mgteich

OFFENSE
The offense is solidifying the 2009 roster, and worring about Warren's contract running out in 2008. The offense will need wide receivers for the 2008 season.

DEFENSE
The defense is in much different shape. The DL is fine, but there are serious issues at corner for 2007 (some would say 2006), at lienbacker for 2007, and at safety for 2008.

CONTRACTS THAT END AFTER THE 2006 SEASON
DL - Wright an ERFA for a couple of year
LB - Izzo no reason to extend
LB - Davis no reason to extend
LB - Alexander could extend, but no big deal
LB - Seau could extend
LB - Banta-Cain we will likely make an effort to extend
CB - Samuel we will likely make an unsuccessful effort to extend
CB - C. Scott could extend
CB - Gay why bother
CB - Spann an ERFA for a couple of years
CB - Iwoume likely not, since we just signed him for one year

CONTRACT THAT END AFTER 2007 SEASON
LB - Bruschi it would be good to extend now
S - Wilson it would be good to extend now
S - Hawkins it would be good to extend now
S - Jones we shouldn't extend players on IR
S - Mitchell we shouldn't extend players on IR

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MOST LIKELY EXTENSIONS
Banta-Cain, Chad Scott, and Seau

Fencer

Hawkins doesn't contribute much on STs, does he? If he did, I think he'd be a near-lock for an extension. Seau's recent-season durability problems might get in the way of an extension. Ditto Scott. Wilson seems unlikely to be extended when his play is in what is hopefully a temporary trough. Even so -- well-argued.

cstjohn17

Now we are getting somewhere, nice thread mgteich.

Chad Scott - I think Chad Scott is under contract in 2007, according to Miguel's info:
http://www.patscap.com/futureyears.html

Seau - No need to extend, if he is in the mix for starting ILB next year then the FO has not done a very good job in free agency or the draft. Worst case is he or someone like him could be brought in in training camp in case of an emergency.

TBC and \ or Alexander - At least one of these guys should be signed before the end of the season, they both will be cheap and understand system which makes it easier to fill the reamining 2-3 open LB spots.

I posted my thoughts in a different thread yesterday, and haven't changed my mind yet. Give me a week or so and I am sure I will.....
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like the offseason stuff a little too much...my ideal scenario is more of a dream than anything based in reality. As constituted, based on currently signed players, there are holes at LB and CB next year. This could change but anytime players hit free agency there is an increased risk they will be gone.

2007
LBs signed (age at start of next season) – Bruschi (33), Vrabel (32), Colvin (30), Woods (24)
- average age 29.8
- 5 spots open based on current 53 man roster (9 LBs)

Remaining LB spots
- 2 spots – some youth and depth could be provided quickly if TBC and Alexander are re-signed
- 1 spot - either Izzo or Davis may be brought back, 2007 is the year one of them goes (I said this last year too)
- 1 spot - someone younger, maybe Mays or Gardner takes one of Izzo’s orDavis’s spot
- 1 open spot, filled as you said by a Colvin II type player, ideally an ILB

Other options
- bring some youth in via draft, unless the right person is there in early rounds more likely to see round 4,5 type players brought in with expectations of learning system while performing on special teams

CBs signed Hobbs, Scott
- ERFA Spann
- RFA Gay
- 3 open spots

Remaining CB spots
- 1 spot - if Spann shows anything extend him
- 1 veteran FA, please don’t be from the same mold as Warfield, Starks
- 1 spot via draft, there may be some expectation that the CB brought in through the draft with be the #2 or worst case #3 CB on the team, for a rookie to come in at this level it makes sense to take the player high, rounds 1 or 2

Another option
- if a quality Safety is a better value than CB in the draft, draft Safety move Wilson to CB
- sign a quality CB via free agency, draft a developmental CB later in the draft, rounds 3 or 4

PatsFanInVa

Don't Izzo/Davis mainly exist for special teams? What's their production like on that unit? Worth a re-sign?

For about the fifth year, I agree LOL... we need linebackers. We always do. I think it's time to get their production in the books for this year first, however. I especially think Colvin is in excel-and-justify-yourself territory, because he will start costing a buttload next year. He's in the same territory Willie was in last year, albeit he is much younger. But many here have commented on BB/SP's tendency thus far to build the LB corps through free agency -- who's available to restock with? Caveat: as with any tendency in the Pats' FO, they have no reliable tendency, other than a commitment to value, as they measure value. That might mean we all accept that they'll draft at position X, Y, or Z (not talking about receivers, just variables here....) and they'll go out and grab three straight linebackers. Oh yeah, and a tight end. That much at least seems constant.

I love how all the good personnel/cap info just sort of oozes out of people's brains on the bye week!

Thanks for great posts on these,

PFnV

cstjohn17

Yes, we are have too much time and are so so smart, that what keeps it fun.

Some previews of 2007 FAs:
2007 free agents...looking ahead

jct

I agree attempting to extend Samuel and Graham are the #1 objective.
Failing that I'm hoping we pick up A Thomas LB from Baltimore in the offseason and add that to a defensive bonanza plus a WR in next years draft.
Although, I appreciate T Brown and Seau, I wish our team could improve enough that we didn't NEED them.