mgteich

I've been on vacation for a week!

FIRST
IMHO, we still have plenty of cap room left to do anything we want. If necessary, Brady's contract can be restructured.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Morris and Welker are major additions. We can now not worry about Brown's decision.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Yates was a starter for one game last year. It is good to see him in place through 2009.

RECEIVERS
Welker and Brady are major additions. We still need a receiver, but not from free agency. We no longer need a tight end.

RUNNING BACK
We still need help, but the need is not as immediate with Evans and Morris signed. Dillon is a major loss.

DEFENSE
Thomas is the biggest free agent signing since Colvin.
Gay may actually play a game this season, or not.
We still need a corner, or to sign Samuel to a long-term contract, or both.

BOTTOM LINE
As I indicated a couple of weeks ago, it is the philosophy of the FO to be able to field a team BEFORE the draft. This allows draft flexibility, as well as not having to count on rookies. We've used a 2nd on a wide receiver who is a top returner.

SoonerPatriot

Still could use a body or two at ILB.

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Celebrating the wonders of the ignore list.

DarrylS

The best part of this is that whoever we draft, short a CB or safety, they will have time to develop in the NFL instead of just being cast into a starting role.. if the draftees can step in right away, then this team will only be better than it is right now. Always like the way the Pats have used "bridge" players to help the new guys learn the NFL and how to behave, this year Bruschi and Harrison may play that role.

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"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.

Fencer

As always, the Pats are on the verge of running out of places to put draftees, at least on the roster of 53:

K, LS -- set
P -- could draft 1
QB -- don't really have roster room for a 3rd
RB -- don't really have roster room for a 5th
TE -- full up at 4
OL -- full up at 9
WR -- room for a rookie, but probably just 1; would they actually carry 2 rooks at WR?
DL -- they're set at 5 positions, and it will be hard to carry more than 6 DL. There's certainly room for 1 NT, but after that it gets dicey.
LB -- My base case is 6 vets (2 more FAs, perhaps including Seau), 2 of the current developmental guys, 1 of the current grizzled ST specialists, and 1 rookie
S -- 4 keepers, leaving room for 1 rookie
CB -- 4 keepers if Gay winds up staying, leaving room for 1 rookie. And even if Gay goes, one of Spann/Andrews might get his slot.

bradmahn

I'd bet money that, unless he has a terrible offseason/ training camp, Willie Andrews is a lock to make the team. He's an ace on special teams, can return kicks and punts in a bind, has the versatility to play S and CB, and I have heard some fairly promising statements about his development (I don't remember where, exactly, but something along the lines of him being groomed for "something special," IIRC).

jbhiggy

Im pretty certain we'll see an ILB and a S taken in the first round, but as everyone knows we'll probably take a QB and a TE lol.

S Michael Griffin of Texas could be a good pick and I think the consensus here is we'd love to see Willis at ILB.

I wonder if Fresno State has anymore guys we'll snatch up.

USMC FFMS

I still think the team needs to look at adding another safety and a good under the radar move might be Ken Hamlin.

Rodney unfortunately seems to be breaking down more and more now, Eugene Wilson can't stay healthy and might be moved back to corner just to lower the injury risk, Artrell Hawkins is a nice back-up, and James Sanders is close but isn't quite there yet.

Kdo5

With Wes Welker coming here and getting Morris and the TE Brady it makes me wonder if our offensive holes have almost all been filled. That is great so we can problably do mostly a defensive draft this year opposite of what we did for the offensive side last year. I mean aside from Troy whether he plays or retires, the oldest player on the offensive side is Kevin Faulk. We are loaded with younger talented players on offense.

So it seems we will go for some DB's in the first round, particularly a safety. With a good draft, this team will be scary.

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PatsChick87

I believe they have 3 or 4 punters already. No way they draft one!!!

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Enjoying this Championship era!!

italian pat patriot

...we need another excitement period in april (draft)

you are anyway very right: we are very excited in these days

i'm still thinking about A.Thomas...wow !