Apparent needs and non-needs

[Wretch]

I tried to rate the position from 1-13 by need. 1 being the highest 14 the lowest.
QB-13

TFB and Hoyer are a great 1-2, but there is always the need to develop another QB. Especially if Hoyer can be traded for pick a la Cassel.

OC-6
Koppen is solid player. but he can get dominated by larger NTs. He has had a good year this year but a developmental Center is needed.

RB-3
Fred Taylor and Morris will not be back giving and I don't think Faulk will return to the field as a Patriot. That leave the Pats very thin. I expect a FA signing for RB.

WR-10
The Pats are deep here with good but not great players, except Welker. A difference maker is always welcome but other positions trump WR.

TE-11
Crumpler is signed for 1 more year and Gronk and Hernandez are the future. Maybe a late round developmental player is needed.

OG-1
Neal will likely retire and as much I want Mankins here I don't see him signing an extension. I can almost see Mankins getting franchised, but I am not sure the Pats will be willing to pay him $10+m for a single season. Regardless the loss of these two players leaves the team very thin and I think we can all agree that good interior OL play is essential to the teams success. It seems to an uneducated observer, like me, that the only time Brady has issues is against teams that can generate an interior pass rush, like the Giants in the SB.

OT-5
Light may resign, he may not. I think the heir the LT is Volmer and Kazcur can play RT at an adequate level but a developmental OT is needed to replace Light or Kazcur, if Kazcur is moved to OG to replace Neal or Mankins. A developmental OT is needed even if if Light resigns.

DE-2
Ty Warren has been a great player for the Pats but there is no guarantee that he will play at the same level coming off surgery and he is aging. I think everyone will agree that regardless of the merits of the Seymour trade the Pats missed his presence in the DL. It is unlikely one player can replace what Seymour did in his prime for the Pats, but someone better than who is on the roster currently is needed.

NT-7
Vince needs a reliable back up/fill in start to allow Vince to play DE as needed.

OLB-4
Cunningham and Ninko are promising and keepers. TBC for all his flaws is a good situational player but improvement is needed.

ILB-8
Mayo, Guyton, and Spikes are keepers. Fletcher is a developing player and a good STer but more depth is always needed.

CB-12
The Pats have great talent here and good depth.

S-9
Sanders is a good solid pro, Chung is developing nicely and Meriwether for all his flaws is a talented, if undisciplined, player. The Pats can survive with this trio as the core of their safeties, but unless Meriwether starts playing smarter I don't think he will wear a Pat's uniform after his contract expires. McGowan, and Paige are good depth and Paige is good STer. The knock on McGowan out of Chicago was he was injury prone and I think that has held true with the Pats also.

ST-14
Other than competition as the LS I think the Pats are happy with the situation with ST specialist.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

sorry but the texans have been in the 4-3 since they drafted him.

They may appear deep on the d line but their tackles are a liability. there was talk about converting barwin to a 3-4 outside lber for us when he was some peoples binkies and im fairly sure cushing could play in the middle with ryans.

as you say though they have a litany of defensive needs and so i think they would be open to trades for picks, but outside of ryans and williams i dont think any of their players would improve us

I trade them Meriweather for Barwin and their 3rd round pick. One All-Pro Safety (with one year on his contract) for a third down DE coming off IR (with two years on his contract). Here's your Safety help Wade!

 

[AJD]

I trade them Meriweather for Barwin and their 3rd round pick. One All-Pro Safety (with one year on his contract) for a third down DE coming off IR (with two years on his contract). Here's your Safety help Wade!

meriweather to them makes sense but id rather have their second alone. Barwin coming off IR worries me.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

meriweather to them makes sense but id rather have their second alone. Barwin coming off IR worries me.

Ankle injury, easy enough to check before consummating the trade. I'd take their second alone too, but I'd settle for any Day Three pick and Barwin in that trade, I'm just pushing for the 3rd because Brandon's an "All-Pro."

 

[AJD]

Ankle injury, easy enough to check before consummating the trade. I'd take their second alone too, but I'd settle for any Day Three pick and Barwin in that trade, I'm just pushing for the 3rd because Brandon's an "All-Pro."

is he actually? i thought it was just a second pro bowl nod?

if hes an all pro i really think it shows his value around the league is greater than his value to us and as such id use him as trade bait

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

is he actually? i thought it was just a second pro bowl nod?

if hes an all pro i really think it shows his value around the league is greater than his value to us and as such id use him as trade bait

Whoops! My bad, I meant Pro-Bowl, sorry. :bricks: