What's next for the Pats?

As Andrew eloquently wrote, I will focus mostly on the NFL, particularly the Pats. To this end, I've created a list of what I think the Pats should do from now to the draft.

1. Contract Extensions
a. Extend Wilfork. The Pats need him.
b. Extend Mankins for reasonable money. Mankins is a terrific guard, but he still is a guard. Don’t give him tackle money.
c. Don’t resign Seymour. Seymour will have a great season and then the Pats should let another team overpay for him since he won’t sign a discount to stay in New England. At 31, he won’t be worth the money. Plus, I can’t see him working as hard after getting a big contract as he will this year to get that big contract.


2. Signings/Trades
a. Pass rusher/OLB
i. I personally don’t see Peppers coming to the Pats. He wants a big contract and the Pats don’t want nor have the cap room for that type of deal. Concerns also abound Peppers transitioning to OLB in a 3-4. Plus, Wilfork won’t be happy about an outside player who hasn’t proven himself in the Pats system getting a big contract before him.
ii. The more obvious route in my mind is signing Jason Taylor. He won’t cost as much and would give the Pats the pass rusher they desperately need.
iii. Rosevelt Colvin remains a (rather lackluster) possibility. He would be cheap and, when he’s not injured, he can still play. I just worry about his age and his injury-filled past.

b. Most everything else has been filled and/or can be addressed in the draft. The Pats will sign some mediocre free agents to compete in camp.


3. NFL Draft-Armed with #23, #34, #47 and #58, the Pats are in a good spot to strengthen the defense.
a. Draft an ILB, S and Pass rusher/OLB on day one
i. ILB-Bruschi doesn’t have the speed anymore. I like Gary Guyton, but he isn’t a Pro-Bowler by any means. Adding a talented, fast ILB with one of the first two picks seems like a great move.
ii. Safety-I don’t see Rodney Harrison coming back. They did resign James Sanders, who is an adequate starter but nothing more. Picking up a safety would be nice.
iii. Pass rusher/OLB-Pierre Woods isn’t a starter in the NFL, Shawn Crable remains a project and Tully-Banta Cain can’t be the answer. The Pats really need a pass rusher and if they don’t add one before the draft, this becomes arguably the biggest need.

b. Trade a 2nd rounder for a 2010 1st rounder
i. Adding future picks is good business.

c. Add some depth in later rounds
i. DL, G, T-The Pats could use some youth along the lines.

I’ve been impressed by the free agent acquisitions by the Pats so far. I think Bodden was a great signing in particular. I will post a more detailed position breakdown in a few days.