Vet personnel moves that will and won't affect the draft

[Fencer]

Unlikely to affect the draft much

Stephen Neal -- if he retires, he needs to be replaced. If he stays, his eventual replacement is still needed, and will probably start due to injury before the next season is out.

Matt Light -- he will only be allowed to leave if the Pats are comfortable with Vollmer and Kaczur starting

Kevin Faulk -- if he stays, it will be because the Pats created a new roster slot they haven't had for many years -- second scamperback.

Any vet FA RB -- could wind up replacing Morris more than Taylor, if somebody like Ingram looks appealing in the draft.

Likely to affect the draft significantly

Logan Mankins -- if he leaves, he needs to be replaced with an impact guy.

Brandon Meriweather -- if the rumors are right that he gets shipped out, look for another speedy safety type in the draft. If he stays, look for the Pats to invest in CB instead, hoping Arrington can take over his role.

Any semi-elite vet FA CB -- something is likely to be done to upgrade the CB position other than welcoming Bodden back. Signing a Champ Bailey or somebody is one way to do; the draft is another.

 

[BelichickFan]

Neal needs to go. I hate to say it as he's the only NFL player ever from the college I went to but if you can't stay healthy for more than a few games, what's the point ?

Not sure if Faulk and Woody can co-exist but they did sign Woody (just) before Faulk got hurt.

You didn't mention Wright but he's a big question too.

Not sure what to say about the OL, it's a disaster right now with Neal's injuries and both Light and Mankins being free agents but something needs to happen. Clearly Light is more likely to return given his longevity with the team and his lack of disatisfaction but he's at the age where I could see him being gone too. I'm curious have Steve Manieri is coming along on the practice squad.

 

[Fencer]

Good mention of Wright, but I'm not sure the sub-rusher position is one that's automatically filled, especially since this year there were two injury-prone guys in it. There just have to be enough guys to take DL reps, each no doubt with his own strengths and weaknesses.

 

[A_Ghost_In_The_Machine]

I'd be interested in how resigning Light would affect Vollmer's development. I think it's fair to say that he has been pegged as our LT of the future, but there's a difference between playing RT and LT and at some point he is going to need extended time at LT. BB has gone on record as saying he thinks Light plays better at LT than at RT. So whilst Light coming back might seem like a good move, would it not be better for Vollmer's development to have him playing LT sooner rather than later?

 

[Warren94]

Mankins played LT at Fresno state....any thoughts on resigning him and putting him back at LT....draft a OG in 2nd or third round....

 

[Snake Eyes]

Mankins played LT at Fresno state....any thoughts on resigning him and putting him back at LT....draft a OG in 2nd or third round....

It's be interesting to see Light at Guard and Mankins at Tackle.

 

[Warren94]

was thinking Mankins at LT and draft a young guy like Wisnewski (sp) from penn state for LG... Kaczur and Connolly can battle it out at RG... Koppen needs to be replaced too

 

[greerre]

I'd be interested in how resigning Light would affect Vollmer's development. I think it's fair to say that he has been pegged as our LT of the future, but there's a difference between playing RT and LT and at some point he is going to need extended time at LT. BB has gone on record as saying he thinks Light plays better at LT than at RT. So whilst Light coming back might seem like a good move, would it not be better for Vollmer's development to have him playing LT sooner rather than later?

Vollmer is not the real deal at LT. He did nothing this year. I think he could be a great RT for years to come but thats it

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Vollmer is not the real deal at LT. He did nothing this year. I think he could be a great RT for years to come but thats it

Huh?

Are you joking with this comment? They just had the number 1 rated offense in the NFL.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Huh?

Are you joking with this comment? They just had the number 1 rated offense in the NFL.

And it's not like he sucked when they used him at LT last year. . . .

 

[Fencer]

Looks like I was 100% right with the original post, which is why the thread has moved to other interesting discussions.

I'd be OK with leaving the tackles as they are, with Kaczur as high-paid backup, and swinging for the fences with a shot at a dominant LT. And if this isn't the year to draft that candidate LT, fine.

And by the way, if they draft an LT-to-G conversion project or two, ala Mankins, then maybe he'll wind up at tackle after all. It could have happened w/ Mankins, although IIRC he was competent but unspecial when he did play LT.

 

[aurakilla]

Unlikely to affect the draft much

Brandon Meriweather[/B] -- if the rumors are right that he gets shipped out, look for another speedy safety type in the draft. If he stays, look for the Pats to invest in CB instead, hoping Arrington can take over his role.

sorry but what rumors about meriweather?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

sorry but what rumors about meriweather?

Not so much rumors as inchoate yearnings by various PatsFans posters and media figures.

 

[Fencer]

Not so much rumors as inchoate yearnings by various PatsFans posters and media figures.

The rumor part is body language/voice tone in which he sounded as if he thought/knew his last season w/ the Pats might have just passed.

More likely he was just depressed about the end to the season.

 

[DaBruinz]

Likely to affect the draft significantly

Any semi-elite vet FA CB -- something is likely to be done to upgrade the CB position other than welcoming Bodden back. Signing a Champ Bailey or somebody is one way to do; the draft is another.

Sorry, but the CBs weren't an issue this year by the end of the season. The issue continued to be a lack of a pass rush. There is no need to bring in a Champ Bailey type player unless you are bringing him in to play Safety...

The Pats need to get a better pass rush do they can get consistent pressure on the opposing QBs. Right now, they are short a RDE who can tie up blockers to let the LBs get in through the gaps.. Cunningham is still really raw despite what he showed this year. Hopefully, he'll make significant improvements in the off-season. Ninkovich really improved this year as an over-all OLB, but he still needs to work on his Pass rushing..

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Sorry, but the CBs weren't an issue this year by the end of the season. The issue continued to be a lack of a pass rush. There is no need to bring in a Champ Bailey type player unless you are bringing him in to play Safety...

The Pats need to get a better pass rush do they can get consistent pressure on the opposing QBs. Right now, they are short a RDE who can tie up blockers to let the LBs get in through the gaps.. Cunningham is still really raw despite what he showed this year. Hopefully, he'll make significant improvements in the off-season. Ninkovich really improved this year as an over-all OLB, but he still needs to work on his Pass rushing..

Does your state exclude T Warren?