Torry Holt for Wes Welker?
The Patriots announced today that they have signed 34 year old WR Torry Holt to a 1.7 million dollar 1 year contract.
[picappgallerysingle id="7386669"]
Holt was once part of the St. Louis Rams “Greatest Show on Turf” during the 1990′s. Holt brings a resume of 13,000 career receiving yards to New England. Last year with Jacksonville, he recorded 51 receptions, for 722 yards and no touchdowns.
The Patriots love to try to get veteran players off the “Scrap heap” and resurrect their careers. Holt is not going to be a receiver who strikes fear in the hearts of defenders like Wes Welker, but he might be a strong #3 receiver heading into a newly re-structured AFC East division.
Pats fans, Live NFL Mock Draft from RantSports
Are you ready for the 2010 NFL Draft? Do you know who your team will be drafting? Well Rant Sports has you covered! Join Rant Sports NFL bloggers this Thursday (April 15th) at 7:30 PM East for our Live 2010 NFL Mock Draft. We will go through the first round of the draft, rotating bloggers.
To get an email reminder for the draft click here: Live 2010 NFL Mock Draft.
Benn,Richmond in for visits
The search to find a replacement for Wes Welker continues. Internet reports are now stating that on the same day the Pats brought in Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant, New England also worked out Illinois WR Arrelious Benn.
[picappgallerysingle id="7334673"]
Patriots get visit from Dez Bryant
Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant visited with the Patriots yesterday. NFL teams are allowed 30 visits from potential draftees and have also reportedly had meeting with University of Florida QB Tim Tebow, USC WR Damian Williams, Michigan LB Brandon Graham, UCLA DT Brian Price, and University of Florida TE Aaron Hernandez.
Golden Tate the next Wes Welker?
With the Patriots having the 22nd overall pick in the upcoming draft, a glaring need for the Pats this year is going to be finding a replacement for WR Wes Welker who will likely miss most if not all of the 2010 season.
Welker has been an integral part of the Patriots offense to say the least. The 7 year veteran has recorded three consecutive years of 110 or more receptions with New England and with him being on the field forces opposing defenses to account for both him and Randy Moss.
Sure, the Patriots do have WR Julian Edelman on the roster who finished the season with a 10 catch game for 103 yards, but it remains to be seen if the Kent State player is ready to fill the role of Walker in an every game situation.
One player who might be available when the Pats pick at #22 is Notre Dame WR Golden Tate. Tate is a junior and has game changing abilities as he was a threat to score whenever he touched the ball in college.
From the NFL.com combine report site,
Tate has been a very productive receiver for the Irish over the past two years and will be coming out as a true junior. He does a lot of things right and finishes games with a lot of stats but there is nothing physically about him that really jumps out at you. He lacks premier size, speed and acceleration yet he manages to get open and make a lot of plays. He is an excellent route runner that knows how to set defenders up and does not show much wasted movement when running patterns. He does a great job of going to the ball when slightly off target and will compete for virtually every pass. He is almost built more like a running back than a wide receiver but will fit some systems as a second or third receiver.
Tate’s scouting report sounds like a description of Wes Welker. It remains to be seen if the Pats front office will use a first round pick on a wide receiver but I believe he’s be a nice fit for the New England offense in 2010.
