So off of last week's Q&A, I'm making calls, digging into rosters and film around the league to look for some players the Patriots could have some interest in.
I have my own criteria for the types of players they'll be looking for, and teams they'll be tapping for deals. But I'm having a little issue because I don't see a whole lot of holes on the Patriots' projected 53-man roster that they need to address.
Now, receivers is obviously one of them. But here's the thing with that: In this scheme -- and with Tom Brady -- it's extremely hard for the Patriots to bring someone in this late and put them to use quickly. Just look at Phillip Dorsett last year. And there was a reason why they brought back Deion Branch in 2010, even though he didn't have much left.
So let's run through a few positions, and then I want your input.
RECEIVER WITHOUT JULIAN EDELMAN
So Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson and Matthew Slater are locks for me. Kenny Britt and Phillip Dorsett are in the next wave and you're not sure what you're going to get.
That leaves Eric Decker, Riley McCarron, Braxton Berrios and Devin Lucien for one spot.
Can you find a guy who can be an upgrade at this time at this spot? That's tough but it's worth investigating.
RUNNING BACK
The question for me here is, do you keep Mike Gillislee at $2.181 million to protect against Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead, or do you trade him for a pick and maybe spin it for another running back? And if Michel and/or Burkhead go on IR with a possible return, do you go get another back?
TIGHT END
We're all watching Dwayne Allen's $5 million cap number. It would be wise to have a Rob Gronkowski fill-in — do you stick with Allen or do you trade for someone else (again, this late in the game) and collect cap savings?
LINEBACKER
You're probably keeping both draft picks here (Ja'Whaun Bentley, Christian Sam) when means some vets aren't going to make the cut. If you bring in someone else, who's getting released? Elandon Roberts or Sam. I have a hard time seeing that.
CORNERBACK
Crowded group beyond the top three (Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, Jonathan Jones) with Jason McCourty, Duke Dawson, Cyrus Jones, J.C. Jackson and Keion Crossen. Only three or four of that final group are making the roster. Are you going to find someone that knocks out anyone? Again, tough to see that happening.
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So, those are my thoughts. Let me know which area you think the Patriots should target if they go a dealing with draft picks and/or Malcom Brown and Gillislee.
[democracy id="16"]