This could all be moot if the Texans try to wrap up their superstar defender. And if the Patriots go about business the way they have for the majority of the past decade, we can't expect them to provide too many free-agent fireworks.

But it would not stun me one bit if the Patriots make a play for DE Mario Williams.

Bill Belichick is nothing if not opportunistic, and he knows that having one of the finest defensive talents potentially come free like this is a once-a-decade kind of thing he can't afford to pass up. All the signs are there: The Patriots are in great shape, in terms of salary cap, and they have a defense that made strides down the stretch (16.3 points per game allowed in the postseason) but needs a jolt of talent up front.

The Patriots came within a few minutes of winning a Super Bowl, and they did so with only a few blue-chip players on defense. Vince Wilfork is excellent. Jerod Mayo is very good. Brandon Spikes could be there one day. Devin McCourty? Jury is still out. Same with Patrick Chung. There are complementary parts all over.