manxman2601

I admit to being a little confused with the general off-season direction BB has taken this year. I'm not saying I'm unhappy with it - we'll be able to field a very good team next year - it's just that I don't see much in the way of strategic forward planning. We came into this off-season with CB, DT, S and WR as pretty big needs and we'll likely be going in to next year with those same needs considering the ageing players and one year contracts we've handed out.

So in light of the Kelly, Edelman and probable Sanders signings, where are we in terms of this draft?


1. Leaving aside the two seventh rounders, we only have two draft picks. Yes trade backs or a Mallett trade would change that, but BB is giving up draft picks to sign players to one year contracts. It doesn't appear that he's placing much value on those draft picks right now.

2. In the last day, we've effectively double-dipped at the WR position. Whilst I don't think we've ruled ourselves out of drafting a WR, I don't think we'll be double dipping anymore. So what type of WR are we looking at. Sanders strikes me as very similar to the Wheaton/Swope/Boyce type receivers so I wonder whether they're still on the cards. And I find it interesting that the Edelman/Sanders business comes the day after Keenan Allen ran a 4.70 thus pretty much guaranteeing he falls to us in the 1st. He'd certainly offer us that size receiver that we don't have.

3. OG and pass rusher are looking like very strong possibilities - they're both possible needs that haven't been directly addressed yet. Neither are absolutely essential (we can get by) but drafting at both positions would improve us, certainly in the long-term. Justin Pugh/Corey Lemonier perhaps?

4. For the last two years, BB has looked at the coverage LB position in his pre-draft contacts. Last year it was Lavonte David, this year Alec Ogletree, Kiko Alonso and some others. With so few absolute needs, could this be the year?

5. Only two draft picks and so few immediate must have needs, could this be the year that we grab a couple of upside luxury type prospects in the draft? How about one or both of Tyrann Mathieu/Marcus Lattimore?


This draft for the Patriots wan't all that easy to pin down initially. Now it's next to impossible.

Edit: Can't edit the tile. Should read "so", not "Wo". Doh!

p8ryts

looking at the depth charts there are two areas that could use an upgrade. backup linebacker lists Rivera and Tarpinian. Backup OL shows, Cannon, McDonald and Zuseviks.

Granted Ninko and Fletcher could play outside still leaving a MLB needed for passing downs. Maybe Adrian Wilson can take that spot.

Rivera and Tarpinian cannot do the job effectively, we have seen that. Cannon and McDonald have played effectively.

I still say trade down out of the first round.

I still like my draft of
2 Chris Harper WR
2 Jordan Poyer CB
3Devin Taylor DL
4Vance McDonald TE
7 Ryan Griffin QB
Had some other low rounders I liked but don't recall them off the top

__________________
Stan the Man the Patriots Fan from Wareham

Sciz

Trade down, load up on value on the second day.

If the Pats get Sanders, then I think they're good as far as starting players, and the biggest thing that would get between them and a Super Bowl is lack of depth to replace injured starters. Can't be having players like Branch, Cole, Francis, and Ho-oh/Fells getting significant snaps in the biggest game of the season.

If they can turn 29 and 59 into four total picks in the second and third rounds and get some young talent (especially at CB, DE, and OL), then I'd be perfectly happy even if they don't get a single instant starter from the draft class.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

wpgjets>nyjets

With Bill looking ahead I can see CB being the only glaring need really for this team, but for next year. (Of course they could use interior o-lineman, a LDE, a DT, a developmental WR, etc)

Talib signed a 1 year deal. If he plays like we expect him too, I could easily see him pricing himself out of New England, If he doesn't do well or is injured or worse he probably isn't the answer as their number 1 corner going into 2014-2015.

It doesn't look like next years FA's will be that "deep" either. So... with that being said, I could see a Corner being drafted in hopes of him being our #1 guy next year, as I don't think Bill would want to force in a rookie starter if he didn't necessarily HAVE to (he would probably see ++ playing time this year anyway).

I'd rather not see yet ANOTHER db drafted high, but it looks to me that it is inevitable.

jsull87

As far as coverage LB I just can't see this being a pats priority other than the 7th. In the 1st 2 rounds pats look for guys who can contribute on all 4 downs. A coverage lb just isn't going to contribute for us in 1st and even 2nd down.

I like the idea of someone like Allen if he slips. I also like the idea of trading down and picking a couple of depth + players at somewhere like DE, DT and OG to really keep replenishing our Lines.

But i am also of the opinion that we have a playoff caliber team already so these 2 draft picks for me are just gravy atm if Sanders signs.

Geez wouldn't a Ryan Mallet trade have us all flabbergasted seeing as most of our plans for this FA offseaosn have come together in one way or another. DLine help: Armstead and Kelly, Saftey: Wilson, WR: Sanders, Edelma, Jones, Amendola CB: Talib, Arrington, Cole OT: Vollmer Svitek.

All that was missing was a DE like Abraham and a Trade for mallet and we'd be living the off season dream (bar the welker loss).

BelichickFan

The "General Direction" that you ask about is to fill all the holes - even if short term - so we can draft who we want and aren't forced to so something. As much as I'd love all long term deals there will be place fillers next year too.

Some directions we could go in the draft :

Center or Guard. We could consider a stud upgrade over Connlly or a Center as Wemdell is a UFA after this year.

DL. Either a DE complement to Chandler or a nice beefy long term DT could work.

MLB. Spikes is a UFA after the year.

CB. Talib is a UFA after the year. And as solid as Dennard was last year we really need to see him for a full year to see if he's really solid or just not awful.

S. Depending how they feel about Wilson, a big time Safety compliment to McCourtey (assuming he stays at Safety) could happen.

I assumed we get Sanders at WR; if not obviously that's a big time need.

The point is, if we get Sanders we've plugged every obvious hole so now we can pick the best long term guy at one of about 4-5 possible spots.

BTW I heard an interview with Justin Pugh on the radio today; OG isn't our biggest need but that's a guy I wouldn't mind having on this team. Very impressive.

VrabelJr

I think we trade back at least once. First two picks will go to defense in a combination of DT, CB and LB depending on value. Late round pick(s) will be used on OL.

ctpatsfan77

I understand the concept, but I just don't see them drafting an OL that early at this point, even if he does offer the most value.

__________________
"Momentum was quickly snatched away by New England, who once again proved that any Patriot, at any moment, can make a play." —Inside the NFL, Packers v. Patriots

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

manxman2601

Firstly, I agree with you about Pugh. Would be a good player to have long-term at LG.

Secondly, the problem as I see it is that we've only plugged holes for one year. Unless Dowling steps up, we'll need to find a starting CB. We'll need a starting WR, we might still have a hole at LDE, Adrian Wilson and Tommy Kelly will be a year older, we'll need to do something about Spikes and 3/5 of our OL is decidedly injury prone.

Yes we might trade down, have a great four picks and everything will be alright with the world but that leaves us dependent on almost all the picks hitting which is never a guarantee.

I'm not really criticising - I like how this team looks right now and there's still good young talent there but I do worry that there's not a lot of long-term planning going on which might start giving more serious problems in two or three years.

Blackluck

CB and receiver depth this year and starters next year are going to be issues; next year DL and OL. I would think BPA at those positions (according to the Pat's board, anyway) are where we look. Unless someone unexpectedly falls, I see us going CB with our first pick, then either OL or WR with the second. Personally, unless Carradine is there at 29 (I think he's going to be gone), I would take a WR (Allen, Hopkins, Wheaton, maybe Hunter) and then our requisite DB bust* with the 2nd. A cover LB might be possible, I would guess S. Moore, but that's unlikely.

There will probably be four teams looking for QB in the second looking to move back up to the 1st (Browns, Jags, Bills, Jets, maybe Cards) so trading down should be possible (getting a 3 might be too rich for a trade with one of those teams, so a 4th and 6th maybe?) Depending on how the draft falls, a Mallett trade might still be done but I think that's unlikely.

*Yes, I'm bitter over all the DB picks we've taken yet have so little to show for it.