Nah, I made plenty of sense. You just didn't like it, but that's not my problem.
Here, I'll even lay it out one piece at a time:
- FB - Develin's gone (mgteich's hypo), Johnson's a development project coming off of injury
- WR - Edelman will be a year older and coming off of at least 2 surgeries
- WR - Sanu demonstrated nothing except an unwillingness to block
- WR - Harry demonstrated little that would indicate long term success
- WR - Meyers was still trying to figure out the playbook even at season's end
- WR - Dorsett was obviously tossed into the doghouse following the "I'm done" incident
- TE - Watson is gone, off to the land of retired football players
- TE - LaCosse showed no ability to be a TE1, and very little ability to be a TE2
- TE - Izzo showed no ability to be an NFL level TE
- C - Andrews is gone (mgteich's hypo), Karras is a FA, and is not a long term starting center caliber player
- LG - Thuney's gone (mgteich's hypo), Ferentz is a FA who showed pretty much nothing, and the rest of the possibilities have shown nothing
- OT - Newhouse, apparently the best of the acquisitions, still wasn't good enough to serve as a swing tackle, so one is needed
- LT - Wynn showed questionable ability to play the position. I've suggested the possibility that the Patriots might move him to LG and find another starting LT, if Thuney is allowed to walk
- RT/RG - Cannon and Mason both had down years, and one has to wonder about the "why" of it. For Cannon, the question has to be whether or not his injuries have sapped his game.
Even RB is a bit of a question mark, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt for purposes of the discussion, because White's still there.
I agree with the list, except:
1) I think they pay Thuney and he stays
2) Meyers and Harry are good young players put in a complex system. Their job was made more difficult by Brady who was hair-trigger with the tantrums. They'll be better in 2020.
3) Sanu will be back and will benefit from a full off-season with the Pats. He is not a #1 or even #2 WR,
4) Wynn is an excellent lineman when healthy. That doesn't make T less urgent in the draft or FA
5) I think Edelman is done as a workhorse. His cap hit is an issue, so his role will change and diminish.
Two big questions are:
Whither Andrews and Develin? It's unclear that they are gone, and it would great if one or both are able to return from their condition/injury, respectively. I agree with you, though, that it's probable both are finished.
Can Harry become a #1 outside WR?
If they can add a true TE and a dependable 75-catch receiver to Edelman, Meyers, Harry and Sanu, they can have a good receiving corps for whoever is under center.
The greatest concerns are OL, TE, and QB. The draft is important this year and must yield a couple of starters.
LB is a question mark if Van Noye leaves. They may play the same card they played with Hightower - ask him to determine the market, and work something out. Van Noye knows he does not want to go to a non-competitor.