It Is Still WR, DL, OT and WR.

[mgteich]

The problem with both Edelman and Vollmer is their injury history, and the fact that there are other teams interested.

My reading between the lines:

1) I can't believe Vollmer won't be back. His market value has been established (around 4 years, $30M, $15M guaranteed) and the Pats have the short and long-term cap situation to handle it. The Pats haven't been tied to any other big money FAs and they always spend to the cap. Brady has a 5-year clock ticking and it makes little sense to have him constantly looking out of the corner of his eye for edge rushers. Nothing else makes sense (assuming his health checks out).

2) Edelperson is a little trickier. Still a spot on the WR depth chart but the return candidates are pretty much in place. I think he is back, primarily to ease the Welker withdrawl...but not overly confident in that assessment. Lloyd's return is a serious question mark. Regardless, there is a spot for a young WR that can be a playmaker quickly...not a development project.

3) Talib on a one-year deal is a clear indicator. If he does well, the Pats won't be able to afford him. If he bombs, the Pats won't want to pay for him. Either way, he goes buh-bye in 2014. This is the year to get a young CB with #1 potential to work their way up the depth chart.

4) The interior of the OL and DL could use some youth but the team seems ready to go with what they have.

5) Pats have young options at rush end and seem poised to add a vet at some point. I'm not seeing a big draft investment here (not this year with this DE class) but possibly a late slider (like TBC) that can spend the year inactive (like Bequette).

So I see the remaining work to be done:
1) Re-sign Vollmer
2) Re-sign Edelperson (he just seems to fit here) and let Lloyd walk
3) Draft a CB and WR with the 1st 2 picks in the draft
4) Look for a slider with the 3rd pick at OG or DT. Trade back for picks otherwise.
5) Pick up a rush end late (one 3rd rounder always slides unexpectedly)

So for your needs list, how about:
OT Vollmer
WR Edelperson
WR Terrence Williams
OG JC Tretter
DT Sylvester Williams
DE Lavar Edwards
CB Desmond Trufant

 

[supafly]

The problem with both Edelman and Vollmer is their injury history, and the fact that there are other teams interested.

I agree with your take on it, but I'm going to go one step further and say the typical cliche statement of "Belichick just doesn't seem to agree in terms of the value." Again--I know it's terribly cliche and very simplified, but I think that is honestly the main reasoning behind either one of them being brought back so far. As you said, there are other reasons also.

If either one of those players comes down a bit in their demands or Belichick decides to go up a bit, then we'll see them back on the team, but at this point it's all about the value that Belichick has set on them and the fact that they haven't agreed to that. There's always the chance that the Pats haven't even reached out to Edelman, although that wouldn't make much sense to me.

Personally, I think that the front office had already accepted the fact that they were moving on from Vollmer awhile ago--before free agency even started. The same may be said for Edelman, since they were heavily interested in adding Cribbs both in the legal tampering period and also the early days of free agency, along with the move of bringing in L.Washington for special teams/returns. That isn't even bringing into account the fact that Amendola also returns punts too, and that there hasn't been a hint of the team wanting him back, like there was for Talib/Arrington, etc.

 

[Nunchucks]

I'd put the order of need as WR, DE, CB with OG/OT as last.

Vollmer may be back, but on the cheap. Cannon will be the RT, with Svetik (sp) as the swing tackle. They probably draft a guard.

Obviously, the PAtriots need an outside WR and to rely on the draft to get one seems crazy, perhaps a trade or a veteran that is on the market or will be cut.

Patriots do have a decent number of pass rushers, but they definitely need one more that can get to the QB. Jones and Ninkovich are the starters with Cunningham coming in as a rotational guy. Then we have a bunch of ??? at the position. Would like to see somebody added.

CB - Patriots cannot count on Ras-I to come in and be able to play, that means getting one more CB, hopefully in FA, but it will probably be in the draft.

 

[captain stone]

It's still WR, DL, OT, WR, S, CB, not in that order.

They've not fixed anything, but at least they've weakened the offense!

About time someone mentioned CB. It's still only as good (or bad) as it was last season.
No upgrades in personnel so far; and Arrington's new deal, are you feckin kidding me?
Did anyone here seriously think that he was going to be offered what he was offered?
Neither did I.

 

[Brady2Moss]

It's still WR, DL, OT, WR, S, CB, not in that order.

They've not fixed anything, but at least they've weakened the offense!

But, but, we've won a lot of regular season games!

Offense is worse and defense is the same, the shell of Adrian Wilson won't be the difference. Maybe they can get jumps from the young guys they still have no pass rush.

 

[Brady2Moss]

About time someone mentioned CB. It's still only as good (or bad) as it was last season.
No upgrades in personnel so far; and Arrington's new deal, are you feckin kidding me?
Did anyone here seriously think that he was going to be offered what he was offered?
Neither did I.

There are people on here that will tell you that in our garbage secondary there isn't any starter roles left so no need for anything else besides jag special teamers.

Would have preferred a 3 man rotation of Talib, Denard, Lewis/Cox/Smith. Could've been had for 2 million more (that's if you get Smith otherwise you can have Lewis for 1 million more) than the trio of Talib, Denard, Arrington.
With that trio you have 3 guys that can play on the outside and Denard can slide out of the slot if someone gets injured. Our current trio equals burnt toast the second Talib or Denard gets hurt because Arrington is awful outside.

 

[patsfan-1982]

But, but, we've won a lot of regular season games!

Offense is worse and defense is the same, the shell of Adrian Wilson won't be the difference. Maybe they can get jumps from the young guys they still have no pass rush.

if they dont re-sign Vollmer and replace him with some JAG then yes i think the offense will be a lot worst but if Vollmer is back and someone plays RG at a high level they wont miss a beat as long as the TE's dont miss any time,


as for the defense its all on Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower and Tavon Wilson, to make big jumps in year two... yes the defense played better the last half of the season with Talib and Dennard at CB but they were still not good a nuff to beat a good team if the offense did not score 30, i would like to see them sign a vet pass rusher and draft at lest one DB high

 

[Nunchucks]

But, but, we've won a lot of regular season games!

Offense is worse and defense is the same, the shell of Adrian Wilson won't be the difference. Maybe they can get jumps from the young guys they still have no pass rush.

Defense is definitely not the same. Four guys that were rookies last year may end up being starters or in the case of Wilson see significant time. That is a major jump. That and Talib having an entire offseason with teh Patriots should help a lot.

I agree that they need to do more, but Hightower and Jones being in year two is going to be HUGE. Dennard in year 2 should see a jump and Wilson will see quite a few snaps and he should be much improved. Safety is a position where experience makes a gigantic difference, and having Adrain back there to help will help those guys out a lot.

 

[BTTA]

It Is Still WR, DL, OT and WR

I would suggest WR, DE, DT and WR, with a question mark at OT...

DT: Would really like to see Wilfork take fewer snaps, to keep him fresher in the 4th quarter. Would also like to see more push in the interior, and somebody take advantage of Wilfork's double teams. Have Love and Deaderick hit their ceiling? How much do you want to count on Armstead and/or Pryor?...

I've been worried about a Wilfork decline, due to age and wear and tear on a very large body, for two years now. At some point, soon, he's going to start dropping off in effectiveness. I'm sure the team has that on the radar, and I'd love to see him get the support mentioned above, this year.

 

[BTTA]

...Arrington's new deal, are you feckin kidding me? Did anyone here seriously think that he was going to be offered what he was offered? Neither did I.

I'm not at all surprised. Slot corner is like slot receiver, it is a position now and he's demonstrated he's very good at it. The team clearly things so, based on their evals, which is why he got the money.

 

[50-yard-line]

But, but, we've won a lot of regular season games!

Offense is worse and defense is the same, the shell of Adrian Wilson won't be the difference. Maybe they can get jumps from the young guys they still have no pass rush.

I think they're a lot better on defense right now than they were starting off last year, and I still expect them to bring in a pass rusher (Abraham, I hope).

Four guys who contributed as rookies are going into their second year. Aqib Talib for a whole year back there is a huge upgrade. And Adrian Wilson gives them a lot more flexibility and attitude and experience - rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated.

On offense, they need a wide receiver. Donald Jones is an upgrade over Branch, who was absolutely done last year. Amendola has potential, but, well, it's Welker we're talking about here. Lloyd, for all the grief he takes here, was a solid player and I hope he comes back (then he becomes a huge upgrade over Branch and they need to upgrade him with a true X).

Count me in the camp that thinks Welker's departure will force Brady to be more like the old Brady. I've been to most of the games over the last couple of years...when I go with one friend, I'm up so high I can hardly see the ball, so instead I focus on the wideouts. I can't tell you how many times I saw someone breaking free, or a back slipping out of the backfield wide open, only to watch Brady lasering in on Welker for a 5-yard gain.

That was even true with Ocho. The guy always seemed to be running open...granted, he was probably running the wrong route, but...

They'll be fine offensively. There are many wideouts sitting out there. Manny Sanders? Decker? They'll find someone, and it's not like they're trying to replace Fitz or Calvin.

 

[ralmat55]

.

Count me in the camp that thinks Welker's departure will force Brady to be more like the old Brady. I've been to most of the games over the last couple of years...when I go with one friend, I'm up so high I can hardly see the ball, so instead I focus on the wideouts. I can't tell you how many times I saw someone breaking free, or a back slipping out of the backfield wide open, only to watch Brady lasering in on Welker for a 5-yard gain.

That was even true with Ocho. The guy always seemed to be running open...granted, he was probably running the wrong route, but...

They'll be fine offensively. There are many wideouts sitting out there. Manny Sanders? Decker? They'll find someone, and it's not like they're trying to replace Fitz or Calvin.

Thank you for sharing your observation and perspective. I've not been able to attend a game in many years, but I've often wondered how Brady's Welker myopia looked from up in the cheap seats.

 

[DocHoliday]

Thank you for sharing your observation and perspective. I've not been able to attend a game in many years, but I've often wondered how Brady's Welker myopia looked from up in the cheap seats.

I don't share that feeling. Remember Brady will always take the safe throw versus the risky one. He's extremely interception adverse.

The few times someone has went free Brady had already began his throw because a first down opportunity has developed earlier.