Off Season Moves; Getting Offensive, Patriots Need a Deep Threat

Got a future Hall of Fame quarterback who tears up defenses and can play through pain? Yup, Tom Brady, check.How about a solid offensive line to keep him upright? Three Pro Bowlers and other competent players, check. How about a solid tight end who can be a security blanket when needed? Rob Gronkowski who is coming off the most successful season in NFL history at that position along with the explosiveness and productiveness of Aaron Hernandez, super double check. How about a solid slot receiver with sure hands who can almost get open at will? Yup, Wes Welker, check (for now, anyway). How about a savvy veteran receiver who has great rapport with the quarterback? Deion Branch, check. And, last but not least, an explosive deep threat that can stretch the field and set defenses on their heels? Uh, not so much.

The deep threat is something that was clearly lacking last season and especially evident when both Rob Gronkowski went down with an injury that probably cost them the Patriots the Super Bowl and when the sure handed Wes Welker, came up not so sure handed on the Patriots most important drive while leading the Giants in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVI.

The Patriots are coming off another championship run in 2011, but they fell just short. Had they had a healthy Rob Gronkowski, things might have been different. Could it have also been very different had Welker not dropped a catch he has made a thousand times? Sure it could have. But the most important game changer on offense would have been a deep threat to challenge the Giants biggest weakness, their pass defense.

So with the NFL draft approaching quickly, and free agency on the horizon, let's take a look at where the Patriots might find the speed and explosiveness they are desperately lacking. This year the Patriots have two first round picks (again). However, this could be the year that they do something they haven't done in a few years, score big in the first round. Especially, since it has been reported that Belichick has privately acknowledged that the Patriots are in need of explosiveness on both sides of the ball. This was probably more evident, after he watched the physical beast that is Rob Gronkowski tear up NFL defenses to shreds and show he was a man among boys. Let's see who might fit that mold either in the draft, or on the free agent market, so number 12 finally has a chance to be a champion after two more attempts that fell just short.

With the second round steal that was Rob Gronkowski, which super explosive talent could the Patriots end up with through the draft? Could they trade up and package one or both of their first rounders to score a super freak wide out? Is it possible a stud could fall to them like Gronkowski and Hernadez did? Could they trade one of their current or future picks for an explosive wide out already on another team? Anything is possible with the Patriots and Bill Belichick on draft day.

One man that could fit that bill for the Patriots is the freakishly talented Alshon Jefferey out of South Carolina. His 6 foot 4 inch height is the prototypical number one receiver height. His 230 pound frame is the perfect weight. His leaping ability is off the charts, which could help him out jump any defender in the NFL. He has great speed too.

Who cares if his production was down last season at South Carolina. They had a terrible offensive line and most importantly, they don't have someone named Tom Brady under center.

Brady would be salivating at the thought of having a receiver like Jefferey along with a beast of a tight end in Gronkowski, another stud tight end in Aaron Hernandez, and a sure handed crafty slot receiver in Welker. This would not just mirror the Patriots 07' offense. It would far surpass it considering they were rolling with the likes of Ben Watson at tight end back then.

Yup, Jefferey would surely upgrade an already prolific and potent offense, which could make this team unstoppable on that side of the ball next season. But, he is not the only name that could help the Pats next season. So, let's take a look at a few more key names.

Tom Brady has always openly admitted that Joe Montana was his childhood idol growing up. Could the Patriots find Tom's missing weapon from Joe's Alma mater? Micheal Floyd definitely fits the bill.

The six foot three inch freak definitely fits the bill. Floyd was a productive 224 pound receiver that also stayed in college for his senior season. Another benefit to an already great potential prospect and something the Patriots would look favorably on if they were to have the chance to get their hands on Floyd.

He is another top talent that could help stretch the field with is size and speed and would help open up the playbook for Josh McDaniels and Tom Brady in 2012.

Justin Blackmon is another possibility at wide out that could help New England be indefensible in 2012. He is another explosive receiver who is most compared to Dez Bryant, but not because they are from the same college. It is because they have similar size and speed. However, luckily for the team that will be lucky enough to draft Blackmon, he is not a head case like Bryant. Therefore, he should be an even better pro than the counterpart from the same Alma mater.

The Oklahoma State product weighs in at 215 pounds. His measured height is 6 foot 1 inch tall. He would provide an instant athletic upgrade to New England's receiving corp. He is definitely something Tom Brady could work with to make the Pat's offense unstoppable.

Kendall Wright is certainly the smallest of all of the explosive receivers that could help the Patriots. But size is not necessarily the end all be all, just ask Wes Welker and Deion Branch. While Wright weighs in at 190 pounds and is measured at 5 foot 10 inches, he is one thing the Patriots do not have, a down the field threat!

He could certainly stretch the field at the NFL level. His comparisons are that of Percy Harvin, but without the migraine issues that Harvin has. He is definitely another possibility.

While, these are not the only potential big play receivers coming out of college, they are definitely some of the best prospects. The Patriots could certainly use any of these guys in their offense. Their impact would be immediate due to the fact that they would be catching the ball from Brady, who has even made the likes of Chad Jackson, Doug Gabriel, and Reche Caldwell look good. However, these players are much much better than any of the aforementioned. They are all certainly worth assessing.

Now, on to the free agent market, to see what other possibilities might be in store for the Patriots in 2012.

Could Desean Jackson be the answer the Patriots have been missing? He certainly could be. As everyone knows Bill Belichick is always open to the idea of taking former troubled players and converting them to the Patriot way.

Names like Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, Albert Haynesworth, and Chad Ochocinco (soon to be Johnson again thank goodness) ring a bell? While the latter two did not work out for the Patriots, it was not due to their old problems, it was simply a lack of production that saw them either cut or left on the sidelines last season. Could Jackson be the next project that Bill takes on? Something to definitely ponder. Especially considering the fact that the Patriots are way under the cap and would not have to give up any draft picks to do so. He is definitely an intriguing prospect.

Additionally, Jackson has already proven he is a productive NFL receiver. Unlike the other guys who may or may not end up being productive in the NFL, Jackson already has been. Further, he was catching passes from both a washed up Donovan McNabb and Micheal Vick, who although he has improved his passing skills is certainly no where near the ability of Brady in the passing game. Jackson with Brady would equal certain death to almost every defensive backfield they would face. Especially with all of the other weapons the Patriots possess already in their passing attack. The thought of it is scary to say the least.

While is certainly possible that the Patriots could pass on one or all of these guys, or that they might not be available for the Patriots to take, it is also true that under Bill Belichick, the GM, anything is possible. Especially, with two first round picks in the Patriots possession.

If there is one thing that has been learned over the years with Bill Belichick, it is that you can't lock down a pattern with him. Sure, he has traded down quite a bit, but that does not mean he will again. Even he knows that the Patriots need an athletic deep threat to really make the offense move consistently in the future. Especially, with Brady's time dwindling down. Even though Brady still has probably 3 to 5 productive years under his belt, he certainly has showed no signs of slowing. Barring injury, he will be the Patriots passer for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the time is now to get him that last piece to the championship puzzle that will allow him to become the greatest of all time at his position and bring him that elusive fourth ring that has eluded him over his past two opportunities.