1. SIGN PEPPERS
2. RE-SIGN BODDEN
3. TRADE UP TO DRAFT SAM BRADFORD
4. DRAFT/SIGN A SOLID WR
5. RESIGN WILFORK
6. FIRE THE COORDINATORS! (bring in someone, ANYONE with good coordinating experience)...
About Bradford:
Why would you want Sam Bradford? We have much more dyer needs right now then QB. In fact, thats the last thing we need right now. He will be still a top 10 to 15 pick anyway even with his injury, so this is an overreaction to last night. Our draft needs are in this order.
D-Line/ OLB
OL
Corner/Safety
RB
WR
QB
Taking Bradford would be bad because we wouldn't gain anything out of this draft for years to come. Not too mention he is coming off a major shoulder injury. How would this help us at all?
Peppers is going to be 30 this upcoming offseason, and will be looking for a 5 or 6 year deal at around 11 or 12 million a year, if not more. He is older player who has never player the 3-4 set that we play. I doubt the Patriots go after Peppers, who will be drastically overpaid on the open market.
Elvis Dumbervil is a kid who I would go HARD after if he hit free agency, but he certainly will be franchised and signed long term.
Shawn Merriman is a guy I wouldn't go extremely hard either. He is a guy who is coming off a major knee injury and his production has dropped drastically this season. I think this will be a mistake to give a long term deal to him as well.
Ray Edwards is the only DE that I look at and is attracted by. I don't see any attractive options on the trade market either. If Dumbervil is on the market, you give him a big deal. He is taylor made for what this team needs.
We could also go out and sign a NT such as Casey Hampton, who would allow us to pul up the middle and get Wilfork on more 1 on 1 situations.
I agree with you on trying to sign a solid WR. There are options out there I like such as Chris Herny and Lance Moore, who would be a very good option as a 3rd option for us.
I agree with you Bodden. I think he has been solid, but I wouldn't sign him for "big money like he will most likely be looking for. I would sign him for a 4 year 20 million dollar deal. Which is unlikely due to the fact that he won't sign a long term deal this offseason.
Resigning Wilfork is a must. He is one of the best down lineman in the league and one of, if not the best defensive player that the Patriots right now. He will be looking for big money. Franchise him, and hope to sign him long term before training camp.