Curran: Belichick's master plan far from complete

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A brief reminder: The NFL’s offseason player-acquisition period doesn’t end when the top 10 guys on everybody’s “Hot 100 List of Free Agents!!” are signed.

FREE AGENCY BEGINS

The whole thing’s a moveable feast for teams. That said, the Patriots are potentially going to be a lot different at the back end of their defense than they were when they won a Super Bowl less than 40 days ago.

Stephon Gilmore to replace a soon-to-be-elsewhere Logan Ryan makes perfect sense for the Patriots. It’s a move similar to bringing in Dwayne Allen at tight end knowing they weren't going to re-sign Martellus Bennett.

Separately --and surprisingly -- it was reported the Patriots are “considering” trading Malcolm Butler. for Saints receiver Brandin Cooks. That seems less logical on its face. And “considering” is a lot different than “close to” or even “negotiating.” So we need to check the unbridled indignation until that’s confirmed.

None of the three sources I’ve asked this morning have responded at all, so here we are.

Now, part of the reason the Patriots are effective in their secondary has been communication, consistency and great tackling.

Ryan is a great tackler. Butler is a great tackler. Losing both means Gilmore, Cyrus Jones, Eric Rowe, Justin Coleman and whoever else New England adds through the draft and free agency will have to pick up the slack.

You have to give something to get something and Cooks is absolutely worth pursuing. But Butler -- who the Patriots could control as a restricted free agent this year and could franchise in 2018 if they don’t see eye-to-eye on a long-term deal -- is one of the best corners in football.

Certainly, he had a better 2016 than Gilmore who -- though talented -- doesn’t seem to be the most mature player on the market.

Gilmore wore cleats begging that some team show him the money? Butler could have dressed head to toe in hundred-dollar bills. The point at which Butler needs to be thankful for the opportunity New England gave him has passed. He paid them back by the end of 2014 and has had two Pro Bowl-level seasons since, proving them right in the Darrelle Revis decision.

If the team signs Gilmore then ships out Butler, the narrow view shows the team choosing to pay some guy who’s never been to the playoffs after being a first-round pick over a guy who won them a Super Bowl after coming in undrafted.

That’s the narrow view.

The broader view is that the Patriots need to get younger at receiver and Cooks -- who is younger than Butler and still has two years before he becomes a UFA -- is a smart target.

Another factor could be the performance and demeanor of some players the Patriots didn’t sign to long-term deals in 2016. Jamie Collins was pissed until the team traded him. Jabaal Sheard didn’t play well for much of the year. Butler, whose situation resembles Collins, may be more miffed than motivated if he doesn’t get a long-term extension.

At this point: again, before free agency’s started, we’re discussing Butler and Ryan in exchange for Cooks and Gilmore. And the possibility that Donta Hightower is headed elsewhere as well.

Aside from everything else -- money, hurt feelings, etc. -- the biggest concern in that scenario would be the consistency and communication on defense.

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