What if we *Don't* hire a GM?

[Pape]

Agreed.. I can see him moving McCarthy to a front office position of some sorts.. but this team is ready made to compete Bill the coach would have this team in the NFC championship game. Yes Garrett was there a long while. However will Bill on the market will this sway Jerry's thinking?

who knows what JJ thinks... as long as he looks good, then i think it could work

 

[JohnJH]

Absolutely correct! 100% agree. @ pape made a great point that we have great supporting cast WRs. Parker and juju, KB are great complimentary players. Imagine if juju, Parker, KB all had a chance to play with brady! Pop is going to be a phenomenal slot WR going forward. He had a nice rookie season.

I wouldn't say no to Michael Pittman Jr. and/or Tee Higgins as our #'s 1 and 2 if we address the o-Line and QB situation. Might be cost prohibitive for both, but I would take Higgins if I could only have one of them.

 

[Real fan 02]

I wouldn't say no to Michael Pittman Jr. and/or Tee Higgins as our #'s 1 and 2 if we address the o-Line and QB situation. Might be cost prohibitive for both, but I would take Higgins if I could only have one of them.

Agreed. Higgins absolutely is a viable option for us. From what I've been hearing like from local radio and ESPN radio that guys are ecstatic that Mayo is the man now. This is huge for the organization. This will attract FA'S. If we can't get Higgins I'd definitely like Pittman Jr. Or even mike Evans?

 

[Real fan 02]

who knows what JJ thinks... as long as he looks good, then i think it could work

Just feels like it has Bill written all over it. I can imagine what Bill what do for parsons

 

[TBR]

Not hiring a GM is a massive built-in excuse for Mayo.

 

[Ross12]

Unless they can get Fields for a 3rd this year and a 4th next year.

Tbh if they can’t get Maye or Williams at #3, then I would draft MHJ and trade my 3rd plus a 2025 3rd for Fields and pick up his option. Makes him a roughly 2 year/$25M total contract that’s heavily backloaded which fits well with NE’s cap anyway. Bring in a less expensive veteran, too, but make Fields your guy and see what McDaniels (assuming he’s the OC) can do with him.

 

[JohnJH]

Agreed. Higgins absolutely is a viable option for us. From what I've been hearing like from local radio and ESPN radio that guys are ecstatic that Mayo is the man now. This is huge for the organization. This will attract FA'S. If we can't get Higgins I'd definitely like Pittman Jr. Or even mike Evans?

I wouldn't say no to Evans, but I would still try to find a 2nd round gem like the ones we whiffed on in 2 consecutive drafts (Metcalf, Samuel/Pittman Jr., Higgins).

 

[ralmat55]

Not hiring a GM is a massive built-in excuse for Mayo.

Not really as it’s looking like the Patriots are sticking with the HC having final say model.

Will Jerod Mayo also have say in personnel department?

Could Jerod Mayo’s role stretch beyond just a head coach?

patriotswire.usatoday.com

 

[slifersd]

It is a massive mistake to not hire an experienced and more established GM. When it comes to replacing Belichick, you cannot expect one person to replace everything Belichick did, it had to be a village. That means, a more competent front office, better assistant coaches, etc. The way it looks right now, the Krafts are basically saying it was all Belichick and as long as he is gone, the machine will function at high level again. As much as I think Belichick was a major problem, I don't believe he is literally responsible for every bad decision we've made in the last 7-8 years.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Belichick and Harbaugh are both upgrades over McCarthy. I think Jerry makes the move.

 

[mgteich]

I've seen Marcus Jones play CB and absolutely stick to the WR like glue. He's a natural in coverage much more than Bryant and Wade. Definitely not drafted as a special teamer

1) I agree that Marcus Jones wasn't drafted that high as a special teamer.

2) I said that I don't think that he has shown enough to be considered a starter, especially at nickel. He's lost a full year. I stand by that assessment.

3) Marcus Jones has shown some skills, but those have been as an outside corner, as was his skills set in college.
=========
My bottom line is that J Jones is one of the best nickel backs in the NFL, and therefore a starter. I think that we can use an upgrade over Bryant as our 3rd starter. And, personally, I'm not ready to count on M Jones as that 3rd starter.

Perhaps, the team is OK with Bryant as a starter, as he has been all year. Of course, they would need to re-sign him since he is a free agent. Perhaps folks don't think that we need to do better.

 

[mgteich]

Belichick and Harbaugh are both upgrades over McCarthy. I think Jerry makes the move.

I agree.

The problem is finding a top coach that will come without having any personnel responsibilities.

BTW, I think that Belichick would do that. IMO, a 3 year deal in Dallas would be perfect for Belichick, but I think that he is going to ATL.

 

[mgteich]

All things being equal, a 1 year deal would not be the worst thing. And, if we greatly increase our WR talent (and Pops becomes a stud in the slot), KB could be a great #3 or 4.

If all we offer Bourne is a 1-year deal, then I would recommend that he simply say "no" and go elsewhere where perhaps he will be given better treatment.

 

[mgteich]

I'm not even remotely giving Uche anything near big money. I'd rather go the FA route if necessary.

Judon will be a fine 2024 upgrade over Uche. The key is to re-sign Jennings.

LINEBACKERS
Judon, Tavai, Bentley, Jennings
Wilson, Manu, McMillan, Elliss, Giles-Harris
Board

 

[mgteich]

Agreed.. I can see him moving McCarthy to a front office position of some sorts.. but this team is ready made to compete Bill the coach would have this team in the NFC championship game. Yes Garrett was there a long while. However will Bill on the market will this sway Jerry's thinking?

I suspect that Jerry is frustrated and tired of waiting for a championship. He assembles a fine team, figures out how to pay his top players, and then the coach fumbles the ball every year.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Judon will be a fine 2024 upgrade over Uche. The key is to re-sign Jennings.

LINEBACKERS
Judon, Tavai, Bentley, Jennings
Wilson, Manu, McMillan, Elliss, Giles-Harris
Board

I loved what I saw out of Wilson as the season went on. Same with Jennings and Tavai. Bentley's very good too. Need Manu to develop but he showed some flashes.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

1) I agree that Marcus Jones wasn't drafted that high as a special teamer.

2) I said that I don't think that he hasn't shown enough to be considered a starter, especially at nickel. He's lost a full year. I stand by that assessment.

3) Marcus Jones has shown some skills, but those have been as an outside corner, as was his skills et in college.
=========
My bottom line is that J Jones is one of the best nickel backs in the NFL, and therefore a starter. I think that we can use an upgrade over Bryant as our 3rd starter. And, personally, I'm not ready to count on M Jones as that 3rd starter.

Perhaps, the team is OK with Bryant as a starter, as he has been all year. Of course, they would need to re-sign him since he is a free agent. Perhaps folks don't think that we need to do better.

Nice post. The last sentence is a good reminder of how hard it is to set a roster year over year with limited resources. Last year CB was solid with significant injuries, depth and potentially one starter could be improved. If the GM diverts more resources to CB another position will suffer. If the GM does not invest and the team is hit with injuries at a critical position, the lack of depth will impact the team. I hope that Mayo has learned from BB how to gameplan around injuries that can hit any position group at any time during the season.

 

[Real fan 02]

I suspect that Jerry is frustrated and tired of waiting for a championship. He assembles a fine team, figures out how to pay his top players, and then the coach fumbles the ball every year.

Yes, seems like it doesn't matter who the coach is the team just underperforms each season. How about the eagles collapse huh.. I've heard that AJ brown was unhappy with his contract.. maybe he's a trade candidate?

 

[VJCPatriot]

It is a massive mistake to not hire an experienced and more established GM. When it comes to replacing Belichick, you cannot expect one person to replace everything Belichick did, it had to be a village. That means, a more competent front office, better assistant coaches, etc. The way it looks right now, the Krafts are basically saying it was all Belichick and as long as he is gone, the machine will function at high level again. As much as I think Belichick was a major problem, I don't believe he is literally responsible for every bad decision we've made in the last 7-8 years.

Agreed. BB had some help in sucking as badly as he did at decision-making.

Yes he had final call, and boy were those bad calls, but I don't think he was stacking the draft boards.

I am still highly skeptical of what's left in place ie Groh/Wolf.

 

[Real fan 02]

Agreed. BB had some help in sucking as badly as he did at decision-making.

Yes he had final call, and boy were those bad calls, but I don't think he was stacking the draft boards.

I am still highly skeptical of what's left in place ie Groh/Wolf.

Bill still had final say.. he likely didn't want to make anyone feel excluded.