Box_O_Rocks

As our clinician noted, Day One is two rounds where the Pats currently have 3 picks. As to who might the Pats target on Day One: Scout.com: 2009 NFL Draft Rankings

NE picks at #23: In the link above they list within the top 20 - four OT; three each WR, LB, DE; two each QB, CB, RB; one DT.

1. Round one #23. From #19-45 - six CB; five WR; three 3-4 DL, RB; two experienced 3-4 LB, TE, OT, OC/OG; one S, DE.
-- The consensus greatest position of need is S. I think the Pats can get a good S in round 3 or later, but they have the option to take Moore or convert the Utah CB to S.
-- OT often rates high, but I don't see the need and there will be good ones in Day Two, and I only like one of the two available.
-- Some want OG to replace Neal, but I don't think they need to replace him this season and they can get good interior OL talent in Day Two to battle for the reserve slots, again I like only one of the two.
-- Some want a top CB, I don't think the need is that critical, but this would be the best place to get one.
-- I'm one of a few here who think this would be a good time to draft a future #1 WR, this is the best place in the draft to get a quality kid.
-- If BB does want a new RB he gets to pick among three of the best.
-- There are two OLBs who have 3-4 experience in college, I'm not too high on Cushing, but I like Sintim at OLB and for a tryout inside at SILB.
-- TE: Coffman would be an upgrade as a receiving TE; Pettigrew is considered a good all-round TE, but he does have an off-field flag to consider.
-- Since you asked me who NE picks : GM-in-training BOR would try to trade back a couple places targeting WRs Nicks or Heyward-Bey. My fallback option would be CB Alphonso Smith.

2. Round two #47. With the extra pick(s) NE gets from trading back in round one and the anticipated comp picks, I trade up targeting LB Clint Sintim. If I miss on him I'm targeting LB/TE Connor Barwin.

3. Round two #58. If his stock rises after the Combine, I'm targeting DL Jarron Gilbert here. If his Combine doesn't get him moving upward, I'll be looking to trade this pick forward into 2010.

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Deus Irae

If you're talking about "need" for just the upcoming season, I'd say tight end. Since I think the O-line is going to need to replace Neal and Light in the next 2-3 years tops, I'd say that looking to the future would have me pick a lineman.

Of course, I still think they should have gotten Clady last draft, so I clearly have a bias here.

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sg14

OL vs TE?? One word answer,, Mack at 23.

Our OL was pretty bad without Neal in there, we went quite a while with an under-performing o-line, must have been painful to watch from the sideline.

Koppen gets blown up by the big boys. One of which is a NY Jet.

Who is standing right behind the center??

Mack helps on both fronts.

That and a dollar will get you a cup-o-joe.

tanked_as_usual

watson and thomas are still under contract for 2009, and TE's are easier to replace than OL's, so OL should be a bigger priority come draft day, but its all about who is available when you draft

Box_O_Rocks

I can't read this and not throw you a challenge flag - TE's are easier to replace than OL? This is 180 out from my observations, for example: Neal is the consensus starter whom fans expect to need replacement first (they may want other's replaced, but Neal is the most likely guy to wear down first), he's both the "old man" on the line and has the thickest medical file. Without going anywhere but the current NEP roster there are numerous options available to replace him - Connelly, Yates (yeh, I know, but he's there), Kaczur, O'Callaghan, LeVoir, Wendell. In the draft, this is shaping up to be a deep draft for OL and a RG could be acquired from the pool of Centers and Tackles too. It's not so tough.

Now try to replace Watson: from the roster you have Thomas and DeVree, neither can match Watson athletically or even as blockers. In the draft: Pettigrew is the most well rounded, but he wasn't getting open in the Senior Bowl practices, how is he going to measure up against the Kerry Rhodes and Keith Ellisons? There are some quality receiving TEs in this draft, but TEs who have any kind of all-around game are just not there - for all his struggles with his pizza paddle paws, Ben is a better all-around TE than any kid in this draft (though a couple might be able to match or exceed him with a couple healthy years and some hard work on the blocking sled). Looking at Free Agents: Draft Daddy: Pending Free Agents ...I'm not seeing anyone matching up with Watson there either.

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ayjackson

He looks a little light at 280lbs. Are you thinking he's Jarvis Green's replacement? If we're picking DL on day 1, I think we should prepare ourselves for life without Sey, because even if he resigns for a reasonable contract, it's not a safe bet he can stay healthy.

Box_O_Rocks

There is no Sey equivalent in this draft class, next year's class has a much deeper pool of potential 3-4 DEs to consider, part of why I'm looking to roll a Day One pick forward.

Gilbert weighed in at 287 for the Shrine Game, putting him 8 lbs. lighter than Sey's reported weight this season. He'd be a slower transition as a two-gap DL, but he's one of less than a handful with the tool set to be a NE 3-4 DE. He'll need to get stronger, but he's a heads-up kid whom I think will be just fine in a 3-4.

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Patriot Missile

I think our OL can get by for one more season. But I also believe if we don't draft one this season or get another adequete one through free agency it will be a first day priority next season. TE? Dime a dozen. Watson commands almost zilch on the open market. I don't care if he was a first rounder or not. He will probably reup. Dave Thomas is adequete although quite undisciplined in the game vs Indy. Still, he at times has shown more gamemaking ability then our so called 1st round talent. Besides, we have enough WR talent to run 3,4 and 5 WR sets all day long if we chose to do so.

Bigger need would be o-line between the two. However most agree here that safety,LB and cb are our most pressing needs entering this draft.

BradyManny

Two names from Mayock, he's touted them in two videos now on nfl.com

Shawn Nelson - big TE, says he's also shown some blocking ability
William Beatty - good feet, needs to put on weight

CrazyDave

i think that we won 11 games with crappy TE's, and we led the league in getting sacked.
So I would say an OL is a higher priority.

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