ESPN's 2007 FA List

[skaIownsIyou]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2674183

Perhaps this list could dramatically affect the Pats draft?

Of course this is barring players resigning.

 

[cstjohn17]

This guy hit the nail on the head, after Freeney is locked the rest of the FA class in very thin, with so much money laying around these players are going to make out like bandits. "Noted one pro personnel director from an AFC franchise: "Every year, it seems like, we [complain] about how bad the free agent class is, in terms of quality and quantity. And every year, no matter how much we gripe, we fall all over each other throwing money at these guys. [Next] year won't be any different. So if you're going to do it, you might as well be as informed as possible. So, yeah, we're working on it."

How this impacts the Pats? Not very much, I don't think they will chase any of the top players (Clements, A. Thomas, Briggs, etc.) but they could move for some of the mid tier players.

• Bryan Thomas - OLB - (NYJ) - player on the rise, knows system and add some much needed speed.
• Matt Wilhelm - ILB - (SD) - experience in 3-4, good size and comes from a major college program. Not sure why anyone would leave San Diego but could come in and replace Seau, again adds some needed youth to LB.
• EJ Henderson - ILB -(MIN) - ok player, again would replace Seau
• Kevin Curtis - WR - (STL) - Would add a speedy small receiver type to fill role held by T Brown, Patten (I was about to type "replace" but no one can replace #80-, sad to see leave)

• Samuel - CB - (NE) - I was in the corner of resigning him but am leaning towards the CB position being overated unless you actually have someone like Champ Bailey most other CBs are similar. But then again signing a player on the rise who is only 26 takes a lot of pressure of any draft pick that may be asked to fill the role.
• TJ Duckett - RB - (WAS) - I may be too costly from a cap perspective but I am getting tired of Dillion getting banged up or leaving to get a "breather" after every single play. Duckett and Maroney would be the new thunder and lightening.
• Ken Hamlin - S - (SEA) - Appears to be fully healed, adds another physical presence to the secondary, take over for Rodney in a few years.

• Graham - TE - (NE) - Love to see him stay, he adds a physical, mean, tough presence to the offense but I have concerns about his ability to stay on the field and his potential cost.

They have the draft picks and cap room to fill any roster holes and add depth at other positions. Expect 10-15 new faces from free agency and the draft (including practice squad players)

 

[drpatriot]

My list:

Cato June - this guy played strong safety in college. Sign him and put him at Rodney's position, move Rodney to FS and Eugene to CB. I know, how could we? But June is an extremely talented player whose talent we could appreciate in the coming years.

Michael Lewis - If not Cato, let's sign this guy. Lewis will be a free agent, as he has fallen out of favor, but his hard-hitting talents could be used in our system.

Ken Hamlin - And if we can't pick up Lewis OR June, let's pick up one of the most underrated players in the game to stop the deep threat at FS.

Adalius Thomas - can play anywhere on defense, save defensive tackle. An extremely valuable asset.

Roderick Hood - up-and-coming player (only 25 but has four years of experience) who will not get used in his current system, with Lito Sheppard and Shelton Brown ahead of him on the depth chart.

Daniel Graham - there is no reason not to resign Graham. He clearly wants to be here and we can still use his talents.

 

[Remix 6]

move June back to SS? Theres a reason he hasnt played SS in NFL..hes like LeMar Marshall...he'll find a home in a 4-3 D if not another cover 2.

thats like saying move Urlacher back to Safety ..he played it in college and highschool.

 

[PonyExpress]

My list:

Cato June - this guy played strong safety in college. Sign him and put him at Rodney's position, move Rodney to FS and Eugene to CB. I know, how could we? But June is an extremely talented player whose talent we could appreciate in the coming years.

Michael Lewis - If not Cato, let's sign this guy. Lewis will be a free agent, as he has fallen out of favor, but his hard-hitting talents could be used in our system.

Ken Hamlin - And if we can't pick up Lewis OR June, let's pick up one of the most underrated players in the game to stop the deep threat at FS.

Adalius Thomas - can play anywhere on defense, save defensive tackle. An extremely valuable asset.

Roderick Hood - up-and-coming player (only 25 but has four years of experience) who will not get used in his current system, with Lito Sheppard and Shelton Brown ahead of him on the depth chart.

Daniel Graham - there is no reason not to resign Graham. He clearly wants to be here and we can still use his talents.

Cato June is a pro bowl LBer in the Tampa-2. I doubt he'd sign somewhere to play safety. Rodney doesn't have the speed to provide deep coverage at free safety. Michael Lewis' play has been suspect enough to get him benched in Philly. IMO Daniel Graham would prefer to be on a team where he makes more money and catches more passes. He stated in the offseason he would give the Pats one shot to sign him and then "I'm gone".

 

[JackPMiller]

Travis Fisher a sleeper? Bwahaahahahaha. Yeah right. He sucks. I am a Rams fan, and I for one am happy this bum is out for the rest of the year. My cat is a better CB than Travis Fisher.

 

[HAMMERMILL]

Wouldn't mind taking a look at Hamlin for a short term contract ,unlikely I know,Same thing with thomas from baltimore

 

[mavfan2390]

My Wishlist, in order,

Nate Clements
Michael Lewis
Adalius Thomas
Lance Briggs
Kan Hamlin

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Daniel Graham - there is no reason not to resign Graham. He clearly wants to be here and we can still use his talents.

Why does Graham clearly want to be here ? The fact that he hasn't re-signed would seem to suggest the opposite.

But, yeah, a lot of the DBs already mentioned are interested in re-building that unit for us.

 

[cstjohn17]

Travis Fisher a sleeper? Bwahaahahahaha. Yeah right. He sucks. I am a Rams fan, and I for one am happy this bum is out for the rest of the year. My cat is a better CB than Travis Fisher.

What school did your cat go to? and what is his/her 40 time?

 

[Jimke]

Don't waste too much of your time wondering how many of these

players the Patriots may aquire. They will aquire none of them

from another NFL team.


The best case scenario is that they will re-sign or franchise one

of their own players on the list.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I don't know about that. I think if BB sees a chance to improve his team and it is not cost prohibitive, then he will definitely take a chance on one of these guys.

I think I read in the Globe earlier this year that Graham said the Pats have not been in contact with his agent at all yet.

I would still love to see the Pats trade for Keith Bullocks to play ILB next year.

 

[DaBruinz]

Don't waste too much of your time wondering how many of these

players the Patriots may aquire. They will aquire none of them

from another NFL team.


The best case scenario is that they will re-sign or franchise one

of their own players on the list.

The Patriots are going to have quite a bit of money to spend prior to the start of next season. This attitude that they won't sign anyone is just junk. The Patriots signed Colvin and Harrison. Guys who no one thought they would go out and sign.

And before you go on about the money the Patriots had prior to the start of this season, they had set aside that money to sign Branch and Law. That's fact and it came straight from Jonathan Kraft's mouth. Branch didn't want to negotiate and Law felt he'd be better with Herm than wth Bill. Those things are out of the control of the Pats hands.

The Patriots DID sign several good FAs this year. Unfortunately, Mitchell and Tebucky Jones (extremely good special teamers both) got hurt in pre-season. Again, that can't be helped.

 

[rookBoston]

Put me down as a Kevin Curtis fan. I wanted the Pats to draft him out of college, and he hasn't disappointed.

 

[DaBruinz]

Put me down as a Kevin Curtis fan. I wanted the Pats to draft him out of college, and he hasn't disappointed.

I'd love the Pats to add Kevin Curtis. I think he'd be an AWESOME #2 receiver for the Pats.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

If Curtis is a #2, then where do we find a #1?

 

[DaBruinz]

If Curtis is a #2, then where do we find a #1?

Why do the Pats NEED a "true #1" receiver? The Pats don't need a T.O. type receiver. They need receivers who run good routes and catch the ball and can block down field on running plays. This team thrived on the mystery of who the ball is going to on any particular play. It needs to keep doing that.

With a corp of Jackson, Caldwell, Gaffney, and Gabriel for the future, they can go far and keep teams off balance. None of them will put up great individual numbers, but the Patriots could end up with 4-5 receivers (including TEs) with over 700 yards and 4 tds. To me, that is MUCH more effective than 1 receiver with 1500 yards and 10 tds with 3-4 receivers of 200-300 yards and 1-2 tds.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Don't forget that it's a league requirement now. All #1 wr's must act
like total a**holes or they lose their union card. I'll pass. We hear a lot
about Indy's wr's. But look at some other teams with true 1's and two's.

St.L - Holt/Bruce/Curtis
Cincy - Ocho Cinco/TJ/Henry
Arizona - Fitz/Boldin
Seattle - Branch/Jackson
Carolina - Smith/Keyshawn
Oakland - Moss/Porter
Washing - Moss/Randle-EL
Detroit - 3 #1's on wr's

We should strive to be more like those teams. I'm happy with BB shopping for our groceries. You can call the Pats cheap for not signing Branch. But,
he's the one who broke his contract not the team. I'm sure they thought
he would honor his contract and play this year.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I can't see the Pats bringing Gabriel or Gaffney back next season. I also see a long and intense off season for Jackson. I'm not convinced he knows the playbook yet.
If Troy retires we bring in Bam.

That leaves two holes. Curtis and Bennett? Highly unlikely but not impossible. A better scenario might be signing one of them and drafting a WR.

 

[DaBruinz]

I can't see the Pats bringing Gabriel or Gaffney back next season. I also see a long and intense off season for Jackson. I'm not convinced he knows the playbook yet.
If Troy retires we bring in Bam.

That leaves two holes. Curtis and Bennett? Highly unlikely but not impossible. A better scenario might be signing one of them and drafting a WR.

Ochmed -
You do realize that both Gaffney and Gabriel are signed through the 2007 season, yes? Why would the Pats cut them when they have them on the cheap and they are both able to play.

Also, I don't see Bam making this team. Regardless of whether Troy retires.