Pats Re-sign C Ted Karras

Mooch

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Per various sources. 1 year, $4M.

Andrews is going elsewhere.
 

DJnVa

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Well, that's a downgrade, but money freed up to go elsewhere.
 

sodenj5

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Miami and NE likely are going to end up doing a straight center swap.
 

Harry Hooper

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Not good news for the running attack in 2021, unless the Pats pluck a starting C from the draft/UDFA pool. They've done it before.
 

BaseballJones

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They could see Karras as a high-level backup, capable of playing multiple positions (obviously including center). This doesn't preclude Andrews or some other player at C.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Sucks to very likely lose Andrews, but Karras is fine and they can obviously target a developmental player in the draft, likely a guy who is more mobile than Karras.
 

Saints Rest

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They could see Karras as a high-level backup, capable of playing multiple positions (obviously including center). This doesn't preclude Andrews or some other player at C.
I agree 100%. $4M is backup money. He knows the system, he knows the people, he can play all 3 IOL positions. That's worth $4M. My guess is that if he can't beat out some 5th round drat pick, the cost of cutting him will be low.

I expect someone other than TK will be the starting C in Week 1.
 

BillMuellerFanClub

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They could see Karras as a high-level backup, capable of playing multiple positions (obviously including center). This doesn't preclude Andrews or some other player at C.
If this is the case and Bill inks Andrews or Hudson to a deal, that would be the absolute cherry on top for this FA period. Obviously, still want to retain JCJ/Gilmore and shore up the defensive side a little, but the offense would be downright stacked with an opportunity to improve via the draft.
 

BaseballJones

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They can pick up the guy from the Raiders or roll with Karras and add a guy in the draft. Which I think makes a ton of sense now actually.
 

Ferm Sheller

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If they don't move up from #15, maybe the pick is Landon Dickerson of Alabama (either at 15 or move down in the first round).
 
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RedOctober3829

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Karras is not as good as Andrews, but knows the offense. He's bigger than Andrews too which fits what they're doing with the O-line and the running game. They'll draft an interior OL who can play center as well.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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They can pick up the guy from the Raiders or roll with Karras and add a guy in the draft. Which I think makes a ton of sense now actually.
Reports say Pats aren't in on Hudson, most likely due to cost.

I think BB will pick up a center with a mid-round pick, a la Stork a few seasons back.

How good of a blitz pick upper is Lindsay?
 

joe dokes

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Reports say Pats aren't in on Hudson, most likely due to cost.

I think BB will pick up a center with a mid-round pick, a la Stork a few seasons back.

How good of a blitz pick upper is Lindsay?
Both Stork and Andrews had success as rookies. Maybe that was Dante, but BB might not be afraid to go there.
 

Shelterdog

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Karras is not as good as Andrews, but knows the offense. He's bigger than Andrews too which fits what they're doing with the O-line and the running game. They'll draft an interior OL who can play center as well.
The roster really looks like it needs a tackle who can start down the line (could be Herron if he's better than I think he is) and a ted karras type as a back-up at all three spots, and potentially be a future starter at C.
 

Harry Hooper

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Both Stork and Andrews had success as rookies. Maybe that was Dante, but BB might not be afraid to go there.
I believe Koppen started as a rookie as well.

IIRC, Karras pretty much flunked out as a run blocker when he filled in for Andrews a couple of years ago.
 

RedOctober3829

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The roster really looks like it needs a tackle who can start down the line (could be Herron if he's better than I think he is) and a ted karras type as a back-up at all three spots, and potentially be a future starter at C.
Landon Dickerson from Alabama(via FSU and Rick Trickett old buddy of Dante) would be a perfect fit for the Patriots.
 

joe dokes

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I believe Koppen started as a rookie as well.

IIRC, Karras pretty much flunked out as a run blocker when he filled in for Andrews a couple of years ago.
That was also his first fulltime C gig. He played every snap for Miami last season, and while they've also decided to let him go, I'd like to think that means he's improved.
 

Dr. Gonzo

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Landon Dickerson from Alabama(via FSU and Rick Trickett old buddy of Dante) would be a perfect fit for the Patriots.
Can he stay healthy? That is the only question mark with him. Even with the injuries, not sure he makes it to the Pats at 47.
 

OurF'ingCity

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Bleh, that's a significant downgrade. But the OL tends to be the sum of its parts so if the rest of the line is healthy, the line overall should still be a strength (which is saying something considering they lost their two best linemen). I suspect they will use a draft pick on another interior lineman that at minimum could fill in at center in a pinch.
 

Cellar-Door

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There are some other potential C options in the draft besides Dickerson:
Meinerz
Humphrey
Myers
 

Shelterdog

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Anyone have a favorite draft guide? willing to pay a couple bucks for overly specific analyses of sixth round centers
 

bsj

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We have a good OL and if Karras, who is still a solid player who knows the offense, is the weak link, I can deal with that.

Completely on board with using a mid round pick on a developmental guy
 

Shelterdog

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They seem to generally prefer smallish more mobile centers. Drew Dalman from stanford is a little light but is a smart reasonably athletic guy. The penn state center seems like a good fit too. Drake Jackson at kentucky (never watched him play) screams 10 year reasonably good nfl starter to me (effective four year SEC starter but a little undersized).

Looking at the draft boards you could get any of these guys in round five or later, probably.
 

tims4wins

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This is a classic BB move to have a “starter” in place prior to the draft so as not to create a desperate “need” heading into the draft. Other teams can’t hold BB over the barrel in a trade discussion if there is a center available, knowing the Pats need one. I fully expect a center to be drafted, maybe even with their first pick but certainly by the 4th round.
 

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It's a little amusing how Andrews has migrated from "the one must-keep FA" to "eh, if Karras comes in it's probably a better use of resources."

I too have convinced myself. Nike Belichick is having a hell of a week.
 

rodderick

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It's a little amusing how Andrews has migrated from "the one must-keep FA" to "eh, if Karras comes in it's probably a better use of resources."

I too have convinced myself. Nike Belichick is having a hell of a week.
I recall Karras being a distinct downgrade from Andrews and they have enough cap space to just bring him back and field a great OL with no reservations. As it stands now Trent Brown won't be much of an improvement over Onwenu at RT even if he plays well and Onwenu+Karras should be a much worse pairing than Thuney+Andrews. I get letting Thuney go, but don't get losing Andrews (unless the money is absolutely crazy, which I kinda doubt).
 

JokersWildJIMED

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I guess there could be some lingering health concerns with Andrews? Who knows. Karras is a definite downgrade, but Brown offers flexibility that Cannon didn’t have, and Bill has been adept at finding hidden OL talent deep in the draft / udfa ...sorta like the secondary.
 

rodderick

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I guess there could be some lingering health concerns with Andrews? Who knows. Karras is a definite downgrade, but Brown offers flexibility that Cannon didn’t have, and Bill has been adept at finding hidden OL talent deep in the draft / udfa ...sorta like the secondary.
This is true, Bill always finds good interior OL pretty much anywhere and has seldom missed with centers especially. I just think having a high level center would be huge for a team that will have changed two other pieces around the OL and will likely run the ball a ton this year.
 

bakahump

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Humphrey. Super Athletic, Wrestling background. Smart and accomplished. 6'5 320. I like him.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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I must say, the stats are much better than what I'd have guessed:

View: https://twitter.com/jeffphowe/status/1372266518239703045


"@jeffphowe
While starting 16 games in 2019, including playoffs, Ted Karras allowed 1 sack, 5 QB hits & 6 pressures. The 12 disruptions were the fewest among Patriots starters. These were my film-review numbers.

Not the same run blocker as David Andrews, but he's strong in pass protection."
 

ehaz

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The problem isn’t pass blocking with Karras, he’s perfectly adequate. It’s that the Pats running game was terrible with him at center in 2019.

I don’t know how much blame he carries for that, but it was a lot better with Andrews back last season.