When it came to bringing up the name of former Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen as a possible trade target for the Patriots, fans seemed to fall into one of two camps.
The first camp -- the realists/worry warts -- were all for trying to find Tom Brady's possible successor as soon as possible considering his age. If he doesn't work out or Brady is still The Man in three years, cut or trade Rosen. No harm, no foul.
The second group, which skews younger and thinks Brady walks on water (I mean, I don't blame you), feels it would be foolish to spend any capital on a quarterback now because Brady is obviously a cyborg and is going to play at a high level for at least four more seasons (until age 45).
I bring this up because what just transpired during Friday night's second round of the draft — the Dolphins acquiring Rosen, the 10th overall pick last year, for the 62nd pick (and a fifth-rounder next season) and the Patriots declining to make a better deal — sets up an interesting scenario.
What if the Dolphins just (finally?) made the right move at the position two decades (man, has it really been that long?) after they bungled the transition from Dan Marino ... and the Patriots invited their own?
Look, Patriots fans/Bill Belichick are probably right because, let's face it, they're always right (#kisstherings). Brady will probably play at least four more seasons with a few more championships, and they have plenty of time to find the next guy and they will find someone who's way better than Rosen ... who will probably flame out like Ryan Tannehill.
The odds are strongly in favor of the Patriots, and I would not bet against them.
But what if they're wrong?
A couple of things make this debate a little bit more interesting than most of these hypothetical situations.
The biggest thing is, it's the Dolphins led by people with serious New England ties: general manager Chris Grier (son of Bobby and a former Patriots scout himself), coach Brian Flores, offensive coordinator Chad O'Shea and assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski (not to mention tight ends coach George Godsey, and pass game coordinator Josh Boyer).
I have a very hard time seeing the Dolphins making this move if two people who would have been involved in Rosen's evaluation a year ago with the Patriots (O'Shea and Schuplinski) knew that Rosen wasn't the Patriots' type of quarterback. They would have known exactly what the Patriots' evaluation was of Rosen, and if Belichick and Josh McDaniels didn't think Rosen had a legitimate chance to be a franchise quarterback. If the Patriots thought Rosen stunk or didn't have the right makeup, there's no way the Dolphins make that deal.
And Grier confirmed the former Patriots were heavily involved in the decision.
“Very involved," Grier said. "Like I said, this isn’t a one-man show. I know everyone is always like, ‘Who does what?’ But it’s working in collaboration with Brian, the scouts, the coaching staff, the pro scouts. Everyone watched a lot of stuff. We talked and did a lot of background checks in terms of people in and around Arizona’s organization, UCLA’s staff that had him and we had the information on him last year too. Again, we felt comfortable for the value where he was and then added him to the roster."
Grier was then asked why he said last year the team liked Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen, but not Rosen?
"I wouldn’t say we didn’t like Rosen," Grier said. "Working with different coaching staffs and what they’re looking for at the position. At that point, we were talking about a top-10 pick, and he just wasn’t in those top five or six guys we were comfortable taking at pick 11."
Working with different coaching staffs and what they’re looking for at the position...
When they were in Foxborough, Miami's new coaching braintrust has shared countless hours and evaluations with Belichick and McDaniels. They've watched and have been in the trenches with Brady. They know what a franchise quarterback looks like. Heck, they know what one smells like. (In Brady's case, I'm guessing an early bouquet of spring flowers.)
And they not only signed off on Rosen, but made him the first big acquisition of their new regime as they setup up Patriots Deepest South (after Tennessee and Atlanta, naturally).
So if the former Patriots coaches were all for the Dolphins getting Rosen ... why wasn't their former team?
Could be any number of things, really.
Maybe the Patriots saw something in Rosen's pro film that turned them off. Maybe they have their eye on a developmental quarterback later in this draft, or a year from now and have no fear of succeeding with a young quarterback. Maybe they think Brady will continue to play at this level for at least a few more seasons. Maybe Danny Etling turned into a monster behind the scenes last season.
They'll probably, as usual, be right.
But what if...
... Brady's play continues the decline it showed last season (how much or little depends on your point of view, but he was not MVP last season as he was the year before) and he continues to spin out of throws and deal with injuries?
... Brady sustains a serious injury with only Brian Hoyer and Etling behind him?
... Brady leads the Patriots to a record seventh Super Bowl title next season and he decides to walk away — something that Patriots sources have not ruled out?
... Or Belichick walks away and things are never the same?
What if any of the above happens and the Patriots are left unprepared at the most important position on the field? And, at the same time, the Dolphins have finally found their franchise quarterback — one the Patriots likely had a good grade on — for a late second-round pick and change?
Stranger things have happened.
Twenty years ago, the Dolphins had Jimmy Johnson as their coach, Dan Marino at quarterback, and they were in the midst of going to the postseason seven of eight years.
In 1999, the Patriots coach was Pete Carroll, Drew Bledsoe was the franchise quarterback and the team finished last in the AFC East.
A year later, Dave Wannstedt was running the Dolphins with Jay Fiedler under center. And Belichick would draft a sixth-round quarterback named Brady.
Funny how things can change so quickly.
Day 2 draft thoughts:
- Thought the Patriots had another strong day. CB Joejuan Williams was a name I constantly heard from scouts as a perfect Patriots pick, to the point I sent Price this text earlier this month.
- There are a lot of worries among NFL teams about Williams due to his slow timed speed, to the point that some teams moved to safety on their boards. I think he'll be fine in the Patriots system at cornerback, but they might need a Devin McCourty replacement sooner rather than later.
- Stephon Gilmore's cap number is nearly $19 million next season. If Williams is good, that gives them leverage in any negotiating talks. The Patriots always have options. In the near term, Williams is another good matchup piece whether it's against big receivers or even a tight end (like Travis Kelce).
- Edge player Chase Winovich totally fits the Patriots' scheme and a young body was needed there with aging vets Michael Bennett and John Simon the top returners (along with Deatrich Wise and Trent Harris, who they love for some reason). I would say Derek Rivers is really on the spot now, and could be pushed out if he doesn't pop early in camp.
- Some interesting scout comments to Bob McGinn about Winovich, who could be an acquired taste. “He made more plays in one game than (Rashan) Gary did in three games,” said one scout. “What a (bleep) wild horse rider guy he is. He is going to play 10 years in the NFL. I don’t give a (bleep) what anybody says. He must be in the huddle when they call the plays because he gets to the ball (so quick)." .... “He’s kind of a big-time millennial guy,” said a second scout. “He really started to feel himself in the branding. Some of that stuff bothers me. But then he is a good football player." ... "He plays his butt off. He’s a complete player. He refuses not to be. He’s one of those guys that has the heart of a lion. His intensity is infectious.” ... “He’s like a big, dumb puppy,” a fourth scout said. “He wants attention all the time. He could polarize teammates that way. The older guys will roll their eyes at him and the younger guys think he’s the man." ... Compared by one scout to Rob Ninkovich.
- I'm all for the Patriots getting another running back in Damien Harris, especially if Sony Michel isn't improved in the passing game. Harris is an accomplished receiver so if Michel doesn't pick up that part of the game, Harris could make a push as a three-down back. Plus, Rex Burkhead can never stay on the field and the Patriots can't leave themselves short at the position again.
- If you look at their measurables, it's eerie how similar Michel and Harris are.
- I think Michel is a little more explosive and quicker twitch, but overall, they're pretty similar. Harris could very well be better in short yardage.
- Having Harris does set up an interesting scenario, especially in light of the Michel/first-round debate last year: what if Harris is equal to or outplays Michel while being a late third-round pick? I already have a headache from the conversations I know we'll have on Felger & Mazz.
- I had West Virginia OT Yodny Cajuste on my prospect list, but as a later pick. The tools are definitely there, but I think he's pretty raw and needs work. McGinn scout: "The question on him will be intelligence. He’s got explosiveness, he’s got pass pro. He can play guard, too. It’s can he do it mentally? We still have questions. He plays in that (spread) scheme and it’s a pain to evaluate.” And then there's this from Paul Alexander, a longtime NFL line coach I really respect:
- Dante Scarnecchia will put Cajuste into the tackle blender with Isaiah Wynn, Marcus Cannon and everyone else, and then we'll see what happens. I would think the odds are Cajuste is a Cannon replacement at some point. Could play some guard.
- There's always a scoreboard on the draft (results, three years out) in regard to who a team didn't pick, like last year with the Patriots passing on Colts rookie of the year linebacker Darius Leonard. This year's future comparisons:
- Williams — CB Greedy Williams (Browns); TE Irv Smith (Vikings); WR A.J. Brown (Titans); WR Andy Isabella (Cardinals); WR Mecole Hardman (Chiefs), who was picked in the Patriots spot before the first Rams trade.
- Winovich — LB Sione Takitaki (Browns); S Will Harris (Lions); DE Jaylon Ferguson (Ravens); TE Kahale Warring (Texans).
- Harris — WR Miles Boykin (Ravens), TE Dawson Knox (Bills); QB Will Grier (Panthers).
- Cajuste: QBs Ryan Finley, Jarrett Stidham; WRs Riley Ridley, Hakeem Butler.
- We didn't even get into the spots the Patriots traded out of, but you get the idea.
- Speaking of the Vikings taking Irv Smith, Minnesota drafting a tight end was one of the dominoes to fall if the Patriots were going to trade for Kyle Rudolph.