PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

2014 offseason

Ranking the Patriots 11 Pre-Free Agency Needs

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Below are the specific team needs for the Pats as I see them before free agency. This is more a list of needs than wants, hence positions like center and are listed over positions like wide receiver and corner where players like Edelman and Talib are the main focuses.

Here’s our Pre-Free Agency Depth Chart for reference.

  1. Center – Wendell could be back, but could he be upgraded? Or maybe Connolly goes back to center after spending two years at guard. This will be figured out before the draft. Big spender: Alex Mack. Don’t count on that. 
  2. Y-Tight End – No tight end on roster but Gronk. And Gronk hurt. How about Scott Chandler from Buffalo? We can save the move tight end for later. Need to solidify the position with a Dan Graham-type, and then whatever Gronk comes back with (and whenever), is a bonus. Or do they bring back Hooman and Mulligan and count on Gronk again? Risky…
  3. Defensive Tackle – This could be a top-3 need or a bottom-3 need depending on Wilfork, Armstead and Kelly’s recovery. I wanted Randy Starks last season, I’d take him this offseason too. Or how about a flyer on Henry Melton? One veteran free agent would do the trick I think, but there are so many unknowns at this point. Melton or Starks would really be perfect. Or even Arthur Jones. Has to be tempting to play with his brobeans.
  4. Cornerback – Talib is a difference maker, the Pats need him to play press man. Maybe Brent Grimes would be a nice fallback option, he had  a great year in Miami. But if Talib’s presence proved anything the last two years, it’s that the Pats are a different team with a corner they trust to handle the number one threat. The injuries are slightly concerning, he really needs to work on his hip problems, they keep popping up. But I’d take him back, injuries and all. He has to put together a healthy season at some point, right?
  5. Defensive End – Third swing guy/designated pass rusher. Free agent to compete with Buchanan/Bequette. Someone in the Mark Anderson mold. Ideally Buchanan develops, that’s most cost-effective. Free agent defensive ends tend to be overpriced, but the Pats always take a flyer on someone like Marcus Benard and Anderson, guys who might’ve gotten derailed by injuries and are looking to bounce back on the cheap.
  6. Middle Linebacker – I like moving Hightower to MLB now, Fletcher could be back to provide depth, but I’d love to see another WILL added in the 6’2", 240 range who can run. Just have to be careful not to totally abandon all run-stoppers. I think Spikes is gone after believing he had a chance to return for most of the year.
  7. Wide Receiver – Everyone wants Edelman back, but they have 10 WRs under contract already and could survive without him. Although someone like Eric Decker would really compliment Amendola, Dobson and Thompkins well. So hard to imagine them paying Edelman after paying Amendola. Tough spot for the Pats.
  8. Running Back – Blount would round out the squad, but they need Ridley insurance regardless. If they don’t bring back Blount (which I think they will) could see a 3rd or 4th rounder here.
  9. F-Tight End – Pats never had a chance to replace Hernandez, could they target a “move” TE in the draft now? This is more of a luxury position as I see it. Getting a three-down Y is the priority and if there’s a Hernandez type in the draft go for it. Doubt we see a free agency move on a guy like this, they’re rare.
  10. Quarterback – finding a Brady replacement starts this offseason. I’d prefer the draft but with rumors the Texans now might be interested in Mallett (god bless them) they might want a vet in town sooner than later.
  11. Swing Tackle – depth was tested this year with injuries to Solder/Vollmer/Cannon at various times. Svitek could re-sign and then they’re good.

20 random thoughts about the Patriots’ 2014 offseason

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Put together my offseason depth chart and from there determined what the needs are going to be. From that comes these 20 questions that are kicking around in my mind.

  1. Will another team jump at Edelman or does the fact that he played in the Patriots’ system scare some teams off? As James Christensen pointed out, Houston would make a lot of sense. Edelman between Johnson and Hopkins would make a tough receiving corps. Pats have Amendola and TJ Moe if they have to replace Edelman. Not ideal, but not dead in the water either.
  2. What will become of the Tampa Two – Talib & Blount. They’ve been headline players this season, will they want to stick around? Likely Blount is the easier to re-sign and Talib’s injuries had to drop his price a bit.
  3. There’s some depth built up at defensive tackle with Vellano, Siliga and Chris Jones getting a good amount of experience this season. Add them to Wilfork/Kelly/Armstead and that’s not a bad group, but I still think they’d go after a top defensive tackle in the draft if one fell.
  4. What can we count on Wilfork, Tommy Kelly and Gronk for? Both are coming off major surgeries. So hard to plan the offseason with major players doing major rehab.
  5. Now might be a good time to draft another quarterback to start grooming, especially if you’re not sold on Mallett like I am not sold on him. But do they go with a pocket passer like Brady/Mallet? Or take a look at more of an athlete to develop under Brady’s final years?
  6. How much of  a jump can Amendola make in Year Two with the Pats? Enough to make Edelman expendable? They didn’t pay Amendola that much dough to back up Edelman, but he’s more expensive to cut this year that to keep. In a do over the Pats would likely just give Edelman the Amendola deal, but it’s too late for that now. But it’s not crazy to think he’ll progress with healthy (however temporary) and more time with Brady. 
  7. Could Logan Ryan take over for Talib? It would likely put the Pats back into a zone team, and that is a step back as I see it.
  8. Has Wendell shown enough to merit a long-term commitment this offseason? Or do they try to upgrade him? His pass protection deficiencies were clear for a second year in a row. 
  9. What about Connolly? He’s slated to make $4 million this year in the final year of his contract. I think you restructure him and keep him with the expectation to make him the interior backup. If he has to start at center or guard so be it. 
  10. Are Dobson/Thompkins answers at the X-receiver spot? Or could they take some more shots on other potential guys? Not saying a high-priced free agent or high-round pick. Maybe Mark Harrison gets in the mix there. The rookies need to make a jump for this offense to take strides.
  11. What about the F-TE spot? They never had a Hernandez replacement this season, they should target a move tight end this offseason. Though technically I think this is more of a luxury position and to think you need a multi-tool like Hernandez in this role is a little unrealistic. If they can find a move tight end, great. If not, they can manage.
  12. A lot of good pieces in place on defense. They could do nothing outside of figuring out the middle linebacker spot and they’d be okay. I do think Hightower goes to MLB now. Him, Mayo and Collins are an athletic group that should really shine in 2014.
  13. Can Michael Buchanan take over the backup defensive end/designated pass rusher role he held early in the season but lost to Andre Carter later? He needs to make a jump.
  14. Is it even worth wondering about Jake Bequette anymore?
  15. If the Pats can’t keep Blount how do they look for a lead back over Ridley? Mid-round draft pick sounds about right. But I think they’ll keep Blount.
  16. Anyone else wondering what happened to Shane Vereen down the stretch? Were our expectations too high? Or were teams focusing on him? He and Amendola didn’t play like we needed them to for a Super Bowl run.
  17. Pats should look at extending McCourty and Solder this offseason. Maybe even Gostkowski too.
  18. Wilfork’s due to make $11.6 million this season. If he’s not his same old self all options will be on the table (unfortunately).
  19. Same thing with Tommy Kelly ($3 million).
  20. It will be a tough offseason to plan and project. A lot of guys coming back from injuries and a lot of interesting internal free agents. Should be fascinating to see how BB attacks it.

And we’re back at it…

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Nice to take a little break yesterday and let the 2013 season fully marinate. The celebration and analysis of the campaign will slowly start to trickle in as we gain perspective.

Now, let the offseason begin!

Fun place to start is OverTheCap.com.

Pats have just $7.9 million in space for this offseason.  The NFL average is about $16 million, so the Pats have less room than most.

But cut Dan Connolly, Adrian Wilson, and Isaac Sopoaga and that gets them up to $13.2 million.

Cut Vince Wilfork (just sayin’) and it goes up to $20.7 million. They could also extend him to reduce his cap hit, the more likely option.

There will definitely be holes to fill, but overall the Pats have a good young base, especially on defense.

I don’t think they should hesitate to explore any and every available option at wide receiver and tight end. The middle of the offensive line must be reinforced.

Edelman could go either way right now as I see it.

Talib has recurring injury issues and that should make him more affordable. His value to the secondary is clear.

I think he and Blount would be smart to stay and hopefully they both do.

Otherwise, welcome to another long, cold offseason.