We may very well have all our starting linebackers already on roster. Littleton should be the range tackling, cover LBer with Kiser the actual mlb on most plays. Obo may be what we envisioned him to be. Ebukam is very hot and cold but he’s okish. If they are able to retain Fowler our LB core is already set really with Obo and Ebukam battling for play time. Could then focus on dline, secondary, and oline in draft.
I've been saying this for a long time now. People dismiss the picks made in last years draft because they were later round picks (on the defensive side of the ball).
But when you have an elite offense, the best defensive player in the NFL, a stud safety and a top 5 CB unit - this is exactly what we should be doing. Drafting role players, giving them a year to develop and then plugging them in.
I'm sure we'll upgrade a position or two on D, but if we ended up with JFM, Joseph-Day, Kiser and Obo all starting next year I would have no issue with it.
Success breeds success and lots of the Patriots players that go and get paid aren't nearly as good as people think they are - because of Brady, Belichick, the systems etc. That's what we would be doing by plugging these guys in. Can't have all pros at every position.