Requesting your input on Alan Branch

[Miguel]

I am going to use this

http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-...5/bengals-jason-campbell-free-agent-breakdown as a template to look at the 15 free agents that the Patriots.

Would like the best reasons
for why the Pats will re-sign Alan Branch
for why the Pats will not resign him

Of course, I will credit you unless you state that you wish to remain anonymous.

 

[Marqui]

I think he's a must resign. It's not easy to get 6'6 330 lb DTs that you can trust to shutdown the run for cheap.

 

[chasa]

Why they wont:
Age
Cost(big run stopping DT, had character flaws but has shown they are not a factor)

Why they will:
Seemed to fit in well
Lack of other big run defenders currently on the roster.

 

[manxman2601]

Why they won't.

• Replaceable skill set as a run stopping DL.
• Pats probably won't value him that highly.

Why they will:

• Ideal fit for the 5-2 defense
• With Wilfork's return questionable, bringing Branch back means there's less upheaval on the DL
• Less need to spend a high draft pick on the interior DL.
• Adds numbers to a DL rotation.

He's one of my priority re-signings.

 

[Miguel]

A description of the player's 2014 role would also be really helpful. Sorry for not mentioning that sooner.

 

[mgteich]

2014 Role
Run-stopping DT, along with Wilfork and Siliga (and Jones to a much lesser degree)

WHY WE SHOULD RE-SIGN BRANCH
We would do well to keep our four wide bodies inside. Chris Jones is also a DT, but one that is quite a bit smaller than the other three.

Belichick might we out-bid, but he will try to keep Branch. Age is not really an issue to me. Everyone becomes non-productive sometime. The issues of age will reduce the size of bonus Branch can be expected to receive.