What's the move you want to see before the season starts?

Now that all the Johnson and Fitzgerald talk is out of the way...we won't see either one of those guys here this year because of the cap influences both of their contracts have, we just don't have the space. So that aside, whether its at WR or another position, what's the realistic move (not Madden) BB needs to make to solidify this team before week 1? We know our weak positions or depth needed are WR, DL, TE, and S...but who should we get? Trade Mallet and/picks for, that will fit in our $6.7M space? Thoughts?

A viable TE2

Options:

-Sign Dustin Keller
-Sign Jermichael Finley (unlikely with his injury)
-Trade for Rob Housler
-Lure Tony Gonzalez out of retirement (I still think this is possible, just too early now)

Trade a 4th round pick (maybe with a 2016 conditional pick, or a 3rd if absolutely necessary, possibly with something back) for Rob Housler.

RB Ridley + Vereen + White
WR Edelman + Amendola + Dobson + Lafell + Boyce (who I think could break out) + Thompkins
TE Gronk + Housler

That would be a really nice group of "skill players" for Brady, who should get better interior OL protection this year.

mayoclinic said:

Trade a 4th round pick (maybe with a 2016 conditional pick, or a 3rd if absolutely necessary, possibly with something back) for Rob Housler.

RB Ridley + Vereen + White
WR Edelman + Amendola + Dobson + Lafell + Boyce (who I think could break out) + Thompkins
TE Gronk + Housler

That would be a really nice group of "skill players" for Brady, who should get better interior OL protection this year.

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I think they should attempt to deal Ryan Mallett for Housler. The Cardinals could use a backup behind Carson Palmer.

Brady6 said:

I think they should attempt to deal Ryan Mallett for Housler. The Cardinals could use a backup behind Carson Palmer.

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I've argued for that one before. I'd be fine with it. I'd be willing to throw in a conditional pick if necessary.

nantucketguy said:

Now that all the Johnson and Fitzgerald talk is out of the way...we won't see either one of those guys here this year because of the cap influences both of their contracts have, we just don't have the space.

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Uh, it's called restructuring a contract.

The move I'd like to see is Bob Kraft call me up and offer me box seats for all 8 home games + the 2 playoff games and fly me back and forth on his private jet for each game.

If Troy Niklas can make it to camp healthy, Rob Housler looks as good as gone. I remember reading a Bruce Arians quot were he said something like TEs block first, catch second. Kind of dumb to say something like that in absolute terms, but whatever.

Sign Jermichael Finley! He is awesome. He has been cleared by his own docs and the NFL docs. He is a great blocker and his wr skills aren't far off jenny graham who can't block and is bullied at times. As matter of fact he is a better wr in some regards. He has good hands/athletic ball skills/and physical with dB's and LB's. I promise you Talib nor Chancellor will out physical him for contested passes. And he has good speed down the seam. He is pretty good after the catch to. He is elusive after the catch but not over elusive. Instead he uses a combo of elusiveness and power to be dynamic after the catch. BTW at 6'5 250 and 35" arms he is a mismatch in the red zone. With his blocking and jump ball skills Finley/Gronk can be better Gronk/Hernandez. In 2TE sets we can create mismatches in the run game as well as both are respected blockers. Not to mention we now have deep threats in Dobson/KT/Boyce we never had with Gronk/hernandez which makes it more effective.

Keller is 30 and His game WAS speed. Finley is 27.

I really like Housler but they aren't parting with him for anything less than a #2. With all the Freak TEs lately stepping up you can bet Arizona has plans for Housler of their own

At WR I like our young talent. I would rather trade a mid round pick for another young WR prospect who is underachieving on a bad team with a bad qb and coaching. I like Denarius Moore a lot. Sterling Sharp believes in right situation he is a top 10 talent. Rams have a glut of wr talent but no qb. They may part with Quick after acquiring Britt. His second gear at intermediate range really stands out but something seems missing with him. I could be wrong, he does have size/burst/athleticism/very fluid. Denarius Moore is my favorite however. As much as I would like to develop a couple of young talents at WR into stars I can't argue against trading for Johnson if possible. That would be better for the team even though Denarius,Dobson,KT and Boyce would boast the best crop of explosive young WR talent to be developed of any team. KT will surprise many. If you think he had great separation quickness last year, he is going to be awesome this season. He is in his own camp training 8-12 hrs a day 6 days a week for more speed/flexibility/endurance/burst to sharpen his route running and hands. He could be the modern jerry Rice at working hard.

PatFanCraig said:

I really like Housler but they aren't parting with him for anything less than a #2. With all the Freak TEs lately stepping up you can bet Arizona has plans for Housler of their own

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They aren't getting a 2nd rounder for a 3rd rounder pick.

Marqui said:

Uh, it's called restructuring a contract.

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Not quite.
A restructure gives the player more cash now which is why they like them but it makes out year cap hits larger.
Johnson has said that he wants to play for a contender AND he does not want to play for less money.

I think TE is the obvious move and i don't really have an opinion at this time. I'm guessing they've got a list of possible cuts.

That's not bad for this time of year but, given the caveat that training camp will decide a lot, they look mostly set at other positions IMO.

I think we have a good corps of receivers with Dobson, but he'd be the biggest missing piece too. Three second year players, a FA who played hurt, a part timer who really came into his own and a swiss army knife picked up as a FA. People may not like it, but this is the type of versatility BB and Tom (in his best years) like.

You likely can't pick up great DL so, we're either great with a healthy Vince, T Kelley Easley and wild card Armstead, marginal with the emergency starters, or somewhere in between. Overall, I like it at this point.

I see competition, not locks, behind Chandler and Nink. Best pre-season watch, I'm guessing.

I'm not as confident in Collins as most. High ceilings are for cathedrals. If he has a few bumps and progresses as the season goes, everything else is gravy. of course, that's a lot of potential gravy! I think Hightower and Mayo will be outstanding. Hightower worked very hard playing out of position with a disabled Spikes next to him. The experience should make him better. We've never carried much in the way of backups. Anderson could be enough and good in the passing game. the rest better play some teams.

Our secondary looks to be ridiculous. We've got many candidates for the other safety, some hitters, some CBs. All teams should have the problems we have in our secondary, it's ridicuolous. We could play 6 DBs who have started at cornerback (or could, I'm not sure about Ryan) and that's without moving McCourty.

Our RB corps looks solid and versatile if Ridleys security issues are OK. I'd like to see a power back compete with Bolden. OLine has plenty of candidates. So it's TE. glad to see Hooman, because he's dependable, but we obviously could use some talent there.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Johnson has said that he wants to play for a contender AND he does not want to play for less money.

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Where did he say that?

RayClay said:

I think TE is the obvious move and i don't really have an opinion at this time. I'm guessing they've got a list of possible cuts.

That's not bad for this time of year but, given the caveat that training camp will decide a lot, they look mostly set at other positions IMO.

I think we have a good corps of receivers with Dobson, but he'd be the biggest missing piece too. Three second year players, a FA who played hurt, a part timer who really came into his own and a swiss army knife picked up as a FA. People may not like it, but this is the type of versatility BB and Tom (in his best years) like.

You likely can't pick up great DL so, we're either great with a healthy Vince, T Kelley Easley and wild card Armstead, marginal with the emergency starters, or somewhere in between. Overall, I like it at this point.

I see competition, not locks, behind Chandler and Nink. Best pre-season watch, I'm guessing.

I'm not as confident in Collins as most. High ceilings are for cathedrals. If he has a few bumps and progresses as the season goes, everything else is gravy. of course, that's a lot of potential gravy! I think Hightower and Mayo will be outstanding. Hightower worked very hard playing out of position with a disabled Spikes next to him. The experience should make him better. We've never carried much in the way of backups. Anderson could be enough and good in the passing game. the rest better play some teams.

Our secondary looks to be ridiculous. We've got many candidates for the other safety, some hitters, some CBs. All teams should have the problems we have in our secondary, it's ridicuolous. We could play 6 DBs who have started at cornerback (or could, I'm not sure about Ryan) and that's without moving McCourty.

Our RB corps looks solid and versatile if Ridleys security issues are OK. I'd like to see a power back compete with Bolden. OLine has plenty of candidates. So it's TE. glad to see Hooman, because he's dependable, but we obviously could use some talent there.

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Many good lbs had to play out of position and flourished. Hightower has more excuses than production so far. Broadcasters across the league have called him out for his lack of burst/quickness on many plays when ball carrier's crossed his face like he was in quicksand. That has nothing to do with position. Willis/Bowman/wagner/Washington/kuechly/David/alonzo/Burfict. Any of them would standout at any of the LB spots. Similar excuses were made for Rey Mauluga who played at 260+ and struggled. Hightower is 270+. This is a passing league getting faster more and more explosive. None of the forementioned impact LB's go over 240 lbs. They can cover and flash on a scene like a missile. As can all the young up coming LBs like ogletree and Mosley. Hightower is never mentioned when discussing just the best young LBs in the NFL. If he played closer to successful LB weight he could be an absolute terror. If he can obtain the quickness even close to those other LBs and play at 250-255 he would be a wrecking ball.

TE moves, sign Keller or Finley and make a deal for Housler. I still don't think Belichick is done with the roster and expect some solid signings before the season starts. I can't wish summer away but this is going to be a fascinating season to follow imo.

Marqui said:

Uh, it's called restructuring a contract.

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They need to use the restructuring elsewhere. Unless you think Fitzgerald or Johnson would restructure THEIR contracts for significantly less money. I don't see that happening.

If there's one move I'd like to see this summer, it would have to be Vince Wilfork doing the Triple Lindy.

Connoly, Wendell, Mallott, and Ridley for AJ...What are we really giving up....Connoly and wendel will not make the team...Mallott will not se the field and is gone next year...And with the upcoming extensions, I do not see Ridley being re signed...

mayoclinic said:

Trade a 4th round pick (maybe with a 2016 conditional pick, or a 3rd if absolutely necessary, possibly with something back) for Rob Housler.

RB Ridley + Vereen + White
WR Edelman + Amendola + Dobson + Lafell + Boyce (who I think could break out) + Thompkins
TE Gronk + Housler

That would be a really nice group of "skill players" for Brady, who should get better interior OL protection this year.

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I too am all for trading for Housler!

im not confident in any of the tightends that could become available.

I think the move that has to happen prior to the season is extending some key guys we currently have.

I think the roster we have right now, is the roster we take into the season, barring an incredible player getting cut and choosing to play for the pats for vet minimum.