Well between what I know and what I have read put forth by other posters here, and "professional" analysts I have put together what makes sense to me.

QB: First tender Hoyer at the second round level and work out a trade.
      Mallett is suprising many with his dedication and ability from everything I
      have read and is the heir apparent.

RB: This is a no brainer there is plenty of tallent here and you only need to
      suppliment.

TE: Sign a TE for depth on the cheap who is a blocking machine.

WR: Resign Welker and Go after Wallace if he is attainable for a first round
      (#31), or One of the other top WR's like Bowe, Jackson or Lloyd. Lloyd is my
      last choice here only because of his age 31 compared to 26,27, and 29
      respectively for the rest.

OL: I would consider going after one guy for the Oline in free agency... Scott
     Wells FA Green Bay, possibly the best Center in the NFL. He will cost ya
     though so probably going to resign Koppen and draft his replacement next
     year because this year only one Center ready to play day one in the draft.

DL: Retain Mark Anderson, let Carter go (age and cost taken into account here
      along with injury). Here is where I suprise and I go after Calais Campbell,
      DE/DT FA Cardinals. G-R-E-A-T 3-4 DE who is 26 September 1st. He is a
      great pass-rusher, can block kicks, and has even been seen dropping into
      coverage!

LB: I think this is a place where you have to make a move and draft a OLB that
     will put pressure on the QB and help out Mayo, and Spikes. Markell Carter a
     practics squad OLB who the Patriots love so much they over paid to keep
     him here when other teams came calling will be one of the OLB's but they
     need to sign another. Belicheck tends to prefer FAcy for this position to
     drafting. So I see him going after a player like Erin Henderson OLB FA Vikings.
     He is only 26 so they could get him for the best years of his career.

CB: I am not in panick mode here as they will be fine if Ras-I Dowling returns
      from injury, and McCourty is ok after a bad Sophmore slump. Look for them
      to draft a CB in round 2 as this is a very deeeeeep position this year.

S: Outside of Chung who was hurt half the time this year our safety situation      SUCKED! And the draft is weak in safties outside of Barron who is a Chung        clone so I see the Patriots going after Tyvon Branch FA Oakland.

Specialists: K, and P couple of the best in NFL, Long snapper was solid but if I
                was the Pats I would go after a Kick/Punt return specialist and if                     you can get a bonus of a position player like CB/WR etc all the
                better. 

well this post looks odd guess you can't profile the paragraphs. And do you ever get the feeling Belichick is playing 3 Dimensional Chess and the rest of us are playing tic tac doh?

Good post, I like just about everything except letting Carter go but other than that some good ideas.

I think they had better get some talented/experienced players in the secondary and I'd love to see them get an experienced linebacker, because they struggled in coverage at both spots. 

I'd like to see them get some sort of wide receiver that has some explosiveness and burst in his legs. I'm tired of watching guys not get seperation and having to watch our QB have very little space to throw into, against good defenses it was painfull to watch a guy like Branch get blanketed all over the field.
 
I'm not sure I'd call our running back position set. We have no idea what we have in Vareen - he's so little that he looks like he might be a third down back. Ridley showed promise, but in all honesty there was nowhere near enough playing time to really know what you have with him. I think BJGE is back up material.

I think one of our biggest needs is the defensive line, Id like to see them get an end that can really play in the 34 and make our outside guys look better. I don't like watching Wilfork play almost every down...we need someone to be able to come in to rotate with him...maybe Love, but I think he gets pushed around too much.

We've got 20 million to spend - we need to spend it on real starting material NFL talent.

I never said RB was set... I did say there was plenty of tallent here and all that was needed was a pickup to suppliment. Ridley I think will be the Every down back, Vereen the change of pace, and Woodley the 3rd down back. Hernandez will get some reps out of the backfield don't forget. 

Looking at that mix tells me there is not a lot of balls left to go around when you have Brady and the likely enhanced receiving corps. So you sign a guy who is a solid backup.

you guys r dumb about scott wells hes the same as we have hes 31...kinda old and made the probowl this year so everyone is saying hes stud also hes more inline mauler than quick puller which koppen was exellent they may draft an heir but still can use koppen and connoly and mcdonald needs a shot.

Nice post.  I agree with most.  I think a few key players through FA and the draft and the Patriots are back on track.  And Bspikes55, is this the pot calling the kettle black when you call other posters dumb?

In Response to Re: Patriots 2012 Crystal Ball:


LOL...was thinking the same thing. Perhaps Mr. Spikes could re-take english writing skills before calling others dumb?

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Welker was a second rounder tender for Miami, and look where that left Miami.  Hoyer isn't playing some JAG position, he's a quarterback.  If Miami offers Hoyer a 1 year contract for 6 million with a 5 year option, is BB going to take Miami's second rounder or is he going to pony up the big cash?

I'm really bothered by the running back situation.  RBs are supposed to come right in and start.  Just grab the rock and hit the hole, no cute plays to worry about.  Ridley might learn to hold the football more securely, and Vereen might recover from his injuries, or he might ride the bench for three years and then get cut.  That leaves Benny and Woody, who are ok.

BB has a blocking machine at tight end.  His name is Solder.  Buy Nate a jugs machine for the offseason.  If Gronk is an enormous target then Nate is the broad side of a barn. Nate's pretty quick for a 300 pounder,

In Response to Re: Patriots 2012 Crystal Ball  Why worry about running backs...all the talk about ridleys fumbles.....one was stupid and the other had 3 players around him yanking at the ball..... He shoed he can run hard and even get to the edge...  and i cant wait to see a healthy vereen..... MY worry is the OL holding up there end when called on to run block

In Response to Re: Patriots 2012 Crystal Ball:


Apparently they are looking at RB's.  (due diligence)

2. Florida running back/receiver Chris Rainey. Perhaps the fastest player in the draft, the 5-foot-8, 180-pound Rainey said he's shooting for a 4.1 time in the 40-yard dash at the combine. "I'm going for the big one," he said. Rainey also was preparing to meet with Patriots coach Bill Belichick here at the combine. "My agent has been talking to me about him, so he's ready to interview me. I'll be ready," Rainey said. When it comes to adding more speed and dynamic play to the Patriots' offense and special teams, Rainey could fit the bill in the early to mid rounds

As far as the Center Issue I agree Koppen is a good Center but his age and injury issue has begun and his ability to pull will likely lesson with age and injury and so in my opinion I would do what I could to get Konz.

In Response to Re: Patriots 2012 Crystal Ball:


he was also in weis's offense! so Bill just might be able to get the inside scoop on him.  off field issues worry me though, but if he hits 4.1 and weis approves him i would do it.

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