borg

Seymour is signed through 2009 with a a cap hit of $9.7 mill next year.
Wilfork is signed through 2009 as well with a cap hit between $1.4 mill and $6.4 mill depending on escalators.
Warren is signed through 2013 with next year's cap hit at $3.8 mill.
Green is signed through 2009 with next years cap hit at $3.5 mill.
Smith is signed through 2009 with a cap hit of $0.5 mill.
Wright will be off the books after this year.
(Thanks Miguel for salary #s)

2009 is D Day when we talk about the future of the Defensive line. Four players (3 key guys) come off the books after next year. Wilfork has postured that he will enter FA after 2009. Seymour will expect a major contract as well. If healthy, both will command maximum dollars. Green should be able to maintain his mid salary range with or without the Patriots. As we have discovered with our past high profile FAs, money talks and players will walk. Skill and the "Patriots Intangibles" have premium values with many teams.

Dollars or draft picks? That will be the decision facing the front office. Does BB/Pioili fork out a big cash bonus to Seymour after his 9th NFL season . I'm betting one of Seymour/Wilfork gets franchised and teams will line up to offer a top draft pick. (See Jared Allen) My bet is Seymour gets franchised if Pats can sign Wilfok early. Youth equals health.
Under this scenario, when do the Pats draft Big Sey's replacement? Drafting in next years draft could pose dissention among the future FAs, but enhance competition. Waiting until April 2010 gets you a rookie that may be placed on the front line very early. Draft position will most likely dictate much for the Patriots' D Line future. If the Pats falter down the stretch this year, we could see the latest BB D lineman in the first round. If the Patriots can extract a 1st rounder with the TAG, then the Pats could improve their selection slot significantly in 2010.

pats1

I think DL remains the top priority - the core of the team - and Wilfork and Seymour stick around.

blackglass3

I think Wilfork will be here for a long, long time. The Pats want him here and he wants to be here.

I imagine Seymour will stick around after 09. Just a feeling.

I think Green will leave for starter money and Wright will hopefully be back.

Patslifer

Wilfork will stick around. Sey needs to take a 35% pay cut, or he should be cut. There is no way he is worth 9 million per year,

Fencer

I strongly suspect Seymour doesn't much like BB. I think he'd like to move on.

Green is apt to get more money than he's worth.

I think they wrap up Wilfork early. They generally find it easier to find DEs than NTs.

And they look to reload.

Richter

I think Green is the likeliest to depart. Wilfork will get his money, he deserves it, and Seymour has started rounding back into form nicely after a stretch of disappointing play, so the Patriots will likely pay him too.

BradyManny

Where'd you get that idea? I remember hearing Holley saying something about Seymour and BB had almost a father-son relationship, and even during the holdout, it was obvious the two were going to remain together. Seymour has been a beast this season, I'd def re-up.

Brarrell

In Bob Ryan's article in the Sunday Globe he stated that the Pats have the 29th highest payroll this year. If that's true it makes you wonder what the F is going on here. We should be going for it every year while Brady is still in his prime.

Scouse Patriot

IMO Wilfork is priority, he's a young, elite NT who's massive in this system.

DaBruinz

Not sure where you heard that Wilfork plans on testing Free Agency. The last I heard was Wilfork saying he wanted to stay in New England, but would go the free agency route only if an equitable deal couldn't be reached. And this was only a couple weeks ago.

I think that Wilfork will be back. I think that Wright will be back. Smith and Seymour are probably gone. Green may be back as well, unless he decides its time to move on.

I expect Seymour's replacement to be drafted this year.