If BB pays big for a top FA, who do you prefer?

[Leemo]

so its probably unlikely that BB splashes most of his cash on one player but if he does, who is everyones preferred option?

 

[patfanken]

None of these players are coming here, but since this is a fantasy scenario, you might as well wish big. Mario Williams

 

[Whorod]

Mike Wallace. A clear need on offense and it weakens our primary competition in the AFC. Mario Williams concerns me from a health standpoint, and I think he will take significantly more money than Wallace (although he won't cost a #1).

 

[Sciz]

I'd love to see what Belichick could do with that big, athletic pass rusher that he always talks about.

 

[Mosi Moose]

I'd love to see what Belichick could do with that big, athletic pass rusher that he always talks about.

Agreed. Of the listed, Ibthink Mario helps our defense more than the WRs help the offense.

That said, I'd take any of the above.

 

[NEboiTB]

Tom Brady to Mike Wallace would be record shattering. However, if Mario could stay healthy, he would finally solve our long neglected need for a dominant pass rusher.

 

[BradyBranch39]

Tom Brady to Mike Wallace would be record shattering. However, if Mario could stay healthy, he would finally solve our long neglected need for a dominant pass rusher.

This. As for the other two options, I wouldn't take Jackson or Finnegan at 4y/30M, and they're going to get a lot more than that.

 

[MP-Logick]

Williams first. Wallace second. Brandon Carr third.

 

[mgteich]

I would prefer paying big for Welker.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

These options suck..Cortland Finnigan?

 

[supafly]

These options suck..Cortland Finnigan?

Surely there are better CB options out there than Cortland Finnegan.

It goes to show you that when several people get extended or tagged, just how an above average CB (at best) can suddenly be considered 'the best' all of a sudden.

I really don't remember too many having Finnegan as the top rated CB a month or so ago.

I wouldn't want this guy for more than 6 million per, and even then I would think that would be a lot. Supposedly he's demanding 10 million per, so I assume that someone will give him something close to 8.5 or 9 per.

There's no way that Finnegan is coming here, that's for sure.

 

[Banjo]

realistically I would love Mike Wallace. I hope real effort is made towards bringing him here.

Super Mario is just a dream...

 

[supafly]

realistically I would love Mike Wallace. I hope real effort is made towards bringing him here.

Super Mario is just a dream...

Personally, I would think it's the other way around.

Williams has proven that he can be versatile in many areas, and that would add a whole other aspect to moving parts around in the defense.

Wallace is just hoping that his 'upside' and speed will continue to improve; especially in such a complex offense such as ours.

As of right now, M.Wallace hasn't proven a damn thing, other than the fact that he is fast, and can play in Pittsburgh's backyard football scheme. The read, react, and re-read offense here is 100% opposite of Pittsburgh's, where Roethlisberger runs around for his life until a guy can get open downfield. It's all about how efficiently and thorough you can run the route tree, it's about making pre and post snap adjustments, it's about timing, it's about precision, and mostly..it's about having a good rapport with Mr.Tom Brady.

Those are all unproven, especially when you are going to not only give up a very precious 1st rd pick (in the new era of rookie caps), AND set the market on a mega contract for a WR who was question marks.

Does that really sound like Bill Belichick and the NEP to you?

There's always the chance that privately, BB covets Wallace like no other, and that he'll pull the trigger on such an uncharacteristic gamble, but I would seriously doubt it.

The good news is that we won't have to debate it much longer, since FA is only a week away

 

[NewFeep]

A healthy "super" Mario would transform the defense and give BB lots of flexibility. I would love to see him in Pats blue!

 

[supafly]

A healthy "super" Mario would transform the defense and give BB lots of flexibility. I would love to see him in Pats blue!

A defensive guru like Belichick will likely salivate over a guy like Peppers and M.Williams, as you said--it offers more flexibility and we can present many different looks.

Or in the case of A.Thomas, he can make him play ILB and strongside OLB

Of course, in the beginning A.Thomas was being used in more versatile packages, and he was producing pretty nicely too. He had a decent 2007, and could have been the MVP (at least on defense in theory) of the Super Bowl, had we not witnessed the B.S. of the once in a lifetime helmet catch.

Even in the 2008 season, he was the leading sacker and doing just fine until he broke his arm. It wasn't until the 2009 season where they started truly butting heads, and BB changed his role up where Thomas hated playing here.

 

[TriplecHamp]

I'd love to see what Belichick could do with that big, athletic pass rusher that he always talks about.

this, vjax in second because we keep the pick and wallace 3rd. I don't want to see courtland here at all.

 

[supafly]

this, vjax in second because we keep the pick and wallace 3rd. I don't want to see courtland here at all.

Everyone will always have their own respected opinions of course, but I actually question whether or not Cortland Finnegan is even an upgrade whatsoever from the guys we already have in this secondary currently.

I think he's extremely overrated myself. He's certainly not worth the kind of money that he's asking, that's for damn sure.

Some idiot team will give him something in the 8-9 million per range, as long as it's not this one I couldn't care less.

 

[UK_Pat37]

I'd be really disappointed if Belichick pays Wallace and Welker together. You'd be looking at close to $20 million tied up in the WR position and that would be a hell of a lot of cap room eaten up on the position.

I want one or the other.

 

[furry]

Purely based on potential impact Williams, but salary and salary cap issues both point to in being a no go IMO

 

[UK_Pat37]

Purely based on potential impact Williams, but salary and salary cap issues both point to in being a no go IMO

I wouldn't say it's a massive no go because you can back load deals and the Pats could certainly do that. They have a potential $6.7 million carry over and rumours have it that the league may even be adding to the cap. However I've been on the record a few times as saying I think you address one of two positions in free agency the other in the draft.

If we wanted Williams I felt we would of had to part ways with Welker and attack WR int he draft...which I was far more comfortable doing. I don't think the DE talent in the draft is that fantastic. I'ts pretty raw and overrated. Also there are some guys like Meachem out there with untapped talent whom we could have invested in.

Williams would be a great signing but a lot has to happen to make it happen.

Worth noting that a Light retirement could save us some money. Without looking it up it's in the range of $3-5 million. Someone know the exact figure? That, a restructuring of Ochocinco saving us $1.5 million and Wright leaving also giving us $2.5 million, we're not in a bad position cap wise. We could make two splashes and , with the cap expected to rise a great deal over the next 2- years we could succeed in a back loaded deal quite easily. It would have to be back loaded though. the Patriots haven't re-signed any of their key free agents yet.