AUBURN, AL – SEPTEMBER 15: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Auburn Tigers looks to pass against the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Bill Belichick drafted a quarterback higher than he did a season ago. Tom Brady is entering the final year of his contract and will be 42 in August. He is the only player left in the 2000 NFL Draft. When Belichick drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014, the Patriots hadn’t won a Super Bowl since 2004. After drafting Garoppolo Belichick said we all know Brady’s age and contract situation. However, after that Brady really stepped his game up and has won three Super Bowls and had Garoppolo traded away. This time may be different, though, because I don’t see Brady playing until he’s 50.
What will drafting a QB mean for Brady?
FEBRUARY 5, 2019 – BOSTON, MA: New England PAtriots Tom Brady waves the Super Bowl trophy and salutes the fans on Boylston St during the rolling rally. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/DigitalFirst Media/ Boston Herald)
Belichick drafting Jarrett Stidham is planning for the future post Brady. He knows Brady has at least three seasons left, and they’re needs to be a plan at the position whether Brady likes it or not. Brady I’m sure will not give any hint the his job could be taken. Look at how many Super Bowls he’s been too. If anything it would motivate Brady to play at the highest level and not drop at all. The slightest drop from Brady would be the signalling the end is near for thr future Hall Of Famer.
They aren’t going to draft the next Brady but they could draft the next Garoppolo. Maybe Stidham could be the next Jimmy G, we won’t really know until we see him in games during the preseason. It’s a fact that Danny Etling will either be traded or remain on the practice squad. It’s clear he wasn’t ready for the NFL when he was drafted last year. I’m sure Stidham will be anxious and nervous to get started. But if he paid attention when Garoppolo was traded he’d know that Brady never sits the bench and plays hurt constantly.
I’m hoping for some competition like we saw between Garoppolo and Brady. Belichick had a decent draft planning for the future and getting Brady some talent at the receiver position. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Does Brady show Stidham the ropes at being a good quarterback? Or does he give him the Garoppolo treatment and let him learn on his own?
What to expect from the Patriots in this year’s NFL Draft
Always expect the unexpected when it comes to the Patriots and the NFL Draft which begins on Thursday. Everyone thought the Patriots were going to select Lamar Jackson in the first round last year and that didn’t happen. They didn’t select a quarterback until the seventh round in Danny Etling, who ended up on the practice squad. Realistically they probably won’t select a quarterback in the first two rounds with Brady around for another three years. Rumors suggest it’s a stronger quarterback draft next year so that might be the year they select one. Belichick always pulls something people weren’t expecting, so expect that this year.
Don’t expect them to select a quarterback in the early rounds
Via Notre Dame Insider
The Patriots need help on defense and they also need a Tight End. However, I don’t see them selecting a Tight End in the first round. Instead I see them selecting Jerry Tillery, a defensive lineman out of Notre Dame, at pick number 32. In 2017 Tillery started 13 games and collected nine tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks. He was also named AP second-team All American last season as a senior. The Patriots second pick, number 56, I’m going with Tight End Irv Smith out of Alabama. He finished last season with 44 receptions for 710 yards and seven touchdowns.
At the wide receiver position, they don’t usually select a Wide Receiver early in the draft. They do need one though, as Brady’s only consistent target on the depth chart right now is Julian Edelman. Demaryius Thomas is coming off an injury, and I want to see how he does in a game before making any assumptions as to what type of impact he’ll bring. Also, Josh Gordon is unreliable, and they have a bunch of guys that nobody’s heard of. Parris Campbell out of Ohio State could be a perfect match for the Patriots. Campbell was pretty reliable for Ohio State and appeared in 14 games last season. He recorded 90 receptions for 1,063 yards and 12 touchdowns. He could add value to the Patriots receiving core, as Brady is 42 in August and will need reliable guys at the position.
If the Patriots do select a quarterback it won’t be until late in the draft in my opinion. They have Danny Etling, who may or may not have improved from a year ago. We won’t know until the start of training camp and the preseason. In order to find the next Jimmy Garoppolo, they may have to wait until next year. Overall, though, whatever Belichick does seems to be right. And they make the Super Bowl year after year.
Patriots have really made it no secret that they are searching for a top of the line receiver. AJ Brown has made it no secret he wants to be a Patriot. AJ could be this year’s most complete receiver, and he would provide an interesting and exciting twist to the slot position. A bigger slot receiver makes a lot of sense after Belichick recently eluded to bigger receivers becoming more valuable in this league. Cornerbacks are starting to get smaller. Playing AJ Brown in the slot position would create some mismatches in man coverage. A receiving group of AJ Brown, Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, Philip Dorsett and Demaryius Thomas would be a very solid one.
31 (Cowboys) *Originally LAR
Johnathan Abram S Mississippi State
Trade details: Cowboys trade 58th, 165th and next year’s second round pick for Rams 31st
Rams want draft picks. They don’t have many. Cowboys do not have a first round pick and although rumors are not swirling that they want to trade up, it makes sense. Jerry Jones loves first round draft picks. In fact, tell me what sounds more Jerry Jones than making a huge splash by trading into the first round, to grab a player that could be the best at his position, in which the Cowboys have a need for. Abram would immediately start for the Cowboys, serving as a linebacker at the safety position. Abram’s coverage skills may have it’s questions but he can hit hard, make tackles real well, and use his ball skills to get Dak Prescott and the offense on the field as much as possible. Abram to Dallas makes perfect sense.
30 (Packers)
Noah Fant TE Iowa
Packers miss out on T.J Hockenson but they still land Noah Fant. This news will make Aaron Rodgers happy. Fant is probably the best receiver out of the trio of Hockenson, Smith, and himself. Fant could learn a few things from Jimmy Graham and pair up with him to make Rodger’s life a whole lot easier. If the Packers pick Fant, Rodger’s fantasy value gets a huge boost.
29 (Chiefs)
Amani Oruwariye CB Penn State
Amani Oruwariye. This guy will be hated by three groups of people. He will be hated by quarterbacks for his ability, offensive coordinators for the same reason, and commentators for being forced to pronounce that name of his. Chiefs will love him though. Chiefs need corners. Patriot fans know how bad the Chiefs secondary was last year. Amani Oruwariye will help change that. Amani has no problem helping in run support and can cover some of the bigger receivers in the NFL. Look for him to cover Josh Gordon or Demayrius Thomas in the AFC Championship.
28 (Patriots) *Originally LAC
T.J. Hockenson TE Iowa
Trade details: Patriots trade 56th, 73rd and next year’s 3rd round pick to Chargers for 28th
SPLASH! Hockenson will fall farther than most people think. Primarily due to the Packers decision to wait, he slides all the way to #28 where the Patriots leapfrog the Packers second pick to get him. Hockenson is a unique talent that does not come around to often at the tight end position. Forget Irv Smith, forget Noah Fant, forget everyone else. Do this thing right, go get the tight end of the future Bill! Go ahead and call me crazy, Hockenson will be a surprise faller in the draft, much like Derwin James and Tremaine Edmunds last year.
27 (Raiders)
Joshua Jacobs RB Alabama
This remodeled Raiders team still misses a three-down runningback. This extremely weak runningback class might have just one great back in it. Joshua Jacobs might not be available come the Raiders second round pick. It might be safer to grab the guy now and sure up that backfield.
26 (Colts)
Christian Wilkins IDL Clemson
By disregarding the tight end position, Christian Wilkins is the best remaining player on the board. Wilkins can be the leader of this defensive line and defense all together. One year removed from landing both Quentin Nelson and Darius Leonard, these drafts would be considered back to back bangs for the Colts by now picking Christian Wilkins. Wilkins, a Massachusetts native would provide not just leadership but also versatility and a very high motor.
25 (Eagles)
Nasir Adderley S Delaware
Nasir or Abram could both easily go here. Adderley might be a better fit in the City of Love. Nasir gets knocked for playing in a small-school program. Small-school programs are not a problem in Philly. Just ask their part-time quarterback Carson Wentz. Jim Schwartz likes his defensive backs with cornerback experience, which Adderley has a lot. In fact, Philly makes the most sense for this talented, small-school prospect.
24 (Raiders)
DeAndre Baker CB Georgia
Raiders fill another position of need here, taking DeAndre Baker. A very solid player with a starting grade on him. Baker will fit in well and be an anchor at one of the corner spots in Oakland.
23 (Texans)
Andre Dillard OT Washington State
Texans have no compliments about this pick here. Some scouts like Dillard better than they like Ford or Williams, primarily because he will be a pure tackle in the NFL. Texans need to protect DeShaun Watson badly. Dillard can be plugged right in to the starting lineup and alleviate some of the issues with this offensive line.
22 (Ravens)
Marquise Brown WR Oklahoma
When making this pick, the Ravens have to be conscious of Lamar Jackson’s less than mediocre throwing ability. None the less, Marquise Brown has the potential to be a Pro Bowl receiver. He frequently draws comparisons to DeSean Jackson. A better comp might be someone who just left Baltimore, John Brown. Marquise Brown, Antonio Brown’s cousin (too many Browns here), will thrive in a role much like John Brown’s was. Pencil in Marquise Brown, Antonio Brown’s cousin, to fill the absence of John Brown and make teams like the Browns have headaches.
21 (Browns) *Originally SEA
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson S Florida
Trade details: Browns trade 49th, 119th and next year’s second round pick to Seattle for 21st and next year’s sixth round pick
Browns are rumored to be actively looking to trade back into the first round. The Seahawks are looking to trade down. Browns have both needs at cornerback and safety. Gardner-Johnson can play both. While he will probably play safety at the next level, the flexibility really helps his case to go to Cleveland. Gardner-Johnson will bode well in Cleveland’s secondary that has been famished for good safeties.
20 (Steelers)
Devin Bush Jr. LB Michigan
NO BRAINER. The Steelers and Devin Bush have been linked to each other ever since this whole evaluation process started. Devin Bush at 20 would be a steal for anyone but for a team so desperate for linebackers like the Steelers, it would be an act of god. The tackle machine would bring a big boost to a team that has been crippled by the unfortunate long term injury of Ryan Shazier.
19 (Titans)
D.K. Metcalf WR Mississippi
Oh boy! How can someone pass up a talent like DK Metcalf at 19? Even more, think of how happy Marcus Mariota would be to have Metcalf and Corey Davis paired together. For those who don’t know DK Metcalf, he is 6’3, 230 pounds. He has 34 7/8” arms and 9 7/8” hands. He ran a 4.33 40 yard dash, had 27 reps of 225 pounds, and had a 40.5″ vertical leap. He is an absolute freakish human who could probably even play tight end. He may not be the most complete, true receiver, but he will make good as the Titans’ number two receiver and make Marcus Mariota very happy.
18 (Vikings)
Garrett Bradbury IOL NC State
This pick makes a lot of sense. Bradbury stands as the clear top inside lineman prospect. He can play both center and guard in the NFL. With Pat Elflein struggling at center last year, all signs would point to shifting him to guard and moving Bradbury inside. This would bode well for Dalvin Cook and the Vikings zone run scheme. The Bradbury pick would give the Vikings a lot of options and flexibility on that terrible offensive line.
17 (Giants)
Dwayne Haskins QB Ohio State
Dwayne Haskins makes a lot of sense here at 17. He may not be the most talented in the group but he will hold down the fort in New York. The best comparison around for Haskins has to be Drew Bledsoe. In the right offense, Haskins will thrive and serve as a fabulous game-manager. The Giants’ offense would run through Saqoun Barkley. Haskins would manage the passing game with success and compliment Saqoun nicely.
So, it is true that the Jets could have picked Cody Ford, but the need at corner and the talent of Byron Murphy is a lot to pass up. Instead, the Panthers have an absolute no brainer pick here and take Cody Ford. Panthers desperately need some help on that line. Cam Newton and Christian McCaffery need some help here. Newton needs time to wait for Chris Hogan to get open. Cody Ford will be the guy in Carolina. Ford like Williams might slip inside to guard in the NFL but as of late, that theory has kind of been squashed. Pencil in Ford as a starting tackle for the Carolina Panthers.
15 (Jets) *Originally WAS
Byron Murphy CB Washington
So after trading down, the Jets hoped to draft an edge rusher or offensive tackle. The prospects that they would have hoped to land at this spot are gone however there is no reason to cry about it. Byron Murphy has a lot of scouts really excited. Put Byron Murphy in the same secondary as Jamal Adams and Tramaine Johnson, a hard defense to throw against there.
14 (Falcons)
Jerry Tillery IDL Notre Dame
Another more surprising pick, Jerry Tillery to Atlanta. The frequently underrated defensive line prospect out of Notre Dame continues to be overlooked in this draft process. A combo of Jerry Tillery and Grady Garrett will make opposing offensive coordinators wish their mother never had them. It will be the “Nightmare on Peachtree Street”. Clogging inside holes, stopping the run, and getting to the quarterback. Missing out on Ed Oliver will quickly become not so big of a deal for Atlanta.
13 (Dolphins)
Jonah Williams OT Alabama
The Dolphins have needs all over the offensive line. For a team headed for a rebuilding year, the smart move would be to build up the line and draft a quarterback next year. That class will be a whole lot stronger and the Dolphins draft choice will probably be a whole lot closer to number one. Pick Jonah Williams. This guy will be an absolute stud at the next level. His future will probably be at guard with his footwork and arms indicating so. However, don’t rule out Williams playing tackle. He played tackle in college and played really well. The Dolphins and Williams are perfect for each other because of the flexibility he possesses.
12 (Packers)
Clelin Ferrell EDGE Clemson
Well, this would raise a lot of eyebrows. There are always eyebrow-raisers in the draft. First round last year, Rashaad Penny, Baker Mayfield first overall, the Saints trading for Marcus Davenport, Derwin James and Tremaine Edmunds falling. Point being, the draft is an unpredictable animal. A lot of people think the Packers will go tight end here. Well, they have two first round picks and literally no defensive ends. Defensive ends are now limited and the last remaining one with no big question marks is Clelin Ferrell. They will be able to pick from at least two of the top three tight ends in this draft at #30. They will have much less selection if they wait on pass rusher. The Packers are clamping down on defense this year, focusing on improving that side of the ball. Clelin Ferrell will be the pick here at #12.
11 (Bengals)
Jawaan Taylor OT Florida
Jawaan Taylor just met with the Bengals yesterday. This pick would make a lot of sense. Some of the players who the Bengals could have picked are off the board. This guy here might just be the best tackle in the draft. Bengals have a huge hole at the tackle spot, waiting to be filled. Taylor would at least help the running game. Not quite sure Andy Dalton can possibly be helped at this point. Andy Dalton needs a lot more than help to succeed. Expect Bengals to at least look at quarterback in round two.
10 (Broncos)
Ed Oliver IDL Houston
Half of this pick would be because of Ed Oliver and the other half would be that the Broncos do not appear sold on this quarterback class. This QB class truly is a bad one. The Broncos have Joe Flacco, who can still preform to an okay level. They wait a year, take a player at a position they have a need for, and put Ed Oliver on a line with Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Very, very dangerous alignment there.
9 (Bills)
Montez Sweat EDGE Mississippi State
Bills draft an edge defender for the same reason the 49ers do. How do you attack quarterbacks like Sam Darnold, Tom Brady, and … Ryan Fitzpatrick (eew gross)? You rush the passer. Montez Sweat can do that real quickly. Sweat set a record in Indianapolis for the fastest defense lineman in combine history. Running a 4.41 at 6’6, 260 pounds is insane. Sweat reminds many of Dee Ford. He would wreak havoc on the AFC East.
8 (Lions)
Greedy Williams CB LSU
A lot of people think the Lions will go tight end here. Cornerback makes the most sense. A combo of Darius Slay and Greedy Williams will be a hard one to throw against. Going tight end would not be smart for a team that for some reason appears to be shaping up for a championship instead of rebuilding. After spending big money on Jesse James, drafting a tight end would put their tight end spending near the top of the league. If they want any shot at a championship, draft a corner to help defend against a pass-happy league.
7 (Jaguars)
Brian Burns EDGE Florida State
Just like the Giants, former Giants coach and current GM of the Jaguars, Tom Coughlin values pass-rushers as well. Brian Burns will be a special talent at the next level. The speed, smarts, and effort are top notch. Burns is a dominant pass-rusher and tremendous athlete. The only drawback, his weight. A few fast food trips will help.
6 (Giants)
Rashan Gary EDGE Michigan
Gary undoubtedly presents some risk at six for the Giants, however, the talent might be too much to pass up. Gary is a talented, elite athlete and plays a position that the Giants have always valued. This move makes sense for New York.
5 (Buccaneers)
Devin White LB LSU
Undoubtedly the best linebacker in this draft provides the most value here at five for the Buccaneers. With Kwon Alexander leaving for San Fran and Kendell Beckwith’s health concerns, it makes sense to draft a linebacker. Not to mention, LaVonte David will be 30 years old soon and could use a very capable, young blood that can be his tackle machine buddy while his career does nothing but wind down. Plus, once White and Bush are gone in round one, the position sees a steep drop off. Better to address that issue now.
4 (Raiders)
Josh Allen EDGE Kentucky
This guy aspires to be Khalil Mack. The Raiders did not pay Khalil Mack top dollar. This guy would not need top dollar money until roughly his fourth year in the league. Raiders take a poor man’s Khalil Mack, or a Mack lite, and find a long-term solution to such a big problem last year. Maybe this guy can become a monster and they can trade him away too.
3 (Redskins) *Originally NYJ
Kyler Murray QB Oklahoma
Trade details: Jets trade 3rd overall, 68th overall, 196th overall, 217th overall and next year’s sixth round pick to Washington for 15th overall, 46th overall, 227th overall and next year’s first round pick.
Rumor on the block is that the Jets want desperately to trade back. Redskins desperately need a quarterback and to make a splash. Redskins give up a lot of capital to make this move, but get the guy who could be the best quarterback in the draft. A move like this would be eerily similar to the trade up to get Robert Griffin III a few years back, but would most likely be more successful. The Redskins could do some of the same things they did with RG3 with Kyler. A quarterback of Kyler’s ability would work out a lot better in this system than RG3 did.
2 (49ers)
Nick Bosa EDGE Ohio State
How do you shutdown quarterbacks like Jared Goff? Josh Rosen? And how do you disrupt Russell Wilson’s rhythm? You rush the passer. How better to attack your division rivals than add Dee Ford and Nick Bosa to your team? Those three teams also have spectacular run games. 49ers bulk up their defensive line to assemble one of the more deadly pass-rushing cores in the league.
1 (Cardinals)
Quinnen Williams IDL Alabama
So, a lot of thought went into this pick. Here is what it boils down to, Cardinals have a quarterback, his name is Josh Rosen. Cardinals pass on their absurd idea to put him up on the auction block for chump change and decide to build a stronger defense. Quinnen is a prospect teams cannot afford to pass up. Cardinals take a position they need to improve on and insert the best player in this draft class into that spot.
Rodney Harrison would get my vote for Patriots Hall Of Fame
Rodney Harrison was a huge asset to the Patriots defense. The two time Super Bowl Champion played 63 games for the Patriots, starting 62 of them. In the nine seasons with the Patriots, he recorded 12 interceptions, had 412 combination tackles, and 312 solo tackles. Harrison is one of those Patriots who came up big in big spots on the defensive side of the ball. When people think of those early 2000 Patriot teams on defense they think of Ty Law, Teddy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Ted Johnson, and Rodney Harrison. Harrison was on the Super Bowl XXXVIII, and Super Bowl XXIX winning teams.
Rodney Harrison has two Super Bowl rings
One of the greatest moments of Harrison’s career came at the end of Super Bowl XXXVIII. He would break his arm during the Panthers last drive, instead of coming out of the game he went back in on the very next play. On the next play, he made a tackle making his broken arm even worse. That was the Rodney Harrison that people loved the toughness he showed. After the game, Harrison thanked Belichick for believing in him. The only down moment was the David Tyree helmet catch in the Super Bowl against the Giants. Other than that he had a great career with the Patriots
Another great moment for Harrison was when he intercepted Donovan McNabb in Super Bowl XXXIX on the final drive to seal the win and the Patriots third Super Bowl. He deserves that red jacket with the other Patriot greats. However so does Richard Seymour and Mike Vrabel who are also Patriots Hall Of Fame candidates this year. Out of those three, I would pick Harrison as he wasn’t traded away like Seymour was to Oakland or Vrabel was to Kansas City. It seemed like Vrabel and Seymour left on bad terms but are now fine with Belichick. Harrison, however, has always been a Belichick favorite and should get the fans vote.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 27: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with trainer Alex Guerrero after defeating the New York Jets with a score of 22 to 17 at MetLife Stadium on November 27, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The question remains can the greatest quarterback play until he’s 50? Brady is playing until 45. He’s confirmed that numerous times. But his trainer Alex Guerrero sees the quarterback playing until 50. Even if Brady was able to, there’s no way Gisele would allow him to keep playing past 45. He’s accomplished so much more than anyone, but the winning never gets old. He cemented his legacy with winning his fifth Super Bowl, and the sixth was just gravy. Just this week he posted to social media a picture of him taking confetti from the Super Bowl out of his helmet. He then wondered if he kept confetti from past Super Bowls. He keeps trolling the NFL, and it’s glorious.
This off-season is a lot quieter than last year. Also there’s a lot less drama. Brady and Belichick seem to be on the same page about doing what’s best to win now. They don’t want to plan for the future too much when they both have limited years left realistically. Brady doesn’t need high talent to be successful, just look at the no names they have singed this year. His current receiving crew makes last years look great, and it was average.
Alex Guerrero’s access to the Stadium is still limited, but players can go to TB12 for treatment if needed. Guerrero is blowing smoke talking about Brady playing until he’s 50. He knows when Brady will hang it up, and his main focus will be on his TB12 brand. He still has a good four years left unless there’s a major drop off. I don’t see him hanging it up in the next two years. All he cares about is winning, he doesn’t care if its Chris Hogan out there, or Bruce Ellington, as long as they can help the team win they’ll be fine. Brady will not play until 50 though. His kids are getting older and he probably wants to spend more time with them he’s already accomplished being the greatest of all time.
1996 was the last time the Patriots drafted a receiver in the first round.
Terry Glenn, a 5’11, 195 pound, Ohio State prospect, was selected with the seventh pick in the 1996 draft and went on to catch 90 passes for 1132 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Mutual Interest
Now, the Patriots are reportedly eyeing an Ole Miss prospect and he is eyeing them right back.
AJ Brown, a 6’0, 226 pound receiver of Ole Miss has already met with the Patriots and has briefly referenced his wish to land in New England on his Twitter account.
Brown communicating his interest in playing in New England with none other than Tom Brady himself.
Combine and Traits
Brown ran a 4.49 forty-yard dash, benched 19 reps on the bench and had a 36.5 inch vertical leap in the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
His good athletic ability and good size is just a small part of the picture with AJ Brown.
Brown demonstrated that he is not only a talented big slot receiver at Ole Miss but also an excellent playmaker.
When watching AJ play, it is not hard to realize that he was actually the best receiver at Ole Miss.
However, he constantly found himself overshadowed by this mystical creature of sorts named DK Metcalf.
Metcalf will be long gone before our 32nd pick in the draft, however, Brown should be available.
If this is the case, the Patriots should immediately jump to pick a receiver in the first round for the first time in 23 years.
The Kind of Player He Is
He may not exactly be the best at getting separation at the next level, which is something Belichick looks for. However, Brown’s physicality and pretty good speed allow him to win battles for the ball when covered.
Brown is a quick processor, has a high football IQ, and should have the smarts to grasp a playbook that others have struggled with in the past.
Could Help Heal Some Wounds Caused By Gronk’s Departure
Having a smart target on the field will be beneficial to the Patriots offense with Gronk leaving for retirement. Gronk’s smarts was one of his most valuable traits and drafting a young, big, chain-mover would help alleviate that pain.
Best Receiver in the Draft
After extensive research, I am convinced that AJ Brown has the potential to be the best receiver in this draft.
AJ’s real competition will be Hakeem Butler out of Iowa State. A familiar face to Brown, DK Metcalf out of Ole Miss, will also challenge this title.
Evaluation
Brown has a proven track record to as a powerful runner with great vision, great blocking, and good elusiveness.
Brown can easily adjust to the football on the ground or in the air. He can catch in traffic. He can run good routes.
Brown really does not possess many weaknesses in game film.
Besides the questions of being able to consistently separate, Brown is a very strong prospect.
He could end up being either the second or third receiver in the Patriots offense. A trio of Edelman, Brown and hopefully Josh Gordon would be very strong.
Boldin Comparison
Comparisons to Anquan Boldin are pretty reasonable and realistic. Those who have said so made sure every knew Brown has more speed than Boldin ever did.
AJ Brown is a safe pick. He can be a leader for the team and a primary target for Brady and predecessor quarterbacks. Cross your fingers that AJ Brown slips to the 32nd spot in this month’s draft.
Bill Belichick looks like he’s coaching for at least five more seasons
What a difference a year makes. This time last year there was speculation that Belichick was on his way out after Josh McDaniels came back as offensive coordinator. It seemed like Belichick was grooming him to be the next head coach sooner rather than later. However, things changed once the season started. The Patriots finished 11-5 and won the Super Bowl. Now a year later people have the total opposite mindset. Belichick is going nowhere. I even wrote that Belichick could be on his way out when they traded everyone in the off-season to let McDaniels have somewhat of a new team. Boy, was I wrong.
Brady will retire before Belichick retires
Brady has said repeatedly he’s playing until 45. Belichick, however, has only said he doesn’t want to coach into his 70s. Could it be possible he does coach into his 70s? I do think he will out last Brady and coach into his early 70s because he loves the game so much. Even at the owners meetings he’s always looking at ways to improve the game. He’s so passionate about the game that I really don’t see him retiring anytime soon. When he’s had enough he will hang it up. But I do believe he’d want to coach a season or two without Tom Brady.
Belichick will have to find the next quarterback after Brady retires. Which means he’ll have to either draft or trade for a decent back up soon. He drafted Jimmy Garoppolo but then traded him because Brady isn’t even close to falling off a cliff. Belichick seems to be going into this season just like he does every other season. He does what’s best for the team at that time and people can question all they want but he knows what he’s doing. Belichick isn’t retiring anytime soon.
Rob Gronkowski was drafted 42nd overall in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Later that summer, he signed a four-year contract worth $4.4 million. In 2010 Gronkowski played in all 16 games, catching 42 receptions for 546 yards and 10 touchdowns. From the beginning, people were talking about how much value Gronkowski could bring to a team. The 2011 season was his best one, having 90 receptions for 1,327 yards and a career-high 17 touchdowns. Throughout his nine years with the Patriots Gronkowski had 521 receptions for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns. As he announced his retirement from football on Sunday night lets look back at the greatest of Rob Gronkowski on and off the field.
Lets start in the beginning of his career in 2011. He was a year into the league and already making headlines. It was week 14 of the 2011 season the Patriots were on the road against the Washington Redskins. Brady had himself a day throwing for 357 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots won 34-27. But this would be Gronkowski’s stand out game. He set a record that day for most touchdowns catches in a single game by a tight end. The standout play was when Gronk was carrying two defenders on his back without going down.
Gronkowski loves to party. If there was one guy on the Patriots you had to party with it would probably be Gronk. From the dancing on stage, to partying hard after a Super Bowl, the 6’6″ giant is the life of any party he attends. However, when it came down to business he knew it was time to focus. What makes Gronkowski great is he knows there’s a time to party and time to be serious. At this Super Bowl Parade maybe in the back of his mind, this was his last ride so he thought he go all out. Well, he did from drinking beer to drinking wine, to catching beers from fans.
Gronk will be remembered for his leadership and playmaking
Gronkowski had great leadership in the locker room being a role model for his teammates. He and Brady had great chemistry and he always came up big when he was needed the most. Whether it was blocking or making a big play they knew they could count on Gronk. He also did a lot in the community for charity work. He’s the founder of the Gronk Youth Foundation, which inspires youth to reach their maximum potential through sports education, community, and fitness.
Gronkowski had lots of memorbale moments
After the Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles he was contemplating retirement. But decided to come back and play at another shot at winning the Super Bowl. Gronk caught three touchdowns this season, and had 47 receptions for 682 yards. The last catch of his career came in the Super Bowl down the sideline to set up the game-winning touchdown by running back Sony Michel. His leadership and playmaking will be missed. But he is without a doubt a first ballot Hall Of Famer, and a three-time Super Bowl Champion.
Let’s take a look at the latest some Patriots moves and rumors that were surfacing this week. Belichick and the Patriots have been pretty quiet this offseason. However, a few stories this week could help shape this team for next year and years beyond.
Move: The Stephon Gilmore Contract
Thursday, the Patriots reworked Stephon Gilmore’s contract for 2019.
Gilmore, who was originally scheduled to have a cap hit of $14,837,500, saw $8.5 million dollars worth of his contract get converted into a signing bonus.
Doing this frees up $5.67 million dollars for the Patriots in cap space. The current cap for the Pats is now $8,332,763.
This move should not be the only one for the Patriots as more money will need to come their way. The Patriots still have key free agents like Stephen Gostkowski and Chris Hogan, who remain unsigned.
The Patriots also must compensate for the projected $8,970,997 dollars it will take to sign all their draft picks.
With their cap as it is, expect the Patriots to move some money around with players like Devin McCourty, Tom Brady, and maybe even Rob Gronkowski, D’onta Hightower, and Lawerence Guy.
Many expect Gostkowski to be back and Hogan looks more likely to return by the day. The Patriots will need at least 6 million in cap for those two signings alone.
Expect them to restructure some contracts, resign some players, and trade a couple of draft picks.
Rumor: Patriots Schedule Meeting With WVU Quarterback Will Grier
The Patriots lack of attention to the quarterback position in this year’s draft might hint what they have planned for next year’s.
Although, one quarterback prospect who they have scheduled a meeting with is former West Virginia quarterback Will Grier.
Grier, who was in the Heisman conversation for a brief time last year, seems to be moving up draft boards each day.
In fact his pro day was so impressive that he has potentially moved up into late first-round consideration.
Grier makes sense as a potential fit in the Patriots system. In addition, some other quarterbacks that scouts think could come to New England are Daniel Jones of Duke, Brett Rypien of Boise State, and Ryan Finley of North Carolina State.
Rumor: Stephen Gostkowski Resigning Reports
It seems inevitable that the Patriots and veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski will reach an agreement to reunite.
Now it appears that after the readjustment of Stephon Gilmore’s contract that the Patriots now have the money to resign their long-tenured kicker.
Tom Curran reported on Thursday that the Patriots and Gostkowski are making progress and are actively talking about a return.
Curran also reported that other teams are interested in Gostkowski. Almost any team would kill for a kicker like Stephen. Although, Gostkowksi’s interest in other teams seem very small and he obviously holds the Patriots as his top destination.
Gostkowski will be entering his fourteenth year in the NFL and will not consider retirement at this time.
Most expect Gostkowski’s contract number to be in the $3mil to $4mil range.
Losing a kicker like Gostkowski would obviously be bad news for New England. Replacing his production would certainly not be an easy task.
Free agency started in the NFL today, and the Patriots subtracted instead of adding. They did trade for defensive lineman Michael Bennett on Friday from the Eagles, but lost Trent Brown and Trey Flowers yesterday. On the first day, it was the Lions making moves, while the Patriots lost some defensive playmakers. However, because of their success, they can add and subtract all they want, because as long as Belichick and Brady are on the team they make the Super Bowl year after year.
The Patriots seem to still make Super Bowl’s with average talent and make them great
The Patriots for some reason bring in average talent and turn them into elite players. It must be the winning style and how Belichick coaches. Also with the way Brady prepares and takes the game seriously. Even though they finished the regular season 11-5, they still went on to win the Super Bowl. Proving Belichick can be on a island during free agency, while other teams are singing players, and the Patriots will still make the Super Bowl. It does sound arrogant, but it’s a known fact when nobody can stop them in the playoffs.
Everything Belichick does is part of what is best for the team. From trading players, to benching Malcolm Butler in the Super Bowl, Belichick because of his success can do no wrong. When we look back at a year ago there was no talk of the Patriots ever making a Super Bowl again in the Brady Belichick era. Once again with no good receivers, and Edelman coming back from an injury and suspension. The defense was questionable, and there was a lot of Rob Gronkowski drama.
They’ve earned everything they have. Belichick makes sure the players put in the work day in and day out. Belichick isn’t known for giving raises, he only cares about winning championships. Trey Flowers, Trent Brown, Danny Amendola, they can go get their payday on other teams. But when it comes to playoff time they’ll be on the couch watching their old team the Patriots making a run at another Super Bowl title.
