NFL offseason thread

You can leave both of them out.

 

Jake Delhomme?

 

Talk radio here very interested in Pats getting Matthew Stafford. No one, host or caller, has confronted the unhappy truth that New England doesn't have the assets it needs to trade for him.

 

The Patriots are more than a quarterback away, especially on offense. Other destinations make a lot more sense.

 

The Patriots have all of their draft inventory for 2021 still - If they want Stafford, they can get him. I like Stafford, but he'll be 33 by the time next season starts, and his range has been #8 to #16 QB in the league for most of his career, depending on how you want to look at it. He's not a "trade everything!!!" player like Watson.

 

I agree with OOP. The Pats can't trade away too many draft picks because they have too many holes. And they cannot really afford to trade any of their competent veterans because that just creates more holes.

 

Didn't they have about 8 players opt-out of the season? If you add those guys back, that's a pretty good amount of talent coming back. Unless there is a QB option they like more in the draft, I think a first-for-Stafford is more agreeable to me than rolling the dice with the currently projected FA quarterbacks. You basically need an A or A+ at every other position, a la the Baltimore Ravens with Trent Dilfer, if you have an average or worse QB. (I'm also of the mindset that Stidham is probably closer to a DFA candidate than a reasonable option, given that they were happy to play Cam Newton when he could barely throw over him.)

 

Will someone give up a 1 for Stafford?

 

I think so. Take a look at the Colts. Philip Rivers just retired. Rest of the team is pretty much set, and Stafford is an upgrade over Jacoby Brissett. Hand Detroit a 1, draft some kids to develop behind an already-strong roster and proceed.

Additionally, I'm thinking Stafford has 3-5 good seasons left. If you knew you could get that level of guy for a 1, it's probably green-lighted.

 

After I wrote that, I thought about the Colts. Especially since they once gave up a 1 for Trent Richardson.

Seriously, I can see that since they already have a lot of really good pieces in place and need a QB. Not sure anyone else would do it. I don't think the Saints would.

 

A top-half 1, probably not. Something lower than that, it depends how badly they need a QB right this minute.

 

The Saints may still be operating under the delusion that Hill can be the successor to Brees. They may not be in on Stafford, but they should.

If Roethlisberger retired tomorrow, the Steelers could get in it. It would basically put them in the same place with the cap as they would be if Roethlisberger plays in 2021. They have the pieces for a good defense and quality receivers, even if Smith-Schuster leaves as a free agent. That said, even if Roethlisberger was gone, it still isn't likely.

The Colts absolutely make the most sense.