Free agency is waning down and we are approaching April at a rapid pace. It’s time to sit down and go over every teams free agent acquisitions and losses, along with their team needs. Using that information we will figure out a Plan of Attack for the 2012 Draft for each team. We’ll start with the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants and work our way down one day at a time, to the Indianapolis Colts and the first overall pick.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 
Team Needs: OLB, DE, CB, S, WR, OG, C, RB
Free Agent Acquisitions: CB Will Allen, DE Michael Bennett, WR Deion Branch (Resigned), CB Marquice Cole, G Dan Connolly (Resigned), DE Jonathan Fanene, TE Daniel Fells, G Robert Gallery, WR Anthony Gonzales, S Stephon Gregory, QB Brian Hoyer (Resigned), FB Spencer Larsen, WR Brandon Lloyd, DE Trevor Scott, WR Matt Slater (resigned), WR Donte Stallworth, LB Tracy White (resigned)
Free Agent Losses: DE Mark Anderson, RB Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis
Round 1:
Potential Targets: DE/OLB Andre Branch, DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB Nick Perry, CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Stephon Gilmore, CB Josh Robinson, WR Kendall Wright, WR Stephen Hill, WR Rueben Randle, C Peter Konz, DT Fletcher Cox, DT Michael Brockers, DT Jerel Worthy, DT Devon Still, RB Lamar Miller, RB Doug Martin, RB David Wilson
Round 2:
Potential Targets: DE/OLB Vinny Curry, DE/OLB Ronnell Lewis, WR Mohmmad Sanu, WR Alshon Jeffrey, WR Brian Quick, WR Nick Toon, G/T Kelechi Osemele, G Kevin Zeitler, OLB Zach Brown, DT Kendall Reyes, DT Brandon Thompson, CB Chase Minnifield, CB Jayron Hosely, S George Iloka, RB LaMichael James
Round 3:
Potential Targets: DT Josh Chapman, DT Alameda Ta’Amu, DT Billy Wynn, DE/OLB Shea McClellin, CB Brandon Boykin, CB Josh Norman, CB Bill Bentley, CB Leonard Johnson, WR Tommy Streeter, WR Juron Criner, RB Chris Polk, RB Bernard Pierce
Plan of Attack: The Patriots signed a boat load of free agents at key areas of need but I’d bet that half of them don’t even make it out of camp, so it shouldn’t impact their draft too much. They need an impact pass rusher and this may be the year they seriously think about moving up and grabbing a premier rusher. They have enough picks to move way up and go after Melvin Ingram or could give up a little less and go after Courtney Upshaw. Both of those guys would bring a pass rushing element to a defense in desperate need of it. While it’d make sense to do that, it isn’t Belichick’s way. They are likely to either stay put or move down. If they do stay put, they’ll likely hope that Andre Branch or even Nick Perry is still on the board. Both guys are relentless pass rushers. With their other first round choice they could look at a field stretching receiver like Stephen Hill or Kendall Wright, or even grab a corner like Janoris Jenkins or Stephon Gilmore. While those would be solid choices, my gut tells me they will go back to the defensive line again and take a versatile big man. Jerel Worthy or Devon Still are both guys who can play multiple positions on the defensive line, and would fit well on the Pat’s multiple front defense.
In round 2 the Pats may look for offensive help. They could get the wide receiver they need in either Rutgers Mohammed Sanu, or raw but talented Brian Quick from Appalachian St. They could also grab another back to compete with Vereen/Ridley and LaMichael James could be the ticket or maybe Martin, Miller, or Wilson falls. If they take a sexy position with their first second round choice they’ll likely upgrade their offensive line with the second choice. They need some youth at guard and would be thrilled with either Kevin Zetiler or Kelechi Osemele.
With their lone third round choice, the Patriots should be able to find some value at corner. Bill Bentley could be there and he has flashed in every Draftseason event he’s taken part in. Other choices would be Josh Norman from Coastal Carolina, Brandon Boykin from Georgia, Leonard Johnson from Iowa St., or Coryell Judie out of Texas A&M. They could also take a safety here and could roll with hard hitting Markelle Martin out of Oklahoma St. or maybe they find Brandon Taylor from LSU still on the board.
View more Plans of Attack Here
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