A review of the scenarios that will be presented to the Pats in the coming months
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Some quick thoughts and notes on the New England Patriots and the NFL:
1. On the move: One of the fascinating aspects about the position of Patriots defender is how a move by any team could create an unexpected opportunity for them. Call this the Darnold Domino Effect.
Adam Schefter, de ESPN, reported on Sunday that the New York Jets received quite a few calls from many teams that expressed interest in Sam Darnold. The Jets, according to Schefter, did not reject the interest, but neither did they make a firm decision on the future of the defender (they have option 2 in the 2021 project).
No matter how the planes behave, they should have some impact on the patriots.
For example, could Darnold be interesting to the San Francisco 49ers, making Jimmy Garoppolo an option for New England? Or, conversely, if the Jets stay with Darnold, this would create interest from teams that need a QB in the second pick, changing the draft table and who will be available to the Patriots (15th pick).
These are the scenarios that coach Bill Belichick and his team have begun to dissect.
A veteran NFL executive pointed to ESPN of Jets, Rich Cimini, who could imagine a low choice in the first round or a big second, for Darnold, who is finishing his last year as a rookie – on May 3 he has to decide on the expensive option for the fifth year.
All this leads to another question: would the Patriots consider going for Darnold?
This seems extremely unlikely, as Jets general manager Joe Douglas needs some sort of “taxation” for rivals AFC East to even consider, but such scenarios fuel what could be an off- season full of movements in the position of defender.
2. Mariota’s flexibility: Marcus Mariota was explored last week for the Patriots, and here’s more: given the projected cost of acquiring it (reduced selection) and reasonable salary ($ 10.6 million), it would mean New England has the flexibility to add another. if the opportunity arises later in the off-season (eg Garoppolo or a draft selection). But at least initially, Mariota would offer a combination of experience (61 games started), the opportunity for a functional passing game and a lot of space in the salary limit to put an important piece in the QB position. Mariota would be a solid plan B IF Garoppolo is not initially available.
3. The landscape of QBs: The analyst project from ESPN, Todd McShay, projects five quarterbacks drafted with the first 12 picks to the final draft draft, creating a scenario that leaves the needy Patriots, who have 15 picks, on their first draft-heading podcast, McShay and Mel Goalkeeper Jr.They opined that there are six players projected to start, with Kyle Trask of Florida as sixth and Jamie Newman of Wake Forest as a possible wild card – and then a noticeable drop for those who would be substitutes.
4. Gas connection: Former Dolphins and Jets coach Adam Gase has developed a connection to Belichick over the past two years, and one effect would be to add Bo Hardegree to Belichick’s coaching staff this year. Hardegree, 36, was with Gase as an offensive assistant. He played as a defender at the University of Tennessee and recently met with Patriots.
5. Labeling game: February 23 marks the beginning of the 15-day window where teams can assign franchise labels, and after surprising many last year by tagging Joe Thuney (probably Thuney himself), the presence is that the Patriots will not use it. So what is interesting for New England, which has big gaps to fill the receiving body, tight extremity and seven defensive lines, will be to see how many top players will be tagged and cannot be tracked.
6. Watt is up: JJ Watt and the Houston Texans reached an agreement to part ways on Friday, and ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler asked people in the league about Watt’s options, with the Patriots in the top five. Pats has urgent needs on the defensive line, and Watt has a lot to offer, but there is an important issue to address, which is important for Watt – the opportunity to play for a championship.
7. Slater’s gesture: When the Patriots transported 76 health workers to the Super Bowl last Sunday on the team’s plane, veteran captain Matthew Slater was there early to express his gratitude to these workers on behalf of the players and the organization, along with team president Jonathan Kraft and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, among others. A very elegant gesture from one of Pats’ best players.
8. Potential in the project: Remember when the Patriots recruited Richard Seymour to the defensive team with the sixth pick in 2001 and there were concerns about his performance (1.5 sacks in his last season in Georgia)? This went well and there could be a potential example this year, just deeper into the project. Tre’McKitty, Georgia, got six receptions in 2020 after being transferred from Florida State, but “earned a lot of money” in the Senior Bowl with his physical features and athletics, according to McShay and Kiper. The 6-meter, 245-pound McKitty is designed for medium rounds.
9. Drew’s birthday: At 49, Drew Bledsoe. It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Bledsoe entered the Hall of Fame. One of the beautiful parts of the last decade was when Bledsoe reappeared on the Patriots stage and how well he was received.
10. Did you know what: The Patriots will play the Texans in 2021 and it will be the seventh year in a row that they have faced each other. Since 2002, it is the longest meeting in the NFL of teams that are not part of the same division. The longest is 10 – Patriots vs. Colts from 2003 to 2012.