Light signed a two-year contract extension on July 31, 2011 which would end after the 2012 season but it has been reported that Light is considering not playing out the remainder of that contract. Light is due to be paid $3.4 million with a $100,000 workout bonus in 2012. With a strong offensive line, the Patriots have done well at keeping Tom Brady upright throughout the years and Light has been a big part of that. So what do the Patriots do if Light does retire?

If Light does decide to finish his 11-year career, the Patriots are pretty well stocked with young talent on the offensive line. Most likely, his replacement would come from that group. One option is Marcus Cannon moving from right to left tackle. Cannon was a fifth round draft pick out of TCU in 2011 by the Patriots. Cannon wasn’t activated by the Patriots until week 10 as he recuperated from chemotherapy treatment due to being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Other options for a replacement include 2011 first round draft pick Nate Solder and 2009 second round pick Sebastian Vollmer. The two young tackles rotated at right tackle due to a back injury suffered by Vollmer during a 2011 preseason game. If healthy, Vollmer is likely to be the starter at right tackle in 2012 and would not move down the line.

Light may be back with the Patriots in 2012 but if he’s not, the Patriots are well equipped to handle the loss. Assuming that Cannon is fully healthy going into 2012, he will likely be the replacement. Though he was drafted late in 2011, he would’ve been much higher he hadn’t been diagnosed with lymphoma shortly before the draft. If Cannon is not able to do the job and Vollmer is healthy, it would likely go to Nate Solder. Either way, the Patriots have used the draft well enough to handle the possibility.

Brandon Lloyd entered the NFL in 2003 and didn’t have any impressive seasons until 2010 when he caught 77 passes for 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Denver Broncos. That year he played under the short tenured head coach Josh McDaniels. McDaniels, mostly known in Denver for driving pro bowl quarterback Jay Cutler away, was fired by the Broncos following the 2010 season after a videotaping scandal reminiscent of the Patriots scandal in 2007. McDaniels went to St. Louis becoming the Rams offensive coordinator in 2011 with Lloyd following him midseason.

Now with McDaniels back in New England at his old position of offensive coordinator, Lloyd has spoken of his excitement about the possible opportunity to reunite with the coach that he was with when he had his most successful season. While Lloyd has said he will entertain discussions with the Rams, he is definitely interested in moving on to New England.

This news came just days after rumors swirled around the nine-year veteran’s possibility of making the move. When the topic of Lloyd possibly joining the Patriots surfaced, media members brought up the fact that Lloyd’s agent, Tom Condon, has spoken publicly about his distaste for working with Patriots management. However, Condon reminded the media the following day that he is a businessman and if the Patriots would like to do business, all they have to do is call.

On the Patriots side, Lloyd might be the best choice. Of the other choices to join the team, only Randy Moss and Reggie Wayne have had seasons as good as Lloyd’s 2010 performance. Moss is 35 years old now and coming out of retirement so he probably won’t be the same player he was for the Patriots in 2007. Wayne is 33 and is coming off one of the worst seasons of his 11-year career. While the Patriots will certainly look at all options, Lloyd is probably the best option for one of the team’s key needs.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis Starting Running Back Role Free Agent

BenJarvus Green-Ellis becomes a free agent in 2012.  New England drafted 2 running backs in the 2012 NFL Draft.  Green-Ellis had 181 carries, 667 rushing yards, and 11 rushing touchdowns.  BenJarvus helped New England with double digit touchdowns.  New England may move on with Woodhead and Ridley being their 1 2 punch in 2012.  I feel like resigning Green-Ellis to a one or two year deal is a priority.

Danny Woodhead #2 Running Back Role #2 Running Back

Woodhead is a #2 back that is used for rushing out of the backfield and catching passes.  Woodhead was splitting carries with Green-Ellis.

Stevan Ridley Backup Running Back Role Running Back of the future

Stevan Ridley was a 3rd round pick out of LSU.  Ridley appeared to be a one year wonder with 1,147 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns as a junior at LSU before deciding to enter the 2011 NFL Draft.  Ridley showed more production than Woodhead in 2011.

Ridley could be a starter in 2012 if BenJarvus Green-Ellis is not retained.  New England also drafted another running back before Ridley.

Kevin Faulk 3rd String Running Back Role Free Agent

Kevin Faulk is in his 30′s.  Faulk has had a great run with New England, but his time is up.  New England has tons of running backs and the Patriots need to make way for bigger needs on defense.

Shane Vereen 4th String Running Back Role Reserve Back

Shane Vereen will be used as a reserve back.  Vereen was a 2011 second round pick who was a #2 back behind Jahvid Best.  Vereen like Best is injury prone.  Vereen can develop into a decent back.  Vereen will play a 3rd string role if Green-Ellis and Faulk are released in 2012.

Since Bill Belichick took over as head coach in 2002, the Patriots have given seven players the franchise tag. Between 2002 and 2005, the Patriots tagged players three times (Adam Vinatieri twice) and each time was on the deadline day. However, in the last three years, the team has tagged key players well before the deadline.

Five of the seven times in the past ten years that the Patriots put the franchise tag on players it was for a reason other than just a quick one-year deal. Three times the Patriots tagged players to get more time to negotiate and signed an extension later that offseason. In 2002, the Patriots tagged kicker Adam Vinatieri on deadline day and signed him three weeks later to a two-year contract extension. In 2010, the team tagged defensive tackle Vince Wilfork three days before the deadline and two weeks later the two sides reached an agreement on an extension. In 2011, negotiations were breaking off between the Patriots and offensive guard Logan Mankins when, ten days before the deadline, the team put the franchise tag on him. Six months later, the two sides agreed to a six-year contract extension.

Twice the Patriots put the franchise tag on players in order to trade them. In 2003, the Patriots tagged safety Tebucky Jones on deadline day so that they could trade him in April to New Orleans. In 2009, the team tagged backup quarterback Matt Cassel the first day they could so that they could trade him to Kansas City at the end of February.

In Welker’s case, if he is tagged, it’ll most likely be because the two sides haven’t come to an agreement yet and are looking to buy more time. By all accounts, Welker wants to remain in New England and the Patriots are hoping to keep him there. If the recent trend of the Patriots tagging players continues, they will be looking to extend his contract before the start of the 2012 season. One thing that can be learned from the recent actions by the team is that they don’t want to go into the season with a player signed under the franchise tag if they can help it.

The window that opens Monday to give a player the franchise tag will close on March 5. Most likely, Welker will be tagged before that date and will be set to make $9.4 million in 2012. However, it is also likely that the two sides will come to an agreement on a contract extension before the start of the season that will keep Welker around New England for the foreseeable future.

Tom Brady Staring Quarterback Role Future Hall Of Famer

Tom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks of all time despite questions about his legacy due to spygate.  Brady has won 3 Super Bowls and has played in 5.  Terry Bradshaw won 4 Super Bowls with the Steel Curtain defense.  Joe Montana won 4 Super Bowls while using the West Coast Offense as well.  New England should be a major player as long as Tom Brady is around.

Brian Hoyer Backup Quarterback Role Future Starter

Brian Hoyer is an restricted free agent.  New England probably will place a level 2 or level 3 tender on Hoyer to retain him.  Hoyer should go from backup to starter like Kevin Kolb or Matt Flynn in a year from now in 2013.

Brian Hoyer has been a backup to Tom Brady for 3 seasons.  Hoyer has received no starts and has gone 27 for 43 with 1 touchdown and 1 pick in limited action.

Ryan Mallett Third String Quarterback Role Sophomore

Ryan Mallett was a 3rd round rookie out of Arkansas last season.  Some considered Mallett a first round prospect before his stock slipped due to off the field concerns.  Mallett will be New England’s 3rd stringer for another season.  Mallett has elite physical tools with his cannon arm and size.  Mallett may develop into a borderline starter if he can master the mental attributes of his game.