This is clearly the area where the Pats should be looking for FA's Here a few comments on the Comments:
1. TE's - I'm hoping that TE will be one of our first 2 picks, preferably the 2nd. But we really need to add 2 new TE's. So let me make a case for Scott Chandler. I think he'd be a very interesting choice for one of the 4 TE's I expect to be on the 53 man roster. Over the last 3 years he's averaging 40-50 catches per year (from a string of pretty bad QB's, btw) and over 500yds.
He also has experience in splitting wide with some success. He's experienced, a big target, a willing if not dominate blocker, and he'd come very cheap. If he became the "move TE", I wouldn't be surprised to see him increase his numbers by about 10-15% with a better QB and overall offense. With Chandler on board, the drafted TE will have the luxury of easing into the offense and provide a plus type depth to the TE position.
2. WR - With over 50 WR FA's on the market this off season, we should avoid any WR in the draft like the plague. I'm pessimistic that JE will be back. That would leave us with Amendola, Thompkins, Dobson, and Boyce. Frankly, I'd be OK going into the season with those guys if I knew they'd be healthy. IMHO, if we are going to carry 4 TE's, I find it hard to believe we'd be able to carry more that 5 WR's plus Slater on the 53.
I'd like to think that out of those 50+ FA WR's we can find someone who can make a contribution. It could be Sanders, it could be JE, or maybe a one year deal with the likes of Nicks, Britt, or Jones But regardless of who it turns out to be, there is one thing I'd bet you can count on. He's going to cost less than $4MM against the cap.
3. We definitely need more help at DE and I don't think we'll find it in the draft. For all the depth you hear about this year, there are 2 positions where there is very little in the way of depth, and one of them is pass rushing DE's. All the talk about Jarod Allen has me intrigued. This would be a great fit for him style wise, and a real chance for him to get to his superbowl before the end of his career.
He has proven he can play both sides so, between Nink and Jones he'd get plenty of snaps without having too many for his age. The issue I fear is the money. For most of his career, Allen has been getting top dollar to rush the passer, and even though his numbers dropped last season, they still were double digit. I just don't see him taking a $4-6MM/yr kind of deal that would get him here.
It would be cool to see him in silver and blue, but the reality is the Pats are likely going to have to rely on Mike Buchanon developing or adding a low end, slow to develop guy like E Griffi
3. The other shallow position in this year's draft at Safety. There are reportedly only 2 impact rookie S's in this draft and both will be long gone before the Pats pick. After them there is a huge drop off in talent, and from what I understand, none of them can be projected as being any better was what we have right now.
While I agree that what we have at S besides McCourty is NOT ideal, its a lot better than many here think it is. Yes it would be great if we could up grade the position. but its not a pressing problem. We have 3 very young and developing S's on the roster. Personally after looking at what's out there in FA and in the draft, we are more likely to upgrade Gregory from one of those guys.
4. I'd like to see us re-sign Svitek to be the swing tackle. That would free up Cannon to play RG and allow us to cut Connolly and his cap number. Back up interior OL depth could be handled by some of the graduates of Dante's school for successful unknown OLmen, like Josh Kline, and a draftee from the first 3 rounds.
Miguel has shown us ways for the Pats to get as much as $30MM under the cap rather conservatively. But reality is never as smart as Miguel, so after the whatever cuts and restructures are done, I think we'll wind up with a number closer to $20MM. If so, then that would leave us around $15MM to spend on FA's
With that kind of money I can easily see us getting back Talib, signing Alex Mack, signing Scott Chandler, and extending McCourty, and still have enough money for several of the kind of low end FA signings the Pats are known for. Those 4 moves alone would make this a great start to the off season.