Re: ***2013 Patriots Draft Thread V2***
posted at 1/20/2013 3:12 AM EST
In response to PatsEng's comment:
In response to Faucetman's comment:
Guys, I know the draft is important and fun for us to follow but we can't ignore how important Free Agency is. I just looked at our current 53 man roster. Of those players only 26 came to us via the draft vs. 27 via free agency. So, we should spend half of our efforts looking at the potential free agents that could become Patriots next year.
The notable non Patriot drafted players currently on the 53 man roster include the following:
Starters
Connolly
Greggory
Lloyd
Love
Ninkovich
Talib
Welker
Wendell
Woodhead
Non-Starters:
Hooman
Koutouvides
McDonald
Rivera
Scott
Thomas
White
That is some serious manpower that came to us via trade or free agency.
I agree, though I think we are pretty set for starters... well almost. Breaking it down as sure starters/back:
O :
- QB - Brady, Mallett
- TE's - Gronk, Hern/Ballard/Fells (depending on if they move Hern to WR)
- I'd resign Houm
- RB's - Ridley, Vereen, Demps (if they don't move him to WR)
- I'd resign Woodhead
- WR - Lloyd: This is an area that you could really target a FA
- I'd resign Welker and Edelman
- C - Wendell - Maybe depth but I like what Wendell did this year
- G - Mankins, Connolly - Again depth is needed maybe a RG but looks pretty good
- T - Solder, Cannon
- I'd resign Vollmer but to me that's a strong group
D:
- DT - Deadrick, Pryor, Wilfork, Love - I think we need another starter next to Wilfork chance in FA?
- DE - Francis, Nink, Jones, Bequette
- I'd resign Scott then I think this group is pretty strong over all
- LB - Fletcher, Mayo, Spikes, Hightower - I'd like to add a coverage LB but that's a solid group
- S - McCourty, Wilson, Gregory, Ebner - I can't see adding a high priced FA and would actually be pretty happy with this group if they don't do anything
- CB - Dennard, Ras, Williams
I'd resign Talib but again this is an area that needs depth or a starter if Talib isn't resigned
All in all you basically have minor depth and only really at WR, CB, and DT the rest are kind of minor pieces. The back end of the 48 man squad on game day. As we've seen WR and CB have been points of weakness in FA so not sure what to expect there. To me the best options are:
At WR: Bowe, Amendola, or Heartline. I see all fitting well with the Pats but I don't want to see Jennings (because of injury concerns) or Wallace (might as well resign Welker for the same cash)
At CB: there really isn't much. I like Grimes but honestly Talib is the best option and getting a CB in the draft at some point
At DT: I'd love to see Stark or Melton on board but not sure BB will pay that much. Getting one in the first might be the best option given the talent in the back of the 1st for DT's
i see the biggest need as getting a pass rusher, in fa or draft. the pressure on qb wth the front 4 is the biggest deficit on the team imo 9esp against better o line/qbs. (we really have have the easiest road to the sb teh last 2 years. i odnt expect that to continue. i also expect the toughest teams to improve. and that doesnt even consider winning the sb. improvements must be made and it starts with being able to pass rush wiht 4.
other needs i see are cb, safety, wr, interior o line (line nees to be beefier. if brady has more than the 2-3 secs he often gets, he will be lethal. ditto for teh rbs), dt. in all of these positions i am referring to starters needed to replace who is on the field. the one non-starter that the club needs is a lb who is fast enough to cover fast lbs and rbs.
my strategy is to get as much as we can in fa, to allow us to be free to grab what we can only get in the draft.
something liek this cleveland deal, esp if beore or very early in fa woudl help designing a very effective fa/draft strategy.
at the moment. non- pat free agent targets for me are pass rusher/dl and free safety.
several pass rushing dl available are michael johnson, osi, freeney, babin, avril, melton, jason jones, randy starks, michael bennett.
pass rushing olb: daryl smith, paul kruger, shaun philips, anthony spencer and connor barwin
if we're in range for ansah or jordan, i take them even if weve already taken a pass rusher in fa.
re safeties ive talked about byrd and goldson; also avail is william moore
if we are able to fill these 2 positions in free agency (speedy linebacker in fa or late rd pick a lower priority need)
(and ansah is off the board) as i have said, i like xavier rhodes 6 2' 215 in rd 1.
remaining big, burner wr in 2
and interior o line in 3.
if we sign no fa's ohter than our own,
vaccaro or okafor/floyd/syl willimas or big speedy wr in rd 1 unless ansah/jordan availble,
rd 2 safety or hunt/taylor/carradine etc or big wr .
o line 3
retain our fa's execpt chung. arrington maybe and tehn only at a 1 year min type contract
