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Patriots Offseason: Pure Speculation

 

Bill Belichick didn’t waste anytime making moves for the 2009 season. In the past twenty-four hours he signed veteran running back Fred Taylor, reportedly signed recently released Jets tight end Chris Baker, allowed long time long snapper Lonie Paxton and reliable third receiver Jabar Gaffney flee in free agency, and traded defensive leader and 2007 Pro Bowler Mike Vrabel to his boy Scott Pioli in Kansas City for undisclosed draft picks.

 

WOW!

 

The Patriots look to have sured up their backfield for 2009 now with Fred Taylor, Laurence Maroney, Kevin Faulk, and Sammy Morris (although he may be the next casualty) on the roster. 

 

With newly acquired tight end Chris Baker complimenting Ben Watson and David Thomas, it looks like that area the Patriots put so much importance on, is set for next season.

 

The rest of the team is up in the air. 

 

The Matt Cassel situation is still unsettled. Everyone knows about his $14M+ cap number for 2009, so he needs to go soon so the Patriots can make more of a splash in free agency. With how fast guys are being picked up, this deal can’t happen fast enough.

 

Belichick will not be chasing any of the players looking to break the bank especially after defensive tackle Albert Haynsworth signed for $100M. He will be chasing the good value, versatile players that can help this Patriots team in 2009.

 

Below are some areas of need for the Patriots in 2009 and some free agents out there that could be a good fit. The key to being a good fit for the Patriots is to be versatile and not cost an arm and a leg.

 

Linebacker: The Patriots just traded their veteran starting outside linebacker to the Chiefs. They may take one of the top linebackers in the draft whether it be James Laurinitis, Brian Cushing, or Clay Matthews, if not choose one from the next tier in the second round, but they will surely look for veteran help here in free agency. Tedy Bruschi is fast approaching the end of his career so there is a need for help in the middle as well as the outside. Adalius Thomas and Defensive Rookie of the Year Jerod Mayo are the only sure things in the linebacker core next year. After that there are young backers like Gary Guyton and Shawn Crable that may fit into the mix along with Pierre Woods. Below are some interesting names out there on the unemployment line:

 

 

ILB: Eric Barton: Qualities- He’s an ex-Jet who is familiar with the 3-4 defensive scheme and led his team in tackles in 2008 as well as being just 31 years old.

 

OLB: Rocky Boiman: Qualities- He’s relatively young at 29 and is a smart linebacker coming from Notre Dame with experience as a starter, backup, and special teams player. The latter may be important with Larry Izzo being a free agent and caught up in the BALCO case out in San Francisco.

 

OLB: Angelo Crowell: Qualities- He’s young at 27 years old and is a familiar foe coming from the Buffalo Bills. He lost the 2008 season to injury after leading his team in tackles in 2007. His injury in 2008 may keep his price down.

 

OLB: Cato June: Qualities- Belichick is familiar with him from his days with the Indianapolis Colts. He’d add a lot of speed to a slow defense and is relatively young at 29 years old while also coming from a solid defensive system in Tampa.

 

LB: Some veteran Seau-signing types could be Donnie Edwards (speed) and Zach Thomas (3-4 familiarity).

 

Defensive Backs: The Pats defensive backfield was a mess last year. Harrison went down with another season ending injury, Deltha O’Neal was atrocious, Ellis Hobbs continues to prove he is a number two corner at best, and Brandon Merriweather is still a work in progress. James Sanders is a free agent and Belichick probably isn’t asking Bob Kraft to whip out the check book for him. Their two rookie cornerbacks in 2008, Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley, showed flashes of production last year but certainly can’t be counted on just yet. They need to make a splash here and not just for the 2009 season. Hobbs will be a free agent after next season and with most of the Pats focus going towards Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour, Hobbs could be a goner. Here’s what’s out there:

 

CB: Leigh Bodden: Qualities- He’s 27 years old, has been a Pro Bowl caliber corner who has experience as the number one corner and is a solid open field tackler.

 

CB: Atari Bigby: Qualities- He’s also 27 years old and has played behind two of the best corners in the NFL (Charles Woodson & Al Harris) the past two seasons and has played in the cold weather coming from Green Bay. 

 

CB: Philip Buchanan: Qualities- Still young and is a great return man on top of being a solid corner. He’s coming from a defense first organization and has learned from another one of the NFL’s best, Rhonde Barber.

 

S: Jim Leonhard: Qualities- Just 26 years old and coming from a terrific defense in Baltimore. He is solid in coverage and against the run.

 

S: Darren Sharper: Qualities- Outspoken veteran with experience in a winning system with Green Bay and hasn’t missed a game the past three seasons. Think of this as a potential Rodney Harrison type signing.

S: Sean Jones: Qualities- He is young and is a solid cover safety. Belichick could get some inside information on Jones from his old pal Romeo Crennel.

 

Wide Receivers: The Pats have one of the NFL’s best wide receiver duos with Randy Moss and Wes Welker returning in 2009. With Tom Brady returning, Belichick will most certainly want to make sure he has a full arsenal of weapons for him. Chris Baker was a great addition to the arsenal as was Fred Taylor out of the backfield. But the Patriots let Jabar Gaffney go to the Broncos and Kelley Washington’s run in New England is most likely over. That leaves Matthew Slater and Sam Aiken as the only other receivers on the roster. Both of those guys are solid special teamers but very limited offensively. There are plenty of receivers out there that could fit in well as a third or fourth option.

 

WR: Devery Henderson: Qualities- Great deep receiver (averaged over 24 yards per catch in 2008) and would be a perfect fit on the outside with Moss, leaving it open for Welker underneath. He is coming from a great offensive system in New Orleans and is just 26 years old.

 

WR: Bryant Johnson: Qualities- Used to being third fiddle after spending a few seasons behind Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Bolden. Johnson has great size at 6’3” 211 pounds and is a great possession receiver.

 

WR: Reggie Williams: Qualities- Hasn’t thrived as a number one wideout, but is still a solid possession receiver with upside (25 years old). Like Johnson, he has great size at 6’4” 212 pounds and may have a former teammate vouching for him with Fred Taylor now in New England.

 

WR: Amani Toomer: Qualities- He’s a proven veteran coming from a winning organization. He’s a great locker room guy and if he still wants to play he probably has one or two more productive years left as a possession receiver who’s great in the red zone.

 

The Patriots will have limited money to work with this offseason and will want to be careful about doling out long term deals with so many players facing free agency next year. Some of the aforementioned players may look for long term deals with more guaranteed money. If that is the case than players like Donnie Edwards, Zach Thomas, Patrick Surtain, Shawn Springs, Amani Toomer, Joey Galloway, and Ike Hilliard may be forced to appear on the Patriots radar.