The Patriots must find an outside wide receiver to help their inside passing game. If they draft a wideout – no matter how talented – his ability to help them in 2011 will be limited due to a lack of understanding of the offense. The Patriots need a veteran player who can keep up with where their offense is right now. They need someone who can hit the ground running.

So as the Patriots prepare their need list, they will know the free-agent or trade market can solve their receiver need, and the draft will have to solve their issues on defense. Marrying the draft with free agency is another element that should be happening for every team right now. The organizations that do this the best will have the best offseasons.