Suppose it does not work out with Peppers or Jason Taylor...

[satz]

The problem is that of numbers with thomas ,woods , tbc , redd,crabel [ i not seen crabel play and even be active on the roster so i list redd who did both before him] take 5 roster spot at OLB. so you cannot draft a rookie and ask him to be inactive or some in the above list need to go.

If taylor is taken you have 6 OLB and that means you can only carry 3 ILB tops and keep 2 OLB inactive on game day.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

If taylor is taken you have 6 OLB and that means you can only carry 3 ILB tops and keep 2 OLB inactive on game day.

I think that can work as TBC will be mostly a ST guy so we could carry an extra LB - also we know Thomas can be a ILB backup and we could survive with Taylor/Woods as the OLB.

I agree, though, if Belichick likes the young OLB for the future, drafting another one high may be less likely than many think.

 

[Mack Herron]

Its not like we got a bunch of all pros at the position. BB will throw 'em into the mix and whoever performs the best will stick. TBC is no lock.

 

[condon84]

Re: Suppose it does not work out with Peppers or Jason Taylor ....

Bill would not have gotten rid of Mike Vrabel unless he was comfortable with someone taking his spot that is already on the roster. I don't think he operates that way. He knows that if the season started right now, he would have someone (probably Woods) that he feels can be a quality starting OLB opposite AD. If he is comfortable with that, I guess I am too *slightly cringes*.

That being said, I am sure that if an opportunity is there to upgrade the position, whether it is through FA (JT), trade (Peppers), or draft, Bill will make the call.

 

[amazinPats]

I think Taylor will be a Patriot, but if not...

the replacement might be a trade up a few spots from #23 in the draft.

 

[JoeShmoe]

I also think it's likely we'll sign Taylor - in fact I think we probably haven't already just so he doesn't have to be in Foxboro all offseason - or have to answer questions about why he isn't. He's played for Saban before so Belichick knows how he could use him and Taylor understands the concepts so he wouldn't need the indoctrination time as much as others. Peppers intrigues me as a medium term solution but the money and draft picks needed for him make Taylor more attractive to me.

Thats what ive been thinking as well. No need/want for him to do all the offseason so we just announce it post draft - clear he's always wanted to play here and along with Galloway, Seau etc we seem to be te retireement home for HOF'ers wanting one last shot

I also think BB is high on Pierre Woods who did OK when he played last year - for one he knows the system. I also think we might see a bulked up Crable this year go well in TC and preseason

I think that if one of these OLB guys is left at #58 then we take them there - unless te FO are really high on possible 2nd rounders like Barwin or English