The Coon

This is the most important draft for the future of this franchise. After watching what the saints did to us, we must find pass rushers,OL and just all around defensive players that will carry us in the future.

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Marqui

I agree that 2010 will be a critical draft for the Pats. Actually the 09-11 drafts will determine what the Pats will be for the next decade. 09 was definitely a success but clearly this team needs A LOT of work. This team really cant afford to bust in these next 2 drafts.

MrNathanDrake

What's messed up is we need TWO OLB's on our team.

Finding one is rare and 3-4 OLB/DE conversions seem to have high boom/bust potential (Vernon Gholston, Shawn Crable, etc)

Finding TWO in the same draft... very unlikely.

The Intimidator

If the Pats are looking to stick with the 3-4 next season, they could target someone like Cameron Heyward from Ohio State. He's 6-6, 285 pounds, and he's a great fit as a DE in a 3-4 system. According to most mocks, he could be had in the second round, which would allow the Pats to use their first rounder on the best available player, whoever that may be. Other fits at DE in the 3-4 system could be Allen Bailey from Miami and Jake Odrick from Penn State. They are also players who could be available in the second round.

Additionally, if the Pats are looking to stick in the 3-4 system, they would benefit from taking a look at a pass-rushing OLB. IMO, these are the best prospects to fill that need:

1. Jerry Hughes from TCU (6-3, 260, 4.64 40 time). He has 11 sacks this season, is a good fit to play DE in a 4-3 or OLB in a 3-4, and could slip to the second round. I think he would be a great success in New England.

2. Von Miller from Texas A&M (6-3, 240, 4.60 40 time). He has 17 sacks this season, and he's only a Junior. Some mocks compare him to Elvis Dumervil. Either he or Hughes could be a great pass rusher for the Pats in a 3-4 system.

Ricky Sapp from Clemson, and Eric Norwood from South Carolina. They could possibly fall to the Pats in the 3rd round.

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We will Back next year.

mayoclinic

I see Cameron Heyward and Allen Bailey as my top 2 3-4 DE prospects. I have the Pats taking Heyward in the 1st in my first mock draft on this board, and suggested an alternate version with Bailey in the 2nd. Arthur Jones and Jared Odrick are probably my next 2, with a bunch of guys in the late 2nd and 3rd-4th rounds as possibilities (Corey Wooton, Vince Oghobasse, Adrian Clayborn, Cameron Jordon, Leonard Marsh, etc.).

I don't think Von Miller fits at all for as a 3-4 OLB. He's in the Elvis Dumervil/James Harrison mold, around 240#, and not stout enough to set the edge for us. Great pass rusher, though. Jerry Hughes, Sergio Kindle, Eric Norwood, Ricky Sapp, and possibly Jeremy Beal and Austen Lane are all possibilities if BB wants a 3-4 OLB. If he wants more of a DE who can play the elephant and occasionally drop back into coverage then there are a lot of options in this draft (see the thread on "What BB Wants in a Pass Rusher") then there's a lot of potential candidates - Carlos Dunlap, Derrick Morgan, Greg Hardy, Everson Griffen, Jason Pierre-Paul, Greg Romeus, Beal and Lane, among others.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

BritPat

One point of interest Mayo (great post as always by the way) - you say that Miller isn't a fit for us because he's in the 240 range, yet you say he reminds you of James Harrison.

Harrison is the best 3-4 OLB in the league, DeMarcus Ware included, and is absolutely magnificent against the run, in a scheme that is similar (although slightly different granted) to ours. I can't believe anyone wouldn't want a player that could play like him.

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Creator of the Pats must draft Jason Verrett in 2014 no matter the cost fanclub.

ForThoseAboutToRock

Interesting that the OLB's on this year's roster are shorter than they've been in previous seasons. Perhaps we're seeing a trend away from a Mike Vrabel (6'4", 260lb) or Willie Mac (6'5" 270 lb) sized guys (though they drafted Crable at 6'5" and wanted Jason Taylor at 6'6") and more guys who are TBC or Burgess sized... or perhaps a problem with the defense is that they still can't find the guys they really want for OLB, which is pretty obvious, I guess.

ctpatsfan77

I simply don't get what he's looking for.

Here's what he had to say about OLBs this year:

And, lo and behold, good players with those measurables are gone by the time the Patriots get to pick.

[And yes, I'm still pissed at Belichick keeping Chad Do-Nothing Brown over Justin Rogers. ]

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mayoclinic

Harrison and Dumervil are great players, as is 6'2" LaMarr Woodley. But BB has usually passed on shorter OLBs (which is why I think Eric Norwood is unlikely, though he has the versatility to play SILB, where height is less of an issue) and on OLBs in the 240 lb. range. Shawn Crable was 245 lbs. but was 6'5" with a frame which could easily carry more weight; his inability to add it and to be strong enough to set the edge has been one of the factors holding him back.

From what I've heard, Von Miller is not particularly strong against the run, but is a brilliant pass rusher. I don't see BB going for a player like that (just like I didn't see him going for 6'3" 240# Clay Matthews last year, though I liked Matthews as a player). I may be wrong.

Wes Bunting of National Football Post compared Miller and Sergio Kindle in last week's Texas vs. Texas A&M game (note that Bunting mis-states Kindle's height as less than 6'1"; he's supposedly 6'4"):

"Watching Miller, it was obvious he possessed an explosive first step off the edge and had the burst to consistently threaten the corner. He did a great job initially dropping his pad level on contact and making it tough for opposing tackles to get in on his frame off the snap. Kindle was similar in that aspect to Miller as he as well showcased a good first step and did a nice job keeping his pad level down initially out of his stance. Kindle also displayed an ability to knife his was through blocks inside and did a nice job maintaining his balance and playing with power as a straight-line athlete.

However, the biggest difference for me watching them get after the quarterback was Miller’s body control and suddenness. He did a much better job taking an opposing lineman up the field, stopping on a dime and exploding underneath the tackle with an impressive “up-and-under move.” Kindle looked more like a straight-line athlete who has the initial burst to shoot gaps inside on opposing tackles but lacks the necessary footwork/body control to effectively change directions and counter off his outside pass rush. And although Miller does have a tendency to get too upright and will lose his balance when trying to flatten out around the corner, he does a far better job extending his arms and using his hands to quickly slip blockers in space. Kindle isn’t nearly as impressive using his hands to shed blocks and struggles to disengage once an opposing lineman gets into his frame.

Even though both players have made their livings harassing Big 12 offenses and have the numbers/athletic ability to project as potential starting pass rushers (likely as 3-4 OLBs), it’s Miller who grades out as the better overall prospect in my mind. He showcases the ability to reach the passer in a number of ways and doesn’t need to rely nearly as much on his initial burst to win off the snap as Kindle."

Scout?s notebook: defensive fight night | National Football Post

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

MrNathanDrake

Keep an eye on Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan, 6'2 268lbs.

Amazing motor and effort. Great Run stopper but also gets to the QB (9.5 sacks this season despite being double teamed often). Very good character. Better prospect than Woodley was coming out of Michigan. Would fit in the Pats scheme as a LOLB. I fully expect AD to be gone after this year. BB obviously likes big well built OLB's in the 260-270lbs range on the strong side and that's exactly what Graham is. Spends alot of time in opponents backfield. Played MLB in highschool so he has experience as a LB.

He isn't your tall athletic freak edge rusher... but then again, look at how those types have turned out for us (Vince Redd, Shawn Crable). Graham is gritty stout player that gives 110% effort.

Currently the #1 rated DE on scout.com. He might not even be around by the time we're picking. Some people think he may fall a bit due to lack of height and speed, but the guy is a football player and we'd be lucky to get him on draft day.