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My Ridiculously Early Start on a 2026 Offseason Plan

Move Wilson to center and keep the rest intact seems like the same failed strategy. I hope the Pats are more creative and build a truly dominant OL. Rome was not built in a day, but the Pats should keep exploring options to greatly improve the OL.

Cut Onwenu and sign Linderbaum. Now the Pats have an athletic All-Pro leader in the middle of the OL. Learn from the Bears who got Thuney last year. Move Campbell to RG where he can possibly be an All-Pro. Draft Freeling at LT, or anyone - Trapilo in R2 last year was great for the Bears. Move Wilson to RG. Campbell - Linderbaum - Wilson might be great. Very athletic and can get a push in the running game. Draft a RT in waiting behind Moses.

We need a lot more strength and athleticism on the OL. Need to move on from strong guys that are immobile like Onwenu and Moses.
I just disagree with that. They aren’t going to turnaround an entire OL for the second straight year.

Wilson and Bradbury were just bad, so it’s not keeping everything the same, it’s fixing the inside that was a problem, since I think Campbell can still be good.
I still don’t know what they think of Wilson but he is not a guard. I’m all for Linderbaum and Ideally you go Campbell Edwards Linderbaum but I dont think we can get him.
Cutting Onwenu at this point is only going to make another hole, I don’t see it happening.
 
Move Wilson to center and keep the rest intact seems like the same failed strategy. I hope the Pats are more creative and build a truly dominant OL. Rome was not built in a day, but the Pats should keep exploring options to greatly improve the OL.

Cut Onwenu and sign Linderbaum. Now the Pats have an athletic All-Pro leader in the middle of the OL. Learn from the Bears who got Thuney last year. Move Campbell to RG where he can possibly be an All-Pro. Draft Freeling at LT, or anyone - Trapilo in R2 last year was great for the Bears. Move Wilson to RG. Campbell - Linderbaum - Wilson might be great. Very athletic and can get a push in the running game. Draft a RT in waiting behind Moses.

We need a lot more strength and athleticism on the OL. Need to move on from strong guys that are immobile like Onwenu and Moses.
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker's man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
 
Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker's man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Same plan as last year. OL in R1 and R3. Same approach. Stay the course. Don't fool yourself into thinking things are all right and just need another year of experience. Don't fall in love with the status quo. Don't get scared of change. Everyone cheered change to the OL last year and said it was a multi-year problem. Now chicken littles are pulling back and saying we need to hold the fort after the fort is not even complete.

Championship teams identify the problems and fix the problems. Championship teams don't play pat-a-cake.
 
Same plan as last year. OL in R1 and R3. Same approach. Stay the course. Don't fool yourself into thinking things are all right and just need another year of experience. Don't fall in love with the status quo. Don't get scared of change. Everyone cheered change to the OL last year and said it was a multi-year problem. Now chicken littles are pulling back and saying we need to hold the fort after the fort is not even complete.

Championship teams identify the problems and fix the problems. Championship teams don't play pat-a-cake.
Obama-If-By-Sea.
 
Majority of the overhaul probably needs to be on offense. That said, I had a couple of names for the defense I thought I might toss out there who are projected to reach free agency.

1) Alec Anzalone. 31, but he excels at pass coverage and is worn the green dot for Detroit. I think he would be a super fit. Makes up for Spillane’s shortcomings in coverage and offers someone to take over running the defense if Spillane needs to miss time again. And to be clear, I think Spillane is great.

2) Kwitty Paye from the Colts at edge. Coming off a down year but has been productive at edge and isn’t too old.

Both these guys should be affordable, particularly Anzalone.
 
Majority of the overhaul probably needs to be on offense. That said, I had a couple of names for the defense I thought I might toss out there who are projected to reach free agency.

1) Alec Anzalone. 31, but he excels at pass coverage and is worn the green dot for Detroit. I think he would be a super fit. Makes up for Spillane’s shortcomings in coverage and offers someone to take over running the defense if Spillane needs to miss time again. And to be clear, I think Spillane is great.

2) Kwitty Paye from the Colts at edge. Coming off a down year but has been productive at edge and isn’t too old.

Both these guys should be affordable, particularly Anzalone.
Always interesting to see options. Anzalone at 31 might not fit the strategy of signing young players for the long-term though.
 
My plan is to:
1 - Sign a LG in FA. Edwards should be the main target but Mcgovern is an option. Bitonio as a stopgap.
Vera-Tucker could also be a good option to improve OL competition depending on the contract.
I wanted Jenkins last year, maybe they look at him this year. There are options.
2 - Move Wilson to center
3 -Keep the rest of the line. Campbell-Edwards-Wilson-Onwenu-Moses should improve.

David Edwards is a good guard, but I don't think he is athletic enough for what the Pats are looking for. RAS of 4.75: 5.28 40, 1.79 10-split, 25.5 VJ, 4.77 SS.

Athleticism isn't everything, but it doesn't seem like the current regime wants quicker, more agile linemen.

Tyler Linderbaum, Connor McGovern, and Alijah Vera-Tucker (if healthy) have that kind of athleticism. Joel Bitonio did, not sure if he still does.

4 - Sign an EDGE in FA. If the cost is not too high get Crosby.
5 - Sign a TE in FA and get one in the draft. Dulcich is my main target.
6 - IF they keep their 1st round i would like it to be invested in a tackle but i could see it traded for AJ Brown or Crosby.
7 - Bring in more competition for the line trhough the draft, especially for IOL. Gulbin, Jalen Farmer, Logan Taylor.
8 - Draft Kyle Louis at all costs.

The cost for Crosby will prevent other moves from happening.

Not sure if the OLs you mention fit the profile. I plan to re-assess OL prospects after the Combine.

Why "Kyle Louis at all costs"? Love Louis, have him on my short list, but also have half a dozen other guys. No one on defense is "at all costs" for me in this draft.
 
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It’s not ideal in that he would be older, with another older player in the same position. But guys you sign only for money, not picks let you draft for youth elsewhere.

Defense globally took a step back without Spillane. Another experienced middle linebacker who could run the defense would be an asset particularly one who’s good at pass coverage but not a liability in the run
 
At the risk of being mercilessly flamed, Tyler Linderbaum would be amazing, but . . .

He’s the the top of everyone’s Christmas list. Most teams with cap space are listed as potentially in the market for him. And I think the Ravens will probably not let him reach free agency. So I think realistically the odds of him being the Patriot’s center next year are about 10%
 
At the risk of being mercilessly flamed, Tyler Linderbaum would be amazing, but . . .

He’s the the top of everyone’s Christmas list. Most teams with cap space are listed as potentially in the market for him. And I think the Ravens will probably not let him reach free agency. So I think realistically the odds of him being the Patriot’s center next year are about 10%
I agree completely.

The same applies to Maxx Crosby dreams. There's going to be a lot of teams in the mix, most with picks higher than 31 to offer to the Raiders. We would need to outbid all of them.
 
Move Wilson to center and keep the rest intact seems like the same failed strategy. I hope the Pats are more creative and build a truly dominant OL. Rome was not built in a day, but the Pats should keep exploring options to greatly improve the OL.

Cut Onwenu and sign Linderbaum. Now the Pats have an athletic All-Pro leader in the middle of the OL. Learn from the Bears who got Thuney last year. Move Campbell to RG where he can possibly be an All-Pro. Draft Freeling at LT, or anyone - Trapilo in R2 last year was great for the Bears. Move Wilson to RG. Campbell - Linderbaum - Wilson might be great. Very athletic and can get a push in the running game. Draft a RT in waiting behind Moses.

We need a lot more strength and athleticism on the OL. Need to move on from strong guys that are immobile like Onwenu and Moses.

I don’t think a complete reset like that would be the best for this team with how many young pieces they have on the line. As bad as Campbell looked during the Super Bowl I think the team is going to give him another year at least to refine his technique and get stronger. And to cut ownwenu may be a bit tough because he was pretty solid for the team, I’d much rather extend him to lower his cap hit a bit and keep a bit of chemistry together going into next year.
 
Same plan as last year. OL in R1 and R3. Same approach. Stay the course. Don't fool yourself into thinking things are all right and just need another year of experience. Don't fall in love with the status quo. Don't get scared of change. Everyone cheered change to the OL last year and said it was a multi-year problem. Now chicken littles are pulling back and saying we need to hold the fort after the fort is not even complete.

Championship teams identify the problems and fix the problems. Championship teams don't play pat-a-cake.

I don’t see Onwenu as being the problem on the OL. His salary gets stuck in folks craw a little bit, but he’s been very solid. Nor is Linderbaum coming here anything resembling a sure thing. I think a more realistic plan might be:

1) Get Cambell the medical attention and time he needs for his knee. He looked good-excellent before being hurt. And there is enough to fix on the OL without scheming to get a franchise LT.

2) LG needs an upgrade. Offseason priority #1. If possible draft, rnd 1-2. If not free agency.

3) I’m happy to have what I don’t know explained to me, but Wilson looked lost in addition to being overpowered at LG. Overpowered I can see how moving him to C might help, but C as I understand it involves pass blocking assignment. How does a guy that seemed to miss when he was supposed to pick up blocks at LG, assign blocking at Center? I really mean this as a question. Happy to hear how I don’t understand. Linderbaum would be great, but that’s not even a thought of a plan until the Ravens fail to resign him.

4) Leave Onwenu where he is. Unless we run up against the cap we need him more than we need the money. After next year, story may be different.

5) Moses to start with a plan to draft or acquire another RT, rnds 1-3 in draft. I would pass on Brayden who will hit FA from the Colts.
 
I’d much rather extend him to lower his cap hit a bit and keep a bit of chemistry together going into next year.
What chemistry? We saw the O performance against 4 good defenses and the results literally set records for the most pressures and fumbles. Chemistry for the most pressures ever?
 
I don’t see Onwenu as being the problem on the OL. His salary gets stuck in folks craw a little bit, but he’s been very solid. Nor is Linderbaum coming here anything resembling a sure thing. I think a more realistic plan might be:

1) Get Cambell the medical attention and time he needs for his knee. He looked good-excellent before being hurt. And there is enough to fix on the OL without scheming to get a franchise LT.

2) LG needs an upgrade. Offseason priority #1. If possible draft, rnd 1-2. If not free agency.

3) I’m happy to have what I don’t know explained to me, but Wilson looked lost in addition to being overpowered at LG. Overpowered I can see how moving him to C might help, but C as I understand it involves pass blocking assignment. How does a guy that seemed to miss when he was supposed to pick up blocks at LG, assign blocking at Center? I really mean this as a question. Happy to hear how I don’t understand. Linderbaum would be great, but that’s not even a thought of a plan until the Ravens fail to resign him.

4) Leave Onwenu where he is. Unless we run up against the cap we need him more than we need the money. After next year, story may be different.

5) Moses to start with a plan to draft or acquire another RT, rnds 1-3 in draft. I would pass on Brayden who will hit FA from the Colts.
Agreed, i have serious doubts Wilson will be more than great depth for the IOL. But the team seems to have seen something in him to have him as a starter in a superbowl game. So i'll wait and see what happens in next camp. But i would bring competition at C no doubt.
 
Unfortunately we are still in search of a OT so its Freeling or Max Iheanachor or one of the Utes at 31

Sign Jaelon Phillips/Oweh at EDGE.

I would seriously consider trading Gonzo for a 1st and next years 1st. Ive got my eyes on Colin Simmons in 2027.

Draft another OL with that 2026 pick.

2nd round select Louis or Rodriguez at LB.

3rd round select a weapon for Drake.
 
Unfortunately we are still in search of a OT so its Freeling or Max Iheanachor or one of the Utes at 31

Sign Jaelon Phillips/Oweh at EDGE.

I would seriously consider trading Gonzo for a 1st and next years 1st. Ive got my eyes on Colin Simmons in 2027.

Draft another OL with that 2026 pick.

2nd round select Louis or Rodriguez at LB.

3rd round select a weapon for Drake.
You better hope we're trading Gonzo to a team that's going to suck. I suspect Simmons will be the first pass rusher drafted next year (with the usual it's far too early caveat).
 
You and productivity again. Sheesh.
 
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