Draft Needs: A Look to 2016

Super Nomario

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The Patriots got very little out of their top two picks last year (Easley and Garoppolo) and guys like Fleming, White, and Moore made only modest contributions - and this isn't at all unusual. The draft is frequently about the year after. With that in mind, here's who is under contract for 2016 by position group.
 
QB: Brady, Garoppolo
All set there.
 
RB: Bolden, Cadet, White, Tyler Gaffney
This is a pretty weak group. I think pretty much everyone expects a RB at some point in the draft, and it wouldn't surprise me if it's sooner rather than later. Re-sigining Blount and / or Gray is also an option.
 
C: Stork
Starter is set but could probably use a backup at some point (maybe re-signing Wendell).
 
G: None
Cannon or Fleming could shift over, Wendell or Josh Kline could re-sign ... but yeah, that's not a solid depth chart.
 
T: Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming
Most likely they re-sign Solder, but this is certainly an option as there's no obvious LT candidate here.
 
WR: Edelman, LaFell, Dobson, Slater, Amendola (cuttable)
Probably could use a third wideout, unless they think Amendola or Dobson will bounce back.
 
TE: Gronkowski, Chandler
Re-signing Hoomanawanui or Wright seems possible, but could add here.
 
DL: Branch, Easley, Chris Jones
They could re-sign Siliga but still could probably use a war daddy type.
 
Edge: Chandler Jones (fifth-year option), Ninkovich, Sheard, Bequette, Moore, Buchanan
The strongest group on the team other than QB.
 
LB: Hightower (fifth-year option), Collins, Mayo (cuttable), a couple guys named Eric Martin and Cameron Gordon
Could use depth here.
 
CB: Ryan, Butler, Arrington (cuttable)
Yikes. Other than G, probably in the worst shape (and I like these guys more than most).
 
S: McCourty, Chung, Harmon
In decent shape. Seems likely they re-sign Ebner and / or Wilson for STs.
 
Specialists: None
Seems likely they work out an extension with Allen and maybe Gost, but they could certainly look to the draft (or priority FA process) for a K and LS.
 
I'd rank the position groups in terms of most bleak to least as: (need starters) G, ST, CB, T, RB, DL (could use depth) WR, LB, C, TE, S (fine as-is) Edge, QB. Of course, they could fill many of these holes through re-signing current players or the FA market.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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You forgot Dennard at CB. I know he had a tough season, but I'm no tgiving up on his promising rookie season just yet.
 

Shelterdog

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Super Nomario said:
The Patriots got very little out of their top two picks last year (Easley and Garoppolo) and guys like Fleming, White, and Moore made only modest contributions - and this isn't at all unusual. The draft is frequently about the year after. With that in mind, here's who is under contract for 2016 by position group.
 
QB: Brady, Garoppolo
All set there.
 
RB: Bolden, Cadet, White, Tyler Gaffney
This is a pretty weak group. I think pretty much everyone expects a RB at some point in the draft, and it wouldn't surprise me if it's sooner rather than later. Re-sigining Blount and / or Gray is also an option.
 
C: Stork
Starter is set but could probably use a backup at some point (maybe re-signing Wendell).
 
G: None
Cannon or Fleming could shift over, Wendell or Josh Kline could re-sign ... but yeah, that's not a solid depth chart.
 
T: Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming
Most likely they re-sign Solder, but this is certainly an option as there's no obvious LT candidate here.
 
WR: Edelman, LaFell, Dobson, Slater, Amendola (cuttable)
Probably could use a third wideout, unless they think Amendola or Dobson will bounce back.
 
TE: Gronkowski, Chandler
Re-signing Hoomanawanui or Wright seems possible, but could add here.
 
DL: Branch, Easley, Chris Jones
They could re-sign Siliga but still could probably use a war daddy type.
 
Edge: Chandler Jones (fifth-year option), Ninkovich, Sheard, Bequette, Moore, Buchanan
The strongest group on the team other than QB.
 
LB: Hightower (fifth-year option), Collins, Mayo (cuttable), a couple guys named Eric Martin and Cameron Gordon
Could use depth here.
 
CB: Ryan, Butler, Arrington (cuttable)
Yikes. Other than G, probably in the worst shape (and I like these guys more than most).
 
S: McCourty, Chung, Harmon
In decent shape. Seems likely they re-sign Ebner and / or Wilson for STs.
 
Specialists: None
Seems likely they work out an extension with Allen and maybe Gost, but they could certainly look to the draft (or priority FA process) for a K and LS.
 
I'd rank the position groups in terms of most bleak to least as: (need starters) G, ST, CB, T, RB, DL (could use depth) WR, LB, C, TE, S (fine as-is) Edge, QB. Of course, they could fill many of these holes through re-signing current players or the FA market.
 
This is a great post--we see the pats pick guys who don't quite fill holes as rookies but do as second year guys over and over. 
 
I'd push tackle down and DT up your list of needs--I think they do re-sign Solder and then you're ok at T, and I think it's 50-50 at best if Branch is here in 2016 in which case you'd really like to have more at the position. 
 

Super Nomario

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Kenny F'ing Powers said:
You forgot Dennard at CB. I know he had a tough season, but I'm no tgiving up on his promising rookie season just yet.
He's a FA after this year and not under contract for 2016.
 
 
Shelterdog said:
 
This is a great post--we see the pats pick guys who don't quite fill holes as rookies but do as second year guys over and over. 
 
I'd push tackle down and DT up your list of needs--I think they do re-sign Solder and then you're ok at T, and I think it's 50-50 at best if Branch is here in 2016 in which case you'd really like to have more at the position. 
Yeah, that's one where it's not super-bleak on paper but the internal options aren't great so I'd expect them to draft there, maybe high. But it also kind of depends on what the defensive front is going to look like and I don't have any sense of that right now.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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Super Nomario said:
He's a FA after this year and not under contract for 2016.
 
 
Yeah, but in my defense I completely ignored the premise of your post.
 

E5 Yaz

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I'm unclear as to what Dobson would be bouncing back to