Thought experiment: If the Lions coughed up #1 for Cassel - Page 5 - New England Patriots Forums

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 01-05-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patchick

I guess it's kind of like a silly, unrealistic thread asking "which limb would you give up if you had to feed a barracuda?" The natural instinct is to look for loopholes. E.g.: pass on the pick and be prepared to jump in later, a la the Minnesota Vikings.

Well my natural instinct is to take the shiny things off and leave them for the barracuda while I casually went looking for a ride home.

VJCPatriot · 01-05-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GostkowSKI

Without trying to take this thread off-topic, your post echos what I've been thinking for the last four years or so, and that is having the #1 overall pick - or a top 5 pick for that matter - hurts your team in the long run. Allow me to explain:

If you're a team picking in the top 5 of the draft (Detroit, St. Louis, KC, Seattle & Cleveland this year) you generally have several holes to fill on your roster before being competitive again. Having said that, you're now saddled with having to tie up a large percentage of your salary cap into one player. So not only did you address just one position, you have to take care of the rest with 10% less salary cap room. Heaven forbid you draft a bust.

On the flip side, if you're a team picking in the 20's or 30's (let's say for example: The New England Patriots

). They have far fewer holes in their roster that need to be addressed than a team picking in the top 5 does. Not only are the Patriots going to get a quality prospect @ #24, but they're only going to tie up roughly 2 million dollars in annual salary to this player, leaving them cap space needed for extensions and free agency. If they draft someone @ 24 that doesn't pan out, it's not as crippling to their salary cap as if he were the first overall pick.

Sorry for taking this slightly OT, but if anyone else has input on this I'd love to hear it.

I said this last year, and I'll say it again. The sweet spot of the draft, as the rookie salaries are currently done, appears to be between picks 10-20. You get a very good talent at that position and you don't have to commit nearly as much money. Now #24 is not that bad a drafting position, but it does mean that your chances of landing a top talent drop, depending on how other teams rate theirs prospects compared to you. Mayo is very affordable and it looks like he is going to be a building block of the D for years to come. If we had the #1 pick, I'd look to trade down to #10-20 area, although finding takers is another problem entirely.

I think Cassel will get a 1st rounder, just not an early 1st, but we should be able to get a quality player considering our drafting history in the 1st round...

PatsSox363804 · 01-05-2009, 12:55 PM

After yesterdays game, if we are able to trade Cassel at the Draft I'd say Minnesota is the most likely destination. I wouldn't want the #1 overall, if we can't trade out of it or down far enough it could screw the cap.

Synovia · 01-05-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

although finding takers is another problem entirely.

No, its not. Finding takers at the value listed on the draft value chart is a problem. There are plenty of teams that are willing to move up, they're just not willing to pay "face value" to do it. The fact that you're not going to get "face value" doesn't mean it is a bad move to do it.

The problem is, most GMs seem to feel like they're "being had" if they don't get all their value points

Synovia · 01-05-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dryheat44

My right leg. Since shredding my hip muscles, it doesn't function very well anyway. And it couldn't hurt any more than it does now.

In terms of the #1, I think you would have to take the most unique player in the draft, regardless of talking headery. I'm thinking probably Cody, freeing us up to let Wilfork walk after '09, or trading him for a #1 pick in an upcoming year.

Wilfork is one of the best NTs in the game. The chances of Cody being as good, let alone better, are very remote.

dryheat44 · 01-05-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synovia

Wilfork is one of the best NTs in the game. The chances of Cody being as good, let alone better, are very remote.

And as one of the very best NTs in the game, Wilfork's extension is not going to be easily accomplished...especially given the tampering that exists if Vince gets near free agency. Saban will give Belichick the inside dope, but most scouts' takes I've read say that Cody is a day-one starter at NT.

Since we don't need a franchise QB (if one was even available), for this hypothetical exercise, the "planet theory" is the way to go. There are very few people on the planet as big and athletic as Cody. If forced to draft #1, go for the unique player. Worst case scenario is you have two very good nose tackles. And Wilfork can always move out to DE in the case Seymour is gone.

The only other option is if Lawrence Taylor or John Hannah are in this draft, and I don't think they are.

VJCPatriot · 01-05-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dryheat44

The only other option is if Lawrence Taylor or John Hannah are in this draft, and I don't think they are.

I'd settle for Demarcus Ware.

Ochmed Jones · 01-05-2009, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dryheat44

And as one of the very best NTs in the game, Wilfork's extension is not going to be easily accomplished...especially given the tampering that exists if Vince gets near free agency. Saban will give Belichick the inside dope, but most scouts' takes I've read say that Cody is a day-one starter at NT.

Since we don't need a franchise QB (if one was even available), for this hypothetical exercise, the "planet theory" is the way to go. There are very few people on the planet as big and athletic as Cody. If forced to draft #1, go for the unique player. Worst case scenario is you have two very good nose tackles. And Wilfork can always move out to DE in the case Seymour is gone.

The only other option is if Lawrence Taylor or John Hannah are in this draft, and I don't think they are.

After Cody's girlfriend hacked into his facebook account and posted that he was coming out after the season, he publically stated he was coming back to Alabama for his senior season.

He looked pitiful after the knee injury, but before the knee injury, he was an unmovable beast.

I would take him in the first round in a skinny minute. Sit him behind Wilfork and give him a year with Woicik to get stronger and a bit leaner.

If Cody stays at Alabama, I do not see another defensive player worthy of a 1st round pick for our defense.

I do like Tyson Jackson, if Wright walks, however I think we can get him in the second. Bobby Greenwood of Alabama would be a later round option as well, especially after two years with Saban.

BradyManny · 01-05-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ochmed Jones

If Cody stays at Alabama, I do not see another defensive player worthy of a 1st round pick for our defense.

Really? What about Curry, Spikes, Moore, any of those guys seem like decent fits?

Patsfanin Philly · 01-05-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

I think Cassel will get a 1st rounder, just not an early 1st, but we should be able to get a quality player considering our drafting history in the 1st round...

Detroit also has the #20 pick from Dallas in the Roy Williams trade which I would do in a heartbeat if I were the Pats FO....Good value but not overpaying and the Lions can use the #1 overall for a LT to protect Matt's blind side ala the Dolphins and Long........