Post-Senior Bowl Wish List

[mayoclinic]

Having just concluded watching the Senior Bowl, as of right now, here's who I want for the Pats:

1st Round Possibilities

- Rolando McClain - my #1 prospect, but would need a big trade up
- Carlos Dunlap - strongside DE/OLB
- CJ Spiller- all-purpose offensive threat
- Dan Williams - versatile DT/DE
- Brian Bulaga - versatile and potentially dominant OT

2nd/3rd Round Guys

- Alex Carrington - future starting RDE
- Austen Lane - future starting weakside 3-4 OLB
- Koa Misi - could be a solid SILB next to Mayo; "Mayo and Misi" has a ring to it
- Jared Veldheer - could be this year's Vollmer
- Dexter McCluster - consolation prize if unable to land Spiller

Late Round Guys

- Colin Peek or Jim Dray at TE
- Freddie Barnes at WR
- Jacoby Ford as a return specialist and WR

Jury's Still Out On

- Jared Odrick - he had a good week, but I'm still not convinced he's a 1st round talent
- Brandon Graham - great pass rusher, but I'm still not convinced he's a 3-4 OLB
- Terrance Cody - could be dominant, or a bust; I wouldn't use a 1st on him
- AJ Edds - physically limited, but makes plays
- Eric Norwood - looks less and less fluid the more I watch of him
- The interior linemen - neither Vlad Ducasse nor Mike Johnson impressed; I wouldn't use a 1st on Iupati
- Zoltan Mesko - not at all impressive, lousy hang time

Right now I'm hoping that most of those 2nd/3rd round guys go in the 3rd round and that we can trade back and get a bunch of them. My ideal drat would still be to trade 42, 47 and 118 for 19 and 83 to get 2 of Dunlap, Spiller, Williams and Bulaga (in that order of preference), then trade back from 53, and stockpile as many as 3-4 3rd round picks, picking up guys like Carrington, Lane, Veldheer, Johnson/Ducasse, Misi, McCluster and possibly even Cody if he continues to slip.

Best case scenario for me:

- Trade 42, 47 and 118 to Atlanta for 19 and 83
- Trade 53 to Philadelphia for 70 and 87
- Trade Adalius Thomas and a conditional 2011 pick to KC for 68

19. CJ Spiller. RB, Clemson
22. Carlos Dunlap, DE/OLB, Florida
68. Alex Carington, DE, Arkansas St.
70. Austen Lane, DE/OLB, Murray St.
83. Best available lineman out of Jared Veldheer, Vlad Ducasse and Mike Johnson
87. Koa Misi, LB, Utah
180. Freddie Barnes, WR, Bowling Greey
6 comp. Colin Peek or Jim Dray, TE
213. Jacoby Ford, RB, Clemson
7 comp. Best available punter (and a few Hail Mary's)

This scenario would obviously not give us an OL capable of starting right away, but unless we took Bulaga in the 1st I don't see that right now. I think if Kaczur can move to OG and Neal can be on the speed dial in case of injury that we'll be ok with a developmental guy, plus the guys already on our roster.

And yes, I understand that there's a whole lot of wishful thinking in this scenario.

 

[NePatriots]

Having just concluded watching the Senior Bowl, as of right now, here's who I want for the Pats:

1st Round Possibilities

- Rolando McClain - my #1 prospect, but would need a big trade up
- Carlos Dunlap - strongside DE/OLB
- CJ Spiller- all-purpose offensive threat
- Dan Williams - versatile DT/DE
- Brian Bulaga - versatile and potentially dominant OT

2nd/3rd Round Guys

- Alex Carrington - future starting RDE
- Austen Lane - future starting weakside 3-4 OLB
- Koa Misi - could be a solid SILB next to Mayo; "Mayo and Misi" has a ring to it
- Jared Veldheer - could be this year's Vollmer
- Dexter McCluster - consolation prize if unable to land Spiller

Late Round Guys

- Colin Peek or Jim Dray at TE
- Freddie Barnes at WR
- Jacoby Ford as a return specialist and WR

My wish list, where I would want to pick them.

1st Round: (Don't think we can get McClain/Spiller)
Carlos Dunlap, DE
Brandon Graham, DE/OLB
Bryan Bulaga, OL
Dan Williams, DL
Sean Weatherspoon, ILB

2nd Round Early:
Mike Iupati, OG
Sergio Kindle, OLB
Jerry Hughes, OLB
Ryan Matthews, RB

2nd/3rd Round
Austen Lane, DE/OLB
Amari Spievey, CB
AJ Edds, LB
Aurrelious Benn, WR
Golden Tate, WR
Damian Williams, WR
Alex Carrington, DE/OLB
Tony Moeaki, TE

Later Rounds:
Andre Roberts, WR
Kyle Calloway, OG
Donald Jones, WR
Colin Peek, TE
Koa Misi, DE/OLB

 

[DaBruinz]

You still want Dunlap even with the DUI?

Iupati didn't impress me at all. I think that he won't make the Pats Draft Board.

I like Mayoclinic's list, for the most part. Instead of the Pats trading up (I just don't see it), I see them trading down and out of the 1st round unless McClain makes some weird fall down the boards..

I could see the Pats trading their 22nd to one of the top 5 teams for their 2nd this year and a 2nd in 2011.. Especially if the Pats ended up with 3-4 Comp picks.

In trading down, they position themselves to get guys like Odrick and Carrington and make a splash in terms or boosting the defense even more.

 

[NePatriots]

You still want Dunlap even with the DUI?

Iupati didn't impress me at all. I think that he won't make the Pats Draft Board.

Give him a few weeks with Dante and things will get worked out.

 

[mayoclinic]

My wish list, where I would want to pick them.

1st Round: (Don't think we can get McClain/Spiller)
Carlos Dunlap, DE
Brandon Graham, DE/OLB
Bryan Bulaga, OL
Dan Williams, DL
Sean Weatherspoon, ILB

2nd Round Early:
Mike Iupati, OG
Sergio Kindle, OLB
Jerry Hughes, OLB
Ryan Matthews, RB

2nd/3rd Round
Austen Lane, DE/OLB
Amari Spievey, CB
AJ Edds, LB
Aurrelious Benn, WR
Golden Tate, WR
Damian Williams, WR
Alex Carrington, DE/OLB
Tony Moeaki, TE

Later Rounds:
Andre Roberts, WR
Kyle Calloway, OG
Donald Jones, WR
Colin Peek, TE
Koa Misi, DE/OLB

I disagree with some of your projections. There's no way Golden Tate, Damien Williams or Rejus Benn can be considered late 2nd/early 3rd round picks right now.

And some of your late round projections seem a tad optimistic. For example, NFLdraftscout had this to say about Misi:

"Scouts are always looking for athletic defensive ends capable of making the transition to the rush linebacker position, and they've found one in Misi. A better athlete than his former Ute teammate, Paul Kruger, Misi could match the Baltimore Raven's final draft slot - and hear his name called in the second round."

NFL Draft - 2009 Risers and Fallers - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

I think that's a bit rich for Misi, but after his Senior Bowl week I don't think you can project him as a late round pick, either. And while Kyle Calloway didn't shine in the Shrine Game week, I don't think he's fallen that far either. 3rd/4th round most likely.

I might add a category to my original breakdown:

Guys I Would Consider If They Slipped

- Chad Jones, S, LSU - if he was avaialble at 53, he might be too good to pass up
- Terrance Cody, DT, Alabama - hard to pass in the late 2nd/early 3rd round
- Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri - hard to pass up anytime at 47 or later

 

[DaBruinz]

Give him a few weeks with Dante and things will get worked out.

See, I disagree. There are things you can't teach. Like movement. And Iupati just seemed extremely stiff to me. He also seemed to let the DTs just get into his body. Color me not impressed.

 

[mayoclinic]

See, I disagree. There are things you can't teach. Like movement. And Iupati just seemed extremely stiff to me. He also seemed to let the DTs just get into his body. Color me not impressed.

I was very unimpressed with the offensive linemen. I wouldn't take Mike Johnson or Vlad Ducasse before the 3rd round. Johnson is a solid OG prospect and Ducasse is raw with terrific upside, but neither is anything near a sure thing, or a day 1 starter. And I think Ducasse's upside is greater than Iupati's. I think Iupati will be gone long before I would take him.

 

[mayoclinic]

You still want Dunlap even with the DUI?

Nothing's changed. If (1) Dunlap runs well and shows the necessary agility, (2) interviews well and answers the questions the right way, and (3) gets a clean bill from Urban Meyer, then I absolutely would. If those things don't work out, then no, I wouldn't.

For now, I've still got Dunlap near the top of my draft board. I don't expect that to change until the combine.

 

[DaBruinz]

Nothing's changed. If (1) Dunlap runs well and shows the necessary agility, (2) interviews well and answers the questions the right way, and (3) gets a clean bill from Urban Meyer, then I absolutely would. If those things don't work out, then no, I wouldn't.

For now, I've still got Dunlap near the top of my draft board. I don't expect that to change until the combine.

Ok. I just hope that the kid is smart and gets his act together. He's got to get his community service done and participate in a victim's impact panel. Not to mention the fact that he's on probation for a year.

Right now, Dunlap has moved into the iffy category.

 

[NePatriots]

I disagree with some of your projections. There's no way Golden Tate, Damien Williams or Rejus Benn can be considered late 2nd/early 3rd round picks right now.

And some of your late round projections seem a tad optimistic. For example, NFLdraftscout had this to say about Misi:

"Scouts are always looking for athletic defensive ends capable of making the transition to the rush linebacker position, and they've found one in Misi. A better athlete than his former Ute teammate, Paul Kruger, Misi could match the Baltimore Raven's final draft slot - and hear his name called in the second round."

NFL Draft - 2009 Risers and Fallers - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

I think that's a bit rich for Misi, but after his Senior Bowl week I don't think you can project him as a late round pick, either. And while Kyle Calloway didn't shine in the Shrine Game week, I don't think he's fallen that far either. 3rd/4th round most likely.

I might add a category to my original breakdown:

Guys I Would Consider If They Slipped

- Chad Jones, S, LSU - if he was avaialble at 53, he might be too good to pass up
- Terrance Cody, DT, Alabama - hard to pass in the late 2nd/early 3rd round
- Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri - hard to pass up anytime at 47 or later

Tate, Benn, Williams, etc... are exactly that, Guys I would consider if they slipped. I don't want them early 2nd (where they will probably go), but I would take them late 2nd or 3rd.

I don't want Calloway in the 3rd or 4th, but I would take him in the 5th/6th in a heartbeat.

I really hope that Misi doesn't get overdrafted that much, I'd love to get him in the 4th.

 

[mayoclinic]

Ok. I just hope that the kid is smart and gets his act together. He's got to get his community service done and participate in a victim's impact panel. Not to mention the fact that he's on probation for a year.

Right now, Dunlap has moved into the iffy category.

Funny, but Maualuga's prior DUI didn't seem to be much of a concern on this board last year. Then again, maybe that's the best argument against taking Dunlap.

From what I hear, Dunlap is a good kid with no prior incidents, compared with guys who have had a number of issues in their past. Many people have had at least one incident. No one, for example, seems to bring up that Jared Odrick was charged with disorderly conduct after getting into a fight last March after a night of drinking.

Penn State Nittany Lions' Jared Odrick cited for disorderly conduct - ESPN

By all means do diligence on Dunlap's DUI and character. Do it on every prospect. But don't discount him at this point because of one incident.

I put almost every prospect into the "iffy" category right now.

 

[NePatriots]

See, I disagree. There are things you can't teach. Like movement. And Iupati just seemed extremely stiff to me. He also seemed to let the DTs just get into his body. Color me not impressed.

In the senior bowl, and other tape, I've seen an OG that moves VERY well, so I guess we have a difference of opinion.

I think Dante would help out with his hands, where he needs to pitch instead of catch.

At this point, I'd take him anywhere after #22.

 

[Warren94]

Dunlap is growing on me.. Merriweather had the same issue and BB took a flyer on him as well so I guess we'll see..

Guys I would draft

Lane
Gilyard
Tate
Dray TE
Gronkowski TE
C Jones from LSU
Johnson OG
Dan Williams
Eversen Griffin
Hughes
Price from UCLA
Matthews Fresno State
Angerer
Asamoah

That's all...

 

[Warren94]

Wilson: Graham, Gilyard, Weatherspoon shine in Senior Bowl | National Football Post

 

[MaineMan]

Guys I like from the Senior Bowl (no rounds assigned):

TE Colin Peek
WR/KR Jacoby Ford
WR Mardy Gilyard
WR/RB Dexter McCluster
WR Andre Roberts
WR Jeremy Williams
OL Matt Tennant
DL Tyson Alualu
DL Alex Carrington
DL Geno Atkins
DL Jared Odrick
DL Dan Williams
ILB Jamar Chaney
LB AJ Edds
OLB/DE Brandon Graham
OLB Koa Misi
CB Kyle Wilson
FS Nate Allen
SS Myron Rolle
CB Chris Cook (as FS)

 

[alvinnf]

Guys I like from the Senior Bowl (no rounds assigned):

TE Colin Peek
WR/KR Jacoby Ford
WR Mardy Gilyard
WR/RB Dexter McCluster
WR Andre Roberts
WR Jeremy Williams
OL Matt Tennant
DL Tyson Alualu
DL Alex Carrington
DL Geno Atkins
DL Jared Odrick
DL Dan Williams
ILB Jamar Chaney
LB AJ Edds
OLB/DE Brandon Graham
OLB Koa Misi
CB Kyle Wilson
FS Nate Allen
SS Myron Rolle
CB Chris Cook (as FS)

I like your list...
I would add.
Neal DL Purdue
Rashawn Jackson as a FB from Virginia
Graham TE from Wisconsin
Ben Tate from Auburn
Eric Olsen OL from Notre Dame

 

[MaineMan]

I like your list...
I would add.
Neal DL Purdue
Rashawn Jackson as a FB from Virginia
Graham TE from Wisconsin
Ben Tate from Auburn
Eric Olsen OL from Notre Dame

Y'know, I actually liked Tate and probably should have included him. The rest though, I'm feeling kinda iffy about - based exclusively on their performance in practices this week. I mean, I also excluded Iupati, Ducasse, Weatherspoon, Lane, John Jerry, and several other "fan favorites" for the same reason. BTW, I was following the comments of seven or eight different independent observers/commenters so my "iffy" feelings kind of reflect a rough consensus of those. But, y'know, I didn't see many of their game performances this season, so I'm always open for additional "testimony."

 

[bucky]

Funny, but Maualuga's prior DUI didn't seem to be much of a concern on this board last year. Then again, maybe that's the best argument against taking Dunlap.

From what I hear, Dunlap is a good kid with no prior incidents, compared with guys who have had a number of issues in their past. Many people have had at least one incident. No one, for example, seems to bring up that Jared Odrick was charged with disorderly conduct after getting into a fight last March after a night of drinking.

Penn State Nittany Lions' Jared Odrick cited for disorderly conduct - ESPN

By all means do diligence on Dunlap's DUI and character. Do it on every prospect. But don't discount him at this point because of one incident.

I put almost every prospect into the "iffy" category right now.

Yeah, but it's not only the DUI. There are work ethic questions with Dunlop as well. BB has taken fliers on guys like Merriweather and Moss, but in the wake of the Baltimore game, I don't think this is the time to be bringing in guys like this. Same goes for Odrick and Kindle, for that matter.

 

[mayoclinic]

Yeah, but it's not only the DUI. There are work ethic questions with Dunlop as well. BB has taken fliers on guys like Merriweather and Moss, but in the wake of the Baltimore game, I don't think this is the time to be bringing in guys like this. Same goes for Odrick and Kindle, for that matter.

I think Urban Meyer will address the work ethic issue. I'm not sure how real it is. If it is truly an issue, then you are probably right.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

You still want Dunlap even with the DUI?

Iupati didn't impress me at all. I think that he won't make the Pats Draft Board.

I like Mayoclinic's list, for the most part. Instead of the Pats trading up (I just don't see it), I see them trading down and out of the 1st round unless McClain makes some weird fall down the boards..

I could see the Pats trading their 22nd to one of the top 5 teams for their 2nd this year and a 2nd in 2011.. Especially if the Pats ended up with 3-4 Comp picks.

In trading down, they position themselves to get guys like Odrick and Carrington and make a splash in terms or boosting the defense even more.

I like this thinking! It makes perfect sense. If we have a shot at McClain, go get him, otherwise drop back 12-15 spots and take projection guys early in the second.