Patriots' Offseason Concerns: Cornerback
Just throwing this out there, but if you're Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli et. al., why not trade down out of the club's remaining first round pick (7th overall), which was acquired from the San Francisco 49ers on draft day last year, and send that later first round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for DeAngelo Hall?
We know that Hall wants out of Atlanta with 100% certainty, and owner Arthur Blank seems content in granting the quarrelsome corner's wish. Most recently, the New York Giants have engaged in trade talks with the Falcons for Hall's services, apparently offering to send their first round pick (31st overall) to the A T L for the star CB. The G-Men would likely have to include a later round pick in the deal to make it agreeable for both sides.
Just like with the G-Men, the cornerback position is a pivotal spot that needs to be addressed this offseason for the Patriots. Previously franchise-tagged Asante Samuel is likely to jump ship and sign a Nate Clements-like deal (8 years, $80 million) elsewhere, while fellow corners Randall Gay and Chad Scott are set to hit the free agent market, as well. So why not trade down and use the first rounder we get in return to trade for one of the better CBs in the league? Afterall, he was the 8th overall pick in 2004.
It's widely believed that should the Patriots hold on to that 7th overall pick as opposed to trading down, they will take CB Mike Jenkins out of South Florida. Jenkins is considered by most to be the top CB coming out this year (with Kansas' Agib Talib and Troy's Leodis McKelvin projected to go later in the first round), but it's a decidedly weak crop and he will probably never reach the skill level of an Asante Samuel or a DeAngelo Hall. While his size and versatility - he can play on special teams and safety in addition to his natural position of CB - would seem to make him a good fit for New England, his character issues, inability to provide run support, and lack of ball skills / playmaking ability tend to suggest otherwise. It's no secret that Hall has issues of his own, but he's certainly a more established option with 57 games played in the NFL, and the Patriots have never had problems incorporating guys with "character issues" in the past (see Corey Dillon, Randy Moss). And if you have any doubts about Hall's abilities, take a look at the 24 year old's ESPN Scouts Inc. summary (you need to have an ESPN Insider account to view the page):
Hall has an excellent combination of quickness, speed and agility. He routinely matches up with the opponent's top receiver. He is tough, physical and confident. He has the ability to be a very effective press cornerback. He can reroute and disrupt the timing of a receiver with his jam. He plays with good body position on vertical routes and has the speed to run with any receiver in the league. He has very good ball skills and hands. He will make the difficult pick and is a dangerous threat with the ball. He has very good man-top-man cover skills. He is aggressive against the run and will attack the ball from an outside-in position. He is an effective ankle tackler. But Hall is inconsistent for an elite cornerback and tends to play fast and loose. He sometimes lacks focus in zone coverage and can get lazy with his technique. He allows too many completions in front of him. He takes chances on the back end in coverage. He is a bit reckless and undisciplined in run support. He will throw his body at a runner. He sometimes loses outside leverage on the ball.
Hall's Scouts Inc. grade of 80 puts him at #6 for corners in the entire league, 1 point better than Asante Samuel and 2 points lower than the highest paid defensive player in league history, Nate Clements. Good company to be in.
Rankings courtesy of ESPN.com and ESPN Scouts Inc.
The best part of all? Hall is set to make just over $5 million over the next two years (2010 is his first free agent year), making him much more affordable than Samuel and probably more affordable than Jenkins, as the money and years you have to guarantee for first round picks is getting higher and higher each season. The Pats could, of course, solve their weakness at CB via free agency as opposed to drafting or trading, but I don't like that option as much because the free agent cornerback pool has been drastically reduced with both Seattle's Marcus Trufant and Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha being franchised. So in addition to not having either of these two to choose from, the remaining top tier free agent CBs will be able to command absurd money, making DeAngelo Hall a more attractive option by the minute. Unless the Pats feel confident they can get a player along the lines of a Darren McFadden, Glen Dorsey, Vernon Gholston, or either of the Long's (who are all projected to go before that 7th pick, mind you), I would really like to see the Pats trade down to the early to mid 20's and use that pick to acquire Hall. Perhaps the Falcons may even prefer to trade him out of the NFC so they are less likely to cross his path in the future.
Most importantly, how great would it be to throw an "Eff you!" in the faces of the G-Men and their fans by stealing the #1 target of their offseason wheelings and dealings? Yeah, that's what I thought.
UPDATE:
2.22.2008, 11:39 PM
The Patriots have re-signed special teamer Larry Izzo to a one year, $860K deal. It's not a huge deal, but one less thing for the Pats to worry about during the offseason. Izzo is likely to remain the Patriots' special teams captain.
We know that Hall wants out of Atlanta with 100% certainty, and owner Arthur Blank seems content in granting the quarrelsome corner's wish. Most recently, the New York Giants have engaged in trade talks with the Falcons for Hall's services, apparently offering to send their first round pick (31st overall) to the A T L for the star CB. The G-Men would likely have to include a later round pick in the deal to make it agreeable for both sides.
Just like with the G-Men, the cornerback position is a pivotal spot that needs to be addressed this offseason for the Patriots. Previously franchise-tagged Asante Samuel is likely to jump ship and sign a Nate Clements-like deal (8 years, $80 million) elsewhere, while fellow corners Randall Gay and Chad Scott are set to hit the free agent market, as well. So why not trade down and use the first rounder we get in return to trade for one of the better CBs in the league? Afterall, he was the 8th overall pick in 2004.
It's widely believed that should the Patriots hold on to that 7th overall pick as opposed to trading down, they will take CB Mike Jenkins out of South Florida. Jenkins is considered by most to be the top CB coming out this year (with Kansas' Agib Talib and Troy's Leodis McKelvin projected to go later in the first round), but it's a decidedly weak crop and he will probably never reach the skill level of an Asante Samuel or a DeAngelo Hall. While his size and versatility - he can play on special teams and safety in addition to his natural position of CB - would seem to make him a good fit for New England, his character issues, inability to provide run support, and lack of ball skills / playmaking ability tend to suggest otherwise. It's no secret that Hall has issues of his own, but he's certainly a more established option with 57 games played in the NFL, and the Patriots have never had problems incorporating guys with "character issues" in the past (see Corey Dillon, Randy Moss). And if you have any doubts about Hall's abilities, take a look at the 24 year old's ESPN Scouts Inc. summary (you need to have an ESPN Insider account to view the page):
Hall has an excellent combination of quickness, speed and agility. He routinely matches up with the opponent's top receiver. He is tough, physical and confident. He has the ability to be a very effective press cornerback. He can reroute and disrupt the timing of a receiver with his jam. He plays with good body position on vertical routes and has the speed to run with any receiver in the league. He has very good ball skills and hands. He will make the difficult pick and is a dangerous threat with the ball. He has very good man-top-man cover skills. He is aggressive against the run and will attack the ball from an outside-in position. He is an effective ankle tackler. But Hall is inconsistent for an elite cornerback and tends to play fast and loose. He sometimes lacks focus in zone coverage and can get lazy with his technique. He allows too many completions in front of him. He takes chances on the back end in coverage. He is a bit reckless and undisciplined in run support. He will throw his body at a runner. He sometimes loses outside leverage on the ball.
Hall's Scouts Inc. grade of 80 puts him at #6 for corners in the entire league, 1 point better than Asante Samuel and 2 points lower than the highest paid defensive player in league history, Nate Clements. Good company to be in.
| PLAYER | GRADE |
| Champ Bailey | 93 |
| Rashean Mathis | 83 |
| Nate Clements | 82 |
| Antoine Winfield | 81 |
| Chris McAlister | 81 |
| DeAngelo Hall | 80 |
| Terence Newman | 79 |
| Asante Samuel | 79 |
| Dre Bly | 78 |
| Nnamdi Asomugha | 78 |
The best part of all? Hall is set to make just over $5 million over the next two years (2010 is his first free agent year), making him much more affordable than Samuel and probably more affordable than Jenkins, as the money and years you have to guarantee for first round picks is getting higher and higher each season. The Pats could, of course, solve their weakness at CB via free agency as opposed to drafting or trading, but I don't like that option as much because the free agent cornerback pool has been drastically reduced with both Seattle's Marcus Trufant and Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha being franchised. So in addition to not having either of these two to choose from, the remaining top tier free agent CBs will be able to command absurd money, making DeAngelo Hall a more attractive option by the minute. Unless the Pats feel confident they can get a player along the lines of a Darren McFadden, Glen Dorsey, Vernon Gholston, or either of the Long's (who are all projected to go before that 7th pick, mind you), I would really like to see the Pats trade down to the early to mid 20's and use that pick to acquire Hall. Perhaps the Falcons may even prefer to trade him out of the NFC so they are less likely to cross his path in the future.
Most importantly, how great would it be to throw an "Eff you!" in the faces of the G-Men and their fans by stealing the #1 target of their offseason wheelings and dealings? Yeah, that's what I thought.
UPDATE:
2.22.2008, 11:39 PM
The Patriots have re-signed special teamer Larry Izzo to a one year, $860K deal. It's not a huge deal, but one less thing for the Pats to worry about during the offseason. Izzo is likely to remain the Patriots' special teams captain.
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