1. Linebackers and Secondary - The biggest weakness is shoring up the defense. This is the second year in a row that the Pats D has fallen apart at the worst possible moment.
- Kiss Asante Samuel goodbye. I think it's a long shot the team is willing to give him what he wants.
- Will Bruschi, Seau, Harrison decide to hang them up? Seau is the strongest possibility. Regardless the Pats could use some youth at the position. Eric Alexander had a solid year on special teams but gave no indication that the Pats think he's a future starter.
- Will Randall Gay resign? He was the nickel-back for the Pats for his first healthy season since his rookie year. He was picked on by Eli Manning, but he's still a starter with multiple years experience with the Pats. The New York Jets (who else?) could take a shot at him.
2. Figure out the Wide Receiver Situation - here's what the Pats did last off-season: Tom Brady wasn't happy with his receivers so they went out and got a bunch of athletic guys and signed them to basically one-year deals with multi-year options (Wes Welker the only one getting a long term deal). They threw Moss, Washington, Gaffney, Reche Caldwell, and Stallworth into the mix and would resign whoever Brady clicked with. Now it's time to make the decisions on that.
Randy Moss could be Franchised which would give the Pats more time to talk long term contract before he hits the open free agency market. Both Donte Stallworth and Kelley Washington have large option bonuses due by the end of the month.
- I think Moss will be franchised, but with a multiple-year deal shortly following it. The Pats won't take the chance of someone like Jets or Indianapolis Colts (Marvin is done) swoop in and offer obsene money.
- Stallworth and Washington's fate will be directly tied to Jabar Gaffney and Chad Jackson. If the Pats feel Gaffney is a good enough compliment to Moss and Welker he'll be less expensive than Stallworth (assuming they don't pay the bonus and look to restructure Nico (Donte's self-appointed nickname)).
-No one knows how Chad Jackson has been developing in practice. If he's "getting it" the Pats will look to get him on the field. I think the WR position will be Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Jackson next year. With perhaps Bam Childress finally cracking the lineup as a fifth option. Stallworth had his moments this year but nothing to warrant the Pats overpaying him. Especially with there being much greater needs elsewhere on the team. Kelley Washington awesome on special teams but they're not going to pay him as a starter for that.
3. What to do with the 7th overall pick? Thanks to a turd of a season by the San Francisco 49ers the Pats are picking 7th in the NFL draft. With past high picks such as this one Bill Belichick has most often done one of two things - take a defensive lineman or trade the pick.
- Most early mock drafts have the Pats taking a cornerback. Should Samuel and Gay leave it's going to be a huge position of need. Cornerbacks are hit or miss when thrust into the starting lineup. Could Brandon "Stone Hands" Meriweather play corner? He's not gonna replace Asante's interceptions that's for sure.
- A fresh legged linebacker may also be in the cards. There are some outside linebackers that are ranked pretty high this year. Shaun Meriman and Patrick Willis are two examples of young LBs being able to come in and make an immediate impact.
- Never rule out an offensive lineman, especially after the New York Giants almost broke Brady in the Super Bowl.
- Trying to predict what Bill Belichick will do on draft day is nearly impossible. Almost every year it's something completely out of left field. So we'll just have to wait and see...
Keywords: New England Patriots Off-Season Questions Brady Belichick
