Team Needs going into next season

[WhiZa]

Re-sign Welker, Koppen, Connolly and Carter

Sign Brandon Lloyd

Add a WR who can fill Branch's role, or be another middle-deep threat

Add 2 DE/OLBs

Add S

Add CB

I like it. i think the WRs will be in a lot of flux next year with Branch, Ocho, and Underwood gone. Hopefully Welker is resigned.

Resign:
DE Mark Anderson/DE Andre Carter (might only be able to get one of these guys in which case I'd take the younger Anderson)
OL Dan Connolly
RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis
LB Gary Guyton
S James Ihedigbo
C Dan Koppen
WR/S Matthew Slater
WR Wes Welker
LB Tracy White

RFA:
QB Brian Hoyer
DL Kyle Love

Not to resign:
WR Deion Branch
DE Shaun Ellis
RB Kevin Faulk
DB Nate Jones
CB Antwaun Molden
LB Niko Koutouvides
S Bret Lockett
DL Gerard Warren

Draft needs:
WR (even if Lloyd is signed)
CB
S

I don't see OL a significant need at the moment.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Identity..

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re-sign Welker, Koppen, Connolly and Carter

Sign Brandon Lloyd

Add a WR who can fill Branch's role, or be another middle-deep threat

Add 2 DE/OLBs

Add S

Add CB

Add Anderson/BJGE to the re-sign list and I agree with this.

 

[FalconHeavy]

Add Anderson/BJGE to the re-sign list and I agree with this.

agree. BJGE had a nice thing going yesterday. We definitely need him.

 

[Deus Irae]

Add Anderson/BJGE to the re-sign list and I agree with this.

I'm fine with re-signing both those players, although I think Ridley may be the RB1 next season, once BB remembers that most running backs fumble on occasion and such a happening is not a reason to exile the running back to Siberia.

I'd only want Anderson as a passing down sub, and he'd have to accept that role.

 

[WhiZa]

agree. BJGE had a nice thing going yesterday. We definitely need him.

True. The fact he never fumbles the ball is so underrated and a stat that will never put someone in the probowl but provides great value to a team.

 

[BadMoFo]

anybody think Sterling Moore will get a legit shot at playing time next year?

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Put me down for:

1. Dominant front 7 pass rusher who has to be doubled at all times.
2. Big play receiver who has to be accounted for at all times.
3. Starting caliber corner that can actually shut down #1 wideouts.
4. Starting caliber safety (presuming McCourty stays at CB).
5. Real returners.

 

[Deus Irae]

anybody think Sterling Moore will get a legit shot at playing time next year?

I hope not

 

[oldskool138]

Pretty much the same thing as last year. DB's (and, man, I have a feeling BB's going to putting a lot of emphasis on this position in the draft...but then again, since the Pats have such a need in the area, he'll probably draft more O-linemen with his top picks...or maybe a couple of running backs). Pass rushers. Wide receivers. Someone who can return kicks and punts.

 

[Mike in 333]

Just looking at the receivers; the Ocho experiment needs to be over, I like him but as a contributor he fell short, Branch had some good plays but really isn't a major threat, Welker needs to be wrapped up for at least 3 or 4 years, nobody plays the slot as well as he does. Obviously the tight ends will be the focal point of the offense again. What we really need is a deep threat but under no circumstances should we draft a receiver, our WR Development Program has been disastrous. Wayne might fill that he's no kid anymore and we've seen good receivers who just don't fit into this offense.
If we can find the right guy though, it would add a dimension to our passing game that was a huge part of our success when Randy was here.

 

[JFK]

If BJGE is resigned then we should trade release Vereen or Ridley...Or even both. We shouldn't waste their talent.
BJGE never fumbles but I'll take Ridley over him. We need a dynamic running back. BJGE is pretty limited

 

[WhiZa]

anybody think Sterling Moore will get a legit shot at playing time next year?

I think the fact he was a rookie and made strides last year he will definitely have a place on the team.

 

[chrisfx811]

Do you guys think we retain Branch at a bargain price? Who's going to want to give home much $$, given his stats in Seattle when he was younger and healthier? What's the $# to offer him as a #3 or 4 WR, and is he not worth it in that role simply for his chemistry with Brady?

From my uneducated perspective, it seemed like last year's draft was loaded with opportunities to get defensive help, and we didn't. We need some speed on the d-line.
I'd love to have BJGE back.

 

[Marqui]

I hope not

I don't get it, why not?

 

[WhiZa]

Do you guys think we retain Branch at a bargain price? Who's going to want to give home much $$, given his stats in Seattle when he was younger and healthier? What's the $# to offer him as a #3 or 4 WR, and is he not worth it in that role simply for his chemistry with Brady?

From my uneducated perspective, it seemed like last year's draft was loaded with opportunities to get defensive help, and we didn't. We need some speed on the d-line.
I'd love to have BJGE back.

I was thinking we would resign him to a 1 year deal, but doubt he could beat any rookie or FA worth their salt out of camp.

 

[BadMoFo]

I think the fact he was a rookie and made strides last year he will definitely have a place on the team.

Think Molden is gone. He didn't really seem to fit in as part of the family back there. Hopefully Ras-I can get his injury problems settled.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don't get it, why not?

It would mean that Ras I/McCourty/any draftee or FA failed at the position next year

 

[Patriot Missile]

Despite the disappointing ending, I'm excited as all hell for next season. The Pats have a lot to look forward to and are in a position to improve themselves once again.

Looking at the defense the last 5 or 6 weeks its easy to see the improvement. Almost lights out during the playoffs. Add a couple of more players here and there could drastically change the landscape.

Biggest need for offense is a Wr who can stretch the field. Like many I'm all ears for drafting one in the 1st or 2nd but given the learning curve or washout rate I'd be more inclined to get a Brandon Llloyd type to fill in while the rookie gets up to speed.

Other than that we are pretty much set on offense from top to bottom. I could argue the need to draft a pure fullback for short yardage situations. I advocate resigning Connolly at center as I think he had a pretty darn good year. But wouldn't argue if the team also drafted Peter Konz from Wisconsin to upgrade the position for the future.

Back to the defense. Again, can't say enough how well they played towards the end of the season. Put money away for Spikes because he is quickly becoming the emotional leader on this defense. Big plays come with experience and he continues to play. Love the guy.

Kind of up in the air on Sterling Moore. So inexperienced and it showed at times but with so little experience you have to admit he makes plays. To be honest I think he outplayed McCourty at his own position this season. I definately want to bring him back for another go round to see if he continues to improve. I realize we have Dowling waiting in the wings but I would feel safer bringing in another CB who excels at man coverage.

Pass rush? Showed glimpses at the end of getting to the QB but we need to be able to apply pressure with the big boys. Find that guy in the draft BB. Better yet draft two of them to make sure. DE and LB combo could do wonders all around for the secondary.

 

[conway]

Whether we re-sign or sign someone sin't as simple as deciding whether we want to keep their talent. If Andre Carter wants $8M/yr, I'm sure he's gone. If Welker wants too much, I'm sure he's gone. If Lloyd wants to much, we never sign him.

Instead of saying who we'd sign, how about we approximate what we'd be willing to pay. I'd say Welker is worth 3 years at $24 million. I don't see another team paying him more than that. I'd say Lloyd is worth slightly less, say 3 years at $22 million. We sign them both, plus rookies, and we start running out of cap room fast. I say let Welker go. Sign Lloyd. Leave the slot to Hernandez and Edelman. Draft a #2 WR.

Let Koppen go. Sign Waters for $3-4million on a 1 or 2 year deal. He was invaluable and worth paying, despite our OL depth. Draft a center.

Let Hoyer go. Let BJGE go. It's great he doesn't fumble, but we need a little more from our #1 RB. Draft a RB late or sign someone cheap.

Sign more FA DLs off the scrap heap. Let Anderson and Carter walk unless they can be had for under $4M. They both had their moments but only Carter appeared dominant at times and the injury makes him questionable.

Re-sign Ninkovich for something around $2-3M. I'd like to see Fletcher converted to OLB, so we start him along with Nink, Mayo, and Spikes.

Draft a DB with one of the top 4 picks. Draft an OLB with a top 4 pick.

Re-sign Slater and Love for less than $1M each.

That uses up most our cap room and our top 4 draft picks.

Cut Stinko and I assume Wright retires. Let any FA not mentioned above walk. Any cap space remaining fills in the gaps. If I've woefully underestimated the available space, it'd certainly be nice to keep Welker or make a move for Ledarius Webb, which would have the added benefit of weakening the Ravens.