OhExaulted1

At LT-M. Light UFA 2010 6-4 311 31
RT-N. Kaczur UFA 2009 6-4 319 30
T-M. Levoir UFA 2009 6-7 306 27
T-W. Britt UFA 2009 6-8 314 27
T-R. O'Callaghan UFA 2009 6-7 344 26

At LG-L. Mankins UFA 2009 6-4 307 27
RG-S. Neal UFA 2009 6-4 290 32
G-R. Hochstein UFA 2009 6-4 305 31
G-B. Yates UFA 2009 6-2 305 29

At C-D. Koppen UFA 2011 6-3 297 31
C-A. Johnson UFA 2009 6-5 305 30
C-D. Connolly UFA 2009 6-3 313 27
C-R. Wendell UFA 2009 6-2 275 23

With only Koppen and Light signed beyond this season, does anyone expect an OL heavy draft? Just looking at the roster I see enough evidence to conclude interior line will be a priority in the draft since it wasn't addressed in FA.

Games are won in the trenches.

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supafly

It seemed like just yesterday that they were all signed for the next 3-4 yrs, boy how time flies!

Yes, I would expect a day one and maybe a couple day two OL's. May as well because what do they have to lose, especially in this yrs draft. Only a handful of players will make this team anyway, may as well take some shots and see if anything sticks. It's just my guess but I expect at least 2-3, if not 3-4 total.

OhExaulted1

I just can't see them skipping over the line situation. Too many FA's at the end of the year and too many FA's signed that retire within a month. They need to get younger and meaner along the line to protect Tom and make the running game work.

To me, this is a potential spot of vulnerability and needs to be addressed. It's good to know somebody else see's it.

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mayoclinic

Nice summary. Obviously, many of those guys will stay beyond 2009. But your list makes a compelling case for addressing OL in this year's draft.

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Box_O_Rocks

Neal is listed at 305 on the Patriots.com unofficial roster.

Mankins, Kaczur, LeVoir, O'Callaghan, Britt, Connelly, and Wendell are all RFA/ERFA in an uncapped 2010. That leaves Neal, Hochstein, Yates, and Johnson as UFA. It is my impression that NE is planning for an uncapped 2010, I expect they will be able to retain any of the RFAs who stick on the 2009 roster. Neal shouldn't be an issue re-signing.

I would like to see NE draft a quality interior OL prospect to compete with Hochstein, Yates, and Connelly to be the primary back-up inside. There's a number of good LT prospects from the third round on who could develop nicely behind Light and Kaczur, competing with LeVoir, Britt, and O'Callaghan. I'm looking for two OL in this draft, and two more as UDFA.

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Hok

I think Alex Mack will be the surprise pick at #23.

OhExaulted1

I figured Neal was more than 290, but he's not on the field that often and he's 32. No offense, but we need G/C players, not tackles. Holding on to Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell as ERFA's is not going to solve our problems along the Offensive Line.

We need guys in the trenches who are young and durable and mean,..... not old, worn out and ready to retire.

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OhExaulted1

I was waiting to spring that on people just before the draft. Thanks for blurting it out this early. I hope Max Unger corner's you in a dark alley.

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Box_O_Rocks

Um, you may have missed or misinterpreted this line...Neal is on the roster, and when he's not injured he's as good a RG as we could ask. This class isn't deep at "Guard," but there are some quality Centers and Tackles capable of playing Guard whom I'm expecting BB to choose amongst. Recall that Mankins was a LT, a good technician with a "nasty" onfield demeanor. Three Tackles whom I think could develop nicely as starters at Guard are T.J. Lang, Augustus Parrish, and Robert Brewster. Centers Alex Mack, Max Unger, Eric Woods, Jonathan Luigs, Antoine Caldwell...Guards Kraig Urbik, Trevor Canfield, Tyronne Green... The Pats can pick up someone to groom behind Neal/Koppen/Mankins with one of their seconds and still find some solid prospects in the UDFA pool.

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mgteich

One question is how good a guard Mack would be. If we draft an interior lineman in the first three rounds, I would expect him to be the game day backup at C, LG and RG. It is not essential (Hochstein could continue in these roles, but of if the draftee doesn't do this, he won't be active.

Unger, Wood, Canfield, Luigs and a couple of others meet this requirement.