Looks like a good start to free agency for Hickey - addressing a couple of pressing needs. But, there are still several needs to address via free agency and the draft (and hope that some player on the team will step up to become a bonafide starter). OL - still need two OG's and RT. Hoping Smith is signed. He's serviceable and seems to be growing into his position. There are a number of OL starters in this league who didn't really develop until 3-5 years into the league. Smith could be one of those. Zach Strief is another possibility but I suspect he's not thrilled to leave the Saints for the Dolphins. WR - even after pouring a lot of money last year into the position (Wallace, Hartline, Gibson) there is still a need here. Hartline and Gibson are both coming off injuries; Gibson's is severe. And, he's a middle-class WR imo. While I like Rishard Matthews, getting another WR with experience and either move the chains or make big plays would benefit RT - James Jones is still out there and even Edelman simply because he would move the chains better than anyone else on the team and has PR ability (though it looks like he's chasing rings). RB - definitely need at least a player worthy of a platoon. Several still out there. Having at least one RB that can pass block would be nice! Tate is the cream of the crop out there but I would love to go after MJD. He can def. block. ILB - not much on the market right now that excites me here but there is a clear need here for a good run stuffer. Jelani Jenkins may show some promise here however. Will be interesting to see how they use him. CB - two rookies who were riddled with injuries return. Can't bank on that. At least need a vet who can compete with these guys. Not sure why we aren't pursuing Thurmond or Browner - but they may come at a higher price (plus Browner will miss the first four games). I do have hope for Taylor and see Michael Thomas as one who can compete. But, it would be scary without another vet there. TE - Clay had a very good year. Still need another weapon here as a Red Zone threat. Looks like we still have plenty of cap space to land at least one more OL, possibly two. Ranking these: 1. OL (2-3) 2. WR (1 vet to be in top 3-4 in lineup) 3. RB (vet who can platoon/start) 4. CB (vet as insurance in case youngsters do not step up) 5. ILB 6. TE I like the strength of this draft. It would be great to not feel "forced" to take an OL in round 1 but to know if a kid like Z-Martin falls to us he can be a day 1 starter. If the top 4 OTs are gone by our slot then being free to take the BPA at that point would still be a nice luxury (Or a trade down for more picks in this deep draft may not be a bad idea).
I do not consider TE position of need. I think we need 2 CBs. As far as ILB, I hope we go after Brandon Spikes, I think we need a thumper in there. He was making less than a mil, don't know what it would take tho.
Spikes had trouble with Belichick. It would take some convincing for Philbin to take him. TE is a position of need in the sense that you need multiple offensive weapons (esp. if you don't have a super dominant D like Seattle) and two pass receiving TEs (esp. a red-zone threat) add a great deal to an offense. One that can block is a great bonus. Having one TE who is not a great blocker is not a great set up. I know we drafted Sims, but he hasn't shown the pass-receiving route running abilities you want.
Of course. That assumes there is "talent" there. That's why not spending big on CB (in spite of not having a starter at the other CB spot) is cool with me. Having a cheap vet in there who can add some experience is just wise but they still want to develop that talent. Because, there is talent there. And they have talent at QB, at DL, at S … but, I simply don't see talent on the roster at OG, RT, backup TE, RB, or ILB (unless And, at WR we have some talent at the top 4. But, you also have 3 WRs coming off injury (Hartline; Binns; Gibson) two of them season ending. So that adds significant question-marks after 1-2 (even a bit of one at #2 with Hartline's injury). I don't see much talent past Binns. Signing a WR is smart. You simply can't afford to waste RT as your franchise QB in "hopes" that talent develops. He needs confidence. It's not like you have Peyton Manning back there. The better talent you get around RT the better chance he has of developing confidence and therefore developing into a better QB.
He was on a one-year deal, and at this point might be considered a "progress-stopper" to Clay, who broke out last year, Egnew, who actually saw the field this year and who Lazor might find untapped value within his scheme, and Sims, a mere second year player.
