Damned you John for getting me to thing about this. Here is a my dream roster for next season
OFFENSE
WR - Welker, Edelman, Ocho, Underwood, Top 5 draft pick, vet FA - Branch is done and Slater moves to the defense full time
TE- Gronk, Hernandez, Smith/Yeatman come back into the fold
OL - Light, Mankins, Connolly, Waters, Volmer, Solder, Cannon, Wendell, Thomas Low round pick. Based on what Connolly, Wendall and McDonald have shown, the rush to use a high pick on a brand name C has been mitigated. The fact that Solder and Cannon could be still be back ups is amazing. This and QB are the absolute strengths of the team. The success of the back ups makes Koppen expendable. Thanks for the memories Dan.
QB Brady, Mallett, Low round pick, UDFA, or vet FA BB might go for the UDFA to hide on the PS and go with just 2 QBs next season
RB- Vareen, Ridley, Woodhead, BJGE - I hope Kevin stays with the organization in some capacity, and thankes for the memories
Total 25
DL - Love, Pryor, Anderson, Brace, Wilfolk, Deadrick, top 5 draft pick - Gone are Wright, Carter to age and injury. A bad break in both cases
ILB - Mayo Spikes, Fletcher, Tarpanian - Seeya Gary
OLB - Ninkovich, Cunningham, MCarter, top five draft pick
CBs - Arrington, McCourty, Dowling, Molden top 5 draft pick
S's - Chung, Barrett/Iheadabu, Slater, top 5 draft pick, top end FA
Total 25
ST's
Gostkowski
Mesko
Whoever the long snapper is.
My impact FA pick ups at WR and S are Braylon Edwards who gives us a big WR who can stretch the field, and who after a forgetable season with the Niners will come fairly cheap. LaRon Landry - This is the one FA I'd pay top money to, and if Washington franchized him, I'd go after Mathis
A realistic group of 5 draft picks in the first 3 rounds, all based on names being thrown around by people who know more than me would be.
1a 1Upshaw OLB
1b Minnefield CB
2a Lester S
2b Perry DE
3. Fill in the name of the best field stretching WR available
THe names can change, the order in which they are picked can change, but the positions themselves should remanin sacrosanct
2b