Some ideas to toss around:
1. If we take a 3-4 OLB (Barwin, English, Matthews, Sintim, etc.) at 23 and then find that both William Beatty and Louis Delmas are on the board at 34, should we take Beatty at #34 and then try to package #47 and 89 to trade up into the 35-37 range and get Delmas? I would. Barwin, Beatty and Delmas are the top 3 guys on my draft board who will realistically be available at 23, and to get all 3 of them would be a coup. If someone we wanted fell to 58 that would be great, otherwise we could trade it into 2010 and go for values from 97 on.
2. Do we really need an SILB as a high priority from this draft? I understand that Bruschi is aging and Guyton may not be a full-time solution, but do we really expect any rookie to be a starting SILB? Maualuga may have the physical tools but I could see him having a lot of difficulty getting BB's complex defense down. I think that the probability is that even if we draft a rookie SILB our main group for 2009 will consist of Mayo + Guyton/Bruschi. If we draft an OLB prospect at 23 or 34, there is a good chance they should be ready to start by 2010. Shawn Crable has the talent to emerge as a starting-caliber 3-4 OLB by then, plus there's always Woods and even still possibly signing Jason Taylor. Any of those would leave Adalius Thomas free to move inside to SILB in 2010. Plus there are several strong SILB candidates in the 2010 draft, both early on (Brandon Spikes, possibly Rolando McClain) and after the 1st round (Eric Norwood), Micah Johnson).
3. The more I think about it, the more I hope that we can trade #23 and #58 with the Giants for #29 and #45. The only way I wouldn't do it is if there was someone I desperately wanted at #23 who I didn't think would last to 29. But there is much more value in the mid-40's in this draft than at #58. The Giants might conceivably do it if they wanted someone specific - my best thought at this point is WR Hakeem Nicks, who would be perfect for them and whom Miami is said to covet. Picks at #45 and #47 might allow us to get another impact player - a potential pro-bowler like Jarren Gilbert - as opposed to a potential solid starter at #58. Plus an extra mid-round pick would give us more flexibility to trade one of them into 2010, possibly for a 1st round pick. I really want impact players out of the first day of this draft, and the ones I think are potential impact players in our system at positions that I could see us targeting and who could realistically be available to us are Barwin at OLB, Beatty at OT, Delmas at S, and Gilbert at 3-4 DE.
4. If we did somehow end up with Jarren Gilbert out of this draft, should we (heresy) consider trading Richard Seymour this year? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me to get Gilbert unless we are planning on him eventually starting, as we could get a backup DE replacement for Jarvis Green much more cheaply. Gilbert starting implies Seymour leaving after 2009, or after 2010 at the latest. If that is the case, then why not try to trade him for 2010 picks while he still has value, and use the cap space to extend Wilfork or Mankins? I know it's controversial, but I thought I should at least raise the possibility.
Mayo, Great stuff as usual. It makes you think.
O.K. I have a scenario based on the fact that N.O. has only three picks in this draft and are wanting to get more desperately. #14 is a good pick but they have nothing they positively need in that spot.
I think that the Pats and the Eagles have the most choices to trades as far as volume.We actually have perhaps too many picks and not enough roster spots unless the IR squad is huge...wink!
In my scenario it is a double move carefully orchestrated by BB. We trade our second round pick #34, our third round pick #89, our forth round pick #120, and our sixth #199 and seventh #234 (don't pass out yet cousins!) for the Saints #14 in round one. The numbers "points value" deal doesn't add up but the picks do, so it might make sense. Teams are not following that closely anymore. Why do we do this?
We could pick a stud there and still have a great draft (think of the picks?) or we now control the Sanchez/Freeman QB move. Detroit can't go for Stafford for the first pick (think Harrington). He's o.k. but not #1 material. They wait for #20 and hope the Jets and Bucs don't grab one or the other at #17 or #19. Or even the Bears at #18 or Vikings at #22 taking a QB makes sense.
I say the Lions are the best partner. Trade #14 to the Lions for #20 and their third rounder (almost like a second) #65.
Now the Lions get #1, #14, #33 and #82 (from Dallas) in the first hundred and get the best OT (or Curry) and pick their QB at #14.
The Pats now get #20,#23,#47.#58,#65,#97,#170,#207.
I have some new thoughts for picks here not everyone will like:
#20=Andre Smith OT-He slides and has the best natural talent. He gets a year or two to mature. The Saban connection. I am not a fan of an OL in the top two rounds (rather have Lang later on) but you have to consider Smith here.
#23=Percy Harvin WR-BPA (you choose then?)and he fills a return spot, #4 WR, #5 RB in the Reggie Bush mold. The Meyer connection. He backs up Galloway and Lewis he should beat out.
#47=Louis Delmas S -Might still be here. If not Sean Smith as a Safety who can play CB too, but the coverage by our Safety position will upgrade. He is 217lbs. Too early for Moore.
#58 Jarron Gilbert DT/DE-Depth for a DL that will change in 2010. Michael Johnson as my backup pick for 6' 7" OLB and 4.49 speed but I think we get Taylor or Peppers (Peppers we give up #23).
#65 James Casey TE-The TE depth chart will change in 2010. Remember how ticked BB was to lose Garret Mills? This guy is bigger and better and a "Wildcat" back (called Thor) with 46 carries at Rice, 6 TDs and a 4.6 average. Scheduled to be the Rice starting QB if he does not declare.
#97 Paul Kruger ILB-Versatilty to play DE but a perfect ILB choice to get some time while Teddy is still here. 260 LBS, Decent speed, can drop back. Good sack moves. Better upside then Rey or "Little Animal"? Back up pick is Jasper Brinkley ILB. Very much under the radar. Thumper with great speed. Recovered full now from ACL. Came on at the end of the season. Played at 262lbs.
#170 Deven Moore RB-Grooming for the Faulk job. Great hands. Can take some carries ala Steve Slaton. Back up pick Johnny Knox, WR speed merchant. Coming on.
#210 Lonnie Harvey NT-A back up for Vince. The Pats have taken interest in this kid. He is 6'3" and 346 lbs. He can move. Has some sacks and blocked kicks. He does not look or perform like a lump. A small school project but very high football I.Q. Why not?
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