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Like many on this board, I've been elated by the progress shown by the defense this year. Even with Mayo out, Jones and Siliga missing large parts of the season, and Easley hobbled, the defense has been the most dominant that we've seen since 2003. The additions of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner have led to one of the top 3 secondaries in the NFL, and have opened up a myriad of opportunities up front. Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins have emerged as Pro Bowl caliber playmakers, and Vince Wilfork has been remarkably solid returning from his 2013 Achilles' rupture. Pat Chung has been a pleasant surprise in his return tour of duty. The mid-season additions of Akeem Ayers, Jonathan Casillas and Alan Branch have added critical depth and improved versatility, and the return of Jones and Siliga looks to prime the defense for a deep playoff run. It's not perfect, but it's in a whole different league from what we've seen in the past.
For 2015 there are big questions. Devin McCourty, Ayers, Casillas, Branch and Pat Chung are all FAs. Darrelle Revis is under contract, but with a crippling $25M cap hit. Hightower and Jones have 5th year options for 2016 but their cap hit takes a big jump, and they will be FAs in 2017 at the latest, along with Jamie Collins.
The standard for the top defense in the NFL has been the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks have just signed their 2 pending 2015 defensive FAs to 4 year deals: 4 years/$27M for SAM LB KJ Wright, and 4 years/$28.5M for RDE :
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...awks-sign-cliff-avril-to-4year-285m-extension
In the past 10 months they have re-signed DE Michael Bennett (4 years/$28.5M, $16M guaranteed; roughly the same as Avril), S Earl Thomas (4 years/$40M, $25.725M guaranteed) and CB Richard Sherman (4 years/$56M, $40M guaranteed). NT Brandon Mebane is signed through 2015, and S Kam Chancellor through 2017. Only MLB Bobby Wagner remains as a pending big signing on defense. Bruce Irvin, Jordan Hill, Tharold Simon and Byron Maxwell are all emerging key contributors on their rookie deals, and there is a nice pipeline of young talent such as Kevin Pierre-Louis . As ESPN's Gregg Rosenthal notes:
Seattle had $33M in 2015 cap space available prior to the Wright and Avril re-signings, according to overthecap.com. The Pats look to have a much tighter 2015 cap situation. I've suggested elsewhere a "zero sum" approach to retaining all of the key players on defense. Clearly, extending Revis and McCourty is key. The situations with Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork potentially need to be addressed as well. I applaud the Seattle FO's pro-active stance in locking up their key guys, and I hope the Pats follow suit soon.
The Pats have done a brilliant job building the defense. Now they have to figure out how to keep it together. Pete Carroll and John Schneider clearly recognize the value of continuity. With more time together, the Pats' defense could potentially be on the same level.
For 2015 there are big questions. Devin McCourty, Ayers, Casillas, Branch and Pat Chung are all FAs. Darrelle Revis is under contract, but with a crippling $25M cap hit. Hightower and Jones have 5th year options for 2016 but their cap hit takes a big jump, and they will be FAs in 2017 at the latest, along with Jamie Collins.
The standard for the top defense in the NFL has been the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks have just signed their 2 pending 2015 defensive FAs to 4 year deals: 4 years/$27M for SAM LB KJ Wright, and 4 years/$28.5M for RDE :
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...awks-sign-cliff-avril-to-4year-285m-extension
In the past 10 months they have re-signed DE Michael Bennett (4 years/$28.5M, $16M guaranteed; roughly the same as Avril), S Earl Thomas (4 years/$40M, $25.725M guaranteed) and CB Richard Sherman (4 years/$56M, $40M guaranteed). NT Brandon Mebane is signed through 2015, and S Kam Chancellor through 2017. Only MLB Bobby Wagner remains as a pending big signing on defense. Bruce Irvin, Jordan Hill, Tharold Simon and Byron Maxwell are all emerging key contributors on their rookie deals, and there is a nice pipeline of young talent such as Kevin Pierre-Louis . As ESPN's Gregg Rosenthal notes:
It's incredible to look at the Seahawks' defenders who are now signed long-term. Carroll and general manager John Schneider have inked long-term deals with Wright, Avril, Bennett, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas. It is difficult to keep great defenses together, but this group has a chance -- a chance -- to go down as one of the all-time great units.
Seattle had $33M in 2015 cap space available prior to the Wright and Avril re-signings, according to overthecap.com. The Pats look to have a much tighter 2015 cap situation. I've suggested elsewhere a "zero sum" approach to retaining all of the key players on defense. Clearly, extending Revis and McCourty is key. The situations with Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork potentially need to be addressed as well. I applaud the Seattle FO's pro-active stance in locking up their key guys, and I hope the Pats follow suit soon.
The Pats have done a brilliant job building the defense. Now they have to figure out how to keep it together. Pete Carroll and John Schneider clearly recognize the value of continuity. With more time together, the Pats' defense could potentially be on the same level.