A single thread about personnel priorities

[BTTA]

There are a handful of threads that start out about a single position and then devolve into conversations about why other positions are more important. This is an attempt at focusing our conversations on this topic so we can exchange views on how to prioritize. The team clearly only has so much money and so many draft picks to use.

Here are the primary themes I've seen in the conversation to date:

• The OL was bad at the end of the season and needs to be strengthened.
  • some say this is about the interior (C/G) because the youngsters on the team now aren't sure to improve from this year's performance
  • some say this is about tackle because Solder/Volmer are injury and retirement risks and the backups are only adequate as backups, or should be cut.
  • some say this is about both interior and tackle.
• We still need a deep threat WR, both for the value it provides in itself, and to open up the short passing game and running game.
• WR in general is still a problem, because only Edelman and Martin are sure to be back and Edelman is a bit fragile.
  
• We have a GOAT candidate TE but he's also injured a lot, and there's a need for a #2 to back him up and play alongside him.
  
• We still need a stud, durable #1 RB; having Lewis back will be great but he needs to be used as a specialist, to keep him off of the injured list and keep defenses guessing
• ILB needs attention with the retirement/reduction in time of Mayo, and the position only being an injury to Hightower away from being a weakness.
• The personnel strengths of the team seem to be:
  • QB (like most teams, the Pats are an injury to #1 away from a serious problem, of course)
  • Small/quick RB (Lewis/White/Bolden are a good set)
  • CB (with any success at all from a healthy crop of youngsters)
  • Safety (particularly if last year's additions improve)
  • DE (with the youngsters that didn't play this year coming along to fill in behind Nink as he ages)
    
  • Special teams (kickers, snapping/holding, and coverage)
• I'm assuming that the Big Four 2017 defensive free agents get taken care of, which is of course a huge assumption.

What's missing here, or needs modification?

What are the options for improving each? There are four improvement avenues:

1. free agents
   • 2016 NFL unrestricted free agents by position - NFL.com
2. trades
3. the draft (I believe they have 2/3/3/4/6/7/7 but that depends on comp picks)
   
4. better coaching and improvement of young players
   • The OL has significant potential here

So what are your priorities and how do you allocate the team resources?

 

[mgteich]

I'm OK with a general thread on priorities. However, I think it very useful to discuss position independently.

ANALYSIS

1) I don't think that we are looking to make any big splashes in free agency. So, in many senses, these decisions are somewhat independent.

2) We can use upgrades at almost any position. That is the beauty of Belichick's allocation of resources.

3) I don't think that there are critical needs, presuming that we sign our low cost vets and our ERFAs. For example, we have a serious need at CB. However, this is not really there if we re-sign Brown and Coleman.

4) That being said, we NEED an OT, and a backup TE . We can always use a WR, RB and an OG.

ANALYSIS BY POSITION
OL
We NEED an OT. Both our OT's are injury prone. I guess that we could use a 4th or 5th young guard to compete. My choice would be Wendell. I expect that RFA Waddle will return. The open question is whether Cannon gets cut before the season starts or whether he is a candidate for late cuts in camp. I think that coach's valuation of Waddle is the key to this decision.

RECEIVERS
We need a backup TE or two. If Amendola comes back (very likely), the question is whether LaFell is worth $2M as backup. In any case, we always bring in free agents at WR. But make no mistake, we have a SB quality offense with Edelman, Amendola, Martin, and LaFell (and Lewis, Gronk and White).

RB/FB
Lewis and Develin are back. We need a thumper. Belichick won't pay much. Blount is likely to be the guy.

QB
nuff said

DL
We are all set unless we want to fire/trade Jones (a bad idea). We'll re-sign Hicks and/or Siliga if the price is right.

LB
Our #3 LB get few reps, unless there are injuries. Freeny is that player. That being said, we could use an ILB to replace Mayo if he doesn't come back.

CB
I think that we are fine if we re-sign Brown and Coleman. That being said, we could use always another.
corner.

S
We have our top four returning. We are fine.

ST
The 3 specialists return. We will have choices regarding the other STers. King is an ERFA and will certainly return. Ebner will likely get another spot, instead of Wilson, who will finally move on.