I was thinking about the Pats upcoming (March) decision on whether to apply the Franchise tag to Matt Cassel. One of the arguments against applying the tag has been that the Pats would likely gain a 3rd round compensatory pick in 2010. However, wouldn't this be based on the teams net losses this spring? If so, who besides Cassel should we assume will both leave and result in a contract worthy of compensation? Probably nobody fits both criterion (see below). If so, wouldn't the signing of even one or two decent Free Agent negate any compensatory pick? Sorry if I do not know the intricacies of compensatory picks - i'm not AdamTJ13. Just something to consider...
UFA
Matt Cassel, QB - OK, he's one
Heath Evans, FB - probably retained, wouldn't qualify anyway
Jabar Gaffney, WR - might go elsewhere, but not for big bucks
Chris Hanson, P - nope
Rodney Harrison, SS - resigns here or retires
Russ Hochstein, G - JAG resigning
Larry Izzo, LB - veteran minimum
Lamont Jordan, RB - old, coming off injury plagued season, probably not
Deltha O'Neal, CB - doubtful
Lonie Paxton, LS - resigned
James Sanders, S - possibly, but probably resigned
Lewis Sanders, CB - JAG
Kenny Smith, DE - JAG
Jason Webster, CB - JAG
Tank Williams, S - JAG
Mike Wright, DT - possibly resigned
UFA
Matt Cassel, QB - OK, he's one
Heath Evans, FB - probably retained, wouldn't qualify anyway
Jabar Gaffney, WR - might go elsewhere, but not for big bucks
Chris Hanson, P - nope
Rodney Harrison, SS - resigns here or retires
Russ Hochstein, G - JAG resigning
Larry Izzo, LB - veteran minimum
Lamont Jordan, RB - old, coming off injury plagued season, probably not
Deltha O'Neal, CB - doubtful
Lonie Paxton, LS - resigned
James Sanders, S - possibly, but probably resigned
Lewis Sanders, CB - JAG
Kenny Smith, DE - JAG
Jason Webster, CB - JAG
Tank Williams, S - JAG
Mike Wright, DT - possibly resigned