Living with the status quo

[Super Nomario]

The Patriots have certainly been busy this offseason, re-signing Edelman and Hoomanawanui and adding Revis, Browner, and LaFell. Still, there are some soft spots on the roster. It's unlikely they'll have cap room or the draft picks to shore up all these positions, so the question is: what can you live with, and what is flat out unacceptable?
 
TE - currently rostered: Rob Gronkowski, Michael Hoomanawanui, D.J. Williams. Why status quo is acceptable: When healthy, Gronk is elite, and he figures to be healthy at some point. Hoomanawanui was basically the starting TE last year and knows the system. The WR depth looks adequate for running 3-WR sets, so we won't need a second starting-caliber TE. Why it's unacceptable: Who knows when Gronk will be healthy, and how close to 100% he will be? A dynamic Hernandez-type TE would create matchup problems and improve the offense. Uh Oh and Williams are JAGs.
 
C/RG - currently rostered: Dan Connolly, Marcus Cannon, Josh Kline, Chris Barker, Braxston Cave. Why it's acceptable: Connolly can shift back to C, where he was fine in 2011. Cannon was a fine fill-in last year at RT and looks ready for a bigger role. Kline did OK when pressed into action last year. Why it's unacceptable: Connolly is long in the tooth and hasn't been very good the past couple seasons. Cannon's an unknown at G, and the second-year guys haven't shown anything.
 
DT - currently rostered: Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Armond Armstead, Sealver Siliga, Chris Jones, Joe Vellano, Marcus Forster. Why it's acceptable: Wilfork and Kelly have been very good NFL players, and both were hurt early enough that they're likely to be healthy. Siliga and Jones had some spurts of productivity last year. Armstead was highly regarded before missing the season due to illness. Why it's unacceptable: Wilfork may have asked for his release, and neither he nor Kelly are roster locks. Siliga had 6 good games; is he ready for prime time? The other youngsters have been below-average, and Armstead is a total question mark.
 
SS - currently rostered: Duron Harmon, Adrian Wilson, Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner, Kanorris Davis. Why it's acceptable: Harmon looked pretty good last year. Adrian Wilson was useful as recently as 2012. The rest of the secondary's so terrific that they don't need a lot of production here. Why it's unacceptable: Adrian Wilson's old and coming off a serious injury. He also looked bad in the preseason. Harmon seems fine but isn't a classic SS-type. Tavon Wilson regressed last year.
 
DE - currently rostered: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Michael Buchanan, Jake Bequette. Why it's acceptable: Jones and Ninkovich are a productive starting pair. Why it's unacceptable: Bequette's shown nothing in two seasons, and Buchanan was benched pretty much the entire second half of last year. Jones and Ninkovich played a very high number of snaps for DEs.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

My list from biggest to smallest priority.

DE
C/RG
TE
DT
SS

 

[Ed Hillel]

If Vince is in the fold:
 
C/RG
DE
TE
SS
DT
 
If Vince is not in the fold:
 
C//RG
DE
DT
TE
SS
 
I am very surprised to see people being most comfortable with DE. They have absolutely no depth whatsoever at the position, and they have to lose substantial production having 2 people take so many of the snaps. Center is at the top for me because I think Wendell kind of sucks, and the number one priority is keeping Brady on his feet and avoiding pressure up the middle. I'm not as worried about SS because I think Harmon and Browner will make for a pretty good combo. Plus, they have Tavon Wilson!
 
I will caveat the "if they don't have Vince" thing with the fact that if he's not here, they'll almost certainly be adding something to one of those other positions with his money, so that's my list in a vacuum.

 

[nothumb]

I voted DT for biggest need, but really would have preferred to just have the option of voting "best available DL, please." 

 

[soxfan121]

This team is FUCKED without Tom Brady. Protecting Tom Brady is essential. Giving Tom Brady time to find open receivers has resulted in marginally talented guys looking very good. 
 
I will be upset if the #1 priority is not solidifying the interior of the OL. Mankins has to go either next year or the year after. Connelly can plug a gap but isn't a long term answer. Cannon's body type is weird for a guard and he might be needed outside if Vollmer continues to have injury problems OR Solder's concussion problems return. 
 
Adding more pass catchers isn't going to help if there's no time for them to run routes or get open. 
 
Get me the next iteration of Logan Mankins in the first round, please.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

This team is FUCKED without Tom Brady. Protecting Tom Brady is essential. Giving Tom Brady time to find open receivers has resulted in marginally talented guys looking very good. 
 
I will be upset if the #1 priority is not solidifying the interior of the OL. Mankins has to go either next year or the year after. Connelly can plug a gap but isn't a long term answer. Cannon's body type is weird for a guard and he might be needed outside if Vollmer continues to have injury problems OR Solder's concussion problems return. 
 
Adding more pass catchers isn't going to help if there's no time for them to run routes or get open. 
 
Get me the next iteration of Logan Mankins in the first round, please.

 
 
If you could only choose one reason, do you feel that way based on salary or performance?

 

[SMU_Sox]

My number one concern is DE. They need another pass rushing DE. If Jones or Nink gets hurt they are in trouble. They could also use a sub for either one of those two. Their depth here is putrid and a pass rush with that secondary would be a formidable D. 
 
My next concern is a tie between interior O-Line and DT. With our first four picks if you told me we got two guys slotted for C and G (those guys might be OT/OG or OG/C's), a DE, and a DT or DE/DT I'd be ecstatic. I think the level of talent in the first four rounds houses plenty of options although some are more gameday ready than others.
 
On offense I think we have enough with the skilled players to make due - same for the secondary even if we could use another DB or two.

 

[PedraMartina]

I'm surprised that nobody seems to have any concerns about our now completely depleted linebacking depth.  That is a potentially dominant starting 3, but we are one snap away from having Ja'Gared Davis as a starting LB on this team.

 

[Super Nomario]

I'm surprised that nobody seems to have any concerns about our now completely depleted linebacking depth.  That is a potentially dominant starting 3, but we are one snap away from having Ja'Gared Davis as a starting LB on this team.

LB depth is a concern (RB, too), but I don't see them using a top-2 pick there, do you? Steve Beauharnais is the X-factor, I think: they liked him enough to redshirt him last year but not enough to play him.
 
At the beginning of the offseason, it seemed like folks were convinced they'd go TE early and often, but as the offseason wears on it seems less of a pressing need. I think I'd rather see them address interior OL, pass rush, or even SS with the first two picks instead of TE.

 

[crystalline]

Also, is SS less of a need now that the Pats have upgraded CB and with Mayo as a strong run support LB and McCourty solid at FS?

Good thread.

I don't think there is any way Vince us back. So my list goes C, DE, DT, SS, TE. I put DT below DE because Kelly and Siliga can be a decent top 2, and Jones and Vellano OK rotation pieces. I'd still look to pick up UDFA options. At DE they need guys to spell Jones and Nink because they didn't trust the guys behind them to do so last year.
Agreed with SN that TE seemed like a concern but with the signings at WR they may shift the offense that way.

 

[soxfan121]

 
 
If you could only choose one reason, do you feel that way based on salary or performance?

 
Salary. The cap hits until the end of his contract are onerous. And while he is the toughest player I've seen in my lifetime as a fan, there's a lot of miles and lot of tread off the tires. $11M for a guard only makes sense if the player is an All-Pro and given the natural decline of aging players and the trend on Mankins in particular, it won't be worth it.

 

[Toe Nash]

This team is FUCKED without Tom Brady. Protecting Tom Brady is essential. Giving Tom Brady time to find open receivers has resulted in marginally talented guys looking very good. 
 
I will be upset if the #1 priority is not solidifying the interior of the OL. Mankins has to go either next year or the year after. Connelly can plug a gap but isn't a long term answer. Cannon's body type is weird for a guard and he might be needed outside if Vollmer continues to have injury problems OR Solder's concussion problems return. 
 
Adding more pass catchers isn't going to help if there's no time for them to run routes or get open. 
 
Get me the next iteration of Logan Mankins in the first round, please.

I agree with this. OL seems to be the position where not only could they use depth, but there is a good chance for a high pick to be a definite upgrade over the projected starter.
 
DE/DT: I am concerned about the depth behind them but Jones and Nink are fine at DE and Kelly / Armstead / Siliga are a good start inside. I think if the team found Chris Jones and Vellano for free they can likely do so with DE backups. I'm also not convinced that a top DE would be a big upgrade over what they have, and you should see a better pass rush by virtue of playing more man and blitzing more. I also have a pet theory that to beat Manning, the pass rush isn't particularly important because he gets rid of it so quickly, and coverage, particularly being physical at the line to throw off timing, is more important. This also applies to mobile QBs like Luck and hey, Vick too -- holding the edge and collapsing the pocket is more important than finesse rushes, and Jones and Nink seem to be good at that.
 
TE: You're not going to find a better player than Gronk anywhere and as noted they seem to have the WRs to run 3WR sets most of the time. Like DE, you'll see diminishing returns here if you use a high pick on a TE because even if they're good they're not going to play much this year, unless they know Gronk's recovery isn't going well (please no). I'm pretty OK with Hooman until Gronk is back.
 
SS: This would be my second priority, but I don't know who's available. I do think Harmon or whoever will be helped a lot by having so much talent around him.

 

[soxfan121]

After OL, I think DL is the next priority. Regardless of what happens with Vince, the interior of the DL needs to be addressed. Depth on the edges of the DL would also be helpful; Jones and Ninkovich are going to play most of the snaps but getting them a rest more often may increase their effectiveness. A young, active, quick DT would be ideal, especially if Siliga is for real and can hold down the space eater role. 
 
After that, I'd be looking at OL again because while there is no starting C right now and some pieces can be moved around, at least two spots will need replacement or reinforcement next season. I am really worried about Solder's concussion issues and Vollmer's contract makes clear the team is worried about his long term durability. Offensive lineman can and often do contribute early (so do DL for that matter) and can fit in as key pieces in the concluding chapters of Tom Brady's career. Taking two OL in the first three rounds, along with a DT, addresses the team's biggest needs - protecting Brady and improving the pass rush. 
 
After that, look for a TE with some warts and/or problems (Lyerla, who I know is a divisive character, makes a ton of sense if you buy the "Bill just don't give a fuck" theory) and a big hitting safety who can back up McCourty. Oh, and a LB. 
 
Shit...still lots of holes, huh?

 

[Super Nomario]

After OL, I think DL is the next priority. Regardless of what happens with Vince, the interior of the DL needs to be addressed. Depth on the edges of the DL would also be helpful; Jones and Ninkovich are going to play most of the snaps but getting them a rest more often may increase their effectiveness. A young, active, quick DT would be ideal, especially if Siliga is for real and can hold down the space eater role. 
 
After that, I'd be looking at OL again because while there is no starting C right now and some pieces can be moved around, at least two spots will need replacement or reinforcement next season. I am really worried about Solder's concussion issues and Vollmer's contract makes clear the team is worried about his long term durability. Offensive lineman can and often do contribute early (so do DL for that matter) and can fit in as key pieces in the concluding chapters of Tom Brady's career. Taking two OL in the first three rounds, along with a DT, addresses the team's biggest needs - protecting Brady and improving the pass rush. 
 
After that, look for a TE with some warts and/or problems (Lyerla, who I know is a divisive character, makes a ton of sense if you buy the "Bill just don't give a fuck" theory) and a big hitting safety who can back up McCourty. Oh, and a LB. 
 
Shit...still lots of holes, huh?

That's why I did this; there really are a lot of holes, and you didn't even talk about RB, where they're a Vereen injury or Ridley benching away from a lot of Brandon Bolden.
 
I agree OL is the biggest priority but I don't know if I'd spend 2 of my first 3 picks on it. They could try to trade back for some additional ammo to fill these holes. I think ideally they'd bring back Wendell for a couple years on short money / guarantees (it doesn't seem like anyone's knocking on his door too hard). Draft a combo G/OT type in round 1 or 2 (Zack Martin, Xavier Su'a-Filo, Joel Bitonio) and a pure C-type in the 6th (Russell Bodine, James Stone, Gabe Ikard, Tyler Larsen). Let Wendell, Connolly, 6th-round C, (Braxston Cave) compete for C, and high pick, Connolly, Cannon, Kline, (Chris Barker) compete for RG. Plan on cutting one of Connolly / Wendell unless the young guys just look terrible, and have depth and options no matter what.

 

[RedOctober3829]

The priority, as stated in posts above, has to be the lines on both sides of the ball.  I'm happy with our 2 starting DE's(which is why I voted the way I did), but there needs to be more explosion brought in on the edges to be used in passing situations. I'd also like a DT brought in as well.   I'd like to think there could be at least 1 starter at either RG or C to be had in the draft.  TE is next on my list and that should be addressed in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft.  SS isn't nearly as important as the positions I've outlined if the rest of the secondary plays like it should.   

 

[Reardon's Beard]

First four rounds, nothing but lines. Offensive, defensive, trade up, trade down, trade all around. To guard, to tackle, to center, who's better? From end to end, draft the best, the window is closing; Now is the time.

 

[Stitch01]

I disagree that there are a lot of holes for March. Most positions need more depth and some that they'd like to upgrade, but they have a whole draft and a few mid range free agency signings available to address this. Even on the lines (and I agree that they should be big draft priority, particularly trying to upgrade at guard and center) they would have good starting units if they had to play tomorrow. No one they draft or sign from here on out absolutely has to start next year, which is a good place to be.

The only spot that sticks out to me as a challenge to fill is another pass rusher at DE.

 

[soxfan121]

I disagree that there are a lot of holes for March. Most positions need more depth and some that they'd like to upgrade, but they have a whole draft and a few mid range free agency signings available to address this. Even on the lines (and I agree that they should be big draft priority, particularly trying to upgrade at guard and center) they would have good starting units if they had to play tomorrow. No one they draft or sign from here on out absolutely has to start next year, which is a good place to be.

The only spot that sticks out to me as a challenge to fill is another pass rusher at DE.

 
Upon further review, you are correct. The number of places where an upgrade would be appreciated is far larger than the number of spots missing a competent player. There are zero of those, until injuries, but they could go with this group now. There are always upgrades to dream about. I appreciate the clarification. 

 

[SeoulSoxFan]

I will be upset if the #1 priority is not solidifying the interior of the OL. Mankins has to go either next year or the year after. Connelly can plug a gap but isn't a long term answer. Cannon's body type is weird for a guard and he might be needed outside if Vollmer continues to have injury problems OR Solder's concussion problems return. 

 
Completely agree. That's why I thought Pats should have competed harder for Zuttah's services, who were traded to the Ravens for a 5th rounder (and a re-worked deal). 
 
Taking a quick look at these guys, ordered by their PFF ratings (minus grades in red) / round drafted:

• Solder: 25.6 / 1st round
• Seabass: 14.5 / 2nd round
• Mankins: 6.8 / 1st round
• Cannon: -1.9 / 5th round
• Kline: -1.9 / UDFA
• Svitek: -3.4 / 6th round
• Connelly: -12.9 / UDFA
• Wendell: -14.0 / UDFA

As much of a yeoman's job Scar has done in coaching up UDFA guys like Kline, Connelly, and Wendell, the fact is the pillars of the OL are undoubtedly the ones drafted in 1st or 2nd round of the draft. 
 
Plus, all three of Solder, Seabass, and Mankins have health/age concerns, and Solder is on the last year of his contract. 
 
Without fortifying the OL through free agency, I would draft one in the first two rounds, a center on day 3, and hope DeGuglielmo come as advertised.