Seeing Jakobi Meyers playing well for the raiders this year got me thinking of what recent moves are questionable looking back at the past five years. Hoping we can discuss/grade Belichick as our GM over the last few years when it comes to free agency.

Players that have performed well for other teams and should have kept: Joe Thuney, Shaq Mason, Jakobi Meyers, Johnnu Smith, Brandon Bolden? (this one is complicated, maybe more a discussion around coaching rather than GM). And the most obvious of all Tom Brady.

Which ones did we retain or brought in that moved the needle. I can only think of Judon really.

PS. if we believe the reports that Belichick wanted to replace Tom with Jimy G at the time this kinda ends the conversation about how crap he is as GM, but that was all speculation

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  • whistlepig4lifeBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    The Thuney and Mason ones actually make some level of sense. The Pats have traditionally been able to find and develop OL talent. Especially inside. So tying up big money in that spot is never a great plan of it can be avoided. Mason was nearing the end (he’s not been what he was these past couple seasons). So trading him was a “get something while you can” move. I’d have preferred they pay Thuney and keep him, but I get why they didn’t.

    Brady is a different situation entirely. It’s too long and too complicated. Suffice it to say that was a both sides problem and parting ways was the inevitable outcome.

    Jakobi is indicative of an issue they have. They develop guys then let them walk. They paid the same basic money to JJSS so why not give that to the guy you drafted? That was a head scratcher that they’ve done over the years with other guys with mixed results. Asante Samuel, Butler, flowers and Jackson more recently. There have been others.

    And names of guys brought in beyond Judon? Eric Rowe and Revis were a huge part of one Super Bowl. And Stephon Gilmore was another again for a Super Bowl. Danny amendola was a signing. And over 20 years they’ve found RBs on the market. Antwoin Smith, dion Lewis, legarette Blount all were FA signings.