Our FA this year
 

List per Reiss, and what I'd try to do with them :

DE Mark Anderson - try to re-sign at backup, spot starter money
WR Deion Branch - try to re-sign at backup money
DE Andre Carter - try to re-sign at low level starter money
OL Dan Connolly - try to re-sign at low level starter money
DE Shaun Ellis - bye
RB Kevin Faulk - happy retirement
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis - try to re-sign at mid range starter money
LB Gary Guyton - bye
QB Brian Hoyer* - tender at 2nd round level, try to trade
S James Ihedigbo - try to re-sign at backup money
DB Nate Jones - bye
C Dan Koppen - may pick him over Connelly, I'd re-sign whoever is cheaper
LB Niko Koutouvides - try to re-sign at league minimum
S Bret Lockett* - try to resign at league minimum
DL Kyle Love** - Exclusive rights, not an issue
CB Antwaun Molden - bye
WR/S Matthew Slater - try to resign at excellent ST money
DL Gerard Warren - bye
WR Wes Welker - Franchise, no long term deal at his age unless it's team favorable
LB Tracy White - try to re-sign at good ST money

Long list but not a lot we have to sign. I'd like to re-sign Connelly or Koppen and draft a younger guy behind him. Or McDonald could be the younger guy if they like him enough.

I'd really like to keep Carter. I'd Franchise Wes, not sure I'd give him 4 years/$40M given his age. Benny could get a good offer but it's a fairly deep RB draft, he may not get a big offer. I'd keep him at reasonable money but not overpay.

Re: Our FA this year
 

Franchising Welker would be crazy. I'm not sure what top 5 wr pay is but Fitzgerald just bumped it up enormously with his ridiculous contract. I'm hoping for a respectable 3 year deal my self that doesn't kill our chances of signing a Brandon Lloyd type of wr to help out.

I loved the way Connolly played this season. Doesn't seem to have the trouble with bull rushers that Koppen has. Personally I'd like to see Connolly back myself.

I'm kind of up in the air with Carter. Again I'm hoping for a cap friendly number given his age and his injury status

Re: Our FA this year
 

Agreed all around, Welker I would definitely throw the big money at. Just the way he came back from an ACL way faster than anyone thought and his overall durability gives me reason to believe he's a physical freak and should provide at least 3-4 more years at this level. That's easily worth $9-10 mill/year in this market.

After him, Carter and Anderson may be the only ones that are tough to resign, but hopefully I'm wrong there and they come back on the cheap. Maybe Connolly too since he filled in so well and looks like he could be a long term starter on the interior OL.

Re: Our FA this year
 

The Franchise number for WR is about $9.4M. That's affordable for one year, I'd only do 3 years if it came at about $20M total and I'm guessing he's looking for more than that.

Re: Our FA this year
 

The Franchise tag for WRs is going down this year and is around $9 million. That is less than what Welker can probably get on the open market. Franchising Welker would be smart if they can't get him to take a short term deal.

I agree with Connolly over Koppen. Koppen has been declining the last few years. Either way, neither will break the bank.

Carter will be getting an one or two year deal no matter where he goes. He is too old to get a huge deal at this point. He said this is the best place he has ever played. So he might come cheap.

Re: Our FA this year
 

It'll take a little bit of time, and they might have to franchise him to get it done. I'd put the odds that Welker isn't a Patriot next year at about the same odds that Jerod Mayo isn't.

Re: Our FA this year
 

He'll be a Patriot next year but I think it's at least 50-50 it will be as a Franchised player. Next year will be his 6th year with us, lots of hits on a small, aging body; not sure how many years they'll want to lock themselves into.

Re: Our FA this year
 

Branch says he wants to retire here. He will be resigned on an one year veteran minimum contract just like Faulk did his last few years here. He will be playing here on a year by year basis.

Re: Our FA this year
 

I would not be surprised if Branch isn't on the team next year. He know longer is respected by opposing teams and doesn't create separation. IMO, the only way he stays is if Brady can convince BB that he needs him because of his route running abilities.

Re: Our FA this year
 

The problem with Anderson is that he wasn't brought here to play all three downs. Hes was here as a sub rusher and was a huge upgrade on TBC.

Not sure what carter did to deserev low level starter money. If i'm a 4-3 team i would give him 2 years with some upfront money

Also, its kind of sad/funny that there are 6 starters from the SB that you would classify as really not a priority. Rigt or wrong, thats an eye opener

DE Mark Anderson - try to re-sign at backup, spot starter money
WR Deion Branch - try to re-sign at backup money
OL Dan Connolly - try to re-sign at low level starter money
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis - try to re-sign at mid range starter money
S James Ihedigbo - try to re-sign at backup money
LB Tracy White - try to re-sign at good ST money[/I]