As much as BB likes to trade down and it may be good VALUE and all I would love for us to Trade up this year and get one dominant OL and pass rusher. Just do it before Brady is gone.
Some thoughts (juniors noted with an *):
1. Players I see as definitely worth a 1st round pick for the Pats:
- Ndamukong Suh, DE/DT - won't ever happen; top 5 pick
- Eric Berry*, S - a playmaker, but I don't want a DB for what it would cost to trade up for him
- Joe Haden*, CB - I don't want a DB, but Haden would be too good to pass up; top 10-15 pick
- Rolando McClain*, ILB - ILB isn't our biggest need, but McClain would be too good to pass up; top 10-15 pick
- Cameron Heyward*, DE - probably a top 20 pick
- Derrick Morgan*, DE/OLB - best pass rushing DE in the draft; upside may be a bit limited compared to some of the other prospects, though
Other than Suh (who would cost close to our whole draft), I'm not sure any of the others is worth a substantial trade up, given all of the depth in this draft. A slight trade up would be different.
2. Players I see as potentially worth a 1st round pick for the Pats, depending on how they grade out:
- Carlos Dunlap*, DE - tremendous athlete, great upside; consistency and character issues
- Greg Hardy, DE - possibly the best edge rusher in the draft; consistency, injury and character issues
- Jason Pierre-Paul*, DE - possibly the highest upside of any DE in the draft; still very raw
- Terrance "Mount" Cody, DT - worth it if we lose Wilfork, otherwise not a major need
- Jermaine Gresham, TE - I hope we keep Watson and don't need to go TE this early
3. Players I see as borderline 1st/2nd round picks for the Pats:
- Brian Bulaga*, OT - could be a terrific RT opposite Vollmer; likely top 20 pick
- Joseph Barksdale*, OT - could be a terrific RT opposite Vollmer
- Bruce Campbell*, OT - a pure LT prospect, would require moving Vollmer to RT, which I would prefer not to do; likely top 20 pick
- Maurkice Pouncey*, OG/C - I like him better than Alex Mack or Eric Wood
- Mike Iupati, OG - a beast
- Everson Griffen*, DE/OLB - an amazing athlete for his size; inconsistent
- Jerry Hughes, DE/OLB - not sure if he's stout enough against the run, or good enough in space; may be just a very good but undersized 4-3 DE
- Allen Bailey*, DE - an amazing athlete with tremendous upside at the 5 technique
4. Players I like as 2nd round possibilities for the Pats:
- Greg Romeus*, DE/OLB - terrific size/speed and upside
- Jeremy Beal*, DE/OLB - great versatility
- Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB - could be more of a 4-3 OLB
- Eric Norwood, DE/OLB - great versatility; a bit short; not sure where he fits
- Gabe Carimi*, OT/OG - massive RT who may move inside to guard
- Jonathan Dwyer*, RB - big bruiser with breakaway speed
- Ryan Mathews*, RB - terrific prospect; may not be different enough from Maroney
5. Players I like in the 3rd-4th rounds (or possibly very late 2nd round):
- Corey Wootten, DE - could be an excellent 5-technique guy
- Adrian Clayborn*, DE - very strong; may not come out
- Kareem Jackson*, CB - I don't want CB that early, but he is a 1st round talent
- Mike Pouncey*, OG
- Vladimir Ducasse, OT/OG - could possibly play RT, may have to move inside; lots of upside
- Mike Johnson, OG
- Aaron Hernandez*, TE - again, I'd prefer not to have to go TE this early
- Austen Lane, DE/OLB - division II guy with tremendous athleticism and upside
- Cameron Jordan*, DE - very talented 3-4 DE prospect
- Leonard Marsh* DE - extremely athletic
- Noel Devine*, RB - amazingly quick and agile scat back
- Dexter McCluster, RB - fast and versatile RB/WR
- Toby Gerhart, RB - big bruiser who seems slow but just can't be stopped
I'm not sure who in that group I would trade up for. Suh will cost too much. Dunlap and Hardy have issues, Pierre-Paul is still very raw. Heyward, Morgan, McClain and Haden are possibly worth it, depending on how far we have to trade up and how expensive it is.
Those are my thoughts, FWIW.