Mock drafts and the secondary

[Tucker]

Why is it most mock drafts I've been looking at has us loading up on secondary players?

I realize that these guys dont follow all the teams closely, but really...is it that hard to look up the past 2 drafts and see what each team has drafted?

Has anyone else noticed this? Or am I just being cranky?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Why is it most mock drafts I've been looking at has us loading up on secondary players?

I realize that these guys dont follow all the teams closely, but really...is it that hard to look up the past 2 drafts and see what each team has drafted?

Has anyone else noticed this? Or am I just being cranky?

I haven't seen this. Certainly not "loading up," although I have seen a few here and there that have the Pats taking CB Trevard Lindley in the first round(!).

Links would be appreciated.

 

[mayoclinic]

I haven't seen this. Certainly not "loading up," although I have seen a few here and there that have the Pats taking CB Trevard Lindley in the first round(!).

Links would be appreciated.

A CB makes sense in the first 2 rounds if we don't resign Leigh Bodden, and don't get a free agent replacement. Otherwise, secondary should not be a priority in this draft.

There aren't that many "professional" 2 round drafts which have us taking a DB. I've only been able to find a couple. Some links:

I. Walter Football 12/10 mock has the Pats taking:

22. Jerry Hughes DE/OLB
45. Golden Tate, WR
53. Ryan Mathews, RB
54. Trevard Lindley, CB

WalterFootball.com: 2010 NFL Mock Draft

I'd rather go with DE/OLB Jeremy Beal at 45 (going #46), and OT/OG Gabe Carimi at 54 (going #55; or Vladimir Ducasse, who isn't listed). Ryan Mathews is fine if we're going RB, though I'd consider a 3-4 DE like Arthur Jones. Jerry Hughes is a reasonable choice, though you could make an argument for a number of other players such as DT Terrence Cody, and DEs Carlos Dunlap and Brandon Graham.

II. Football Draft Analysis has the Pats taking:

23. Greg Hardy, DE/OLB
48. Chad Jones, S
49. Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB
54. Brandon LaFell, WR

FootballDraftAnalysis.webs.com - Mock Draft

The Hardy pick is reasonable except that this draft has Rolando McClain going #22 to Baltimore. If McClain is available that close to where we pick I'd be pissed if we didn't trade up to get him. Kindle's a reasonable pick, though I'd prefer one of Greg Romeus/Jeremy Beal/Austen Lane, none of whom are in this draft. Greg Carimi and Vlad Ducasse aren't in this draft either, which doesn't have us addressing the OL. And while Chad Jones is an intriguing prospect, I just can't see us taking a safety with what we already have. I'd take Arthur Jones of Syracuse as a 3-4 DE.

 

[carolinatony]

A lot of drafts I seen had us taking a RB like Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech.
He may be good but we should go with OL like Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho. He seems to be a solid pick to help the middle of our line and than go pass rusher or two in the 2nd round.
I would pass on secondary till the late rounds after last year draft. Too many other needs imo.

We all know BB will surprise us.
Mayo puts a lot of work into his picks and a lot of us wish he was doing our drafting!

 

[NePatriots]

Our 2010 NFL Mock Draft has the Patriots taking the following:

Round 1 - Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
Round 2 - Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
Round 2 - Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Round 2 - Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

Like Mayo said, if Leigh Bodden doesn't get resigned, that changes everything. The Patriots would need a CB in the first two rounds, probably at the expense of Tate.

At this point, I'm hoping that the 2011 Raiders 1st Rounder turns into Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU.

 

[Sciz]

Round 2 - Navarro Bowman, OLB, PSU

A 230 pound LB with no more than 4 sacks in a college season is not going to solve any pass rush problems at all.

 

[NePatriots]

A 230 pound LB with no more than 4 sacks in a college season is not going to solve any pass rush problems at all.

Sorry, I changed that a few days ago when I read of his (Navorro's) past legal trouble. Wasn't thinking...

 

[mayoclinic]

Sorry, I changed that a few days ago when I read of his (Navorro's) past legal trouble. Wasn't thinking...

Regardless of his legal trouble, he doesn't fit at all.

 

[NePatriots]

Mayo - speaking of CB's - I'd be interested in your appraisal of Patrick Petersen (2011 Draft) and Amari Spievey (2010 or 2011 Draft). They are my two favorite CB's in college this year... really high on Spievey this year. Wouldn't mind the Patriots grabbing him in the 2nd or trading into the 3rd round to grab him.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

The last thing that Pats need is another Safety. I could see them taking another CB, but this team has much more pressing (as in a dying need for a pass rush) needs.

 

[mayoclinic]

Mayo - speaking of CB's - I'd be interested in your appraisal of Patrick Petersen (2011 Draft) and Amari Spievey (2010 or 2011 Draft). They are my two favorite CB's in college this year... really high on Spievey this year. Wouldn't mind the Patriots grabbing him in the 2nd or trading into the 3rd round to grab him.

Patrick Peterson is a blue chip prospect, possibly the best CB prospect since Champ Bailey. I have him neck and neck with North Carolina DE Robert Quinn as the prospect I'd most like to see us take with Oakland's 2011 1st round pick.

I haven't watched a ton of Spievey play. You certainly can't discount Kirk Ferentz players as potential prospects. I'm not as high on him as I am someone like Alabama CB Kareem Jackson, who next to Joe Haden is my favorite draft eligible CB prospect for 2010.

 

[cstjohn17]

Why is it most mock drafts I've been looking at has us loading up on secondary players?

I realize that these guys dont follow all the teams closely, but really...is it that hard to look up the past 2 drafts and see what each team has drafted?

Has anyone else noticed this? Or am I just being cranky?

All the units are fair game at this point (except QB). It is not like the Patriots have 10 probowlers in the secondary.

CBs - Our best CB is a free agent (Bodden), Springs is ancient, Butler and Wilhite look ok, not sure if Wheatley is still alive.

Safeties - Pretty good depth across this unit, but an impact player would still improve the position.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Patrick Peterson is a blue chip prospect, possibly the best CB prospect since Champ Bailey. I have him neck and neck with North Carolina DE Robert Quinn as the prospect I'd most like to see us take with Oakland's 2011 1st round pick.

I haven't watched a ton of Spievey play. You certainly can't discount Kirk Ferentz players as potential prospects. I'm not as high on him as I am someone like Alabama CB Kareem Jackson, who next to Joe Haden is my favorite draft eligible CB prospect for 2010.

Except for the fact that, IIRC, the Pats have taken ZERO Iowa players in the Draft. . . .

 

[mayoclinic]

Except for the fact that, IIRC, the Pats have taken ZERO Iowa players in the Draft. . . .

Please stop applying rational analysis and logic to the situation. It messes up my arguments.

 

[NePatriots]

Except for the fact that, IIRC, the Pats have taken ZERO Iowa players in the Draft. . . .

Well, Mike Elgin counts I guess... 2007 Patriots Draft Picks

Spievey reminds me at times of an Antoine Winfield-eqsue Corner, as he can really bring it in the run game.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Well, Mike Elgin counts I guess... 2007 Patriots Draft Picks

ZERO Iowa players before the seventh round.

 

[NePatriots]

ZERO Iowa players before the seventh round.

Or made the team... last Iowa player to make the team was WR CJ Jones (UDFA).

 

[Ochmed Jones]

The last thing that Pats need is another Safety. I could see them taking another CB, but this team has much more pressing (as in a dying need for a pass rush) needs.

I would not rule out drafting a safety or any other position for that matter.

I saw a mock that had us taking QB Clausen of Notre Dame in the first round and I was not surprised.

as BB says, it all about improving the football team.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I would not rule out drafting a safety or any other position for that matter.

I saw a mock that had us taking QB Clausen of Notre Dame in the first round and I was not surprised.

as BB says, it all about improving the football team.

I'd like to see a link for that.

 

[mayoclinic]

Our 2010 NFL Mock Draft has the Patriots taking the following:

Round 1 - Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
Round 2 - Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
Round 2 - Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Round 2 - Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

Like Mayo said, if Leigh Bodden doesn't get resigned, that changes everything. The Patriots would need a CB in the first two rounds, probably at the expense of Tate.

At this point, I'm hoping that the 2011 Raiders 1st Rounder turns into Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU.

That's a really nice draft for the Pats. I love the Iupati and Beal picks.

I have my own preferences, so I would take Greg Romeus (going #56) or Austen Lane (going #58) over Brandon Graham at #48. Graham's a great player, but I see him more as a 4-3 DE than a 3-4 OLB, and he's on the short side for what BB prefers. But I expect I'm in the minority, and most would be thrilled with Graham - again, I have nothing against the player.

A lot of people would be thrilled with Golden Tate at 61. I think he's a fine player but he seems to bring the same kind of things which a healthy Brandon Tate would bring. I'd rather not go WR that early, and would prefer any of the following players:

- OT Joseph Barksdale (65)
- DE Corey Wootton (66)
- RB Jonathan Dwyer (67)
- OG/C Maurkice Pouncey (70)
- CB Brandon Ghee (74; if Leigh Bodden leaves and is not replaced)
- OT/OG Vladimir Ducasse (78) - Ducasse at RT and Iupati at RG would make an amazing combination
- CB Kareem Jackson (84 - see comments for Brandon Ghee)

I'd be thrilled with:

29. Mike Iupati, OG
47. Jeremy Beal, DE/OLB
48. Greg Romeus or Austen Lane, DE/OLB
61. Joseph Barksdale, Maurkice Pouncey or Vladimir Ducasse, OL - whichever one BB prefers; or RB Jonathan Dwyer if BB prefers a big RB over another OL

Short of getting a true blue chip player like ILB Rolando McClain, CB Joe Haden, or DE Cameron Heyward, that's as good a draft as I think we could hope for.

But again, those are just my personal preferences. Again, great draft.