2015 New England Patriots Thread

Offseason will likely entail:

1. Cutting/Re-structuring the likes of Mayo/Chandler/Amendola/Cannon/LaFell (Miguel at PatsCap has all the numbers).
2. Extending some from the likes of Collins/Hightower/Jones/Butler/Ryan/Sheard (Miguel has some examples of what these might look like given comparable players' contracts
3. Improve the Backup OT
4. Upgrade on Lafell

Agree with what I'm reading (including Miguel) that leans towards Chandler Jones as being the least likely of Hightower/Collins/He/Sheard.

You mean in addition to....Dion Lewis? Isn't he supposed to be healthy and rostered for next season?

I'm less concerned about third-down back (where they have Lewis and White already) and more concerned about first/second-down running back (Blount is a free agent and getting older and there aren't any internal options), cornerback (Coleman and Roberts looks interesting, but they need depth) and wide receiver.

Wow-- the Patriots and offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo have reportedly "parted ways."

With Scott Chandler being such a bust, I think they'll look for a TE as well. Williams seems more of a blocker and they may want to try and "recreate" the 2-TE dominance they used to have (though I doubt, we'll ever see a tandem like that again . . . largely bc it may be a while before we see a TE like Gronk, let alone be able to pair him with a talent like Hernandez).

If I had to make a shocking prediction, it would be a trade of Chandler Jones this offseason. Not that moving on from him is that much of a surprise, but making a move THIS offseason would be. It'd be easier if Flowers had shown anything this year.

This will be an unpopular opinion, but I don't know that OT should be all that high on their to-do list. Yes, their offensive line just got shredded, but I think the blame is just as much on the interior offensive lineman for not giving Brady a clean pocket to step up in as it is on Vollmer/Cannon for not holding up against two of the better edge rushers in the league, especially since the tackles were mostly left on an island all game. It's going to be tough to upgrade on Solder/Vollmer, and even if you want to upgrade on Cannon, you'll probably have to spend real money in free agency or spend a highish draft pick to do so. Given their other needs, I don't know that OT is the place to spend those resources.

I agree in terms of the line play, depending on how the Patriots feel about Kline and Jackson they might be in the market for a starting guard (with Mason a lock to start at the other spot). You can dream on Solder/Vollmer staying healthy and taking enough snaps so that the 3rd OT wouldn't be a big concern for next season.

Cannon's salary is real money though, just bringing him back at the current number is a big investment for the 3rd OT spot. I believe Vollmer is entering the final year of his deal and Solder is only signed through 2017, so there's some long term planning to factor in there too. If they walk away from Cannon they'll need to put OT relatively high on the priority list just due to the cost of competent tackles, adding a stopgap veteran would just push the need a year into the future. I don't think they'll enter next offseason with an expiring Vollmer and Cannon while Solder enters the final year of his deal without the possibility of a franchise tag. The RB/WR/CB groups have bigger needs for sure, but upgrading the RB position and CB depth doesn't have to require a major investment. Either this offseason or next offseason the Patriots will have to spend big on the tackle position, even if it's just extending the current options.

It's a fair point about long-term need (at RT in particular), but I still think it's only a significant concern this offseason if they decide Cannon isn't good enough to stick on the roster. If they cut Cannon, then yeah, it becomes a priority, but if they keep him, you have Vollmer signed for one more year and Solder/Cannon signed for two more years, which means you can wait a year before needing to address the position. I see the need, but in my mind it's one you address if someone falls to you in the draft or free agency and not one you necessarily have to proactively address.

I suggest you rewatch the Patriots touchdown in the first quarter, where Cannon singlehandedly pushed 2 Broncos defenders into the endzone (1st and goal from the 1½ yard line). Cannon is not a great pass protector by any means but he's not JAG either.

I'll just point out that the main reason why Lewis was available to the Pats was because he's always hurt.  You shouldn't count on him being healthy.  I think they need another RB like him, or they need to redo the OL so they can run the ball with a traditional running back.  Someone like Blount would have been useless against Denver, but someone like Lewis or Sproles was exactly what they needed in that game.

The team is in good shape because they have all of the starters coming back for the most part. So the biggest needs are with depth. And while Cannon might be a solid run blocker, he is an atrocious pass blocker. And that is true from looking at his entire career, not just that one game.

The Patriots showed a willingness to rotate lineman early in the year, so he is fine as a situational type tackle, but finding a better option to step in in case of injury that can pass protect is still priority number one for me.