The Patriots suddenly have some big offseason questions to tackle after their tough playoff game this weekend. Some major players in the Pats system are up for new contracts or free agency this offseason.
The biggest of their expiring contracts is Logan Mankins, the Patriots pro-bowl guard. It seems like an inevitability that he will be re-signed by the team however as he is clearly the best player with an expiring contract. Some other notable expiring contracts are offensive lineman Matt Light and running backs Fred Taylor, BenJarvis Green-Ellis and Sammy Morris.
Through some shrewd trades and deft planning, the Patriots, already one of the best teams in the league, have a glut of picks in April's rookie draft. The Pats actually have two picks in each of the first three rounds, including the 17th and 28th picks in the first round and the 1st pick in the second round. That's huge. Despite having to swallow a bitter exit from the playoffs, the Pats still take comfort in the fact that they will be getting better in 2011.
Taylor and Morris probably won't be re-signed, so whether or not the Pats bring back Green-Ellis, they may have interest in a running back in the draft. I would be surprised however if they used an early pick on a running back, more likely they'll take a look at that need in the second or third round. The major needs are on the defensive side of the ball at defensive end and at linebacker, no doubt they'll address those needs with some of those early picks, and unless they can re-sign both Light and Mankins, they may need to draft an offensive lineman. The Patriots also seem to be in the market for a receiver, and with all their picks they have the luxury to use an early selection on a receiver or running back and still fill all their needs on defense. How exciting would it be if they used that #17 pick on Julio Jones? Or how about last season's Heisman winner Mark Ingram? If they do decide to go defense with that pick, maybe they go after Von Miller, the highly touted linebacker out of Texas A&M. He'd be a good fit next to Jerod Mayo in that 3-4 defense.
The Pats are also rumored to have interest in some of the bigger troublemakers in recent memory. Plaxico Burress, Chad Ochocinqo, and Vincent Jackson are all going to be available in some form or another this offseason and may get a hard look from the Pats. Burress will be released from prison in June and will try to follow Mike Vick's blueprint of rejuvenating his career post-jail stint. It's highly unlikely that they'll go after Burress but who knows. Everyone thought they were crazy when they signed Randy Moss but he was great for them and was on his best behavior, at least he was for the first few seasons. Belichick has said in the past that he likes Ochocinqo, but the much more likely target would be Jackson, who the Patriots were said to have tried to trade for during his holdout from the San Diego Chargers last season. If the Pats whiff on receivers in the draft, expect them to go after Jackson hard in the late spring/early summer before training camps start.
Speaking of Pats receivers, I really want to talk about how Belichick handled the whole Wes Welker situation last week. If you hadn't heard, Welker poked some fun at Jets' head coach Rex Ryan for his recently outed foot fetish in an interview a few days before the game. Belichick obviously wasn't enamored by Welker's jokes because he benched him for the first possession of the game and used him sparingly until it was clear the Pats needed to throw to get back in the game. It was clear from Welker's body language on the bench that he was in Belichick's doghouse, not a fun place to be I can only imagine. I think it affected his play when he did get out there as he dropped multiple balls and generally looked not himself. Sure, Brady also looked bad, but I'm not so sure that the lack of Welker's presence on the field didn't contribute to that a bit, at least early on when Welker was spending a lot of time on the bench looking like his dog just died. Who knows, but I think it did help the Jets get some early momentum and they never let go.
Oh well, it's all a moot point now, time to look forward to the draft!
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