Half way thru 2014 have our priorities changed?

We are half way thru 2014.
Have your thoughts on positional draft needs changed for 2015 as compared to pre draft 2014.

I was a where's the beef guy last year followed by TE's

I will stay with the need for linemen and a TE but also feel LB is now a need
Have your priorities changed since pre-2014 draft?

(I will say I did expect Boyce, Thompkins and Dobson or at least 2 of them to step up but was wrong there)

My needs have changed some but not a ton. At this point I would sign Revis/Connolly/McCourty. Connolly is a new addition to the list of guys I want to lock up but his play this year is making me think he is worth extending for to a degree.

Right now the main needs IMO are DT & DE.

We will need someone to replace Wilfork and upgrade Ninkovich. I would look to get both players in the 1st round and not be afraid to trade up. I want 2 impact starters.

Not really. Need to extend McCourty and Revis, and figure out the RB situation. Then, depending on how things sort out, my priorities are:

1. Continue to rebuild the DL. An impact DE, and probably a DT (unless Alan Branch materializes, has an impact, and is signed for 2015).

2. Continue to rebuild the OL. Stork and Fleming are a good start. I want 1-2 more offensive linemen.

3. Add depth at LB and S. Akeem Ayers looks like he could be a find, but it's too early. We need some more speed on the back end of the defense, in any case.

4. Add depth at RB, TE and WR.

2015 NFL Draft Priorities - Starters

Offensive Guard (Dan Connolly will be an unrestricted free agent in 2015)
Linebacker (Akeem Ayers will be an unrestricted free agent in 2015)
Running Back (Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen will be unrestricted free agents in 2015)

Note: Brandon Bolden will be a restricted free agent in 2015

2015 NFL Draft Priorities - Backups

Offensive Guard (Devey, Kline, Barker are not the answers)
Offensive Tackle (Marcus Cannon will be an unrestricted free agent in 2015)
Linebacker (Davis, Skinner, White are not the answers)
Tight End (Michael Hoomanawanui is not the answer)

Defensive Starters
Defensive End - Ninkovich, Jones (Chandler)
Defensive Tackle - Wilfork, Easley
Linebackers - Collins, Hightower, Mayo (if healthy next season)
Safety - Chung, McCourty
Cornerbacks - Revis, Dennard

Defensive Backups
Defensive End - Buchanan, Moore
Defensive Tackle - Siliga, Jones (Chris)
Linebackers - ????, ????, ????
Safety - Wilson, Harmon, Ebner, Jones (Don)
Cornerbacks - Arrington, Butler, Ryan

Cut Brandon Browner and utilize salary cap savings to re-sign Devin McCourty.

Slow down Tipp, let's see how Browner does against Manning, Rodgers and Luck before we do anything hasty. Side bet with ya that he plays better than Wilfork in those 3 games.

My priorities remain:

Sign mccourty and revis.

In the draft- bb probably trades out of the first because there is a ton of value in he second round of this draft.

Priorities are DT, de, lb, og, ot, and rb.

If the team can bring back McCourty Cove and Revis Island then the priority to me should be all about the front 7, especially the D-Line. I suppose some of how they upgrade though depends on how the team views players like Siliga and Moore; do they view them as rotational/depth guys or are they future starters? Either way though I don't think there is anyway that this team goes into next season with such terrible LB depth, especially with Hightower going into his contract year and May getting hurt two years in a row. I expect they will also want to add depth to the O-line and RB depth, if not a starter.

The more football I watch the more I think we get too focused on filling in the last 40-53 spots. Those players will never be all that good.

Focus on how your top 30 look (pretty much every game actives if healthy) cause they will see 95% of the snaps.

I am happy with a lot of spots.

QB - Brady Garo
TE - Gronk Wright Hooman
RB - Vereen ????
WR - Lafell Edelman ??? (Maybe Dobson or Tyms takes this next year)
OL - Solder Wendell Stork Connolly Vollmer Cannon ??? (maybe Kline or Flemming)

DE - Jones Nink ???? (maybe Moore)
DT - ???? Easley Siliga? (I really think Wilfork is gone)
LB - Hightower Mayo Collins Ayers
CB - Revis Browner Arrington(depends)
S - McCoury Chung Harmon

This to me in the real roster right now without counting STs.

I don't see them being able to use all those draft picks in a meaningful manor. The Patriots should trade up to fill the DL need which needs 2 key players then assess whether RB is worth an investment or if maybe they can upgrade Ayers or Hooman. I don't want to draft a WR next year. Too late in the game for Brady for that. Either get a FA or go with what you have.

OL is an option but I am okay with going with this same OL next year and if they do get one I want to be a guy that would knock a full time starter off.

BobDigital said:

The more football I watch the more I think we get too focused on filling in the last 40-53 spots. Those players will never be all that good.

Focus on how your top 30 look (pretty much every game actives if healthy) cause they will see 95% of the snaps.

I am happy with a lot of spots.

QB - Brady Garo
TE - Gronk Wright Hooman
RB - Vereen ????
WR - Lafell Edelman ??? (Maybe Dobson or Tyms takes this next year)
OL - Solder Wendell Stork Connolly Vollmer Cannon ??? (maybe Kline or Flemming)

DE - Jones Nink ???? (maybe Moore)
DT - ???? Easley Siliga? (I really think Wilfork is gone)
LB - Hightower Mayo Collins Ayers
CB - Revis Browner Arrington(depends)
S - McCoury Chung Harmon

This to me in the real roster right now without counting STs.

I don't see them being able to use all those draft picks in a meaningful manor. The Patriots should trade up to fill the DL need which needs 2 key players then assess whether RB is worth an investment or if maybe they can upgrade Ayers or Hooman. I don't want to draft a WR next year. Too late in the game for Brady for that. Either get a FA or go with what you have.

OL is an option but I am okay with going with this same OL next year and if they do get one I want to be a guy that would knock a full time starter off.

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Good post Bob, but I'm going to respectfully disagree with your premise.

You listed 30 spots above. There are also 3 special team specialists (k, p, ls) and every year BB likes having at least 3-4 STOPs who excel at that aspect of the game and don't contribute much on offense or defense. This year it's Slater, Ebner, Davis, and White. So that covers the first 37 roster spots.

The problem is that 3 of the players/roles you've listed above are currently on IR (Mayo, Siliga, the ??? for Ridley). 6 other players have missed games due to injury -- Connolly, Stork, Wendell, Jones, Hightower, Collins. That makes the players in spots 38 - 53 very crucial because we know year in, year out that a number of them are going to wind up playing significant snaps for the team.

In an ideal world, the depth problem is solved by getting better players in the original 30, which bumps some of the existing guys back into the 38-53 spots. The team should try its best to do so, but it's unrealistic to expect that to happen to a very large degree, with the salary cap and draft position causing major restrictions.

Therefore the team really does need to spend time, effort, and draft/udfa resources to simply try to upgrade the 38-53 spots on their own.

I like how talk about Solder's problems as tackle has died down a bit during the last 2-3 games. However, I feel we are still in a difficult situation with him. I am as uncertain as I have ever been about using his 5th year option.

Apart from that I think that TE as priority has sunk considerably into "Upgrade Hooman" territory.

The trenches need to be upgraded. Devin and Revis need to be extended. More quality depth at LB (depends on Ayers/Cassilas). Everything else we can make work.

Hammer of Thor said:

Good post Bob, but I'm going to respectfully disagree with your premise.

You listed 30 spots above. There are also 3 special team specialists (k, p, ls) and every year BB likes having at least 3-4 STOPs who excel at that aspect of the game and don't contribute much on offense or defense. This year it's Slater, Ebner, Davis, and White. So that covers the first 37 roster spots.

The problem is that 3 of the players/roles you've listed above are currently on IR (Mayo, Siliga, the ??? for Ridley). 6 other players have missed games due to injury -- Connolly, Stork, Wendell, Jones, Hightower, Collins. That makes the players in spots 38 - 53 very crucial because we know year in, year out that a number of them are going to wind up playing significant snaps for the team.

In an ideal world, the depth problem is solved by getting better players in the original 30, which bumps some of the existing guys back into the 38-53 spots. The team should try its best to do so, but it's unrealistic to expect that to happen to a very large degree, with the salary cap and draft position causing major restrictions.

Therefore the team really does need to spend time, effort, and draft/udfa resources to simply try to upgrade the 38-53 spots on their own.

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Oh I think you misunderstood what I was attempting to say. Probably my fault because I didn't make it clear enough. I do care about the 40-53 spots. They matter of course. It is just whenever draft time rolls around I think we all worry too much about them. "Is this 5th LB going to be able to step in and start incase of injury?" "Does my 4th DL look good?"

I think it is nice to have these spots filled with competent people but generally the difference between your 4th DT and a guy you can pick up as a Free Agent or with a minor trade is barely anything.

Look at this year. Mayo goes down and we don't have a 4th LB to step up. Just pick up Ayers & Casillas. It cost us basically nothing to do. It would have been nice if we didn't have to do it and had guys on the roster ready to go.

Siliga down? Need to move Easley to DE? Just pick up Branch as a FA and plug him in.

Guys who can fill out the bottom 1/4th of a roster are generally available in FAs or minor trades and tend to be about as good or not much worse than who most teams have there anyway.

Basically my point is at that point your depth extends beyond your roster (unless maybe you talk about DBs or WRs where I agree on roster depth matters a good amount because they are the hardest plug and play spots).

Also though it would be nice to have a backup have true starter caliber talent it is very rare and usually cost prohibited as well as a bad investment.

If we wanted it so our 4th LB could come in and go near Mayo/Collins/Hightower level we would probably need to invest a high pick in it (mayo high 1st, Collins mid 2nd, Hightower low 1st). If we were to do that we could of course have truly great depth at that position. However that is only possible to do if all your starter spots are filled with start level players. That is very rare.

Unless you get very lucky with a low pick you are not getting a top tier talent at any position.

BobDigital said:

Look at this year. Mayo goes down and we don't have a 4th LB to step up. Just pick up Ayers & Casillas. It cost us basically nothing to do. It would have been nice if we didn't have to do it and had guys on the roster ready to go.

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The problem with this is that once a player has a certain quality, at some point he will want to get more reps and start (ultimately to get a bigger contract). Usually what happens is that said player then doesn't accept the "depth" contract we offer to him but goes to a different team where he might have a shot at something bigger (most recently see Fletcher or Woodhead, Cannon maybe next year).

Players like Ayers and Casillas on the other hand are in a situation where they are stuck due to whatever reason at their teams and switching the environment is their only shot at prolonging their career. Have a reasonable few games here, record some stats and if they succeed they will become the players I was talking about in the previous paragraph.

I think that keeping quality depth level players (i.e. average) is one of the most underappreciated problems in the NFL in the salary cap era. They aspire to more, you pay them for the role that they are playing. Often those two positions are not aligned. Keeping your top talent usually requires less headache because once the market is set you gotta pay what you gotta pay.

I think that game has formed,almost to the point of certainty, what our needs are now . However, it still depends on the likes of Revis, McCourty et Al coming back.

1=. Pass Rush.

1=. An interior OL that can move defenders in the run game.

3. Running Back. Gray is decent but he's not someone you rely on and I'm still not 100% convinced by Vereen. He's good but he hasn't developed into irreplaceable as I hoped he would.

And that's it really. Want to see what Castillo and Branch have to offer, maybe a run defending 3-4 DE or NT is another need.

The one big change though is that I now want them to re-sign Patrick Chung rather than draft a safety. I thought Chung was terrific tonight and arguably the defensive player of the game (although that is somewhat affected by the weight of expectation).

So no real changes apart from safety but the biggest thing is that the game served to really lock in the needs and, more importantly, just how few needs there are.

manxman2601 said:

I think that game has formed,almost to the point of certainty, what our needs are now . However, it still depends on the likes of Revis, McCourty et Al coming back.

1=. Pass Rush.

1=. An interior OL that can move defenders in the run game.

3. Running Back. Gray is decent but he's not someone you rely on and I'm still not 100% convinced by Vereen. He's good but he hasn't developed into irreplaceable as I hoped he would.

And that's it really. Want to see what Castillo and Branch have to offer, maybe a run defending 3-4 DE or NT is another need.

The one big change though is that I now want them to re-sign Patrick Chung rather than draft a safety. I thought Chung was terrific tonight and arguably the defensive player of the game (although that is somewhat affected by the weight of expectation).

So no real changes apart from safety but the biggest thing is that the game served to really lock in the needs and, more importantly, just how few needs there are.

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I think you've pretty much nailed it. Obviously, it depends on major (Revis, McCourty) and minor (Chung, Ayers, Casillas, Branch) re-signings. Similarly, I divide the areas to be addressed in FA and the draft into major and minor needs. Your top 3 are the biggest major needs. Minor needs include depth at TE, one more WR, depth at DT, and possibly depth at safety.

Barring any unforseen injuries, sure looks like pass rusher(can never have enough), rb and guard. I think Ninko and Ayers showed that guys without ideal size like Dupree, Ray and Fowler can be put to good use. Our run game can surely be upgraded.

Want a young LB who can run and play in sub-defenses. Next priorities are dt and a blocking TE. Could go veteran FA in those last two areas. Only reason I didn't say tackle is that my next starter will prob be a first, not a mid-rounder.

Well my thoughts sure changed since week 1. Now I am on the resign Connolly/Chung band wagon. Chung being younger means that could be a more lasting solution. Connolly is a stop gap for 2 or so years at this point but a good one. Obviously Revis/McCourty are must signs. Vereen/Ridley should both be doing for next year at least and if not oh well.

Some thoughts.

Connolly - 32
Wilfork - 32
Nink - 30
Vollmer - 30 (but OTs can play well into their early mid 30s)

Browner is 30 but on a 3 year contract so I like how that lines up.

3 of those are key starter spots you need to replace in the next 1-2 years with other key starters.

Right now I'd go

#1 DT (even if wilfork is resigned next year it is probably only a 1 year deal and his decline is no doube imminent
#2 DE Nink is solid but a better pass rushing option be nice and Nink is going to be 31 next year. I seem him turning more into a vet that gives you 40 quality snaps sooner rather than later. Also as said it would incidentally add LB depth by allowing Nink to split between the 2.
#3 OG - Connolly is going to need to be replaced either next year or the year after.

Those to me are the top 3.

I was all for a TE at the start of the season as deep down i wasn't sure if Gronk would be back to his best and he didn't have a partner, that's all changed now for the better.

1. DE - a long term partner for Chandler, I'm a huge fan of Hauoli Kikaha and wouldn't be against using a 2nd round pick on him. I've convinced myself hes a fit...
2. RB - Vereen and the Ridler are FA's and could well be gone, we did pick up Tyler Gaffney but will he fit? I do like Jonas but if Gurley or Gordon are there when we pick late in the first then this is a case to take a first round RB imo, maybe even double dip later on.

DT is a need but I don't want to pick up mid-late round plodder, if we go DT it needs to be an impact guy in the first couple of rounds.

Most of this really depends on free agency and especially who we re-sign, if we don't re-sign McCourty then Safety becomes a top 3 priority. Same goes for corner if we don't re-sign Revis. Guard if Connolly goes and I think Cannon will leave.

Priorities should be dictated by which unrestricted free agents are not retained by the New England Patriots:

Cannon
Connolly
Ridley
Vereen
Bolden (RFA)
Slater
Aiken
Gostkowski
Branch
Ayers
Casillas
White
Chung
McCourty

Personally, I would not draft a running back earlier than the third round.

ATippett56 said:

Priorities should be dictated by which unrestricted free agents are not retained by the New England Patriots:

Cannon
Connolly
Ridley
Vereen
Bolden (RFA)
Slater
Aiken
Gostkowski
Branch
Ayers
Casillas
White
Chung
McCourty

Personally, I would not draft a running back earlier than the third round.

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McCourty, with Gostkowski franchised, is the only "must sign" there although Revis is a virtual FA also.

The rest would be replaced easily enough in low level FA although I would definitely like some back at the right price.

BelichickFan said:

McCourty, with Gostkowski franchised, is the only "must sign" there although Revis is a virtual FA also.

The rest would be replaced easily enough in low level FA although I would definitely like some back at the right price.

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I have to disagree.

Slater would not be a low level FA replacement (ie AAV under $1 million/year)
Vereen would not be a low level FA replacement (look at what Woodhead got)
Connolly would not be a low level FA replacement (look at Donald Thomas)
Ridley is a ????

None of these guys are $5 million/year guys with multi-year deals, but they are solid 1-2 million dollar a year players. They are significantly above replacement value.