1) I don't focus on the list of top free agents available. First, they end up being franchised. Also, the main reason that most are available is that they couldn't get enough money from their former team; they want more money.
2) I don't focus on potential trades. We have a poster that specializes in that rather well. For the most part, I allow myself to be surprised by any trades. I understand that Bill is always looking for trades that will upgrade the team, and at any position.
3) My primary focus is on our own free agents, and how we can improve the team by keeping them or replacing them.
4) For me, free agency (and the draft) is about improving from last year. That is a given since we changed coaches. If we have the same quality of players, I would expect 2-3 more wins.
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SOME THOUGHTS
A) WIDE RECEIVER
This is the hardest issue. Meyers and Agholor got lots and lots of reps last year. Sure, we hope that Thornton will improve, perhaps with more than his 50% of reps from last year. Perhaps, Bourne and Parker will have more production under new leadership.
However, we need at least one Meyers level wide receiver. Also, I'm sure that others will be brought in for depth. I suspect that Meyers will be paid by someone else. There isn't much out there. Belichick will be looking to acquire a wide receiver through trade. This could happen in a month, during the draft or in July or August.
My bottom line is that the receiving game will be much improved if we were to re-sign Meyers, given the coaching changes. We don't NEED a top WR.
B) RUNNING BACK
This is not an issue for those who simply plug in 2nd year players who have shown little and expect them to be Harris and White. Neither rookie saw much action.
I expect that Belichick will consider that Harris needs to re-signed or replaced. I'm fine with expecting ONE of Strong and Devin Harris to be a contributor. Expecting both to be automatic contributors seems wrong. After all, we are still waiting for Taylor to contribute.
C) DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
McCourty will likely retire. Jones, Peppers and Williams are free agents. Bryant is an RFA.
JONES would be my #1 priority in free agency. He is worth more to us than to other teams. We should pay him. Ditto for PEPPERS, obviously for much less money. Both players very much want to come back. BRYANT isn't a favorite here. However, he is an OK #5 or #6 CB, and is likely to come back. The open question whether he will be tendered and how high.
D) DEFENSIVE FRONT SIX
Free agents include EKUALE, DAVIS, WILSON and MCMILLAN. I expect us to re-sign one of the DL's and one of the LB's. I'm fine with whatever choices are made. Obviously, Belichick could fill the positions from outside. However, all of these players are good enough to want them for camp.
E) SPECIAL TEAMS
These decisions could wait or be done this week. We will make decision at P, K, and LS. Also, Davis might be back, although that could wait a couple of months.
F) FINALLY, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM - THE OL
E1) I expect Hines, Steuber and Russey to compete for positions in camp. I wouldn't be surprised if all make the 53, or if none make it.
E2) As of now, we 4 starters under contract, plus McDermott (starting RT for now) plus RFA CAJUSTE if we bring him back.
E3) For those with great optimism (making believe that Dante were still coaching), that's 9 and we need to draft an OT in the first or second round, and in the 6th, and we'll be all set.
E4) For me, this is by far the biggest question mark for 2023.
SUMMARY
We need to re-sign or replace
Meyers
Agholor
Harris
Wynn
Cajuste
Ferentz
Jones
Peppers
McCourty
Bryant
Wilson/McMillan
Ekuale/Davis
Cardona
[13 seems like a "normal" sized list, with 4 key positions of need: WR, OT, CB and S.
2) I don't focus on potential trades. We have a poster that specializes in that rather well. For the most part, I allow myself to be surprised by any trades. I understand that Bill is always looking for trades that will upgrade the team, and at any position.
3) My primary focus is on our own free agents, and how we can improve the team by keeping them or replacing them.
4) For me, free agency (and the draft) is about improving from last year. That is a given since we changed coaches. If we have the same quality of players, I would expect 2-3 more wins.
=============
SOME THOUGHTS
A) WIDE RECEIVER
This is the hardest issue. Meyers and Agholor got lots and lots of reps last year. Sure, we hope that Thornton will improve, perhaps with more than his 50% of reps from last year. Perhaps, Bourne and Parker will have more production under new leadership.
However, we need at least one Meyers level wide receiver. Also, I'm sure that others will be brought in for depth. I suspect that Meyers will be paid by someone else. There isn't much out there. Belichick will be looking to acquire a wide receiver through trade. This could happen in a month, during the draft or in July or August.
My bottom line is that the receiving game will be much improved if we were to re-sign Meyers, given the coaching changes. We don't NEED a top WR.
B) RUNNING BACK
This is not an issue for those who simply plug in 2nd year players who have shown little and expect them to be Harris and White. Neither rookie saw much action.
I expect that Belichick will consider that Harris needs to re-signed or replaced. I'm fine with expecting ONE of Strong and Devin Harris to be a contributor. Expecting both to be automatic contributors seems wrong. After all, we are still waiting for Taylor to contribute.
C) DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD
McCourty will likely retire. Jones, Peppers and Williams are free agents. Bryant is an RFA.
JONES would be my #1 priority in free agency. He is worth more to us than to other teams. We should pay him. Ditto for PEPPERS, obviously for much less money. Both players very much want to come back. BRYANT isn't a favorite here. However, he is an OK #5 or #6 CB, and is likely to come back. The open question whether he will be tendered and how high.
D) DEFENSIVE FRONT SIX
Free agents include EKUALE, DAVIS, WILSON and MCMILLAN. I expect us to re-sign one of the DL's and one of the LB's. I'm fine with whatever choices are made. Obviously, Belichick could fill the positions from outside. However, all of these players are good enough to want them for camp.
E) SPECIAL TEAMS
These decisions could wait or be done this week. We will make decision at P, K, and LS. Also, Davis might be back, although that could wait a couple of months.
F) FINALLY, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM - THE OL
E1) I expect Hines, Steuber and Russey to compete for positions in camp. I wouldn't be surprised if all make the 53, or if none make it.
E2) As of now, we 4 starters under contract, plus McDermott (starting RT for now) plus RFA CAJUSTE if we bring him back.
E3) For those with great optimism (making believe that Dante were still coaching), that's 9 and we need to draft an OT in the first or second round, and in the 6th, and we'll be all set.
E4) For me, this is by far the biggest question mark for 2023.
SUMMARY
We need to re-sign or replace
Meyers
Agholor
Harris
Wynn
Cajuste
Ferentz
Jones
Peppers
McCourty
Bryant
Wilson/McMillan
Ekuale/Davis
Cardona
[13 seems like a "normal" sized list, with 4 key positions of need: WR, OT, CB and S.
