So Which Pieces on Offense/Defense Are a Part of the Future?

[Sully]

Replace the entire Dline and linebacking core. Draft the next McCourty and get Tom a stud WR or TE. We have no offensive fire power.

 

[Joker]

Replace the entire Dline and linebacking core. Draft the next McCourty and get Tom a stud WR or TE. We have no offensive fire power.

 

[Joey007]

Maybe we need a new light house too while we’re at it.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Chung is still good. He is an elite box strong safety. But this 3 safety crap scheme makes both DMcCourty and Chung not look good. They need to scrap the 3 safety thing, did they not learn anything from the Superbowl...

 

[BradyFTW!]

Replace the entire Dline and linebacking core. Draft the next McCourty and get Tom a stud WR or TE. We have no offensive fire power.

Flowers is a legitimate building block and Van Noy is a serviceable player. But yeah, pretty much everyone else in the front 7 is part of the problem and won't be part of the solution.

 

[Love The Drake]

Any shot at demarcus lawrence?

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Looking back to 2009, here were some of the players that were let go/left/not re-signed: Junior Seau, Benjamin Watson, Jarvis Green, Adalius Thomas, and Shawn Springs.

It actually wasn't the huge house cleaning that I thought it was, but who we added through the draft was more important than who we cut. So instead of my initial idea of blowing it up completely, I'll go with key players who should be cut, assuming that we can win with those who are left plus free agents, and a solid draft.

Offense: Hogan, Dorsett (since he's not being used much), Brown
Defense: Clayborn, Shelton, J. McCourty, E. Roberts, Brown

Restructure: Gronk, D. McCourty, Hightower

I'm on the fence about guys like Chung and Patterson, who contribute enough to be valuable. I'd only move on if there was an obvious option as a replacement out there.

Then again, I'm no GM, and I'm mostly talking out of my ass. That's just what my untrained eyes see.

It was more 2008-2010, with 2009 being the standout year of realizing the Patriots of the 00s had completed their lifecycle. That 2007 team was completely dismantled within a couple of years, which would be normal for teams except there were so many multi-ring contributors gone. Many of these guys were near their prime around 2007 and then had nothing left just two years later. Harrison, Bruschi, Vrabel, Seau, Warren, Seymour, Colvin, Thomas, all with incredibly quick declines. It was mainly the defense that time around, but the offense failed to reload as well.

This team resembles that 2009 team in many ways, with inconsistency, lack of discipline, and spotty talent. Many players will likely follow the same path as the 10s lifecycle comes full circle. Looking at ages and other signs of decline: McCourty, Chung, Hightower, Gronkowski, Edelman, Amendola (already crossed off). A lot of key players will be leaving. Patriots need to really nail some drafts if TB12 is going to get his hands on one more, barring an unlikely postseason involving lot of luck.

 

[Boomer B]

The failures of the last 3 drafts are haunting us right now.

On O

LT is the key on the line. If Brown doesn’t want to break the bank resign him. Otherwise we are in decent shape.

Unfortunately our WRs and TEs have slipped. I think Gronk is done. Edelman isn’t what he was. Gordon is decent but not a number 1. It was telling that the Pats were heavily rumoured to be looking for a WR at the trade deadline. We need a playmaker.

RB we should be ok at for the next few years.

We are riding Brady for at least another year as there’s no other option the roster.

On D

Where to start? I guess the D line as we have only 1 above avg player in Flowers. Unless he wants top tier DE money we need to resign him. Clayborn should be gone. Shelton gone. We need to completely revamp the line via the draft and free agency.

I still think we need a young fast LB. I’d hope for Hightower to restructure as he’s still a good player (but not great).

Our secondary is good but our safeties are getting old. McCourty at $13m doesn’t work. Restructure or an unfortunate cut.

A lot of work for Bill. He needs to smoke the next few drafts if there is any hope of continuing the teams success. Many of our best players who were key to the success of the last 8 years are coming to the end of the line.

 

[supafly]

Any shot at demarcus lawrence?

Jerruh isn’t afraid to use the tag or throw around major paydays, especially when it involves his “war daddy” DEs.

I don’t see any scenario where Dallas doesn’t lock him up, particularly after seeing their defense look formidable in most of the games, this year.

 

[supafly]

The failures of the last 3 drafts are haunting us right now.

That’s an understatement, and that has been a major concern for some of us over the past year or so. That is pretty much the sole reason why the future isn’t looking as bright.

On another note, we still have Brady and even if you add some better talent in 1-2 areas on each side of the ball (seems reasonable enough), you’re probably looking at 12-4. After all, this is a pretty weak team as it stands, and there’s still something of a chance this year with some glaring weaknesses. I don’t think that going 11-5 and failing in the postseason necessarily equates to a “the end is here” scenario. I think we could still see another shot or two if Brady sticks around. They’ll need to do a better job at masking some weakness with him, but his cerebral game is still going to be one of the best in football, even with diminished skills.

 

[Snooky97]

Gilly and Jackson look to be our corners for the next few years. Bentley and HT will be LBs. I could even see HT on the edge more personally.

Get one or two LB with speed. Look at addressing safety for Chung as well. Maybe Obi can take over that.

Offensively we need to get some speed, as no idea what’s happened with Dorsett but he seems to be forgotten man.

Get a slot guy, a TE, an outside WR.

We could be in a lot worse of a position. It’s a minor rebuild on the O and a slightly larger rebuild on the front 7 with a minor safety replacement.

There will be extensions and restructures, which will help.

D-Mac and D-Allen there cap hits next season are $20m so there’s no way they will be here for those cap hits.

The draft is deep this year on the D-Line which will be very good for us.

 

[Snooky97]

I’d also like us to go and get Landon Collins. He could be the STAR role we need.

 

[Kontradiction]

As far as trades I highly doubt SF parts with kittle. Put me in on the Adam shaheen for a late round pick club. Injured this year but still pretty young, I think his best days are ahead of him. And with burton there he may be expendable.

Dax Raymond of Utah State...

 

[patsbrasilpatriotas]

Quarterbacks

• 12 Tom Brady
• 2 Brian Hoyer
• 10

Running backs

• 34 Rex Burkhead
• 46 James Develin FB
• 26 Sony Michel
• 28 James White

Wide receivers

• 13 Phillip Dorsett
• 11 Julian Edelman PR
• 10 Josh Gordon
• 15
• 84 Cordarrelle Patterson KR

Tight ends

• 85 Ryan Izzo
• 87
• 47

Offensive linemen

• 60 David Andrews C
• 76 Isaiah Wynn T
• 61 Marcus Cannon T
• 66 James Ferentz C
• 75 Ted Karras G
• 69 Shaq Mason G
• 62 Joe Thuney G
• 68 LaAdrian Waddle T

Defensive linemen

• 90 Malcom Brown DT
• 70 Adam Butler DT
• 94
• 54 Dont'a Hightower OLB/DE
• 98 Trey Flowers DE
• 93 Lawrence Guy DT
• 95
• 55 John Simon DE
• 91 Deatrich Wise Jr.DE

Linebackers

• 51 Ja'Whaun Bentley
• 
  
• 52 Elandon Roberts
• 53 Kyle Van Noy

Defensive backs

• 23 Patrick Chung SS
• 35
• 29 Duke Dawson CB
• 24 Stephon Gilmore CB
• 21 Duron Harmon SS
• 27 J. C. Jackson CB
• 31 Jonathan Jones CB
• 32 Devin McCourty FS
• 30 Jason McCourty CB
• 22 Obi Melifonwu FS

Special teams

• 6 Ryan Allen P
• 49 Joe Cardona LS
• 3 Stephen Gostkowski K
• 59 Albert McClellan
  
• 50 Ramon Humber
  
• 18 Matthew Slater
  
• 36 Brandon King

 

[maineman209]

The RBs are young.

Michel turns 24 in FEB.
White turns 27 in FEB
Burkhead turns 29 in JULY.

Patterson turns 28 in MARCH.
Hill turns 27 next OCTOBER.

 

[Gronk]

Quarterbacks

• 12 Tom Brady
• 2 Brian Hoyer
• 10

Running backs

• 34 Rex Burkhead
• 46 James Develin FB
• 26 Sony Michel
• 28 James White

Wide receivers

• 13 Phillip Dorsett
• 11 Julian Edelman PR
• 10 Josh Gordon
• 15
• 84 Cordarrelle Patterson KR

Tight ends

• 85 Ryan Izzo
• 87
• 47

Offensive linemen

• 60 David Andrews C
• 76 Isaiah Wynn T
• 61 Marcus Cannon T
• 66 James Ferentz C
• 75 Ted Karras G
• 69 Shaq Mason G
• 62 Joe Thuney G
• 68 LaAdrian Waddle T

Defensive linemen

• 90 Malcom Brown DT
• 70 Adam Butler DT
• 94
• 54 Dont'a Hightower OLB/DE
• 98 Trey Flowers DE
• 93 Lawrence Guy DT
• 95
• 55 John Simon DE
• 91 Deatrich Wise Jr.DE

Linebackers

• 51 Ja'Whaun Bentley
• 
  
• 52 Elandon Roberts
• 53 Kyle Van Noy

Defensive backs

• 23 Patrick Chung SS
• 35
• 29 Duke Dawson CB
• 24 Stephon Gilmore CB
• 21 Duron Harmon SS
• 27 J. C. Jackson CB
• 31 Jonathan Jones CB
• 32 Devin McCourty FS
• 30 Jason McCourty CB
• 22 Obi Melifonwu FS

Special teams

• 6 Ryan Allen P
• 49 Joe Cardona LS
• 3 Stephen Gostkowski K
• 59 Albert McClellan
  
• 50 Ramon Humber
  
• 18 Matthew Slater
  
• 36 Brandon King

This strikes me as too much roster retention for a normal, more dominant season, much less a so-far disappointing one where some obvious holes and shortcomings have been exposed.

 

[maineman209]

White looking for $$

White is under contract thru the end of the 2020 season, with cap hits of $4M in 2019 and $4.5M in 2020.

White will turn 29 right around the time of the SB in Feb 2021 (Feb, 3rd).

 

[Kontradiction]

Quarterbacks

• 12 Tom Brady
• 2 Brian Hoyer
• 10

Running backs

• 34 Rex Burkhead
• 46 James Develin FB
• 26 Sony Michel
• 28 James White

Wide receivers

• 13 Phillip Dorsett
• 11 Julian Edelman PR
• 10 Josh Gordon
• 15
• 84 Cordarrelle Patterson KR

Tight ends

• 85 Ryan Izzo
• 87
• 47

Offensive linemen

• 60 David Andrews C
• 76 Isaiah Wynn T
• 61 Marcus Cannon T
• 66 James Ferentz C
• 75 Ted Karras G
• 69 Shaq Mason G
• 62 Joe Thuney G
• 68 LaAdrian Waddle T

Defensive linemen

• 90 Malcom Brown DT
• 70 Adam Butler DT
• 94
• 54 Dont'a Hightower OLB/DE
• 98 Trey Flowers DE
• 93 Lawrence Guy DT
• 95
• 55 John Simon DE
• 91 Deatrich Wise Jr.DE

Linebackers

• 51 Ja'Whaun Bentley
• 
  
• 52 Elandon Roberts
• 53 Kyle Van Noy

Defensive backs

• 23 Patrick Chung SS
• 35
• 29 Duke Dawson CB
• 24 Stephon Gilmore CB
• 21 Duron Harmon SS
• 27 J. C. Jackson CB
• 31 Jonathan Jones CB
• 32 Devin McCourty FS
• 30 Jason McCourty CB
• 22 Obi Melifonwu FS

Special teams

• 6 Ryan Allen P
• 49 Joe Cardona LS
• 3 Stephen Gostkowski K
• 59 Albert McClellan
  
• 50 Ramon Humber
  
• 18 Matthew Slater
  
• 36 Brandon King

I really don’t see Brown as a part of the team after this year. They’ve actually used him as a 3-tech significantly this year and he’s still getting driven 5 yards into the defensive backfield against the run. Can’t have that. He’s gone and so is Shelton. I think they’ll keep Guy and use him in more of a rotational role, which is where he’s best used.

 

[maineman209]

On offense, the cut list obviously includes Allen.

Allen was out last week and played three snaps yesterday (5%). Prior to his knee injury, he was averaging 30 snaps/46%.

In both the past two games, the Pats' RBs weren't able to run outside effectively (to either side), and he Pats' screen game was pretty much stifled. Trent Brown has also been more penalty-prone the past two games.

Allen agreed to reduce his salary to $3M for this season - about average for a very good blocking TE.
Allen turns 29 in February.
Allen's 2019 salary currently stands at $6.4M. He has no guaranteed money. The Pats have some leverage there.

OTOH, the only other TEs on the Pats roster are
- Gronk ... questionable to return in 2019
- Hollister ... still not a very good blocker, in spite of improvements this season
- Izzo ... decent all-around in pre-season, but on IR (ankle injury)

It would seem foolish to me to arbitrarily cut Allen without attempting to negotiate another salary reduction, and especially without a guaranteed replacement on the roster.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I expect a bloodletting. Overall the team isn't good enough and some that are good enough aren't worth the $$$ anymore.

The RB and interior OL should be solid. Some others like Guy, Bentley, Gilmore, JC Jackson and some of the younger developmental guys like Dawson will be back. And Brady.

Everyone else is on the table IMO. Even both kickers are FA.

The Patriots are in the disasterous position of needing a young QB while also needing a better team around the current one. The only redeeming quality is Belichick knows the league better than anyone else so perhaps he can get a few sleepers. And we have the extra draft picks.