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Rebuilding the Patriots


Elky

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I know making the playoffs is more important right now, but it couldn't hurt to start thinking of the direction the team needs to go for future success. As we all know, the team seems a bit stale right now and could use a bit of a tune up.

QB
Brady is staying until he retires and I'm a firm believer in keeping this gravy train rolling until then. He has outright said in the past that he will retire when he "sucks" so we won't have to worry about having to deal with "Zombie Brady" like Denver did with Peyton in 2015. With that in mind, we do need to start our next quarterback project; Brady hasn't played poorly by any means, but he's still 41 and it's overall a bit of a down season for him. Belichick typically only carries two quarterbacks, but I say let's draft a QB and have him at third string.

Backfield
We have a full staff here. We've just drafted Sony Michel to be our lead back, Burkhead has two years left as Michel's backup and James White is our dynamic third down back. James Develin is a solid overall fullback. Jeremy Hill is the odd man out due to all of this.

WR
Here's where we could use some fine tuning.

Josh Gordon has been productive and is behaving. If he keeps this up, we need to keep him for the long run. He's a dynamic playmaker and is only 27.

Julian Edelman is having an up and down season. The stats since returning from suspension are pretty, but he has developed a case of the dropsies. He'll also be 33 in a contract year next season. Hopefully Braxton Berrios can step up as his successor; he didn't do much in training camp and spent all season injured.

Cordarrelle Patterson is on a one year deal and doesn't contribute much as a WR. However, he has the versatility and ST prowess that Belichick likes. I'd be cool with him coming back on an economical deal.

Philip Dorsett can stick around for depth purposes, but Chris Hogan is now a waste of space.

TE
Here's the elephant in the room: it might be time to prepare for life without Gronk; he's talked about retirement before and the trade rumors were like flies over hot garbage. He just isn't the same player he used to be.

Dwayne Allen is still on the team? How?

Jacob Hollister in this situation would be our only tight end, so he would need to stick around while we restock. TE is a very top shelf position, so we might have to readjust to being a 3 WO team or go more run heavy.

Offensive Line
We're pretty much set here. None of our starting offensive linemen are rated poorly on PFF and we'll be getting Isaiah Wynn next year to make up for Trent Brown being a free agent. With that said, I wouldn't mind using relatively high draft picks for depth; nothing derails a team quicker that offensive line injuries and not having the depth to compensate.

Front Seven
Here is where most of our problems on defense lie: most of our front seven players are slow, mediocre rotational players. Trey Flowers is the only bonafide starter. Keep Lawrence Guy

Like the line, our LBs are slow and struggle to seal the edge. It's why we struggle against pass catching RBs and mobile quarterbacks. Donta Hightower has regressed, Kyle Van Noy is the definition of mediocrity and for the love of God get Elandon Roberts off the team already.

Secondary
For once, the secondary isn't a problem. It's pretty amazing how well it's playing despite the lack of support from the front. Stephon Gilmore is an elite, shutdown corner that can trap receivers on an island. JC Jackson and Duke Dawson are young, upcoming players. The McCourtys are solid contributors. Duron Harmon is always an interception just waiting to happen. We can stand for an upgrade over Chung.

Edited by Elky
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8 hours ago, SirA1 said:

Probably want to add Specialists to the list as well since Ghost and Allen are FA next year.

I would say an upgrade or long term option at LG would be a need too.

Ghost can stick around despite the down year, but we can let Allen go.

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  • 3 weeks later...

QB: Jalen Hurts (ALA)

Backfield: Ty Montgomery (BAL)

WR: Adam Humphries (TB)

TE: Nick Boyle (BAL), Tyler Eifert (CIN)

Front 7: Shaquil Barrett (DEN)

Edited by DoleINGout
Previously listed Maxx Williams at TE, but he will be courting multiple offers while teammate Nick Boyle is more affordable and experienced on special teams. Added Eifert
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On 1/6/2019 at 2:19 PM, Hunter2_1 said:

Resign Trent Brown and Trey Flowers

Part ways with Hightower and replace with Hicks and/or Barr. 

Draft a backup QB (but not take over)

Anderson (NYJ) is a free agent, as is Golden Tate, might want to take a look. 

I think there is a fair shot Trent Brown is back. Trey Flowers is definitely the highest priority. Parting ways with Hightower via trade could happen but doesn't help greatly, even if he is replaced by an expensive free agent. I'd rather sign a guy like Shaq Barrett in the second tier who can come in and compliment Hightower outside. Drafting a QB is a must, unless they try to swing a deal for Nate Sudfeld as a RFA or Teddy Bridgewater. Speaking of RFA's, Robby Anderson is a RFA and from what I can tell likely to be re-signed. Golden Tate I don't think is a legitimate longterm solution but for a couple of seasons he might be able to fit in nicely, (although not cheaply).

Edited by DoleINGout
added Teddy Bridgewater
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According to this website, cutting Dwayne Allen before June 1st would save $7.4 million. That money could be used to re-sign Trey Flowers or Trent Brown. Aside from Eric Rowe, Jason McCourty, and Chris Hogan, I could see all the pending free agents at least getting re-signed for camps. Malcolm Brown might price himself out of town but it would be nice to retain so interior defensive line depth with him in 2019.

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