Phase One Of the Off-Season Is Over

[mgteich]

As we finish the 20th day of free agency, we seem to have finished the first phase of the off-season. The team has re-signed some, restructured some, has signed some free agents and have lost players form last year.

PHASE TWO
As the team prepares for the draft in the next five weeks or so, I expect that there may be a few minor signings and, perhaps, one mid-level signing. For example, we clearly need backups at DE, LB and RB. Of course, this will also happen after the draft.

AS WE ENTER THE DRAFT
We will have a team that is ready to play. We will able to look for upgrades and developmental players, and not be locked into any particular position. That being said, the draft provides a fine match for our need at TE.

Maybe we'll find a 2014 starter; perhaps not. I don't think that this will define the success of the 2014 draft, nor should it.

 

[supafly]

AS WE ENTER THE DRAFT
We will have a team that is ready to play. We will able to look for upgrades and developmental players, and not be locked into any particular position. That being said, the draft provides a fine match for our need at TE.

Maybe we'll find a 2014 starter; perhaps not. I don't think that this will define the success of the 2014 draft, nor should it.

I think there's an excellent chance that someone will be taken who will be a fairly big contributor in 2014.

Whether or not you technically view them as a "starter" is likely debatable, but we should at least take a TE that will see action in 2 TE sets on 40%+ of the reps, depending on how often we're using the alignment.

The positions of DL, LB, and S are also positions that may see rookies contribute right off the bat in some fashion for one reason or another.

Just about every season we see a rookie contribute fairly nicely.

2013--WR/DTs, Logan Ryan, Jamie Collins

2012--Chandler Jones, Hightower

2011--Ridley, Solder

2010--Gronkowski, Hernandez

 

[mgteich]

I agree that there is an excellent chance that someone will be a fairly big contributor in 2014.

However, this is not the same as having contributions at a particular position. I think that we should expect contributions from a first rounder and in situations when we double dip.

2013 was a major exception due to so many injuries, and a lot of luck, and a lot of good coaching. I would note that even Solder was a backup. Ridley and Hightower didn't have great rookie years.

NEEDS
We come into the draft with one major 2014 NEED, at tight end. So, I agree that we should expect contributions there. Even at tight end, some might argue that we are fine with Gronkowksi and Hooman (as our blocking back), with Williams being displaced by a rookie as a developmental tight end.

I think there's an excellent chance that someone will be taken who will be a fairly big contributor in 2014.

Whether or not you technically view them as a "starter" is likely debatable, but we should at least take a TE that will see action in 2 TE sets on 40%+ of the reps, depending on how often we're using the alignment.

The positions of DL, LB, and S are also positions that may see rookies contribute right off the bat in some fashion for one reason or another.

Just about every season we see a rookie contribute fairly nicely.

2013--WR/DTs, Logan Ryan, Jamie Collins

2012--Chandler Jones, Hightower

2011--Ridley, Solder

2010--Gronkowski, Hernandez