I'm coming back to where it started Guessing we release VW and want Goldman-DT. Run stopper. Think I can get a guard at 64.
As much as I love Big Vince, it's not as much as I love production and results. The truth is, his oproduction has taken a pretty big dive, at a position that is very important to the success of the team.
Truth is, this is way too sweat of DT/NT free agency to still have him on the books for even as low as 4 million. We can easily get two players at his position that would offer both depth, rotational players, and players that would allow us to run our 4-3/ 3-4 hybrid with better success.
At 27 years old, he young and has only look to improve in the next 5 years of his prime. He offers the ability to effectually play in both a 3-4 and 4-3, Dan Williams could easily be had for 6-8 million a season. Probably more towards the 6 million range.
Dan Williams at 6 a season,. Then you use the remainder to sign either BJ Raji, or Kenrick Ellis.
Regardless of what happens, I still think the team should pursue Kenrick Ellis.
Here is a piece Bleacherreport had on him last week.
"The Pats and
New York Jets have had a rich history of poaching each others' rosters, and Kenrick Ellis could represent the next step in that saga. Ellis isn't a particularly big name, as the 27-year-old nose tackle has seen his path to playing time blocked in New York's excellent defensive line.
However, the former third-rounder is a true run-stuffer at 6'5" and 345 pounds, the type of player who could replace Vince Wilfork's beef in the middle if the Patriots part with their defensive captain.
Pro Football Focus highlighted Ellis in its Secret Superstar series before the 2014 season, with Nathan Jahnke noting how Ellis has excelled despite limited snaps:
Despite never playing more than 16 snaps against the run in a game all season, he definitely made the most of his opportunity. In his first game despite playing just 18 snaps, he had three highly-graded plays thanks to beating his block to make run stops. There was not a single game where he had a negative rating in run defense all season.
He ended up making 17 run stops on 114 run snaps on the season, which gave him a Run Stop Percentage of 14.9%. Over the last six years, John Henderson in 2010 was the only defensive or nose tackle with at least 100 snaps against the run and a better Run Stop Percentage.
Ellis' 2014 campaign essentially mirrored the 2013 season that Jahnke outlined. Despite playing just 158 total defensive snaps, Ellis had six run stops and a
plus-2.3 run grade. With Damon Harrison entrenched at nose tackle, Ellis and the Jets appear likely to part ways this offseason.
That could provide an opening for the Patriots, who would certainly provide Ellis more playing time if they deem him an acceptable cheaper alternative to Wilfork. Ellis may be a pure two-down player, but the dimension he does provide could be an area of need this offseason."
Clearly a great prospect that could be had at a fairly cost effective price.
Or we could go for a combination of Jared Odrick and BJ raj, and probably free up a little cap space in the process.
All of these players can effectively play in bot 3-4 and 4-3 schemes.
Sorry Vince, its been nice having you, but its time to go.
