Lots Of Roster Holes
 

Let us presume that we bring back all that we can. We still will need two OG's, 3 WR's, and an OLB.

My hope is that we use free agency to sign the wide receivers, the OLB and a replacement for any of the free agents below that we don't re-sign. That will leave us with only two MUSTS for the draft: two OG's.

Banta-Cain (his extension hasn't been made official)
Wilfork
Bodden
Burgess
Green
Watson
Faulk
Mankins (RFA)
Gostkowsksi (RFA)
Woods (RFA)

Re: Lots Of Roster Holes
 

Your presumption is that you just draft a rookie and he's a starter. I would prefer to draft two players, expecting the best to start this year and the the other to be groomed for next year. I guess we're not used to drafting with such a wide open hole on the roster.

If we bring back everyone, why would we need 2 OG's? Even if brining back everyone excludes Neal due to retirement, wouldn't the need at OG sit at one? The Pats would have Mankins, Ohrnberger, Connolly, and Wendell as guard options going in to '10. Most teams carry 7-8 lineman on the gameday roster, so at least one backup needs to have position versatility (ex T/G or G/C). I find it unlikely (though not impossible) that the Patriots would see a need for 2 more guards if every current OL not named Neal returned. I don't doubt that there could be 2 additions at OG, just that their wouldn't be a glaring need in this scenario.

Re: Lots Of Roster Holes
 

Lets consider Mankins:
-- A CBA agreement appears unlikely, so he's an RFA.
-- As an RFA he's low cost, but after 2010 he's a UFA.
-- As a UFA, two time Pro Bowl Guard, he's going to be expensive.
-- According to the Franchise/Transition Tag projection thread the top Guards pulled down $7M+ for one year.

So does BB keep Mankins one more season and lose him to Free Agency in 2011? Or does he consider reasonable trade offers, even shop him a little, and use the chance for a 1st or 2nd round pick in this deep draft class?
-- Is there an option to Mankins? Yes, Light is under contract and could slide inside to LG with Vollmer on the edge. Or BB could pick up another older vet in FA, and of course there's always the draft.
-- Why might teams bid for Mankins instead of drafting a Guard? Guard and Center are very shallow in this draft, Tackle has pretty good depth, but teams looking for a top Guard may be willing to pay for a proven vet like Mankins and let NE transition a Tackle the way they did Mankins.

Re: Lots Of Roster Holes
 

IMHO A pass rusher or two is a decided need.

Re: Lots Of Roster Holes
 

I'm not sure we need 2 OG's in this draft. I don't see any reason why we can't tender Mankins as an RFA and tag him next year as a UFA, keeping him for 2 years. Plus, we may be able to keep Neal for one more year as a part time starter at OG. I think getting one stud OG this year and one next year (draft or FA) may be sufficient. Plus, that would give some time to see if Ohrnberger actually develops, or if he's just a career backup at best.

Re: Lots Of Roster Holes
 

A team can't "shop" an RFA until he signs the tender.

All the more reason for the Patriots to try and sign Mankins long-term.

Re: Lots Of Roster Holes
 

Unfortunately, the pickings are slim in free agency regarding centers and guards as well.

The big name of ILBers is Dansby since the Cardinals can't afford to franchise him as a QB.

OLBs, there are a plethora of quality UFA:
Kampman, Danny Clark, Angelo Crowell, Scott Fujita, Jason Taylor, Chaun Thompson (who could be an ILB), just to name a few.


WRs - Have been talked about Ad Nauseum..

Re: Lots Of Roster Holes
 

We will not win a Super Bowl with Burgess, Banta-Cain, and Woods as our primary edge defenders. We need upgrades on the outside.

Re: Lots Of Roster Holes
 

I hope the Patriots don't play footsey with Jason Taylor again.

We will romance him only to have him jilt us again.

Re: Lots Of Roster Holes
 

DeBruinz indicates that the free agent class is weak at guard. A team
just might consider giving up a third and a first round pick for Mankins.
The interested team could trade down to acquire a late first round
pick.