OK, so...
- The Pats had a glut of DL talent.
- They're playing a lot more 4-3, which means the big 3 of Seymour-Wilfork-Warren would have seen the field together a lot less often.
- Seymour was in the last year of his contract, and it's reasonable to target the younger, healthier Wilfork and Mankins as the two franchise tags/big $$ signings in the uncapped year. (With Brady to consider, too.)
- The last 2 times BB had a top-10 draft pick to play with, he ended up with Seymour and Mayo. Those opportunities just don't come along often.
So I can see how it makes sense. If only it were Oakland's 2010 #1, I'd actually think it was a great deal. The iffy status of the whole 2011 season tempers my enthusiasm considerably.
BTW, I don't see how this move makes sense for Oakland at all.
I agree with most of this.
I can't believe that in 5 months our defense has lost Vrabel, Bruschi, Harrison and Seymour, the core of our SB defenses. I think all are good moves for the long term, but it does leave one with a kind of empty feeling.
Some thoughts:
(1) I see us mixing a 4-3 starting Warren-Wilfork-Brace-Burgess at DL and Thomas-Mayo-Guyton at LB with a 3-4 using Warren-Wilfork/Brace-Green/Wright/Brace at DL and Thomas-Mayo-Guyton-Woods/Burgess at LB. Good as Seymour was, I don't see much of a dropoff in the defense using those formations. I think Brace showed a lot during the preseason, and is capable of starting. The combination of Brace and Wilfork together in a 4-3 should be remiscent of Traylor and Wilfork in 2004.
(2) As good as Seymour was, he would be 30 next year and would likely have wanted top dollar. This clears the path to resigning Mankins and Wilfork, who are younger and less replaceable.
(3) This could create some flexibility to go after a top FA in 2010, such as DeMarcus Ware. With 3 2nd round picks in 2010 and an extra 2011 1st, we could give up our own 2010 and 2011 picks to sign someone like Ware (assuming he gets the franchise tag instead of a long term deal) without losing a beat. I'm not saying it's going to happen, just that it gives our FO a lot of flexibility, and they are very good working with flexibility.
(4) There are a
lot of good 3-4 DE prospects coming up in the next 2 years. If we had gotten Oakland's 2010 1st then I could have seen Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy as possibilities. Keep your eye on Lawrence Marsh out of Florida, a 6'5" 305# junior with Seymour-like athleticism.