PATRIOTSFANINPA

Who is the most important signing from 1 to 8 guys signed this year, although it is way to early to see how it all pans out - Still an idea of a consensus of who was most important or will make a difference in games this year.

It has to be between Moss and Thomas for #1 and #2 so my importance in order is....

1) Adalius Thomas - With our current problem at LB depth,this guy is at least going to be a fixture in this area for years ahead,With Bruschi nowhere enar what he was before his stroke and of couse now that he is getting older along with Vrabel whose age is slowly starting to show To me this guy is most important and will be the leader of this defense in due time,Probably once Harrison retires next year I could see his leadership role on this team much greater.

2) Randy Moss - A game changing WR whose presence will not only open up the passing game but also imrove the running game,Teams will no longer stack the box and stop the run and Moss's presence alone will sharply kill any major blitz schemes teams have against us,Unless our OL sucks this year don't expect Brady to be sacked too often and Moss presence may be a big part of that,teams will not blitz too often with these WR sets we have,Don't expect Moss to have 1,000 or more yards because simply this team is not about throwing to 1 main guy, but just the fact he is on the field with his talent will help immensely.

3) Tory James - Why do I pick Tory here? - Its because I don't think Asante will be here on opening day,I can see us getting a #1 next year (that would mean 3 #1s next year!) and see him traded sometime in mid summer where I think Asante will be a no show in camp and will never come to terms-we should get a #1 and maybe more for trading him,That leaves Tory to manage that spot to which there is not much depth,I Don't think signing James was just for nothing,He may very well be our starter in Asante's place and the FO probably knew this was going to be a very important pickup.

4) Sammy Morris - Easy pick here with the loss of Dillon we needed another great backup player behind Maroney and I think Morris is the perfect fit,He does not have the power like Corey did but should compliment Maroney very well-Look for about 500 yards from this guy this year-he is also a pretty good blocker as well.

5) Dante Stallworth - If he can remain healthy he will do close to the same things Moss will do for us,I don't expect Dante to adjust to our offense till near mid season where in retrospect,I think Moss on talent alone can join any teams offense and produce immediately, I do expect a great second half from Dante for the playoff push,expect somewhere around 700-800 yards from him this year.

6) Wes Welker - This guy can return kicks,Provide over the middle important 3rd and short catches and do things that maybe the others can't,Expect Welker to get free in the secondary several times this year on 3 WR formations due to the talent that will be on the other sides.

7) Kyle Brady - 3 words here 'Daniel Graham's Replacement', Kyle will be a huge help in the passing game for blocking skill especially in 3rd and long situations if our OL does not perform up to task,I don't expect much in terms of yardage from Kyle but he has been the best blocking TE for years in the NFL (better than Graham) and if his age is not a factor he may save Brady from any major pressure in his face or mistakes on hurried throws at crucial times this year.

8) Kelley Washington - I simply don't know if he will make our team,I see us having 3 or 4 TEs and 6 WRs ,I don't know if he will be one of them,His best chance is if Gaffney and/or Caldwell are let go and/or if Chad Jackson is on IR and/or Troy Brown retires,He did not get alot of playing time in Cincinnati and I don't think he will here either,Maybe more productive in garbage time or early in some games,He has the talent to be a starter on some teams,if it was last year here he would have definately been our #1 guy - this year probably not,May make it also if we go 7 WRs.

questionman

Not to get picky, but Moss and Welker were trades, that being said Thomas is the biggest addition.

PATRIOTSFANINPA

I know,I just adjusted the post -FA was for just a few of the guys.

questionman

Like I said, no biggie.

Fixit

Thomas #1, definitely. I don't know if I'd put Moss at #2 for "most important", though. I'd say the Stallworth signing was more important; Moss was unexpected and unbelievable, but it was also all gravy after Stallworth.

PATRIOTSFANINPA

Well if it were up to the media to vote,Moss would be #1- We have received more publicity over the Moss trade than when we won any of those Super Bowls and definately more than when Adalius was signed.

Adalius definately should be the bigger addition to our team.

naclone

I don't think Moss impacts our ability to win nearly as much as he impacts how we will win. in other words, i don't expect us to necessarily win any more games than we would have prior to the draft weekend. AD was a huge pickup that assures we are going to be a 12-14 win team again. Moss' true impact in my opinion is that he will give brady the opportunity to have an MVP season. We will win by a much larger margin than we did last year or would have prior to the Moss acquisition. But make no mistake, AD was the more important addition. Moss is a luxury. He won't make us unbeatable but he'll make us much more explosive. but this was a pretty good friggin team last friday.

Bobs My Uncle

Not even close. Moss.

While Thomas is good he's not great like what Moss is. While Thomas will have to be accounted for by opposing offesnes he won't be gameplanned around like what defenses will have to do for Moss. While Thomas will command attention he won't be double teammed all the time like Moss will be.

ClevTrev

I was most impressed with the Thomas acquisition. That being said, I'm reluctant to determine the order of value. What I mean is this, if Moss gets tweaked and can't play, Stallworth is important. Yet, Moss and/or Stallworth will open the field up for Welker, Watson, Maroney, and the rest. Remember, Rodney said that Welker was impossible to cover man up.

I know this isn't what was intended by this thread, but I'd say that the offensive players are going to enable team success. While Moss is extremely important in this mix, his biggest adjustment will likely be getting used to a QB that goes through his progressions and doesn't always force passes to his primary target. Randy's biggest contribution will be enabling the success of the offense, whether he's got the ball or not.

PATRIOTSFANINPA

Like I said Moss will make a difference when it comes to respecting the run as well as pass,His presence will make defense think hard about whether going for an all out blitz or backing off the line of scrimmage.

Almost like it is in baseball where the outfield moves in a bit to defend against a guy that is not known as a power hitter or home run hitter yet backs all the way to the wall when a guy like Barry Bonds steps up to the plate-Understand where I come from here?