Almost there.
We are now in the final countdown until NFL hysteria. It's known officially as the start of the new league year.
Here's the tick-tock:
NOON Monday: Legal 48-hour tampering period opens. Teams and players are free to negotiate with each other, and the top names will agree to deals within minutes.
4 p.m. Wednesday: New league year, teams are free to execute signings and trades. Top-51 contracts make up the cap number for each team.
Also Wednesday: Deadline to tender restricted free agents with three or fewer years of service time.
And with that, chaos will ensue.
What will the Patriots do? How will they spend their almost $60 million in cap space?
First, it's important to zero in on exactly where the holes are, and to prioritize them. So I looked back at where the Patriots finished last season as a reference.
And then it hit me ...
... the Patriots have almost the same exact top needs as they did a year ago, if you can believe that.
Let's see how they did ...
•Franchise QB ... Nope.
•Starting Y TE ... Nada.
•Starting X WR ... Didn't even try.
•Starting NT ... Beau Allen, not so much.
•Starting WLB ... Had to turn to Terez Hall on the practice squad.
•Starting DE/OLB ... Chase Winovich didn't rise above sub rusher, and nothing (for now) from draft, FA.
•Safety ... Patriots got a player in Kyle Dugger with their first pick.
•Speed element ... Damiere Byrd never fit that role and may not be back.
digs out the calculator
Cam Newton
Joe Thuney
Tom Brady
DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
TOP PROJECTED TARGETS (PLAYERS WE THINK PATRIOTS WILL HAVE INTEREST IN)
$$$$$: Top market
$$$$: Well paid
$$$: Market.
$$: Below usual market due to cap.
$: Cheaper/1-year deals
Need #1: Franchise QB
1. Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (trade, $$$)
2. Gardner Minshew, Jaguars (trade, $)
Andy Dalton,
3. Draft QB
Need #2: Center
1. David Andrews, Patriots (re-sign, $$$)
2. Alex Mack, Falcons ($)
3. Ted Karras, Dolphins ($)
Need #3: Starting Y (in-line) TE
1. Hunter Henry, Chargers ($$$$)
George Kittle
Travis Kelce
2. Jonnu Smith, Titans ($$$$)
3. Robert Tonyan, Packers (RFA, $$)
4. Gerald Everett, Rams ($$$)
Devin Asiasi
5. Anthony Firkser, Titans (RFA, $$)
really
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
Needs #4/11: Starting defensive tackle
1. Lawrence Guy, Patriots ($$)
2. DaQuan Jones, Titans ($$)
3. Henry Anderson, Jets ($)
Deatrich Wise
4. Sheldon Rankins, Saints ($)
5. Kawann Short, Panthers ($)
6. Johnathan Hankins, Raiders ($)
7. Steve McClendon, Jets ($)
Needs #5/8: Starting X receiver
1. Allen Robinson, Bears ($$$$$)
2. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers ($$$$)
Ben Roethlisberger
3. Nelson Agholor, Raiders ($$$)
4. Curtis Samuel, Panthers ($$$) — SPEED
5. Keelan Cole, Jaguars ($$)
6. Kendrick Bourne, 49ers ($$) — SPEED
7. John Ross, Bengals ($$) — SPEED
8. Dede Westbrook, Jaguars ($)
9. John Brown, Bills ($) — SPEED
10. Tajae Sharpe, Chiefs/Vikings
11. Adam Humphries, Titans ($)
Likely little initial interest from Patriots (injuries, age, lack of versatility): Kenny Golladay, Lions; Will Fuller, Texans; Corey Davis, Titans; T.Y. Hilton, Colts; Marvin Jones, Lions; Tyrell Williams, Raiders; A.J. Green, Bengals.
Need #6: Starting nose tackle
1. Dalvin Tomlinson, Giants ($$$$$)
2. Corey Peters, Cardinals ($)
Needs #7/10: Starting end/outside linebacker
1. Yannick Ngakoue, Jaguars ($$$$)
2. Melvin Ingram, Chargers ($$)
3. Leonard Floyd, Bears ($$$)
4. Romeo Okwara, Lions ($$)
5. Tyus Bowser, Ravens ($$)
6. Olivier Vernon, Browns ($)
Need #9: Starting weakside linebacker
1. Kwon Alexander, Saints/49ers ($)
(Adam Richins for BSJ)