Eight Is Not Enough At Safety ???

[Ring 6]

as the 9th LB?
Landry, Jennings, Chaisson, Swinson
Spillane, Tavai, Ellis, Gibbens
======
I have the DL as (could be Roy or Pharms)
Williams, Barmore, Tonga, Farmer, White, Pharms, Roy
====

Landry Jennings Chiasson white and swinson are edge.

Spillane Gibbens Mapu Tavai Ellis are LB

Totally different positions.

 

[BobDigital]

Peppers outplayed his contract last year. He is getting older but is a good value. I don't see him being cut this year (cause of contract stuff) or even next year unless there is a massive drop off. It is clearly a trade or nothing situation.

As long as we get good value I'm all for trading a good vet. The window isn't this year. It's next year. But you don't trade him just to trade him. Unless they get at least a 4th I wouldn't do it.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Peppers outplayed his contract last year. He is getting older but is a good value. I don't see him being cut this year (cause of contract stuff) or even next year unless there is a massive drop off. It is clearly a trade or nothing situation.

As long as we get good value I'm all for trading a good vet. The window isn't this year. It's next year. But you don't trade him just to trade him. Unless they get at least a 4th I wouldn't do it.

There’s a lot the new guys could learn watching him in action. I’m all for keeping him another year or two for sure.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Peppers outplayed his contract last year. He is getting older but is a good value.

And he plays angry, which fits the desired mould.

 

[mgteich]

Epps not healthy enough to start the season??
Hawkins a JAG that is vulnerable
I am pumping the brakes on Woodson being a roster lock

SO, you are suggesting that Woodson might be so bad that he might be the first 4th rounder that doesn't make the patriots roster this century?

Peppers outplayed his contract last year. He is getting older but is a good value. I don't see him being cut this year (cause of contract stuff) or even next year unless there is a massive drop off. It is clearly a trade or nothing situation.

As long as we get good value I'm all for trading a good vet. The window isn't this year. It's next year. But you don't trade him just to trade him. Unless they get at least a 4th I wouldn't do it.

Peppers would be cut if the team wants to move on. It really is that simple.

There is o contract stuff that prevents us from cutting Peppers. Cutting him would cost about $1M additional against the cap.

Tavai is in a similar position. Both are worth their compensation, but the team may judge that the team is better without them going forward.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

WOODSON
I expect that Woodson will be our backup nickel back, certainly needed since how often Jones is out injured. He also can back up on the outside.

Woodson was drafted to be the starting FS.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I still think they need a FS.

Woodson was drafted to be the starting FS.

 

[Nunchucks]

Woodson is supposedly a real free safety with size and speed who can also cover as a nickel. We will see, but that should free up Duggar and Peppers to be more aggressive. This is a new defense and there are too many unknowns.

 

[upstater1]

Woodson was drafted to be the starting FS.

I know that. But you need a starting FS for this year. And then you also have to actually HIT on the Woodson pick.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I know that. But you need a starting FS for this year. And then you also have to actually HIT on the Woodson pick.

I think they will start Woodson this year. We will see. They forced the pick too early because they are convinced he can do it and they wanted him badly.

 

[borisman]

We felt the need to add 2 UDFA safeties. Isn't EIGHT enough? I understand the speculation that we might part ways with Peppers. Still, SEVEN is enough.

Peppers, Dugger
Epps, Hawkins, Woodson, Mapu
Schooler, Pettus
Minkins, Polk
============
WOODSON
I expect that Woodson will be our backup nickel back, certainly needed since how often Jones is out injured. He also can back up on the outside.

But perhaps you all like Bolden, Dial and/or Battle?

CORNERS: Gonzo, Davis, Jones, Austin, WOODSON
on the bubble: Bolden, Dial, Battle
=================
HOW MANY DO WE NEED? Ten seems right, although we often carry an additional DB as a special teamer.
5 CB
4 S
1 ST

If we carry 2 QB's, 3 RB's and 2 TE's on the active roster then there's an extra spot on the DB's, OL and WR depth chart.
The last 3 positions are the most highly discussed as far as roster spots go so that is one way to solve the issue. The other is trades and/or outright release/waive.
Peppers, Hawkins and Mapu are the mostly likely players on the chopping block. Mapu can also split time between LB and DB. We'll see how it all plays itself out. This will be a fun training camp to follow.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think they will start Woodson this year. We will see. They forced the pick too early because they are convinced he can do it and they wanted him badly.

Yep. There are mixed assessments if he was a reach but no question they think he has a shot of being their starting FS.

If he isn't starter Week 1, I suspect they'll play Epps as the pure FS (Dugger and Peppers are SSs IMO)

 

[mgteich]

I think they will start Woodson this year. We will see. They forced the pick too early because they are convinced he can do it and they wanted him badly.

Woodson was 106 on Jeremiah's top 150. We drafted him at 90. That doesn't seem to be a forced reach given that we needed backups at nickel, outside CB and of course at FS.

He may be our starting free safety, or not. If Woodson is to be restricted to free safety, then we need a corner of two.

I'm not at all happy with Bolden and Dial as our #5 and #6. I am not really happy with Austin as a backup nickel.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Woodson was 106 on Jeremiah's top 150. We drafted him at 90. That doesn't seem to be a forced reach given that we needed backups at nickel, outside CB and of course at FS.

He may be our starting free safety, or not. If Woodson is to be restricted to free safety, then we need a corner of two.

I'm not at all happy with Bolden and Dial as our #5 and #6. I am not really happy with Austin as a backup nickel.

I agree. Woodson was lower in Jeremiah's Top 150 than in other evaluations so he was a bit of a reach. I like Austin and M Jones, but Bolden and Dial are not ideal. We do not have much depth at CB.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

Pepper, duggar, schooler, woodson and mapu are the locks
So it will be 5 with schooler as st ace

Mapu isn’t a lock

 

[VJCPatriot]

I'm thinking double digit DB's are needed. Injuries are always an issue with the secondary and you often have to run 5 or more on passing downs.

 

[manxman2601]

There’s a lot the new guys could learn watching him in action. I’m all for keeping him another year or two for sure.

And he plays angry, which fits the desired mould.

Can Peppers play the ncb role? He did when he first came here didn't he? That would give Vrabel the bigger nickel he's supposedly wanted and allow Woodson to start at safety. If the point of drafting Woodson was his excellent communication skills, he can't really utilise those from the bench.

 

[manxman2601]

Woodson was drafted to be the starting FS.

This. See my post above as to why I agree.

 

[farn]

I would welcome investment in safety next offseason. In the meantime, I hope a few of the 2025 contenders step up this season and show well. But I’m less hopeful than some posters on here in that regard.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think they will start Woodson this year. We will see. They forced the pick too early because they are convinced he can do it and they wanted him badly.

I agree. Woodson is a much better player than many here realize. He graded out high on both run and pass defense, and runs in the 4.4’s, which is hardly slow for a Safety. But their biggest reason for drafting him may have been his communication skills, which are outstanding, and enables him to be the one running their defensive backfield, which they have lacked at free safety since McCourty retired. He’s going to be a long term starter for them.