Linebackers, who else besides Donta ?

[Thelonious]

A run stuffer who can't cover their grandmother?

Sorry, wrong guy (was thinking of what'shisname the littleish lb/s hybrid: had a sr moment. Besides, how do you know the Jets haven't signed his grandmother after plying her with cannolis?

 

[50-yard-line]

I don't want the fun to stop! Is there any more depth we can grab up cheap? can we sign Butler or get the Saints next 3 ones? How about Jimmy, can trade him? I need more!

I don't think BB was posturing when he said it would take a ransom to get Jimmy. I think he means it - only one thing could derail this team, and Jimmy is great insurance against that.

Next year, they tag and trade, like Washington might do this year.

Honestly, I wish they'd give him some reps this year when the other team has surrendered. Let him go out and play - he still might be the future here.

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Tyus Bowser via draft.

 

[jmt57]

Top free agent Inside Linebackers:

• Zach Brown, 26, Bills
• Kevin Minter, 26, Cardinals
  
• Gerald Hodges, 26, 49ers
• Sean Spence, 27, Titans
• Perry Riley, 29, Raiders

Top free agent Outside Linebackers:

• DeAndre Levy, 30, Lions
• Michael Morgan, 29, Seahawks
• Josh Bynes, 28, Lions
• Jelani Jenkins, 25, Dolphins

The Patriots have the cap space (even if they extend Butler) to add another linebacker. An upgrade/competition/depth to McClellin, Roberts, Van Noy and Freeny would be a very good idea.

Not that Nick Caserio, Dave Ziegler and BB need to read this post to make that consideration.

 

[UFGatorPat]

Is Jelani Jenkins decent? A bit undersized but gives us more speed and agility.

 

[long distance]

Top free agent Inside Linebackers:

• Zach Brown, 26, Bills
• Kevin Minter, 26, Cardinals
  
• Gerald Hodges, 26, 49ers
• Sean Spence, 27, Titans
• Perry Riley, 29, Raiders

Top free agent Outside Linebackers:

• DeAndre Levy, 30, Lions
• Michael Morgan, 29, Seahawks
• Josh Bynes, 28, Lions
• Jelani Jenkins, 25, Dolphins

The Patriots have the cap space (even if they extend Butler) to add another linebacker. An upgrade/competition/depth to McClellin, Roberts, Van Noy and Freeny would be a very good idea.

Not that Nick Caserio, Dave Ziegler and BB need to read this post to make that consideration.

Nice list.
But I don't think they will lose another comp. pick on an UFA they don't need.

Among released players (not counting against comp pick equation) you have Levy as intriguing option (depending on inj. forecast) and oldtimers like D’Qwell Jackson (solid season) and Dumervil (decline season + inj.).

They might just wait to see who becomes a street agent and move then.

What I see is bringing someone like they had in mind with Worrilow - lighter LB with good speed, range and tackling for ST and LB depth (to replace Mingo). These guys might be available later with no comp picks implications: Nick Bellore, Sean Spence, Josh Martin. Or they can draft one (draft board is high on Langi f.e.)

A guy that is probably most intriguing option out there is Mychal Kendricks that PHI wants to trade. With the current draft pick situation not very likely - but with possibly some picks coming back one of the two 5th rounders would not be too shocking..

 

[fan345]

Keep in mind that the Patriots sometimes play three safeties (e.g. Three-safety nickel package sparked Patriots' turnaround on D) with Chung playing the LB/safety type role. So could need fewer LBs.

 

[pdangle]

Freeny is the only one of those 4 who should be worried. Van Noy + Roberts = Collins symbiotic replacement. HT not going anywhere, at least for a few months at least. Freeny, what does he do again? But he'll probably stick around until cut in TC. No rush or benefit to do it now. But not sure about salary bonus due dates. He'd better hope there are none.

But LB is set on paper. BB always has a viable team, before he goes into the draft. Then its BPA and UFAs and camp competition battles that settle the matter. If holes persist, mid season pickups via trades have been the roster spackle of choice since BB has become GM. In fact (a topic for another day) with multiple mid season trades and creative moves, BB has literally written a new playbook by exploiting this once stagnant and overlooked potential market many GM had for years previously thought dead and useless. And as a bonus to the fans, made the trade deadline (and sooner) an exciting exciting time again!

 

[Dexter]

 

[RobertWeathers]

Crap. My FA binkie

 

[Minitron]

Why not? I'm pretty sure an imaginary linebacker wouldn't count against either the roster number or the cap. Plus, when he was on the field, you could play 12 guys. It's the wave of the future, I tell ya.

Don't talk too loud or the Ravens will notice and demand a rule change.

 

[Ring 6]

So Donta, Roberts , Shea , Van Noy, Freeny ......any good FA's or maybe a few drafted LB's ? Any ideas ?

Considering we only play 2 LB 90% of the time we may be set.

 

[Ring 6]

A run stuffer who can't cover their grandmother?

That's not true. I was at the Roberts house for thanksgiving and in the family touch football game he locked down coverage on his grandma. I think she had 3 targets and only 1 catch for 2 yards and he knocked her flat after the catch.

 

[patriot1136]

Isn't Kevin Minter a decent player? What about Mike Morgan?

 

[Huckleberry1]

Said it in another thread but I think they should look into Connor Barwin as a replacement for Sheard.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I'd like to add a player similar to KGH later in the draft. I liked the idea of a speedy coverage guy who could take some of the burden off Chung's snap count as a pseudo-LB. Otherwise, we have a solid, versatile corp who can certainly win a lot of games. I'd like to get better against wheel routes, and RBs out of the backfield in general, but that's about the only thing really that gives our defense significant trouble.

If we were drafting in the upper half of round one, I'd be all over Haason Reddick, whom I had graded as a first rounder well before the Senior Bowl and Combine. Yeah, that's right; I liked him before it was cool.

Reddick review I did a few months ago: DL & EDGE Players: Run stuffers, designated pass rushers, hybrids, etc

 

[captain stone]

Top free agent Inside Linebackers:

• Zach Brown, 26, Bills
• Kevin Minter, 26, Cardinals
  
• Gerald Hodges, 26, 49ers
• Sean Spence, 27, Titans
• Perry Riley, 29, Raiders

Top free agent Outside Linebackers:

• DeAndre Levy, 30, Lions
• Michael Morgan, 29, Seahawks
• Josh Bynes, 28, Lions
• Jelani Jenkins, 25, Dolphins

The Patriots have the cap space (even if they extend Butler) to add another linebacker. An upgrade/competition/depth to McClellin, Roberts, Van Noy and Freeny would be a very good idea.

Not that Nick Caserio, Dave Ziegler and BB need to read this post to make that consideration.

Nice list.

Zach Brown's getting paid this time around, so he's out of the question.

I would love to sign Gerald Hodges; I'm actually kinda surprised that he hasn't been signed already.

As Long Distance noted, DeAndre Levy if signed now would not count against the compensatory formula, so that makes him attractive. He would almost certainly have to sign a one-year "prove he can stay healthy" deal.

Jelani Jenkins is young, athletic (or at least was), and would weaken Miami at the same time, but has also been battling injuries since his breakout season of 2014. He also would count against the compensatory formula.

Manti Te'o is also unrestricted, but tore his Achiles' tendon and is questionable to be ready for Week 1. He also would count against the compensatory formula.

I don't think Bill will sign any other LB until June 1st (or whenever is the date that free-agent signings no longer count against the compensatory formula).

As for LBs in the draft, one name to watch is Joshua Harvey-Clemons. He's listed as a Safety, but is also 6"4, 217 lbs (with room to add more), with 35" arms & 10" hands. Depending on how teams view his transfer from Georgia to Louisville (2 failed pee-pee tests), he could be a top-100 pick, or still available with one of our 5th-rounders.

 

[NormZauchin]

Manti Te'o will sign if the Pats can find a Lennay Kekua lookalike.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

He would solve all our problems

 

[ausbacker]

Top free agent Inside Linebackers:

• Zach Brown, 26, Bills
• Kevin Minter, 26, Cardinals
  
• Gerald Hodges, 26, 49ers
• Sean Spence, 27, Titans
• Perry Riley, 29, Raiders

Top free agent Outside Linebackers:

• DeAndre Levy, 30, Lions
• Michael Morgan, 29, Seahawks
• Josh Bynes, 28, Lions
• Jelani Jenkins, 25, Dolphins

The Patriots have the cap space (even if they extend Butler) to add another linebacker. An upgrade/competition/depth to McClellin, Roberts, Van Noy and Freeny would be a very good idea.

Not that Nick Caserio, Dave Ziegler and BB need to read this post to make that consideration.

Anyone from this 2018 FA LB list the Patriots may be potentially interested in trading for?