This thread on the main board got me thinking some about FA options who might not break the bank:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...to-see-brought-in-in-fa.1114586/#post-4040915
With that in mind, I was think about the following for the offense:
Free Agency:
1. Let Dan Connolly and Stevan Ridley walk in FA.
2. Re-sign RFA FB James Develin and RB Brandon Bolden.
3. Extend Nate Solder, and possibly restructure Sebastian Vollmer. Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming, Stork and Wendell are locked in at OL.
4. Cut Danny Amendola with a post-June 1 designation - 2015 cap savings of $4.5M per Miguel.
5. Sign UFA WR Eddie Royal (San Diego). Maybe contract similar to Brandon LaFell's. Say 3 years/$12M for now, with a 2015 cap hit of around $3.5M.
6. Possibly extend UFA RB Shane Vereen. I'd personally also look at San Diego RB Ryan Mathews, a bigger more physical back than Vereen with good receiving and blocking skills. Mathews has had durability problems (as has Vereen), but I think he'd be good as part of a RBBC and would add another dimension in terms of a back who can run inside and also be a viable receiving threat - sort of a (very) poor man's LeVeon Bell. If both of those are too expensive, then this becomes a draft priority.
8. Release Michael Hoomanawanui and sign either UFA move TE Lance Kendricks (St. Louis) or Rob Housler (Arizona). Neither should break the bank. Cutting Hooman saves $1.2M in 2015 cap space.
If neither of those worked out, I'd consider picking up a move TE like Lance Kendricks (I assume Charles Clay won't make it to FA, though he would also be an option).
7. Sign Seattle UFA OG/OT James Carpenter. Say around 3-4 years/$12-16M. Carpenter is 6 years younger than Dan Connolly, and would be an upgrade as a starting LG.
Restructuring Brady saves around $4M in cap space, and cutting Amendola with a post-June 1 designation saves around $4.5M. A long term deal with Nate Solder should also lower his 2015 cap number. I'm guessing these movings could save around $10M. Subtract around $3.5M in 2015 cap space for Eddie Royal, another $3.5M or so for James Carpenter, and there's enough money to extend Vereen or add someone like Mathews or a move TE, with some left over.
With those changes, the Pats would have the following going into the draft:
QB: Brady, Garoppolo
RB: Vereen/Mathews (or no one), Blount, Gray, White, Bolden.
WR: Edelman, LaFell, Royal, Dobson, Tyms/Boyce. Tim Wright can also be used as a split end.
TE: Gronk, Wright, Kendricks/Housler
OL: Solder-Carpenter-Stork-Fleming/Wendell-Vollmer as starters; Cannon, Wendell/Fleming, Kline and Devey as reserves
2015 Draft:
1. Use on DL - either DT or a pass rusher.
2. Trade up to take an offensive skill player - Minnesota TE Maxx Williams would be ideal. A RB like Tevin Coleman might also be a good value.
3. Best available OL. Someone like Jake Fisher or Jeremiah Poutasi would be nice.
3 (comp). Use on DL - either a pass rusher or DT.
4 (TB). Used to trade up in the 2nd round.
4. Best available OL. Robert Miles from Tennessee St. is looking like a day 3 good value pick.
6 (TB). DeAndre Smelter, WR, Georgia Tech. Give him a red shirt year in 2015 to get healthy, and he steps into the lineup in 2016.
6 (comp). Best available RB. DJ Foster from Arizona St. would be a nice Vereen replacement.
7 (Tenn). Tre McBride, WR, William & Mary. Competes with Tyms and Boyce for the 5th WR spot in 2015.
