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Re-Assessing Patriots Draft Needs

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Patriots Draft Needs - make things easier for Brady and Gronk.With the biggest splashes of free agency (likely) over, it’s a good time for us to be re-assessing the Patriots draft needs. As always, the Pats fill pretty much every major hole on their roster in free agency, even if it’s just with a temporary space holder, so that they won’t have to reach in the draft for a position.

While there remains some concern about the running back position, where I’m not sold on Donald Brown making it out of training camp, the biggest holes at middle linebacker (Shea McClellin) and wide receiver (Chris Hogan) have at least been solidified for camp. Doesn’t mean those positions won’t be targeted in the draft, but there’s a level of comfort now. Martellus Bennett put the Pats over the top as far as their need for a second tight end was concerned, and Jonathan Cooper makes the competition at guard look like one of the hottest camp battles we’ll see.

Patriots Draft Needs: Late-March Edition

Here’s where I think the Pats have the biggest needs for the draft, and a reminder that the draft is about the long term, not the immediate.

  1. Tackle – This isn’t an overreaction to the AFC Championship game, but both Marcus Cannon and Sebastian Vollmer‘s contracts are up after this season. Vollmer is closing in on the end of his career so this could be it for him. Really, I think as long as Nate Solder stays healthy the Pats would be fine along the offensive line this year as is. But what we need for the future is to groom the next right tackle, preferably someone with a little more athleticism so that they can also back up the left tackle spot and do it better than Cannon did last year. This is a critical need.
  2. Wide Receiver – Hogan fits what the Pats do pretty well and I’m excited to see how he assimilates. If he can be Brandon LaFell circa 2014 the Pats will be fine this year. But what could truly take this offense to another level is the addition of a rookie wide receiver who can take some of the heat off of Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman. I know everyone wants that tall, speedy deep threat, but I just don’t think that’s a realistic option with how this offense functions now. Give me another shifty, quick guy who knows how to get open and make plays with the ball in his hands and the Pats will have better insurance at the “Z” spot than they had last year. Of course it’s not crazy to think a rookie who has a great camp could unseat Amendola at final cuts.
  3. Running back – This is to be part of a rotation so it’s not like they’ll need to trade up into the mid-second round to get someone who can make an impact. They need an early down pounder who doesn’t lose yardage or cough up the ball. Honestly I’d take a Benjarvus Green-Ellis though you’d like to find another Stevan Ridley. Either way, that’s the element that’s missing from the backfield group right now, and that’s true even if LeGarrette Blount returns.
  4. Defensive Tackle – Is this a huge need? No. But this draft class is packed with good Patriots fits so that makes it a position to watch. And really, you always need guys for the trenches. With the kind of high-end value that is in this draft, the Pats could very well take a defensive tackle for the third year in a row with their first pick and it wouldn’t surprise me.
  5. Safety – The Pats lost Tavon Wilson so of course they need to reach on another second-round safety that everyone had going in the sixth round. But seriously folks, with Patrick Chung‘s injury history I’m interested to see how Jordan Richards looks in the preseason. He could be thrust into an important role. And with the ever-evolving defense there’s always a need for big, tough guys who can run.
  6. Linebacker – This is Bill Belichick, he will never pass up a linebacker and though I like McClellin, both Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower are free agents next year. We all assume both with be re-signed, but I wouldn’t mind a little insurance. And a run-stopping thumper in the middle could fit in nicely.

Of course every other position is certainly a possibility no matter how stacked the Pats look. And I’m sure they’ll add somebody one way or another at every other spot on the roster, but those above are the areas that are truly vital to maintaining dominance for the near future.

Under-the-Radar Patriots To Watch This Summer

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With a collection of free agents already solidifying most of the roster, I’ve been focusing on a few under-the-radar Patriots to watch this summer. Obviously there are still plenty of personnel to be added that will affect these guys and how they fit into things, but right now here are some guys who could emerge into significant roles or finally fall off the roster.

Tyler Gaffney – The Pats swooped in and snagged Gaffney during the 2014 preseason after the Panthers tried to sneak him onto IR. He sat out 2014 and then got injured in training camp and missed all of 2015 as well. But one interesting tidbit about Gaffney was his appearance at the top of the Pats’ depth chart if you caught a peek at the wall of one scene as Nick Caserio walked into his office. Maybe it meant nothing. Or maybe it meant the Pats have/had high hopes for the Stanford grad. As of right now there’s still a big need at running back, one that Gaffney could theoretically fill, if he can stay healthy for the first time in three years.

Nick Caserio Patriots Depth Chart

Aaron Dobson – At this point no one is expecting much out of Dobson and for good reason, the last two years he’s ended up on IR and even when he’s on the field his development has stagnated after a promising rookie campaign where he grabbed 37 catches and four touchdowns. But Dobson has some skill and size, and is now entering his final year in New England. This is likely the last chance he has to save his football career, if not in New England, perhaps somewhere else. But he’ll need to put some great tape together during the preseason and should get plenty of chances to show if he can contribute anything at last.

Trey Flowers – With both Rob Ninkovich, Chris Long and Jabaal Sheard entering the last year’s of their deal, the Patriots are going to need Tre Flowers, Geneo Grissom and Rufus Johnson to step into a significant role at some point. Flowers looked like the most promising of the group last preseason. We saw some of Grissom during the season, often as an interior rusher before he got some DE snaps, but his home position remains a little unclear to me. Sheard should be extended, but Ninkovich is fast approaching the end of the line. Unless the Pats draft a defensive end this season, Flowers should get every chance to show if he has the potential to step into a starting role.

Trey Flowers Sack

Jordan Richards – Richards was a surprise safety selection last year, chosen way before anyone thought he should be, but I thought he had some excellent flashes during spot work last season. He showed good instincts and tackling ability. Now, with Tavon Wilson gone, Richards should step into a more significant role on special teams at least. And he could be a Patrick Chung injury away from a starting role on defense. Is he ready for that kind of jump? It’s a vital role in the defense in their regular package, one that includes major run support and plenty of coverage responsibilities usually against tight ends. He could be thrust into the fire if injuries strike.

Resetting Patriots Free Agency Needs

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Legarrette Blount Patriots Free Agency

Who will carry the ball on early downs?

They’ve had an active free agency period this year with some impressive signings and moves that are right in their wheelhouse, but the Patriots free agency needs are still apparent. Trading for Martellus Bennett and the signing of Shea McClellin are the headline moves, while Chris Hogan should also step into a significant role if he can get on the same page with Tom Brady.

Wide receiver was the biggest need coming into the offseason, and while Hogan isn’t the flashy name many wanted, he fits the mold of what it takes to be successful in this offense in a variety of receiving roles. I’d welcome another signing at the position, at least as camp fodder. The Pats have been linked to James Jones and Anquan Bolden, both are still available, as is Rueben Randle.

Each day that goes by their prices go down a bit as well.

Again, no one left on the market will change the offense like Bennett should at tight end, but the lack of depth is still scary. Wide receiver figures to be a major area of focus in the draft.

The biggest surprise for me of free agency thus far has been the Pats not signing a significant running back. They kicked the tires on a number of backs including Bilal Powell and James Starks before settling on the disappointing Donald Brown. I still see running back as the biggest need facing this team, and while re-signing LeGarrette Blount would certainly help, the Pats need an early-game grinder to loosen up the defense.

Again, running back should be a position to address in the draft and there are a number of options who could step in and help. That’s the beauty of having a rotation, a rookie can immediately play a role. Still, I wouldn’t mind adding Joique Bell to a cheap deal.

Funny how so much of the overreaction to the season-ender was aimed at the offensive line yet Jonathan Cooper isn’t quite what everyone was expecting this offseason. A lot of the speculation was on cutting Marcus Cannon and/or Sebastian Vollmer and bringing in a free agent tackle to start. The depth is now impressive along the interior where the Pats have promising young players two-deep at each guard spot and at center.

No Must-Fill Holes for Draft

My belief was always to find an athletic swing tackle in the draft and groom them for the right tackle spot in 2017. I think tackle can be the first position they target, perhaps even moving up in the second round to get someone they like.

The only position left that the Pats haven’t addressed at all in free agency that they should is at cornerback. I’ve been fine all along brining back Tarrell Brown. He looked like a starter heading into last season before his lingering foot issue caught up with him. If he’s healthy, he’d make sense. They don’t need a sure-fire starter, just a smart vet who can enter the mix against Logan Ryan at right corner.

The biggest chips to fall this offseason will be the internal extensions, which aren’t expecting to begin negotiations until after the draft. There are many significant free agents next offseason, the Pats need to start locking up the core now.

The bulk of the free agency work is done. The front line on both sides of the ball is just about set outside of the questions at running back in specific matchups, although one might wonder what they think about Donald Brown. I see him as camp competition. Maybe the Patriots have higher hopes. They could use some depth in a few areas, but at this point any addition will be likely placeholders to safeguard against having to reach for any needs in the draft.

 

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Monday Patriots Regroup

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Bill BelichickPlenty going on this Monday of the offseason, and I’m going to stick to ignoring Deflategate, but if you want to read about amicus briefs and other legal stuff I wish I never had to cover just read resident Deflategate go-to Michael Hurley’s two pieces here and here. In short, non-partisan lawyer writes letter to court saying NFL lied. NFL says they didn’t lie, they were just going off what Roger Goodell thought. Seriously, I can’t wait until this whole charade is over.

Another Deflategate bit is that Robert Kraft told reporters today that he had written a letter to Roger Goodell asking for the first-round pick back.  Didn’t sound like he had heard back and let’s be honest, with a little over a month until the draft, that ship has sailed. Unless the court upholds Judge Berman’s decision and scolds the NFL for their handling of it and there’s a public outcry that also comes from the rest of the NFL owners, there’s no one outside Patriots Nation that want the Pats to get that pick back, even if they should get it back.

Do you think any of the other 31 want to give New England that pick back? Especially after the offseason they’ve had and how, oh look, they’re now one of four teams with four picks in the first 100. This is more than enough ammo to make up for the missing first rounder, as much as you’d like the near-certainty that Bill Belichick would get a great player with it.

Kraft’s letter will calm some of the masses who are still angry at him for not fighting the NFL harder, but I can’t see it having any real chance of getting anywhere with the NFL who will do anything in their power to make us believe Deflategate actually was an entire cheating scheme masterminded by Tom Brady.

Free Agent Visits Continue

Now to football, what I really care about here. Couple visits were reported: Nick Fairley, a defensive tackle who spent last year with the Rams, and tight end Weslye Saunders.

On Fairley, it’s another former first-rounder the Pats are kicking the tires on. Fairley is under 300 pounds and has a bit more of an upfield guy but that’s perfect for the rotation the Pats got going. I do wonder how much he’s related to Dominique Easley‘s unreliability of his first two seasons, but Fairley is one of the best players still left on the market and would solidify and already solid defensive tackle rotation.

As for Saunders, it’s another tight end, what did you expect? Despite the acquisition of Martellus Bennett I’d still prefer to never see Michael William running a route again in my life, so this would add a solid third option who could specialize in blocking. He’s only caught 10 passes in four seasons.

 

Best of James White | Patriots Highlights – YouTube

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New highlight vid of James White just popped up, not a bad way to wake up on a Saturday morning. Very curious to see what White’s role is this year. He had some great moments after stepping up for Dion Lewis, but I can’t help but wonder what could’ve been had he and Brady been a little more in sync in the AFC Championship. He had just five catches on a whopping 16 targets.  The Pats kicked the tires on some other receiving backs this offseason but have yet to actually sign any of them. I took that as them wanting someone to at least pair with White, and once Lewis comes back fully who knows how much White will be involved.

 

 

Martellus Bennett and the Potential of the “Double Y”

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<a rel=Been processing the whirlwind of activity over the last couple of days and though I usually skew to the defensive side of the ball, Martellus Bennett‘s potential impact is what has been most interesting to me.

Bill Belichick’s preference for the two tight end sets has been well chronicled. Daniel Graham and Christian Fauria, Graham and Ben Watson, and Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are just a few of the more well-known combos that had success. Last year the Pats tried to add Scott Chandler with Gronk but they never found their stride.


Gronkowski and Hernandez had the most devastating run from 2010-2012. Combined with the Pats lightning-fast no-huddle, Gronk and Hernandez exploited defensive mistmatches all over the league and almost took the Pats all the way to the Lombardi Trophy.

But in all these cases it was a combination of a “Y” tight end, one who can play in-line and block, and an “F” tight end, one who is better in space and often a less-than-desired blocker.

Now, with the addition of another true “Y” tight end in Bennett, the Patriots have the potential to take the two tight end set to the next level. Both Gronkowski and Bennett are equally talented catching and running with the ball in their hands as they are lining up next to a tackle and blocking.

Hernandez caused plenty of problems receiving, but he was never a threat to motion in-line and set up a power run scheme. But now the Patriots will have that kind of flexibility. They can shift from a pro set with two tight ends in-line right into a spread offense and still be just as effective.

The possibilities are really unlimited. What personnel does a defense defend Gronkowski and Bennett with? Because whatever you choose to defend — the run with your base defense or the pass with you sub defense — the Pats will attack the opposite with equal devastation.

Put a defensive back on one of those tight ends and they’ll run the ball right at him. Stick a slower linebacker on him and they’ll wish you luck in coverage.

I’m fascinated to see how Bennett assimilates into New England, and there’s certainly some cause for concern just as there was with Corey Dillon, Chad Ochocinco, Albert Haynesworth and Hernandez. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, and not always just for off-the-field issues. Sometimes, like in Ochocinco’s case, players just can’t pick up the playbook and/or earn Tom Brady‘s trust.

But the potential is certainly there for this to be a new incarnation of the two tight end set, this version being a “Double Y” one. This could also reduce the value of Danny Amendola as a slot receiver because of the versatility of this kind of offense. Why take Gronk or Bennett off the field?

There’s plenty to play out in the next five months, but for now the Patriots offense looks ready for a new and different twist that should give NFL defenses a ton of problems.

Will Danny Amendola Re-Structure Again?

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Could Danny Amendola be cut or traded?

PFT reported last night that Danny Amendola could be asked to restructure his contract for the second offseason in a row, and if he refuses he could be traded or cut. None of this is all that shocking. The fact is the Patriots overpaid for Amendola, thinking he’d be their Welker replacement, when they signed him in 2013 and have been forced to keep kicking the can down the road with his big pay days.

This year Amendola is due a $5 million base salary with a $6.8 million cap hit. If the Pats cut him they’ll have to take a $2.733 million cap hit.

Is this one year too early?

There are arguments on both sides of this issue. On one hand, Amendola has been a clutch slot receiver, coming through with numerous big catches in the last two seasons after a slow start in 2013 where he tore his groin in the first game of the season (but still fought through it to help the Pats win that game in Buffalo), but he’d miss the next four weeks. He’s missed only one game in the last two seasons, despite being banged up, especially last year when a knee issue really limited him late in the season.Danny Amendola Clutch Catch

If Amendola was being paid like a slot receiver/punt returner should be, there’d be little question whether or not the Pats would keep him. But he’s got the fifth-highest cap hit on the team and will be 31 in the fall. It’s reasonable to think he could start breaking down further in the next season or two, as the wear and tear is bound to catch up with him.

Also, 2015 made it clear that he’s not a viable backup for Julian Edelman in the starting lineup. He needs to remain as the slot receiver, with limited snaps and limited big hits. They played him 75 snaps against the Eagles on an already injured knee, he re-injured it two weeks later and had to managed for the rest of the season. What are the chances now that Amendola can put together an injury-free and highly productive season? The odds are falling with each passing year.

Still, Amendola is a warrior and the Pats would not have won Super Bowl 49 with his vital contributions. Not to mention so many clutch catches in clutch moments the last couple regular seasons. This is a tough one, because the Pats have just one other proven receiver on the team, but it’s seems entirely possible the Pats will decide to move on if Amendola won’t play ball on his contract again.