5 Best Defensive Free Agents for Pats

[SVN]

Super reminder to consider for Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

reiss on the woodley idea

The Super Bowl is set -- it will be the Green Bay Packers against the Pittsburgh Steelers -- and I was thinking of a possible connection to the Patriots.

Then it came to me in a text message. Twice.

"Woodley is the guy you go after," one friend I enjoy talking football with wrote.

"Would you go the veteran route for OLB? Steelers didn't give Woodley an extension. Might be a good fit," another wrote.

One of the Patriots' biggest needs is outside linebacker/pass rush and the thought was that Pittsburgh's LaMarr Woodley might be a good fit should he hit the open market.

Maybe Woodley, if all the stars aligned, would be the answer to what ails the Patriots. But I couldn't help but think we might be missing the point of what had just unfolded.

One noticeable link between this year's two Super Bowl teams is that they think differently than that. Instead of going out and signing the big free agent, they draft the right players, develop them, and then draft some more good players. Free agency is utilized as a supplement more than a cure-all.

ESPN.com NFC North reporter Kevin Seifert nicely captures that theme with Packers general manager Ted Thompson, while Buck Frank of the Altoona (Pa.) Mirror hits it with Steelers vice president of football operations Kevin Colbert.

Of course, the Packers' and Steelers' approach isn't the only way to go, but a strong case could be made that it's the smartest way to go.

That is something to keep in mind when considering how the Patriots approach their offseason

 

[crowell33]

Vrabel hasn't had a sack since the Clinton administration, but what about Tamba Hali? I think he is 27 and had 14.5 sacks this year at OLB. Thought he was a FA.

 

[crowell33]

Vrabel hasn't had a sack since the Clinton administration, but what about Tamba Hali? I think he is 27 and had 14.5 sacks this year at OLB. Thought he was a FA.

OK I checked the stats. Vrabel has exactly zero sacks in his last twenty ( 20 ) NFL games ( including playoffs ).

 

[zoostation]

Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha Nnamdi Asomugha

 

[pheenix11]

Vrabel? Hell why not break LT out of jail?

 

[andrewgarrr]

Super reminder to consider for Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

reiss on the woodley idea

While I agree with the overall sentiment that FA should not be the primary resource to build a team from, I don't agree that bringing in Woodley suddenly means we're building through free agency. A lot of our team are people we drafted or picked up as an UDFA. We brought in guys like Washington, Vrabel, and Harrison -to name a few successful free agents.

What other Big 10 OLB drafted by the Steelers and played in their first four years at Pittsburgh did the Patriots pick up?

 

[Brady2Welker]

I see Jenkins being the most likely target. I wouldn't be opposed to him.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Hali or Woodley would be nice.
Champ Bailey is intriguing. Can he convert to free safety and turn into the Pats version of Rod Woodson?

 

[furley]

Not that I believe that signing either of these free agents is feasible, but I think that they could come in and help.


5. Eric Weddle
4. Champ Bailey
3. Charles Johnson or Tim Crowder
2. Brandon Mebane
1. Nnamdi Asomugha

 

[Haterproof]

I don't see the Pats adding anyone from that list. Spears, Jenkins and Woodley I expect will be franchised.. Vrabel, I expect he'll retire.

I disagree. I don't think all of those guys are going to get franchised.

 

[JoeShmoe]

I disagree. I don't think all of those guys are going to get franchised.

They'll be teams willing to pay a lot more $$$$$$$ than we will - the exception being Bailey who may want a ring at a discount. As a CB/S prospect /i think he's intriguing

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Yeah, the only way his list could come close to making sense is by adding "who won't be franchised" to it. (But IS there even a franchise tag? Last I heard it that was unclear at best.)

There will either be a franchise tag or there will be no FA due to lack of CBA. In either instance players teams want to retain aren't going anywhere. The Colts plan to tag Manning whether it will withstand court challenge or not, so likely that means if needed there will be one. In any new CBA or under rules instituted to continue play during an impass or decertification there will be tags because owners aren't giving that up any more than they are giving up the rookie cap or overall salary cap.

If a lockout doesn't result in concessions and a CBA before draft day, owners will probably harden any stance because they will have had to draft blind. In that case there is already talk of deferring FA in 2011 altogether if and when a CBA is agreed to and simply implementing a formula that increases every pending FA salary for one season in the interim. Of course that should be the kind of consequence that really rattles the NFLPA rank and file to it's core (see UFA Cromartie's comments already calling both sides a-holes), ramping up the pressure DeMaurice starts to feel to cut the rhetoric and get some kind of deal done that avoids either a lockout and entirely ownership friendly terms.

 

[Dutchmaster617]

I would say Bodden coming back is awesome but if you have a chance to pick up Asomugha as long as you dont break the bank but very fair market value and chance to and pair him up with McCourty and put Bodden in nickel sorry Butler but that would be one nasty secondary and address our pass rush needs though the draft or trade with our picks

Yea Aso is the best corner in the game. I would drop Bodden to third without even thinking about it, McCourty is the future and he will start 2nd.

Woodley and Jenkins would be great too, I really have no hope though we either stick with young guys or sign someone washed up for some reason.

 

[JackBauer]

I can't for the life of me figure out why people pretend like Asomugha being signed by the Patriots is even in the realm of possibility.

 

[Marqui]

Hali is the only guy that excites me.

 

[DW Toys]

Hali is the only guy that excites me.

Ray Edwards. Vikings. DE 6'5", 270 LBS (about like Jarvis Greene only taller)26 years old 37 tackles and 8 sacks. Why is everyone down on him? He might have had a better all-around year than Allen. More tackles than anyone on our D Line. I believe he is a F.A. and wants out of MN.

Manny Lawson, SF. OLB 6"5" 240. 26 years old. 59 Tackles and 2.5 sacks with 6 Passes defended and 1 Int. Becoming an excellent coverage LB but he has the length BB wants at OLB.

Two young FA guys who are NFL ready and NOT a Draft day guess that comes along with a 17% chance to play at a high level. I like Draft choices but three years is the average to "get it". Yep price is the question but the post was the 5 best FA for us.

Would we take 10.5 sacks and about 90 tackles from these two next year?(FYI Lawson had 6 sacks in 2009).

If we are talking FA, why not these two? Edwards can pressure the QB better than any D-Line guy we have now (Wright?) and we all wanted Jason Taylor or Aaron Schobel at 6'4" 243 prior to this season.

Lawson is certainly an upgrade over Tully, and although I like the kid, Ninkovitch too. Nice rotation if Cunningham develops and all very young as well. Ninkovitch as the rotation guy. Lawson was not asked to rush but defend as Brooks and Harelson were the Niners rush LBs. Let him go to the QB here. At N.C. St.as a senior he registered 21 pressures with four pass deflections and a blocked kick. He ranked second in the conference and twelfth in the nation with 10.5 sacks. He can rush the passer.
In high school he competed in track in long jump, triple jump, 55-meter dash, and the 55-meter hurdles.

I also like Bailey. He could make the DB's more diverse. Bodden is actually Safety size or you could have them play a side like they used to do with Harrison.

DW Toys

 

[MustaphaM0nd]

Ray Edwards as an Elephant sounds intriguing. I don't doubt his ability to play the run, but I wonder how much of his pass rushing success can be attributed to the rest of his team.

He's got guys like Williams, Greenway, and Henderson up front, and is playing opposite Jared Allen, who commands double teams. Here he has to be "the man" in the pass rush, and I'm not sure he could do that.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Marcus Spears plays in a 1 gap system IMO he would not be any better then Brandon Deaderick or Ron Brace will be next season

 

[letekro]

I can't for the life of me figure out why people pretend like Asomugha being signed by the Patriots is even in the realm of possibility.

I love how the suggestion always has the caveat "if they can get him at a reasonable price", or "if they don't break the bank..." Folks, get real.

 

[JackBauer]

I love how the suggestion always has the caveat "if they can get him at a reasonable price", or "if they don't break the bank..." Folks, get real.

Yes, if he suddenly decides he doesn't want to be the highest paid defensive player in the game, then we'll have a shot!