6 Top 100 Picks; How Many Needs?

[mgteich]

We are likely to get a 3rd for Samuel and at least a 3rd for Cassel. That gives us six picks to work within the first 100 picks. And we will still have the possibility of a contributer from the later part of the draft (rounds 4-7) and free agency. One Top 100 will likely be trade forward, same as always. Five picks should be plenty to address our needs. After all, some needs will be met through re-signings and pre-draft free agency.
==========================================
I'll rate the need FOR A ROUND 1 THROUGH 3 PICK
5 is an absolute need, 0 is a very unlikely pick
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OFFENSE (We need a TE and a OG; and could always use an OT)
QB 0 We have made our our top pick in O'Connell, although we could look after Round 3.
WR 0 We can re-sign Gaffney, use a later pick or sign a free agent.
TE 4 We should pick a TE if one is there. We should have 3 healthy, dependable TE's.
This season has seen little production from the tight ends.
C 0 One of the guards needs to be a backup center.
OG 4 Mankins and Neal are both signed through 2009. Hochstein is signed through 2008
and should be re-signed as our backup center. Yates is signed through 2009. We
need to develop backups and potential future starters.
OT 3 We can always use an upgrade at OT. I think Belichick is fine with Light and
Kaczur. I wouldn't be surprised to see them extended. We have our backups in
Levior and O'Callaghan. I suspect that Britt is gone.
==========================================

DEFENSE (We need two safeties and a defensive lineman.
DL 4 This depends on the status of extensions with Wilfork, Seymour, Wright and Green.
Smith is an OK backup and could start if needed.
LB 1 We have 8 ready to go (5 OLB and 3 OLB). We will likely re-sign Izzo or Alexander
to play ST's. There is always room for a backup ILB (in 4th or 5th). It does give
me great pleasure to see that LB is not our need this year.
CB 1 I don't see the DRAFT need. We have Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite and Richardson.
What we need is a couple of veterans, one of which could be an upgrade
over Richardson. Belichick prefers not to have too many youngsters at this
position, and is comfortable with starting JAG's (as are many teams). Obviously,
if we think that there is a shutdown corner there, we'll take him, but that would
mean that at least 20 teams made a mistake.
S 5 Even if we re-sign James Sanders (unlikely), we need a couple of backups who
can play special teams.
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MY BOTTOM LINE (the needs are suprisingly balanced between offense and defense)
S 5
DL 4
TE 4
OG 4
OT 3
So, I have to have a safety. I will look for value at DL, TE, OG and OT. If a corner or ILB falls in my lap, I'll accept. I don't have QB, WR or C on my Round 1-3 board.
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[Jimke]

I pretty much agree with your assessment except at cornerback.

The JAGs that the Pats are signing are not up to the job. Belichick

will never pay the prevaling rate for a good cornerback so I envision

him drafting another cornerback on day one to compete with Wheatley,

Wilhite, and next year's JAGs.

 

[BelizePats]

Our 3rd for Assente, who signed with Philly in 2008 will be for the 2009 draft.
If we receive a 3rd for Cassel, for signing elsewhere, would it not be for the 2010 draft?

 

[mgteich]

I certainly have no problem drafting a corner on Day One. I just think that Belichick is satisfied with the progress of Wheatley and Wilhite. A player who can backup at corner and safety would be an ideal addition (to replace the role of Lew Sanders).

In the end, I agree that there is a need at starting corner. The question here is whether Belichick is likely to use the first three rounds of the draft to meet that need. I suspect that most of use would be happy with early picks at S, OG, TE, DE, OT and CB. That's six picks/needs. We have six picks.

 

[BelizePats]

The defensive roster is in transition, as much of the old guard is in the last 2 years of their last contract with the team. So, another influx of quality rookies will have opportunities to make the team. The question is how many?
I believe that a SS to replace Rodney is worth spending our first on. One who can patrol the middle and cover tight ends. There looks like a couple of good ones out there who should be available. A second on a corner would be a fine play.
The one thing most of can agree on is that our corners need to get better! As as stated earlier in this thread, its unlikely that BB will spend on a pricey free agent. This situation will be addressed in the draft and hopefully there will be strong competition in camp that leads to better corner play during the season.
One of the biggest surprises for me this season is the lack of production from the tight end position? With all the underneath routes that Cassel was using as he felt his way through the first 5 or 6 weeks, you'd think the tight end would have been his security blanket? Didn't work out that way! Injuries? Perhaps! I've ben waiting for Ben Watson to break out for years now and it does not seem like its going to happen any time soon. Thomas? Nice hands but little to no production to speak of. Potential only goes so far. Just ask CJack!
A day one tight end would be a good move.
SS, corner and tight end would be my priorities.
And then a decent back up nose tackle to spell Big Vince when needed.

 

[mgteich]

I expect a 3rd for Cassel as a result of and franchise and "trade".

Our 3rd for Assente, who signed with Philly in 2008 will be for the 2009 draft.
If we receive a 3rd for Cassel, for signing elsewhere, would it not be for the 2010 draft?

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Would any of you trade a 2nd or a 3rd for Lito Sheppard? I know I would.

 

[slash83]

Would any of you trade a 2nd or a 3rd for Lito Sheppard? I know I would.

Maybe a late 2nd

 

[BradyManny]

===============================================================
MY BOTTOM LINE (the needs are suprisingly balanced between offense and defense)
S 5
DL 4
TE 4
OG 4
OT 3
So, I have to have a safety. I will look for value at DL, TE, OG and OT. If a corner or ILB falls in my lap, I'll accept. I don't have QB, WR or C on my Round 1-3 board.
===========================================================

I've been doing a similar needs chart...when I put numbers on the needs, short term and long, the end result was surprising. For instance, I found that when I weighed short term, long term, and the ability to upgrade a position, the most "needy" position was 3rd wide receiver. Mainly that's b/c I feel it's upgradeable, and without Gaffney signed for next season or beyond, is a real state of need. Of course, when you weigh the amount of snaps a 3rd WR plays and contributes in versus the importance of an NT or WILB for instance, things look different.

Other high priorities based solely on this system I came up with were #1 TE, backup G, WILB in the base 3-4 & nickel CB...safety is a priority, but I'm chalking Sanders in as re-signed for now. I wouldn't say that's too far off.

So, I largely agree with your assessment...TE, OG, S are priorities, DL, OT can be taken when there is value - and I'll toss WR in there myself.

 

[BritPat]

I've been doing a similar needs chart...when I put numbers on the needs, short term and long, the end result was surprising. For instance, I found that when I weighed short term, long term, and the ability to upgrade a position, the most "needy" position was 3rd wide receiver. Mainly that's b/c I feel it's upgradeable, and without Gaffney signed for next season or beyond, is a real state of need. Of course, when you weigh the amount of snaps a 3rd WR plays and contributes in versus the importance of an NT or WILB for instance, things look different.

Other high priorities based solely on this system I came up with were #1 TE, backup G, WILB in the base 3-4 & nickel CB...safety is a priority, but I'm chalking Sanders in as re-signed for now. I wouldn't say that's too far off.

So, I largely agree with your assessment...TE, OG, S are priorities, DL, OT can be taken when there is value - and I'll toss WR in there myself.

SILB surely? Mayo has the WILB spot locked up.

 

[Easywolf32]

I seriously think we need a CB first, definately a SS, an OLB, another DL, a TE and some adjustments to the OL.

 

[mgteich]

We do agree. It seems early for such agreement!

WR
I agree with the need for a #3 wide receiver. I just don't the think the first three rounds of the draft are the place to fill that need. My preferences in order are re-sign Gaffney, free-agent, Aiken/Washington, a 4th-7th round free agent.

S
I've seen nothing to believe that James Sanders will be re-signed. I would certainly welcome that extension (and also that of Wright and/or Hochstein). In any case, we need at least one backup safety.

ILB
Mayo and Guyton are probably the starters for years to come. And we have Bruschi for 2009. Why would ILB be a top 3 round draft priority for 2009?

I've been doing a similar needs chart...when I put numbers on the needs, short term and long, the end result was surprising. For instance, I found that when I weighed short term, long term, and the ability to upgrade a position, the most "needy" position was 3rd wide receiver. Mainly that's b/c I feel it's upgradeable, and without Gaffney signed for next season or beyond, is a real state of need. Of course, when you weigh the amount of snaps a 3rd WR plays and contributes in versus the importance of an NT or WILB for instance, things look different.

Other high priorities based solely on this system I came up with were #1 TE, backup G, WILB in the base 3-4 & nickel CB...safety is a priority, but I'm chalking Sanders in as re-signed for now. I wouldn't say that's too far off.

So, I largely agree with your assessment...TE, OG, S are priorities, DL, OT can be taken when there is value - and I'll toss WR in there myself.

 

[billdog3484]

you may not think so, but OLB/DE would be a major priority of mine.

 

[carolinatony]

I want mostly defense.
1 CB - big need
2 S - big need
3 OLB -to go w Mayo
4 DL -Seymore has had his best days
5 OL - Not as good as we think
***************************************
6 WR- We need a 3rd to go with Moss/Welker
7 RB - Maroney is a bust
8 TE - Time for Watson to go

 

[BradyManny]

SILB surely? Mayo has the WILB spot locked up.

Yup, my bad - meant SILB. Though Guyton looked pretty good there even on running downs yesterday, so maybe we're OK there too. I don't think the big running plays were the fault of either ILB - looked like were in a nickel package quite a bit that took Woods off the field and replace him with a DB, which made us susceptible to the run.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I want mostly defense.
1 CB - big need
2 S - big need
3 OLB -to go w Mayo
4 DL -Seymore has had his best days
5 OL - Not as good as we think
***************************************
6 WR- We need a 3rd to go with Moss/Welker
7 RB - Maroney is a bust
8 TE - Time for Watson to go

Even Mike Haynes would struggle playing in the BB soft zone defense, without a sniff of a pass rush from the front 7. We can pick up a competant CB in the 2rd or 3rd that would do just as well as any first rounder that is available this year.

If Burnett of UCF has the qwitch twitch that BB craves in his corners, the Pats could get him in the 3rd and he could develop into another Samuel, no problem.

 

[fester]

you may not think so, but OLB/DE would be a major priority of mine.

I agree, I think this defense gets significantly better with an OLB that can set the edge and rush the passer. We had that earlier in the season with A. Thomas, and we had that last year with Vrabel. However both players are getting up there in age, and we have seen significant injuries strike (Colvin in '07 and A. Thomas this year), so an OLB/DE conversion project that projects out to be Lamar Woodley caliber after a year of spot duty/sub-package work could be very high value and very high need.

 

[mgteich]

Are you suggesting cutting Crable and starting over again? Alternatively, are you suggesting cutting Woods and counting on a rookie to be first off the bench? This is OK if it our first pick, but even then development might be needed. The 5th OLB spot can exist, but it is a special team spot, currently held by Redd.

Everyone in the league wants the player who can rush the passer and be the linchpin of defense. It isn't easy finding such a player, especially one that will immediately fit into the 3-4. Obviously if we sit in our spot in the 1st, we'll draft such a stud. If not, we'll go back to our draft board.

I agree, I think this defense gets significantly better with an OLB that can set the edge and rush the passer. We had that earlier in the season with A. Thomas, and we had that last year with Vrabel. However both players are getting up there in age, and we have seen significant injuries strike (Colvin in '07 and A. Thomas this year), so an OLB/DE conversion project that projects out to be Lamar Woodley caliber after a year of spot duty/sub-package work could be very high value and very high need.

 

[URHatinIt]

Whatever happens in the draft, the focus needs to be finding a way to shut dowm Peyton Manning.

 

[KillEM]

I want mostly defense.
1 CB - big need
2 S - big need
3 OLB -to go w Mayo
4 DL -Seymore has had his best days
5 OL - Not as good as we think
***************************************
6 WR- We need a 3rd to go with Moss/Welker
7 RB - Maroney is a bust
8 TE - Time for Watson to go

Where are you guys coming up with this CRAP? Seymour is having one of his best years ever this year.

I swear, one person says something and a bunch of sheep repeat it over and over.