Patriots 2023 Season

[Vermont Green]

It is really tough to judge the coaching job that O'Brien did in NE last season.  You can't design exotic plays if your O-Line is bad and your QB is bad.  Once the injuries set in on the OL, all they could do is run very basic plays.  Otherwise, it would be a sack or an interception.  That isn't necessarily a reflection of the offensive coordinator.

It is equally hard to judge Josh McDaniels.  Was it him or was it Brady and Belichick?  Based on his results outside of NE, you have to really wonder about him.  I would be OK with McDaniels as the OC.  It is just hard to know who might be better.  I think things are going to have to remain pretty basic next season.  I doubt they can fix both the OL and the QB in one off season.  And even if they do, it takes a will to build up to being able to run complex offenses.

[Goldstar88]

It is really tough to judge the coaching job that O'Brien did in NE last season.  You can't design exotic plays if your O-Line is bad and your QB is bad.  Once the injuries set in on the OL, all they could do is run very basic plays.  Otherwise, it would be a sack or an interception.  That isn't necessarily a reflection of the offensive coordinator.

It is equally hard to judge Josh McDaniels.  Was it him or was it Brady and Belichick?  Based on his results outside of NE, you have to really wonder about him.  I would be OK with McDaniels as the OC.  It is just hard to know who might be better.  I think things are going to have to remain pretty basic next season.  I doubt they can fix both the OL and the QB in one off season.  And even if they do, it takes a will to build up to being able to run complex offenses.

Well, last time McDaniels was OC, the Pats went 10-7 and made the playoffs. That was with Mac too. If the Pats can get back to .500 next season, that would be a successful year, IMO.

[Donoghus]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

[SparzWizard]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

They'll never have this opportunity to acquire a top 3 pick again. They must draft a top 3 prospect (mainly, MHJ).

[Vermont Green]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

I agree with you.  If the pick is Harrison and you have someone willing to pay or overpay to move up for him, then trade.  One good WR doesn't make enough difference in my opinion.  Add him to the right team and maybe but the Pats are clearly not that kind of team right now.

I am on the fence regarding Daniels.  I don't mind reaching some for a QB if you believe in that QB.  Even if Daniels' ceiling is just a solid top 10, top 15 QB, that to me is still a good use of the #3 pick.  If he turns out to be a bust, then of course it is a wasted pick and a big missed opportunity.  It is probably safer to trade down and build the infrastructure of the team but what is plan be for the long term QB then?

[SparzWizard]

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mayo and the Patriots are set to interview Carolina Panthers’ outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu for the defensive coordinator job.

Finally someone not from the Belichick tree?!

[Donoghus]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

They'll never have this opportunity to acquire a top 3 pick again. They must draft a top 3 prospect (mainly, MHJ).

They don't have to do anything.  That's a pretty crap hot take.

If they don't have a top 3 pick again, it actually means they're playing better. 

[Goldstar88]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

Draft is such a crapshoot. I’d rather take the guy that’s basically a “can’t miss” prospect at 3 with MHJ. WR is also a huge need for the Pats.

[Donoghus]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

Draft is such a crapshoot. I’d rather take the guy that’s basically a “can’t miss” prospect at 3 with MHJ. WR is also a huge need for the Pats.

It certainly is.  My thinking is that the have several areas of need.  Rather than potentially reaching on a QB (Daniels), and needing more than simply a WR, trade down and pick up extra picks.  Ideally, stay in the top 10.  More picks always helps mitigate for those potential whiffs.

They also have a boatload of cap space to help address things too.

If they stay put and take Harrison, I'd be fine with it too.  I certainly wouldn't be throwing things at the TV if they draft him. My larger concern is the QB reach.   I just think the trade down might be the best move for a team that is several steps away to getting back to being a playoff team.

[Moranis]

I think the Pats should see if the Bears want 3 and they should move back to 8, pick up Fields, and get a 3rd, future 2nd, and a future 3rd. At 8 they can then take someone like Fashanu, Latu, Turner, Latham.  So you get a look at Fields, get an OL or DL, and a couple of extra picks that should lead to starters. 

Bears then take Williams at 1 and Harrison at 3.

[johnnygreen]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

They'll never have this opportunity to acquire a top 3 pick again. They must draft a top 3 prospect (mainly, MHJ).

They don't have to do anything.  That's a pretty crap hot take.

If they don't have a top 3 pick again, it actually means they're playing better.

They may get marginally better, but also stuck in purgatory, which is the worst place to be regarding the draft. The chance to draft a blue chip prospect at 3 is hopefully just a one time thing. Blue chip players are game changers, which is what this team lacks. Trading back was a Belichick thing, which over time lead up to this point.

[Donoghus]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

They'll never have this opportunity to acquire a top 3 pick again. They must draft a top 3 prospect (mainly, MHJ).

They don't have to do anything.  That's a pretty crap hot take.

If they don't have a top 3 pick again, it actually means they're playing better.

They may get marginally better, but also stuck in purgatory, which is the worst place to be regarding the draft. The chance to draft a blue chip prospect at 3 is hopefully just a one time thing. Blue chip players are game changers, which is what this team lacks. Trading back was a Belichick thing, which over time lead up to this point.

Belichick whiffing on the picks is what helped lead them to this point.

[Goldstar88]

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mayo and the Patriots are set to interview Carolina Panthers’ outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu for the defensive coordinator job.

Finally someone not from the Belichick tree?!

Yeah, I just can’t see them bringing in a LB coach from the worst team in football with one of the worst defenses in football and making them DC.

[Goldstar88]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

Draft is such a crapshoot. I’d rather take the guy that’s basically a “can’t miss” prospect at 3 with MHJ. WR is also a huge need for the Pats.

It certainly is.  My thinking is that the have several areas of need.  Rather than potentially reaching on a QB (Daniels), and needing more than simply a WR, trade down and pick up extra picks.  Ideally, stay in the top 10.  More picks always helps mitigate for those potential whiffs.

They also have a boatload of cap space to help address things too.

If they stay put and take Harrison, I'd be fine with it too.  I certainly wouldn't be throwing things at the TV if they draft him. My larger concern is the QB reach.   I just think the trade down might be the best move for a team that is several steps away to getting back to being a playoff team.

I agree that they have a lot of needs, just would hate to miss out on a guy that seems to be a sure thing. Feel like MHJ is going to be a Julio Jones level talent. Especially after the whole debacle with drafting N’Keal Harry over Deebo Samuel, AJ Brown, DK Metcalf… That still stings. Lol

Can spend a good chunk of the cap on the O-line. If they have a decent O-line, a legit #1 in MHJ, they can fairly evaluate Mac and go from there. If he doesn’t get back to how he played his rookie year, move on.

[Moranis]

Beginning to think more & more that the play is to trade down from 3 and load up on capital. 

Unless, presumably, they are absolutely sold on Daniels being the guy, trade out of the slot.  As much as I love Harrison, I think the Pats would be better served trading down and building up the war chest.

They'll never have this opportunity to acquire a top 3 pick again. They must draft a top 3 prospect (mainly, MHJ).

They don't have to do anything.  That's a pretty crap hot take.

If they don't have a top 3 pick again, it actually means they're playing better.

They may get marginally better, but also stuck in purgatory, which is the worst place to be regarding the draft. The chance to draft a blue chip prospect at 3 is hopefully just a one time thing. Blue chip players are game changers, which is what this team lacks. Trading back was a Belichick thing, which over time lead up to this point.

Belichick whiffing on the picks is what helped lead them to this point.

Yeah I heard a stat that in the last like 5 or 6 drafts, the Patriots drafted only 2 Pro Bowl players, one of them was Mac Jones, the other a punter.  That is why the team hasn't done well and why any team that brings in Bill had better be wary about giving him draft control.