WR and TE
1) We cant go into the year with Troy Brown, Caldwell, Gafney, and Chad Jackson. Who do we go out and get?
2) Can and will we extend Graham?
3) Is Ben Watson even the best TE on this team? Is he the TE of the future?

Why not?

Well, my sense is:

1) Brown gets a year older and you cant expect more from him than he gives you.
2) Caldwell seems like a nice number 2 or 3 who you really dont want as your one.
3) Gafney I am not sure on - he should be in the mix but I dont know where to rank him.
4) Jackson showed zip this year.

I think they need to bring in someone else, not at huge dollars, but someone they think they can get some major production out of to fill out the ranks. Then, if you keep those other guys, you can let the rankings fall out where they may.

Earlier this year people were positing that with the power running game and three tightends they werent going to need the WR. Given the falling off of Watson, the aging of Dillon and the inconsistency of Maroney I dont see how we can go into a season like that again.

Granted, they planned to have Deion Branch in there this year - that likely would have made a huge difference.

Of course we can go into the year with Brown, Caldwell, Gaffney and Chad Jackson. Gaffney is signed through next season at next to nothing, Caldwell was very good this year (would be a great two), Jackson will have a year of learning the system (and hopefully healthy hammies) under his belt, and Brown will be Brown. If we can grab a very good WR then so be it, but this team will not be trading picks for a guy like Moss, or dishing out $8m to T.O. It's just never going to happen, and that's fine with me.

I'd expect Graham to be brought back. He is without a doubt the best blocking TE in the game, and Belichick recognizes the things he does that don't show up in a box score.

I'm not a big Watson guy right now, but the kid is talented. I think this upcoming season will be his make or break year, with Thomas getting a significant bump in playing time if Watson struggles.

The receivers should be better next year with a year in the system under their belts. The only thing I'd like to see is them bring in a burner who can stretch the defense a bit more. Maybe Chad Jackson can be this guy, but if not, they need to get someone in there who can get down field.

As for the TEs, re-signing Graham has to be a priority. I'd also like to see them feature David Thomas more, I like his hands and I think he could be a strength in the passing game.

Coming off an injury David Patten is a guy who could be available if he's released by the Redskins.

I think you need to add a true deep threat to the offense. I am fine with the guys we have but someone who can truly stretcht he defense to keep them honest would be a huge boot to the offense. Doesn't have to be a huge name, just a guy who is a risk to really get behind the defense for the big play on occasion.

David Patten? Kill me now.

The Patriots got killed yesterday in the middle of their defense, highlighting the glaring need for safeties who can play and LBs who are younger and athletic. Eric Alexander got abused over the middle, as did Hawkins and Baker. If they do not franchise Asante Samuel, I expect that they keep and use both first round to select 2 players from the following 3 positions: S, CB and LB.

Unfortunately, Rodney Harrison cannot be relied upon to last a full season and I fear that Eugene Wilson's best days are behind him (the amount he regressed last year w/o Rodney and this year before his injury was truly alarming). If Asante is not signed, then the Patriots secondary is very exposed. Bruschi and Vrabel have been unbelievable pros who will continue to play an important role next year, but neither can cover able TEs. They need an athletic MLB and/or OLB to take some of the pressure off of those guys.

Kudos to Asante and Ellis Hobbs. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne were completely neutralized. If you had told me that at the beginning of the game, I would have said the patriots win by at least 14. Manning slayed all the fictitious demons yesterday. He took what the Patriots gave him (Rhodes, Clark and the others over the middle) and gashed the hell out of the defense.

I would love a big target and a fast one, preferrably in the same package.

I would have liked to have had a receiver with enough speed to run a reverse last night. Bob Sanders overpursuing all night, weak tacklers in the secondary.

I'm hoping against hope that Chad Jackson is not a bust. If this guy can step up, stay on the field, practice hard, and learn the playbook, it'll be a huge plus.

They need a WR that can make the double-move and really get the big play down the field. Branch wasn't great, but he could some things.

I'm of the opinion a WR will be taken in the first three picks, since I expect they'll target a safety in free-agency, and they'll draft two defensive players still.

Graham is a must-sign if you want my opinion.

I keep Gaffney, but I think Caldwell is 50-50 at this point.

This depends entirely on the internal opinion of Chad Jackson as a football on these Patriots. Was it injury-related? Playbook (outside of a fly pattern)? Maturity/attitude?

He has all the tools -- good size, great speed, supposedly good hands -- to be as good as Branch (though in a different way).

This is tough; if Graham and Brown are retained, and they feel Jackson can progress, I might stay put as there isn't much on the UFA market.

Guys like Drew Bennett or Kevin Curtis are worth consideration; Bennett could be a nice compliment to what the Pats already have while Curtis is in the mold of the "smurf" receivers they have been fond of in the past.

What is Mike Furrey's situation; I know he signed a 1-year deal in the off-season?

FWIW, I'd be shocked if they spent a draft pick on a WR before the 3rd round.

The draft report seemed to suggest that there would be some decent wide receivers available in the later rounds. Are there any Mushin Muhammed type veterans available in this upcoming offseason? Someone with Troy Brown's hands, but perhaps with the ability to create separation?

Reche wasn't bad (until the Colts game), but he's a fourth receiver in an ideal scenario.

Here are the 2007 FA WR's:

Drew Bennett, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Marc Boerigter, UFA, Green Bay Packers
David Boston, UFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tyrone Calico, UFA, Tennessee Titans
Patrick Crayton, RFA, Dallas Cowboys
Kevin Curtis, UFA, St. Louis Rams
Andre' Davis, UFA, Buffalo Bills
Bobby Engram, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Justin Gage, UFA, Chicago Bears
D.J. Hackett, RFA, Seattle Seahawks
Keenan McCardell, UFA, San Diego Chargers
Shaun McDonald, UFA, St. Louis Rams
Samie Parker, RFA, Kansas City Chiefs
Jerome Pathon, UFA, Atlanta Falcons
Willie Ponder, UFA, New York Giants
Edell Shepherd, RFA, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Travis Taylor, UFA, Minnesota Vikings
Scottie Vines, RFA, Detroit Lions
Bobby Wade UFA Tennessee Titans
Peter Warrick, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
Kelley Washington, UFA, Cincinnati Bengals
Alvis Whitted, UFA, Oakland Raiders
Ernest Wilford, RFA, Jacksonville Jaguars

This is slim pickings, though Wilford and Calico are size guys that stand out.

Bobby Engram stands out a bit to me in that crew. Good hands, good guy, good career.

Bobby Wade? I would like them to bring him in for a visit then pull a code red on him.