MVN - Most Valuable Network

Grading the Pats’ moves in free agency

Earlier I was asked to grade the Patriots’ moves in free agency up to this point. I thought I’d re-post it here for our Patriot Act readers. I’m sure there will be much disagreement with my grade, so have at it Patriot Nation. 

Team - New England Patriots

Team Needs – CB, ILB, OLB
 
Key additions – CB Fernando Bryant (Lions), S Tank Williams (Vikings), CB Lewis Sanders (Falcons), CB Jason Webster (Bills)
 
Key Losses – CB Asante Samuel, CB Randall Gay, CB/S Eugene Wilson, WR Donte Stallworth, OLB Rosevelt Colvin
 
Key Free Agents Retained – WR Randy Moss, WR Jabar Gaffney, WR Kelley Washington, ILB Tedy Bruschi, DL Mike Wright, LS Lonie Paxton (all players re-signed)

Free Agency Notes – The Patriots have gone back to their traditional value and depth approach to free agency this offseason. The only major signing they have had is the re-signing of WR Randy Moss. Cornerback is still a major area of need as the Pats have only brought in depth guys with the only true starter being Fernando Bryant, though he hasn’t lived up to his first-round status. Once again, linebacker is an area of concern as age and lack of depth has hit the heart and soul of a 3-4 defense. The only returning ILB is Tedy Bruschi, who has slowed some recently. Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas can move inside but they are best suited on the outside where their pass rushing abilities can be utilized. The Pats brought RFA Adam Seward from the Panthers in for a visit but have yet to offer a contract. If he is signed, he will likely start alongside Bruschi at ILB. The DB FA crop is thin, but the possibility of re-signing Ty Law exists and he and Bill Belichick have had conversations regarding a New England return. If the Raiders/Falcons trade involving DeAngelo Hall is consumated, there is a possibility that the franchise tag could be lifted off of Nnamdi Asomugha, and the Pats could pursue the young shutdown corner. For now, it appears that the Pats will build through the draft and not free agency, which is the complete opposite of their approach last offseason.
 
Grade – B-

Review of Grade: I don’t disagree with the Patriots’ approach this offseason. The free agent crop was thin and many players were signed to fat contracts that didn’t necessarily meet their true value. If I was grading their approach, it would be an ‘A’. However, because I am grading their free agent signings, their signing of average players gets them an average grade of ‘C’, with the re-signing of Randy Moss bumping it up to a ‘B-’. The signing of Ty Law and Adam Seward would bump that up to a ‘B+’. Webster, Sanders, and/or Bryant should be able to fill the hole at nickel left by Randall Gay’s departure, but if Bryant is the starter alongside Ellis Hobbs to start the season, I don’t like the Patriots’ chances to make it back to the Superbowl.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 20th, 2008 at 5:35 pm and is filed under NFL Free Agency, New England Patriots. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.