Bump.
Suffice it to say that the offseason didn't quite go as I'd outlined in the OP.
I actually think the 2015 Pats are as good or better than the 2014 team at QB, WR, TE, OL, DL, LB and S. RB is slightly weaker, though quite deep. CB is much weaker (though also deep).
Right now I see 2 big question marks:
1. LG. A glaring hole. The Pats drafted 2 RGs in the 4th round. I personally think that Shaq Mason can be our long term starting LG (he has great athleticism, and starting 12 games at LG for Georgia Tech as a sophomore), but he'll probably need a year to develop.
2. #1 CB. I'm fine with Malcolm Butler, Bradley Fletcher, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Bobby McClain and Darryl Roberts for the most part. I don't think Alfonzo Dennard is a big loss, especially given the rumors of work ethic and attitude problems. There aren't any Darrelle Revis' out there. But I'd like a proven solid veteran starter.
With that in mind, here are 2 moves that I'd love to see, though I doubt either will happen:
1. Sign UDFA OL La'el Collins. A longshot given that 32 other teams will be interested if Collins is cleared, and the Pats will likely be cautious to take on any one with any hint of involvement in a murder case. But Collins is a top 20 talent with tackle/guard versatility. He could step in at LG this year while Shaq Mason develops, then move to tackle in 2016. Sebastian Vollmer will be 32 and in a contract year in 2016, and Nate Solder's long term contract situation has not yet been addressed. An OL of Solder, Vollmer, Collins, Stork, Tre Jackson, Cannon, Fleming, Mason and Wendell would be one of the top 3 groups in the NFL, along with Dallas and Cleveland.
2. Acquire CB Sean Smith from Kansas City. Smith is in a contract year this year, and turns 28 in July. He's 6'3" and has the length to match up with bigger WRs. His cap hit is $7.75M this year, with about $5.5M that the Pats would pick up. The Chiefs drafted Marcus Peters, and have Phillip Gains and Marcus Cooper in house, so the odds are that they are moving on from Smith after this year. SI.com's Doug Farrar has suggest that Smith could be on the outs in KC:
The selection of Washington cornerback
Marcus Peterswith the 18th pick should perk Smith's ears up. Peters has had his share of off-field issues, but Andy Reid has never been shy about starting alleged malcontents if they can play, and Peters has real talent. Smith signed a three-year, $16.5 million deal in 2013, and the last year of that deal carries a $7.75 million cap hit, which could be reduced to $2.25 million in dead money were he released. Smith didn't play badly last season, logging over 1,000 snaps and logging an 85.3 opposing passer rating, but it's safe to say the Chiefs probably want more than one pick (and fewer than three touchdowns allowed) from their high-priced veteran. Smith could also receive a two-game suspension for a DUI charge he pled down in April.
http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/05/03/20...shane-ray-muhammad-wilkerson-leonard-williams
BB has reasonably good relations with the Reid-Dorsey regime. I think he should kick the tires on Smith, who could at the very least be a younger, faster and more versatile version of Brandon Browner. The Pats should get multiple comp picks in 2016, so they can afford to trade something like a 4th the way they did for Talib in 2012.
Again, I doubt either of these would happen. But if they did, I think the Pats would have a really strong team:
QB: Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: LeGarrette Blount, Tyler Gaffney, James White, Travaris Cadet, Jonas Gray, Deon Lewis
FB/H-Back: James Develin. I wouldn't be surprised to see Shaq Mason used as a blocking FB, too.
WR: Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Brandon Gibson, Josh Boyce, Brian Tyms
TE: Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, Tim Wright, Michael Hoomanawanui, AJ Derby
OL: Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, [La'el Collins,] Bryan Stork, Tre Jackson, Marcus Cannon, Cameron Fleming, Shaq Mason, Ryan Wendell
DT: Malcom Brown, Alan Branch, Sealver Siliga, Chris Jones, Joe Vellano
DT/DE hybrid: Dominique Easley, Zach Moore
EDGE: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jamie Collins, Dont'a Hightower, Jabaal Sheard, Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers, Michael Buchanan, Darius Fleming, Xzavier ****son, Jonathan Freeny
Off-LOS LB: Jerod Mayo, Matthew Wells, Chris White, James Morris, Deontae Skinner, Cameron Gordon
S: Devin McCourty, Pat Chung, Jordan Richards, Duron Harmon, Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner
CB: [Sean Smith,] Malcolm Butler, Bradley Fletcher, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Bobby McClain, Darryl Roberts, Chimdi Chekwa
ST: Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen, Joe Cardona (hopefully), Matt Slater
Plus some additional camp bodies. I'd be pretty happy with that group going into training camp.