Branch for a 4th

[Fan from VT]

Twitter: Adam_Schefter, retweeted by Mike Reiss:

Filed to ESPN: Seattle traded WR Deion Branch to New England for a fourth-round pick. Bet Tom Brady is happy.

So they keep their 1,1,2,2,3,3 and fill the void. nice.

[rondohondo]

so the pats traded Branch away for a 1st and then get him back for a 4th.....

thats a great trade !

[Fan from VT]

Don't know if it really matters at this point but Moss was making 6.4 million this year and FA next year; Branch is at 5.47 this year and 5.95 next year.

Plus the bump from 4th to 3rd round:

Net = Moss+4th for Branch+3rd+back next year for reasonable money.

[PosImpos]

So in a sense we traded Randy Moss + 4th Rounder for Deion Branch + 3rd Rounder?

I dunno how good Deion Branch is these days...but that doesn't sound too bad.

[Roy H.]

I think the Pats gave up pretty good value here, especially in light of what they got for Moss.  I mean, they gave up a 4th rounder for a guy who had 45 receptions and 2 TDs, after receiving a 3rd rounder for a guy who had 83 receptions and 13 TDs.

Obviously, different offenses and different situations.  Still, Moss is a much, much better player than Branch, I think, and the value received versus given up wasn't that much different.

[Cman]

I think the Pats gave up pretty good value here, especially in light of what they got for Moss.  I mean, they gave up a 4th rounder for a guy who had 45 receptions and 2 TDs, after receiving a 3rd rounder for a guy who had 83 receptions and 13 TDs.

Obviously, different offenses and different situations.  Still, Moss is a much, much better player than Branch, I think, and the value received versus given up wasn't that much different.

Agreed.  I was hoping it would be for a 5th rounder.  I can only hope that Branch agreed to restructure his contract a bit.  I do like that there is a vet WR though, as that always seems to settle Brady down a bit.

[Fan from VT]

Not good if it was "just because." And with the compensation for a departing FA it was more like

Moss (this year, but not back next year)+4th+5th(compensation) for Branch (this year and next)+3rd.

So we swap Moss for Branch this year, move up one round next year, and instead of having the 5th round pick we can keep Branch next year.

Branch is a definite downgrade, BUT he buys into the team scheme, and I'm assuming Moss was in fact a ticking time bomb before full-on pouty/tanking mode, or I doubt this deal would have gone down.

Now about that defense...

[Cman]

Now about that defense...

Hahaha!  Very true!

[Rondo2287]

I think the Pats gave up pretty good value here, especially in light of what they got for Moss.  I mean, they gave up a 4th rounder for a guy who had 45 receptions and 2 TDs, after receiving a 3rd rounder for a guy who had 83 receptions and 13 TDs.

Obviously, different offenses and different situations.  Still, Moss is a much, much better player than Branch, I think, and the value received versus given up wasn't that much different.

Im gonna disagree here, number one, they were able to get a guy for 2 years that has repor with Brady.  Number two they get a guy that isn't going to be a distraction in the locker room.  Number three they get a guy that better fits the offense that they are going for going forward. And number 4 you get a guy that is proven in the playoffs.  And number 5 they get a guy that is willing to work over the middle. 

[Rondo2287]

"Trading Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings was the right thing to do for the Patriots and the right thing for Moss. As the Patriots offense changed from the beginning of training camp to now, those changes did not involve Moss. He was no longer a player in their offense, but rather a specific play runner.

Moss can still run explosively down the field and stretch the defense, but with the Patriots using more two tight end sets their offense required a route runner, not a route stretcher. Moss does not run the quick slant or any inside routes. His game has evolved into outside-the-numbers vertical routes, or deep over routes on play action. By trading Moss, the Patriots can run their offense without limitations, without having to worry about getting the ball to Moss and, most of all, can utilize their entire offensive playbook."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81b2bb2c/printable/patriots-vikings-take-smart-business-approach-to-moss-deal

[Mike-Dub]

I think the Pats gave up pretty good value here, especially in light of what they got for Moss.  I mean, they gave up a 4th rounder for a guy who had 45 receptions and 2 TDs, after receiving a 3rd rounder for a guy who had 83 receptions and 13 TDs.

Obviously, different offenses and different situations.  Still, Moss is a much, much better player than Branch, I think, and the value received versus given up wasn't that much different.

Im gonna disagree here, number one, they were able to get a guy for 2 years that has repor with Brady.  Number two they get a guy that isn't going to be a distraction in the locker room.  Number three they get a guy that better fits the offense that they are going for going forward. And number 4 you get a guy that is proven in the playoffs.  And number 5 they get a guy that is willing to work over the middle. 

That's exactly how I feel Rondo.

[pearljammer10]

Hey pretty nice deal for the Pats here. Regardless of locker room problems I still would rather have Moss.

[the_Bird]

NFL trades make no sense, trying to figure value.  Why was Moss worth a fourth rounder when we traded for him, and Welker a #2? 

Mike Reiss seemed to indicate that a renegotiated contract for Branch may be in order (can't see the Pats making this deal for the right to pay him what, $10M over the next two seasons?).  Deal makes sense for a couple reasons:

1. Should fit into the team immediately - not trying to squeeze in someone who doesn't know the system, like a Doug Gabriel.  Chemistry with Brady should be immediate.

2. Team seems committed to returning to the Super Bowl offense - quick passes, quasi-West Coast offense, but balanced with some strong, north/south rushing attack (Law Firm).

3. Team's pretty young - another veteran voice, another good leader to help the young receivers (Tate, Price, Hernandez) develop.

4. Can play all the receiver spots - versatile and adds a lot of depth

Not sure who else they could have targeted who'd be as able to contribute immediately as Branch.  So, good for them.

Basically ends up being a Mauroney-for-Branch swap, which I think we all could live with.  Anyone know if it was out pick or Denver's that got traded?

[Boris Badenov]

I've seen a couple of sites argue that giving up a 4th was somehow not so bad because of all the picks we own next year:

"They owned two picks in each of the first four rounds of the 2011 draft, so parting with one of them wasn't a big deal."

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/29577/multiple-winners-in-deion-branch-trade

That really makes no sense, right? One can usually flip a pick into the next year, so you could just as easily view that pick as a 2012 4th or maybe 3rd.

Or we could trade the pick for a current player, like we did with Moss in the first place. That was a 4th round pick too!

Anyway, I think the trade's merits remain to be seen. Branch is going to face some high expectations, given who he's replacing and that many people in New England will want to see the 2005 Deion Branch.

[xmuscularghandix]

 Branch is going to face some high expectations, given who he's replacing and that many people in New England will want to see the 2005 Deion Branch.

Couldn’t disagree more. Most Pat’s fans would agree that Tom and The Patriots were most successful when we were just passing to the open guy.

Deion isn’t replacing Moss as a #1 receiver, he’s being added to Welker, Tate, Hernandez, Edelman, and Gronkowski as a viable option.

People are saying that Welker and Tate won’t be as open without Moss, but if everyones getting single coverage that means any one player can get open at any time in the game.. OR if they double the slot VS Wes i’m sure Tate can handle deep, or Hernandez over the middle... etc...