2009 Pats Mock Draft

[KillEM]

Our biggest needs in the off season are CB, OT, OLB, and to a certain extent RB. My gut is saying that we will either sign a notable CB (Jabari Greer?) or OT (Runyan, Gross)


1) Clint Sintim - OLB - Plays in the 34 defense in College. Already has 10 sacks this year. Some might call it a reach, but the Pats are known for taking the player they like, regardless of popular opinion. As we've seen this year, we need serious help rushing the passer. Woods will hit FA and even if he re-signs he is a backup at best. Crable hasn't panned out the way we thought he would. Sintim has ideal size for a Pats 'backer and could step in immediately and contribute. Unlike Gholston and Crable, Sintim is proven as a 34 OLB and that will probably play a huge factor when the Pats are on the board.

2a) Shonn Greene - RB - Could be the BPA at this pick. RB is not a huge need for many teams, but it is for New England. Pats can't pass up on him with their injury prone RBs. Maroney and Morris can't stay healthy, Jordan will not be re-signed, and Faulk is a 3rd down back who is getting old. Shonn Greene will be a fringe 1st rd pick but will slip due to most teams already having a couple of good RBs already. This guy could be a featured back for the Pats. The closest thing to Corey Dillon since Corey Dillon. A big bruising back that will make Maroney look like Mickey Mouse.

2b) Kevin Barnes - CB - Hobbs is a FA after next season. Better get his replacement before he goes. Wheatley has an extensive injury history and these problems are obviously continuing in the NFL. Wilhite and Richardson are nicklebacks at best. Barnes is a 6'1 corner who adds size and more youth to our growing DB group.

3) Otis Wiley - SS - Harrison will retire. Sanders will re-sign but he could be upgraded. Besides, after Meriweather and Sanders we have zero depth at the safety spot. This is a deep year for safeties and if we can pick one up in the 3rd who offers starting potential than why not. Wiley has ideal size for a Safety and a nose for the ball.

 

[DaBruinz]

Our biggest needs in the off season are CB, OT, OLB, and to a certain extent RB. My gut is saying that we will either sign a notable CB (Jabari Greer?) or OT (Runyan, Gross)


1) Clint Sintim - OLB - Plays in the 34 defense in College. Already has 10 sacks this year. Some might call it a reach, but the Pats are known for taking the player they like, regardless of popular opinion. As we've seen this year, we need serious help rushing the passer. Woods will hit FA and even if he re-signs he is a backup at best. Crable hasn't panned out the way we thought he would. Sintim has ideal size for a Pats 'backer and could step in immediately and contribute. Unlike Gholston and Crable, Sintim is proven as a 34 OLB and that will probably play a huge factor when the Pats are on the board. The Pats have stayed away from every other Virginia LB who has come out in the last few years. Has some poor technique as he doesn't get his hands up. Your assements of rookies plain sucks. Do you always throw the baby out with the bath water? Woods is an RFA, not a UFA. Crable is a rookie. You clearly have expectations that are unreasonable.

2a) Shonn Greene - RB - Could be the BPA at this pick. RB is not a huge need for many teams, but it is for New England. Pats can't pass up on him with their injury prone RBs. Maroney and Morris can't stay healthy, Jordan will not be re-signed, and Faulk is a 3rd down back who is getting old. Shonn Greene will be a fringe 1st rd pick but will slip due to most teams already having a couple of good RBs already. This guy could be a featured back for the Pats. The closest thing to Corey Dillon since Corey Dillon. A big bruising back that will make Maroney look like Mickey Mouse.

The Patriots, under Belichick, have never drafted BPA. They always draft by Best VALUE available based on their own draft board. Next, Greene is only a Junior and don't be certain of him declaring. Also, most reports have Greene as a 2nd/3rd rounder in the 2010 draft. Not a 1st/2nd rounder this year. Also, I have to disagree with you about your analysis of the RB situation in the league. Many teams do NOT have 2 good RBs. Bears, Lions, Seahawks, Broncos, and Eagles really only have ONE good RB. And to a lesser extent, the 49ers, Chargers, and Texans. Also, there are teams like Tampa, Jacksonville, Minnesota, and Jets who have a RB with quite a bit of mileage on them.

2b) Kevin Barnes - CB - Hobbs is a FA after next season. Better get his replacement before he goes. Wheatley has an extensive injury history and these problems are obviously continuing in the NFL. Wilhite and Richardson are nicklebacks at best. Barnes is a 6'1 corner who adds size and more youth to our growing DB group.

You are wrong about Wheatley "having an extensive injury history." He's had ONE major injury to his right wrist. As for your assessment of Richardson and Wilhite, sorry that I put absolutely no faith in it. Wilhite is a rookie and Richardson is basically a rookie. Both played on the outside in college. Richardson looked very good when he lined up outside. Not so good in the slot against Gonzalez, though it was an amazing throw and catch.

Barnes is looking to be a late round pick, yet you want the Pats to reach for him in the 2nd? One of the big knocks on him is that he's a horrible tackler and doesn't have the strength to play against physical receivers.

OH, and Barnes just was injured and is done for 4-6 months with a fractured shoulder blade that will require surgery.

3) Otis Wiley - SS - Harrison will retire. Sanders will re-sign but he could be upgraded. Besides, after Meriweather and Sanders we have zero depth at the safety spot. This is a deep year for safeties and if we can pick one up in the 3rd who offers starting potential than why not. Wiley has ideal size for a Safety and a nose for the ball.

Lewis Sanders, Matt Slater and Antwan Spann all say "HI". Unless a LOT of junior safeties declare, this is actually a very WEAK year for safeties unless you are talking about CB/S hybrids.

This post belongs in the DRAFT Forum.

While Sintim may be a good pick, history is against him when it comes to the Patriots. Your other two picks are huge reaches at those positions.

If the Patriots were to look at a RB in the 2nd round they are more likely to look at Jeremiah Johnson out of Oregon late in the 2nd round or in the 3rd round.

For corners, Mike Mickens from Cinncinnati, Dominique Jackson from Jackson St., and Bruce Johnson from Miami. And no, I don't necessarily mean in the 2nd round. For Juniors, if they declare, you are looking at Asher Allen out of Georgia, Captain Munnerlyn out of South Carolina, and possibly Walter Thurmond out of Oregon.

Its much more likely that the Patriots will be looking at a 3-4 DE to replace Seymour or a LT to groom to replace Light. I'd look at DT's such as DE/DT Tyson Jackson from LSU or Fili Moala from USC. If they declare, NG Terence Cody from Alabama might be a possibility, though to groom behind Wilfork. For Tackles, Michael Oher or Eugene Monroe could be there.

Many many things can happen between now and the draft. One of the biggest things is whether or not a new CBA gets done. If not, then we may not be seeing football beyond next year.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

DaBruinz.... you rightly called out KillEm on the Patriots' tendency to shy away from UVA guys...

Yet.

You have them looking at a USC guy?

 

[BritPat]

Lewis Sanders, Matt Slater and Antwan Spann all say "HI". Unless a LOT of junior safeties declare, this is actually a very WEAK year for safeties unless you are talking about CB/S hybrids

Just one thing I'd like to add - there could very well be 3 Safeties go in the first round, Mays, Moore, and Rolle (probably in that order), and guys like Patrick Chung and Kam Chancellor might end up grading out in the first round. Then there's guys like Nic Harris, Michael Hamlin, Emmanuel Cook and Chris Clemons who are 2nd and 3rd round talents easily.

Safety is most definitely a strong class this year.

 

[BritPat]

Apologies, I've missed you addendum about juniors declaring.

 

[NePatriots]

I love the Shonn Greene pick -- believe me guys, he is as advertised. I'd say the chances of him declaring are 75/25 due to academics and need.

 

[Warren94]

There is no way that Oher or Monroe are going to be there when the pats pick. They are top 15 picks unless the pats tank the rest of the year.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

. My gut is saying that we will either sign a notable CB (Jabari Greer?) or OT (Runyan, Gross)

.

You do realize that Runyan will be 35 years old this month, right?????

 

[Warren94]

My choice for a first round pick is Moore from Missouri.

 

[Sicilian]

Crable hasn't panned out the way we thought he would.

This should go in Websters next to the definition of "Knee-jerk".

Let's let the kid get healthy, fleshed out, and ON THE FIELD before we start saying he hasn't panned out, shall we?

 

[DaBruinz]

Just one thing I'd like to add - there could very well be 3 Safeties go in the first round, Mays, Moore, and Rolle (probably in that order), and guys like Patrick Chung and Kam Chancellor might end up grading out in the first round. Then there's guys like Nic Harris, Michael Hamlin, Emmanuel Cook and Chris Clemons who are 2nd and 3rd round talents easily.

Safety is most definitely a strong class this year.

You are making assumptions about Chancellor, Mays and Rolle that they will declare. There is no guarantee of that.

I think if you go back and look, there needs to be more than a half dozen guys at 2 positions for it to be considered "strong".

 

[DaBruinz]

There is no way that Oher or Monroe are going to be there when the pats pick. They are top 15 picks unless the pats tank the rest of the year.

Steve Jackson was a guaranteed top 10 Pick. So was Wilfork and Aaron Rogers. So was Ernest Shazor. I could go on and on. Where guys go depends as much on how teams evaluate them as they do on need and talent.

 

[DaBruinz]

DaBruinz.... you rightly called out KillEm on the Patriots' tendency to shy away from UVA guys...

Yet.

You have them looking at a USC guy?

Oscar Lua. Matt Cassel.

This may not be the year they look at defensive end. But I think they will based on Bill's propensity to draft a year in advance as much as possible.

 

[Warren94]

shazor maybe in your mind was a top 10 pick. Neither was wilfork and rodgers.

 

[KillEM]

The Pats have stayed away from every other Virginia LB who has come out in the last few years. Has some poor technique as he doesn't get his hands up. Your assements of rookies plain sucks. Do you always throw the baby out with the bath water? Woods is an RFA, not a UFA. Crable is a rookie. You clearly have expectations that are unreasonable.

Woods does not offer starting potential and never will. Crable obviously has not progressed enough to even sniff a situational role yet. OLB is the most important position in the 34, along with NT. Without capable OLBs, the whole concept of the 34 is out the window. Vrabel is on his last legs, and while hes made a couple stops on runs, he is getting very little to NO pressure on the QB at all. Draft all the CB's you want. If the QBs continue to have all day to throw, we will continue to get torched. OLB is a must. Orakpo will be long gone by our pick. Selvie has not been producing this year and is a liability against the run. Both would be Gholston-like projects since they play DE in college anyways. Sintim OTOH is already playing 34 OLB and is having a great year with 10 sacks already. He could step in right away for this team who's window of opportunity is getting smaller and smaller.

Next, Greene is only a Junior and don't be certain of him declaring. Also, most reports have Greene as a 2nd/3rd rounder in the 2010 draft. Not a 1st/2nd rounder this year. Also, I have to disagree with you about your analysis of the RB situation in the league. Many teams do NOT have 2 good RBs. Bears, Lions, Seahawks, Broncos, and Eagles really only have ONE good RB. And to a lesser extent, the 49ers, Chargers, and Texans. Also, there are teams like Tampa, Jacksonville, Minnesota, and Jets who have a RB with quite a bit of mileage on them.

Greene is already 23 years old and having a break out season. He will definitely declare. He's old for a Junior.

Bears and Lions both drafted RB's last year and I doubt they would use another high pick on RB when they have other needs.

Greene is projected as a 1/2 this year. And that's besides the point. Mayo was projected as a 2nd rounder up until the combine. Dan Conner was projected as a Top 20 pick the entire season. Players aren't always drafted on where they are projected. Greene will be a typical RISER on draft boards.

You are wrong about Wheatley "having an extensive injury history." He's had ONE major injury to his right wrist. As for your assessment of Richardson and Wilhite, sorry that I put absolutely no faith in it. Wilhite is a rookie and Richardson is basically a rookie. Both played on the outside in college. Richardson looked very good when he lined up outside. Not so good in the slot against Gonzalez, though it was an amazing throw and catch.

The reason Wheatley lasted until our pick in the 2nd round was due to his wrist injuries. Most teams purposely STAYED AWAY from him because it's common knowledge that he's been injury prone throughout college. So now what happened the first time he saw significant playing time and made some plays? He ends up injuring his wrist again on the second play he made. What makes you think his wrist is going to magically heal up and stop giving him problems?

Wilhite was a reach even in rd 4. Richardson has shown very little. Don't count on either of these guys being the next Asante Samuel.

Lewis Sanders, Matt Slater and Antwan Spann all say "HI". Unless a LOT of junior safeties declare, this is actually a very WEAK year for safeties unless you are talking about CB/S hybrids.

It's a really deep Safety class... Kevin Ellison, Courtney Greene, Otis Wiley, Patrick Chung, Chip Vaughn...these guys could all slip to rd2-3 and offer starting potential.

 

[KillEM]

Its much more likely that the Patriots will be looking at a 3-4 DE to replace Seymour or a LT to groom to replace Light. I'd look at DT's such as DE/DT Tyson Jackson from LSU or Fili Moala from USC. If they declare, NG Terence Cody from Alabama might be a possibility, though to groom behind Wilfork. For Tackles, Michael Oher or Eugene Monroe could be there.

bwahahahahahahahhaa. :singing:

Wait...you actually seemed serious up until this point.



Tackles like Oher and Monroe don't fall on draft day. Both of them will be Top 5 picks.

Maybe we could trade Matt Gutierrez for Clinton Portis and Laron Landry too. Keep dreaming.

 

[KillEM]

DaBruinz.... you rightly called out KillEm on the Patriots' tendency to shy away from UVA guys...

Up until last year, the Pats were shying away from EVERY linebacker in the first 4-5 rounds, regardless of what program they played for.

 

[BritPat]

You are making assumptions about Chancellor, Mays and Rolle that they will declare. There is no guarantee of that.

I think if you go back and look, there needs to be more than a half dozen guys at 2 positions for it to be considered "strong".

I did say I'd missed your addendum about juniors declaring

And there are more than half a dozen, I counted 9 that could well grade out as first or second rounders. That is strong.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

He could step in right away for this team who's window of opportunity is getting smaller and smaller.

This is exactly the mentality BB and SP are trying to avoid. The Patriots' mission statement says "We are building" a team "that consistently competes for championships."

First, note the words "are building." Present progressive--it's happening now, and it's an ongoing, and hopefully never-ending, process.

Second, "consistently competes." Their goal is that the Patriots will always have something to say about who makes the Super Bowl from the AFC--even after Brady eventually leaves, even after BB leaves.

I'm not saying you're wrong about Sintim, but the "win now" philosophy is one the Patriots have deliberately rejected in favor of "win now and win later." As I've said before, they're not going to bet the farm for some mystical "window of opportunity."

 

[KillEM]

This is exactly the mentality BB and SP are trying to avoid. The Patriots' mission statement says "We are building" a team "that consistently competes for championships."

First, note the words "are building." Present progressive--it's happening now, and it's an ongoing, and hopefully never-ending, process.

Second, "consistently competes." Their goal is that the Patriots will always have something to say about who makes the Super Bowl from the AFC--even after Brady eventually leaves, even after BB leaves.

I'm not saying you're wrong about Sintim, but the "win now" philosophy is one the Patriots have deliberately rejected in favor of "win now and win later." As I've said before, they're not going to bet the farm for some mystical "window of opportunity."

I hear ya. But it's not like we'd be trading the first round pick for a 30 year old vet. Sintim could contribute right away AND for the next 8-10 years, so he fits the philosophy of "win now AND win later"