In the wake of an uncertain offseason due to the lockout, as of now, the Patriots may lose Matt Light, Gerard Warren, Sammy Morris, Fred Taylor and Shayne Graham to free agency. Stephen Neal, riddled by injuries the last few years, has opted to retire.
The league's highest scoring offense is set to bring back it's key contributors. Brady will be under center, with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead splitting time in the backfield. Rookies Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are expected to receive playing time this year. Kevin Faulk, who is trying to return from injury for his 13th season, may have difficulty making the final roster.
Flanking Brady as his primary wideouts are diminutive but skilled Deion Branch and Wes Welker. Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman, and second year pro Taylor Price round out the top five. In what was perhaps the team's most improved position last season - tight end - is entirely back. Veteran Alge Crumpler is slated as the No. 1 tight end as of now, but talented second year players, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, appear poised to do great things in the NFL.
New England used a first round pick on talented but raw offensive tackle Nate Solder to perhaps replace free agent Matt Light. Other than the potential departure of Light, the line appears largely intact from the previous season, including all-pro guard Logan Mankins.
On the other side of the ball, although much maligned throughout the year, the Patriots defense improved itself as the year wore on, allowing just under 20 points per game, good for eighth best in the league. Despite having a unit which saw 29 year old Vince Wilfork as its elder statesmen, the defense showed glimpses of a potential wrecking ball in the NFL for years to come.
Pro bowler Wilfork returns to the defensive line along with Mike Wright and Ty Warren, who are both returning from injury. Wright appeared in 10 games, while Warren missed the entire season. Although Gerard Warren, a pleasant surprise last season, appears to be gone from the team due to free agency, the Patriots added veteran Marcus Stroud to the line. A first round pick by the Jaguars in 2001, Stroud spent the previous three seasons in Buffalo.
Jerod Mayo will look to improve upon an outstanding season in which he amassed 174 total tackles. Second year players Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes are back as the team's starting right outside and left inside linebacker. While both performed admirably after being thrown in the fire by Bill Belichick, Spikes had a somewhat disappointing end to the season. After being suspended for the final four games of the regular season for using a banned substance, Spikes played sparingly in the loss versus the Jets. Rob Ninkonvich rounds out the starting unit. Gary Guyton, Tully Banta-Cain, and Dane Fletcher return as key subs.
A unit with an ample amount of talent, lots of competition, and a lot to prove in the upcoming season, the secondary unit currently has 16 players listed on the depth chart. Rookie of the year candidate, Devin McCourtey returns as the Patriots top cornerback, as does the once undrafted Kyle Arrington. After being signed to a long term deal following a stellar 2009 season, Leigh Bodden missed all of last year due to injury. He will be under pressure to return to top form. Darius Butler seems to have gone from first round prodigy to bust in the matter of two seasons. His third season will be huge as he tries to prove himself in the league. New England stuck to its beliefs and drafted another cornerback, selecting Ras-I Dowling with the first pick of the second round.
Patrick Chung and Brandon Meriweather form a talented, but raw starting safety tandem. The scorn of some fans for the last few years, Meriweather is blessed with god-given talent that only a handful of safeties can match. Unfortunately, the mental aspect of playing has yet to surface itself completely. A second year man from Oregon, Chung improved dramatically in his second season, accumulating 96 tackles and three interceptions, including nine passes defended. James Sanders returns as a safety net in case Meriweather needs to return to reserve action.
After an excellent rookie year, punter Zoltan Mesko is back, as is kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Gostkowski missed the final eight games of the season, while Shayne Graham filled in admirably. Edelman and Tate appear to be slated in as the starting punt returner and kick returner, respectively.
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