spots of the 50-51 you have available on QBs who give you zero chance to do anything on the field feels like a waste.
You couldn't get much cheaper. He has the 55th highest cap hit for QBs this season, and most of the guys cheaper than him are on rookie deals.

If they didn't have Hoyer, I'd guess they would've signed some other veteran QB for similar money who stinks to be their backup.

At least this guy who stinks knows Mac and the system. With Josh and most of the offensive staff from last season out the door, letting Hoyer leave as well probably wouldn't have helped the transition.
 

MuppetAsteriskTalk

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Shouldn't they have professional coaches for such things?
Yeah I think it's more about something else Belichick has praised Hoyer for (IIRC) which is his ability to get the defense ready during the week by running the scout team.
 

54thMA

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I thought for sure Ray was going to stick, he made plays in most of the preseason footage I watched, too bad.

I hope they can get him onto the practice squad.

Too bad about McGrone too, thought he'd bounce back after a redshirt year due to the knee as well as Nixon, he seemed to fade as camp went on.
 

lexrageorge

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Agreed, but the fact is Hoyer is better than Zappe right now. What stinks more is that they drafted Zappe in the 4th round, which likely influenced their decision to roster him. In the end, though, I'm not sure that they cut a lot of young talent. Ray looks promising, but he was undrafted so there's a chance we see him again. Harris and Sherman were late picks, Asiasi, to this point, was a failed pick, etc. McGrone didn't stand out.
Is there someone you had in mind?
Not sure it's a given that Hoyer is better than Zappe; I think some of the media reviews of Zappe have been more positive than the impression most here have of him.

Hoyer is staying because Belichick wants a veteran backup that he knows. Makes sense given the circumstances; Zappe would have had to really impress to push Hoyer out of a job.
 

BigSoxFan

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Hate to be negative but feels like such a blah roster; guess that’s what years of lousy drafts and an I’ll advised spending spree lead to.
Just aren’t very many playmakers. Lots of solid football players but this is a roster that desperately needs young guys to develop. On offense, you pretty much have Stevenson and Thornton as the guys you can dream on. And Thornton is now out for half the season. Strange wasn’t a sexy pick but he obviously has the pedigree to be a top player.

On defense, Barmore is probably your best bet. I’m high on him. Dugger isn’t super young but I feel like he might have another level. Uche has the physical tools but can he provide consistent production? One of the Jones rookies needs to emerge in the secondary. Jack seems like the best candidate.
 

Justthetippett

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Some years it seems like the Pats have 60 NFL caliber players and the last few cuts are really tough. This year it seems like they have 45. I’d be really surprised if any of our cuts got picked up elsewhere, with the exception of a guy like Bethel that fits a niche need. Unless Mac really balls out, I am coming around to the 5-6 win team assessment. And yet BB seems more chipper than usual. So who knows?
 

BusRaker

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32 teams with 53 spots playing musical chairs. What are chances that either someone takes a Pats cut or we take someone else's and then have to cut one of ours? (I mean before future injuries).
 

Eddie Jurak

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Just aren’t very many playmakers. Lots of solid football players but this is a roster that desperately needs young guys to develop. On offense, you pretty much have Stevenson and Thornton as the guys you can dream on. And Thornton is now out for half the season. Strange wasn’t a sexy pick but he obviously has the pedigree to be a top player.

On defense, Barmore is probably your best bet. I’m high on him. Dugger isn’t super young but I feel like he might have another level. Uche has the physical tools but can he provide consistent production? One of the Jones rookies needs to emerge in the secondary. Jack seems like the best candidate.
Some years it seems like the Pats have 60 NFL caliber players and the last few cuts are really tough. This year it seems like they have 45. I’d be really surprised if any of our cuts got picked up elsewhere, with the exception of a guy like Bethel that fits a niche need. Unless Mac really balls out, I am coming around to the 5-6 win team assessment. And yet BB seems more chipper than usual. So who knows?
These 2 posts, taken together, paint quite a bleak picture. The first says limited top end talent with few up and comers, the second says limited depth. Obviously, the Belichick era Patriots have relied heavily on both. If they have neither, 5-6 wins might be a good year.
 

BigSoxFan

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These 2 posts, taken together, paint quite a bleak picture. The first says limited top end talent with few up and comers, the second says limited depth. Obviously, the Belichick era Patriots have relied heavily on both. If they have neither, 5-6 wins might be a good year.
Not quite as bleak if Mac develops into a top 15-20 QB and OL figures it out. That hides a lot. But the skill positions on defense just aren’t where they need to be. Judon just turned 30. How much longer will he be elite? McCourty is about to retire. L Guy is old. If guys like Dugger, Uche, Jack/Marcus Jones, etc. develop, this looks less dire. But if they go JoeJuan/Winovich on us…yikes.

I’m less concerned about the offense if the OL and Mac develop. Harris and Stevenson is a very good tandem and they’re young. Jonnu and Henry are both 27 so they’re fine for another year or two, at least. Our WRs aren’t stars but they’re pretty solid and legit NFL players. But there isn’t much there to dream on aside from Thornton who may or may not be physically up to the task of playing in the NFL.

It’ll be an interesting year to follow, that’s for sure.
 

Van Everyman

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Not quite as bleak if Mac develops into a top 15-20 QB and OL figures it out. That hides a lot. But the skill positions on defense just aren’t where they need to be. Judon just turned 30. How much longer will he be elite? McCourty is about to retire. L Guy is old. If guys like Dugger, Uche, Jack/Marcus Jones, etc. develop, this looks less dire. But if they go JoeJuan/Winovich on us…yikes.

I’m less concerned about the offense if the OL and Mac develop. Harris and Stevenson is a very good tandem and they’re young. Jonnu and Henry are both 27 so they’re fine for another year or two, at least. Our WRs aren’t stars but they’re pretty solid and legit NFL players. But there isn’t much there to dream on aside from Thornton who may or may not be physically up to the task of playing in the NFL.

It’ll be an interesting year to follow, that’s for sure.
I wonder if Bill is sort of trying to build a 2001-style talent base for the team. Nobody is a real #1 (tho I guess Terry Glenn was technically) but there are enough #2 and #3 caliber guys—dependable, capable of plus plays—to compete. Obviously the game has changed a ton in the last two decades, which is why he seems to be moving in a faster, more athletic direction generally on defense. But Bill almost seems to be allergic to top end talent right now – so much so that I have a hard time believing it’s an accident or simply a matter of poor drafting.

I get why people are worried – it could be a tough year if enough of those #2 and #3 guys don’t play to their potential. But I’m also pretty interested in seeing where it goes.
 

jsinger121

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I wonder if Bill is sort of trying to build a 2001-style talent base for the team. Nobody is a real #1 (tho I guess Terry Glenn was technically) but there are enough #2 and #3 caliber guys—dependable, capable of plus plays—to compete. Obviously the game has changed a ton in the last two decades, which is why he seems to be moving in a faster, more athletic direction generally on defense. But Bill almost seems to be allergic to top end talent right now – so much so that I have a hard time believing it’s an accident or simply a matter of poor drafting.

I get why people are worried – it could be a tough year if enough of those #2 and #3 guys don’t play to their potential. But I’m also pretty interested in seeing where it goes.
The big problem with this this as you said is the game has changed in 20 years. You can’t play like you did in 2001 and just beat the shit out of the other offense anymore. I just think this team has very little talent, is poorly coached outside of BB who seems stubborn to do things his way. I honestly would be shocked if this team won more than 6-7 games with this roster.
 

brendan f

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Russey, Ray and Harris mostly, but I do understand why Harris was a tough cut just due to RB depth.
I'm actually more impressed with how many young guys they kept: D Mitchell, S Wade, Hines, Schooler. We'll see who makes it back to the PS.
The one guy that stands out who made the team that I would have liked to see cut is Carl Davis, who is a situational player. I would have liked to see them roster Ray over him.
Not sure it's a given that Hoyer is better than Zappe; I think some of the media reviews of Zappe have been more positive than the impression most here have of him.
I think it's fair to suggest Zappe is better than what the consensus here believes. FWIW, I think he's a decent back-up prospect; I have a harder time believing he's better than Hoyer at this moment, though I could see him usurping him during the season. Through my amateur lens, I was relatively impressed with his movement and awareness, but there were some bad throws downfield. From his college highlights, even with time to throw, he lofted a lot of balls. In the NFL, that's going to give the CB too much time so I'll be curious to see if this is a matter of arm strength or if there are mechanics that can be tweaked.
 

EL Jeffe

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I wonder if Bill is sort of trying to build a 2001-style talent base for the team. Nobody is a real #1 (tho I guess Terry Glenn was technically) but there are enough #2 and #3 caliber guys—dependable, capable of plus plays—to compete. Obviously the game has changed a ton in the last two decades, which is why he seems to be moving in a faster, more athletic direction generally on defense. But Bill almost seems to be allergic to top end talent right now – so much so that I have a hard time believing it’s an accident or simply a matter of poor drafting.
Wait, what? This makes absolutely zero sense to me.

We're an offseason removed from Bill handing out (at the time) an NFL record $160 million in guaranteed money to free agent signings. You think he wasn't trying to add top-end talent there? He gave Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith top-of-the-market TE contracts because he thought they were just complimentary guys? That Judon got 4/$54.5m for being an okay edge player? You think Bill drafted N'Keal Henry in the 1st round thinking he wouldn't make it as a difference-making X?

Coming off the backs of the last Super Bowl era team, featuring Brady, Gronk, Gilmore, et al, that Bill simply decided he no longer wanted to have elite players? That he'd prefer the challenge of winning with a bunch of meh over having MVP and generational talent? That's just bizarre to me. The answer is much simpler: NE doesn't have elite, top-end talent right now because elite, top-end talent is really hard to come by. It's not for lack of trying (or spending.)
 

Petagine in a Bottle

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While true, it seems like one by one, they managed to chase their high end talent out of town, and been completely unable to replace them, largely because they drafted horribly for years. Having a decent cheap QB should theoretically allow the team to spend on elite talent elsewhere- where is it? And what happens they have to pay Mac?
 

jsinger121

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While true, it seems like one by one, they managed to chase their high end talent out of town, and been completely unable to replace them, largely because they drafted horribly for years. Having a decent cheap QB should theoretically allow the team to spend on elite talent elsewhere- where is it? And what happens they have to pay Mac?
The thing is elite talent rarely makes it to the market. Teams don’t let those guys walk. What you get on the free agent market is a solid to good players who get overpaid.
 

BigSoxFan

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While true, it seems like one by one, they managed to chase their high end talent out of town, and been completely unable to replace them, largely because they drafted horribly for years. Having a decent cheap QB should theoretically allow the team to spend on elite talent elsewhere- where is it? And what happens they have to pay Mac?
Judon is the best example. Going big on Henry and Jonnu seems like a very inefficient use of resources. But agree that things get even dicier when they have to pay Mac although some of those bigger FA deals would be off the books by then.
 

Silverdude2167

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While true, it seems like one by one, they managed to chase their high end talent out of town, and been completely unable to replace them, largely because they drafted horribly for years. Having a decent cheap QB should theoretically allow the team to spend on elite talent elsewhere- where is it? And what happens they have to pay Mac?
What high-end talent have they chased out of town?

The list of former Patriots having great careers after leaving town is not long.

This forum has pulled out the knives really quickly because of a subpar preseason.

BB is paying the price for a string of bad drafts, yet when you look at the best performing GMs in the draft over the past decade BB performs well.
 

Fishercat

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These 2 posts, taken together, paint quite a bleak picture. The first says limited top end talent with few up and comers, the second says limited depth. Obviously, the Belichick era Patriots have relied heavily on both. If they have neither, 5-6 wins might be a good year.
Bill Barnwell posted a bad faith (IMO) tweet about the 2018-2020 draft that 2 of the 13 picks worked out in the first three rounds. While I'd certainly quibble with his suggestion that Michel, Wynn, and Winovich weren't at least decent players for a time, the Patriots in those three years had an absolutely brutal combination of outright busts adding zero or negligible value and pretty much no star or even "really good" talent despite a wealth of early picks. A Redditor took AV via team and found New England got the worst average return per pick in the first three rounds in that time frame as well as the worst value overall on a per pick basis (they were middle of the pack in the back half of the draft). Others have done similar reviews over longer timeframes and found New England hasn't done that well, bottom third of the league, in drafts over a longer period. Like I hate to harp on the Bills, but the Bills and Pats had similar 2020 output except the Bills had way less capital. If you took the top 5 players between the two teams in the 2019 Draft the Bills have four of them. Etc.

The caveat here is that AV is the metric and I think AV is...fuzzy. Like, just taking last year, Christian Barmore who all of us are pretty high had noticeably less AV than recently cut Alex Underwood - I wouldn't take it as canon - but the general view of the team (limited high end talent and not a lot of depth) does align with a team that whiffed on a lot of draft picks, didn't execute well on the hits, and then had to pay in free agency for talent.

Hoping the remnants of the 2020 class show some value this year and that the Mac/Stevenson/Barmore trio keep elevating the 2021 crew for sure, but I feel like any chance of this team getting over .500 lies on Belichick's coaching, Mac's progression, and the team being more comfortable with another year on the team and a newer easier offense hopefully? It's not a great hope.
 

Saints Rest

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The underrated loss of "high-end talent" that they have lost recently that has deeply impacted this team, in my opinion, are on the sidelines:
  • Scar (arguably the greatest O-Line coach in NFL history)
  • Ernie Adams
  • Nick Caserio
  • Josh McD
  • Brian Flores
That's a lot of brain-power and institutional memory lost.
 

Harry Hooper

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The underrated loss of "high-end talent" that they have lost recently that has deeply impacted this team, in my opinion, are on the sidelines:
  • Scar (arguably the greatest O-Line coach in NFL history)
  • Ernie Adams
  • Nick Caserio
  • Josh McD
  • Brian Flores
That's a lot of brain-power and institutional memory lost.
If Caserio played a role in the drafting of the two 3rd-round TEs, then how much of a loss was he?
 

Shelterdog

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If Caserio played a role in the drafting of the two 3rd-round TEs, then how much of a loss was he?
Well he became head of pro personnel in 2008 and was there 12 years during which time they played in a couple of biggish games, so kind of depends on how much credit you think he deserves for those teams.

Also while Keene/Asiasi weren't good picks, the idea that blowing two third round picks is a black mark on a GM is pretty silly. Third round picks only pan out about a third of the time. Now if you wanted to say that the team did a pretty bad job adding talent 2017-2020 or so I'm all ears.
 

BigSoxFan

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What high-end talent have they chased out of town?

The list of former Patriots having great careers after leaving town is not long.

This forum has pulled out the knives really quickly because of a subpar preseason.

BB is paying the price for a string of bad drafts, yet when you look at the best performing GMs in the draft over the past decade BB performs well.
JC Jackson wasn’t chased out of town but he is a top CB who was allowed to leave right as he enters his physical prime right after he made his first Pro Bowl. He’s not a pure lockdown guy but he’s a lost playmaker for a defense that just doesn’t have many. Just had minor ankle surgery so we’ll see how he rebounds.
 

lexrageorge

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The Pats roster reflects the lean drafts from 2016-2020. There were a number of reasons for these lean returns: consistently earning draft slots at the bottom of each round (gee, wonder why?), a stolen first rounder, trades (Cooks, Gilmore), bad injury luck (Michel, and, of course, Malcolm Mitchell), and some flat out busts. So, we are seeing a roster that consists of a lot of players from the 2020-22 drafts and the free agents they signed last offseason.

FYI, those signings were not ill advised. They had the cap space and there were a number of starting quality players available. They may be overpaid to some extent, but many of those contracts become cuttable after this season. If anything the problem is that free agent signings are best used to complement a team of solid draftees, not to replace the draft. But there is something to be said for keeping the team competitive during this unavoidable transition period.

The vaunted Ravens, Steelers, and Raiders have had true bottoming out seasons punctuated by periods of success. The Giants haven't finished bottoming out. The Pats may yet bottom out with this roster, but such an outcome is hardly uncommon.
 

Van Everyman

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Wait, what? This makes absolutely zero sense to me.

We're an offseason removed from Bill handing out (at the time) an NFL record $160 million in guaranteed money to free agent signings. You think he wasn't trying to add top-end talent there? He gave Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith top-of-the-market TE contracts because he thought they were just complimentary guys? That Judon got 4/$54.5m for being an okay edge player? You think Bill drafted N'Keal Henry in the 1st round thinking he wouldn't make it as a difference-making X?

Coming off the backs of the last Super Bowl era team, featuring Brady, Gronk, Gilmore, et al, that Bill simply decided he no longer wanted to have elite players? That he'd prefer the challenge of winning with a bunch of meh over having MVP and generational talent? That's just bizarre to me. The answer is much simpler: NE doesn't have elite, top-end talent right now because elite, top-end talent is really hard to come by. It's not for lack of trying (or spending.)
I think the primary goal of 2021–including the roster construction—was to determine whether Mac was a guy to build around. I think he passed the test and Bill is now building a roster and system that plays to Mac’s strengths – which is to say, spreading the ball around (hence priortizing WR and TE depth over talent), within 10-15 yards (only a few downfield threats to keep defenses honest) and solid runners and an OL that is more balanced in its north-south and outside schemes.

Overall, the whole picture to me looks like Bill is prioritizing flexibility and diversity over doing one or two things really, really well. And my guess is that this roster and system isn’t there yet and it could be ugly for a number of weeks – or possibly even all season. But I think it is all based on Bill‘s belief that Mac has plus (or even elite) decision making skills that he wants to build around – and the more options he has when he goes under center, the more dynamic the offense will be.

I could be completely wrong. But this is how I’m reading things.
 

Super Nomario

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I wonder if Bill is sort of trying to build a 2001-style talent base for the team. Nobody is a real #1 (tho I guess Terry Glenn was technically) but there are enough #2 and #3 caliber guys—dependable, capable of plus plays—to compete. Obviously the game has changed a ton in the last two decades, which is why he seems to be moving in a faster, more athletic direction generally on defense. But Bill almost seems to be allergic to top end talent right now – so much so that I have a hard time believing it’s an accident or simply a matter of poor drafting.

I get why people are worried – it could be a tough year if enough of those #2 and #3 guys don’t play to their potential. But I’m also pretty interested in seeing where it goes.
This is not an accurate characterization of the 2001 Patriots. That team had Brown (1199 yards), Patten (749), and no one else had more than 204 (Glenn). That was as shallow a receiving corps as they had in the Brady era. It would better describe, say, the 2016 Patriots (Danny Amendola finished 7th on the team with 243 receiving yards).
 

Harry Hooper

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Well he became head of pro personnel in 2008 and was there 12 years during which time they played in a couple of biggish games, so kind of depends on how much credit you think he deserves for those teams.

Also while Keene/Asiasi weren't good picks, the idea that blowing two third round picks is a black mark on a GM is pretty silly. Third round picks only pan out about a third of the time. Now if you wanted to say that the team did a pretty bad job adding talent 2017-2020 or so I'm all ears.
You're right about putting too much weight on one scenario, and we don't really know who was doing what (including Nike). Still, whiffing on two 3rd-round picks at the same position is a bit more worrisome than generic 3rd-round whiff rates. Given there are two ways for a TE to force their way onto the NFL roster, blocking proficiency or pass-catching proficiency, this seems to be a bit more egregious draft disappointment than most.
 
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DJnVa

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The roster has like 10 rookies and a promising second year QB, along with a lot of cap space next year. This is the other side of it. It wasn't going to be a quick fix. I can't see this team winning just 5 or 6. Could it happen? Sure, never know, but I don't see it.

We're seeing if this organization can survive without the GOAT. It's not a 1, 2 or even 3 year process.
 

Shelterdog

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You're right about putting too much weight on one scenario, and we don't really know who was doing what (including Nike). Still, whiffing on two 3rd-round picks at the same position is a bit more worrisome than generic 3rd-round whiff rates. Given there are two ways for a TE to force their way onto the NFL roster, blocking proficiency or pass-catching proficiency, this seems to be a bit more egregious draft disappointment than most.
N'Keal Harry or Joejuan Willliams or Duke Dawon are worse IMO. The thing about thirds is there's a pretty huge discrepancy between valuable fans think they are and how valuable they are--Keane and Asiasi were both picked at the end of the third and that's just not a super valuable pick. (You did need to hit some sometimes if you want to stay strong, obviously).
 

Jimbodandy

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The roster has like 10 rookies and a promising second year QB, along with a lot of cap space next year. This is the other side of it. It wasn't going to be a quick fix. I can't see this team winning just 5 or 6. Could it happen? Sure, never know, but I don't see it.

We're seeing if this organization can survive without the GOAT. It's not a 1, 2 or even 3 year process.
We're seeing if this organization can survive with only one GOAT.
 

Ale Xander

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Was hoping we’d get Wesco. Oh well

Didn’t realize the Saints waiver Book, wow. I guess they thought they could sign to PS. Not a chance with a ND QB. Too much mystique and aura.
 

cgori

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Also while Keene/Asiasi weren't good picks, the idea that blowing two third round picks is a black mark on a GM is pretty silly. Third round picks only pan out about a third of the time. Now if you wanted to say that the team did a pretty bad job adding talent 2017-2020 or so I'm all ears.
I was going to say something similar - 3rd round picks are slightly better than a crap shoot. Much better to be missing 3rd rounders than what the Raiders are doing:

(from sfchronicle)
The Las Vegas Raiders waived offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood on Tuesday, the third of the club’s three first-round draft picks in 2020-21 to get dumped before the end of his second season.
...
Leatherwood was the 17th overall pick by the Raiders last year, and started all 17 games. Receiver Henry Ruggs III and cornerback Damon Arnette were drafted 12th and 19th overall, respectively, in 2020 before getting cut after off-field incidents last year.
 

Van Everyman

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This is not an accurate characterization of the 2001 Patriots. That team had Brown (1199 yards), Patten (749), and no one else had more than 204 (Glenn). That was as shallow a receiving corps as they had in the Brady era. It would better describe, say, the 2016 Patriots (Danny Amendola finished 7th on the team with 243 receiving yards).
That’s fair but that team also had a pretty strong running game in Antowain Smith (1157 rushing yards) and Kevin Faulk (650 total yards out of the backfield). Combined with Brown and Patten’s production, that’s not exactly world beaters. But their defense was able to slow down opposing offenses enough that they were able to grind out wins. Tthe latter part won’t work in 2022 against the likes of Josh Allen. Teams score too quickly now.

My broader point though was the hallmark of even that Patriots team was that they tend to dedicate more resources to mid-level talent than high end talent. Maybe it’s just that they’ve always been poor at drafting but it seems more like a philosophical thing to me.
 

Shelterdog

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That’s fair but that team also had a pretty strong running game in Antowain Smith (1157 rushing yards) and Kevin Faulk (650 total yards out of the backfield). Combined with Brown and Patten’s production, that’s not exactly world beaters. But their defense was able to slow down opposing offenses enough that they were able to grind out wins. Tthe latter part won’t work in 2022 against the likes of Josh Allen. Teams score too quickly now.

My broader point though was the hallmark of even that Patriots team was that they tend to dedicate more resources to mid-level talent than high end talent. Maybe it’s just that they’ve always been poor at drafting but it seems more like a philosophical thing to me.
I do think the Pats run their team in a way that makes their drafting look slightly worse-the Pats are pretty active (especially for a good team) in looking for UDFAs, cheap free agents, waiver pickups, practice squad pick-ups and the like and generally a little quicker to cut a not so great draft pick. You'd look like a slightly better drafter if you kept asiasi or McGrone and dropped a guy like tavai and it wouldn't matter very much at all (or dropped Cody Davis and kept Kevin Harris ).
 

Super Nomario

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My broader point though was the hallmark of even that Patriots team was that they tend to dedicate more resources to mid-level talent than high end talent. Maybe it’s just that they’ve always been poor at drafting but it seems more like a philosophical thing to me.
I agree with this. The 2001 receiving corps isn't a good example though. That was a top-heavy group.
 

luckiestman

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Here are all the claims - and by the logic discussed above, the jets must have the most talented roster since they had the most claims on their waivers

I know this is sarcasm but I can add some background. For the first time in a long time the Jets have a lot of NFL players. Unfortunately for me, that isn’t what necessarily wins in this league. We don’t haven proven top end talent and QB is still a question.

I’m highest on our WR/RB/TE/DE/CB

Oline should be ok but it is not deep at OT. We need an OT backup

QB?

LB: Kwon Alexander somehow looks great but he probably gets hurt, our LBs just ok. Moseley isn’t an all pro anymore but he is ok. Scheme is normally playing Nickel so LB need to be good but don’t need a lot of them. This is what I will be looking at a lot once I get some reg season games to evaluate.

DT: Q is awesome but thin otherwise. NFL guys but no studs. Depends how they label Clemons(rookie who looks good) and Franklin Myers as they have some positional versatility in the scheme

FS: not good, not good at all
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,463
I know this is sarcasm but I can add some background. For the first time in a long time the Jets have a lot of NFL players. Unfortunately for me, that isn’t what necessarily wins in this league. We don’t haven proven top end talent and QB is still a question.

I’m highest on our WR/RB/TE/DE/CB

Oline should be ok but it is not deep at OT. We need an OT backup

QB?

LB: Kwon Alexander somehow looks great but he probably gets hurt, our LBs just ok. Moseley isn’t an all pro anymore but he is ok. Scheme is normally playing Nickel so LB need to be good but don’t need a lot of them. This is what I will be looking at a lot once I get some reg season games to evaluate.

DT: Q is awesome but thin otherwise. NFL guys but no studs. Depends how they label Clemons(rookie who looks good) and Franklin Myers as they have some positional versatility in the scheme

FS: not good, not good at all
yeah teams that have a lot of guys claimed usually means they have a lot of fringe guys. If you have depth of real NFL rotation players or very high upside young guys you can trade them, see Shenault, Reagor, etc. If you have a lot of guys who are young with modest or lower potential, but just enough another team might want a look at them for ST and end of the bench... that's who gets claimed.
 

dynomite

Member
SoSH Member
This is not an accurate characterization of the 2001 Patriots. That team had Brown (1199 yards), Patten (749), and no one else had more than 204 (Glenn). That was as shallow a receiving corps as they had in the Brady era. It would better describe, say, the 2016 Patriots (Danny Amendola finished 7th on the team with 243 receiving yards).
I was thinking the same but I think the 2003 Patriots is a better comparison. The 2016 Patriots had a runaway clear WR1 in Edelman (159 targets) and were supposed to have a HOF TE in Gronk drawing massive targets as well -- in other words, two All-Pro caliber players at their positions supported by impressive depth -- whereas the 2003 Pats sort of felt like they were built to spread the ball around, with no one player really being a standout.

Branch was the WR1 with 105 targets (57 catches for 800 yards), but Brown, Givens, Daniel Graham, and Kevin Faulk all had 34-48 catches with 400-500 yards, and Fauria and Bethel Johnson also had 200+ yards. Smith and Faulk split the carries, with Larry Centers and Patrick Pass getting a little work as well.

So all we need to do is add a number of HOF / Hall of Very Good defensive players and the 2022 Pats should be in good shape...
 
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