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I do expect us to re-sign or sign a couple of wide receivers, a DE and or OLB, and a center long before the draft.
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As we go into the draft, I think that we will want to address our need at TE. There are at least half a dozen rated in the first four rounds.
We currently greatly depend on Gronk and Hernandez, and use an OL as a blocking TE. This becomes greatly restrictive (no depth) when there is an injury on the OL, at TE or at WR. After all, Hernandez may be most valuable at WR.
An additional top TE would help us a lot. We tried to find a blocking TE last year, but in the end,a blocking, short yardage TE just isn't worth a roster spot. Dante requires such skills in his offensive lineman.
BOTTOM LINE
I would not be surprised to see us draft a TE in the first two rounds.
Also, I think that this choice would be a good one, if the value is there. If you think that Belichick wouldn't draft a backup early, think again. Solder was expected to be a backup OT/TE, and that was his primary function. I would note that Solder was drafted much higher than any any of our 2012 picks. Also, if the TE is a starting quality player, Hernandez would still get lots of playing time as our #2 or #3 WR (Brady's 3rd our 4th receiving option).
I could certainly see Josh's 3 WR sets often including Hernandez as a WR. Hernandez is also our h-back. It would be good if we didn't need to be so dependent on him at as TE.
A FINAL MOTE
It may be much easier to find a top TE than a top WR. WR's are almost always a crapshoot, even in the first round. Hernandez as our #2 or #3 WR seems to be a very reasonable roster choice, iff we had another top TE.
====================================
As we go into the draft, I think that we will want to address our need at TE. There are at least half a dozen rated in the first four rounds.
We currently greatly depend on Gronk and Hernandez, and use an OL as a blocking TE. This becomes greatly restrictive (no depth) when there is an injury on the OL, at TE or at WR. After all, Hernandez may be most valuable at WR.
An additional top TE would help us a lot. We tried to find a blocking TE last year, but in the end,a blocking, short yardage TE just isn't worth a roster spot. Dante requires such skills in his offensive lineman.
BOTTOM LINE
I would not be surprised to see us draft a TE in the first two rounds.
Also, I think that this choice would be a good one, if the value is there. If you think that Belichick wouldn't draft a backup early, think again. Solder was expected to be a backup OT/TE, and that was his primary function. I would note that Solder was drafted much higher than any any of our 2012 picks. Also, if the TE is a starting quality player, Hernandez would still get lots of playing time as our #2 or #3 WR (Brady's 3rd our 4th receiving option).
I could certainly see Josh's 3 WR sets often including Hernandez as a WR. Hernandez is also our h-back. It would be good if we didn't need to be so dependent on him at as TE.
A FINAL MOTE
It may be much easier to find a top TE than a top WR. WR's are almost always a crapshoot, even in the first round. Hernandez as our #2 or #3 WR seems to be a very reasonable roster choice, iff we had another top TE.
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