New market conditions set by recent high-profile veteran contracts could force Bill Belichick and company to rethink their strategy at the position.
The history of the head coach Bill Belichick of selecting wide receivers in the draft — with the fiasco of N’Keal Harry in the first round of 2019 as the latest log in the fire– it’s an annual hot topic this time of year on the calendar of the NFL.
Not everything is bad. But, it could be so much better.
And an argument could be made that the reason it’s not better, is right in the face of Belichickwith the Draft 2022 de la NFL — coupled with a dramatic shift in the financial landscape among senior veteran wide receivers — making the time right to prioritize recruiting more receivers.
Consider that since Belichick arrived at New England in 2000, he has selected just 18 wide receivers in the draft. That ties him for the fifth-lowest total over that span, and doesn’t take into account that six of them came in the seventh (final) round, and one is just a special teams player (Matthew Slater).
The Ravens (30), Bengals (30) and Packers (29) have recruited the most wide receivers since 2000, with Green Bay considered by many to be one of the most impressive teams when it comes to developing prospects at the position. The Steelers (23), just above the league average of 22.5, are also widely considered excellent.
The acquisition of Patriots from DeVante Parker in a trade a few days ago could lessen the immediate need to draft a receiver, but there is still a gap to consider, with Jakobi Meyers Y Nelson Agholor scheduled for unrestricted free agency, and Kendrick Bourne to another solid campaign of possibly being in a position to ask for a raise, too.
Then consider the recent huge big-money extensions to wide receivers, creating a shock around the NFL —Davante Adams (five years and 141.25 million dollars, 65 million guaranteed), Tyreek Hill (four years and $120 million, $75 million guaranteed), Stefon Diggs ($104 million, four years, $70 million guaranteed) — and teams could prioritize drafting wide receivers more than they have in the past.
“When you start throwing money all over the place, if it’s a quarterback, I get it. If it’s a quarterback chaser, I get it. Guys that impact the game all the time. With a wide receiver — they’re important, don’t get me wrong — but a good defensive coordinator can take you out of the game plan,” he said. Scot McCloughanformer general manager of Washington Y San Franciscowho now works as an independent consultant for teams from the NFL in viewings.
“So you’re lucky if you touch the ball 6-8 times a game … it’s about who impacts the game the most.”
McCloughan He added that the price can always be justified if a team feels close to a championship, but he sees the draft — and getting quality production on cheap rookie contracts — as even more critical.
This echoes something the draft analyst for ESPN, Jordan Reidnoted: “With wide receivers projected to receive so much money after their rookie deals, we could see teams choosing to flip the draft to reload talent rather than pay.”
That’s one of the reasons why Belichick and the lower-than-average investment in the catcher position could end up being costly (financially and more) for players. Patriots if it continues.
It doesn’t necessarily need to be the 21st pick, though it’s always good to keep an eye out for teams in need of wide receivers like Green Bay (No. 22) and Kansas City (No. 29 and 30) lurking behind them. Prospects like Chris Olave de Ohio State, Jameson Williams de Alabama, Jahan Dotson de Penn State y Treylon Burks de Arkansaswould be among those who could be considered in the first round.
In a draft considered deep at wide receiver, there should be plenty of mid-round options to consider, too. The draft analyst for ESPN, Matt Bowenidentified a Khalil Shakir of Boise State as a good accommodation for New England in medium rounds.
McCloughanwho started in NFL as a regional viewer with the Packers and who remembers the current director of scouts of the Patriots, Eliot Wolfattending meetings as a young man to see his father, the former general manager Ron Wolfsaid that one of the biggest challenges of being a general manager was adjusting to the market when salaries skyrocketed.
“I think that is what is happening now [en la posición de receptor abierto]”, he explained.
