Brady6 Offseason Plan 1.0

[fnordcircle]

20 years ago (CHRIST) when I signed up for the Pats mailing list there was a guy named Kerry from Canada who would post scenarios like this. So well thought out, so detailed and so removed from reality.

Fun read but this is basically fan porn. Still roughly 60% of it seems plausible. Either way I respect the effort.

Bump this thread at the start of training camp to see how right or wrong you were.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

20 years ago (CHRIST) when I signed up for the Pats mailing list there was a guy named Kerry from Canada who would post scenarios like this. So well thought out, so detailed and so removed from reality.

Fun read but this is basically fan porn. Still roughly 60% of it seems plausible. Either way I respect the effort.

Bump this thread at the start of training camp to see how right or wrong you were.

I wonder what ever happened to Kerry?
He posted this orgasmic tribute to BB becoming the coach of the NEP, and shortly thereafter disappeared.
I loved his posts too.

But nothing could ever top the guy, who shall remain nameless here, who accidentally posted to the whole list a private letter to his buddy discussing in explicit detail the wondrous "attributes" of various massage babes they were employing. The infamous Fifi and Mimi letter as Bama called it.

Even better was after effusive apologies to the mailing list for the addressing screwup, still befuddled with email addressing, he posted a 2nd hilarious happy ending porno letter about Fifi & Mimi two weeks later. I forget which babe was the best.

Good times. Good times.

 

[fnordcircle]

I wonder what ever happened to Kerry?
He posted this orgasmic tribute to BB becoming the coach of the NEP, and shortly thereafter disappeared.
I loved his posts too.

But nothing could ever top the guy, who shall remain nameless here, who accidentally posted to the whole list a private letter to his buddy discussing in explicit detail the wondrous "attributes" of various massage babes they were employing. The infamous Fifi and Mimi letter as Bama called it.

Even better was after effusive apologies to the mailing list for the addressing screwup, still befuddled with email addressing, he posted a 2nd hilarious happy ending porno letter about Fifi & Mimi two weeks later. I forget which babe was the best.

Good times. Good times.

I still miss Tom Y. so much. Shame that he went out the way he did, nobody would have cared.

I would dearly love to read a Tom Y. vs. Deus Irae debate.

 

[mgteich]

RESTRUCTURES/EXTENSIONS
WILFORK is due about $8M for this year. I think that an extension will be difficult.
MCCOURTY and GOSTKOWSKI are no-brainers if they'll agree. I don't think McCourty will.
I would also extend KELLY who was playing much better than Wilfork for lots less money.
I would extend Connolly. It seems a good idea to have more than Cannon at RG.
(Connolly is at least a solid gameday backup at OG and OC.

RELEASE
I agree with Sopoaga. Personally, I would cut A WIlson also, even though the gain is small.
PLANNING to release Connolly and Gregory makes little sense to me. HPING to replace them is fine.

FREE AGENTS
If you have blackmail pictures and can sign Blount, Edelman, and Mack for those prices, I'm all for it. Johnson depends on the guarantees. I suspect that you would offer less than he would take. Fletcher is fine. Cooper isn't playing for Kraft.

I would also re-sign Hooman and sign a JAG free agent OG.

DRAFT
TIGHT END
I think that the top TE's will be gone by 62. In any case, I think that this will be our highest draft priority. IMHO, we'll have a TE by pick 45.

OFFENSIVE GUARD
Cannon is in his final year. Even if he moves to guard, he may be gone after the season. We need to draft an OG higher than the end of the 4th round. In fact, an argument could be made to draft a RT with the idea of him playing RG.

QUARTERBACK (DRAFT and TRADE)
Belichick has used a 3rd for quarterbacks twice since he's been here. I suspect he'll draft another in addition to keeping a backup he can trust. I ahve no problem with adding a JAG free agent like Clausen to compete for the #3 spot this year and the #2 spot in 2015. In any case, Mallett is going nowhere unless Hoyer is added. Belichick just doesn't take the kind of risks you suggest. And BTW, what compensatory pick do you think we'll get for Mallett if we simply wait until 2015.

I am looking for some honest feedback on my offseason plan, take a look, and let me know what you think.

Restructure/Extend
- Vince Wilfork
- Devin McCourty
- Stephen Gostkowski

Release
- Tommy Kelly
- Adrian Wilson
- Dan Connolly
- Steven Gregory
- Isaac Sopoaga

UFAs
Alex Mack-
- 2014-4,500,000
- 2015-5,250,000
- 2016-5,750,000
- 2017-7,250,000
- 2018-8,250,000
- Total-31,000,000
Aqib Talib-
- 2014-$5,000,000
- 2015-$7,750,000
- 2016-$9,750,000
- Total-$22,500,000
Julian Edelman-
- 2014-$2,575,000
- 2015-$3,575,000
- 2016-$4,575,000
- 2017-$5,575,000
- Total-$16,300,000
Michael Johnson-
- 2014-$3,750,000
- 2015-$7,875,000
- 2016-$9,875,000
- Total-$21,500,000
Riley Cooper-
- 2014-$1,875,000
- 2015-$2,575,000
- 2016-$2,925,000
- Total-$7,375,000
LeGarrette Blount-
- 2014-$1,250,000
- 2015-$1,750,000
- Total-$3,000,000
Jimmy Clausen-
- 2014-$765,000
- 2015-$870,000
- Total-$1,635,000
Dane Fletcher-
- 2014-$730,000
- Total-$1,150,335

After those signings, we will have these players under contract with a 2014 cap hit of –

Roster
- Tom Brady-$14,800,000
- Logan Mankins-$10,500,000
- Jerod Mayo-$7,287,500
- Vince Wilfork-$6,866,667
- Rob Gronkowski-$5,400,000
- Aqib Talib-$5,000,000
- Danny Amendola-$4,575,000
- Alex Mack-4,500,000
- Devin McCourty-$3,878,402
- Michael Johnson-$3,750,000
- Sebastian Vollmer-$3,750,000
- Kyle Arrington-$3,625,000
- Rob Ninkovich-$2,850,000
- Nate Solder-$2,717,429
- Julian Edelman-$2,575,000
- Stephen Gostkowski-$2,550,000
- Matt Slater-$2,266,668
- Chandler Jones-$2,229,136
- Donta Hightower-$2,106,546
- Riley Cooper-$1,875,000
- Tavon Wilson-$1,150,335
- LeGarrette Blount-$1,250,000
- Shane Vereen-$1,101,275
- Stevan Ridley-$939,750
- Jamie Collins-$854,773
- Aaron Dobson-$779,175
- Jimmy Clausen-$765,000
- Marcus Cannon-$743,968
- Dane Fletcher-$730,000
- Jake Bequette-$709,950
- Logan Ryan-$655,813
- Chris White-$645,000
- D.J. Williams-$645,000
- Duron Harmon-$633,900
- Josh Boyce-$614,250
- Nate Ebner-$594,150
- Alfonzo Dennard-$584,462
- Brandon Bolden-$574,582
- Sealver Siliga-$570,000
- Marcus Forston-$570,000
- James Develin-$570,000
- Michael Buchanan-$508,403
- Steve Beauharnais-$506,898
- Markus Zusevics-$495,000
- Mark Harrison-$494,000
- Kenbrell Thompkins-$494,166
- Ryan Allen-$494,500
- Justin Green-$495,000
- Armond Armstead-$495,000
- Josh Kline-$495,000
- Chris Jones-$495,000
- Brice Schwab-$495,000
- Chris Barker-$495,000
- Kanorris Davis-$495,000
- Joe Vellano-$495,000
- TJ Moe-$417,332
- Cory Grissom-$418,666
- Taylor Reed-$420,000
- Jonas Gray-$420,000
- Braxston Cave-$420,000
- Ja'Gared Davis-$420,000
- Jordan Devey-$420,000
- Reggie Dunn-$420,000
- R.J. Mattes-$420,000
- Sam McGuffie-$420,000
- Greg Orton-$420,000
- Top 51 Cap Hits-$113,756,698

(In addition to the top 51 cap hits, I have calculated $12,778,358 in dead money.)

You probably noticed the Clausen signing and Mallett missing from the signed player list, that is based on Mallett being traded to the Texans for the #33 pick (or Vikings for #40).

Draft Picks
- #29-Hasean Clinton-Dix, DB
- #33-Stephon Tuitt, DT/DT
- #62-Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE
- #93-Pierre Desir, DB
- #126-Anthony Steen, OG
- #TBD-Joe Don Duncan, TE
- #TBD-Jeff Janis, WR
- #182-Trey Burton, WR/TE
- #190-Zack Kerr, NT/DT
- #229-Dexter McDougle, DB
- UDFA-Chris Boyd, WR
- UDFA-Mike Pennel, DT/NT

The UFA signings have cap hits listed below them; I can give you the details on the terms, guaranteed money and signing bonuses if you are curious.

The dead money includes Aaron Hernandez, Dan Connolly, Isaac Sopoaga, Steve Gregory, Adrian Wilson, Ras-I Dowling, Tommy Kelly, Daniel Fells, Ryan Mallett, Lavelle Hawkins, Zach Sudfeld, Ben Bartholomew, Kanorris Davis, Chris McDonald, Josh Kline, Justin Francis, Brandon Jones, Brandon Ford, Stephon Morris, Matt Stankiewitch, Mike Zupanic, and Dewayne Cherrington.

 

[supafly]

I would also extend KELLY who was playing much better than Wilfork for lots less money.

Nice post, mgteich.

Any reason why extending Tommy Kelly would be necessary at this point in time though?

Do you really think Belichick would want to extend him coming off a major ACL injury in Oct/Nov? There's no guarantee he'll even be able to go in training camp for this year, let alone extending him. That decision shouldn't be made at this point in time, at least in my opinion anyway.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that there is no reason to extend Kelly until we know lots more about his recovery.
For now, there is no reason to do anything. My hope is that he will be back at least at the level of a rotational DT in which case I would want to extend him.

Nice post, mgteich.

Any reason why extending Tommy Kelly would be necessary at this point in time though?

Do you really think Belichick would want to extend him coming off a major ACL injury in Oct/Nov? There's no guarantee he'll even be able to go in training camp for this year, let alone extending him. That decision shouldn't be made at this point in time, at least in my opinion anyway.

 

[manxman2601]

0% chance ASJ is there in the 60's

And if he runs a 4.80 today? There are three other tight ends that could all be picked ahead of him (Ebron, Amaro, Niklas) so I think there's a somewhat better than 0% chance he'll be there in the sixties. And I'm his #1 fan and would gladly take him in the first.

 

[Joker]

there isn't even a mention of Wendell in the OP's post. I guess he just disappears, huh? So cut Connolly too?...and sign Mack to escalating money starting near 5 mil? Huh? When you can KEEP Wendell AND Connolly and DRAFT a center under your control for four years at minimum money?

sign Riley Cooper?....really?...why...to pizz off the entire team and coaching staff? this isn't fantasy football....

 

[supafly]

And if he runs a 4.80 today? There are three other tight ends that could all be picked ahead of him (Ebron, Amaro, Niklas) so I think there's a somewhat better than 0% chance he'll be there in the sixties. And I'm his #1 fan and would gladly take him in the first.

Is he your top TE, manx?

I kind of like Niklas myself (not first TE overall). I'm not into scouting as much as you are, but I remember bringing his name up in a post here way back in Sept after the ND/UM game.

 

[supafly]

there isn't even a mention of Wendell in the OP's post. I guess he just disappears, huh? So cut Connolly too?...and sign Mack to escalating money starting near 5 mil? Huh? When you can KEEP Wendell AND Connolly and DRAFT a center under your control for four years at minimum money?

sign Riley Cooper?....really?...why...to pizz off the entire team and coaching staff? this isn't fantasy football....

I agree, Joker. I kind of have a hunch that it's an either/or situation with Wendell and Connelly. To be honest, by personal thought may be to extend Connelly, but we'll have to see what happens in the mind of the person who matters.

I don't think both will be leaving, though.

I'd still like to see an interior lineman drafted, and the only scenario where I don't see that happening is if one of Wendell/Connelly stays, Belichick feels as though Cannon will be our potential starter at RG, AND there's an excellent outside lineman who grabs his attention + is a steal. Otherwise, I think interior is definitely the way to go.

I'm also not as high on Cooper as some here, but that's just personal opinion.

 

[Brady6]

there isn't even a mention of Wendell in the OP's post. I guess he just disappears, huh? So cut Connolly too?...and sign Mack to escalating money starting near 5 mil? Huh? When you can KEEP Wendell AND Connolly and DRAFT a center under your control for four years at minimum money?

Ok while I respect your opinion, I think you are looking at the names and not the economics or situations.

Connolly will be 32 years old on opening day, he has an APY of $3.25M, Wendell is a UFA and unlike some I feel he is a solid top 15 OC so I anticipate he will receive $2.5M-$3M APY on the UFA market this offseason, but for the sake of this discussion we will go with $2M APY. The combined APY for the two of them would be around $5.25M, the deal I proposed for Mack is $6.5M APY. What would you rather have Mack for $6.5M or Connolly and Wendell for $5.25M? As far as this season goes, Connolly has a $4.1M cap hit.

I did draft a replacement for Mankins in Steen who I project to take over in 2016. If we resign Solder and Cannon the line would be –

2014 + 2015
- LT – Solder
- LG – Mankins, Steen
- OC – Mack
- RG – Cannon
- RT - Vollmer
2016
- LT – Solder
- LG – Steen, TBD
- OC – Mack
- RG – Cannon
- RT – Vollmer

sign Riley Cooper?....really?...why...to pizz off the entire team and coaching staff? this isn't fantasy football....

Rotoworld has Cooper ranked as the tenth best UFA WR on the market right now, the deal I proposed is a 3 year contract with only his base salary for 2014 which is $1M and a $2.65M signing bonus. It is not a substantial investment, and he is not a marquee player, I view him as a Donald Jones type signing.

If it was fantasy football I would have signed a top 5 WR...

 

[manxman2601]

Is he your top TE, manx?

I kind of like Niklas myself (not first TE overall). I'm not into scouting as much as you are, but I remember bringing his name up in a post here way back in Sept after the ND/UM game.

Ebron is my #1 TE but I really like ASJ and he comes a fairly close second. However, I'm starting to think Niklas might go ahead of ASJ dependent on his concussion issues, and just today started to really think that Amaro makes the most sense as a BB pick. Hope that answers LOL.

I've been for taking a TE in the first for some time and still think, considering the strength of the top of this class, that it makes the most sense. I'm not as convinced as I once was but still think it most likely.

 

[varjao]

your off-season plan is totally unrealistic

 

[Brady6]

your off-season plan is totally unrealistic

With the exception of the Mallett trade I do not think it is that far beyond realistic.

Edelman, Talib, and Blount are all our own UFAs. Talib signed a 1 year/$5.5M contract just last offseason, and I understand he had a good season but he once again missed three games due to the chronic hip issue, so how much more could he be worth this season? Blount acquisition cost a seventh round pick draft pick and Jeff Demps this past offseason and restructured for $680K, once again he had a good season but 700 rushing yards is not going to propel his cost, Rotoworld has him ranked as the #11 UFA RB. Edelman had a great season, but he is not a fit for every team and he carries injury concerns historically.

Mack is the #1 ranked OC on the UFA market, our own UFA Wendell is the #5, so it is an upgrade yes, but I also cut Connolly to offset the cost. The deal I gave Johnson is better than what Avril received last season from Seattle and he was the #1 defensive UFA who had three straight seasons with at least 8.5 sacks when he signed, Johnson has had one season with more than 8.5 sacks. Cooper is the tenth ranked UFA WR, with off field concerns and only one year that would be consider good.

These are the prospect ranks of my draft picks –
- Clinton-Dix #19
- Tuitt #40
- Seferian-Jenkins #45
- Desir #101
- Steen #120
- Janis #172
- Duncan #179
- McDougle #279
- Kerr #305
- Burton #460

It is not completely unreasonable to expect that these players will be available where I slated them.

Could you specify why you feel it is unrealistic?

 

[50-yard-line]

I like Kelly also, but I think we can clear Kelly's cap hit and then bring him back in the preseason if he is healthy. He is 33 years old and coming off a significant injury and his last strong season was in 2011, so I do not think teams will be bidding for his services, he can be a Gerard Warren type edition. I do not see any reason to carry a $2.6M cap hit for him.

I do not know if he is a good leader, from what I heard he was a bit of a problem child in Oakland.



Wilson will turn 35 years old within the first 6 weeks of 2014s season, Chancellor is 25 years old, as much as I wish we had a 25 year old Wilson, we do not. My belief was that if Wilson was going to be a difference maker it had to be in 2013, a 35 year old safety return from a major injury who was already on the decline is very unlikely to help us.

I really think we need to get away from relying on these end of life veterans and find long-term solutions for these roles. We are turning over positions on a YOY basis, consistency and continuity cannot develop.

Remember the 96 SB? There was this guy named Reggie White...

Ted Washington, Junior Seau, Rodney Harrison, Roosevelt Colvin, Andre Carter (a couple of years ago), all say hi.

Last year, I was hoping and praying that the rumors were true and the Pats would nab Abraham. He had 11.5 sacks. Sean Phillips was the best pass rusher in Denver.

Age does matter, but it's different by position, and depends on snap counts. Nink and Jones are both relatively young, but both had little left because they had played 98% of the snaps during the year. Subbing in a Tuck, a Smith, an Abraham, in certain situations is a smart way to go.

I'm not hoping for an old team, but filling in situational positions - SS, Pass-rusher, red-zone target - with older vets on short deals is good economics. You don't want too many of them, but neither do you want too
many starters all coming up for their contracts at the same time. It's a balancing act.

There's no way I cut Tommy Kelly until I've been convinced his knee has ended it for him. He pushed the pocket mightily last year.

There's no reason to cut A. Wilson until I know he can't do it. He's a smart player in a d-backfield that is very young...he'll help the development of the others right there in training camp. If he can't go, then say goodbye, no worries. There's no upside to cutting him before roster cut-downs.

And by the way, age isn't what it used to be in sports. Nutrition, training programs, better PEDs...Bode Miller is medaling in downhill at 39; Ortiz hit .700 in the World Series at 38; arguably the two best QBs in the NFL are 37 and 38.

We need to get back to the day when we had consistent presences on our defense –
- Tedy Bruschi – 13 seasons
- Willie McGinest – 11 season
- Ted Johnson – 10 seasons
- Ty Law – 10 seasons
- Mike Vrabel – 8 seasons
- Richard Seymour – 8 seasons
- Ty Warren – 8 seasons
- Jarvis Green – 8 seasons
- Rodney Harrison – 6 seasons
- Eugene Wilson – 5 seasons
- Asante Samuel – 5 seasons
- Roman Phifer – 4 seasons

Hightower, Collins, Mayo, Wilfork, Chandler Jones, Nink, McCourty, Arrington, Logan Ryan...several of these guys will be on that list on the D side of the ball alone.

The 2013 Pats would have been a much better team with John Abraham spelling Jones and Nink.

Dansby just turned 32 in November so his 2013 season was primarily played at age 31, and he was not coming off an injury.

I agree on the LB addition, I was thinking a player like Pat Anger could be low risk high reward signing.

Angerer would be a nice fit, and how can you not like the name?

$6.5M APY would make Mack the third highest paid OC in the league, that is a solid payday and he gets to play for a winner, I could see it happening. I am hoping Lombardi has a connection to him and his agent.

Fans of 15 other teams are hoping for the same scenario. Maybe the Lombardi connection and the perennial playoff berth helps...maybe he wants to play for BB or next to Logan Mankins. So you never know.

I honestly don't know much about the guy (didn't watch much Cleveland), but yeah, I'd love to have a powerful center. The number of sacks given up by the interior of the Pats line in under 2.5 seconds ranked dead last last year.

So I'll cross my fingers.

I think Tuck is going to be looking for a crazy payday. Smith is just Andre Carter the 2.0 and I like Carter but I would really like to sign someone who can help the team for more than 1 maybe 2 seasons.

Houston is an interesting prospect, he can also move inside.

I'll take anyone who can help for NEXT year while we sort out other issues, as I would have taken Abraham for last year. I'd love Houston, though. he's a guy who got buried out in awful Oakland. Can play DT or DE in any scheme.

I am going to hold off on the roster spot for TJ Moe and Mark Harrison until they makes it through an OTA session. In addition, I believe Thompkins was the 2013 version of Justin Francis and Sterling Moore, players that filled a need but lack the talent for a sustainable NFL career, my prediction is that Thompkins is cut at the end of the preseason.

Riley Cooper would give us a deep threat, he does not need to start or even play many snaps but he can be used to stretch the field, and I do not think he will come at a high cost. We need to add something to the WR lineup; essentially, you are relying on 2 UDFA who were on injured reserve last season to be the difference between 2013s corps and 2014s.

Moe, Thompkins and Harrison basically fight it out for the 5th slot in your scenario. You've got Dobson, Boyce, Edelman and Amendola. I'm very okay with that and would spend resources elsewhere (roll your Cooper deal right into the Mack offer).

I am not sure why you believe that, Mallett was a top 25 talent in 2011, and now he has been behind the GOAT for 3 season, he beat out Hoyer who was a starter in the NFL last season after just one season for the backup job. I think we all think Mallett is not worth that much because he does not play, but would you really expect him to overtake Tom Brady on the depth chart? He is the second best QB on the team Tom Brady plays on, are you not willing to give up the 33rd overall pick for the second best QB on a team that has Tom Brady?

Money. Period. A coach will have one season to see if he fits and will be paying him more for that season. I think several teams would like to have him in for a try - Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville - but you're talking about essentially a 1st-round pick. They MIGHT get Houston's 4th, or maybe a 3rd if they throw some other pick into the mix.

 

[Brady6]

Remember the 96 SB? There was this guy named Reggie White...

Ted Washington, Junior Seau, Rodney Harrison, Roosevelt Colvin, Andre Carter (a couple of years ago), all say hi.

These players were anomalies – White was 35 in 1996 but he played until age 39. Washington played here at age 35 and played 4 seasons elsewhere after before retiring at age 40. Seau signed at age 37 and played to age 40. The others were not that old, Colvin was 26 when he signed, Harrison was 31, and Carter was 32.

Last year, I was hoping and praying that the rumors were true and the Pats would nab Abraham. He had 11.5 sacks. Sean Phillips was the best pass rusher in Denver.

Phillips is only 32 years old. Abraham like Reggie White is an anomaly; those types of players are rare.

Age does matter, but it's different by position, and depends on snap counts. Nink and Jones are both relatively young, but both had little left because they had played 98% of the snaps during the year. Subbing in a Tuck, a Smith, an Abraham, in certain situations is a smart way to go.

Tuck is just 30 years old, and from what I understand is looking for a payday. Will Smith missed all of 2013 and has not had more than 6.5 sacks since 2009, I really have no interest in him, and I personally always felt he was overrated.

Abraham is a player I would take a look at, because he is so good at what he does.

I'm not hoping for an old team, but filling in situational positions - SS, Pass-rusher, red-zone target - with older vets on short deals is good economics. You don't want too many of them, but neither do you want too
many starters all coming up for their contracts at the same time. It's a balancing act.

Adrian Wilson is not going to be that player in my opinion. The NFL is a young man’s game especially at the skill positions.

There's no reason to cut A. Wilson until I know he can't do it. He's a smart player in a d-backfield that is very young...he'll help the development of the others right there in training camp. If he can't go, then say goodbye, no worries. There's no upside to cutting him before roster cut-downs.

There are $1,166,666 reasons to cut Adrian Wilson.

And by the way, age isn't what it used to be in sports. Nutrition, training programs, better PEDs...Bode Miller is medaling in downhill at 39; Ortiz hit .700 in the World Series at 38; arguably the two best QBs in the NFL are 37 and 38.

You are comparing MLB to the NFL 50 that is so different. Outside of QBs and K/P there are very few players that play after age 35.

The 2013 Pats would have been a much better team with John Abraham spelling Jones and Nink.

I agree completely, I wanted Abraham as well. I am not opposed to older players, but they have to be the right kind at the right position. Abraham is a sack artist he can use his skills even when diminished by age because of his techniques, a players like Adrian Wilson does not have the ability to do that because he is playing in space. Kelly could do that, and I want him to return but I just believe we can sign him in camp without having to carry the cap hit now, and also without guaranteeing any pay.

Angerer would be a nice fit, and how can you not like the name?

True...

Fans of 15 other teams are hoping for the same scenario. Maybe the Lombardi connection and the perennial playoff berth helps...maybe he wants to play for BB or next to Logan Mankins. So you never know.

I honestly don't know much about the guy (didn't watch much Cleveland), but yeah, I'd love to have a powerful center. The number of sacks given up by the interior of the Pats line in under 2.5 seconds ranked dead last last year.

So I'll cross my fingers.

It is dreaming on my part, but you know it is possible we have a need and he is available, Cleveland is a disaster.

I'll take anyone who can help for NEXT year while we sort out other issues, as I would have taken Abraham for last year. I'd love Houston, though. he's a guy who got buried out in awful Oakland. Can play DT or DE in any scheme.

I like Houston and I think you highlighted a potentially great fit; unfortunately, it appears Oakland intends to tag him.

Oakland Raiders expected to tag Lamarr Houston - NFL Spin Zone - A General NFL Blog providing you all the NFL News, Rumors, Updates, and National Football League News.

Moe, Thompkins and Harrison basically fight it out for the 5th slot in your scenario. You've got Dobson, Boyce, Edelman and Amendola. I'm very okay with that and would spend resources elsewhere (roll your Cooper deal right into the Mack offer).

Given that Amendola, Dobson, and Thompkins played 12 games each, Harrison and Moe missed all of 2013, and Edelman has a history of injuries I think we would be smart to add to that mix. Cooper is the #10 UFA WR according to Rotoworld I think he can be signed reasonably inexpensively.

Money. Period. A coach will have one season to see if he fits and will be paying him more for that season. I think several teams would like to have him in for a try - Cleveland, Houston, Jacksonville - but you're talking about essentially a 1st-round pick. They MIGHT get Houston's 4th, or maybe a 3rd if they throw some other pick into the mix.

These are the last 10 players selected at #33 in the draft. Are there any players on this list that you would say offered a team more upside than Ryan Mallet could offer the Texans with O’Brien as his head coach –
- John Cyprien
- Brian Quick
- Ras-I Dowling
- Jerome Murphy
- Louis Delmas
- Phillip Merling
- Alan Branch
- DeMeco Ryans
- David Baas
- Karlos Dansby

I am not saying the trade will happen, I agree it is unlikely but I do not think it is beyond the scope of possible, mainly because of the Bill O’Brien factor. Let us pretend that Mallett is a franchise QB in O’Brien’s mind and he proves that in 2014, if he could walk away from rounds 1 and 2 with Clowney to pair with Watt and Mallett as a his franchise QB he sets himself up for a great decade as a coach.

 

[Miguel]

These are the last 10 players selected at #33 in the draft. Are there any players on this list that you would say offered a team more upside than Ryan Mallet could offer the Texans with O’Brien as his head coach

What do you consider Mallett's upside?

I would venture that there were players taken after 33 in those drafts that were much better players than the player chosen at 33.

 

[Ring 6]

These players were anomalies – White was 35 in 1996 but he played until age 39. Washington played here at age 35 and played 4 seasons elsewhere after before retiring at age 40. Seau signed at age 37 and played to age 40. The others were not that old, Colvin was 26 when he signed, Harrison was 31, and Carter was 32.



Phillips is only 32 years old. Abraham like Reggie White is an anomaly; those types of players are rare.



Tuck is just 30 years old, and from what I understand is looking for a payday. Will Smith missed all of 2013 and has not had more than 6.5 sacks since 2009, I really have no interest in him, and I personally always felt he was overrated.

Abraham is a player I would take a look at, because he is so good at what he does.



Adrian Wilson is not going to be that player in my opinion. The NFL is a young man’s game especially at the skill positions.



There are $1,166,666 reasons to cut Adrian Wilson.



You are comparing MLB to the NFL 50 that is so different. Outside of QBs and K/P there are very few players that play after age 35.



I agree completely, I wanted Abraham as well. I am not opposed to older players, but they have to be the right kind at the right position. Abraham is a sack artist he can use his skills even when diminished by age because of his techniques, a players like Adrian Wilson does not have the ability to do that because he is playing in space. Kelly could do that, and I want him to return but I just believe we can sign him in camp without having to carry the cap hit now, and also without guaranteeing any pay.



True...



It is dreaming on my part, but you know it is possible we have a need and he is available, Cleveland is a disaster.



I like Houston and I think you highlighted a potentially great fit; unfortunately, it appears Oakland intends to tag him.

Oakland Raiders expected to tag Lamarr Houston - NFL Spin Zone - A General NFL Blog providing you all the NFL News, Rumors, Updates, and National Football League News.



Given that Amendola, Dobson, and Thompkins played 12 games each, Harrison and Moe missed all of 2013, and Edelman has a history of injuries I think we would be smart to add to that mix. Cooper is the #10 UFA WR according to Rotoworld I think he can be signed reasonably inexpensively.



These are the last 10 players selected at #33 in the draft. Are there any players on this list that you would say offered a team more upside than Ryan Mallet could offer the Texans with O’Brien as his head coach –
- John Cyprien
- Brian Quick
- Ras-I Dowling
- Jerome Murphy
- Louis Delmas
- Phillip Merling
- Alan Branch
- DeMeco Ryans
- David Baas
- Karlos Dansby

I am not saying the trade will happen, I agree it is unlikely but I do not think it is beyond the scope of possible, mainly because of the Bill O’Brien factor. Let us pretend that Mallett is a franchise QB in O’Brien’s mind and he proves that in 2014, if he could walk away from rounds 1 and 2 with Clowney to pair with Watt and Mallett as a his franchise QB he sets himself up for a great decade as a coach.

No one views Ryan Mallett as a franchise QB
Even if they did they would not trade the 33rd pick in the draft to get him on the last year of his contract. They could simply wait and sign him as a FA QB who has barely taken a snap in 4 years in 2015.

 

[MassPats38]

What do you consider Mallett's upside?

He had issues with a very slow release and ability to read defenses. Many at the time of the draft projected he may correct those with some NFL coaching. O'Brien knows what he saw with the Pats on 2011 (for better or worse), so that may mean something. Brady succeeds with a very quick release. A slow release for a QB with no foot speed makes that QB a liability in the NFL.

There will be no game film on Mallet, so the answer to this question will be a leap of faith by the team wanting to make a deal.

Mallet has not torn the NFL up in preseason, when he had a chance to show his skills.

The optimistic articles, for example this one and another one, talked about Elway or Bledsoe-like abilities if he could keep his head in the game.

The concerns made him a 3rd round pick. Barring the belief by O'Brien that his development has addressed those issues, and frankly there appears to be no clear answer in game time evidence, why would he put the fate of the Texans in his hands as starting QB?

Michael Vick is a free agent who can still move and has an arm. The Texans appear to have $9 million to spend and could afford him, as Vick appears to want to start more than be paid to sit on a bench. Pay Mallet for an unknown performance, or pay Vick with his upside and injury possibilities and a low rookie deal in addition to adding a potentially very good draft pick? A throw away draft pick works for Mallett. With the salary cap and contracts as they are number 33 (pretty much first round) is both a value player with a player carrying a low price tag. Mallet represents pure risk at this point. I just don't see it.

 

[Brady6]

What do you consider Mallett's upside?

I would venture that there were players taken after 33 in those drafts that were much better players than the player chosen at 33.

Most considered Mallett a first round pick pre-draft, his stock dropped due to concerns about his character and mobility. He has addressed both of these concerns, after being sacked 6 times in 2011s preseason he has been sacked just 3 times (2 in 2012, and 1 in 2013) in his last 2 preseasons. He has not had any character or off field issues reported.

He has beat out Brian Hoyer and Tim Tebow (I know) who both have started in the NFL for the backup spot, and more importantly he has shown improvements each years, in addition he improved his body dramatically losing a substantial amount of weight between after his rookie season. The kid even styles his hair like Brady now, so I am assuming he follows Brady’s work ethic on and off the field.

Therefore, it is the #33 pick for a QB who is 6’5” 245 Lbs. first round talent with a rocket arm, who has 3 years of watching the GOAT QB and coached by the GOAT HC.

I think he has a lot of upside to answer your question. Being a QB requires repetition, which Mallett has never had –

9/18, 97 yards
12/20, 137 yards, 1 touchdown
11/22, 96 yards, 1 touchdown
10/16, 117 yards, 1 touchdown

If you look at his preseason games, he improved as he saw more consistent playing time with the exception of game 3 in which he did not see the field until the second half with primarily third string players. The primary thing I like about Mallett is that he does not throw a lot of interceptions, in his 206 career attempts during the preseason he has thrown 3 picks which a 1.47% ratio.

I do agree that there were better players available but the point I was making is that #33 is far from a sure thing so taking a chance on Mallett who very well could be a franchise QB, would not be unreasonable. The way I see it is the only way as fans that we would know if Mallett is a franchise QB is if he beat out Tom Brady and if that were the case we would not trade him for the #1 overall pick.