FREE AGENCY THREAD (and Potential Trade Bait)
- Thread starter Dingleberry
- Start date
That's some serious reaching by ML football.. i want whatever he's smoking
captain stone
Well-known member
It's too bad they don't have a good QB, they have some good young talent on offense, and have some nice pieces on D. If they hit on CB, WR and add to the trenches in the draft they could be good. (if they also had a non-midget at QB)
captain stone
Well-known member
With his old bones, I bet a cold weather city with no shot at a ring was not high on his list.
The New England Patriots needed a wide receiver desperately before they signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $63.5 million contract -- but even that move doesn't wipe wideout off the list of the team's priorities.
Quarterback Drake Maye is entering his second season and needs as much help on the offensive line as he does when it comes to skill position players. Diggs has been a Pro Bowler four times in his career, but a torn ACL cost him half of last season and he will play in 2025 at 32 years old.
The Patriots own the No. 4 pick in April's NFL draft and it's possible that CB/WR Travis Hunter could fall to that spot. However, if he doesn't, and if Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter is also off the board, there may not be a player at a position of need for the Patriots worth the value of the fourth overall selection. In that case, New England makes a good deal of sense as a team willing to trade down and pick up a highly-valued asset in return.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
ESPN's Bill Barnwell authored a trade proposal in which the Patriots flip the No. 4 pick and offensive guard Cole Strange to the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 11 overall selection and acquire $120 million receiver Brandon Aiyuk in the process.
"In a draft without many upper-echelon receiving prospects, the Patriots could try to cut the line and get quarterback Drake Maye a running mate alongside new signing Stefon Diggs," Barnwell wrote on Monday, March 31. "They were reportedly interested in Aiyuk a year ago, and despite his extension with the 49ers, rumors about his availability have continued this spring."
Aiyuk also suffered a knee injury last year, tearing both his ACL and MCL in October. However, the former second-team All-Pro will play next season at just 27 years old and would provide a safety net against another Diggs injury, and vice versa. Aiyuk topped 1,000 yards receiving with the 49ers in both 2022 and 2023.
Quarterback Drake Maye is entering his second season and needs as much help on the offensive line as he does when it comes to skill position players. Diggs has been a Pro Bowler four times in his career, but a torn ACL cost him half of last season and he will play in 2025 at 32 years old.
The Patriots own the No. 4 pick in April's NFL draft and it's possible that CB/WR Travis Hunter could fall to that spot. However, if he doesn't, and if Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter is also off the board, there may not be a player at a position of need for the Patriots worth the value of the fourth overall selection. In that case, New England makes a good deal of sense as a team willing to trade down and pick up a highly-valued asset in return.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
ESPN's Bill Barnwell authored a trade proposal in which the Patriots flip the No. 4 pick and offensive guard Cole Strange to the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 11 overall selection and acquire $120 million receiver Brandon Aiyuk in the process.
"In a draft without many upper-echelon receiving prospects, the Patriots could try to cut the line and get quarterback Drake Maye a running mate alongside new signing Stefon Diggs," Barnwell wrote on Monday, March 31. "They were reportedly interested in Aiyuk a year ago, and despite his extension with the 49ers, rumors about his availability have continued this spring."
Aiyuk also suffered a knee injury last year, tearing both his ACL and MCL in October. However, the former second-team All-Pro will play next season at just 27 years old and would provide a safety net against another Diggs injury, and vice versa. Aiyuk topped 1,000 yards receiving with the 49ers in both 2022 and 2023.
– Could a young Patriots quarterback be on the move?
It’s possible.
According to multiple sources, the Patriots have received multiple trade inquiries for young quarterback Joe Milton III.
It remains to be seen if the Patriots will ultimately deal Milton. However, there does seem to be motivation on the player’s side to be moved. A source close to the quarterback said Milton would prefer to be on a roster that best gives him a chance to compete for the starting job.
After drafting Drake Maye at No. 3 last year, the Patriots have their franchise quarterback. After signing veteran Josh Dobbs to a 2-year $8 million deal, the team also has a veteran backup. That leaves Milton as the potential No. 3 quarterback for the second-straight season. Of course, all teams prefer to enter a season with adequate quarterback depth. Milton gives the Patriots that – along with an affordable rookie contract.
Although there are teams interested in Milton’s potential, it doesn’t mean the Patriots will give him away for nothing.
The 2024 sixth-round pick’s name has been floated in trade rumors this offseason after leading the Patriots to a Week 18 upset win. The 25-year-old completed 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards to go with a passing touchdown. He also ran for 16 yards and scored a rushing touchdown.
Considering this year’s quarterback draft class isn’t robust, Milton could provide another team with a young option to compete for a starter’s role.
Chances are, there wouldn’t be any movement on Milton until after the draft, when teams assess where they are in relation to their respective quarterback rooms.
www.masslive.com
On Monday, at the NFL Annual Meetings, Mike Vrabel was asked about Milton being a potential trade asset for the Patriots.
He seemed to understand Milton’s plight.
“Yeah, I think Joe’s did everything that they asked him to do last year. Sounds like in conversations that he worked extremely hard, and that’s tough when you’re a quarterback,” Vrabel said. “Everybody wants to play. Everybody wants to be the starter, everybody and that’s great to have that attitude. And he was ready for his opportunity there late in the season, which I commend him on, just like I would any player that sat there and went through a long season, a difficult season, and then got the opportunity, went out, won a football game, played well, helped his team win.
“And then where that leads to, we’ll see as the draft approaches, or where Joe is on April 7 to start our offseason program. But you have to give Joe credit for being ready to go, going from the third quarterback to being able to win that football game and stay ready and stay hungry.”
It’s possible.
According to multiple sources, the Patriots have received multiple trade inquiries for young quarterback Joe Milton III.
It remains to be seen if the Patriots will ultimately deal Milton. However, there does seem to be motivation on the player’s side to be moved. A source close to the quarterback said Milton would prefer to be on a roster that best gives him a chance to compete for the starting job.
After drafting Drake Maye at No. 3 last year, the Patriots have their franchise quarterback. After signing veteran Josh Dobbs to a 2-year $8 million deal, the team also has a veteran backup. That leaves Milton as the potential No. 3 quarterback for the second-straight season. Of course, all teams prefer to enter a season with adequate quarterback depth. Milton gives the Patriots that – along with an affordable rookie contract.
Although there are teams interested in Milton’s potential, it doesn’t mean the Patriots will give him away for nothing.
The 2024 sixth-round pick’s name has been floated in trade rumors this offseason after leading the Patriots to a Week 18 upset win. The 25-year-old completed 22-of-29 passes for 241 yards to go with a passing touchdown. He also ran for 16 yards and scored a rushing touchdown.
Considering this year’s quarterback draft class isn’t robust, Milton could provide another team with a young option to compete for a starter’s role.
Chances are, there wouldn’t be any movement on Milton until after the draft, when teams assess where they are in relation to their respective quarterback rooms.
Trade talks swirling around Patriots QB Joe Milton III
The Patriots are receiving trade inquiries for a young quarterback. Will they make a deal? Here's what we heard:
On Monday, at the NFL Annual Meetings, Mike Vrabel was asked about Milton being a potential trade asset for the Patriots.
He seemed to understand Milton’s plight.
“Yeah, I think Joe’s did everything that they asked him to do last year. Sounds like in conversations that he worked extremely hard, and that’s tough when you’re a quarterback,” Vrabel said. “Everybody wants to play. Everybody wants to be the starter, everybody and that’s great to have that attitude. And he was ready for his opportunity there late in the season, which I commend him on, just like I would any player that sat there and went through a long season, a difficult season, and then got the opportunity, went out, won a football game, played well, helped his team win.
“And then where that leads to, we’ll see as the draft approaches, or where Joe is on April 7 to start our offseason program. But you have to give Joe credit for being ready to go, going from the third quarterback to being able to win that football game and stay ready and stay hungry.”
I believe it, with this year's draft class.. why wouldn't a QB needy team kick the tires on asking price? There's a half dozen or so backups on rosters out there who can barely throw, the DTR's of the world... Milton is a pretty clear upgrade for that group but he actually has upside.
Because you'd have to give something up to get him, and The Patriots wouldn't be pushing it if it was over a 6th or 7th round pick. They'd just have pulled the trigger.
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