It's been well documented that I'm not a huge fan of the "let's go out trade a first and a third, and sign X wide receiver to a mega-deal" due to the fact that we don't normally see it work too well in the era of the salary cap.
That said, I'm just wondering aloud if giving up 2 firsts (or something in the ballpark) and a mega deal for a guy like C.Johnson, B.Marshall, or L.Fitzgerald may not allow us to take better advantage than making the move for a TE who cannot block worth a damn. After all, we're talking about a receiving-only option anyway, and one who can be limited and taken out of the gameplan more than an elite WR.
I just think it's a moot point SUP, none of those guys are or will be available, Johnson is the only one and that's an almost nonexistent proposition. If they can get Keller in they should be in decent shape on the unit for the season and they can address it further next offseason. There's only so much a team can do in any offseason and to some degree they are a slave to the opportunities available to them, so while they still have needs they also could find many of them answered this season. Unless Keller or Finley are signed and return to form TE will probably not be one of the questions answered, but WR and OL could be. And in truth that more than anythoing else is what intrigues me about this coming season, this team clearly has the potential and opportunity to be great, but also has questions across the board that wwill need to be answered this season, and since I am in PFK mode i will set about to outlining them (and that's right Ken, you have officially become a verb, congratulations)
QB-Mallett V. Garrapolo - What is to become of Ryan Mallett? Does he stick as the back up or does Garrapolo beat him out. Either way it's his last season in NE.
RB-Ridley Vereen - Both are in contract years and need really good seasons and it's unlikely either will command break the bank money to keep around. I expect their best seasons out of both and think White sticks and Bolden is definitely a bubble player who I would bet won't make it.
WR-Dobson, Amendola, Boyce, Thompkins - How many, if any, take a big step forward? If none they are screwed, if 3 of them have better seasons, which imo is the likelihood, they should be much better offensively, and TE can't be worse than last year unless gronk goes out again for a long long time.
OL-Stork, Halapio, Fleming _ I doubt any start day one but if they can get a new OG and C by year's end then we should see some real improvement, if he missed on these picks it really hurts and they need to go back to the well next draft.
DL-Easely, Buchanon, Smith - Was the risk worth the reward with Easely, does Buchanon take the next step, and can Will Smith provide the kind of veteran depth presence Andre carter provided? We'll see? easely is the obvious big piece, if they were right about him the other considerations become minimal as they will have added a big time playmaker.
LB-Hightower and Collins - Both need the next big step and if they take it their LB corps is really good. I believe in these guys because they have all the intangibles along with the drive and football sense.
DB- The Revis and McCourty deals, what kind of development do Ryan, Dennard, and harmon show, I believe they will get the deals done with both Revis and McCourty and I like the depth at DB and think they are a big hitter away from a total secondary.
I am really optimistic about this team and see big progress and positive answers to most of these questions, but they are still real questions imo, and the direction they take going forward will be dictated by the answers to them.
