Draft needs 2011
 

So, where do you think the Pats will go position-wise next draft?

I never say never but I don't think they will take a DB or a QB or a TE in the first two rounds.

So, that leaves Rb, OL, DL, LB, and maybe WR.

What do you all think? Any predictions on the first four picks?

lineman and then backers
 

I think the best lineman available in the first round, one from each side. Then Linebackers and runningbacks in the second.

WR--I hope Moss comes back, Welker is good and Tate and or Edelman excel.

I'd say-

1. DE
2. OL
3. RB
4. #1 WR
5. OLB

We should be set at TE, CB, and S. OLB could be #3 but TBC had a very good year last year and there is a lot of hope for Cunningham, I'd say #'s 3-5 are interchangeable now.

We really need a 5-tech and there should be a great class for them next year, and we really could use some OL help especially along the interior even if Mankins were to come back which he will probably not. There are some great looking #1 receiver prospects as potential Moss replacements; and it would be tough to pass on a guy like Green, Baldwin, Floyd, or Jones even with young guys like Tate, Edelman, and Price with Welker still around. I love BJGE but we need a big time RB and/or a future replacement for K-Faulk.

As usual we have a good amount of needs on paper, but it isn't as bad as it looks. I really want a 5-tech early and that is certain, but in my opinion after that it could really go any way.

1 DE
2 OLB
3 OL
4 RB
5 WR

But you can draft the best available player from that group. This should be a deep RB class, so maybe I'd put it below WR... But they need multiple RBs including a Faulk replacement), so that's why I stick it at #4.

Og/c
Olb
De
Rb
Wr

I'd rank our needs:

OLB
DE
OL
WR
RB

Without a decent pass rush our defense will never get off the field. Just look at last night against the Rams. At this point I think that BB might want to draft a DE come april due to his track record, but OLB is just a bigger need imo.

I personally feel that 5 tech is starting to go down the list of priorities. I get having Seymour, Wilfork and Warren two years was great and all but realistically now we can be more than competitive with Warren(next year when healthy), Wilfork and a rotation of G Warren, Wright, Brace, Pryor etc. The two biggest needs for me are OLB and interior O line.

However come next year if we have the chance to take one of the top WRs or Ryan Williams etc I'd say go for it. But assuming both firsts are between 15-32 then I would go Von Miller/Jack Crawford etc and Mike Pouncey, Rodney Hudson etc.

It is probably way too early to project where players will go, however unless a real value player not at either of the two positions is available, I think BB should go with these positions

1. OLB
2. OG/C
3. RB
4. DE
5. WR
6. OT

We need a #1 WR but we do NOT need WR depth, so if AJ Green or Jon Baldwin or those kinds of guys are not available, then it becomes a non-need at all.

3 of our first 4 picks need to be invested into a RB, DE, and OLB. The OLB group is just garbage beyond TBC. The DE group is Ty Warren and a bunch of band-aids. And outside of Kevin Faulk on 3rd down, our RB core is among the worst in the NFL. They simply can not churn yardage when we need it. It's so bad they wanted to move Julian Edelman to RB but for whatever reason, he didn't work out.

I think then we need a T/G to play either RT, RG, or maybe LT. I'm fairly happy with Dan Connolly at LG so far. Maybe Logan Mankins comes back when the two sides cool down from the war and Connolly can be moved to RG. Maybe Kaczur can still play RG next year. All I know is that the OL needs to get younger because Neal is considering retirement, Light can't play RT and is going to struggle against great pass rushers at LT, Koppen gets hurt, and so on.

If Christian Ponder drops into the second round like Jimmy Clausen did (which I doubt he will), I wouldn't be entirely shocked if the Patriots take him. Brady looks great right now, but he's 33 and had a serious knee injury. He might not play to 36. Hoyer has looked good though.

I think the lines will be addressed. M. Pouncey in this upcoming draft is a name I think we should be aware of around draft time for the Pats.

How about 2 O lineman, a RB, and a WR with the first four picks. The offense would be set for a while.

Omg I would run over kittens with a lawn mower if this happened. If we dont come out of the first two rounds without at least an OLB or DE I'm going to lose patience with our draft strategy.

how about these guys
 

Defensive ends
Robert Quinn DE 6'4⅝" 254 North Carolina 95 1 2 Not likely
Allen Bailey DE 6'3½" 287 Miami (FL) 93 2 9 maybe
Cameron Heyward DE 6'5" 278 Ohio State 92 3 14 probably
Adrian Clayborn DE 6'3" 285 Iowa 91 4 17 probably
Ryan Kerrigan DE 6'4" 259 Purdue 90 5 28 probably
Mark Herzlich OLB 6'4" 247 Boston College 92 1 11 maybe
Travis Lewis OLB 6'2" 232 Oklahoma 91 2 18 probably
Von Miller OLB 6'3" 238 Texas A&M 91 3 20 probably
Bruce Carter OLB 6'3" 225 North Carolina 90 4 26 probably
Nate Solder OT 6'8" 300 Colorado 93 1 8 Not likely
Gabe Carimi OT 6'6¾" 318 Wisconsin 92 2 16 maybe
Orlando Franklin OT 6'6⅜" 318 Miami (FL) 91 3 23 probably
Anthony Castonzo OT 6'7" 295 Boston College 90 4 30 probably
Mark Ingram RB 5'10" 215 Alabama 91 1 19 maybe
Ryan Williams RB 5'10" 210 Virginia Tech 90 2 24 probably
A.J. Green WR 6'4" 208 Georgia 94 1 4 Not likely
Julio Jones WR 6'4" 211 Alabama 90 2 3 Not likely


What do you think about these possibilities with the first two picks.

The comments refer to availability

I've bolded the names of the players I think BB would consider drafting. Robert Quinn would play OLB for us, and probably the players that I want the most next year a long with AJ Green.

Marcell Dareus (DE-Alabama) should be on that list.

The lists look right, and I'm sure we'll all be clamoring for an OLB again next year (which we won't get.)

I think G/C will be the most important need. OLB will be second.

DE / WR will both depend largely on how our young talent does this year. If Brace looks like he did against the Rams going forward (or even near that level, consistently) and one of those other guys looks like good depth (Pryor, Deadrick, etc.) then we may be ok there.

Similar story at WR with the young guys plus the status of Moss, though I think another young WR with #1 potential should be brought in either way.

I realistically think the bolded players, if available, would be the most likely of that list.

A few on that list that need clarified

Mark Herzlich-Love the story and going to BC obviously would make him an instant fan favourite, but he would be an ILB in the Pats scheme and that position is stacked.

Travis Lewis/Bruce Carter-Once again wouldn't be able to play OLB in a 34

Von Miller-Looks like he will be a DE playing OLB, ie he will be a stand up pass rusher and nothing more. If he can't show he can set the edge in the run game and also drop into coverage then he will be off the list.

Mark Ingram-Ingram profiles as a pound it out workhorse type of back. I dont think the Patriots will be in the market for one of these. Williams is more of a do-it-all back and would be the choice of the two IMO.

I agree that they only go WR if there's a superior talent available.

DE is the same way (though they may add a depth player later).

G and C are big needs, so is OLB (even if it's just depth).

Lately I've been hoping that the Patriots would go for help on both sides of the line this year. Sebastian Vollmer is taking over for Matt Light at left tackle next year, but we don't have anyone we can count on to man the right tackle spot now, with Kaczur's career potentially in danger following back surgery. That's a very serious injury. Who knows if he can ever come back. Getting a strong right tackle would be a good idea in the first or second round.

It seems like New England could potentially be interested in getting a center at some point as well. Dan Koppen and Tom Brady have a great rapport, but with more teams switching to a 3-4, Koppen's inability to handle massive nose tackles is becoming more and more costly for the offensive line and someone more physical would be appreciated. It seems as though New England intends on drafting someone here soon, as they have reportedly shown interest in first-round prospects Eric Wood and Maurkice Pouncey over the last two years.

Even if Ron Brace is able to establish himself as a starter along the defensive line, we could still use an early pick (potentially a first-round pick) in order to find another starter at the five-technique. I'm expecting good things from Gerard Warren this year (call me crazy), but he is 32 years old and I think Mike Wright is going to have trouble playing the amount of snaps that a starter at defensive end should be playing.

I don't think Belichick is going to want to address outside linebacker this year after signing Tully Banta-Cain to a surprisingly long extension and drafting Jermaine Cunningham in the second round this year. That could change, but I think he'll wait. He could potentially look at a running back - getting a young stud like a Mark Ingram could extend Tom Brady's career and help establish a consistent run game. New England could also look to a wide receiver if Randy Moss leaves the team, or an offensive guard if Neal retires and no one steps up this year.

DE definitely tops the list. T.Warren & G.Warren are both old enough to back up with a future starter. Even if Brace looks like he can take one side we'll still need the other side covered. Wright is a great "motor" guy, but if I'm an O-coordinator (or top QB that calls plays) I'm checking into a run play right at him every time he's on the field.

Tully . . . well, he's Tully. Don't let the contract fool you. He gets it all this year (uncapped) and has a contract that makes him an easy cut at any time. When he's on the same side as Wright I'm absolutely checking to a run to their side, which is pretty much the case every time they're on the field together.

O'Dowd, round 1. 20 - 30 (hopefully 32!) range in the draft sounds good for him, imo. I don't see any reason to take a RT before late round 2. Tony Washington is still waiting for a call . . . just sayin' . . .

a name i think the pats could draft in the mid to late rounds to watch for........ DE/OLB Justin Trattou (spelling) out of Florida.

Let's see how this changes after the Jets game.

Priority Rating System:
5 - Extreme (first round)
4 - High
3 - Normal (mid round)
2 - Low
1 - Late Round
0 - None

QB - 1
Hoyer needs competition to push him (and will likely get it)

RB - 5
None signed passed 2010. Don't be surprised if our first two picks are RBs.

#1 WR - 5
Randy Moss won't be a big time threat much longer.

WR - 0
Have you seen our WRs???

TE - 1
Just special teamers

OT - 3
A RT would be nice to replace Vollmer when he moves to LT (after Light retires/is not resigned)

OG/C - 3.5
Mankins not coming back; Neal and Koppen often injured. Could use two mid round picks on the interior for depth or maybe a starter in the future.

DE - 4.5
The DL looked good in game one, but let's see it in game 2. I have a feeling this group still is a very big need. A top DE could vastly improve this defense in all aspects. *cough Clayborn cough*

NT - 2
Not a big need, but our DTs are transitioning slow (normal actually, but it feels slow)

OLB - 4.9
Uhh... yea, this is self explanatory.

ILB - 0
Spikes, Mayo, Fletcher, and Guyton = best ILB core in the NFL.

S - 0
Chung, Meriweather, Sanders, and whoever = top tier safety group

CB - 1
I love McCourty and Butler and like the flashes from Wheatley, plus Bodden coming back makes this a low priority, but they could use someone to push Wheatley.

ST - 0
K - 0
P - 0
Our special teams just needs time to grow up some.

OLB - ninkovich is a practice squad player, and TBC cant defend the run
WR - only if moss leaves
DE - only if the value is there. I wouldnt reach though. We have T.Warren, G.Warren, Brace, Pryor, and Wright.
RB - huge need, luckily RBs are dime a dozen and easily found

I wouldn't pass on Marcel Dareus (either first round pick), and I might take a shot at Bailey (2nd first round pick)... Other than that, I think they can abstain from DE in the first round for other positions.

Lately I've been drooling over LaMichael James. Once again he dominated last night and I think I might want to have his children. I also (maybe, not sure yet though) think that he could have a better NFL career than Ingram since he has better long speed. I'd love for us to take him if he declares, he's a RS sophomore iirc.

I'm just taking this here, no reason to hi-jack the mock draft thread.

I just watching the game right now (2 minutes left in the fourth quarter) and I really like how Law Firm is running the ball. I'd still love to get a dynamic runner like James, Ingram or Williams, but I think RB is less of a need for us now than it was four weeks ago. But still, I'd love to get a RB early in the draft and re-sign Law Firm.