My very early offseason free agent targets

Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez

mgteich said:

My early free agent targets are Edelman, Wendell, Blount, and Talib.

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I think Blount and Talib are gone. I would move Cannon to RG and ask Connolly to restructure and move him to center. I would make Edelman the priority for their free agents, they really cannot afford to lose him when receiver is a real need and he is turning himself into a star player.

They have major decisions to make, it is going to be really interesting to see what directions they go in.

as good as talib is, i dont think we resign him at a dollar amount hes going to be offered.

Hes too fragile, missing key games 2 seasons in a row now.

Minitron is going to get an offer we can match, its simple numbers someone is going to pay him 4-5 million a year, and we already have that kind of money locked into the Amendola experiment..
I think kelly is probably gone, which is okay because we had 3 rookies play extensively this year, i think silinga sticks at the starting spot opposite vince if we can get hsi contract reworked.

I think the main keys are a pass rusher, A bunch of Offensive line help, and a new tight end.

Reciever next year with dobson, thompkins, amendola


Blount may be gone unless he and talib do a package deal on the cheap

Ridley and vereen enters the make or break year

My dad is a Packers fan so I have watched many GB games the last two years. He has good speed, but his hands are very shaky. Can stretch the field, but he would be overwhelmed as a #1 WR. Sign Boldin, Edelman, and Mack. Boldin will be a first down machine in this offense, Edelman can continue to work slants, comebacks, and crosses when Gronk opens the middle. I like to think Dobson will be much better after an offseason with Brady and the playbook.

We know NE won't make a huge splash in FA, but these guys along with Chandler or a TE through the draft, Troy Niklas from NE is 6'7 270 (Nicknamed Hercules) would make our O dangerous again. Run more two TE set, or Jumbo SB formation with Chandler, Gronk, Niklas on the field would be scary. Gronk and Niklas at 6'6 and 6'7 running the seams with Edelman underneath and Boldin?!

Ivan said:

I would move Cannon to RG and ask Connolly to restructure and move him to center.

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After seeing Wendell blow his third assignment on Pot Roast, I found myself asking this. Solder, Mankins, Connolly (who played a good Center a couple years ago), Cannon and Vollmer is a big line.

Ivan said:

I think Blount and Talib are gone. I would move Cannon to RG and ask Connolly to restructure and move him to center. I would make Edelman the priority for their free agents, they really cannot afford to lose him when receiver is a real need and he is turning himself into a star player.

They have major decisions to make, it is going to be really interesting to see what directions they go in.

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I dunno, I think they should move Cannon to RG and draft a center.

We NEED to resign Talib and Edelman. Talib's health and off field issues will drive down his price, and I think he truly wants to be here. I think he loves playing for BB and for a winning organization. Look what happened when Talib left, our secondary fell apart. We either need Grimes or Talib back there. Talib I think can be signed to a contract similar to the one he receiver this years. 3/17 with clauses based on health.

Blount will depend on price. Would be awesome if we could bring him back on the cheap. I don't think he will command as much as many people think. When you break it down, he only had 3 really good games that represented his entire season. Was benched twice and failed when he was given the opportunity to start in place of Ridley vs. the Bengals. I think he could be had for 1-1.5 a year

I also like the idea of Connolly to center and Cannon to guard. Mankins needs to take a pay cut. Wendell can come back on the cheap, if he wants to compete for starting center, my guess is he knows he sucked this season!

tmajr3 said:

My dad is a Packers fan so I have watched many GB games the last two years. He has good speed, but his hands are very shaky. Can stretch the field, but he would be overwhelmed as a #1 WR. Sign Boldin, Edelman, and Mack. Boldin will be a first down machine in this offense, Edelman can continue to work slants, comebacks, and crosses when Gronk opens the middle. I like to think Dobson will be much better after an offseason with Brady and the playbook.

We know NE won't make a huge splash in FA, but these guys along with Chandler or a TE through the draft, Troy Niklas from NE is 6'7 270 (Nicknamed Hercules) would make our O dangerous again. Run more two TE set, or Jumbo SB formation with Chandler, Gronk, Niklas on the field would be scary. Gronk and Niklas at 6'6 and 6'7 running the seams with Edelman underneath and Boldin?!

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The money might be a bit hard to swing, but if they can afford both, why not?

A few quick notes off the top of my head:

The offense needs one or two tight ends, definitely a stalwart center, a guard and possibly a tackle (depending on Vollmer's recovery). I think we're set at running back for a while and am not too concerned about WR if Dobson and Thompkins dedicate themselves in the off-season. An affordable free-agent veteran WR might be a nice addition but I wouldn't break the bank for one or make it a high priority. We have a couple young WRs on IR (Harrison and Moe) that might surprise. Edelman must be retained. I'm not sure of Blount's contract status but if he wants too much $$$ I'd let him walk. Gronk's situation is frustrating as hell. I don't know if he'll be ready for the season and even then, can he be relied upon? He seems to be a luxury at this point.

The defense might need more work than it appears. The full recovery of Wilfork and Mayo is not a given -- those are very tough injuries to bounce back from. Kelly is older and might not be back. Andre Carter was just a stop-gap and likely is done. The youngsters filling in at interior DL most of the season are not front-line guys but should provide quality depth. My fingers are crossed that mystery man Armstead can show something.

Spikes likely is gone, so another versatile ILB will be needed. Right now the only front-line linebackers we have are Collins and Hightower.

I'm concerned about Talib's dedication to working on his body in the off-season, although I think he should be retained. If the Pats can swing that PLUS sign a quality free-agent corner, I think we'd be set. I also think we can get by with who we have at the safety positions, hoping the youngsters can develop further.

A kick returner would be nice; too bad Leon Washington didn't pan out.

So, my top priorities for free agency and the draft would be (in order of importance):

* Interior defensive line
* Tight end
* Offensive line
* Linebacker
* Cornerback

I get it.

It is an annual recreation activity.

I don't think that we should focus on external targets.

ctpatsfan77 said:

To be fair, the OP did say he was focusing on external targets.

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I would expect Maclin to be more pricey than Edelman, and probably too pricey for the patriots.

PatsFanInVa said:

What MG said. But for the exercise in point - yes, let's get a look at Maclin. My guess is Boldin will be too pricey.

Don't agree we can do it just with the kids. Do agree we need to pick up at least SOME F/A help. Will reiterate that it's not IF Gronk goes down, it's when. It gives me no pleasure to say this, but as I said prior to his injuries this year, he a big hulking hard-driving super-talented guy who's somehow just made of glass (I know I know he plays so hard he hurts himself. Whatever. It just is.) To the extent that a receiving tight end is a part of our offense, unless we go out and "replace" Gronk, be ready for him not to be there at the end. Plan some other way to win AFCCF/SB. That is just what has to happen.

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My short list would be Scott Chandler and Donte Whitner.

I think Maclin has already said he wants to stay in Philly, possibly even that he would take a discount there, and if you think Foles isn't a "good" QB worth staying for then you didn't watch football this year. I highly doubt Maclin is going anywhere.

I like the idea of Scott Chandler, he seems like exactly the type of player BB targets in free agency. I think it would be stupid not to re-sign Edelman when he's the only known quantity of the receivers. The cap strain of paying two slot receivers medium contracts will only last a year. Alex Mack would be a great signing and we can only hope the Patriots agree.

I'm going to get a lot of **** for this but I don't think we should re-sign Talib. What good is a dominant player who makes everyone around him better if he can't stay on the field when it counts most? We aren't going to see any rings if we're relying on him, so the risk of not being able to adequately replace him is worth it in my opinion.

Talib and Jules should be priority one

cuts and/or restructures to Mankins, Vince, Kelly, and others.

The rest is very much determined by how the above goes but from the guys mentioned by the OP I would make Alex Mack the priority.

I really don't know how to handle the skill positions on offense. would love Blount back but with Ridley and Vareen I don't see it wise to spend at RB. I really want Jules back but thay money is tied up on DA. We need outside the numbers threats but I hope year two Dobson and Thompkins development fills it. And that leaves TE wig Gronk your all set but how can we count on him again.

on Defense priority should be at safety, LB depth, and DT/NT.

Every year we get excited for free agents and in truth, we never sign any big namers, outside of maybe Lloyd who was a joke. The highest name player we could go after is Emmanuel Sanders (hasn't been mentioned yet?). We know Bill loves him and already tried to sign him with the pick that later went to Harmon (what a joke, another undersized safety).

My personal, realistic, wish list:
-Sanders/Boldin/Maclin on a 1 or 2 year deal
-Dustin Keller/Scott Chandler/Ed ****son to a 1 year deal.
*We can't trust Gronk anymore, ****son is gone from Baltimore because Pitta also a free agent, Keller is gone from Miami with his rehab from ACL and emergence of Charles Clay, should look to a tight end.
-Donte Whitner at SS although that will be expensive.
-Bernard Pollard (just kidding)
-Arthur Jones

Another note, there is a better chance of Welker being inducted to the Pats Hall of Fame than Alex Mack signing here. He is one of the best free agents on the market, it is not happening.

mgteich said:

I get it.

It is an annual recreation activity.

I don't think that we should focus on external targets.

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Respectfully,you couldn't be more wrong

mgteich said:

My early free agent targets are Edelman, Wendell, Blount, and Talib.

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The Hernandez salary cap hit and our good 2013-14 record will put a limit
on how much we can spend on ouside free agents.

I like your suggestion for going after our own players first with our limited cap money. Edelman proved he is a more than adequate replacement for Welker.
Don't lose a known quantity. With regard to Talib, we saw yesterday what happened after he got injured.

JackBauer said:

I dunno, I think they should move Cannon to RG and draft a center.

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I'm fine with that but I think it would be a while before Scar would allow him to run the OL. If they can get a C in the 3rd then i am all for it, but I would like to see 1 and 2 go to TE and WR. I think the Alex mack talk is a pipedream and Swanson will be gone before they pick in the 2nd, and i would not use a 1st on him.

Bernard Pollard? :boink: