My Dream Pats Offseason

[nickw308810]

Some of this is might be unrealistic, but I guess that's the point of it being my dream. Enjoy.

Resign:
Rodney Harrison - Just a hunch, but I think Harrison comes back for one last shot at the ring

James Sanders - Quality safety, not flashy, but good in our system

Jabar Gaffney - Solid #3 option, Brady seems to like him, that's good enough for me

Lonnie Paxton - One of the top long snappers out there

Chris Hanson - Good enough directional punter, I'd sign some UDFA to compete with him, but I'd expect Hanson to win the job anyway.

Heath Evans - good ST contributor and a decent FB

Mike Wright - probably the hardest to bring back, but gives us some versatility across the DL

Larry Izzo - I always expect him to be gone but he never is

Pierre Woods -Sign to 2nd round tender

Trade:
Matt Cassel for Julius Peppers (Or trade Cassel for Detroit/Minnesota..etc 1st rounder and trade that for Peppers)

Draft:
1 - Percy Harvin - WR - Florida - Oh no, not another UF wide receiver they will say. Harvin will offer us a dynamic weapon (what Stallworth was supposed to be) and also be able to fill in and take a few carries and return kicks.

2 - Darius Butler - CB - UCONN - A solid CB with good upside, would add some talent to our defensive backfield.

2 - Sean Smith - FS - Utah - Big quick DB, have seen him falling on a few different places lately. Very productive and would give us good coverage ability out of the FS position and be able to compete for a starting spot after the season. I think after the year Meriweather moves full time to SS, Smith starts at FS, Sanders is the 3rd safety and Harrison retires.

3 - Trevor Canfield - OG - Cincinnati
3 Comp - Jason Watkins - OT - Florida
Two talented OL who would give us great depth and could develop under Dante into future starters

4 - James Casey - TE - Rice - Mr. Versatility, once played 7 positions in a game. Would be everything Belichick wanted Garrett Mills to be. Great athlete who would be a viable receiving threat, good blocker, will be a special teams demon and lineup in the backfield on occasion.

5 - We'll say this pick was traded to move up to get one of the 2nd rounders

6 - Khalif Mitchell - DE - ECU - This pick could be any 3-4 Defensive Lineman who could come compete for a roster spot. Mitchell is a good athlete and has great size.

7 - Brian Toal - LB- Boston College - Undersized and injury prone, but Toal is very talented and could develop into a solid special teams contributor and backup ILB/FB after he sits out a year either on IR or the practice squad.

That would leave our 53 man roster as follows:
Offense
QB (3) Brady, O'Connell, Gutierrez
RB (5) Maroney, morris, Faulk, BJGE, Evans
WR (5) Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Harvin, one out of Washington and Aiken
TE (3) Watson, Thomas, Casey
OL (9) Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, LeVoir, Connolly, Canfield, Watkins

Defense
DL (7) Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Wright, Green, L.Smith, Battle between Adams and Mitchell
LB (9) Peppers, Thomas, Vrabel, Mayo, Woods, Crabel, Bruschi, Guyton, Izzo
CB (4) Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite, Butler
S (4) Meriweather, S. Smith, Harrison, J. Sanders
S/WR/ST - 1 out of Slater and Ventrone

Special Teams
K - Gostkowski
P - Hanson
LS - Paxton

Our Practice Squad could consist of players such as Redd, Craig, Robertson, Ruud, Toal, Richardson, DeVree, Malone, etc...

Let me know what you think...

 

[DocE]

My first thought is that I don't know how anyones dream Pats offseason could not include adding a proven player to the secondary.

Julius Peppers is interesting and adding him as an OLB to a team that already has such a powerful 3 man line and a freak athlete at OLB like Adalius Thomas sounds tremendous. Peppers is a freak in his own right, but questions about him learning the system and how well he could cover are concerns of mine. I know it's just a "dream", but wonder if Peppers would take the discount necessary to play for the Patriots? I have a hard time believing that the Patriots would make him their highest paid player, so he'd have to take less to play in New England. I also feel like merely making him the highest paid defensive player might ruffle some feathers in the locker room.

I like a lot of your draft picks right now as Harvin, Smith, and Butler are all guys that interest me. I also like Canfield and Watkins and am intrigued by what I've read about Casey, but I didn't watch Rice play this year.

Because you added Peppers, I would be happy with your offseason. Just thinking of the versatility he could give the defense is exciting. How about a Nickel package of Seymour, Wright, Peppers, Thomas, Guyton, and Mayo as the front 6? No speed issues there.

 

[mayoclinic]

Some of this is might be unrealistic, but I guess that's the point of it being my dream. Enjoy.

Resign:
Rodney Harrison - Just a hunch, but I think Harrison comes back for one last shot at the ring

James Sanders - Quality safety, not flashy, but good in our system

Jabar Gaffney - Solid #3 option, Brady seems to like him, that's good enough for me

Lonnie Paxton - One of the top long snappers out there

Chris Hanson - Good enough directional punter, I'd sign some UDFA to compete with him, but I'd expect Hanson to win the job anyway.

Heath Evans - good ST contributor and a decent FB

Mike Wright - probably the hardest to bring back, but gives us some versatility across the DL

Larry Izzo - I always expect him to be gone but he never is

Pierre Woods -Sign to 2nd round tender

Trade:
Matt Cassel for Julius Peppers (Or trade Cassel for Detroit/Minnesota..etc 1st rounder and trade that for Peppers)

Draft:
1 - Percy Harvin - WR - Florida - Oh no, not another UF wide receiver they will say. Harvin will offer us a dynamic weapon (what Stallworth was supposed to be) and also be able to fill in and take a few carries and return kicks.

2 - Darius Butler - CB - UCONN - A solid CB with good upside, would add some talent to our defensive backfield.

2 - Sean Smith - FS - Utah - Big quick DB, have seen him falling on a few different places lately. Very productive and would give us good coverage ability out of the FS position and be able to compete for a starting spot after the season. I think after the year Meriweather moves full time to SS, Smith starts at FS, Sanders is the 3rd safety and Harrison retires.

3 - Trevor Canfield - OG - Cincinnati
3 Comp - Jason Watkins - OT - Florida
Two talented OL who would give us great depth and could develop under Dante into future starters

4 - James Casey - TE - Rice - Mr. Versatility, once played 7 positions in a game. Would be everything Belichick wanted Garrett Mills to be. Great athlete who would be a viable receiving threat, good blocker, will be a special teams demon and lineup in the backfield on occasion.

5 - We'll say this pick was traded to move up to get one of the 2nd rounders

6 - Khalif Mitchell - DE - ECU - This pick could be any 3-4 Defensive Lineman who could come compete for a roster spot. Mitchell is a good athlete and has great size.

7 - Brian Toal - LB- Boston College - Undersized and injury prone, but Toal is very talented and could develop into a solid special teams contributor and backup ILB/FB after he sits out a year either on IR or the practice squad.

That would leave our 53 man roster as follows:
Offense
QB (3) Brady, O'Connell, Gutierrez
RB (5) Maroney, morris, Faulk, BJGE, Evans
WR (5) Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Harvin, one out of Washington and Aiken
TE (3) Watson, Thomas, Casey
OL (9) Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, LeVoir, Connolly, Canfield, Watkins

Defense
DL (7) Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Wright, Green, L.Smith, Battle between Adams and Mitchell
LB (9) Peppers, Thomas, Vrabel, Mayo, Woods, Crabel, Bruschi, Guyton, Izzo
CB (4) Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite, Butler
S (4) Meriweather, S. Smith, Harrison, J. Sanders
S/WR/ST - 1 out of Slater and Ventrone

Special Teams
K - Gostkowski
P - Hanson
LS - Paxton

Our Practice Squad could consist of players such as Redd, Craig, Robertson, Ruud, Toal, Richardson, DeVree, Malone, etc...

Let me know what you think...

I like a lot of your picks, but agree with DocE about the lack of CB. I see us signing a mid-range FA CB such as Jabari Greer. I think that we need a more mature CB to go with our rookies and provide insurance in case Hobbs leaves after 2009 more than another rookie.

Resigning James Sanders, Jabar Gaffney and Pierre Woods all sound fine, though a think we tender Woods to a 2nd round pick and if someone wants to take a fly on him we let him go. I don't see much of a dropoff between Woods and Redd. I don't see us tendering Alexander or Britt.

I just don't see us resigning Rodney right now. I know BB loves his vets, and Rodney has been spectacular, but between the obvious slowdown and the injury history I just think we need to move on. I do see us resigning Lewis Sanders, who probably played better than James Sanders part of last year.

I hope we resign Mike Wright. I don't think Izzo has a spot on this team. I would love to be able to use Paxton's spot for another player, but he has value as a reliable LS and will probably stick.

I think we can do better than Hanson at P and hope we take one in the draft. I think we will resign him and let him fight it out in training camp with a rookie.

Trading Cassel for Peppers is intriguing but problematic due to cap issues. If he really wants to play for the 3-4 under a winning coach and is willing to take a discount I'm all for it. I'd probably like Dansby better as a more experienced 3-4 LB, but the chance of Arizona not signing/franchising him is remote. If I were really to project a "dream" offseason Carolina would let Peppers go to FA and we'd sign him, and then trade Cassel for a 1st + a conditional 2010 pick, but that is probably pushing it.

Regarding your draft choices, I love Sean Smith at FS/CB but don't see him lasting past the top 40 choices and probably not going out of the 1st round unless he works out very poorly at the combine. If we truly want him we may need to use our first (or hopefully, one of our firsts). We need to see more of him to know, but if he looks like the real deal I would be happy with that.

I like Harvin and think he would be great in our offense, but see greater needs on D. I like Devin Moore from Wyoming with our comp pick for Samuel at 97 as a "poor man's Harvin"/Darrin Sproles type of all-purpose player.

Butler is fine as a CB but if we get a FA such as Jabari Greer then I don't see us going CB on the first day.

I love Trevor Canfield out of Cincinnati at G. He has a nastiness and toughness that I like, and the size profile that fits the Pats. I think he would be great backing up Neal and taking over in a year or two opposite Mankins, or replacing Mankins if we can't resign him.

Casey is an intriguing pick. I hope he lasts to the 4th. He's a bit older, but I agree his versatility is interesting.

I don't know much about Watkins or Mitchell. I don't think Toal has the ability to play on this team - I just don't see him succeeding at the next level.

I would like to see us draft a punter to compete with Hanson such as Huber from Cincinnati or Morehead from SMU. I also like Sammie Lee Hill from Stillman as a late round DT - more of a pure 3-4 DT to back up Wilfork, with an intriguing athleticism (has played basketball, TE and DE among other positions).

Nice job.

 

[JoeShmoe]

Sean Smith is a 1st rounder

I dont see us getting Peppers(love it to happen and its intriguing but he;ll want $$$ despite what he's saying).

I do see us getting a high 2nd and conditional 2010 for Cassel

 

[mcgraw_wv]

I want to see Pat White drafted in the 4th or 5th round to be the next Troy Brown.

 

[b72s]

Is Peppers a pats guy? Money and Attitude.

I cannot side a WR taken in 1st with all other priorities.

I agree though we need an edge pass rusher????

Between draft, trades and FA we should be able to get OLB/CB and OL.

 

[mcgraw_wv]

I think we need to invest in a big time O-Lineman, and get some pass rush.

Out entire off season should be focused on the trenches, being able to run the ball when it's needed, and being able to get presure on the QB.

We can add some depth to the Secondary, but the greatest CBs in the world can't cover if the QB has all day.

I want the front 7 on defense to be a nasty unit... As well as Brady protected for ages, and power running game.

 

[BionicPatriot]

I think we need to invest in a big time O-Lineman, and get some pass rush.

Out entire off season should be focused on the trenches, being able to run the ball when it's needed, and being able to get presure on the QB.

We can add some depth to the Secondary, but the greatest CBs in the world can't cover if the QB has all day.

I want the front 7 on defense to be a nasty unit... As well as Brady protected for ages, and power running game.

A****ingmen brother.

 

[DaBruinz]

Some of this is might be unrealistic, but I guess that's the point of it being my dream. Enjoy.

Resign:
Rodney Harrison - Just a hunch, but I think Harrison comes back for one last shot at the ring

James Sanders - Quality safety, not flashy, but good in our system

Jabar Gaffney - Solid #3 option, Brady seems to like him, that's good enough for me

Lonnie Paxton - One of the top long snappers out there

Chris Hanson - Good enough directional punter, I'd sign some UDFA to compete with him, but I'd expect Hanson to win the job anyway.

Heath Evans - good ST contributor and a decent FB

Mike Wright - probably the hardest to bring back, but gives us some versatility across the DL

Larry Izzo - I always expect him to be gone but he never is

Pierre Woods -Sign to 2nd round tender

Trade:
Matt Cassel for Julius Peppers (Or trade Cassel for Detroit/Minnesota..etc 1st rounder and trade that for Peppers)

Draft:
1 - Percy Harvin - WR - Florida - Oh no, not another UF wide receiver they will say. Harvin will offer us a dynamic weapon (what Stallworth was supposed to be) and also be able to fill in and take a few carries and return kicks.

2 - Darius Butler - CB - UCONN - A solid CB with good upside, would add some talent to our defensive backfield.

2 - Sean Smith - FS - Utah - Big quick DB, have seen him falling on a few different places lately. Very productive and would give us good coverage ability out of the FS position and be able to compete for a starting spot after the season. I think after the year Meriweather moves full time to SS, Smith starts at FS, Sanders is the 3rd safety and Harrison retires.

3 - Trevor Canfield - OG - Cincinnati
3 Comp - Jason Watkins - OT - Florida
Two talented OL who would give us great depth and could develop under Dante into future starters

4 - James Casey - TE - Rice - Mr. Versatility, once played 7 positions in a game. Would be everything Belichick wanted Garrett Mills to be. Great athlete who would be a viable receiving threat, good blocker, will be a special teams demon and lineup in the backfield on occasion.

5 - We'll say this pick was traded to move up to get one of the 2nd rounders

6 - Khalif Mitchell - DE - ECU - This pick could be any 3-4 Defensive Lineman who could come compete for a roster spot. Mitchell is a good athlete and has great size.

7 - Brian Toal - LB- Boston College - Undersized and injury prone, but Toal is very talented and could develop into a solid special teams contributor and backup ILB/FB after he sits out a year either on IR or the practice squad.

That would leave our 53 man roster as follows:
Offense
QB (3) Brady, O'Connell, Gutierrez
RB (5) Maroney, morris, Faulk, BJGE, Evans
WR (5) Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Harvin, one out of Washington and Aiken
TE (3) Watson, Thomas, Casey
OL (9) Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, LeVoir, Connolly, Canfield, Watkins

Defense
DL (7) Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Wright, Green, L.Smith, Battle between Adams and Mitchell
LB (9) Peppers, Thomas, Vrabel, Mayo, Woods, Crabel, Bruschi, Guyton, Izzo
CB (4) Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite, Butler
S (4) Meriweather, S. Smith, Harrison, J. Sanders
S/WR/ST - 1 out of Slater and Ventrone

Special Teams
K - Gostkowski
P - Hanson
LS - Paxton

Our Practice Squad could consist of players such as Redd, Craig, Robertson, Ruud, Toal, Richardson, DeVree, Malone, etc...

Let me know what you think...

Nick - A fews things.

1) Peppers is a UFA. He can't be traded unless the Panthers place the franchise tag on him

2) I don't believe that Redd or Richardson are eligible for the practice squad because of the number of games they appeared in last year.

3) I don't see the Pats wasting a 1st round pick on Percy Harvin.

4) Sean Smith isn't going to last to the Patriots pick in the 2nd round. He could be gone by the pick the Pats have from the Chargers.

5) I don't see Butler being a good fit for the Pats. Mainly because I don't think he has the agility or the weight to play CB for the Pats. He's 20 lbs lighter than Hobbs..

6) Casey is currently the 3rd rated TE and projected as a 2nd rounder. Why do you see him falling to the end of the 4th round?

7) As for Toal, I understand he's a 7th round pick, but he suffered a pretty nasty break of his leg.. It seems to me that there are other players in the draft who are better fits than Toal.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2) I don't believe that Redd or Richardson are eligible for the practice squad because of the number of games they appeared in last year.

Redd 5 games: PS eligible - yes.
Richardson 10 games: PS eligible - no.

 

[Deus Irae]

As long as it's a dream offseason, where's the part about Brady having Gisele introduce you to a few of her more 'adventurous' friends?

 

[patman52]

my take on the offseason

Patriot Players
Sign Gaffney 2 years 5 Mill
Sign Mike Wright 3 years 10 mil
Extend Wilfork 5 years 35 mill 20 mill bonus
Trade Cassel to the Lions for 2nd rd and 3rd rd pick.

Sign Atogwe 5 years 30 mill, 12 mill bonus

Trade the 3rd (Detroit #65)and a conditional 3rd next year For Carlos Rodgers, if the pats extend Rodgers they get next year's third also.

#23 Clint Sintim
#33 Sean Smith
#48 Hakeem Nicks
#55 Connor Barwin
#87 Rashard Jennings
#97 Brian Manderville

This scenario leaves the pats set at Dline,

The secondary fixed with players in their prime

A rotation of Guyton, Mayo and Sintim at ILB

Barwin learning from Vrabel for a year, with Crable and Redd and Thomas on the outside

Nicks, will be a solid WO in two years when Moss and Gaffney are gone

Jennings will take the place of Jordan and Morris down the road

Manderville I think can be the inline blocker that the pats miss.

 

[mayoclinic]

my take on the offseason

Patriot Players
Sign Gaffney 2 years 5 Mill
Sign Mike Wright 3 years 10 mil
Extend Wilfork 5 years 35 mill 20 mill bonus
Trade Cassel to the Lions for 2nd rd and 3rd rd pick.

Sign Atogwe 5 years 30 mill, 12 mill bonus

Trade the 3rd (Detroit #65)and a conditional 3rd next year For Carlos Rodgers, if the pats extend Rodgers they get next year's third also.

#23 Clint Sintim
#33 Sean Smith
#48 Hakeem Nicks
#55 Connor Barwin
#87 Rashard Jennings
#97 Brian Manderville

This scenario leaves the pats set at Dline,

The secondary fixed with players in their prime

A rotation of Guyton, Mayo and Sintim at ILB

Barwin learning from Vrabel for a year, with Crable and Redd and Thomas on the outside

Nicks, will be a solid WO in two years when Moss and Gaffney are gone

Jennings will take the place of Jordan and Morris down the road

Manderville I think can be the inline blocker that the pats miss.

Wilfork for 5y/$35M? I wish. Not even close.

Atogwe for 5y/$30M? Makes the Wilfork deal look even more insulting, and he's not worth it.

I hope we get more for Cassel than a (admittedly high) 2nd and 3rd at this point, but we'll see.

 

[patman52]

Wilfork for 5y/$35M? I wish. Not even close.

Atogwe for 5y/$30M? Makes the Wilfork deal look even more insulting, and he's not worth it.

I hope we get more for Cassel than a (admittedly high) 2nd and 3rd at this point, but we'll see.

Wilfork is scheduled to make 2 mill this year, so it is like giving him a 4 year contract for 8.25 mill a year. and he will be 32 when the contract ends, leaving him in postion for another payday. The way the contract is structured being for all intents 100% guarnateed as it would be more expensive to cut him than keep him until the last year.

The franshise tag amount for a DT is 6.1mill your giving him and extension paying him 25% more than the tag amount and guaranteeing him to get 23 mill without taking a chance on an injury. how you consider that insulting I cant fathom. Insulting is having it be a 6 year contract for 60 mill and having the last two years salary 12 mill a piece. When he is 32 and knows he wont see it.

Atogwe deal only averages a signing bonus of 2.5 a year over the 5 years, 1/2 of the amount going to Wilfork and only 1/3 of the contract being being a bonus not the 60% that is wilfork.

 

[DaBruinz]

my take on the offseason

Patriot Players
Sign Gaffney 2 years 5 Mill
Sign Mike Wright 3 years 10 mil
Extend Wilfork 5 years 35 mill 20 mill bonus
Trade Cassel to the Lions for 2nd rd and 3rd rd pick.

Sign Atogwe 5 years 30 mill, 12 mill bonus

Trade the 3rd (Detroit #65)and a conditional 3rd next year For Carlos Rodgers, if the pats extend Rodgers they get next year's third also.

#23 Clint Sintim
#33 Sean Smith
#48 Hakeem Nicks
#55 Connor Barwin
#87 Rashard Jennings
#97 Brian Manderville

This scenario leaves the pats set at Dline,

The secondary fixed with players in their prime

A rotation of Guyton, Mayo and Sintim at ILB

Barwin learning from Vrabel for a year, with Crable and Redd and Thomas on the outside

Nicks, will be a solid WO in two years when Moss and Gaffney are gone

Jennings will take the place of Jordan and Morris down the road

Manderville I think can be the inline blocker that the pats miss.

A few things.

1) Your saying it would be 4 years at 8.25 million isn't accurate. By your math, it would actually be 4 years at 8.75 million. However, the Pats way of business requires that the final year of the rookie contract stays in place. So, in your scenario, you are adding 4 million in new cap money to this year with Wilfork pocketing 20 million. But only being paid 15 million over the next 4 years. I just don't see that happening. It could, but I doubt it.

2) Why sign Otogwe AND trade for Rogers? The Pats have 4 young corners on the team in Wilhite, Wheatley, Hobbs and Richardson. Granted, Hobbs is a free agent next year, but you would be limiting the growth of two of your promising young corners.

3) Why keep Gaffney if you are brining in Nicks?

4) I'm not sure how you think the Pats would be set at D-line when Seymour, Green and Smith are all UFA next year.

5) Both Jennings and Barwin are solid 2nd round picks. Yet you have then both falling into the 3rd round. Any reasoning?

6) I think you over-value Rogers and undervalue Cassel.

 

[The_Riddler]

A few things.

2) Why sign Otogwe AND trade for Rogers? The Pats have 4 young corners on the team in Wilhite, Wheatley, Hobbs and Richardson. Granted, Hobbs is a free agent next year, but you would be limiting the growth of two of your promising young corners.

3) Why keep Gaffney if you are brining in Nicks?

Why are people thinking we need to upgrade the CB's ? When in fact we need an edge rushing stand up OLB and a stud SS much more than a DB. Like DaBruinz said, we have young DB's and you want those 3 as your core starters next season (Hobbs/Wilhite/Wheatley) and you want them to play you don't want a vet hindering their growth. Sure you can draft another young corner to groom, but we don't need Rogers.

Ditto with wideout. I would re-up Gaff as you're suggesting, enough of these one year deals, let's lock Gaff up for 2 + atleast. He's shown that in this system with Brady, he's very, very valuable.

Dream scenario for Cassel, actually Felger mentioned this on the ride in and I think it's great:

Cassel to SF where we swap picks in R1 and R2 and grab an 2010 R2 from SF, we move up 13 spots in each Round. SF is happy, they get Cassel and still keep a R1 and R2 and give up an R2 in 2010. We would guarantee ourselves our pick of one of the following at 10 overall:

(Michael Oher, Orakpo, Everett Brown, Rey Maualuga, Malcolm Jenkins)

This puts us in our drafting 'sweet spot' just like last year with Mayo. Out of the Top 9 gtd-dollars, gives us an instant starting stud (OT/CB/OLB/ILB) and a great shot at a great safety with one of our 2-High-R2's (which could also be trade up material). It works for SF, it works for us and........we still have the SF #2 in 2010 which by all accounts will be very high in the round.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I thought NE had a stud SS, drafted 24th overall if memory serves?

 

[dryheat44]

Interesting news out of Detroit, where Leigh Bodden will be cut. He was bad this year, but in Cleveland I thought he was one of the top 5 CBs in the game. It could be a very nice consolation prize for significantly less money than Asomugha.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Trade the 3rd (Detroit #65)and a conditional 3rd next year For Carlos Rodgers, if the pats extend Rodgers they get next year's third also.

Why would the Pats pay TWO 3rd round picks for the Redskins' sloppy seconds?? They are trying to get rid of Rogers for a reason. He failed in their system. It's like offering TWO 3rd rounders for Bethel Johnson. A waste of picks. I'd rather draft young players with those picks and take my chances with the Pats personnel department's ability to pick good players.

Why are people thinking we need to upgrade the CB's ? When in fact we need an edge rushing stand up OLB and a stud SS much more than a DB. Like DaBruinz said, we have young DB's and you want those 3 as your core starters next season (Hobbs/Wilhite/Wheatley) and you want them to play you don't want a vet hindering their growth. Sure you can draft another young corner to groom, but we don't need Rogers.

Agreed we don't need Rogers. But because he's overrated, not because we don't need a CB. There hasn't been a legit #1 starting CB on the Pats since Asante left. Hobbs is no more than a journeyman #2. If we can get someone good to compete for the #1 CB job, the depth of our CBs improves across the board, because that bumps everyone else down a spot. Safety is a big need as well, however it looks like the safeties in this year's draft only grade out to round 2 talents. Free agency might be the best way to address this need.

 

[nickw308810]

Thank you to everyone who responded to my offseason, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I'll try to respond to everyone's comments.

I'll start with Julius Peppers. I think the Panthers will franchise him and look at trade options, though they most likely will want to keep him. Since they don't have a first round pick, I could see a deal where we trade Cassel to say the Vikings or Lions for their first and move that pick to the Panthers for Peppers. I believe Peppers is a special player who has the athleticism to be something we have never even imagined in our system. Outside of his obvious pass rushing skills, he has the ability to drop back in coverage and speed to just bring havoc all day to the opposition.

Because of the addition of Peppers and the resigning of some of our own players, I didn't think we would have the cap room to add a veteran CB such as Jabari Greer.

As far as some of the draft projections, as I said in the beginning, I had a few players slide a little bit, but I do think that is how it could go down in April.

It seems that the FS/CB tweener player always seems to slide a bit (ala Jimmy Williams) and I think Sean Smith could see a similiar tumble on draft day. This pick was also the reason I didn't give us a 5th rounder, because I think we would use it to trade up a few spots.

Percy Harvin is a player that I believe helps keep our offense special. He has the deep speed to stretch the field opposite of Moss and would be lethal catching screens. I also believe that he has the strength to line up in the backfield and take a few carries.

The same reasons I like James Casey are the reasons I think he could fall some. He didn't line up that often as a traditional TE at Rice, almost an H-Back role, and would be a conversion project of sorts. I think he could end up being the player that ends Heath Evans time on the roster because of his ability to line up in the backfield.

As far as Brian Toal goes, and this is going to sound weird, but his injury was part of the reason I included him in the draft. I think that with the number of picks we have, it will be hard for a 7th rounder to make the team. Of course it is possible, we seem to usually have a UDFA surprise us and be a contributor as well, but for any player it will be a battle. If Toal sits out the year on IR, gets healthy and bulks up, that he could be a very good NFL player. He was one of the top recruits out of high school and when he was on the field at BC was very productive. Also he has the versatility to play rb/fb if absolutely necessary. Maybe he never is able to stay healthy, but I believe his upside is worth the risk in the 7th round.