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Wide Receiver - Chad
Jackson is their long-term #1,
but nobody else on the roster
should figure significantly in
the Pats' plans past 2007.
The team
still hasn’t completely replaced
veteran receivers David Givens
and Deion Branch
Safety -
Rodney
Harrison has battled injuries
the past two seasons, and late
next season he will turn 37. The
team has young James Sanders at
the position as well, but the
team will likely look to bring
in more top-end talent via the
draft, if at all possible
because this defense requires a
great safety. The Pats may also
look to bolster the free safety
position, but an apprentice to
Harrison will be a point of
emphasis
Linebacker -
Mike
Vrabel will be 32, Roosevelt
Colvin will be 30, Tedy Bruschi
will be 34, and if Junior Seau
returns, he’ll be 38. The
emergence of young linebacker
Tully Banta-Cain has been a
welcome development, but the
team will need to add some youth
at the position. Expect
the Pats to bring in at least
two linebackers via the draft.
Cornerback - The Pats
need to find someone to pair
with Asante Samuel in 2007
New
England Patriots Free Agency
Notes:
The Patriots already needed wide
receivers last year, and if
Brown retires they will need to
replace the longtime favorite
target of Tom Brady as well.
Also, WR Chad Jackson tore his
ACL and might not be back for
the opener. Other than
Banta-Cain, the three other
starting LBs are in their 30s.
CB Asante Samuel was designated
as franchise player. RB Corey
Dillon, 32, who has been
increasingly supplanted by
Laurence Maroney, has also said
he wants to be elsewhere next
season so they will need to pick
up a running back or make nice
with Dillon.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
WR Troy Brown; TE Daniel Graham;
LBs Junior Seau, Tully
Banta-Cain, Larry Izzo and Don
Davis; FB Heath Evans; RB
Patrick Pass; OL Gene
Mruczkowski; CB Ray Mickens; QB
Vinny Testaverde; Ps Todd
Sauerbrun and Ken Walter.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
CB Randall Gay; OL Billy Yates;
S Rashad Baker
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