BradyManny

...[for the New England Patriots] is between 20-60.

My early draft board is packed w prospects within that range.

I do not see many Patriot fits in the top 15 or so, especially on defense, which is considered to be the need [Aaron Curry the main exception.] :
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Agree? Disagree?

My conclusion of course would then be that any Cassel trade will not be interested in netting us a top 20 pick in the 2009 draft. I wouldn't even mind getting out of #23 and moving back, as many of the guys that are intriguing at #23 are likely to be available in early to mid round 2.

Box_O_Rocks

Well now, it happens the "sweet spot" does coincide with New England's picks, but most drafts have a nice variety in this range so I'm not overly impressed...just a touch avaricious.

As for the top 15...

1 WR, 2 OT, with 1 more OT and WR I'm not sure about.
1 LB, 1 NT, & 1 CB worth consideration, so it's more or less even.

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farn

I think it's the sweet spot because BB makes it that way. I'm pretty confident that if he had #1 overall, he'd make that work too.

But yes, since he picks well, lower picks (where you mentionned) are great because a "hit" in that zone is so much better because of financial considerations.

If the Pats get extras from a Cassel trade, along with the 2nd from SD, and their scheduled picks... yikes : could be like 2003 all over again !

Afterlifemobile-86

I don't know about that, I haven't been all that impressed with Marhoney or Merriwheather thus far...

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farn

Maroney : a rare miss. Merriweather : potential solid player for years who needs to tighten up his tackling this off-season. I think most will agree Merriweather's a keeper.

BradyManny

I think I follow, but as I said, of those - the only one that really peaks my interest and fills what I perceive to be a pressing need is the LB (Curry). And with no guarantee as to how the drafting in front of us goes down, a pick in the top 15 might end up providing us the same guy #23 would, but at a higher price tag.

Curious which of those 4 high end OTs are you not impressed with?

If we had a pick early, I would think it would go OT. But I'm not feeling the need there. Ironically, last year, I wanted us to draft Clady, but Kaczur played well enough this year that I don't feel the pressure to address the position. If one of the stud OTs dropped, I would expect us to consider.

BradyManny

Meriweather had a great sophomore campaign.

Maroney has flashed greatness himself, just need to see it on a consistent basis.

BradyManny

Last season, #7 provided a number of options I would've been OK w - and that was even with Mayo not being on my radar at that spot (foolishly). If we had #7 this season, I might feel some unrest going into the draft as to how it would unfold.

farn

I would be confident... with really high picks, BB has been even better : Seymour, Mayo, even T.Warren

I agree that they would maybe go OT with a really high pick (I remember BB talking about how he would've gone with Gallery #1 in the year he was taken - oops). The reason is mostly because I think they feel good about the amount you pay vs the production you get.

BUT - since we're not going that high, I have no reason to believe this won't be another solid haul.

mayoclinic

I would disagree with that. Consider the following drafts:

2008 - Mayo (10), DRC (16), Clady (12) and Alberts (15) would probably have been the top players left for the Pats, if not the top players altogether (I'm not sure who in the top 6 would have been rated higher except for Jake Long, as I don't think we were ever serious about Gholston or McFadden, Dorsey wasn't a fit, we didn't need a CB, and Chris Long would have been a high priced conversion project). While all of those players could have been reasonable picks at #7, all were likely to be available at 10 and I'm not sure any were screaming "value" at #7.

2007 - Patrick Willis would have been a good pick at 7. Laron Landry went #6. Not sure who else would have been worth it. Adrian Peterson was obviously a steal at #7, but I don't see how we would have gone RB.

2006 - Haloti Ngata would have been good value and fit at #7. Not sure who else. #7 would have been way too high for Antonio Cromartie at that time.

For 2009, I expect Aaron Curry will be gone before #7 but he would be good value. Malcolm Jenkins may be available, and he would probably be good value. BJ Raji will likely be available, and he would be excellent value (I would rate him comparably to Ngata). One of the top 3 OT's (Monroe, Andre Smith and Jason Smith) will likely be available, and would be solid value. If Crabtree fell because of speed issues I think he would be solid value. So there seem like a lot of potential options at #7 this year. In fact, I've listed 7 players, so that would insure that at least one of those players would be available at #7, and doesn't even include trading back a few slots and picking up Everett Brown or Brian Orapko if we felt they fit.

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