What about H.B. Blades-LB-Pitt in the later rounds?

[carolinatony]

Most mocks I have seen don't have him going early.
Would he be worth a 3rd /4th round pick to groom for a year?

[SamBamsFan]

Originally Posted by carolinatony

Most mocks I have seen don't have him going early.
Would he be worth a 3rd /4th round pick to groom for a year?

Only if he decides to grow about 4-5 inches.

[scott99]

This would be a great pick, I can see it now, "Blades sharp at Gillette!". Really though, even if he were 6'1", he'd be at least a 2nd rounder, maybe a first. He's a tackling machine. Abbate is a tackling machine as well, too bad they are both only 5'11" or shorter.

[WhiZa]

They say he has potential, but small with poor coverage skills I just don't see where he would fit in on any team.

I like the "Blades sharp at Gillette!" headline tho

[Flying Fungi]

the fact that he opted to go to Pitt instead of UMiami speaks very well of his character as well

[sebman2112]

He is good against the run, makes plays, and is a good tackler. If you just watched him play you would like him, and think he is bigger, so it makes it strange when you find out how small he is. If Blades was a little taller he would fit the Ted Johnson role prefectly, but he's not. A lot of smaller LB's are fast which helps make up their lack of size, but Blades is not really that fast, either. If NE was going to take any of the short LB's who could be around in the third round, Buster Davis would be the better pick. Buster has been one of my favorite defensive plays all year, but the lack of size hurts his draft stock.