My Ridiculously Early Start on a 2026 Offseason Plan

[mayoclinic]

May the Schwartz be with you.

Already suggested above, though that was before Zak Kuhr lead the defense to a dominant post-season run.

 

[PatsFan2]

Would also consider trade up if someone highly prized slips. It really depends on who the Pats really like. Would not rule out doubling up on EDGE if they really like one.

Some possible targets:

WR: Bell, Hurst, Cooper
IOL: Pregnon
DT: Hunter
EDGE: Mesidor, Parker, Young, Lawrence
LB: Golday, Allen
S: Thieneman, McNeil-Warren
Nickle: Scott, Abney, Stukes
Outside CB: Cisse, Moore

Trade up or down especially for one of those WR's Second Round right??

 

[stelfans]

So here's a question for you all. In the following scenario, where do you look at pick 64?

1. Sign a FA edge rusher: Hendrickson, Oweh, Phillips
2. draft an OT at 32: Freeling, Iheanachor, Miller

That really opens up pick 64 to a number of options. It does seem like BPA would really come into play then.

CB
iOL
Safety
WR
LB

BPA, but i would give edge..the edge.

 

[manxman2601]

BPA, but i would give edge..the edge.

Even if we signed a FA and re-signed Chaisson?

 

[stelfans]

Even if we signed a FA and re-signed Chaisson?

Yes!
Too important. the more the merrier.

 

[mayoclinic]

It depends how good the EDGE is. If Mesidor slips to 50 and we can trade up, yes, we would have a dominant EDGE group.

I'd go with who can have the most impact, if they fall to within trade up range:

Tier 1: Mesidor, Hunter, Parker, Pregnon, Golday, Bell (if medicals ok). Impact players. Imagine having Freeling/Iheanachor + Pregnon added to the OL, or FA +Chaisson + Mesidor/Parker at EDGE? Those would be dominant positions. Domination wins titles.

Tier 2: Hurst, Allen, Thieneman, McNeil-Warren, Cisse, Moore, Scott, Stukes

Tier 3: Cooper, Lawrence, Young

 

[manxman2601]

Yes!
Too important. the more the merrier.

Fair enough.

Personally I think the edge group thins out enough after Zion Young that I'd be prepared to look at someone on day 3 like Nadame Tucker or Keyron Crawford and use 64 and 96 to go for with a receiver (WR/TE) or quality secondary depth with starter upside. 64 might be too high but Jacob Rodriguez or Kyle Louis start to become interesting too although probably in the 3rd.

I find I'm coming round to the idea of signing Chaisson and a good FA pass rusher and then OT in the first. It really does open up day two of the draft .

 

[mayoclinic]

I find I'm coming round to the idea of signing Chaisson and a good FA pass rusher and then OT in the first. It really does open up day two of the draft .

My off-season assumptions:

1. The Pats re-sign Chaisson. He's proved enough, and he wants to be back.

2. The Pats sign a FA EDGE, or at least a pass-rushing LB like Quay Walker. A trade is not out of the question, but I would prefer FA first.

3. The Pats either keep/extend Mike Onwenu, and/or sign a UFA IOL. Not sure they can do both, but 1 is a must.

If they do those 3, they will have some flexibility.

 

[stelfans]

Fair enough.

Personally I think the edge group thins out enough after Zion Young that I'd be prepared to look at someone on day 3 like Nadame Tucker or Keyron Crawford and use 64 and 96 to go for with a receiver (WR/TE) or quality secondary depth with starter upside. 64 might be too high but Jacob Rodriguez or Kyle Louis start to become interesting too although probably in the 3rd.

I find I'm coming round to the idea of signing Chaisson and a good FA pass rusher and then OT in the first. It really does open up day two of the draft .

I wouldnt oppose none of that.
Thats why i'd go BPA.

I agree with you, i think someone could fall but by 64 we could be looking at Malachi Lawrence, Caden Curry, Dennis-Sutton. Maybe Moore or Josephs fall but its gonna be thin.

Im so torn on Rodriguez... i think he's the exact type of player you want on your side, he's gonna be a baller. But at the same time with Spillane and Gibbens, im not really sure we have the need.

Im also not sure about WR at that point maybe Sarrat, but im thinking BPA will be a TE like Stowers, Rodriguez and probably some safety (Haulcy, Whitley, Ramsey).

 

[mayoclinic]

I doubt they will have enough cap space, but my dream would be, in rough priority:

1. Re-sign K'Lavon Chaisson, Khiryis Tonga, and Jaylinn Hawkins
2a. Sign a UFA EDGE like Odafeh Oweh, Jaelen Phillips, or Boye Mafe. Trey Hendrickson will cost too much to allow for other needs.
2b. Sign a UFA IOL like Tyler Linderbaum or David Edwards
4. Sign a UFA LB like Quay Walker or Devin Lloyd
5. Extend Mike Onwenu, lowering his cap hit

 

[stelfans]

I doubt they will have enough cap space, but my dream would be, in rough priority:

1. Re-sign K'Lavon Chaisson, Khiryis Tonga, and Jaylinn Hawkins
2a. Sign a UFA EDGE like Odafeh Oweh, Jaelen Phillips, or Boye Mafe. Trey Hendrickson will cost too much to allow for other needs.
2b. Sign a UFA IOL like Tyler Linderbaum or David Edwards
4. Sign a UFA LB like Quay Walker or Devin Lloyd
5. Extend Mike Onwenu, lowering his cap hit

Thats pretty much where iam. Thou i'd pass on #4, there will be enough LB deep in the draft to replace Tavai and Mapu.

 

[mayoclinic]

#1-3 are my priorities. 4 and 5 are dependent on $, and backup options if 2a and 2b don't pan out. All 5 probably not realistic, 4/5 might br possible.

A LB like Walker or Lloyd opposite Robert Spillane would significantly upgraded the defense, especially if the EDGE rush is improve. Mapu and Tavai can be replaced, but LB cannot be signoficantly upgraded without spending a fair chunk of draft capital.

 

[manxman2601]

This is a bit radical but I'm warming to it.

1. Sign FA edge
2. re-sign Chaisson, Hawkins, Onwenu, Tonga
3. Draft on day one and two

1. Iheanachor
2. Stukes
3. Kyle Louis

4. 2x developmental iOLs on day 3 (Gulbin, Micah Morris for eg)
5. Josh Cameron on day 3
6. TE of choice day 3.

Pretty much everything is hit apart from backup outside corner.

 

[mayoclinic]

That would be very reasonable. Possibly even achievable.

I'm still trying to figure out how to get Jelani McDonald.

 

[manxman2601]

That would be very reasonable. Possibly even achievable.

I'm still trying to figure out how to get Jelani McDonald.

 

[dliverey44]

So here's a question for you all. In the following scenario, where do you look at pick 64?

1. Sign a FA edge rusher: Hendrickson, Oweh, Phillips
2. Re-signed Chaisson
3. draft an OT at 32: Freeling, Iheanachor, Miller

That really opens up pick 64 to a number of options. It does seem like BPA would really come into play then.

CB
iOL
Safety
WR
LB

Another Edge rusher that I think should be on the radar is Joseph Ossai. In the scenario that you outlined, I think that Off ball LB is a sneaky need as a potential Spillane replacement. Hear me out we have Muma, Mapu and Ellis as FAs in 2027, Mapu and Muma are throw aways imo. Tavai and Spillane are both at least 30 and FAs in 2028, Tavai is a throw away imo.

So that leaves Ellis and Spillane as starting level LBs under contract, but Spillane has been dealing with a lingering ankle issue and without him on the field it hurts the defense. If Jacob Rodriguez is there at 64 I think he needs to be the pick. Rodriguez is pretty high IQ as far as diagnosing plays, but has issues tackling. He seems like a future green dot to me. Rodriguez is not the best in coverage but has a knack for being around the ball. I have seen him projected anywhere from late 2nd round to early 4th, but after the senior bowl practices I am convince he is a future green dot.

I think I remember reading that his wife is a BlackHawk pilot in the army which is pretty bad ass.

 

[borisman]

With the Free Agent class being mostly barren this upcoming spring, this is a good year to have 11 picks (even 6th rounders) for a team in need of depth. We can also get some depth pieces in FA as well but not anything game changing as last year. I hope we can swing a trade or two and pick up a released, quality free agent that way.

 

[manxman2601]

Another Edge rusher that I think should be on the radar is Joseph Ossai. In the scenario that you outlined, I think that Off ball LB is a sneaky need as a potential Spillane replacement. Hear me out we have Muma, Mapu and Ellis as FAs in 2027, Mapu and Muma are throw aways imo. Tavai and Spillane are both at least 30 and FAs in 2028, Tavai is a throw away imo.

So that leaves Ellis and Spillane as starting level LBs under contract, but Spillane has been dealing with a lingering ankle issue and without him on the field it hurts the defense. If Jacob Rodriguez is there at 64 I think he needs to be the pick. Rodriguez is pretty high IQ as far as diagnosing plays, but has issues tackling. He seems like a future green dot to me. Rodriguez is not the best in coverage but has a knack for being around the ball. I have seen him projected anywhere from late 2nd round to early 4th, but after the senior bowl practices I am convince he is a future green dot.

I think I remember reading that his wife is a BlackHawk pilot in the army which is pretty bad ass.

You had me at Jacob Rodriguez

And you're right, she is a Blackhawk pilot.

 

[Clonamery]

This thread is losing me. Just too all over the place for my redundant brain....

 

[mayoclinic]

You had me at Jacob Rodriguez

And you're right, she is a Blackhawk pilot.

Can she rush the passer?