As our cap number keeps on swelling, I have no doubts that if they want to spend, they can get virtually anyone they want at this point. Jason has us at about $22MM under at this point. I'd add to that number by doing the following fouir small tweaks.
a. Release Dan Connolly - savings around $2.5MM
b. Release Brandon Lloyd - Savings around 2.5MM
c. Extend or restructure either Mankins or Wilfolk's deal to save another $4MM whatever makes most sense.
d. Release Daniel Fells - savings around $1MM That gets us to $32MM under and then I'd get to work
1 Welker - something like a 4 year deal for 30-35MM that will end up giving him essentially 2 guaranteed years at 8-8.5MM/yr and 2-3 additional years that aren't guaranteed, but will pay him well for solid production, but will leave him cutable if he hits a wall. It will also give him about a $5MM cap number this season.
2. Volmer - I can see a similar deal as the one the Giants LT, Beatty got. 5 years and $38MM. and 10-12MM in a signing bonus. Outside of the upfront money the deal will be full of injury protection for the Pats and give him about a $5MM cap hit for this year.
With Volmer signed, I'd move Cannon to RG. Now I'd have an OL of Solder, Mankins, Wendell, Cannon, Volmer, with McDonald and Zuviscus as your primary back ups for starters. While I think Cannon can be adequate as a RT, he'd be a down grade from Volmer. However I think he'd be an upgrade to Connolly at RG (anther reason to resign Volmer, you upgrade at RG)
3. Talib, or Talib like FA at CB - Personally I hope its Talib because I think his past works in our favor to keep his price down, and I love his size and physicality. I can see us giving him a very carefully structured contract hat will essentially be a one year deal at around $8MM for the year guaranteed, but will extend and reward him if his production merits him elite CB money. It will be a very incentive laden contact, but long enough so that his cap figure for the first year will be in the $6MM range
4. Now after that we'll spend $4MM in this year's cap hit to bring back Edelman,and Arrington.
OK all those signings sould cover around $20MM of the 32MM we have available for FA's
5. As for outside FA's we now have about $12MM to sign outside guys. Assuming there will be a bunch of low level guys who are unlikely to rise to top 51 gus, we will have the ammo to get at least ONE top level FA, or even 2 assuming we structure deals for them that will keep their first year cap rate below their yearly average.. But where will we go for them.
CB - If we resign Talib and Arrington, I think a top 4 of Talib, Dennard, Arrington, and Dowling is a lot better than any top 4 we've had recently so I'm not going there.
Safety - A lot will depend on how BB sees Wilson's development - If he's happy with it, or at least happier than many of us here, I think he'll be OK with a trio of Wilson, McCourty, and Gregory, and wait for the draft to add talent. If he's not then Moore and Byrd would be 2 great options and wouldn't cost more than $6MM/yr and likely 4-5MM against this year's cap.
DL - The hot names are Freeney and Melton, but there will be a TON of guys like Osi, etc who will be out there looking for jobs with shrinking salary demands that could be picked up fairly cheaply come June and July....including Andre Carter. Also Armstead and Bernard could both be a pleasant surprises on that front.
I don't think we need a big money DL FA, because I think there will be enough guys who can improve our pass rush as situational guys that will become available before TC. Besides, I think our rush is going to improve even if we add no one, simply because I think the defense as a whole is going to be more agressive this year.
LB - With Fletcher coming back, I'm not sure if we should be looking for any other LB other than a coverage LB type.
WR - well there's good news and bad news - The good news is we have the money to bring in about anyone we want. The bad news is our offense is so goddamned hard to project who can fit and who can't. Guys like Wallace and Bowe have the physical talent we are all are looking for, but neither seem to be the "precise" route runners that you seem to need to excel in the offense.
About the only name that has gotten me excited has been Percy Harvin, but I don't know if I'd be willing to spend the cash AND draft picks that would be necessary to make it happen. Here's a thought instead of a high pick we send a lower draft pick and Brandon Lloyd to the Vikings.
So help me out guys, is there a FA WR would is a sure fire success to come in here be an immediate success in replacing Brandon Lloyd.
OL - We if we let Connolly and Thomas go, we are going to need to find 2 more OLmen to fill out the roster, but I doubt we'll have to spend much for them. However if we Don't resign Volmer, than we could be in the market for mid level OL expenditure.
TE - If Ballard can come all the way back, then I think we need to add a 4th guy. I'd be happy with Hooman or a Hooman type which shouldn't be hard to find.
RB - I think the Demps demise talk was very premature. If he's gone then there's a place for Woody, if not I'll be sad to see Danny go, but I'll understand. I do think that BB will be interested in bring in a "big" RB/FB to perhaps handle the short yardage and GL stuff
QB - If Mallett is traded then its clear that either Cassel or Hoyer could find themselves back home battling Kafka out for the back up job. If not, its Mallet's job again. I don't think the Pats will keep a 3rd QB on the roster. On the PS maybe, but not the roster.
This officially ends this insomnia driven overly long post Sorry about that.