Coming Into A No-Cap Year

[mgteich]

NEEDS GOING INTO THE OFFSEASON PRESUMING THE STEPS BELOW
This isn't a large wish list compared to other years. Obviously, we have free agency, trades and the draft to fill these needs.

I think the biggest effect of the no-cap year will be the additional flexibility in working out loing-term extensions for Brady, Welker and Moss. I suspect that it would help the negotiations with Brady for him to know that his two top weapons were staying for awhile.

A) starting RG plus perhaps a developmental guard
B) pass-rushing DE/OLB or two or three
C) starting TE and perhaps a #3 TE (extending Watson would work for me)
D) #3 wide receiver
E) running back
F) a shut-down corner (extending Bodden would work for me)

OFFENSE (24)
QB Brady, Hoyer, Stanback
WR Moss, Welker, Edelman, Tate, Aiken
RB Maroney, Taylor, Morris, Faulk, Green-Ellis
TE Baker, Agnone
OL Light, Mankins, Koppen, Connolly, Vollmer, Kaczur, LeVoir, Ohrnberger, Bussey

DEFENSE (26)
DL Warren, Wilfork, Wright, Brace, Pryor, Burgess
OLB Banta-Cain, Thomas, Ninkovich, Woods, Crable
ILB Mayo, Guyton, McKenzie, Alexander
CB Wilhite, Butler, Springs, Wheatley, Arrington
S Meriweather, McGowan, Chung, Sanders, Slater, Lockett

SPECIALISTS (3 including one opening)
K Gostkowski
P open
LS Ingram


======================
ERFA's and ERFA's
I presume that there is no point worring about a few bucks. We will keep all our ERFA's and RFA's. We usually do anyway. That bring back Guyton, Lockett, Gost, Mankins, Woods and Connolly.

FRANCHISEES
I presume a franchise tag of Wilfork, or a contract extension.

RE-SIGNS
I expect us to re-sign Faulk and Burgess. I expect us to say good-bye to Neal and Green. Of course, others may be replaced or traded before the season starts.
====================================================================

 

[ctpatsfan77]

SPECIALISTS (3 including one opening)
K Gostkowski
P open
LS Ingram

Let's be honest: unless a miracle occurs, it'll probably be Hanson at punter again.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that Hanson will likely be re-signed, but he is not signed for the 2010 season now, and I would certainly not post that I thought that he should be re-signed.

QUOTE=ctpatsfan77;1653164]Let's be honest: unless a miracle occurs, it'll probably be Hanson at punter again.[/QUOTE]

 

[NePatriots]

Let's be honest: unless a miracle occurs, it'll probably be Hanson at punter again.

There are a few good punters in the draft... maybe a 7th?

Mike Brandtner, Iowa St would be my first choice, but Zoltan Mesko, Michigan (what a name) would also be a great punter.

In the future, Ryan Donahue, Iowa (2011 Draft) will be a mid-round target on my list if Hanson is still in New England.

Okay, no more talking about punters for at least a month for me.

 

[mgteich]

I was a strong supporter for the pick of Ingram. Lots of us had him being drafted by the patriots. Now, if Belichick thinks we NEED a punter this year, I would certainly support using a 6th or 7th for that purpose. I think several posters suggested that last year.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

There are a few good punters in the draft... maybe a 7th?

Mike Brandtner, Iowa St would be my first choice, but Zoltan Mesko, Michigan (what a name) would also be a great punter.

In the future, Ryan Donahue, Iowa (2011 Draft) will be a mid-round target on my list if Hanson is still in New England.

Okay, no more talking about punters for at least a month for me.

For some perverse reason, in the last few years punters have started coming off the board in the third and fourth rounds; IIRC, in at least two of the last five years the first punter came off before the first kicker did.