* Ye Official 2012 Mock Draft Thread!! *

[State]

Originally Posted by Avenger

This is my most recent mock draft

I don't think you can get that deal done with KC without giving up our third (93) rather than our fourth (126).

I'm convinced that both firsts will likely not be traded down. I think only one will. I could also see trading up with Dallas if both Cox or Barron are available, two impact players I absolutely covet. Dallas would also have to give us a late-rounder if they have one, as our two firsts should bring us to #11. They probably don't won't to do that.

I think Bill wants to take an impact defensive player with one of the firsts, even if it's a mild reach like Shea McClellin (whom I don't view as a first-rounder) or Harrison Smith, rather than trading down and rolling the dice with mid-range second-rounder.

I think this is the draft we could trade up.

Our SS is a joke. Sergio Brown needs to go. What's our depth chart for strong safety, Gregory, Brown and Barrett? Wow, that's not gonna cut it. See Greg Bedard's mock. Pairing Chung with Barron (Bedard has us taking H. Smith at #27) would shore up our secondary like nothing else.

Conversely, pairing Wolfork and Cox side by side in a 4-3 or having Cox as a DE dramatically improves our front seven.

I think we need to keep in mind other safeties like Boise's George Iloka and South Carolina's Antonio Allen. I'm not sure, though, if a FS like Iloka can make a transition to SS if Chung is our FS.

Can anybody help me with this?

[ATippett56]

Originally Posted by patsinthesnow

Great Draft! You proved to the talking heads in the main forum, (the should the pats draft a WR thread?), that the focus of the draft can be all defense and you can still get the young WR, in your case, you got 2. A young WR really isn't needed for 2012.

Then for 2013 we have a healthy 2nd year Broyles and a 2nd year Marvin Jones ready to go.

One particular clueless poster on the PatsFans message board knows nothing whatsoever about collegiate prospects let alone the strengths and weaknesses of the 2012 NFL Draft. Refer to the Should the Pats Draft a WR thread for details.

Marvin Jones and Ryan Broyles are my two wide receiver binkies in the 2012 NFL Draft. Marvin Jones may be the best route runner of all the wide receivers in the 2012 NFL Draft.

[ctpatsfan77]

Originally Posted by Off The Grid

2 ~ Losing Hoyer for ~ at the very most ~ a 2014 3rd Rounder ~ just to have him around for one more year would suck.

Except that's not how the Patriots view it: for about $1M and no draft picks, the Pats have gotten three years of piece of mind at the backup QB spot. [If they keep Hoyer this year, it'd be $3M for four years.]

That's a win even if they don't get anything for him next year.

[Sfpat]

Originally Posted by ATippett56

One particular clueless poster on the PatsFans message board knows nothing whatsoever about collegiate prospects let alone the strengths and weaknesses of the 2012 NFL Draft. Refer to the Should the Pats Draft a WR thread for details.

Marvin Jones and Ryan Broyles are my two wide receiver binkies in the 2012 NFL Draft. Marvin Jones may be the best route runner of all the wide receivers in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Except that after about 3 games many on this board will label them as busts because they haven't gotten off the bench. Patience in developing players just isn't allowed around here (I think both would be great picks and major contributors in a few years)

[ATippett56]

Originally Posted by Sfpat

Patience in developing players just isn't allowed around here (I think both would be great picks and major contributors in a few years)

Patience does not seem to be allowed with the New England Patriots coaching staff either with regard to wide receivers. Wide receivers Brandon Tate and Taylor Price were both cut in calendar year 2011.

[Off The Grid]

Originally Posted by Off The Grid

Exactly!!

That's precisely why I've been trading Hoyer in my Mocks:

1 ~ Those 50 Spots ~ after the Specs ~ add up with frightening rapidity. To me, it just makes more sense to have a 3rd QB on the Taxi Squad...and in the rare circumstance that we need a 3rd QB during a Game ~ May The Gods Forbid It!! ~ we can always roll with Master Craftsman Julian Edelman!!

When was the last time we've needed a 3rd QB in a game, due to injury?? Anyone??

2 ~ Losing Hoyer for ~ at the very most ~ a 2014 3rd Rounder ~ just to have him around for one more year would suck.

3 ~ And though I like Hoyer, I actually prefer the Potential of Kellen Moore far more.

Originally Posted by ctpatsfan77

Except that's not how the Patriots view it: for about $1M and no draft picks, the Pats have gotten three years of piece of mind at the backup QB spot. [If they keep Hoyer this year, it'd be $3M for four years.]

That's a win even if they don't get anything for him next year.

Ah...Reading minds, now, are we, my friend?

To claim that you know for a fact that "how the Patriots view it" is that we should just walk away from, for instance, an additional 2012 early 3rd Rounder ~ if that happens to be what we could get for Hoyer ~ simply because he's already provided us great value is kind of ridiculous, dontcha think??

Do we deliberately stop scoring, just because we're up, 21-0??

That's the "logic" you're selling, here.

If the Patriots view ~ I don't have your Swami Powers ~ one more year of Hoyer plus a 2014 Comp Pick ~ who's highest possible Value in 2012 "dollars" is a 5th Rounder, keep in mind ~ to be more valuable than what they can get on the Open Market, then it goes without saying that they'll Stand Pat.

***

But as I've explained more than once, my Mock isn't an attempt to predict what the Patriots would do.

It's an explanation of what I would do.

So to criticize it based on your telekinetic ability to read Coach Bill's mind and know with certainty "how the Patriots view it", has absolutely no bearing on the subject, does it?

[Sfpat]

Originally Posted by ATippett56

Patience does not seem to be allowed with the New England Patriots coaching staff either with regard to wide receivers. Wide receivers Brandon Tate and Taylor Price were both cut in calendar year 2011.

I don't disagree with you on that

[goldenaleus]

Without trades:

27 - Peter Konz C Wisconsin
31 - Harrison Smith S Notre Dame
48 - Kendall Reyes DE/DT Connecticut
62 Zach Brown OLB North Carolina
93 Chase Minnifield CB/KR Virginia
126 Tommy Streeter WR Miami

[goldenaleus]

With trade:

1st round trade Patriots send 27+31 to KC

11 - Quinton Coples DE North Carolina
48 - Jayron Hosely CB Viginia Tech
62 - Brandon Taylor S LSU
93 - Terrell Manning OLB NC State
126 - Tommy Streeter WR Miami

[Metaphors]

First some assumptions:

1) Pats will be running a 3-4 two-gap base. Saw nothing in FA to counter this.

2) Pats carpet-bombed 2 positions in FA (WR and interior OL) because they have no targets at those positions early in the draft.

3) Three-year contracts (Fanene, Gregory) = A significant role on the team

4) Nobody is going to give up significant draft picks to get any Pats players (Hoyer, Mallett, Welker)

5) The Pats trading picks into future years (the "2nd round dividend") is a philosophy and not just a yearly coincidence

If any of these are misguided, my selections start to veer off the road...

#27 - Traded to ATL (Pick #55 + 2013 1st round pick)
Belichick anticipates weaker than normal interest in trading a future #1 so he jumps at the chance to get Atlanta's pick. Falcons need OT help and it won't be there at #55. If Saints recover, Panthers improve and Bucs rebound then the Falcons could underachieve this year.

#31 - DE Kendall Reyes
Some needed youth on the DL with the ability to eat up blocks next to Wilfork. A safe pick in the trenches at a position curiously neglected in FA.

#48 - OLB Andre Branch
With a bunch of pass rushers rising (McClellin, Mercilus, Jones, Perry), someone will have to fall. Branch has experience playing on his feet, plays under control and holds up well against the run.

#55 - CB Alfonzo Dennard
Physical corner will excellent instincts and reactions. Not a turn-n-run guy which has him dropping from 1st round consideration. Put him in the slot though (bumping Arrington back to ST ace/depth guy) and watch him flourish in an area of weakness for the Pats.

#62 - Traded to Carolina (Pick #104 + 2013 2nd round pick)
Already hit the top 3 needs so they jump on a chance to get more ammo for 2013.

#93 - OLB Cam Johnson
Should be higher but sickle cell trait will scare teams off. Classic value pick that fills the early-2011 Mark Anderson role.

#104 - S Antonio Allen
Absolutely no reason why Allen slips this far, but he almost certainly will. Group think struggles to find a natural role for him, but someone that looks and plays like Rodney should find a way on the field. Starts as a big-hitting ST guy but should become more fairly quickly.

#126 - RB Robert Turbin
Another physical back to pair with Ridley. Doesn't have Ridley's ability to get to the outside, but is a punishing inside runner. If Ridley and Vereen are healthy, he would be a gameday inactive. If either are hurt, a great option particularly as a clock-killer.

Not as sexy as some mocks but they are all physical guys that play with an attitude. Fills needs and still invests in the future with an extra 1st and 2nd in 2013.