mgteich

Wright is a 2009 free agent.
Seymour, Wilfork, Green are all in their contract year.
Even Smith is in his contract year and is scheduled to be a 2010 RFA.
Of our 6 DL's, Warren will definitely be back in 2010!
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Q1) How many will be extend or re-sign before the 2009 draft?
Q2) How many should we expect on the roster in 2010?
Q3) How many defensive linemen will we need to draft?
Q4) How serious in the need (compared with value)?
Q5) Who is available and do you consider them to all-pro material?

I understand that many think guards and backup OT's are a dime a dozen and can start or contribute in rookie year, and at worst be eaily acquired in free agency. These folks don't worry about Hochstein, Mankins, Neal, Kaczur, Britt and Yates whose contracts are also up in 2008 or 2009. While I believe that drafting one offesnive lineman early is strongly recommended, I am fine if we don't.

However, I am not confident that any but a Top 10 DL pick should be expected to be able to start. Since I expect no Top 20 pick in 2010, I think that we do need to plan now. Even one 2010 top 10 pick (maybe for Cassel, although surely he will bring any team he plays for to the playoffs)

AzPatsFan

I simply disagree. BB prizes linemen and he has them, all under 30 and believe it or not just coming into their primes. Why not worry about the guys whose contract also runs out in 2011, 2012, 2013 etc?

That is not to say he won't:
a) pick up a backup NT,
b) draft a DL if one falls into their lap like Wilfork did.

Box_O_Rocks

Based on the availablity of 3-4 DL in this draft, NE will need to focus on re-signing/extending their DL if they want to be competitive in 2010. Now the 2010 class looks to have a stronger pool of potential 3-4 DL, if NE can lock down Vince and at least one of Sey, Jarvis, or Wright, they'll have Smith under an RFA tender, and they can draft one or more DL in 2009-2010 to develop, then it's not so bad.

While we're on the subject of 3-4 DL: Mark the name Jarron Gilbert and watch for him Saturday in the Shrine game (ESPN2). 6'5" 287, 35 5-8" arms and 10 1-4" hands. Put another 10 lbs of muscle on him, teach him two-gap, and you've got a nice 5-technique DL to develop behind Sey and Jarvis. I expect him to sneak into the first day of the draft.

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mgteich

Huddle has Gilbert at 111 on their value board as of December 31, and moving up fast. Obviously the Shrine Game, pro dates and combine will determine when he is drafted.

mgteich

Why worry about them? Because they are unsigned. I AGREE that we have one of the best DL's in the league. We won't if we don't extend our players.

mgteich

Even under your scenario, we are not in great shape.

Let's presume that we extend Wilfork and sign Wright to a long-term deal. This would solidify us for 2009. We would continue to have one of the best DL's in football. We would need to carry an extra roster spot for the developmental rookie. We have had seven DL's most other years, so that isn't an issue.

We would then need to replace the production of say Green and Seymour with players who will replace them in 2010. That's a tall order.

BradyManny

I'm with BOR, priority 1 has to be extending and re-signing our own guys. Preferably, we get that done before the draft so its not a need going in. The problem with drafting a couple of DL this April is that they could end up being superfluous if we do reach an agreement with Wilfork, Seymour & Wright. I trust this team to know what the situation will be, and then either use the draft, or not use the draft, to address DL depending how they see fit. I hope its not a need, I hope the guys are extended/re-signed.

mayoclinic

The DL should always be a priority. If we can't resign Mike Wright for reasonable $$ then I could see us going after Chris Canty from Dallas in FA. He's 6'6" 305# and has played reasonably for Dallas at 3-4 DE. He would also provide security in case Big Sey walks after 2009.

I would like to see us restructure Jarvis Green, who has a $5M cap hit and didn't play any near up to it in 2008. If we signed both Wright and Canty I could see us potentially even cutting Green, though that is a long shot.

I don't see us trading Seymour unless someone throws a first at us - unlikely, but remember that 34 year old Jason Taylor held out last summer and got the Fins a 2nd round pick.

I could see us drafting a 2nd day developmental pick such as Gilbert, the kid from Stanford whose name I can't remember, etc., but it depends a lot on what happens in FA. I could definitely see us drafting one in the first day next year when a number of good 3-4 ends will be coming out: Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma, likely top 10), Namdukong Suk (Nebraska) and Vince Oghobasse (Duke), among others.

mgteich

I agree with all that you posted. My point if that we don't extend all the players, then we will need to draft a DL.

Box_O_Rocks

I didn't call it ideal, but it would be the minimum to maintain some level of continuity of talent along the O-line while trying to rebuild through the draft.

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