Why settle for a Chicken MacNugget when you can have a Big Mack? WR is too rich in 2012 to miss out even if we resign Welker. They are alot of young WR's going into their primes who will be available. I just cannot see us sigining Welker only and call it a Rap. Imo Ocho Stinko = Gone! Branch = Gone. WR is a NEED and knowing it's a desperate NEED...you just don't fill it with jags. Cannot wait for BB's decision on this. I think we are going to surprised by the quality. We had very good pass Offense in 2011 but it wasn't Great. Before Gronk's injury we were struggling against the Ravens one of the better Defenses. Both Greenbay and the Saints sport Elite Offenses who can beat you from anywhere on the Field...our Offense wasn't that dangerous...hence the need on the outsides.
The problem is the salary cap and the committing so much money to 2 WRs, knowing that (a) your defense is bad, and (b) Gronk and Hernandez will be up for contract in 2 years (or even less). Those 3 guys are Brady's top 3 targets, which leaves minimal opportunities for everyone else.
So the real question is - how much money do you want to pay for a guy like Wallace, knowing that he will take targets away from Gronk, Welker, and Hernandez. Personally, I don't want to pay much at all. So my proposal - get rid of Ocho Stinko, like you said. Bring back Branch in Ocho's role, at minimal salary. Get an outside WR who will be a slight upgrade over Branch. I'd love to get Lloyd, but if his price goes too high, I'll be happy with Meachem or Robinson and put the money into the defense. And to wrap up the WR/TE set, draft a WR on day 2 and get a legit backup TE for Gronk (probably via FA).