NE Patriots & 2025 Free Agency

[NWPATSFAN]

I think he's a violin player?

 

[Southieinnc]

But wait he's a TE?

"Converted wide receiver who has added weight and possesses the catch toughness to be considered a viable matchup tight end. Ricci is a good athlete and very good route-runner with the ball skills to create trust with his quarterback. However, he's going to have to improve his play strength and get more physical inside his route to factor as a pro."

 

[Yankee Traveler]

I think he's a violin player?

Cello.

 

[YankeeRebel]

Cello.

Cowbell?

 

[nefansince75]

He's never carried the ball. That gives defenses an edge. I want a true FB. Give me Kyle Juszczyk who the Niners just released.

He's just not good enough a runner to covet him. I don't think I'm diminishing him by saying his best quality was executing well when his number was called. There were always better options and his success was more about placing him in a position that left him uncovered. The coaches get credit for that, full credit.

 

[BigKen]

Listened to Tom Curran on My Slants last night. He made a lot of sense about how and why things got so allow on Day 2.

On Day 1, everyone has primed their pump and as soon as the period opened, everyone was ready, willing and able to spend money. The Patriots as well as 30 other teams missed out on several players but were able to close the door on several good deals. All to the tune of more than $250M over the next four years.

The Patriots, as well as twenty-eight other teams, did nothing yesterday because the remaining players available did not warrant Day 1 or Day 2 money. Age, injury, performance all play a role in determining who gets picked off the vine.

Curran said that the Patriots have pretty much said that everyone wants a high performance offense. BUT, having a high performance offense is useless if you have a low performance defense. It doesn't matter if you can score 30 points a game if your defense gives up 35. The Patriots got shut out of several players. Ron Stanley, Chris Godwin and Dan Moore were the three offensive players that decided to stay home or in the case of Moore hold back until someone was willing to smash their piggy bank, like the Titans.

So here we are, Day three of the Free Agency signing period and Day 1 of the 2025 NFL season. The consensus is that the Patriots will sign either Cam Robinson or Tyron Smith. Yep 34 Year old Tyron Smith. He would be the short term answer at LT and the Patriots would not feel that they must draft a LT at #4. That, and if the draft works in such a way that Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter drop to #4, the Patriots are in a perfect position to select either one or trade down and still get a top LT and an extra pick or two.

Curran also said not to be surprised if the Patriots signed OG Mehki Becton. The OL would be in place with Smith, Becton, Strange, Owenu and Moses to protect Maye and block for Stevenson. Today.....................2025 Begins.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I like the way he's thinking. But are you saying start Liectus Smith at center over Andrews or Strange? Even after picking up Benton?

If NE could pull this off, I'd definitely try trading back unless they're all in on Hunter (I'm not) or McMillian and I shudder using our #1 on a WR.

Trade back and take Jeanty or Warren. With the next couple picks take the best T available, preferably LT and WR. After that it's BPA the rest of the way. Maybe even a couple more trade backs. Secure a C and a K in the mid to late rounds.

If all that happens, Christmas will have com early to my casa.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

There still quite a few serviceable Ts, Gs and Cs still available if NE wants to upgrade their line. Day 3, they can probably be had at a decent price. Come on Mike go get us a bridge LT and a G. I may not sleep until the draft starts.

 

[BigKen]

But are you saying start Liectus Smith at center over Andrews or Strange?

No. He's saying to start Strange at Center.

He had someone else saying that they should take Carter or Hunter if either falls. I sensed that he's feeling the sam as you, trade out and get the extra pick(s) and load up. My thing is not to trade out of the top 10.

Supposedly, the Rams want that #4 if either Carter or Hunter drop. The problem is that they have #21 and a third, a fourth and four sixths this year and the point total is 1000 points short of the #4 draft value. They would also have to give up their 2026 #1 and possibly #3 because they will be lower in the 2026 draft than #21.

Would anyone in here be willing to trade that #4 for #21, #90, #127, #190, #195, #201, #202 AND 2026 - 1st and 2026 - 3rd???

 

[BigKen]

Mike go get us a bridge LT and a G.

I could sleep very easily with Smith and Becton being signed. Not so if they sign Robinson. Hell I'll play LT. I have 38" arms.
And they were measured by a tailor who made my suits and a wedding tux.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

No. He's saying to start Strange at Center.

He had someone else saying that they should take Carter or Hunter if either falls. I sensed that he's feeling the sam as you, trade out and get the extra pick(s) and load up. My thing is not to trade out of the top 10.

Supposedly, the Rams want that #4 if either Carter or Hunter drop. The problem is that they have #21 and a third, a fourth and four sixths this year and the point total is 1000 points short of the #4 draft value. They would also have to give up their 2026 #1 and possibly #3 because they will be lower in the 2026 draft than #21.

Would anyone in here be willing to trade that #4 for #21, #90, #127, #190, #195, #201, #202 AND 2026 - 1st and 2026 - 3rd???

Oh got you. Tyron Smith at LT. My bad. Agree I want to stay top 10. Maybe and depending on how the draft is going, possibly drop to 14 or 15. No way do I do that trade with the Lambs.

 

[YankeeRebel]

Listened to Tom Curran on My Slants last night. He made a lot of sense about how and why things got so allow on Day 2.

On Day 1, everyone has primed their pump and as soon as the period opened, everyone was ready, willing and able to spend money. The Patriots as well as 30 other teams missed out on several players but were able to close the door on several good deals. All to the tune of more than $250M over the next four years.

The Patriots, as well as twenty-eight other teams, did nothing yesterday because the remaining players available did not warrant Day 1 or Day 2 money. Age, injury, performance all play a role in determining who gets picked off the vine.

Curran said that the Patriots have pretty much said that everyone wants a high performance offense. BUT, having a high performance offense is useless if you have a low performance defense. It doesn't matter if you can score 30 points a game if your defense gives up 35. The Patriots got shut out of several players. Ron Stanley, Chris Godwin and Dan Moore were the three offensive players that decided to stay home or in the case of Moore hold back until someone was willing to smash their piggy bank, like the Titans.

So here we are, Day three of the Free Agency signing period and Day 1 of the 2025 NFL season. The consensus is that the Patriots will sign either Cam Robinson or Tyron Smith. Yep 34 Year old Tyron Smith. He would be the short term answer at LT and the Patriots would not feel that they must draft a LT at #4. That, and if the draft works in such a way that Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter drop to #4, the Patriots are in a perfect position to select either one or trade down and still get a top LT and an extra pick or two.

Curran also said not to be surprised if the Patriots signed OG Mehki Becton. The OL would be in place with Smith, Becton, Strange, Owenu and Moses to protect Maye and block for Stevenson. Today.....................2025 Begins.

Curran is an air bag that knows no more about the Pats needs then we do. He just has a media source to express his opinion. A short-term solution at LT would still, IMO, requires the Pats to draft a LT you have to develop players. Not sure the Pats would be looking at Carter the way they just built the defense they added quality players at OLB/DE and DT. Picking an edge player at #4 seems it would be a waste. Hunter, maybe, I get it, at least an offensive side of the ball selection makes sense here. Becton would be a good piece of the pie, but again I feel you build through the draft and add depth and quality players via FA.

 

[BigKen]

A short-term solution at LT would still, IMO, requires the Pats to draft a LT you have to develop players.

Exactly what he's saying. Smith is suitable, short term solution to a problem that still must be addressed for the long term. Problem with the Patriots is that they just haven't had the scouting to properly judge Wide Receivers or Offensive Tackles at the college level.

As I've been saying for fifty years. Only Division I players are considered good enough to play at the NFL level. Hundreds of 6.5" 305 lb OT's are completely ignored because they didn't play in the SEC, ACC, Big 10, or PAC 10, or other big conference. No one checks out anyone other players on top 25 teams. It's all bullshit because no one wants to spend the money on scouting a Div. II kid who isn't playing against OSU or USC.

How many OL have ever been drafted from UMaine, UNH, URI, UMass, UVT? How many scouts have ever been to any of those school's games? They aren't considered top level schools and therefore never have top level talent. They are Div.I and totally ignored. And oddly enough, are all within 150 miles of Foxboro.

 

[YankeeRebel]

Exactly what he's saying. Smith is suitable, short term solution to a problem that still must be addressed for the long term. Problem with the Patriots is that they just haven't had the scouting to properly judge Wide Receivers or Offensive Tackles at the college level.

As I've been saying for fifty years. Only Division I players are considered good enough to play at the NFL level. Hundreds of 6.5" 305 lb OT's are completely ignored because they didn't play in the SEC, ACC, Big 10, or PAC 10, or other big conference. No one checks out anyone other players on top 25 teams. It's all bullshit because no one wants to spend the money on scouting a Div. II kid who isn't playing against OSU or USC.

How many OL have ever been drafted from UMaine, UNH, URI, UMass, UVT? How many scouts have ever been to any of those school's games? They aren't considered top level schools and therefore never have top level talent. They are Div.I and totally ignored. And oddly enough, are all within 150 miles of Foxboro.

Conversely there is a reason they are playing DIV II ball. The talent level between DI and DII is pretty significant. The level of competition is pretty significant. I don't think it's a matter of teams not giving these kids a look, I am sure to some degree if their performance stands out they at least get looked at. But when you have a kid, a LT that has faced Colgate, Dartmouth, Slippery Rock, East Carolina vs a LT that faced Mich, UGA, ND, Ohio State if both kids excelled naturally, you're drafting the kid that faced stiffer competition. This isn't to say some of these DII kids won't make the NFL they do it all the time. But why would a team draft a less proven player from a smaller school with a lower level of competition?

 

[BigKen]

But why would a team draft a less proven player from a smaller school with a lower level of competition?

But my question is why aren't all of the schools playing Div. I, especially twenty five schools so close to Foxboro, being looked at, just a little bit closer?

 

[YankeeRebel]

But my question is why aren't all of the schools playing Div. I, especially twenty five schools so close to Foxboro, being looked at, just a little bit closer?

Why does it matter where they play in proximity to Foxborough? And I answered your question, no NFL team is looking for lesser talent.

 

[BigKen]

Why does it matter where they play in proximity to Foxborough? And I answered your question, no NFL team is looking for lesser talent.

Considering the "talent" on the Patriots offensive line the past few years, my guess is that they, as well as other teams, may not be as smart as they may think they are.

In combat, a less "talented" guy is just as dangerous as a talented one.

 

[YankeeRebel]

Considering the "talent" on the Patriots offensive line the past few years, my guess is that they, as well as other teams, may not be as smart as they may think they are.

In combat, a less "talented" guy is just as dangerous as a talented one.

I don't think that makes any sense at all. In fact it just seems like you are trying to rationalize take lesser talented players because you have a theory. But I really don't want to banter back and forth on this.

 

[BigKen]

But I really don't want to banter back and forth on this.

You don't want banter or accept that something you believe may be or could be faulted. That's okay. I just think that there are a lot of highly talented kids that get completely ignored because they don't play for a big school. Not every kid that plays for a big school may be all that quality. We're looking at a draft that actually sucks and yet, all of these schools with all of this NFL ready talent didn't have what were considered to be as good or better than past drafts.

I don't want to beat this to death either. I just believe that a 6'5" 325 LB. LT who played 48 straight games, never gave up a sack and was never injured just might be an answer for an NFL team even if he played for Vermont and not BC. Maybe the difference is that he's walking away with a completed degree in Economics and not half a degree in Sports Communication.

 

[nefansince75]

But my question is why aren't all of the schools playing Div. I, especially twenty five schools so close to Foxboro, being looked at, just a little bit closer?

It's a different culture. Who would be going to those games.