Wait, so now it's law rookies can't contribute? Gronkowski? Asante? Dennard? Mayo? Seymour? Chandler? Hightower? Light? that's just a quick list of some obvious guys off the top of my head that all did a good job and contributed their first year.
The Patriots will have closer to 18 million after the entire draft IIRC.
Off the top of my head, I would then do:
-3 years, 6 million - Randy Starks (DT) [2 mill cap hit]
-3 years, 6 million - Julian Edelman (WR) [2 mill cap hit]
-2 years, 4 million - Brian Hartline (WR) [2 mill cap hit]
-3 years, 15 million - Aqib Talib (CB) [5 mill cap hit]
-4 years, 20 million - William Moore (S) [4 mill cap hit]
-1 year, .75 million - Hooman [.75 mill cap hit]
-1 year, .75 million - Arrington [.75]
eric wright and carlos rogers signed for 7-8m/yr , a year ago, so talib and arrington can be had for a total of 5.75m?
I'll bet you're also a little low on moore, but that one might be nitpicking.
I think your plan is great if we can lowball every fa in the league, and even then we would be absolutely tapped.
also, there is absolutely no way I'm banking on ir dowling.
edit: oh, wait....I forgot brian hartline at 2y/4m