The New England Patriots' 2009 Offseason Reshuffling

Since the Kansas City trade that saw the departure of Mike Vrabel, New England has taken steps to sure up an ailing secondary. They have signed free agent cornerbacks Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs on for the 2009 season, but will still be looking to get younger on defense.

Now we start looking ahead to the draft and discuss all the different trade scenarios and which veteran linebacker will the Patriots bundle their draft picks to trade for and so on. All the discussions about Julius Peppers or Jason Taylor joining the front seven get me excited, but I want to see them get some young new talent on the roster. Personally, I hope they use most, if not all, of their picks in this year's draft. The intent would be to tap into the depth of this draft to ensure the longevity of talent in the defense for years to come.

With that said, here is a list of players I hope the Patriots snag in the coming draft, along with a look at some of the key free agents they have picked up.

Connor Barwin, DE/OLB, Cincinnati

6'4" 256 40 yd: 4.66

Having been described as a Mike Vrabel clone, Connor Barwin is my favorite player for the Patriots in this draft. If the Pats draft any of these players, I hope he is the one. He played defensive end for the Bearcats his senior year after having been a tight end in previous years.

His size, speed, versatility, and football intelligence will make a perfect fit for the Patriots' system. He would be able to make an immediate impact on the outside, bringing a much-needed pass rush, which would in turn take some pressure off of the newly signed cornerbacks.

Louis Delmas, S, Western Michigan

5'11" 202 40 yd: 4.5

Yes, we have Brandon Merriweather and James Sanders locked in at the safety positions, but a big question is if Rodney Harrison will be coming back this year or not.

According to nepatriotsdraft.com, Louis Delmas is "Rodney version 2.0". Whether Rodney comes back or not, which I still hope he does, Delmas will bring a hard hitting attitude into the defensive backfield. This would be a quality future replacement for Harrison.

Sen'Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn

6'2" 306 40 yd: 5.0

Marks reminds me of Ty Warren. I think he could come in and provide depth on the line. His stock has dropped recently due to some skepticism due to inconsistency, and I think we could pick him up in the mid-to-late second round. He played defensive tackle at Auburn but would definitely be able to play on the end in New England's 3-4. As long as he stays in shape, which the Patriots would enforce, Marks will bring quickness off the line and the ability to overpower blockers.

Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State

6'4" 249 40 yd: 4.64

Aaron Maybin is a hybrid of pass-rushing talent and chasing down plays. Having him brought in to play OLB as well as Connor Barwin would solidify the outside. We would have a younger linebacker corps that already has a newly resigned Tully Banta-Cain, Shawn Crable, Gary Guyton, Jerod Mayo, Adalius Thomas, Teddy Bruschi, Eric Alexander, Angelo Craig, and Vince Redd.

Fred Taylor, RB, New England Patriots

Fred Taylor is a hungry veteran running back who is going to be excited to show everyone he still can motor. Now with Lawrence Maroney and Sammy Morris and company, look for the Patriots' backfield to put up some strong numbers this year.

Leigh Bodden, CB, New England Patriots

Chad Johnson has said that Leigh Bodden is the one of the toughest cover corners he has ever lined up against. This is definitely a step up from "I fall over in the Super Bowl shrimp Ellis Hobbs III."

Bodden is tall, strong, and as fast as he needs to be. Look for him to shine this year with the Patriots.

Shawn Springs, CB, New England Patriots

Shawn Springs is another veteran cornerback addition who brings along with him experience against new division opponent Terrell Owens. Along with Leigh Bodden, the Patriots are going to have a whole new look at cornerback next year—confident.

Greg Lewis, WR, New England Patriots

Considering the fact we owe Greg Lewis around $3 million less than Gaffney, and he has good speed, I really like the non-signing of Gaffney and trade for Lewis. He will bring speed back to the opposite side of Moss, with Welker cutting up the middle of the field.

Remember this guy?

I'm sure you haven't forgot about him, but remember that he is coming back this year. I think the Patriots will use the later rounds to find some more depth at wide receiver and offensive line.

I don't know about you guys, but I am really excited about this year. I feel like we might be putting together a team that could be even better than the 2007 season, as amazing as that may seem.

I hope to hear how you guys feel!