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Patriots Draft Primer – Wide Receiver

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Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Today kicks off our new segment titled “Patriots Draft Primer” that will focus in on a highlighted position of need leading up to the April 29th NFL Draft. We begin with the Wide Receiver position.

Where we stand:

News broke today that Julian Edelman is doubtful to play a full 2021 season due to his knee injury. Even if he sees some field time Julian is a shell of his former self. The wear and tear of injuries from being Brady’s security blanket over the years is taking its toll. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Edelman hang them due to this.

Aside from Edelman the WR room consists of:

Nelson Agholor
Kendrick Bourne
N’Keal Harry
Jakobi Meyers
Gunner Olszewski
Devin Smith
Isaiah Zuber
Kristian Wilkerson
Matthew Slater (Primarily Special Teams and a blocking decoy)

What we need:

The two traits that this Wideout group lacks are a speed deep threat to take the top off the defense and a big bodied receiver not named N’Keal Harry.

Lets first address the need for speed. The Patriots have been one of the slower wideout groups in the NFL over the past decade. It is almost as if Belichick is afraid of speed. In a league where offenses are spreading wide receivers out and passing more than ever it is fair to say that speed kills. Just take a look at the Chiefs, Bucs, Cowboys, or Falcons Wideout rooms that are laced with speed. The Patriots have also struggled to gain separation which can be solved be increasing our WR speed. They partially addressed this with the addition of Agholor, but I would like to see another piece. Speed depth is crucial in building an offense that is a threat. The chiefs for example have arguably the top WR in the NFL with Tyreek Hill. Surrounding Hill’s speed they had burners in Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, and Byron Pringle who all had around or below 4.4 speed. This speed depth helps create mismatches against lesser cornerbacks and has the defense secondary always on their heels thinking deep.

Next let’s look at the need for a big bodied WR. N’Keal Harry has the size at 6-3 225 pounds but is afraid to use it. The man is bigger than the majority of secondary players in the NFL, yet he goes down so easily on end around carries when a 6-foot corner back attempts an arm tackle while falling down off the block. There is no excuse for this. Harry should be breaking these using his frame and muscle every time. It leads me to believe that this is a mental battle with Harry more than anything else. Harry has been the discussion of numerous trade talks, but in all honesty, I believe the Patriots hold on to him for one more year. His value potential exceeds the 4th or 5th rounder we will receive in return. The Patriots may defer on this style of WR given the two big Tight Ends they just signed in Free Agency, but it is still worth taking a look at.

Draft Options:

There are 65+ realistic WR options in this year’s NFL draft. Expect the Patriots to double dip on the WR position in some way during the 7 rounds. Here are some fits that would work in the Patriots system.

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Should the Patriots trade up for a QB in the Draft?

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(BYU Photo/Jaren WIlkey)

The first trades for teams to begin moving around in this year’s Draft started at the end of last week, and it’s made me think even more about what might happen on night one of the Draft. 

So, it leaves the question on the lips of a lot of Patriots fans, should they trade up and take a QB? 

The answer for me, is yes. 

Firstly, let’s take a look at what happened with the mega trades last Friday –

The 49ers gave up a lot of capital to get themselves within touching distance of one of the top QB prospects this year, then, the Eagles got a future first-rounder by trading back with Miami to allow them back into the top ten of the first round.

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Patriots state of the Roster – Depth Chart Analysis and where the Patriots look in the draft

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Source: Patriots.com

With the NFL draft and 2021 season just around the corner it is time to take a look at where things stand with the Patriots’ depth chart. It is also a great time to get a jump on your 2021 NFL betting plan by taking a look at the top 5 NFL betting apps on Gamble USA. There are some great offers out there so take advantage now as football betting is only going to become more popular in the future.


Quarterback: (3)
Cam Newton
Jarrett Stidham
Jake Dolegala

If Cam can rebound with a full year under his belt in the Patriots system then the offense could be in decent shape. A lot of 2 Tight End sets should mean shorter passes in a system that is run first to open up the play action. The Patriots will not ask Cam to be Tom Brady, but he must meet us halfway. There was talk about the condition of Newton’s shoulder and how Covid affected him, but the accuracy was laughable at times last year. No long-term plan means the Patriots most likely take a chance on a QB later in the draft. Jamie Newman from Wake Forest (and Georgia for a hot minute) is a project with high potential upside if he can work on his accuracy.

Running Back: (5)
Damien Harris
James White
Sony Michel
JJ Taylor
Brandon Bolden

This running back group is fantastic with the 1-2 punch of Harris and Michel while White and Taylor handle pass catching duties. With James White back on only a one-year deal look for the Patriots to add another running back somewhere in the draft and redshirt them. I do not expect White to be back next offseason and I think either JJ Taylor or the new RB we select in this year’s draft will handle the pass catching duties in 2022. Rex Burkhead is still a free agent and there is a good chance that he finds his way back to Foxboro.

Fullbacks: (2)
Jakob Johnson
Dan Vitale

While many analysts are penciling in Jakob Johnson as the starter, I for one think that the starter is Vitale. Johnson is young and still has a lot to learn about the position. He had some great film last season but was god awful filling in for Devlin two years ago. Vitale offers a type of athleticism that the Patriots have never had at the position. McDaniels should be giddy dreaming up ways to install Vitale into the offense like how the 49ers use Kyle Juszczyk. Someone who is a threat in the play action and can leak out for a big gain. The Patriots can line Vitale up in multiple positions like they used to with Aaron Hernandez. Similarly, Dalton Keene offers athleticism and versatility that could result in him lining up in a flex TE/FB hybrid role.

Wide Receivers: (9)
Nelson Agholor
Jakobi Meyers
Kendrick Bourne
Julian Edelman
N’Keal Harry
Gunner Olszewski
Isaiah Zuber
Kristian Wilkerson
Devin Smith

One thing that this Wide Receiver group lacks is a true speed deep threat that can take the top off the defense. Look for them to add this piece in the draft. Anthony Schwartz (Auburn), Shi Smith (South Carolina), and Elijah Moore (Ole Miss) are all burners that the Patriots could get later in the draft. The current WR group could be a lot weaker than it initially appears if Edelman isn’t good to go and I do not know that Bourne is that much more of an upgrade over Meyers as they both offer a similar skillset. Don’t even get me started on Harry….

Tight End: (5)
Hunter Henry
Jonnu Smith
Devin Asiasi
Dalton Keene
Matt LaCosse

I expect LaCosse to be cut or traded (pick up a nice chunk of cap if that happens), but otherwise this group is stacked. Expect a lot of 2 Tight End sets for both the run game and the play action.

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Patriots Free Agency- Who have they signed so far?

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Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

A week on from an explosive beginning to the Patriots off-season shopping spree, and, in case you hadn’t heard, they’re not done yet.

As free agency rolls along, punters across the US are keeping a close eye on new deals and signings and the impact they may have on the upcoming NFL season and team odds. Those who are interested in the NFL and are wanting to place a bet ahead of the season can look on which sportsbooks are available on greatlakesstakes.com.

So, who are the new players in Foxborough?

Acquisitions

TE Jonnu Smith

The first name that broke through on tamper-Monday was Smith, but, little did we know he wouldn’t be the only TE through the door in FA. He arrives in New England on the back of his career-best season with the Titans. In 2020, he had 41 catches for 481 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Loved this move when it was announced, still love it now. I was secretly hoping that Kyle Pitts may land on the team’s lap on night one of the Draft, but now, consider me happy with the TE position. Smith brings a big red zone threat, something which has previously hindered the Pats offensive drives since Gronk left.

Given his versatility, could see him being used in a number of ways

TE Hunter Henry

Interested in him at the 2016 Draft, tried to sign him last year in free agency, and finally, Bill has Hunter Henry in a Patriots jersey.

I love the move, with my only concern being his ability to stay healthy. He is looking forward to beginning his sixth season in the NFL, but only the fifth season he will compete in, after missing the 2018 campaign due to a torn ACL in pre-season OTA’s.

Now, this isn’t a grave concern by any means, Gronk played through various injuries during his time in New England and was still able to be highly productive. My hope for Henry this season is for him to be able to see out a full season without missing a game, something which has alluded him so far in his career.

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Fandom – A love affair with passion

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(Staff Photo By Faith Ninivaggi/ Boston Herald/ Media News Group)

Patriots fans are passionate, opinionated, smart and a multitude of things mixed together. Whoever they may be, we are all one, we are all Patriots. 

Free agency is really only a few days of action and we are whipped up into a frenzy of excitement, of what ifs and trepidation, of musings, of mock line ups of who will fit the Patriots way… 

Temperatures rise, minds race and tears flow… and as fans we have a love affair with our team. We agonise, we desire, we hate… the torrent of emotions that we have to go through is crazy, so why do we do it to ourselves?

PASSION

We get attached to a player, only for them to leave or get traded and we holler, we get angry, we shed tears. And the sheer variety of fans opinions of players makes it even worse sometimes.

You adore a guy, he’s your favourite… another fan thinks he’s trash.. HOW DARE THEY?! 

PASSION

We spend hours tolling over lists of college kids, mock draft after mock draft of who we think our team should chose, who we want our team to pick. 

Taking on board piles and piles of information, of statistics, opinion pieces, podcasts, columns, social media posts, we drink it all in unable to quench the flames of curiosity that burn.

PASSION

At the end of the day we all want the same thing; we want our team to win. The team we love.

They suit up in the colours we wear, the jerseys we buy and they take to that field and they fight for us with passion.

It binds us together as a community, we argue with each other, we disagree but we support and we are together, as one, as Patriots fans. We believe, we insist and most of all we never, ever give up.

Stay Passionate Patriots Nation!

The Patriots release three players, including K Justin Rohrwasser

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(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, Pool)

Some news today that the team has moved on from Justin Rohrwasser, Cassh Maluia, and Michael Pinckney according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

I’m surprised Rohrwasser made it through his entire rookie season without being cut, his initial arrival was overshadowed by the whole tattoo fiasco, before his lack of visibility on the practice field through-out training camp raised questions.

Finally, he was beaten out by Nick Folk for the entire year and Roberto Aguayo’s arrival in the weeks after the team’s season ended merely sealed his fate.

The news of the two linebackers who were cut today doesn’t come across to me as a final goodbye. With the arrival of Raekwon McMillan, Kyle Van Noy, and Matt Judon, the positional room is a lot busier than a few weeks ago, so, whilst Maluia and Pinckney are gone for now, I wouldn’t be surprised if they turn up again in time for camp.

Dancing through free agency – Are the Patriots taking too many steps back in moving forwards?

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Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports


The signing of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry had the world of Patriots fans spinning (not all, granted but I’m thinking a lot.) Whilst this is obviously not a step backwards, the tight endage for 2019 and 2020 had been classed as kinda sketchy, the taking of two seriously productive, almost ‘star’ tight ends ventures back to those days of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Now, no one (well I hope no one) is saying that the recent tight end signings of the New England Patriots are the same as the two aforementioned tight ends but Smith and Henry do give the option of a heavily talented two tight end match up. Back to how they once were… maybe?

Now the signings at wide receiver have some people mildly puzzled, whilst dropping a reasonable amount of cap space on Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor, Coach left some serious names out there like Kenny Golladay and JuJu Smith-Schuster, just to throw around a few names. But, but… is this the way of the Patriots? The last time they picked up a Mr Super Star Wide Receiver may be back in 2007 when they traded for Randy Moss (so not a technical free agency signing) and we possibly have to head all the way back to 2002 in the drafting of Deion Branch to really feel any wide receiver appreciation trembling!

So, conclusion on the current receiver signings, same as usual I guess, dancing on the spot. Besides, they signed two serious tight ends… it’s all groovy baby!

A few familiar names will remain in the locker room Deatrich Wise, Carl Davis, Cody Davis… defensive spots kept there.

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