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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.I think that the OL will be overhauled for a multitude of reasons. Their playoff performances have been reason #1 for the failure of the Pats O in these crucial games. They are wwell coached and mostly overachieving yet mostly talent poor. Mankins and Vollmer are the exceptions, but Light, Connolly and Koppen continue to struggle against top flight Defensive fronts.
I'd like to see Vollmer switched to the Left and Mankins re-signed (I hope this bridge isn't burned). Draft Mike Pouncey from Florida in Round 1. Then re-sign Light and move him inside to Guard (this assumed that he moves well enough to play it). If not that, then draft Steve Wisniewski in Round 2. Kaczur, LeVoir and Ojinnaka or Draft picks can compete for the Right side, while Koppen and Connolly provide able inside depth.
Running Back will also be a spot where we'll see a few fresh faces, but the OL is ripe for change.
After Mankins and Light, I'm not concerned about who leaves.
I'm more interested to see if they want to bring IN any free agents.
The draft class might not be quite up to speed to help with the kind of improvement the Patriots need. May need to add an FA.
Is there anything preventing the Patriots from signing a guy like Vincent Jackson--other than the fact he may be a knucklehead?
I am under the belief that until there is a new CBA in place there can be no FA movement.
This will be an unusual year because the free agency period will occur after the draft, not before. After this year's draft, the Patriots will be able to look at their draft picks, and make decisions on a number of veterans. This will probably work against some of the veteran free agents who might otherwise have been signed before the draft.
Shayne Graham who did a masterful job is gone