The New England Patriots have a way of recouping their top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft via trade.
The Patriots, of course, lost the pick because owner Robert Kraft decided against appealing the NFL’s discipline over Deflategate. That decision has come back to bite Kraft, since there’s now building public support that the NFL didn’t have enough proof for such a harsh punishment.
Let’s get into how the Patriots could acquire a high draft pick in this week’s mailbag.
@DougKyed there was a suggestion for the patriots to trade jimmy G. With all the team needs are there any qbs the Patriots might take late?
— @yaunti
Let’s first get into the initial suggestion. I think it’s worth pursuing.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Tom Brady both have two years left on their contracts. Garoppolo has looked good in limited preseason and regular-season action, but Brady clearly still is the better of the two quarterbacks, even factoring in Jimmy G’s age. Brady arguably is the best quarterback in the NFL, while Garoppolo merely will be a third-year pro with upside.
If a team is willing to give up a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft — a first is unlikely — for Garoppolo, it’s at least worth considering since the Patriots don’t have a first-round selection. The Patriots might not be able to afford Garoppolo when he becomes a free agent after 2017.
So let’s look at the potential teams who could be interested in Garoppolo.
The Houston Texans should be considered the top option. They were tied to Garoppolo before the 2014 draft, and they have a clear need at the position.
The Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams also have obvious holes to fill at quarterback.
Teams with less of an obvious need but that still could use an upgrade include the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints.
Of course, the Patriots must see what happens with the NFL’s appeal of Brady’s overturned Deflategate suspension before deciding on anything.
To get into the actual question, I could see the Patriots showing interest in Alabama’s Jake Coker, Stanford’s Kevin Hogan or Indiana’s Nate Sudfeld.
@DougKyed lack of o-line or lack of quality RB’s or both, what’s the real reason our running game suffered, or was it both?
— @patricks1591
A little bit of Column A, a little bit of Column B. I’d say the Patriots’ lack of success in the running game had more to do with the offensive line than talent at running back, however. I just find it hard to believe LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden, Steven Jackson and James White all would have so little success. I think Dion Lewis shined because he’s an extra-special talent.
The Patriots’ offensive line and talent at running back will need to improve in 2016.
@DougKyed What impact to you predict the return of Scar will have on our Offensive Line?
— @drajkj
I think he’ll have a big impact. I also think the second-year jump that Shaq Mason, Tre’ Jackson and David Andrews all should take could make the impact appear even greater than it is. Having Dante Scarnecchia coach them up certainly will be big, however. I think he’ll also have a major impact on Bryan Stork’s continued improvement.
@DougKyed do you like the name Doug?
— @Jremmes333
Yeah, there aren’t many Dougs my age, so it’s cool.
@DougKyed Pats can take one player from side of the ball from each AFC East team – who do you take?
— @Deeep_Blue
I’m not including free agents here:
Buffalo Bills: RB LeSean McCoy and DT Marcell Dareus
Miami Dolphins: WR Jarvis Landry and DE Cameron Wake
New York Jets: WR Brandon Marshall and CB Darrelle Revis
I could have gone with wide receivers and defensive tackles on each team, but that seemed redundant.
@DougKyed if the Patriots decided to make a “splash” in FA, who would they spend the money on?
— @DanielVConnolly
I think they’d be willing to spend on an offensive lineman or linebacker. “Splash” signing might not be the most accurate term, however, because I can’t see them bringing in a super high-priced player at any position like Olivier Vernon or Malik Jackson. I could see them adding a player such as offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz or running back Matt Forte, however.
Jerrell Freeman, Derrick Johnson and Danny Trevathan are the top linebackers available. Free-agent linebacker contracts can be tough to predict. If any of those players are cheaper than expected, the Patriots could bite.
@DougKyed Shane McMahon vs Undertaker. Good or bad idea?
— @AirLarsen
Good idea. Even if I don’t fully believe it’s actually going to happen. I would assume the Undertaker eventually will come around and have something to say about Vince McMahon just deciding the opponent in what could be his final match.
I think either John Cena faces the Undertaker, Cena teams with Shane against Taker and another opponent (Kane?), or members of the Bullet Club help Shane beat the Undertaker, setting up a Taker-Finn Balor match for the future.
@DougKyed What was the worst gimmick in 80s era WWF?
— @StinkyEarl
The worst of the 80s probably was Akeem the African Dream, because it was so, so racist.
The worst of the 1990s, when I started actively watching, was fake Razor Ramon and fake Diesel. It would have been a lot more acceptable if introducing them was just a one-time rib on the crowd. It would have been funny, they would have been booed, and the angle would have been over. But no. The WWE(then F) actually seemed to think the crowd would accept these new characters because the company owned the right to the names. They were introduced in September 1996, and they lasted all the way until January. That. Is. Bonkers.
Fake Razor, real name Rick Bognar, went away, while Fake Diesel, aka Glenn Jacobs, eventually turned into one of WWE’s most successful characters, Kane.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images
