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A) We have very limited resources this year, given our needs. And yes, I know that we will add to the free agency monies by restructures and extensions. But still, we have two positions that have ONE player we can count on: cornerback and wide receiver.
OFFENSE
B) We need to take care of business and re-sign Edelman, Woodhead and Thomas. These three are valuable parts of our team. Hooman should be re-signed or tendered; the TE position is crucial to us, and ALL of our TE's have injury histories.
C) We need to find wide receivers. We start with Lloyd and Edelman. Certainly one approach is to sign one or two midlevel (or one top level receiver), our usual half-dozen JAG's, and one draftee. That would give us Lloyd, free agent, Edelman, draftee, free agent (or Ebert), Slater. The trick is to act quickly in free agency, and likely overpay a bit.
D) We can sign a backup OT, as always, or perhaps even a potentially starting RT.
E) We'll bring in a DL or two, as we always do.
F) The above is doable. This is pretty much business as usual. In the end, we hope that the increase in production from our top youngsters (hopefully who are more healthy this year) will offset the loss of Welker and Vollmer.
DEFENSE
G) Let's take care of business and re-sign Arrington and Cole. We can look to upgrade after the middle of March. They are adequate nickel and dime backs respectively (along with the possibility of Dowling contributing in those roles).
H) Why are we panicking at SAFETY? We have McCourty who is a fine free safety. We have Gregory and Wilson competing for reps. Wilson looked OK last year. He may be ready to start, or not. This is certainly not our weakest position. SURE, we need an addition, but we may already have our long-term starters. Depending on how Belichick evaluates Wilson, we should consider drafting and/or signing a free agent safety. But this is a MINOR resource issue. Given what is available in the draft, and the fact that we have McCourty and Wilson, a
signing of a top safety is just not prudent.
I) We could use a LINEBACKER. However, I would prefer to see how Hightower develops. We do need a 4th linebacker. In any case, this again is not a high-priority use of resources.
J) PANIC and/or FOCUS on the CORNER position.
If we have taken care of business, we have Dennard, Arrington, Cole, Dowling and Williams.
To me, we are short TWO CORNERS, and corners are expensive. Personally, I would tag Talib, sign a mid-level corner and sign a couple of JAG's for camp competition.
K) So, what about the DL? We may not have resources to help much. A top DE pass-rusher is top TEN material. A top DT pass rusher should be top 20. Free agents are also expensive.
We've added Armstead and Vega. I'm fine with drafting a DL with our first or second pick, but I suspect that WR and DB's will be much higher on our priority list when the draft comes. Besides, DL quality comes higher in the first round.
BOTTOM LINE
TAG Talib.
RE-SIGN Edelman, Woodhead, Thomas, Hooman, Arrington and Cole. We would then be ready to start free agency.
SIGN MORE THAN ONE FREE AGENTS at corner and wide receiver.
SIGN FREE AGENTS at backup OT, backup S, and backup ILB.
DRAFT priorities will change based on free agency. The top picks are likely to be wide receivers and defensive backs, UNLESS a top pass-rusher is somehow available.
OFFENSE
B) We need to take care of business and re-sign Edelman, Woodhead and Thomas. These three are valuable parts of our team. Hooman should be re-signed or tendered; the TE position is crucial to us, and ALL of our TE's have injury histories.
C) We need to find wide receivers. We start with Lloyd and Edelman. Certainly one approach is to sign one or two midlevel (or one top level receiver), our usual half-dozen JAG's, and one draftee. That would give us Lloyd, free agent, Edelman, draftee, free agent (or Ebert), Slater. The trick is to act quickly in free agency, and likely overpay a bit.
D) We can sign a backup OT, as always, or perhaps even a potentially starting RT.
E) We'll bring in a DL or two, as we always do.
F) The above is doable. This is pretty much business as usual. In the end, we hope that the increase in production from our top youngsters (hopefully who are more healthy this year) will offset the loss of Welker and Vollmer.
DEFENSE
G) Let's take care of business and re-sign Arrington and Cole. We can look to upgrade after the middle of March. They are adequate nickel and dime backs respectively (along with the possibility of Dowling contributing in those roles).
H) Why are we panicking at SAFETY? We have McCourty who is a fine free safety. We have Gregory and Wilson competing for reps. Wilson looked OK last year. He may be ready to start, or not. This is certainly not our weakest position. SURE, we need an addition, but we may already have our long-term starters. Depending on how Belichick evaluates Wilson, we should consider drafting and/or signing a free agent safety. But this is a MINOR resource issue. Given what is available in the draft, and the fact that we have McCourty and Wilson, a
signing of a top safety is just not prudent.
I) We could use a LINEBACKER. However, I would prefer to see how Hightower develops. We do need a 4th linebacker. In any case, this again is not a high-priority use of resources.
J) PANIC and/or FOCUS on the CORNER position.
If we have taken care of business, we have Dennard, Arrington, Cole, Dowling and Williams.
To me, we are short TWO CORNERS, and corners are expensive. Personally, I would tag Talib, sign a mid-level corner and sign a couple of JAG's for camp competition.
K) So, what about the DL? We may not have resources to help much. A top DE pass-rusher is top TEN material. A top DT pass rusher should be top 20. Free agents are also expensive.
We've added Armstead and Vega. I'm fine with drafting a DL with our first or second pick, but I suspect that WR and DB's will be much higher on our priority list when the draft comes. Besides, DL quality comes higher in the first round.
BOTTOM LINE
TAG Talib.
RE-SIGN Edelman, Woodhead, Thomas, Hooman, Arrington and Cole. We would then be ready to start free agency.
SIGN MORE THAN ONE FREE AGENTS at corner and wide receiver.
SIGN FREE AGENTS at backup OT, backup S, and backup ILB.
DRAFT priorities will change based on free agency. The top picks are likely to be wide receivers and defensive backs, UNLESS a top pass-rusher is somehow available.
