signbabybrady

Answer the poll and dont let my opinion sway you.

I think Wilfork is our best defender and I think with Ty Warren and hopefully Gerrard Warren returning that you have 3 very good starters and you have Wright, Pryor, Brace and others to round out the depth. I think this is a position of strength. Sure would I love to find the next Seymour but you can say that about every position.

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BradyFTW!

Calling Gerard Warren a "very good" starter is a stretch, IMO. I wouldn't even call him a good starter- just a solid rotational player. Depending on the health of Wright and the progress of Deaderick and Brace, DE is somewhere between a huge need and merely a significant one.

mgteich

Whether the DL is a strength or not, There is a need to draft a defensive lineman in this draft. Stud defensive linemen are hard to find. The first round is the best place to find them. We have 3 top 35 picks this year.

Even through your rose-colored glasses, you are counting on both Gerard and Ty Warren. For how long? Certainly, we need to develop a defensive lineman in case both are not top contributers in 2012. It takes time for a DL to develop.

The reality is that we need five DL's in any given year, plus developmental players. I am fine hoping that Brace or Deaderick are top contributers in 2012. But we need another.

Rob0729

With Ty Warren returning along with Wright, Brace, and Pryor (and possibly Gerrard Warren); it isn't as big as some think. But if the Pats have an opportunity to go after a potential stud DE, they should. But they don't need to reach if no one decent is available.

PATSYLICIOUS

It's a need, I hope we spend a high pick. That said, for the reasons you posted I think we would still be *good enough* on the line to go all the way if T. Warren is still effective against the run and Wright can make it back. Also we would need our offense/ST to not give our opponent the ball in our territory 4 times and a couple more times around midfield. But I want this area to be a strength eventually.

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Dufflebagz

I put it as a moderate need but very close to being high. T. Warren is returning and that is a plus, but what about the other end?

I wouldn't mind waiting till the 2nd round to draft a DL.

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fxkane

In a 3-4 defense, you don't just need good linemen, you need super linemen. Right now we have one super and one very good-this is why we have to draft at least one superior player at this position. But my bet is we draft at least two in the first four rounds.

Deus Irae

DE and OLB are the two biggest needs the team has, if Neal returns and Mankins is re-signed. If Mankins is re-signed, but Neal doesn't come back, OG would go to need #1, but you'd still look to take that guard after the DE and OLB because of the better opportunities to get a great one later in the draft.

Assuming no major defections (i.e. Mankins), free agent signings or draft pick changes, I'd like to see something like the following:

Round 1, pick 1: DE/OLB
Round 1, pick 2: DE/OLB
Round 2, pick 1: OG
Round 2, pick 2: RB/WR
Round 3, pick 1: WR/RB
Round 3, pick 2: BPA from DE/OLB/OG/C

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RayClay

Bingo, saved me a post. If we get a seymour facsimile or close monster , I think we get by with Brace, Ty and others we can plug in, including Gerard and the current low draft pick bunch.

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DaBruinz

I see RDE as a big need. After thinking about it, there is no guarantee that Wright will be back. The Pats will, in all likelihood, bring back Gerard Warren, but I don't see him as being the kind of guy who will draw a double-team. I liked Brace's improvement during the year, but, he's still got a ways to go to be considered in the very good range.

Pryor is one of the Sub-Package D-linemen for 3rd downs. Deaderick could be the other, but he could also be on his way out with his antics during the season.

Kyle Love proved to be a capable sub for Wilfork at NT, but not on a full-time basis. Not yet at least.

Kade Weston is an unknown, but is thought to be someone who will challenge Love to back-up Wilfork at the NT position.

So, with Wright, G. Warren and Deaderick as questions, I see the RDE spot as wide open.