Kraft's Message To Belichick Without Saying It Concerning The Draft, "Do Your Job!"

Kraft has talked about the 4 drafts prior to the 2021 draft as being bad. The Patriots had 33 draft picks from 2017-2020. That had 10 okay to good players and 1 elite player over that span. Not including UDFA's because those aren't draft picks, those are free agents. That's just under 1/3 that they hit on in total but of elite level talent known as the first 3 rounds they had 4 players who were okay to good out of 15. Maybe 5 but your definition of good to okay is stretching it a bit. That's about 1/4 of their elite picks they got value from. 

There are some that say as long as they hit, it doesn't matter. That's not how owners and the media see things. One has to be kidding themselves before a pick is selected to say that a prospect projected in the first three rounds has the same talent and value as one from the last 3 rounds.

That is why round 4 is the project round. And why not getting over 1/3 of your first three round draft picks right is considered a failure. 2/5 or 40% is what success is. In the first three rounds. If you're not close, a general manager better be up near 60% on the remaining four rounds, again UDFAs don't count.

Over the past four seasons prior to the 2021 draft, the Patriots have not hit. Whether it's poor scouting or poor coaching in terms of development, again it doesn't matter but it must be corrected. And they may have in 2021 but the jury is still out.

Now I did a blog last year after Kraft's comments. I had the Patriots finding value in 15 of their 37 first three round draft picks going back to 2011. With the 2021 draft class being unproven. That does add up to 40% but of those 15 players, I ask how many were elite? How many carried the team? That's the talent pool they came from. They had 5 elite players come in the first 3 rounds going back to 2011 and 10 good to serviceable guys. 

Good to serviceable is what free agency is for. And nobody criticizes Bill's ability to find good to servicable in free agency, just the cost he has to pay to get them because free agents are almost always overpaid. And don't tell me there are less than 20 elite players in every draft. I'd wager it's around 40-50 because we know teams mis-scout players and they fall and sometimes don't even get drafted.

The Patriots just re-signed one of them. He may not be elite anymore but he was for two to maybe three seasons and I'm talking about former UDFA Malcolm Butler. And the Patriots just lost another UDFA in J.C. Jackson. Both free agents the Patriots hit on, even if they were rookie free agents.

So Kraft was right. The Patriots have only had 1 good draft out of the last 5. And need to follow-up on their drafting success if they want to stay competitive. They may only win 1 or 2 superbowls in the long term if lucky but being a playoff team gives them odds to win it every year. Cannot say that for teams who play to the win now approach.

Dream teams don't have a huge success rate in the NFL. It's bad for business and it's bad for the game to build that way. Kraft knows it. Belichick knows it. That's all that matters. The Draft is coming up and to Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft gave you a very simple and clear message concerning it. "Do Your Job!" It's a motto Everyone in New England is held to and by giving the message to Belichick, Kraft is doing his.

Don't Expect Any Real Departures From The Patriots Receiving Staff In 2022.

What are the Patriots doing at wide receiver? They traded for DeVante Parker who is an X with slot versatility and everyone is making speculations. There is belief that the Patriots are going to take a receiver in the draft. And there are three possible candidates I think may be realistically possible but with the guys currently on the roster, there are questions.

First, I believe the Patriots are going to trade N'keal Harry. I'm thinking the Patriots maybe able to get a fifth for Harry. The PFF Mock Draft Simulator thinks the Saints would take Harry straight for the 101st pick. Harry's production doesn't scream a pick that high. This time last year I wanted Harry to be converted to tight end but the window for making him a move tight end has had to of passed.

As for the other guys from the 53 man roster last season, I think all 3 are staying put for 2022. Sure trading one of them maybe worth while but Parker cannot stay healthy and is projected to miss 3 games. Plus Meyers was Mac Jones's security blanket. If Parker stays healthy, at the end of the season, they may let Agholor walk and look for a comp pick for him.

Also if Bourne plays well again this season, he's likely to want too much money and not going to be around after 2023. So Agholor potential gone in 2023 and Bourne potentially gone in 2024. Do the Patriots really want to have to rely on new guys? I don't think so. Bill likes some veteran experience. They Patriots like to look at what they have financially in the future. So I honestly don't think they touch these guys this year.

Now they have Kendrick Wilkerson and Malcolm Perry on the practice squad. Perry has the athletism to make Bourne expendable with a good preseason but that's a huge 'IF'. And Wilkerson could be a potential replacement in 2023 for Nelson Agholor but I think the Patriots are going to try to get a higher level player to replace Agholor.

So there are 19 receivers I like in this draft class. They are all pretty versatility and I think most of them are Z receivers that can play the slot or X. Even if most played the X some in college. The three names I think the Patriots are going to be looking for in the draft are Jahan Dotson, John Metchie, and Jerreth Sterns. Sterns should be able to take the number 4 spot at the very least but I think he's extremely underrated. The other two, are bigger names that fit what the Patriots do schematically. 

I don't know, it's just a thought. At this point of the off-season, anything that doesn't come from the Patriots is just speculation. Keep an open mind and remember in the NFL, things maybe improbable but almost nothing is ever impossible. We still have several more months before the roster is finalized. And Belichick could still throw us a knuckle ball while we're looking for his curve.

Patriots Make Division Trade With Dolphins And Acquire DeVante Parker.

*Update I'm seeing conflicting reports on whether the Patriots are getting a 2022 or 2023 draft pick*

Bill Belichick traded for a twenty nine year old receiver who missed six games in 2021 due to injury and who has missed a total of nineteen games over the course of his career due to injury. Parker has Injured his hamstring seven times going back to 2016. He's had four foot injuries, two shoulder injuries, a hand injury, a back injury, a groin injury and a quad injury. The worst part is it appears all of his leg injuries are from his left side.

The good news for the Patriots is they have him under contract until the end of the 2023 season and he's costing under six million dollars a season. The bad news is the Patriots may have to now mess around with contracts and someone has to be willing to have their contract played with or they're gonna have to cut someone. Hopefully this ends the Odell Beckham Jr to New England talk but like we saw with calls for Dez Bryant, it's not gonna quiet everyone until the league says he's done.

The Patriots gave up a 2023 third round pick and got a 2023 fifth round pick back. Essentially they just traded picks. If Parker returns to top form and can stay healthy, this is a win for the Patriots. As Parker is a former first round pick. However, Parker has only once broke a thousand yards in his career. 

While fans are screaming the Patriots have a number one, looking at his numbers, the Patriots got a potential elite number two. Realistically the Patriots should hope to get statistical numbers around what Damiere Byrd in 2020 and Nelson Agholor in 2021. And if he can speak out Kendrick Bourne numbers that would be the dream scenario. Another thing is in college, he played both outside and in the slot. So there's versatility as to how he can be used.

Parker has good hands with a 90.9% true catch rate but although he caught almost everything, he also had 9 drops in 2021. His 1.27 target seperation ranked him 91st in the league. Parker also only averaged 1.2 yards after catch ranking him 116th. 

This gives the Patriots DeVante Parker, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, N'Keal Harry, and presumably Jakobi Meyers who the Patriots placed a second round tender on. And there's still a good chance the Patriots add a receiver in the draft. With exception to offensive line, the Patriots have basically answered all their needs on offense this free agency period. 

Now back to his injury history for a minute. Draft Sharks give Parker a 12.9% chance of getting injured per game in 2022. And they project Parker to miss 2.9 games this season. One might ask how can one have a .9, the answer is missing time during games due to injury.  So Patriots fans need hope he's more durable than Danny Amendola. The Patriots strength and conditioning coach is going to be challenged with this guy.

After All His Successes, Bill Belichick Can Get Fired.

There has been some talk about replacing Bill Belichick. Majority of Patriots nation says "Bill has earned the right to walk away." And "One does not fire Bill Belichick." There's more in defense but you get the point. The idea to anyone that Bill will ever be terminated is just absurd but is that just Patriots fans living in a delusional bubble? You but your candy ass and I'll explain why.

On February 25th, 1989 a legendary head coach that had coached a team to multiple super titles over a near 30 year stretch was fired. It sent shcokwaves throughout not only the NFL but the entire sports world. That Coach was the great Tom Landry of the former America's team. So why should Bill Belichick the currently coach of not only America's team but the world's team be any different?

The seasons were shorter back then but Landry had a regular season winning percentage of .605 and a post season percentage of .556. Landry was also a two time coach of the year winner in 1966 and 1975. Landry also had two superstar quarterbacks in Roger Staubach and Dandy Don Meredith. So he had near 20 years of top tier quarterbacks. Both are in the NFL hall of fame. 

Bill Belichick had had Tom Brady for 20 years. The thing that killed Landry was he really didn't have that elite quarterback in the 1980s. Belichick now has Mac Jones after trying things with Cam Newton. So it's unclear if the Patriots truly have their next franchise quarterback yet or if they will be returning to the well in a few seasons.

Belichick with the Patriots has won multiple superbowls as well and has been a three time coach of the year in 03, 07, and 2010. With the Patriots, Bill Belichick has a .720 regular season winning percentage and a .714 post season winning percentage. His career percentages are a little lower thanks to his time with the dog pound.

Landry's numbers were nowhere as good as what Belichick's are but many if not all of the arguments made for why Belichick cannot be fired were made for Landry. The truth is as unpopular as it is, Bill Belichick can be fired. 

Let's face it, the only things the NFL owners care about is money and winning, which are tied together. Remember it was the late AL Davis who trademarked the phrase "just win baby!" Because it's the only thing he cared about.

However, Kraft has been spoiled and cares about winning rings. So he's only going to take not making the superbowl for so long before he makes a bad business decision. 

Incase I still haven't proven my point, Marty Schottenheimer had built a power house with the Chargers. His last three seasons as a head coach (04-07) he went 35 and 13, going 14 and 2 in his final season but was fired because the team failed to win a playoff game.

So the question is, will Belichick retire before then. That is an answer nobody currently knows but Bill Belichick getting fired is not an impossibility and we need to stop pretending it is. No matter how improbable we as fans think something is, we need to remember improbable doesn't mean impossible. If it was the other way around, the term "any given Sunday," wouldn't exist.

Elliot Wolf Is Staying Busy And Few Are Paying Attention.

Matt Groh was named director of was named the director of player personnel and all eyes have been on him. The reason why is he has a lot of experience with the draft and college scouting. Which is why Elliot Wolf's actions are flying under the radar. Wolf is quietly making his rounds to pro days. Which should be no surprise because he's the director of scouting.

While Bill Belichick was at Alabama with Groh, Wolf was scouting an underrated quarterback and an underrated receiver. Both players happened to have two of the best seasons for college players at their individual positions. The Patriots maybe in need of a new backup quarterback since Stidham is on his final year. The Patriots are also still looking for the Julian Edelman replacement.

Now I get that the Patriots have Meyers and Bourne but they're not on Edelman's level. I also get that there are fans who believe that a number one reveiver has to be in the same mold as Stanley Morgan but the game has evloved. There are scouts that say Jerreth Sterns was mis-scouted and that's the only reason why he played for a smaller school. And we all know smaller schools don't typically get ranked high on the prospect boards. Which makes Sterns a low risk high reward player.

Western Kentucky is just one school that Wolf has been to. I would suggest people try to pay more attention to what Wolf's doing because otherwise the Patriots are going to surprise people more than normal. This is probably one of the most nerve wrecking offseasons for Patriots fans in a long time. And it's definitely not doing anything to unite the fanbase but at least they're keeping the anticipation going.

Robert Kraft Spoke About Mac Taking A Leap

Every year there are sophomores that take a leap in the NFL and then there are sophomores that go into the proverbial sophomore slump. There's always concern in year two for the players that have down years, that they won't bounce back. Patriots owner Robert Kraft is familiar with this as he spoke to the Athletic's Jeff Howe.

Kraft told Howe, "This year will be very telling. To come into something as new as this, as established, I think he got beat up pretty bad, and he kept coming back and getting up and really doing some great stuff. Just the way he handles himself, he took some real beatings and hopped up. He has developed a good relationship with the whole cadre of receivers. I’m very happy with what I’ve seen. But this is a big year, the second year.”

Mac Jones is currently working out with a throwing coach to improve his arm strength. Tom House has told NBC Boston that he could get Jones to throw 60 yard passes regularly. We know the Patriots aren't going to throw the deep ball that often but having teams have to worry about Jones's going deep could take pressure off the running game and underneath routes. 

Mac showed good chemistry with receiving tight end Hunter Henry and receiver Jakobi Meyers. However, Jonnu Smith and Nelson Agholor's product wasn't as great. Although for Agholor, I think his lack of productivity was by design. Everyone expects Jonnu to play the H-back. I would not be surprised to see an in-line tight end get drafted and Henry lining up as a receiver with the Patriots going three tight ends.

Jones isn't the only one who needs to take a leap forward, the entire offense does. This camp I believe there will be pressure on both Dalton Keene and Devin Asiasi to show something in year three or they should both be cut. Kendrick Wilkerson is also going to have to show he can take a step forward as he showed promise in the pre season.

And then there's the 2021 signings. That entire group needs to play at a higher level in 2022. There's been a lot of coaching turnover for the Patriots, so the offense may suffer but I think the defense should be able to carry the team the first four weeks. This is going to be an exciting season but I think Kraft should be more concerned with the draft at the moment.

Patriots Sign Jabrill Peppers To A One Year Deal

When a team signs a 26 year old free agent that's already played for two teams and missed 20 games over his career, one doesn't tend to get too excited. However, learning that player was a Heisman trophy finalist and a late first round draft pick can change the doubt one has to mixed emotions that something maybe there and that's what the Jabrill Peppers signing does.

The first thing people need to under is that the only reason he's played for two teams is that the Browns traded him for OBJ which at the time was huge. The Giants felt he made the deal worth while when they shipped out their number one receiver.

Out of 81 possible games, he played in a total of 61, starting 59. He's got 25 passes defended and 4 interceptions to his name. He's forced 4 fumbles and recovered 5. He has 333 tackles with 13 quarterback hits and 4.5 sacks. He's averaged 22 yards on 34 kickoff returns and 8.35 yards on 83 punt returns but he's also fumbled 7 times, losing 2 of them. 

There goes the idea that he has a nose for the football. His recoveries were from his own mistakes.

Looking at his scouting reports coming out of Michigan, he was a hybrid defender with speed and good agility for change of direction. That was good at providing containment on the outside. It was said he also struggled in pass coverage and open field tackling. Scouts felt he was undersized and had poor control over his emotions. 

He had a left hamstring issue in college. As a pro he's had a toe sprain and a grade 1 knee strain. A pulled groin, a tailbone fracture, an ankle sprain, a strained hamstring, an right ACL tear and high ankle sprain. So in his short career, he's been banged up as much as Gronkowski it seems.

Now scouts compared him to Eric Weddle and Johnathan Cyprien when he came into the draft. Being fresh off his rookie contract, for a guy with injury history like he's had and with his level of production, the one year contract the Patriots signed him to seems about right. The worst thing that happens is he makes the 53 and gets Injured. The best thing is he earns a new contract. 

I would say don't get overly excited with this signing but don't be disappointed either. If Belichick can get the level of production out of him that he got from Philip Dorsett, then it's a good signing. I know Dorsett played receiver but still. He got something out of what's basically considered a bust as first rounders go.

Kraft Set The 2022 Goal For The Patriots, "Advance In The Playoffs!"

It's been a long time since Robert Kraft took over the Patriots. Scott Secules is no longer the Patriots number 10 and the uniforms have come a long way but how close are the Patriots to their 90s teams? In 2021 the New England Patriots went on a huge spending spree and the owner took notice. This was two seasons after their last superbowl appearance and one season since they lost Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback to play the game. And only a few weeks since they realized Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham weren't the future.

Kraft was not happy in 2021 when having to spend. Here are three quotes from Kraft about his spending spree in March of 2021.

"We're not in the business to be in business. We're in this business to win..." "In my 27 years as owner, I've never had to come up with so much capital before..." "We always made fun of the teams that spent a lot in the offseason. So we know nothing is guaranteed, and I'm very cognizant of that."

All 2021, it seemed the Patriots were searching for their identity and they eventually found it. The Patriots went to the playoffs in 2021 for the first time since the 2019 season but looked unprepared for their matchup. The Patriots identity in 2021 was a wildcard team. Not a playoff winning team but simply a wuidcard team and again Robert Kraft took notice.

In March of 2022 the Patriots owner said, "More than anything, it bothers me that we haven’t been able to win a playoff game in the last three years.”

Fans have been going nuts because the Patriots have not been spending huge piles of money and mortgaging the future by messing with contracts. Fans have expressed confusion as they found it easy to restructure contracts to make up cash to sign big name free agents now. Robert Kraft had this to say about what it takes to win. 

Kraft said, "I look forward to hopefully having a great draft this year. That’s the only way you can build your team for the long term and consistently that you have a chance of winning is having a good draft.” 

Fans have been saying fire Belichick, at least as general manager. That Belichick's inactivity this free agent period means he doesn't know how to be a general manager. With Kraft's comments, anyone upset with the Patriots offseason needs to direct their anger at the proper person.

As for Kraft, Kraft doesn't care that Fans want to win in 2022 or maybe 2023 before going into a long rebuild. Kraft wants to be in the playoffs every year and isn't going to let the Patriots sacrifice three of the next five seasons, to win one a ring in one of the upcoming two seasons. It sounds like Kraft has set the goal for the 2022 season for the Patriots. 

It's win a playoff game or bust. The Patriots were a wildcard team in 2021, do they have the talent and coaching staff and can they draft well enough to win a playoff game? The Bills and Dolphins have certainly made it a lot tougher. They may be able to sneak into the playoffs again in 2022 but winning in January is another story. And at the moment on paper, the Patriots may actually be worse than where they finished last season.

Is Mac Jones Ahead Of The Curve OR Was His Floor Higher Than Orginally Believed?

Between 2000 and 2001 Tom Brady played in 16 games, starting 14. Now there may have been circumstances that led to a 6th round pick starting for the Patriots in 2001 but it happened. Now ask anyone and they will tell you a first round selection should perform better than a six round selection. Charlie Weiss and others have said that "Mac Jones is ahead of where Tom Brady was at this stage of his career." Duh, if he was where Brady was or worse, we'd be rioting in Patriots nation.

So let's see how Brady looked statistically in his first sixteen games. And I said sixteen which means no playoff stats.

Brady completed 265 passes of 416 attempts. He threw for 2839 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. 145 times he threw for a first down. He was sacked 41 times and led the Patriots to 3 fourth quarter comebacks. He had 36 carries for 43 yards with 7 first downs. He also had 1 catch for 23 yards and a 1st down.

Before I give Mac's stats to compare, I wish they had comeback attempts. I don't remember every game for Brady but Mac Jones got the Patriots in position to take the lead on a field goal in week four. That's not going to show up. And that's just one example. Also Mac played 17 games, so I am going to share his rookie season stats.

Mac completed 352 of 521 passes for 3801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. 177 throws went for a first down. He was sacked 28 times and had 1 fourth quarter comeback. In Mac's seventh game, he threw 1 touchdown and 1 interception. So strictly passing Mac had the better passing stats. On the ground Mac ran it 44 times for 129 yards with 22 first downs.

And according to pro football reference Brady fumbled it 12 times in his first sixteen games. Mac's rookie season he only fumbled 7 times.

Now like Brady, Mac Jones is still developing and he's also working with a throwing coach to add arm strength, just like Brady did.

Jay Williams called Mac Jones a "Mid tier franchise quarterback," and said he was in the right situation to succeed.

Keyshawn Johnson said Mac's rookie season had no expectations. He said "in year two I need you to do a little bit more for me and in the third year I need you to be a pro bowl type quarterback..."

Max Kellerman said "Mac Jones is ahead of the curve, first year he's where you might want a guy to be in his second year." 

Kellerman was basing his statement as a continuation to what Johnson said.

Few weeks ago there was another media personality who defended Mac Jones as well. Greg Jennings praised Mac Jones intelligence. He also said that Mac could lead a team in the closing minutes to victory but that we "want Mac to be Tom Brady in Tom Brady moments."

Now Jennings, Johnson, and Kellerman all pretty much agree that Mac is in the same development path as Brady. However, I believe it was Kellerman who said that Brady's development plan was "perfect."

Now Prior to the draft I came to the same conclusion that Charlie Weiss and June Jones did. That Mac Jones was the best passer in the draft. My blog is still on here if you wanna check. I stood bye and stand bye my statement. Sure Mac couldn't throw with power down field but he's developing that now. Mac may never be the guy he succeeded on the ground but the Patriots don't need Mac to be Cam Newton with his legs because he has the ability to beat people with his head instead. 

So how does Mac improve in 2022? He cleans up his game. He makes better decisions. And puts a few more touchdowns on the board. All while managing the game and doing what's asked of him by the Patriots. As fans that's all we can ask for. Statistically we'd like to see Mac improve on his stats from 2021 but he doesn't need to if the Patriots offense improves. He just needs to play smarter and trust the game plan to do the rest.

The Patriots Met With Mailk Willis And Joshua Dobbs, So What!

The Patriots apparently met with Malik Willis from Liberty and instantly people jumped on the Belichick is looking to dump Mac train. First off, it's a team's job to do their home work on quality prospects. They're looking for anything they can use in their favor down the line. The Patriots meet with a lot of players, so this meeting shouldn't be given too much attention.

Around the 14th of March, the Patriots re-signed Brian Hoyer to a two year contract. Hoyer has a good mind and Belichick has said Hoyer is the most knowledgeable person when it comes to the Patriots offense but Hoyer has shown that he is not the guy the Patriots want to step in. However, it's safe to say that things haven't gone as planned at the position.

The once projected hier to Brady's thrown beat out Hoyer and then fell out of favor apparently with Bill Belichick as he got benched for a few weeks in 2020. Stidham is in the final year of his rookie contract. The Patriots are going to be looking to replace Stidham. And with Hoyer under contract for two seasons, now is the time to get their next backup quarterback.

Now the Patriots met this week with Joshua Dobbs. Notice there was no talk about replacing Mac with Dobbs. Why? Because although it's not impossible that the Patriots are going to replace Mac Jones, however it's highly improbable. And the quarterback class is supposed to be one of the worst in years.

People point to Belichick replacing a 29 year old Drew Bledsoe with a young Tom Brady. As much as I love Drew, he wasn't the best under pressure. And the offense seemed to run more smoothly under Brady. Sure Bledsoe was capable of the big play but Brady already seemed better under pressure. And Brady had a few starts under his belt and gave reason to replace the franchise quarterback. I told everyone the Patriots wanted Mac when they thought Bill wanted a mobile quarterback and the Patriots drafted Mac.

So again, don't put too much stock if any into the Patriots looking at quarterbacks. Remember the Patriots had Brady and Jimmy G, and still drafted Brissett. Brissett wasn't going to replace the guys in front of him and no quarterback from this draft class is currently being looked at to replace Mac Jones. Am I wrong? Well the Patriots did sign both Cam Newton and AB, so maybe but they also paid for signing them. And not in a good way. So take my opinion as you will but please use some logic.