Realistic Additions to Defense

we've seen them do it before (Talib the latest example) - the Patriots will trade for an impact player before the October 31 trade deadline Who realistically can we add?

Red Bryant, DT, Jacksonville?
Brian Orakpo, DE, Washington?
Dashawn Goldston, S, Tampa

Three names that come to mind. Any others?

Good question, not really sure overall. I don't know what the price tag would be for those guys or any others for that matter. A DT or LB is needed though. I would say LB mostly. Orakpo, if healthy, could be good as he can play DE or LB I think

Brian Orakpo is currently making almost 12 million dollars this year under the franchise tag....

He is the farthest thing possible from a "realistic addition" to the defense.

I think a high mileage LB would be more likely than some big trade. Or the usual going down of the list of jaggish types like Fletcher (no knock on him, but he's not a front line player)

QB12 said:

we've seen them do it before (Talib the latest example) - the Patriots will trade for an impact player before the October 31 trade deadline Who realistically can we add?

Red Bryant, DT, Jacksonville?
Brian Orakpo, DE, Washington?
Dashawn Goldston, S, Tampa

Three names that come to mind. Any others?

Click to expand...

-- Aqib Talib was far from an impact player at the time when we traded for him. As a matter of fact, many think that he was a candidate to be cut either that year or sometime in the offseason. His time here in N.England allowed him to resurrect his career to the point where he signed a big pact with Denver and got back on the right path.

-- We also have signed horrible players such as Issac Sopoaga at the trade deadline, so it goes both ways.

--With Patrick Chung contributing more than anyone expected, why would they suddenly look to the position of safety now after waiting the entire offseason and summer? If they were going to make any kind of trade, it'd be in the front seven.

Pat Sims. Running stopping DT. He's on a cheap one year deal.

RayClay said:

I think a high mileage LB would be more likely than some big trade. Or the usual going down of the list of jaggish types like Fletcher (no knock on him, but he's not a front line player)

Click to expand...

Erin Henderson has been a name that some here have liked to throw around at LB. As we know, he wouldn't cost anything since he is currently unsigned. It doesn't seem to be in the cards, however.

I'm wondering if the simple addition of a bigger body on the DL may allow Ninkovich to go back to playing OLB? If that is considered, we may be able to do that now and/or explore the possibility of a "no name" guy brought in for nothing.

Or, we could also throw out some dream scenarios where they could offer up that extra 4th round pick that was received in the Mankins deal.

JMC00 said:

Pats Sims? Running stopping DT. On a one year cheap deal.

Click to expand...

I'm wondering if we wouldn't be much closer to signing a guy like that, than what some people are envisioning? Either way, if it is addressed, I think we're all happy.

Urlacher out of retirement

London Fletcher is on record as saying he would come out of retirement for a contender needing him for 6-10 games. I believe he is better than anyone we currently have at MLB. Worth a thought anyway.

KDPpatsfan said:

London Fletcher is on record as saying he would come out of retirement for a contender needing him for 6-10 games. I believe he is better than anyone we currently have at MLB. Worth a thought anyway.

Click to expand...

While it may sound like a crazy thought since he hasn't played since last year, I'd be tempted to kick those tires--if true. His talent, experience, and reaction instincts alone would be worth a workout.

MLB Paul Posluszny of the Jaguars would be an ideal veteran pickup. Big contract through 2016 but not much guaranteed.

goheels22002 said:

MLB Paul Posluszny of the Jaguars would be an ideal veteran pickup. Big contract through 2016 but not much guaranteed.

Click to expand...

Sure, while we're at it, why don't we just really "go for it" and kick the tires on Bobby Wagner or Patrick Willis?

Posluszny signed a 6 yr/45,000,000 dollar deal. He has 10 million dollar cap hits in 2014 and 2015. This does not seem to equate to a "value" kind of stop-gap signing, does it? This would point to signing a guy if you wanted to move on from Mayo, and they obviously don't want to do that.

They will sign someone. Someone with a big body but not a big name. When the deal is done, we will all say, "who the heck is that". He will be plugged in and help the run defense and we will all be happy.

Of course, I am lying, Pats fans are never happy!

supafly said:

Sure, while we're at it, why don't we just really "go for it" and kick the tires on Bobby Wagner or Patrick Willis?

Posluszny signed a 6 yr/45,000,000 dollar deal. He has 10 million dollar cap hits in 2014 and 2015. This does not seem to equate to a "value" kind of stop-gap signing, does it? This would point to signing a guy if you wanted to move on from Mayo, and they obviously don't want to do that.

Click to expand...

His cap hit is $9.5m and $4 million is dead money. So I think the cap hit to the Pats would be $5.5m because I don't think dead money follows the player in a trade.

It's academic anyway because I don't see Posluszny going to the Pats.

QB12 said:

we've seen them do it before (Talib the latest example) - the Patriots will trade for an impact player before the October 31 trade deadline Who realistically can we add?

Red Bryant, DT, Jacksonville?
Brian Orakpo, DE, Washington?
Dashawn Goldston, S, Tampa

Three names that come to mind. Any others?

Click to expand...

Orakpo and Goldston have big money deals and large cap hits. Orakpo would almost certainly be a short term rental. Bryant's cap hit isn't small (almost $5.5M this year, and over $4M for each of the next 3), and he just signed a 4 year deal. I think all 3 are very unlikely.

I could see the Pats being interested in a young MLB at low cost, or a DE which could allow them to use Nink at MLB. Jon Bostic and Arthur Brown are both 2nd round picks from 2013 who haven't broken into the starting lineup and who could help, but I can't see either the Ravens or the Bears being willing to trade them. Derrick Morgan of Tennessee could be an interesting option at DE. Da'Quan Bowers has been a bust with TB, but could be a cheap trade pickup who could add depth at DE, and who could just possibly flourish in a new environment (though I think that's a long shot). Morgan and Bowers are both in contract years and on their 1st contracts, so their cap hits wouldn't be huge and their teams might be inclined to dump them now if they don't see them in the long term picture.

Well I, for one, would not be happy if this happens. It's like going shopping for snow shovels when there's a blizzard warning. You're most likely going to get ripped off. Call it Doug Gabriel Syndrome. Still, if you really need a shovel, what are you going to do?

I doubt the move comes on the DL as we have some help likely returning there when the short term IR runs up for Siliga.

I would expect a young LB in the 3rd/4th years of their rookie deals or a veteran nobody here has ever heard of.

KDPpatsfan said:

London Fletcher is on record as saying he would come out of retirement for a contender needing him for 6-10 games. I believe he is better than anyone we currently have at MLB. Worth a thought anyway.

Click to expand...

london fletcher was overrated the last few years. talk about a guy who couldn't run/cover anyone. lol
he kept making pro bowls on reputation, not performance.

...richard seymour in a time machine would nice! he'd solve so many problems.
...red bryant or the sims guy from the raiders would be ideal. we need another fat guy in the middle.