DE Mark Anderson – Was an effective TBC replacement. Certainly got more consistent pressure than TBC (though Ninko's contributions to that shouldn't be overlooked), but was still somewhat marginal in run defense. I'd guess 2 years at $2-3M should be enough to keep him around.
WR Wes Welker’s contract situation - Unless Welker takes a home-town discount, I'd expect he gets $7M-$8M for 3-5 years. Guaranteed to be Franchised if there's no agreement before the deadline.
WR Deion Branch – Not stellar anymore against press coverage, but still regularly got open on the edges when given any cushion, though Brady didn't target him much unless he was running a crossing pattern over the middle. Seemed to me like defenses were pressing Branch more the last few games, rather than Branch was "wearing down". In any case, he DID contribute 700 yards and a few TDs and I'd like to keep him at least as a tutor for any potential rookie successor. I'd think a one-year deal at something around his current rate probably gets him into 2012 camp to see what happens.
DE Andre Carter – Great rush and way better than expected in run-defense - from the DE position. Didn't fare nearly as well when standing up at OLB, I thought. The OLB spot opposite Ninko is a weak point in the Pats 3-4 sets. Even if he comes back from his injury in perfect health, realistically another 1-2 years at his current rate seems the best likely offer. I hope it's acceptable because I'd like to see him (like Branch) tutor a young apprentice.
OL Dan Connolly – Connolly has proven over the past two years that he can be a very capable starter at BOTH guard and center on one of the best OLs in the league. He even improved his run-blocking from the OC spot as this past season wore on. Based on current league pay rates for such a guy, Connolly seems likely to see an offer from another team around $4.5M (which was roughly Koppen's cap hit for 2011, just for playing center), maybe for 3-5 years. I'd like to think that the Pats will make every effort to keep him over Koppen, but the bidding might get outrageous.
OL Dan Koppen - Assuming he comes back from his injury okay, AND if the Pats fail to keep Connolly, I could see a 2-year offer for around $3M. But then they'll need to draft another developmental prospect, too, to work behind Wendell and McDonald. OTOH, if Connolly gets re-signed and the coaches like what they've seen from McDonald, Koppen might be allowed to walk.
DE Shaun Ellis – I don't see him getting any offer to re-up.
RB Kevin Faulk – Seems almost obligatory for him to get a one-year offer and some time in OTAs and camp. But I expect retirement.
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis – BGE's specialty is one-cut, north-south, power running between the guards. His production was down this season, IMO, mainly due to the unsettled situation at center after Koppen wnet down and Connolly got dinged (though BGE's own dings contributed). I don't want to see the Pats lose him, but I feel that the reality is that a team like the Lions seems likely to offer him way more than what the Pats will because Ridley has proven to have nearly as much power and much better burst/shiftiness.
LB Gary Guyton – Yeah, he's gone.
QB Brian Hoyer (RFA) – I'm guessing he gets a 2nd-round tender. Unless Josh and BB feel that Mallett is ready to take over for Brady in an emergency, I don't think the Pats will preo-actively "shop" Hoyer around, though they'd likely listen to offers.
S James Ihedigbo – Very good special teamer and reasonable reserve/nickel safety. I'd expect a 2-year offer that he'll accept, though he'll likely still be competing against Sergio Brown and possibly a draftee.
DB Nate Jones – Possibly a 1-yr offer at a minimum rate to keep him for camp competition.
LB Niko Koutouvides – IIRC, Koutouvides was never on the PS. I don't think he was even eligible, was he? In any case, he's yet another very competent special teams specialist and an okay fill-in/deep reserve LB. Probably a 1-yr offer at a minimum rate to keep him for camp competition.
S Bret Lockett (RFA) – Not sure I'd bother at this point, even as a camp body. There are a lot of healthier guys who are way ahead of him.
DL Kyle Love (RFA) – Almost guaranteed at least a 2-year extension at a decent rate.
CB Antwaun Molden – Decent special teamer with significant inconsistency at DB. Possibly a 1-yr offer at a minimum rate to keep him for camp competition.
WR/S Matthew Slater – Incumbent special teams leader. I'd guess 2+ years with a decent raise. BTW, listing Slater - or Edelman, for that matter - with any "position" at all is laughable. Both these guys are really "Special Teams/Utility." The league, or whoever, needs to make something like this an official "positional designation", if only to keep fanboys and Cris Carter from getting these guys confused with the actual WRs/safeties on the roster.
DL Gerard Warren – I thought Warren actually had better per-snap production this season in a reduced role this season. I'd guess he's offered another year at vet minimum in the same role to see how things shake out in camp (hopefully against some significant talent acquired in the draft).
LB Tracy White – Also an incumbent special teams leader and an okay nickel LB (though no starter there, for sure). I'd guess another year with a slight bump in pay rate, but he'll have some camp competition now from Ihedigbo, Koutouvides, etc. As with all such guys, whether White makes it to the 53-man roster for 2012 probably comes down to the numbers game in the end.
