Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Locked On Patriots March 14, 2018 - Tampering Day the Second

Episode Date: March 14, 2018

Mark Schofield breaks down some of the latest action on the free agency front, including WR movement, the Bills making moves to the top of the board, comings and goings in Green Bay and the QB carousel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Good morning and welcome into Lockdown Patriots for Wednesday, March 14th, 2018. Mark Schofield here in the big chair. Happy Pi Day to those who celebrate. Going to do some free agency news today. A lot of stuff happening now. A lot of moves being made. Here's free agency gets rolling on in the National Football League. Before I dive in though,

reminder to follow me on Twitter at Mark Schofield. Follow the work over at InsideThePylon.com. Got a new check with me. Call them out where I dive into the Tyrod Taylor trade. What I think that means for Cleveland. I've talked about that some. Also get into thoughts about Deshaun Kaiser, two FCS quarterbacks that I've talked about a bit that are flying under the radar, as well as thoughts on Mike White.

Also some stuff on someone else in the Twitterverse whose family member needs your help. So check that out over at inside the pylon calm as I said gonna dive into some free agency stuff we're gonna talk about wide receiver movement we're gonna talk about a bills trade we're gonna talk about some movement in Green Bay as well as the quarterback carousel but let's start with some wide receiver movement and since this is a Patriots show there's probably no better place to start then Danny Amendola the Patriots crafty veteran slot receiver moving on to South Beach being reported that Amendola is going to sign a two-year 12 million dollar contract he'll stay in the AFC East but now as a member of the Miami Dolphins Dolphins making a couple of moves at wide receiver over

the past couple of days. Obviously, they trade Jarvis Landry to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fourth round and a seventh round pick. They sign Amendola, and they also sign Albert Wilson from the Kansas City Chiefs. Wilson getting a three-year, $24 million deal with the Dolphins. And it does seem that Landry out, Amendola and Wilson in, perhaps two players to replace one. Wilson's a player that I talked about a bit here on this show, as well as at LockedOnPatriots.com, breaking down how he might be somebody that you can look at to bolster depth at the slot receiver position. And slot receiver is a position that coming into free agency here,

I thought was a sneaky position of need for the New England Patriots. And now with Amendola moving on, it's become more of a position need. A couple of names that I'll throw out here in a minute. Also a reminder to check out my previous episode with Joe Ferriola from InsideThePylon.com where we mentioned three potential wide receiver prospects. But you can understand why Amendola made the move from reading around the Twitterverse, some of the articles I'm sure you've read as well. The Patriots had let him test the free agency waters. He had taken reduced deals over the past

couple of seasons to stay in New England, to stay with the Patriots, with Tom Brady, with Josh McDaniels, with Bill Belichick. In two years, $12 million. That's a nice little contract for Amendola. And as somebody that's getting a little bit longer in the tooth in the National Football League as far as his legacy goes, his longevity goes, it's probably a good decision by him to cash in. And so, obviously, we wish Danny Amendola the best decision by him to cash in. And so obviously,

wish Danny Amendola the best. You know, this is a business after all. And as much as I thought it would have made sense for New England to try to get Amendola back in, given questions over Julian Edelman's return, what he's meant to this team, Amendola, in terms of a receiver, a receiver option in the playoffs, a special teams player, a punt returner. You understand the business nature of this, and we wish Amendola the best. As far as some players that might come in, I think this is now a position that the Patriots address in the draft. Names I'll throw out there again. Richie James from Middle Tennessee State, Deshaun Hamilton from Penn State, and Braxton Berrios, who might be the guy out of the University of Miami another name Trey Quinn from SMU those are four names you probably want to do some work on

as we get closer and closer to the draft or maybe I'll do some work on them who knows but those are some AFC East related wide receiver movement some other wide receiver news Willie Sneed, a potential guy the Patriots could have looked at, kicked the tires on. One year, $1.9 million to stay in New Orleans. Paul Richardson, this was a bit of a stunner in terms of a deal. Five years, $40 million, 20 of which was guaranteed to sign with Washington and to leave the Seattle Seahawks. That's a pretty big deal. You know, Richardson does do some nice things in the pass game.

Could be a bit of a vertical threat, a downfield threat. And, you know, Alex Smith, he showed over the past couple of seasons a tendency that, you know, he can get a little aggressive downfield when he wants to. Obviously, he did that with Tyree Kill a bit. When you look at that Washington offense now, you've got Crowder, you've got Doxon, you add in Paul Richardson. Obviously, they have Vernon Davis still, Jordan Reed, who when healthy is a really good tight

end as well. So when you look at the way that Washington offense stacks up, they've added some nice pieces. They've got Terrell Pryor there as well. Ryan Grant, who is a slot-type guy. You know, that's a team that if Reed can stay healthy, they drafted Jeremy Sprinkle in the fifth round last year, who was a tight end out of Arkansas, who I kind of liked.

You know, if those guys can stay healthy, Alex Smith has some nice targets in the passing game, and that's what a guy like Alex Smith, stay healthy, Alex Smith has some nice targets in the passing game, and that's what a guy like Alex Smith, a quarterback like Alex Smith, needs. So that's an interesting move. Dante Moncrief, this break in late Tuesday afternoon, staying in the AFC South but moving from Indianapolis to Jacksonville. Obviously the Jaguars, they lose Allen Robinson to the Bears.

They try to replace a little bit of that with Dante Moncrief. Interesting decision there. Taylor Gabriel, another slot-type guy. He moves as well. Leaves the Atlanta Falcons, who Atlanta does have some weapons, obviously, at wide receiver.

But he joins the aforementioned Chicago Bears. So that's an interesting thing to look at because I've talked a little bit here and elsewhere about the new economy of quarterback deals and how the Seattle Seahawks model, get a rookie playing well on his first contract on a cost-controlled deal and address other needs. But you want to get that guy help,

and you can use some of the money to get that player help. You look at how the Rams helped Jared Goff. You look at how the Eagles helped Carson Wentz. And now look at what the Bears are doing with Mitchell Trubisky. They bring in Alan Robinson. They bring in a Tyler Gabriel. You know, a Taylor Gabriel, excuse me. And they're adding some pieces as well.

It's not the only move that the Bears have made in terms of getting some additions in the passing game. The Bears also making a move. They get Trey Burton, who is one of the more interesting tight end options, four-year, $32 million contract to go to Chicago. And so the Bears now are making some moves. They're adding some pieces on the offensive side of the ball,

so you look to see perhaps some improvement there from Mitchell Trubisky. Those are some of the wide receiver moves that have been made over the past couple of days. Up next, we're going to talk some comings and goings in Green Bay, as well as the Buffalo Bills. Got to keep an eye on them. They're getting closer and closer to the top of the draft. Is it for a quarterback? I think so.

We'll see. That's ahead with me, Mark Schofield, and Locked On Patriots. Mark Schofield back with you here on this Wednesday edition of Locked On Patriots doing some free agency news and notes. And let's talk for a minute about the Green Bay Packers because it's amazing how quickly free agency can make a fool out of guys like me. Because here I was on yesterday's show talking about Jimmy Graham, talking about potential return to the New Orleans Saints,

maybe reuniting with Sean Payton, Drew Brees. And what happens? Not that. Instead, Jimmy Graham moving to, of all places, Green Bay. Graham sat on a three-year contract with the Green Bay Packers. In terms of that, undisclosed as of yet. But in comes in a weapon for Aaron Rodgers, but out goes perhaps one of his favorite weapons, Jordy Nelson released by Green Bay.

That looks to be more of a cap move than anything else. It helps the Packers clear $10.2 million in cap space. But those are some interesting moves, some reorganization going on in Green Bay. But I want to talk here for a minute about the Buffalo Bills. This is Locked On Patriots. We do have to keep an eye on what teams in the AFC East are doing.

And the Buffalo Bills, I've talked about this some here. I've talked about this some over at Intentional Scouting, which I do with Nate Geary over at WGR Radio up in Buffalo. You can check that out. WGR550.com. That's a quarterback show.

It's dedicated and geared towards the Buffalo Bills. We get guests on to talk through some of these guys, whether it's Doug Farrar to talk about Kirk Cousins, Benjamin Solak to talk about Kyle Lauletta, Joe Marino to break down Sam Darnold, John Ledyard, excuse me, from Locked On NFL Draft. We went through Josh Allen. So that's a great show you can check out as well.

And we've been talking about it here that the Bills have firepower to get up into this draft, to get up perhaps into the top five where you might need to get to. Maybe you might even have to get to two or three if you want to get a quarterback that you want in this draft and so bill's making a move with the cincinnati bengals here they trade offensive tackle jordy

glenn who was injured at times they trade their first round pick in the one of their first round picks in this upcoming draft pick number 21 as well as a fifth round pick in the one of their first round picks in this upcoming draft pick number 21 as well as a fifth round pick in this draft to Cincinnati for Cincinnati's first round pick which is pick 12 as well as a sixth round pick in this draft so now when you look at what Buffalo has at the top of the draft in the first three rounds Buffalo has two picks in the first 12 and 22 they have two picks in the second 53 and 56 and they have two picks in the second, 53 and 56. And they have two picks in the third round, picks 65, which they got as part of the Tyrod Taylor trade, and pick 96 as well. And if you look at sort of the traditional NFL draft pick value chart, that little handy

calculator that has sometimes been used, which may be a little bit outdated. But if you just look at that, picks 12 and 22 are equivalent to pick four. And that's just if they want to get to four. So go and buy that little calculator. 12 and 22, that can get you to four. Now, would Cleveland be willing to trade down? Maybe. Maybe if Cleveland addresses their quarterback at one, which I think is the right move for them,

they look at four, maybe they move out. Maybe they don't. Because you might have to get above those teams maybe to two if you're a non Cleveland team and you want to draft quarterback because there are teams that are gonna want to get up there Arizona we'll talk about them in a minute in the quarterback carousel they might want to get up for a quarterback the Jets might still want to get up for a quarterback we'll talk about them in a minute as well. So you might want to get ahead of teams that might want to get to three

or two themselves. So that's one thing to consider. Another thing to consider, if I'm Cleveland, I'm looking at quarterback at one for a number of reasons. One, I don't want another team to side in my quarterback. If I like a guy, I'm taking him at one, period. And another way to look at this is you then create a bit of a market for that pick at four. Because if you've taken one of the quarterbacks down off the board now, if you're a team like Buffalo, if you're a team like the Jets, if you're a team like Arizona, and one of your top QBs is now gone and you've got another guy that you want to get, you've got to get in the game now.

There's more of an incentive to get up because you don't want to miss out on another guy. And so I think Cleveland, they go quarterback at one, and I think the Bills are putting themselves into position to get into that top five. They could get to four. They could get to three if they add in perhaps a second-round pick. They could get to two if they kick in a second-round pick

and maybe a future third or something. So there are ways that the Bills can now get up and get their guy. Now, who would that guy be? Well, I mean, I've been told in talking to people in and around Buffalo, in talking to people around the league as well, that the guys that they're most interested in, there are basically three. Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, and Josh Rosen. That's probably not a surprise.

Those are typically considered to be among the three guys at the top of this class. I thought if Buffalo sort of stood pat at 21 and 22, there would be a chance that a guy like Lamar Alexander could fall. Lamar Jackson, excuse me, Lamar Alexander. That's a name from the political past for you. But there was a chance that a guy like Lamar Jackson could fall to them at 21 or 22. But since it seems like Buffalo is putting together some pieces to move up, I'd say it'd be for one of those three guys.

And if Cleveland goes Donald or Allen at one, like I somewhat expect them to, then you've got your choice of the other guy or Josh Rosen. And if one of those guys is your guy, go get him. Don't run the risk that another team leapfrogs you. Don't run the risk that another team takes your guy. And what's interesting is there was a tweet floating around yesterday afternoon that a conversation that somebody had with Brandon Bean, the Bills general manager.

This is Joe Biscaglia on Twitter. Joe is a reporter for the Bills beat reporter, excuse me, at WKBW. You can follow him on Twitter at Joe, B-U-S-C-A-G-L-I-A. Apologies, Joe, if I butchered your name there. But his tweet references a conversation he had with Brandon Bean last May after he was hired, where he listed the general manager Brandon Bean did his three most critical traits for a quarterback. Pocket presence first, arm strength second, accuracy third. And now Joe makes the argument that both Rosen and Allen fit those traits best. I might quibble a little bit on the accuracy one, for

example, with Josh Allen, but I think you can make the case. And so, you know, if that's what Bean's looking for, to me, Rosen would be the guy. But I guess we'll just have to see. But again, as Patriots fans here, like the most of you listening to this show are, you've got to keep an eye on what the Bills are doing here. You know, there might be Evan Lazar, good friend of the show, writer of our Pat's Pulpit, co-host of the Naked Bootleg podcast. He was tweeting out on Tuesday, you know, what are the Dolphins doing? And I can kind of understand

where Evan's coming from. You know, what are they doing? But the Bills are making some moves. You know, getting themselves if they come out of free agency perhaps signing an A.J. McCarron as a bridge quarterback and drafting a Josh Rosen, you know, in the top five picks.

That's not bad for the Bills. That kind of sets them up. It gives them perhaps their quarterback going forward. So keep an eye on what they're doing up in Oltred Park. Keep an eye on what they're doing out in Buffalo. On the other side, we're going to talk the quarterback carousel

which is raging on. That's next with me, Mark Schofield, and Locked On Patriots. Mark Schofield, Locked On Patriots Mark Schofield back with you now on this Wednesday edition of Locked On Patriots and we're going to shift attention now to the quarterback carousel which as you might expect

sort of dominates free agency here we're going to start in the AFC East with the New York Jets they're sitting there at that 6th overall pick they miss out on perhaps their plan A and Kirk Cousins more on that in a second With the New York Jets, they're sitting there at that sixth overall pick. They miss out on perhaps their plan A, and Kirk Cousins more on that in a second. But it seems like their plan B is starting to come into focus. One deal we do know, Josh McGowan, who until he was injured,

was having a pretty darn good season for the Jets. He's going to be back with them. One year, $10 million extension. And according to World of World, in a report over there, McGowan has been told that he's going to be the team's starter, at least to start 2018.

World of World is pulling that from Calvin Watkins at Calvin Watkins on Twitter, who covers the Jets for Newsday. Josh McGowan has been told he will be the starter according to Calvin. He's called on a source there. But the other move

that is potentially waiting in weeds here is Teddy Bridgewater. Younger quarterback near the end of depending on how that you know injury evaluation shakes out whether he gets an extra year or not on his rookie deal but he's a free agent potentially going to be leaving minnesota for metlife stadium in the new york jets that's not official but reports from newsday and calvin watkins and other places that Bridgewater is in the mix as well for a move

to the AFC East and to the New York Jets. Now, let's sort of take these separately and then put them together and kind of get our heads around what the Jets are doing here. If it's Josh McCown, I think you're looking at temporary placeholder bridge type quarterback slash quarterback coach of sorts for when the next guy takes over i think if it's if the only move the jets make is to bring josh mccallin back that tells me they're interested in somebody who's ready to go cough josh rosen cough as to be a potential play soldier for whatever that they decide that that person can take the field and there were overtures you know at the end of last year that perhaps McAllen would take over more as a quarterback coach.

When he suffered his injury at the end of last season and was just on the sidelines, there were more than a couple of articles written that Josh McAllen was going to be a coach. McAllen has made it clear that he wants to be a coach after he retires. Calvin Watkins himself wrote a piece for Newsday basically saying that he's going to be a coach

on the sidelines for Bryce Petty. He's going to help him as Petty makes those starts. He served basically as a player coach when he came back after the injury. That was even according to Todd Bowles. He wasn't making any sort of in-game decisions. He wasn't calling plays or anything. But he was there to sort of be a quarterback coach slash mentor on the sidelines to Bryce Petty. And so it's my anticipation, my expectation

that if it's just McCown who comes back or signs with the Jets, that he'll serve partially in that role as well. But then if you consider Teddy Bridgewater, that's a very interesting move, I think. Because Bridgewater is potentially's a very interesting move, I think. Because Bridgewater is potentially more than just a bridge to your next guy. He could be your next guy if that knee stays healthy. He's that talented. And I think if you sort of look at Teddy Bridgewater's skill set, he's pretty suited, I think, for what Bates is going to want to do on offense for them.

He was sort of stuck in Noah Turner's more downfield, seven-step drop, vertical pass game, which I don't think suited Bridgewater well. You know, I think this is sort of a good environment for him. Now, it's unclear if that deal gets done, but I think if it does, that tells us that maybe quarterback isn't necessarily what they do at five or excuse me at six maybe they wait maybe they go with a quarterback room of mccown teddy bridgewater and bryce petty maybe that's the move or maybe the miracle upon miracle happens and christian hackenberg warns his way onto the roster

maybe that remains to be seen. Obviously, the two big moves, the two big quarterback dominoes that we were watching and waiting to fall, they fell. Case Keenum, two years, $36 million to the Denver Broncos. And Kirk Cousins, three years, $84 million,

fully guaranteed to the Minnesota Vikings. And what's interesting about this duo of moves, I think you can make the case that both teams upgraded a quarterback. Let's start with Denver in case can, because the Broncos, and I fleshed this out on a couple of different shows, Tuesday, started my day Tuesday morning on a show down in Australia, on live radio down in Australia.

Then I was on the Red Zone down in Northwest Arkansas with my friend Josh, my buddy Josh down there. And on both of those shows, I was obviously asked about the Keenan move. And I think when you look at the Denver Broncos, they needed to have some stability at that quarterback position because ever since Peyton Manning, it's been Trevor Simeon, it's been Brock Osweiler,

it's been Paxton Lynch. It seems like Paxton Lynch has almost played himself out of Denver. It seems like that has just not worked out. I know there are some, my good friend Matt Waldwin, who still believes in Chad Kelly, but maybe the organization isn't a believer as of yet. So now you add in Case Keenum, who over the past season showed himself that with some nice weapons, some nice pieces around him, he could be a good to great quarterback in the national football. He had a fantastic season with Minnesota.

Now the questions that I have about whether Keenum can duplicate that, he was playing with two great receivers and a great tight end, you know, with Stephon Diggs, with Adam Thielen, with Kyle Rudolph, who's been a pretty, you know, stable tight end. You know, what's that offense going to look like? I think Thomas and Sanders are obviously two great wide receivers, you know, but they do have some question marks in the tight end spot. They do get Jake Butt back, who might have been an early day two, perhaps late day one pick until he hurt his knee in a bowl game. They'll get him back. He fell to them, the Broncos, in the fifth round. So Keenan will have some weapons. Defense might not be as strong that he was playing with in

Minnesota. The Broncos just lost to keep to lead. They'll still have some nice pieces on that defense, but it might not look the same. They might lose Barrett, the linebacker that we talked about on a previous show. So you wonder if Keenum's asked to go and win games instead of be the guy you win with. Can he live up to that? That's my question on that

side. But I still think that it's an upgrade for Denver at the quarterback spot. As similarly, I think it's an upgrade for Minnesota at the quarterback spot over Keenum. Because in a vacuum, did Case Keenum have a better 2017 than Kirk Cousins? I do believe so. Overall, who do I think the better quarterback is? I think it's Kirk Cousins you know and you can look at Cousins's time in Washington you know just last season alone that offense let him down at times Jordan Reed couldn't stay on the field Jamison Crowder had some drops including one that was a bad interception in the red zone against the Cowboys Josh Doxon had a drop on a perfect throw early in the season that had he made that catch, they go into Kansas City and beat Kansas City

back when Kansas City was arguably the best team in the league. And so I think this is a nice little stable upgrade for both teams. Three years, $84 million is a lot when it's fully guaranteed, though. That's a ton of money. But when you look at Minnesota now, they're going to get Dalvin Cook back. They have the two receivers. They've got Kyle Rudolph. They still have that defense.

That team can probably contend for a Super Bowl now. And they were close last year with Keenum. So a very good move for both teams, I think I think finally Sam Bradford staying on the theme of Vikings former quarterbacks he moves to Arizona in terms of that deal not disclosed as of yet but that's a nice move for Sam Bradford because they're another team that needs to address the quarterback

spot they're another team that is sort of lingering without a quarterback right now. They didn't have any of those guys on their roster. I still think that given some of the injury concerns and the durability concerns with Sam Bradford, that the Cardinals are in our quarterback at some point in this draft, perhaps early. But that remains to be seen. So some of the quarterback pieces starting to fall into place. We'll see how some of this shakes out as well throughout the draft. Some other names like Adrian McCarron floating around there.

Interesting to see where he ends up. Getting near the end of the show. The ton's getting a little tired. But that will do it for today's show. Hope you enjoyed it. Kicking around some ideas for the Thursday show. Maybe some timeline takes. Maybe some mailbag.

Maybe a mix of the two. Who knows? If you've got questions, hit me up on Twitter at Mark Schofield. Reminder to check out the work over at InsideThePylon.com. ITPDraftGuide.com. Use that promo code TOTO. Get yourself $5 off the guide. I'm now approaching 40 scouting reports written for this thing. Not just quarterbacks.

I've branched out a little bit, looked at some tight ends, some running backs, some wide receivers, all just cross-checking stuff. You're not going to see any lead scout, Mark Schofield, on a tight end from me. But I've watched a ton of quarterbacks for this. We were doing a ton of work. Like I said, over 500 players scouted, approaching almost 1,000 reports.

That's a lot of work that we're putting into this, so I hope you do check it out. Tell a friend, too. Tell them to use that promo code TOTO. Again, that will do it for today's show. Hope you enjoyed it. I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, keep it locked right here to me, Mark Schofield, and Locked on Patriots.