Three more free agents to sign elsewhere: Aiken, Connolly, and Ridley. I wonder if any Superbowl
winner in history has lost nine players to free agency the very next tear?
Wilfork + Ayers = Sheard and Branch resigned. Add in a healthy Easley and the D-Line is already better. Face it, Wilfork simply isn't the old Wilfork anymore. We could still use a run stuffer (Rubin? Ellis? Draft is thick with big DTs.)
Connolly = surprised if he doesn't retire. If not, I expect him back for less money. IOL will almost certainly be addressed in the draft.
Casilllas = Jonathan Freeny.
Ridley = Blount and Gray. We're stronger at primary back going into this year over last. And Ridley could still come back on a prove it.
Aiken? Not losing sleep over it, honestly. heck, if Nink's getting reduced snaps because of Sheard, he can do it.
Vereen = White? Gaffney? This could leave a little sting if we can't replace his production.
Chandler is a PLUS on that side of the ball.
Mayo back will strengthen an already great LB corps.
Browner? Not sure why we let him walk with a 2/9.6 no guarantee contract. Has to be scheme, given the timing, and maybe they just did the guy a solid. Also, he had more penalties than PDs last year, so let's not pretend he was the second coming. I love the guy and his attitude, but he's not a great cover corner.
Revis...yeah, this one hurts. No way around. If the Pats are weaker right now than they were last year, it's right on this absence. They really need a CB1, but I wouldn't throw around the money I'm seeing for guys like Maxwell on guys like Maxwell.
We're in March, and the SB champs have taken one significant step back (Revis) and have taken two small, but important steps forward in DL and TE2. Dobson will be back healthy, Wright has a full offseason with the team, and quit selling our DBs short. Butler is ready to play and Dennard was pretty good.