From my perspective, a defensive end is priority number one in external free agency. They just can’t go into 2014 planning on running Ninkovich and Chandler into the ground playing almost every snap again.
Mark Anderson is the perfect model, that third guy who can be your designated pass rusher, but also fill in from time to time at defensive end. Buchanan gives some depth and I like him and would love to see him take a big leap forward, but they cannot rely upon that.
With the higher salary cap there will be a lot of big contracts thrown around, but I think the Pats have to make an investment in someone like Jared Allen or Lamarr Houston.
It’s a matter of having guys who can win one-on-one without BB having to be overly aggressive with his scheme by sending extra guys on blitzes. Between Kelly/Wilfork and the young guys I think they’ll be okay at tackle one way or another, but they really need to add a third defensive end in free agency as I see it.