What’s Left To Do?

[Huckleberry1]

With the primary phase of free agency done, and the Draft and UDFA’s taken care of the only remaining question for the Patriots is what remains to be done, either through free agency or trade? And given the number of issues and holes they had to address this offseason you would expect there to be a number of areas left needing to be addressed, but I can really only come up with one, back up left tackle. But I’m interested in seeing what else people here feel needs to be addressed?

 

[maust]

Win the Super Bowl of course

 

[JayNM]

I'd love either another S or a N-CB. Even though Vrabel will bring his own style, i think the dime/nickel could have at least more rotation

On offense, i don't know what to tell you all. I still think the line is not great. Definitely improved, but 2 problems happening simultaneously there and we are back to suffering in the trenches

Other than that, yeah. We got a lot better, IF Maye improves

 

[Huckleberry1]

I'd love either another S or a N-CB. Even though Vrabel will bring his own style, i think the dime/nickel could have at least more rotation

On offense, i don't know what to tell you all. I still think the line is not great. Definitely improved, but 2 problems happening simultaneously there and we are back to suffering in the trenches

Other than that, yeah. We got a lot better, IF Maye improves

I agree that OL is still a primary need, and the only solution I could come up with is to trade Cole Strange for the best back up left tackle they can get. They aren’t going to get a starting left tackle for him, but some veteran left tackle has to have been unseated by the left tackles drafted high over the last two drafts

 

[signbabybrady]

I think somehow most of our needs have been addressed. If those players are good enough, ready, or have enough left in the tank could be giving some false hope but in some ways we need to see how things play out.

Using OL as an example bringing in Moses, Bradbury, and Campbell addresses our immediate needs. But that means Campbell is going to be fast paced, it has relying on older players too, and relying on some guys that probably shouldn't have been starting last year to still step up so they can be key depth guys.

Not that I wouldn't take another free agent linemen but I think we have the bodies and should be much improved but it wouldn't take much to find ourselves in trouble again.

I think you can make a similar point at most positions. So I'm not necessarily clamoring for more moves but I'd welcome anything.

 

[Dec54]

With the primary phase of free agency done, and the Draft and UDFA’s taken care of the only remaining question for the Patriots is what remains to be done, either through free agency or trade? And given the number of issues and holes they had to address this offseason you would expect there to be a number of areas left needing to be addressed, but I can really only come up with one, back up left tackle. But I’m interested in seeing what else people here feel needs to be addressed?

Same DRAFT, FA and UDFA endeavors next season as this one......So just as good

 

[Pape]

The next step comes in three phases... its a long drawn out process...

- Camp & Player Evaluations
- Cutting non competitive players
- Building depth via veteran cutdowns

We have a base to start from. There will be veterans who will be cut after camp that may be mid players, but they could provide depth to key areas of the team - namely the offensive line... but fill ins could be found for just about every other position... If we get three or four serviceable players during this period we will be that much better...

 

[Sect140]

There is still mandatory minicamp however it will be training camp that they will be able to truly evaluate the depth of all the positions and then fill the depth of cuts from other teams.

Speaking of training camp has Vrabel scheduled training camp practice with any other teams?

 

[patman52]

The next step comes in three phases... its a long drawn out process...

- Camp & Player Evaluations
- Cutting non competitive players
- Building depth via veteran cutdowns

We have a base to start from. There will be veterans who will be cut after camp that may be mid players, but they could provide depth to key areas of the team - namely the offensive line... but fill ins could be found for just about every other position... If we get three or four serviceable players during this period we will be that much better...

Yeah, camp is going to be entertaining/great this year. The competition at WR and H back/3rd down back is going to be intense. Left guard is going to be interesting also.

As far as another vet body at LT, Although I hope Wallace shows enough this spring that he gets the job.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think somehow most of our needs have been addressed. If those players are good enough, ready, or have enough left in the tank could be giving some false hope but in some ways we need to see how things play out.

Using OL as an example bringing in Moses, Bradbury, and Campbell addresses our immediate needs. But that means Campbell is going to be fast paced, it has relying on older players too, and relying on some guys that probably shouldn't have been starting last year to still step up so they can be key depth guys.

Not that I wouldn't take another free agent linemen but I think we have the bodies and should be much improved but it wouldn't take much to find ourselves in trouble again.

I think you can make a similar point at most positions. So I'm not necessarily clamoring for more moves but I'd welcome anything.

Overall I think the roster is adequate. It would have been impossible to build a true contender out of the pile of dogshit they had when Vrabel took over, so they added the core longer term pieces where they could in free agency and the draft, and added band aids where they needed to. So for now, at least imo, the only things I can think of that could really be done is to replace Vederian Lowe, and I already said how I would approach that issue, and to see who gets released, or becomes available for trade over the next 3 months. They have already started to address replacing some of the band aids, e.g..drafting Wilson as Bradbury’s replacement, and Woodson to become their starting free safety over Epps and Hawkins, but the real replacements, for guys like Moses and Strange will have to come in the next free agency and the draft. And if they can pull it off and turn what they were given into a true contender for Lombardi’s in 2 offseasons it will be an amazing accomplishment.

 

[The Gr8est]

Overall I think the roster is adequate. It would have been impossible to build a true contender out of the pile of dogshit they had when Vrabel took over, so they added the core longer term pieces where they could in free agency and the draft, and added band aids where they needed to. So for now, at least imo, the only things I can think of that could really be done is to replace Vederian Lowe, and I already said how I would approach that issue, and to see who gets released, or becomes available for trade over the next 3 months. They have already started to address replacing some of the band aids, e.g..drafting Wilson as Bradbury’s replacement, and Woodson to become their starting free safety over Epps and Hawkins, but the real replacements, for guys like Moses and Strange will have to come in the next free agency and the draft. And if they can pull it off and turn what they were given into a true contender for Lombardi’s in 2 offseasons it will be an amazing accomplishment.

At this point it may be best to let things play out and see what we really have.

We covered our bases far better than we should have expected to under normal conditions and next offseason won’t be better than this current one. Hard to see how it could.

It will take time for things to gel and there will likely be unexpected surprises, like Terrell Williams’ health concerns.

The player acquisition phase is over unless something falls into our lap (Jadeveon Clowney?) and now the implementation and training phase starts.

 

[Real fan 02]

With the primary phase of free agency done, and the Draft and UDFA’s taken care of the only remaining question for the Patriots is what remains to be done, either through free agency or trade? And given the number of issues and holes they had to address this offseason you would expect there to be a number of areas left needing to be addressed, but I can really only come up with one, back up left tackle. But I’m interested in seeing what else people here feel needs to be addressed?

Vrabel said on Friday there still are FAs and other UDFA that the team will be giving looks to all the way up into week 1.. vederian lowe probably makes the roster by default as we don't have a backpack LT as you mentioned. So I'd be ok with him serving as a backup wich is his potential in the NFL. We have adequate depth everywhere else.. LB has good depth, DL, CB, S, WR, TE, RB all have good depth with FA and the draft. We have a much more talented roster than we did week 18 last season.

 

[Real fan 02]

I agree that OL is still a primary need, and the only solution I could come up with is to trade Cole Strange for the best back up left tackle they can get. They aren’t going to get a starting left tackle for him, but some veteran left tackle has to have been unseated by the left tackles drafted high over the last two drafts

I'm actually ok with the OL.. this OL looks night and day different/better, from last season.

Here's the projected starters.
LT Campbell
LG Strange
C Bradbury
RG Owenu
RT Moses

 

[Real fan 02]

At this point it may be best to let things play out and see what we really have.

We covered our bases far better than we should have expected to under normal conditions and next offseason won’t be better than this current one. Hard to see how it could.

It will take time for things to gel and there will likely be unexpected surprises, like Terrell Williams’ health concerns.

The player acquisition phase is over unless something falls into our lap (Jadeveon Clowney?) and now the implementation and training phase starts.

The depth has been vastly upgraded.. we have enough now to withstand injuries. Vrabel's made a concerted effort to make sure depth is up to parr..

 

[Huckleberry1]

I'm actually ok with the OL.. this OL looks night and day different/better, from last season.

Here's the projected starters.
LT Campbell
LG Strange
C Bradbury
RG Owenu
RT Moses

The problem is that there is no back up left tackle if Campbell goes down. Verdarian Lowe sucks, period, they need to replace him with an adequate left tackle to back up Campbell.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Vrabel said on Friday there still are FAs and other UDFA that the team will be giving looks to all the way up into week 1.. vederian lowe probably makes the roster by default as we don't have a backpack LT as you mentioned. So I'd be ok with him serving as a backup wich is his potential in the NFL. We have adequate depth everywhere else.. LB has good depth, DL, CB, S, WR, TE, RB all have good depth with FA and the draft. We have a much more talented roster than we did week 18 last season.

I’m not ok with Lowe on the roster. He’s awful.

 

[Real fan 02]

The problem is that there is no back up left tackle if Campbell goes down. Verdarian Lowe sucks, period, they need to replace him with an adequate left tackle to back up Campbell.

He does. But Lowes potential is back up level. He makes the roster becuase thier is not other back up LT.. unless we sign one from the crap pile left in FA.. or someone emerges from the UDFA class.

 

[Real fan 02]

I’m not ok with Lowe on the roster. He’s awful.

By default he makes it. I hate to admit it huck..

 

[Real fan 02]

I’m not ok with Lowe on the roster. He’s awful.

Here's who's available...

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/_/year/2025/position/lt

 

[BobDigital]

The only thing I think is really left to do it bring it an LG free agent. And there are options. But they want to see how Strange and the line as a whole looks first. Which i am fine with for now. No one else is going to be moving in free agency much for a while.

I don't want any trades to bring a guy here. This team is still in rebuilding mode and should continue that through the draft. Trading a pick for a player is something teams at the end of a rebuilding process should do. We are still at the beginning in many ways.

We have built a good roster for this year, but it is a short term fix. A lot of the solutions here are older vets on 1-2 year deals. They still need younger long term solutions at a lot of spots. We still need to draft a RT, G, #1 WR, #1 TE #1 EDGE Nickle CB and #1 LB #2 LB that are not here just for a few years... but guys who will be here for a decade.

You don't solve everything in the draft... but you want to find your CORE there. Our long term core is still a work in progress.

Here is my idea of what should be in a long term core. It should be guys who still have a lot of their prime left.

QB: Maye
OL Campbell ??? Wilson Onwenu ??? - I think Onwenu can still be a core guy for a few years... but he is going to be 28 this year. And i know i am calling Campbell/Wilson core early. But I'm going to be an optimist here.
RB: Henderson - If you have a core RB at all you only have 1 and build around him. Also i like FBs... but they aren't core pieces.
WR: ???? Williams - Maybe Williams can be a #1? IDK. For now i think he is a #2.
TE: ???? - Hunter too old to be core. And a TE doesn't need to be a core... but it can be.

Offense typically has 9-10 core guys... the 10/11th-16th you rotate based on package. Typically I think Core should consider of a QB. 3-4 legit weapons and the OL. So it can be a little smaller but your core weapons then need to be a slightly higher quality.

DT - Barmore Milton
DE - ??? - This is kind of tricky. Could Swinson be core? We will see... But Landry is too old and quite good enough. Also while you'd like your front 4 to all be core... You really only TRULY need 3 guys and the 4th-7th you figure out.
LB - ??? ??? - Spillane could have been core... but he will be 30 this year...
CB - Gonzo Davis ??? - Davis is borderline and CBs can often play well into their early 30s if they are good. Still need 1 more DB.
S - ???? - Davis was already close to borderline. Dugger being a few months older... I can't let it slide... Also he doesn't have the history of something like Devin who has been good for a while consistently at that level to let it slide IMO. Maybe Woodson can be core? That be a big get. And just to be clear... I could also go 2 core Safety spots and they cover for the non-core slot guy.

Ideally your core D is about 8-9 guys. D has more moving pieces so the core tends to be a little smaller. And usually it is more loaded at either the front end or back end.. but needs representation everywhere. I did 2 LBs are core and 1 DE.. But it could easily be the other way around. You at least need 1 core LB though and if that is the case your core front has to be really good.

So considering we have so many core spots open i am not looking to trade away picks. We still have about 8 core spots to fill and as we as some of these guys will leave 'core' status as they age.