Patriots Offseason Wish List

It is a lot easier to dream about the future than it is to be miserable in the present. With that said, to avoid the pain of watching the Colts and Jets fight for the AFC championship, I will focus my full attention on the 2010 Patriots. This is just a wish list, like many children fill out and mail to the North Pole in early December. And just like those optimistic and blindly loyal children, I expect to get what I want from Bill Belichick and the Patriots. I am going to break this list into three categories. One will be for players that I hope remain with the team in 2010, another for players I would love to be added this offseason, and the last will be for players I want the Pats to draft in April. One thing to keep in mind is that there is no salary cap for 2010. The Patriots will not be restrained by league-imposed limitations, only those put in place by owner Bob Kraft. Group #1: Patriot Players The Patriots have fourteen free agents and also have to make a decision on Tom Brady, who will become a free agent after 2010 if his current contract is not extended. I'm hoping Brady receives a long-term deal that pays him what he is worth. The guys that I want brought backer are kicker Stephen Gostkowski, guards Logan Mankins and Stephen Neal, defensive linemen Vince Wilfork and Jarvis Green, running back Kevin Faulk, and linebacker Gary Guyton. For the right price, Tully Banta-Cain and Leigh Bodden also would be welcome additions in 2010. I would not mind if tight end Ben Watson and linebacker Derrick Burgess returned either but if they have a chance to get a significant pay raise elsewhere, no tears will be shed at this location. As for the guys I want Belichick to cut ties with, running back Laurence Maroney is at the top of the list. I held out hope that Maroney would contribute to a Super Bowl winner in New England up until his goal line fumble against the Jaguars in Week 16. It may be unfair to judge a player on just one play but Maroney has been unable to earn my - and more importantly, Belichick's - trust in his four years as a Patriot. Another running back, Sammy Morris, also falls into this list. Morris has produced when he has been on the field but his penchant for getting hurt should force the Patriots into looking for a more relaible option. Group #2: Potential Acquisitions The top name on this list is Carolina's Julius Peppers. He is capable of coming to New England and making the same impact on the defense that Randy Moss made on the offense in 2007. The Patriots desperately need to improve their ability to get at the quarterback and Peppers is one of the best in the business at rushing the passer. Shawne Merriman could be on the market as well Adding a young, veteran running back should also be a priority. There are two nice options in New Orleans in Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell. Either one would give the Patriots a guy who can run effectively between the tackles. Chester Taylor of the Vikings may also be available. Another area of need is at linebacker. Bringing back Mike Vrabel would be nice but I'm not sure how productive he will be at age 35 and if he even wants to return a year after being traded. Another veteran pass rusher is Jason Taylor of Miami. There are some studs who could be available - DeMeco Ryans of Houston and Barrett Rudd of Tampa Bay - but I would be shocked if the Pats were in the running for players of that caliber. I would be happy with adding a player like Matt Roth of Miami or Derrick Johnson of Kansas City. Group #3: Draft Prospects This is a key draft for the Patriots as the core group from the Super Bowl years is getting closer to retirement, creating a need for fresh young talent. That has been the case for the last few drafts and other than a few homeruns (Jerod Mayo), the draft has not kept the Pats as loaded as it has for teams like the Colts. With three months to go before the Draft, the Pats currently have eight picks at their disposal, including four in the first two rounds. Those picks need to produce players capable of stepping on the field in August who can provide immediate help. Improving the defense will be paramount to the success of the 2010 Patriots. Regardless of what they do in free agency, the team needs to get younger on defense. Drafting impact players is key to their Super Bowl hopes a year from now. Picking at 22 in the first round, there could be many options for the Pats. With the offseason workouts just beginning, names will rise and drop by the day. Alabama's middle linebacker Rolando McClain is my dream pick but it is highly unlikely he will fall to the Patriots. Expect to see names like Sergio Kindle of Texas, Ricky Sapp of Clemson, Taylor Mays of USC, and Patrick Robinson of Florida State. In his initial mock draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper has the Pats taking Sapp. The Patriots also have needs at receiver, with Moss getting older and Wes Welker being uncertain for 2010 because of his knee. Notre Dame's Golden Tate, Florida's Riley Cooper, Cincinnati's Marshawn Gilyard, or Texas' Jordan Shipley all strike me as players who could help Brady and the offense immediately. If Watson does not return, tight end will also be an area of interest. I doubt Belichick would go for Florida's Aaron Hernandez or Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham in the first round but Rob Gronkowski of Arizona, Ed Hickson of Oregon, and Anthony McCoy of USC could provide excellent value in the second round. With Mankins and Neal both free agents, taking a look at guard could also be a priority. Vladimir Ducasse of UMass(6-5, 330) and Mike Johnson of Alabama (6-5, 305) are both huge and would help improve the run game. If either were to be drafted by the Pats and turn out like Sebastian Vollmer did in 2009, the offensive line would be in terrific shape. BC's Matt Tennant could be an option at center. Drafting a running back of the future is a must. I would love to see Stanford's Toby Gerhart or Fresno State's Ryan Mathews, two guys who run hard between the tackles and move the chains.