2025 Patriots Draft

[cdumler7]

Ding, ding, ding!
Ken "spends money" like a drunken sailor!
Great poster but we always disagree on spending......

I get wanting to take the big swing especially when you got your QB figured out and on a rookie contract. I just think there is a better way to spend the money on less risk players that still help out in the long run and can be beyond the 2-year contract idea.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Desperate times call for drastic measures. NE has to do something.

The coaching staff hasn't shown they can coach up players at this point. The Oline is a perfect example. Man, I wish Scar would come back.

As for the amount NE will have to pay, it is what it is. It's no longer a dream destination for players wanting titles and publicity. So, you have to ask yourself can these guys help the team even at an inflated cost? If the answer is yes then go get them. You can't worry about potential injuries. If they don't protect Maye and get him some help chances are Maye won't stay healthy.

NE please please do something in FA this year. Maye and Gonzalez are solid young, potential Pro bowl generational players. Give them some help before they walk.

 

[cdumler7]

Desperate times call for drastic measures. NE has to do something.

The coaching staff hasn't shown they can coach up players at this point. The Oline is a perfect example. Man, I wish Scar would come back.

As for the amount NE will have to pay, it is what it is. It's no longer a dream destination for players wanting titles and publicity. So, you have to ask yourself can these guys help the team even at an inflated cost? If the answer is yes then go get them. You can't worry about potential injuries. If they don't protect Maye and get him some help chances are Maye won't stay healthy.

NE please please do something in FA this year. Maye and Gonzalez are solid young, potential Pro bowl generational players. Give them some help before they walk.

I get you can't always tell potential injuries but you can assess risk. A player that has been in the league for 6 years and only has 2 of those seasons being healthy and none in the last 3 years I can assess that there is a good chance they will miss games every year they are under contract. So can you live with banking on them to be say your #1 WR when they might miss anywhere between 3-8 games a year?

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I get you can't always tell potential injuries but you can assess risk. A player that has been in the league for 6 years and only has 2 of those seasons being healthy and none in the last 3 years I can assess that there is a good chance they will miss games every year they are under contract. So can you live with banking on them to be say your #1 WR when they might miss anywhere between 3-8 games a year?

I get ya. But does the risk outweigh the reward?

The draft being potentially one of the weakest in years is not going to get it done.

If they can't find some success in winning games soon, I feel Maye and Gonzo will both demand big $ and end up walking.

I'm not so concerned with finding a true #1 WR. Many teams have gone on to win the SB without one. We had Moss and didn't get it done.

Build both lines, as the Dline is almost as bad as the Oline now. Get a real FB in here and try and find a diamond in the rough WR.

If NE can get the lines fixed either thru FA or early round picks, I'd be ok with trading away some mid to late round picks for the 2026 draft.

 

[cdumler7]

I get ya. But does the risk outweigh the reward?

The draft being potentially one of the weakest in years is not going to get it done.

If they can't find some success in winning games soon, I feel Maye and Gonzo will both demand big $ and end up walking.

I'm not so concerned with finding a true #1 WR. Many teams have gone on to win the SB without one. We had Moss and didn't get it done.

Build both lines, as the Dline is almost as bad as the Oline now. Get a real FB in here and try and find a diamond in the rough WR.

If NE can get the lines fixed either thru FA or early round picks, I'd be ok with trading away some mid to late round picks for the 2026 draft.

And I do agree. Part of FA is you have to take some chances on guys that have some red flags. You can't just look for perfection because those guys don't hit the market hardly ever. So then we are talking having to put some risk into what you are doing especially when the Pats have so much to spend anyway.

My main issue is with Higgins and you don't seem all that set on the Pats trying to sign him. He sems like a guy trying to get top dollar for the WR position and with there being a huge drop off from him to the next guy he probably can demand it and get it. I just think he has bust written all over him and someone we are making fun of the team who signs him 2-years later for wasting so much money.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

And I do agree. Part of FA is you have to take some chances on guys that have some red flags. You can't just look for perfection because those guys don't hit the market hardly ever. So then we are talking having to put some risk into what you are doing especially when the Pats have so much to spend anyway.

My main issue is with Higgins and you don't seem all that set on the Pats trying to sign him. He sems like a guy trying to get top dollar for the WR position and with there being a huge drop off from him to the next guy he probably can demand it and get it. I just think he has bust written all over him and someone we are making fun of the team who signs him 2-years later for wasting so much money.

As much as I would like to have a Higgins type WR, I just don't see the need to invest what he'll likely command. I think he could also be a bust.

WR was a huge issue to start the year as collectively they couldn't catch a cold. They've started to settle down and are playing better. If Polk can figure out his issues, I'd be ok looking elsewhere during FA and by passing on WR. Our TEs are solid. OL and FB could go a long way to improving this offense.

Pre draft I was all about NE trading back for Nix. Wasn't disappointed we took Maye. Glad we have Maye he looks to be the real deal. Nix is balling out as well.

 

[cdumler7]

As much as I would like to have a Higgins type WR, I just don't see the need to invest what he'll likely command. I think he could also be a bust.

WR was a huge issue to start the year as collectively they couldn't catch a cold. They've started to settle down and are playing better. If Polk can figure out his issues, I'd be ok looking elsewhere during FA and by passing on WR. Our TEs are solid. OL and FB could go a long way to improving this offense.

Pre draft I was all about NE trading back for Nix. Wasn't disappointed we took Maye. Glad we have Maye he looks to be the real deal. Nix is balling out as well.

Thankfully both of our teams can be happy! So great to finally not have to be scouting the QB's for the upcoming draft. Going to be fun to watch how our two teams build around them over the next few years.

 

[BigKen]

As of today, this is the consensus list of the top 10 WR that will be available next year.

1) Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
2) Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills
3) Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4) Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans
5) DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs
6) Diontae Johnson, Baltimore Ravens
7) Hollywood Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
8) Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
9) Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns
10) Mike Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers

Not a single one of these guys is going to be looking for less than $30M a year. They may not get it, but they will be looking for it. Might be able to sign an over 30 guy for $25M, but NE is going to have to pay up, not down.

Ding, ding, ding!
Ken "spends money" like a drunken sailor!
Great poster but we always disagree on spending......

What good is having $140M in your pocket and not spending it? Even drunken sailors get lucky and find the best hookers.

NE has a Massachusetts problem. It's a blue state and taxes are brutal. Especially for professional athletes. As I type, Juan Soto is hesitating on signing with the Red Sox for $600M because of the extra $24M in taxes he's going to have to pay. They're competing with the Mets and Yankees, where he'll pay a higher income tax, but not the Millionaire's Tax.

 

[YankeeRebel]

As of today, this is the consensus list of the top 10 WR that will be available next year.

1) Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
2) Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills
3) Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4) Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans
5) DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs
6) Diontae Johnson, Baltimore Ravens
7) Hollywood Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
8) Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
9) Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns
10) Mike Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers

Not a single one of these guys is going to be looking for less than $30M a year. They may not get it, but they will be looking for it. Might be able to sign an over 30 guy for $25M, but NE is going to have to pay up, not down.

What good is having $140M in your pocket and not spending it? Even drunken sailors get lucky and find the best hookers.

NE has a Massachusetts problem. It's a blue state and taxes are brutal. Especially for professional athletes. As I type, Juan Soto is hesitating on signing with the Red Sox for $600M because of the extra $24M in taxes he's going to have to pay. They're competing with the Mets and Yankees, where he'll pay a higher income tax, but not the Millionaire's Tax.

So tired of hearing this lame excuse. Didn't seem we had that problem when we were winning six Super Bowls.

 

[YankeeRebel]

Highest Taxed States 2024

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Highest Taxed States 2024

Man, it feels good to sit here in Tennessee at 48 with no income tax and low property tax!!!

 

[BigKen]

Highest Taxed States 2024

Yes, and with their 4% Millionaires Tax, Massachusetts comes in at #2 at 15.5%. Worse, they don't allow all of the federal deductions and exemptions for individuals. I paid taxes in that state for more than 15 years.

The problem with the Millionaires Tax is that it does not allow for any exemptions or deductions at all. It's a straight tax on gross income. It's a penalty for working and earning money or being a professional anything.

 

[Southieinnc]

Yes, and with their 4% Millionaires Tax, Massachusetts comes in at #2 at 15.5%. Worse, they don't allow all of the federal deductions and exemptions for individuals. I paid taxes in that state for more than 15 years.

The problem with the Millionaires Tax is that it does not allow for any exemptions or deductions at all. It's a straight tax on gross income. It's a penalty for working and earning money or being a professional anything.

When my father died, my mom told me that they had owned land in Mass.
Problem is taxes were not paid for years - in other words, we don't own it any more.......

Sitting pretty good here at #42 but actually, my house would be worth twice as much in Florida and 4 times as much (at least) in CA

 

[YankeeRebel]

Yes, and with their 4% Millionaires Tax, Massachusetts comes in at #2 at 15.5%. Worse, they don't allow all of the federal deductions and exemptions for individuals. I paid taxes in that state for more than 15 years.

The problem with the Millionaires Tax is that it does not allow for any exemptions or deductions at all. It's a straight tax on gross income. It's a penalty for working and earning money or being a professional anything.

I guess, but I still think it has very little to do with poor football play

 

[BigKen]

I guess, but I still think it has very little to do with poor football play

Correct, but the discussion is about a player coming to NE and the tax burden that they face. Then again, some people just don't want to go to Massachusetts to play football. Taxes, cold weather, snow, and a lousy team. So, do some players play for NE because they suck and no one else wants them?? Playing in the northeast has many drawbacks, but it doesn't stop players from signing in Buffalo or New Jersey (Jets, Giants)

 

[Yankee Traveler]

I guess, but I still think it has very little to do with poor football play

It's hard to have empathy for people making millions to play a game, but would you rather have $96 or $100 ?

$960? or $1k?

When you take in the rest of the taxes, would you rather have $84.50 or $92.40 on every hundred after federal taxes?

A $10 mil/year NFL Contract will leave $6.3 after federal taxes by simply taking off the max 37%
Mass takes 15.5 % of that leaving $5.323 mil.
TN takes less than half of that at 7.6% leaving $5.8212 mil.

That's a half a million dollars. Per year. Anybody leaving a half a million bucks on the table is a fool.

The Pats are at a disadvantage to sign players for the same money, they need to pay more to cover the higher cost of living.
Yes, heat, fuel, taxes, etc just like the non millionaires have to account for.

 

[molsaniceman]

 

[YankeeRebel]

View attachment 382578

I just ran a few mock simulators this allows for a two trades in the top 10 and still allows us to get a LT

 

[BigKen]

I just ran a few mock simulators this allows for a two trades in the top 10 and still allows us to get a LT

There are four more weeks in the season and while the Patriots have the most brutal schedule, nothing is guaranteed. Then again, the Giants and Raiders could easily win one or two and the Patriots could be sitting at #1 when the dust clears.

Cleveland has a bunch of picks. An extra third from the Bills, and extra two extra sixths from the Vikings and Bears. Problem with them is that they will all be at the end of the rounds. So they might be willingto give up their #8 and both third round picks to jump to the top and grab Shedeur Sanders. That would move the Patriots to #8 but give them 4 picks in the third round. Feast or Famine?

How would you feel about keeping#1 and taking CB/WR Travis Hunter? Who just might be a generational football player.

 

[YankeeRebel]

There are four more weeks in the season and while the Patriots have the most brutal schedule, nothing is guaranteed. Then again, the Giants and Raiders could easily win one or two and the Patriots could be sitting at #1 when the dust clears.

Cleveland has a bunch of picks. An extra third from the Bills, and extra two extra sixths from the Vikings and Bears. Problem with them is that they will all be at the end of the rounds. So they might be willingto give up their #8 and both third round picks to jump to the top and grab Shedeur Sanders. That would move the Patriots to #8 but give them 4 picks in the third round. Feast or Famine?

How would you feel about keeping#1 and taking CB/WR Travis Hunter? Who just might be a generational football player.

I would hate keeping #1 and taking Travis Hunter for a few reasons.

1. Playing both ways in college is not the same as doing it in the Pros so I do not see that happening.

2. We have a number one CB already so I would not want to take a CB that high.

3. I do not see him as a legit #1 in the NFL, The Buffs played a real easy schedule and he looked great among bad teams.

4. You can not win in the NFL if you cannot win in the trenches. The ideal situation would be trade down not past eight or nine. The get best LT, DT and Edge players. After that I would look to safety then a legit number two CB.

It's not pretty and the experts will be losing their minds, " OMG New England did not get a WR". The WR Corps is developing and there is a legit chance with a full offseason Polk could improve.

We also have FA to address WR and as I stated I would target a RT and C in FA