2011 New England Patriots Draft Big Board

[jmt57]

This time of year has one mock draft published after another. Fans check them out to see who was selected by their favorite team, and then discuss the merits of this player versus that player, this mock draft versus that mock draft, and this draft expert versus that draft expert.

Mike Dussault over at Pats Propaganda put something together that perhaps makes a lot more sense for fans of one team - in our case the Patriots - than yet another mock draft. What he has done is put together a mock 2011 New England Patriots Draft Big Board. Here is his explanation of this list:

While mock drafts are fun, if you're a fan obsessed with only one team like me, you really only get one player per mock (or two in the Patriots' case) to look at. You know the drill, you see a new mock pop up, you go to it and instantly look who they have your team picking, then scan the rest of it with half-interest.

So what you'll find below is my Patriots big board, which in reality is what most teams go into the draft with. This lists only prospects that I see as a fit for the Pats in ranked order. While team needs are certainly taken into account, ultimately it comes down to who fits the system and how much of an impact they would have for one team, the New England Patriots.

What I really like about this listing is not necessarily the top five or top ten, but those ranked after that. The listing gives a good idea of who the Pats may target, and about at what spots in the draft. The rankings from #9 to #20, or #20 to #40 for example are interesting to dissect.

I haven't gone through it thoroughly enough to figure out what I agree or disagree with yet, but I thought it was an interesting way of looking at prospects for the Pats, rather than a mock draft or an all-32 team big board.

[patchick]

Thanks for the link, I love the "big board" format! There's definitely plenty to argue over on his list, notably Justin Houston & Clint Boling at #12 & 13. That's ahead of every single OT, not to mention defenders like Wilkerson, Kerrigan, etc.

[tricktak]

1. Marcell Dareus, DE/DT Alabama

2. Patrick Peterson, CB LSU

3. Julio Jones, WR Alabama

4. JJ Watt, DE Wisconsin

5. Robert Quinn, DE/LB North Carolina

6. AJ Green, WR Georgia

7. Cameron Jordan, DE/DT Cal

8. Anthon Castonzo, OT Boston College

9. Mark Ingram, RB Alabama

10. Prince Amukuamara, CB Nebraska

11. Cameron Heyward, DE/DT Ohio State

12. Akeem Ayers, LB UCLA

13. Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin

14. Ryan Kerrigan, DE/LB Purdue

15. Mike Pouncey, G

16. Brooks Reed, DE/LB

17. Justin Houston, DE/LB

18. Muhammed Wilkerson, DE/DT

19. Leonard Hankerson, WR Miami

20. Danny Watkins, G Baylor

21. Rahim Moore, S UCLA

22. Torrey Smith, WR Maryland

23. Ryan Williams, RB Virginia Tech

24 Randall Cobb, WR Kentucky

25. Nate Solder, OT Colorado

26. Mikel LeShoure, RB Illinois

27. Stefen Wisniewski, C/G Penn State

28. Tandon Doss, WR Indiana

29. Ras-I Dowling, CB Viriginia

30. Sam Acho, DE/LB Texas

31. Brandon Harris, CB Miami

32. Titus Young, WR Boise State

33. Shane Vereen, RB Cal

34. Allen Bailey, DE Miami

35. Ahmad Black, S Florida

36. John Moffitt, G Wisconsin

37. Christian Ballard, DE/DT Iowa

38. Marcus Gilbert, OT Florida

39. DeMarco Murray, RB Oklahoma

40. Jarvis Jenkins, DE/DT Clemson

41. Jabaal Sheard, DE/LB Pitt

42. Vincent Brown, WR San Diego State

43. Derrick Lock, RB Kentucky

44. Greg Romeus, DE/LB Pitt

45. Greg McElroy, QB Alabama

[onegr8om]

I like it.. Its fun to read anyway. I wonder of all these players, who and HOW they decide a player is worth trading up for. Maybe they could put asterisks next to those guys. Would very AWESOME to see an actual Pats Big Board.

[jmt57]

Originally Posted by patchick

Thanks for the link, I love the "big board" format! There's definitely plenty to argue over on his list, notably Justin Houston & Clint Boling at #12 & 13. That's ahead of every single OT, not to mention defenders like Wilkerson, Kerrigan, etc.

Yeah, I haven't had the chance to do anything other than a brief glance through the list yet, but I thought it was a very interesting alternative to mock drafts and big boards that are not team-specific. I was surprised Costonzo was so low, but everybody's certainly entitled to their own opinion. Hopefully I'll get a chance to look through the rankings in more detail after dinner tonight.

[mgteich]

It seems that we usually have the morla equivalent of a patsfans Big Board. We usually do it parts. We usually start with a top set of players "beyond reach" or rather reachable only by trade. We than have board for individual picks or groups of picks.

These year, for myself, I see 6 groupings of players that we might want who would be expected to be drafting in certain areas of the draft.

1 - 14

15-34 3 picks

35-54

55-74 2 picks

75-125 2 picks

We have 7 picks in the first 4 rounds. In the past, any player drafted this early has made the team absent injuries. One is marked for a trade forward, given ups 6 picks and lots and lots of flexibility.
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After 126

[Seneschal2]

The big board concept works very well. By comparison, from his top 50, I've got 25 potential Pats prospects on my board. From his best of the rest, I've got 3. There's at least 20 more prospects I'm considering that aren't listed, all of whom will make up a top 50 before the weeding out process begins...

[miDeuce]

Hey guys, this is Mike D. Thanks to the OP for posting the thread, and I'm glad that people seem to be responding to the format. As I stated in the intro to it, it is still very much a work in progress, so please make your case known if there are players who are too low, too high, or not even on it. I'd make a reasonable defense of most of the choices right now, although I'm sure many of the smart posters here know some of the prospects far better than I, so I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

[jays52]

Originally Posted by miDeuce

Hey guys, this is Mike D. Thanks to the OP for posting the thread, and I'm glad that people seem to be responding to the format. As I stated in the intro to it, it is still very much a work in progress, so please make your case known if there are players who are too low, too high, or not even on it. I'd make a reasonable defense of most of the choices right now, although I'm sure many of the smart posters here know some of the prospects far better than I, so I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

That's a pretty badass idea, dude. Nice work bud!

[the wrothbroughterer]

Originally Posted by tricktak

34. Allen Bailey, DE Miami

I had completely overlooked him as a potential addition until I saw a write up on him from NEPatriotsDraft.com and decided to take a look at his combine stats and all I can say is, holy ****.

6'3", 285lbs
4.77 40 time (10yd split was unavailable)
27 presses at 225
4.56 20 yd SS
7.43 3 cone

And most importantly...

36.5" vertical

That kind of explosive power is rare. He tied for 5th at the combine among all other DL and LB prospects and had a solid 40 pounds on the other participants. I think he's got the perfect mold for that "Elephant" position and he has earned his way into my mock draft.