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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Not completely, yet. I'm quite satisfied with the progress from 2011 to 2012, even though we made the SB 2 years ago that secondary was in shambles. 2012 saw us upgrades at all 5 crucial spots, solidifying (IMO) 4 of 5 with the additions of Dennard/Talib and allowance of Arrington to nickel/DMC to FS. Gregory is not the answer but still was an upgrade, great progress for us but you won't get it all done in one offseason given how bad it was. This year I think if we add a significant safety prospect in the draft or if one of the Wilsons proves to be the answer over Gregory I'll be satisfied.
Without a reasonable upgrade over Gregory, I would not be happy with this the secondary or this offseason given it's one of the bigger, important needs.
Unless Tavon Wilson has made one hell of an improvement since the end of the season, this team still needs a starting safety. It also needs a CB4 and CB5.
Just note along with Dee Milliner, DJ Hayden will be long gone by the Patriots are too select in the draft unless they trade up to the top half of the draft. He's had a rapid Stephon Gilmore-esque rise up draft boards among teams in the top 16 after more tape study and less red flag concerns since he was cleared medically. Reports are that some teams, and not mock draft gurus, already peg him as a superior prospect to Milliner and may end up leapfrogging him in the process. That's entirely not surprising given his overall skillset.I agree with jack, add a CB through draft or FA and that's pretty much it other than camp fodder. DJ Hayden and Jamar Taylor are worth a great deal of consideration in the first, and i would be happy with either but that's it for me as Milliner isn't going to be there and I don't want Trufant or any of the safeties with their first. safety may or may not be a need again next offseason but they are set there for this season and they should wait and see how A. Wilson plays and how T. Wilson and N. Ebner develop, as well as a long term decision on I-Dowling before investing more resources at the position. As an example if they did end up drafting a guy like DJ Hayden with their first pick and I-Dowling actually has a healthy season then they could look at moving him to safety and releasing Gregory next offseason. On the other hand T. Wilson and N. Ebner could show real signs of improvement and be their long term future, either way they don't need a safety at this point in time.
I know this is a pipe dream, but I kinda hope that Ebner shows enough at safety to render Gregory unnecessary.
It depends upon how you define "starting safety," as I expect Adrian Wilson to be in there on first down and situationally on 2nd and 3rd, and see Tavon Wilson as rotating in situationally. So does he need to show significant improvement, yes, but will he be the "starter," probably not. He is still an important piece for their secondary and unless Belichick plans on releasing either he or gregory then there really isn't any room for a high pick at safety, and even then i don't see the talent high in this draft to go safety and release either T. Wilson or Gregory. I can see going CB in this draft but not safety.
If your safety can't cover well enough to stay on the field, he's not a starting safety. Right now, NE has one starting safety, and that's McCourty. The signing of Wilson has led to a (probably) false sense of security about the position.
As for CB, there are positions which have less need for a first or second round draft pick being used on them by the Patriots, but not many.