2014 Patriots Need TEs Not More Wide Receivers

[mgteich]

Re: Bigger need WR vs TE?

You see safety a a pretty big hole if we cut our starting safety, without believing that one of draftees from the last two years can replace him. I suppose so.

Why would Belichick cut Gregory without having a replacement first?

You have a reasonable enough prediction, we just have a bit of a difference of opinions on the priority--nothing more.

I still think that safety is a pretty big hole, particularly if you see Gregory as a possible cut as I do. That isn't leaving us much to work with in terms of an unknown rookie and nothing behind him.

I think it could be DL, TE, S, OL somewhere during the first 3 picks. However that shakes out is fine with me, as long as they are all addressed.

 

[ashley]

Re: Bigger need WR vs TE?

I think a couple of different factors may come into play, Ashley.

First off, it may depend on what Belichick feels about Harmon's development last season, along with T.Wilson (or possibly even A.Wilson as well) and whether or not they can get through the season with any kind of reasonable depth. I tend to agree with you and put safety as a need that is pretty high.

I also think that some of the positions (such as interior OL) aren't good options for 1st round selections, possibly even 2nd round either. That means that we could reasonably cross that position off the list until we get down to the 3rd/4th rounds in my opinion.

That would mean that Belichick may be weighing the BPA's at certain positions such as TE, DL, and even S/CB for the first couple of selections in my opinion. I think reasonable debates can be made for BOTH the position of DL, as well as safety too. That may come down to who is left and Bill Belichick's personal feelings.

Good post Supa, I think we are in agreement with what the team needs are. I just hope come draft day that the BPA for Bill in the first round isn't a WR, OL, RB or LB and if we resign Talib, I would even add CB to that list.

I would be happy with our first pick to be either: DL, or SS and I guess if all the top defensive players are gone, I could even live with TE being our first pick.

 

[supafly]

Re: Bigger need WR vs TE?

You see safety a a pretty big hole if we cut our starting safety, without believing that one of draftees from the last two years can replace him. I suppose so.

Why would Belichick cut Gregory without having a replacement first?

In continuing our conversation from a few days ago regarding Gregory, my hope would be to try and keep him as a backup safety for about a million less in a rotational role. Whether or not that happens (I think it may be doubtful, unless he returns after cut), is anyone's guess.

To answer your question, if Belichick feels that Harmon developed enough to consider him ready to start opposite of McCourty, he may feel more comfortable about letting Gregory go, and addressing it via the draft and/or lower level free agency again.

Since we don't know the answers to these questions, all we can do is speculate, but one way or another I think safety should be targeted in the draft in the top 3-4 rounds.

 

[supafly]

Re: Bigger need WR vs TE?

Good post Supa, I think we are in agreement with what the team needs are. I just hope come draft day that the BPA for Bill in the first round isn't a WR, OL, RB or LB and if we resign Talib, I would even add CB to that list.

I would be happy with our first pick to be either: DL, or SS and I guess if all the top defensive players are gone, I could even live with TE being our first pick.

I agree with all you say.

I think the Talib situation could throw a pretty big wrench into our plans as fans though, should he leave. If that's the case, CB will be looking like an enormous hole that will need replacing as quickly as possible. I'm not as crazy with some of the CBs after the first 2 however, so I can't comment on specific players. They all have their pluses and negatives after the first 2 in my opinion, and I don't see any as the kind of "sure thing" that we'd need with a 1st round selection.

I'm with you on the TE position. I think there are about 4, maybe 5 top tiered TEs that I could see potentially tearing it up in N.England.

 

[supafly]

Re: Bigger need WR vs TE?

I think the Pats have to add a CB, it could be Talib, Grimes, Verner, DRC, Munnerlyn or Davis. CB is to risky to take in the 1st round especially with this weak of a corner class. I think are CB depth is pretty good, maybe draft a 5th CB late to compete with Justin Green.

The DL could use a interior pass rusher and a 3rd DE who can play on nickel packages and can alternate with Ninko and CJ. I firmly believe based on what I see Siliga can start and perform at a high level. Making Wilfork expandable. TK will probably be cut at his age, size coming off ACL doesn't look good. We could use a backup NT if Wilfork goes Vellano or Grissom could be the guy but I'm sure they can find a cheap alternative option.

At OL the only hole is RG, I'm not sure the Pats are comfortable with starting a 3rd Guard or Cannon. I would expect them to draft one into the first or second or add someone. I like Josh Kline as a backup but we should probably add another backup at G. Connolly and Cave should do at Guard.

At TE Gronk is the only body, I expect the Pats to draft a guy in the 3rd-4th round and an the 6th-7th round and add a cheap blocking TE.

At WR Edelman's spot has to be filled. I don't think Boyce or KT have proved worthy of it. I think they should draft guy in the first or 2nd round or add a guy.

This plan would look something like this
Add pass rushing DT (Alex Carrington)
Add 3rd DE ( Everson Griffen)
Add top tier CB (Talib, Grimes, DRC, Davis, Verner)
Add RB( Blount at right price)
Draft:
1. WR\G
2. WR\G
3rd. TE
4th. LB
6th. NT
7th. TE
This fills all needs and leaves good depth. I think Safety will stay the same

You have a reasonable enough plan for sure. The only real differences I see are your projections to once again draft WR in the top couple/few picks, only a year after we just did so.

Considering the fact that we've yet to draft a WR in the 1st round in the Belichick era + the fact that WR itself is the most difficult position aside from QB for a rookie to learn here, I'm not seeing much reason to select even more green, rookie WRs at the position period; let alone in the first round or two.

If we don't retain Edelman and choose to go with Amendola/Boyce in the slot, then they'll definitely have to spend in free agency at least 3-4-5m per year AAV to try and bring in another veteran presence with some kind of experience--at least in my opinion anyway. I think they'll bring Edelman back for another smaller deal, at less than the price than is being thrown around by many here. I see a deal offered similar to the one they were willing to give Welker last year, minus maybe 1-2m. Something in the range of 2/8 or 2/9 would work for me.