Roster
Tyson DeVree - UDFA
BenJarvus Green-Ellis - UDFA
Gary Guyton - UDFA
Jerod Mayo - Day One
Kevin O'Connell - Mid-round
Vince Redd - UDFA
Matthew Slater - Mid-round
Jonathan Wilhite - Mid-round
Injured Reserve
Shawn Crable - Mid-round
Bo Ruud - Late round
Terrence Wheatley - Day One
Practice Squad
Titus Adams - UDFA
Angelo Craig - UDFA signed as a street FA
Mark Dillard - UDFA
Darrell Robertson - UDFA signed as a street FA
Ryan Wendell - UDFA
So, that's:
-- 9 UDFA
-- 2 Day One
-- 4 Mid-round
-- 1 Late round
-- 16 Total, to end the season.
From the legendary
Miguel's UNOFFICIAL 2009 Patriots Roster Page comes his
current roster listing which I'm using to consider where a draft pick might prove an upgrade...
Projected 2009 Starting Offense
Based on Signed/Tendered Players - Miguel is presuming the Pats will tender offers to all of their ERFAs.
LT Matt Light - Top 10
LG Logan Mankins - no
C Dan Koppen - Day One
QB Tom Brady - no
RG Stephen Neal - no
RT Nick Kaczur - Top 10
TE Ben Watson - no
TE Dave Thomas - no
WR Wes Welker - no
RB Sammy Morris - Yep, but not a priority
WR Randy Moss - no
Projected 2008 Starting Defense
Based on Signed/Tendered Players
RDE Richard Seymour - no
DT Vince Wilfork - no
LDE Ty Warren - no
LB Jerod Mayo - no
LB Tedy Bruschi - yes
LB Gary Guyton - yes
LB Mike Vrabel - no
CB Terrence Wheatley - Day One
CB Ellis Hobbs, III - Day One
CB Jonathan Wilhite - Day One
S Brandon Meriweather - no
Offensive Reserves:
C Dan Connolly - Yes
C Ryan Wendell - yes
G Billy Yates - yes
OT Mark LeVoir - Day One
RT Ryan O'Callaghan - yes
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis - yes
RB Kevin Faulk - no
RB Laurence Maroney - Day One
QB Matt Cassell - no
QB Matt Gutierrez - no
QB Kevin O'Connell - no
TE Tyson Devree - maybe
WR Sam Aiken - yes
WR Matt Slater - yes
WR Kelley Washington - yes
K Stephen Gostkowski - no
Defensive Reserves:
DE Jarvis Green - no
DT Titus Adams - yes
DT Le Kevin Smith - no
CB Mike Richardson - Day One
CB Antwain Spann - yes
LB Shawn Crable - Day One
LB Angelo Craig - yes
LB Vince Redd - maybe
LB Darrell Robertson - yes
LB Bo Ruud - yes
LB Adalius Thomas - maybe
P Tom Malone - yes
I see 17 "yes" they can be upgraded in this draft players here. There are 3 more roster spots open (20), plus the Practice Squad (28), and the risk of a "no" or "maybe" player going on IR. 28+ slots where a draft pick could prove competitive. NE is projected to have 10-11 picks, plus a possible Matt Cassel lottery. Even if BB did not bundle picks together to move up for a desired player (which I believe he will at some point), there could be another 16 draftees/UDFAs who make a place for themselves in NE from this draft, though half of that would be about right I'd think.