PatsPropaganda

Right now here’s how I see them:

1. Defensive End – see last post. I don’t want to say this team rides or dies on their third defensive end but I think it’s the only uber-critical need. Maybe Buchanan’s ready to make a jump.

2. Running Back – maybe even a 2A need, but they have to protect themselves against Ridley’s fumblitis, and Vereen’s injuries. Not sold on Bolden being more than a JAG anymore.

3. Linebacker – I’d take just about any type, from a downhill Mike to a Coverage Will. Beaharnais will be one to watch in camp. If he can make a jump it lessens the need a bit. Top three LBs are tight. Love Collins as a coverage LB next to Mayo. But after that the depth is thin.

4. Interior Line Depth – I’m all for a high-round pick on a guard or center. But I think a good center will be around in the 2nd/3rd. Need to push Wendell/Connolly, maybe even out of the picture and I don’t feel great about the developmental talent in the pipeline. Think Cannon stays at swing tackle.

5. Tight End – Need a Y for Gronk insurance. An F would be a luxury pick and I see that as less of a need. Just give me a Kyle Brady monster blocking type and I think they’ll get by even if he’s not the biggest receiving threat in the world.

6. Strong Safety – Not critical but I’d love one of the thumpers in the draft and there’s a number of them. Bucanon from WSU is a favorite.

7. Wide Receiver – If the right guy is there I’m all for it, but they have 10 on the roster. Let them develop and let competition injuries play out. I like the potential of Edelman/Amendola/Dobson/LaFell as a top four on paper.

I hear you and it’s definitely the biggest head scratcher of the offseason as I see it, unless you count getting Revis (and that one was in a positive way). My prediction heading into the offseason was that they’d make a splash for a third defensive end to shore up the rotation.

There’s no other way to look at it, they played Chandler and Ninkovich more than any other two defensive ends in the NFL last year and unless they’re counting on Michael Buchanan taking a huge year two leap, or Jake Bequette suddenly doing something, the depth is scary right now.

They had in Will Smith last week. He’s coming off an ACL tear in 2013 after a pretty rough 2012. I guess they could bring back Andre Carter too, but are either of those guys going to take a significant load off of Ninkovich and Chandler?

I don’t care who your secondary is, no one can cover forever if the pass rush doesn’t get there. I don’t think Mallett is really enough to get them to a place in the draft where they could get an immediate pass rush force. Those guys are rare and usually top-10 picks.

So I don’t know what the answer is. They’ll surely pick up somebody here in the dying days of free agency whether it’s Will Smith or someone else that doesn’t get me excited. Hopefully they have a plan because right now, as I see it, the edges of this defense could be their Achilles heel.