mgteich

The patriots needs to spend cap money just to replace what we have. But, presume that Hochstein, Gaffney, Sanders, Sanders, Paxton and Evans are re-signed or replaced with little or no cap effect.

Please evaluate where you would spend 2009 and/or 2010 cap money to improve the 2009 team. This includes using the money for free agents, for extensions or for signing Wright.

I have included my comments. My position is that replacing our current free agents, having the IR guys return, having improvements from the rookies, and adding a couple of key 2009 rookies who will contribute this year is all we need to be a Super Bowl favorite. My concern is maintaining the quailty in 2010, given all the players with contracts up.

RUNNING GAME
We have the #6 running offense and the best patriots running game in 20 years. We can bring back Jordan or replace him or go with BJGE, but this unit will improve if we can consistently have three healthy running backs.

PASSING GAME
We had the best in NFL history in 2007. I see no reason not to expect one of the top passing games in the league with Brady and everyone else back for 2009.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Someone will need to explain why Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright and Smith is insufficient. We had a top 10 defense with a very young, inexperienced, often-injured secondary. The key to the 2009 DL is to re-sign Wright or replace him with equal quality.

LINEBACKERS
Many want to add youth???????? I guess they just haven't reviewed the roster. The ILB's are composed of two 2008 rookies and a veteran. We can/should add a draftee. The OLB's are composed of two veterans, a 4th-year player and several youngsters. There are those who here who think that we need to improve on Vrabel and Thomas outside. I strongly disagree. We have the past, present and future at linebacker on the team. This is again a strength. Let's face the fact that the front office has solved the problem at ILB.

CORNERS
The team is working hard on this. We've added a 2nd and 4th. Both look like starters or at least nickel or dime backs. Hobbs is playing his contract year. So, we need even more, plus a couple of veterans for leadership. I like Lew Sanders a a lot in this role. I'd add a Day One draft pick.

SAFETIES
Who are we kidding? We have Meriweather and no one at the moment. The key is that we have three more players who could come back and make up a decent unit: Harrison, Tank Williams and James Sanders. I would draft a safety on Day One.

BOTTOM LINE
We have a team ready to compete in the Super Bowl hunt. There are the normal one position that need real work: corner and safety. I think that we can deal with safety position with re-signs or free agency. We will have five picks in the top 100 picks of a great draft. We need to use our cap money to keep the franchise going. We need to extend our players: Seymour, Wilfork, Green, Hobbs, and Mankins (and possibly Faulk, Light and/or Vrabel). On Day One I would be looking at CB, S, ILB and a G (to replace on of those leaving in 2009).

maverick4

To address in free agency and draft:
Strong safety, cornerback, offensive tackle

DarrylS

Have to agree with this, or D backfield makes this D have to play a completely different game.. also think have to keep bringing in LB's as not all that confident that Guyton is a 3 or 4 down player and Crable is an unproven commodity.

__________________
"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

karran_s

We need defense primarily.. Our offense is great...

Cornerback is my number one priority.. Then, a couple of linebackers to shore up our D line.. I think Seau has one more year left in him and may come back.

On the offense, here's what I would do...

Franchise Matt to trade him... They should be able to negotiate some pretty good picks for him. Brady will be back next year....

mayoclinic

I agree with most of what you say. I think that are priority/immediate term needs to be covered (between FA and the draft) are S, CB, LB and OT.

Here's my take:

QB: Hope we franchise and trade Cassel. Don't need anything else. If we do, we may look to pick up a veteran next summer, but not now.

RB: RB by committee is working fine. I'm not sure Maroney is the answer, but give him another year with a longer offseason and hopefully fully healthy. Would resign Jordan if possible, as I agree that 3 RBs help.

WR/TE: It sounds like Gaffney wants to resign. Some depth here would be nice, as Watson is a FA after 2009 and we don't have a lot of youth at WR. I could see us signing a modestly priced FA WR/TE such as Owen Daniels (TE, Houston), Devery Henderson (WR, New Orleans) or Reggie Williamns (WR Jacksonville), but only if they come at a reasonable price. If we don't do anything we are probably OK for 2009.

OT/G: Guard is OK for 2009 as long as Neal is healthy, but with Mankins a FA after 2009 and Neal aging and injury prone it is a risk. Addressing ROT would allow Kaczur to move to backup/RG and would provide insurance at guard as well as upgrade the right side of the line. There is a lot of talent in both FA and the draft, and I would like to see us either sign a good FA (Jordan Gross, Vernon Carey, or Khalif Barnes) or use a 1st day pick on one of the top OTs (ideally Eugene Monroe, Jason Smith or Eben Britten).

DT: Re-signing Wilfork is key. It sounds like this will happen once the market value is set (Haynesworth). A true NT backup to Vince would be nice, especially if Wright leaves. I don't know how Titus Adams is progressing on the practice squad. I don't see much in FA. A second day draft pick might be reasonable in this area.

DE: IF we could keep Seymour-Warren-Green-Wright we would clearly be set, but it's doubtful that we can keep all and address other areas if we resign Wilfork. I wouldn't trade Seymour unless someone offers a 1st round pick for him (always possible given that Washington gave up a second for Jason Taylor at age 34 and holding out from Miami). I'd like to restructure Green for less $$, resign Wright, OR sign a reasonably priced alternative. Chris Canty from Dallas is an UFA, has ideal 3-4 DE size and experience, and sounds like he would be at least equivalent to Green/Wright, if not an upgrade. Don't know how expensive he would come.

OLB: Thomas is set. Vrabel has slowed considerably. I think he may become a part-timer in 2009 if we develop any other options. The problem is we have a lot of bodies but no clear candidates to take over. Woods is a great STer and is adequate, but probably won't ever be more than adequate at OLB. Crable showed flashes in preseason but is still an unknown. Redd and Daryl Robertson have potential but are still unproven. I wouldn't spend big $$ in FA on this position (e.g., Suggs) because the cost would be prohibitive, but I think that spending 1-2 early picks in this area on draft picks with pass rushing potential would be a good move. Some first round talent will probably be available in the second round. I like Connor Barwin and Greg Hardy. Cliff Sintim, Larry English, Aaron Maybin, and Michael Johnson have also been mentioned. I wouldn't personally spend a 1st round pick on Orapko or Brown given the conversion time, but feel that a second round pick is a worthwhile investment.

ILB: We've made tremendous progress in the past season with Mayo and Guyton, but Bruschi/Seau are about done, Izzo was never an option and is winding down, and Alexander has never really materialized. I don't see much of an option in FA other than Karlos Dansby, who would probably cost too much given other needs. A first day pick would be nice to complement Mayo and Guyton. I like Brandon Spikes a lot, and think that at least some of the DE/OLB options (Barwin and Sintim in particular) may have the versatility to adapt to ILB as well. AD also gives us flexibility in this area, since he could potential move inside to SILB at least part-time as necessary.

S: A big hole. Harrison is retiring or fading fast. Sanders and Tank Williams are UFAs. Meriweather is solid. There are no studs in FA. I would resign Sanders or sign a comparable player (Sean Jones, UFA Cleveland) in FA, and then spend a relatively high pick. I personally like William Moore in the late 1st/early 2nd round, Sean Smith (if he declares) in the early-mid 2nd round, and Patrick Chung in the mid 2nd-3rd round. Opinions may vary, but there is certainly a lot of depth at S in the draft.

CB: Hobbs is adequate but is an UFA after 2009. Wheatley and Wilhite show signs of developing nicely but are not sure things. O'Neal is barely adequate and should be upgraded. There is a lot of talent in both FA and the draft. Scrabble is to high priced for us, and may not be the best fit. Given that some other needs may be better address in the draft than in FA I wouldn't mind seeing us sign a mid-range CB in FA such as Jabari Greer (Buffalo), Dunta Robinson (Houston) or Bryant McFadden (Pittsburgh), all of whom would fit reasonably and would be a significant upgrade. Richard Marshall (Carolina) is an RFA and Carlos Rogers (Washington) may be on the block as additional options if the price were right, though I think they are less likely. Given our youth/inexperience at CB I like the idea of signing a vet FA better than drafting another rookie, though there is a lot of talent in the draft.

ST: Ghost is great. Hansen is adequate but upgradeable. Ken Huber from Cincinnati seems like the perfect Pats punter, with great accuracy and ability to pin opponents deep. I'd love to see us pick him up with a late round pick.

Not sure how we manage all this with our own resignings. I'm not a capologist, but I expect BB/SP)?) to be aggressive this offseason the way they were after 2006 to address deficiencies. Thoughts?

SoonerPatriot

Regarding several of the LB spots, "Veteran" is code for older than dirt.

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PatsFaninME

Bad organizations chase their tale and say this year our seconddary was weak so we have to draft a day 1 CB or whatever. The Patriots play a few years ahead. I think it's going to be a year that we strengthen our OL. We have no backup to Light, Neal is often injured, and we havent' had the RT spot solidified in years. We need to find and develop a pure LT because Brady is the Pats present and future. THe O-line played well but we don't have the depth we once had. Imagine Brady having loads of time to throw to these receivers...where is next year's SB anyway?

Yes, I would like to see a CB added but I think Wheatley and Wilhite have potential and I don't believe BB and SP believe CB is as much of a need as everyone else. I think a pass rush would solve the seconday issues more than anything else.

JoePats

Adam Seward.

MetalBleachers

Looking toward the draft side:

Sounds good, although if a pass-rushing OLB or an offensive playmaker (Harvin?) comes along in the Pats' top three picks on day one, shouldn't they take a shot?

MetalBleachers

Heaven knows they might do that, but the whole "plan years ahead thing" doesn't explain drafting Jerod Mayo. I think the Pats can get OL help in the mid-rounds this year as well as one free agent.