What realistically can be done for next year to contend for a ring?

[BradysBunch12]

This team isn't one or two players away. It needs a complete overhaul. The defense is soft and Brady needs someone to throw to other than Moss and Welker (assuming Welker even is healthy at the beginning of next year.) The O-Line is going to get Brady killed someday.

I hate to sound like Mike Felger...but he makes a point about the cheapness of the team...going for "value" instead of making the right moves to win. Say what you want about the Jets, but they actually spend money, and move UP in the draft, and are a good QB away from being a championship team. The only reason no one's afraid of them is because they have a rookie as their QB who has shown no signs of being a competent quarterback.

When is Belichick going to realize that you have to PAY players? That money he spent on Galloway, Derrick Burgess, and Fred Taylor could have went to getting an impact defensive player.

And no, I'm not a bandwagoner. A bandwagoner doesn't want to see their team improve or only watches them when they're winning. I'll still watch every game next year, win or lose. But when you have a limited ceiling with an all-time great QB, take advantage of it, don't build for 2025.

This team reminds me of the 2002-2008 yankees...good enough to get into the dance, but their obvious flaws exposed in the playoffs.

 

[TriplecHamp]

I honestly hate the whole "value" thing. Its pretty much a safe philosophy to drafting. The Jets did it big last year. They made bold moves in the draft, they spent money wisely and sometimes it takes a year like this to change your philosophy. Now I don't want the Pats just blindly trading up, I want them to take smart good athletes. Id rather go get a McClain, or a Haden but trading up for risky projects may not be the way to go ala Gholston (I know the Jets didnt trade up but I feel like he was drafted too high.) Id rather have one McClain or one Haden than a solid ILB and a decent corner.

 

[Brono]

Yes, I wonder if the Pats will eschew the value approach in this year's draft and make a move for a stud impact player?

 

[Rob0729]

This team isn't one or two players away, but it isn't in complete overhaul mode either. I say the Pats need something like 5-6 players to add to make a contribution as a starter or significant role player and maybe a few other roll players. I think that is easily doable if the Pats make the right moves in free agency and the draft.

I think the Pats can get by with the secondary they have if they add a couple of good pass rushers. Possibly upgrade the DE position and the ILB spot next to Mayo. On offense, they need depth at WR and a #2 assuming that they won't have Welker at the start of the season. They will need to replace Neal and possibly Mankins and possibly add some youth to the RB corp. Now they don't have to do all of this to be a contender, but a lot of it is neccessary.

The Pats had a bigger task at hand after 2006 (eventhough they went to the AFC CHampionship game, they had to overhaul their wr corp, improve the o-line, and improve the LB corp) and after 2002 in my opinion.

The Pats are not afraid to pay players. Felger is wrong on this one. They just don't pay top players. They pay the middle tier players very well and doing so did help the Pats win three Super Bowls. Also, they have paid players top money. They made Richard Seymour the highest paid defensive lineman until Haynesworth. They made Moss the highest paid WR. Not in total contract dollars with either, but highest paid per year.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

What positions can you see that need overhaul? I see a need for a DE and OLB to rush the passer. I see a need for a guard to replace Neal who is likely done. And I see a need for a WR, 2 if Welker isn't ready for next year. Definitely not an overhaul. We have 4 day one picks, and we have several prospects that we really don't know what we have with yet (Crable, Tate, McKenzie, Brace). Also have plenty of cap space and possibly not even a cap to have to deal with.

I don't think it will take anything drastic on paper, but we DO need to have a good draft the next couple years with all the high picks we've accumulated. The one important thing we do need drastically is a real OC to step in and help out BB.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Pray......

 

[JackBauer]

This team isn't one or two players away, but it isn't in complete overhaul mode either. I say the Pats need something like 5-6 players to add to make a contribution as a starter or significant role player and maybe a few other roll players. I think that is easily doable if the Pats make the right moves in free agency and the draft.

I think the Pats can get by with the secondary they have if they add a couple of good pass rushers. Possibly upgrade the DE position and the ILB spot next to Mayo. On offense, they need depth at WR and a #2 assuming that they won't have Welker at the start of the season. They will need to replace Neal and possibly Mankins and possibly add some youth to the RB corp. Now they don't have to do all of this to be a contender, but a lot of it is neccessary.

The Pats had a bigger task at hand after 2006 (eventhough they went to the AFC CHampionship game, they had to overhaul their wr corp, improve the o-line, and improve the LB corp) and after 2002 in my opinion.

The Pats are not afraid to pay players. Felger is wrong on this one. They just don't pay top players. They pay the middle tier players very well and doing so did help the Pats win three Super Bowls. Also, they have paid players top money. They made Richard Seymour the highest paid defensive lineman until Haynesworth. They made Moss the highest paid WR. Not in total contract dollars with either, but highest paid per year.

Personally I'd like to see them sign/draft a fullback and get back into the mode of a smashmouth running attack.

Or at least a running attack that isn't so predictable (spoiler alert: Maroney lined up 19 yards behind center in an empty backfield = run!)

 

[TriplecHamp]

What positions can you see that need overhaul? I see a need for a DE and OLB to rush the passer. I see a need for a guard to replace Neal who is likely done. And I see a need for a WR, 2 if Welker isn't ready for next year. Definitely not an overhaul. We have 4 day one picks, and we have several prospects that we really don't know what we have with yet (Crable, Tate, McKenzie, Brace). Also have plenty of cap space and possibly not even a cap to have to deal with.

I don't think it will take anything drastic on paper, but we DO need to have a good draft the next couple years with all the high picks we've accumulated. The one important thing we do need drastically is a real OC to step in and help out BB.

I honestly dont see that big of a need for DE, We have Warren, Green (if we bring him back), Pryor, and Wright. We could surely add depth but we dont really need a top prospect to add there. at NT we have Brace and Wilfork as far as Im concerned. Brace isnt really ready IMO but Im not sure we need to add a top prospect there either. I would look at OG, OLB, and WR/TE and ILB as our most pressing needs.

 

[Jimke]

This team isn't one or two players away, but it isn't in complete overhaul mode either. I say the Pats need something like 5-6 players to add to make a contribution as a starter or significant role player and maybe a few other roll players. I think that is easily doable if the Pats make the right moves in free agency and the draft.

I think the Pats can get by with the secondary they have if they add a couple of good pass rushers. Possibly upgrade the DE position and the ILB spot next to Mayo. On offense, they need depth at WR and a #2 assuming that they won't have Welker at the start of the season. They will need to replace Neal and possibly Mankins and possibly add some youth to the RB corp. Now they don't have to do all of this to be a contender, but a lot of it is neccessary.

The Pats had a bigger task at hand after 2006 (eventhough they went to the AFC CHampionship game, they had to overhaul their wr corp, improve the o-line, and improve the LB corp) and after 2002 in my opinion.

The Pats are not afraid to pay players. Felger is wrong on this one. They just don't pay top players. They pay the middle tier players very well and doing so did help the Pats win three Super Bowls. Also, they have paid players top money. They made Richard Seymour the highest paid defensive lineman until Haynesworth. They made Moss the highest paid WR. Not in total contract dollars with either, but highest paid per year.

The Patriots can get by in the secondary if they re-sign Bodden.

 

[ALP]

1. replace Neal, maye with kazcur (who gets replaces at RT by vollmer)

2. get a good wr (hopefully by drafting) and let a couple of prospects develop

3. get a FB

thats it for offense

1 & 2. get a DE and OLB who can rush

3. draft a shutdown corner/resign bodden

(our corners were much improved this year, but the young guys were lacking and springs wasnt in the game until late in the season)

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I honestly dont see that big of a need for DE, We have Warren, Green (if we bring him back), Pryor, and Wright. We could surely add depth but we dont really need a top prospect to add there. at NT we have Brace and Wilfork as far as Im concerned. Brace isnt really ready IMO but Im not sure we need to add a top prospect there either. I would look at OG, OLB, and WR/TE and ILB as our most pressing needs.

I think Green is gone, he previously said this is his last season in NE. Pryor and Wright are good depth right now but not sure either are starter quality, who knows Pryor may develop into one. That's why I say this 'overhaul' talk is nonsense, we may even begin next season fine at WR if Tate and Welker are ready and Tate becomes a legit #3. Of course it probably won't happen but still, people are overreacting IMO.

 

[TriplecHamp]

I think Green is gone, he previously said this is his last season in NE. Pryor and Wright are good depth right now but not sure either are starter quality, who knows Pryor may develop into one. That's why I say this 'overhaul' talk is nonsense, we may even begin next season fine at WR if Tate and Welker are ready and Tate becomes a legit #3. Of course it probably won't happen but still, people are overreacting IMO.

Yeah I dont think Green is coming back either anymore. I think we can go into the season with Wright starting, hes made just as many plays as anybody on the Dline this year. Pryor has devolped nicely over the year but hes not a starter yet IMO. I would like to add a polished wideout in the draft (Jordan Shipley would be a great number three) Im not sure about Welker (nobody is) but I think Edleman has shown that he is ready and then some. I would welcome a Miles Austin or Vincent Jackson with open arms.

 

[chevss454]

1. replace Neal, maye with kazcur (who gets replaces at RT by vollmer)

2. get a good wr (hopefully by drafting) and let a couple of prospects develop

3. get a FB

thats it for offense

1 & 2. get a DE and OLB who can rush

3. draft a shutdown corner/resign bodden

(our corners were much improved this year, but the young guys were lacking and springs wasnt in the game until late in the season)

Doesnt look like enough on the face of it.
Draft: Iupati, OG, Idaho. A very talented mauler to protect Brady
RB, Dixon, Miss St. All-SEC. big strong and powerful. every down back; or Gerhart, Stanford. same type.
DE, Wooton, N'western.
OLB Kindle, TX or Muckleroy, TX tough, read well, smart
ILB Spikes, FL, McClain, ALA
C Tennant, BC. Koppen gets run over quite a bit it seems

Are shutdown corners really worth the $10-12 million? Pass rush seems more important to me.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Yeah I dont think Green is coming back either anymore. I think we can go into the season with Wright starting, hes made just as many plays as anybody on the Dline this year. Pryor has devolped nicely over the year but hes not a starter yet IMO. I would like to add a polished wideout in the draft (Jordan Shipley would be a great number three) Im not sure about Welker (nobody is) but I think Edleman has shown that he is ready and then some. I would welcome a Miles Austin or Vincent Jackson with open arms.

Well, his dream team (New Orleans) may not be able to sign him next year. . . .

 

[PATS68]

We can name all the postions on the field, draft this postions draft that. What we need more than anything is a tone setter, a leader on the D and I don't care where he plays on the D. The patriots do no have that guy and it showed this year.

I say edge rusher more than any other postion.

 

[aurakilla]

use all of our first 2 rounds draft picks on OLBs

 

[hwc]

Blaming the Pats for trying to sign "value" is unfair IMO. It is a salary cap league. When you are a winning franchise, as the Pats have been, your free agent player are in demand and attract higher offers on the open market. There's nothing you can do about that. It's the system.

It's easy to say this team did that or that team did this, but those teams have a different salary cap landscape that a veteran contending team. You could free up some cap room by moving Brady. You could free up cap room by letting Asante walk. You could free up some cap room by trading Seymour. These are all part of the structure of the NFL rules that make it difficult to for winning teams to keep it going indefinitely.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Yeah I dont think Green is coming back either anymore. I think we can go into the season with Wright starting, hes made just as many plays as anybody on the Dline this year. Pryor has devolped nicely over the year but hes not a starter yet IMO. I would like to add a polished wideout in the draft (Jordan Shipley would be a great number three) Im not sure about Welker (nobody is) but I think Edleman has shown that he is ready and then some. I would welcome a Miles Austin or Vincent Jackson with open arms.

That does sound nice, but I'm not sure I want to go the superstar route anymore. I'd rather draft one or two WR's this year and allow them a year to develop a la Branch/Givens. Sign a stopgap for this year, 2 if Welker isn't ready and I think we're in okay shape since the year is uncapped. Drafting is the key, our offense was good enough in the Super Bowl years partly because Branch and Givens both panned out, and neither required a 1st round selection.

 

[mgteich]

Or, they may have no interest in him.

Well, his dream team (New Orleans) may not be able to sign him next year. . . .

 

[mb6592]

I see a need for a guard to replace Neal who is likely done.

Do you really feel that this O-line is a replacement of Neal away from being very good (or even good)? To my mind we have two keepers - Vollmer and Mankins. On another note, I know everyone is high on Wilfork, but does anyone remember teams running between the tackles on the Patriots when Ted Washington was around?