Didnt get to see much of Wayne last year.
Is there anything left in the tank?
Just last year he put up a 111 rec, 1355 yd, 12.2 ypc, 6 td season.
This past year, with a bunch of schmoes at QB instead of Peyton Manning, he put up this line: 75 rec, 960 yds, 12.8 ypc, 4 td.
So the difference in stats are all volume-related, not rate-related, and that can be attributed to having no Manning.
He is very familiar with a system with lots of line checks and coverage reads and options, so he should adapt quickly to the Pats' offense, should he indeed come here.
$20 million under the cap, before cuts.
(1) Cut Ocho. Save $6 million. Now you have $26 million.
(2) Two-year, $14 million for Welker - $7 mil per year. Now you have $19 million.
(3) Two-year, $8 million for Wayne - $4 mil per year. Now you have $15 million.
(4) Two-year, $7 million for Lloyd - $3.5 mil per year. Now you have $11.5 million.
(5) Two-year, $3 million for Connolly - $1.5 mil per year. Now you have $10 million.
Offense:
OL: Light, Mankins, Connolly, Waters, Vollmer, Solder, Cannon
QB: Brady, Mallett
TE: Hernandez, Gronkowski
RB: Woodhead, Ridley, Vereen
WR: Welker, Wayne, Lloyd, Edelman
That's a BIG-TIME load of offensive talent, and plenty of depth in case of injury. They can run all the routes. No team has enough cover guys to match up with all that. None.
Rookies will cost in the neighborhood of $5 million. According to (
NFL.com news: Signing status of 2011 NFL Draft first-round picks), picks in the #28-32 range will run about $1.75 million. The Pats are only going to use one of them, and likely trade the other for future picks. I figure their total rookie cost will be in the $5 million range. That leaves you with $5 million. And every single draft pick is on the defensive side of the ball.
That $5 million goes to filling in the roster.
It goes totally against conventional wisdom which says the Pats need to get a couple of big-time defensive free agents. So maybe it's a colossally dumb idea. But remember: the defense improved a LOT over the course of the season, and they're very young. Add in some more 1st and 2nd round defensive talent, give guys like McCourty, Chung, Arrington, Moore, Dowling, etc., another year in the system, and I think the defense will be improved even more.