Will the second round yield the Patriots next top WR?

[furley]

Previously, I'd an interest in Demaryius Thomas but Carlton Mitchell reads like he's the top sleeper (or his stock is on the rise) at wide receiver.

From reading, he sounds like a player who can be a deep threat play-maker who possesses good hands and speed.

I feel that if a wide receiver has potential... Then a good quarterback can help him to realize it. And New England has Tom Brady.

You've to begin thinking about drafting Moss' replacement. Could Mitchell be that player, that steal. Without Moss, the team needs a play-making wide receiver who's capable of attracting the most attention from opposing defenses and can make the other offensive players better.


Best case scenario

Carlton Mitchell (deep)
Julian Edelman (slot)
Brandon Tate (kick returner)
Rob Gronkowski (blocker/receiver)

 

[SanAngeloState]

Damien williams, blair white (in the 5th or so), eric decker (busted foot) in the 4th or so, guy from central michigan who had like 400 yards all purpose in his bowl game in the 5th or 6th (he's about 5'10" 185 pounds).

I think there are lots of possibilities!

Don't know much about demarious from ga. tech as he's supposedly hard to analyze due to their run first offense.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I am REALLY wary of WR prospects who lack college production.
If you can't create separation and dominate the collegiate level, how will your game translate to the NFL?

Year, Games Games Started Receoptions Yards YPC TDs
'07-'08 13 5 37 537 14.5 4
'08-'09 13 3 28 405 14.5 1
'09-'10 10 9 34 612 18.0 4

Carlton Mitchell, WR, South Florida

So the most touchdowns he has ever caught is 4.
The most receiving yards he has ever gained is 612.
And the most receptions he's ever had in a season is 37.

You have to ask WHY you'd spend a valuable 2nd round pick on that kind of production.
His production looks really similar to Bethel Johnson...

At least Demaryius Thomas had a breakout season with 1154 yards and 8 tds.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Mitchell is a guy I've always liked, but I think he's a fourth-rounder at best: a developmental guy with a lot of upside but also a lot of bad habits to retrain.

Thomas is similar, in that sense, but has way better upside, and also works very hard at blocking and being a team player. His passion for the game and playing the way the coaches want intrigues me. He's by far my number one wide out in the draft, and I love his fighting spirit.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

Benn and Damian Williams are my top 2 targets for the Pats in the 2nd round. Would love to see either of them added.

 

[furley]

With Thomas' stock declining due to his broken foot, I believe both Thomas and Mitchell could be available for New England after the first round. However, the problem for the Patriots is, they are without a third round pick and don't seem inclined to select a tall wide receiver anyways. In my opinion, you've to think about Brady as you're making these choices on drafting a wide receiver. I mean if you won't select a tight end who can be a receiving threat, then you must select a play-maker who isn't simply another slot receiver. And this draft has a lot of tall wide receivers to consider... I want a wide receiver who could be special, and I would like to think that either Thomas or Mitchell are that wide receiver. They're both intriguing at least.

I know Belichick likes those under the radar players.

 

[patchick]

Damien williams, blair white (in the 5th or so), eric decker (busted foot) in the 4th or so.

White seems like a really useful player to me. A slightly bigger Gaffney type -- solid build, not much straight-line speed but good foot quickness, body control and field awareness.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

law of averages dictates that the pats are due to draft a really good WR in teh 2nd round since the last 2 stank so bad

 

[patchick]

White seems like a really useful player to me. A slightly bigger Gaffney type -- solid build, not much straight-line speed but good foot quickness, body control and field awareness.

OK, predictably BOR already said that:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...er-scouting-prospects-page11.html#post1746301

That's what I get for coming late to this year's draft party...

 

[Marqui]

Demaryius Thomas is the only reciever I like in this draft. Hate everyone else.

 

[upstater1]

You hate Bryant and Gilyard? These two kids in particular are solid football players. And Golden Tate was productive as well.

I'd be happy with any of these three, and I think this is a strong WR draft.

 

[Marqui]

You hate Bryant and Gilyard? These two kids in particular are solid football players. And Golden Tate was productive as well.

I'd be happy with any of these three, and I think this is a strong WR draft.

Those are all good players, but I just don't get really excited about them.

 

[mgteich]

This is the question of the day, especially with Watson gone. Three wide receivers are usually projected to be gone when we pick at 44. We can have the pick of the rest at 44. Will we really find the replacement for Moss there? Will we find a 2010 contributer there?

The underlying question is whether we will need to use a first to draft Bryant or Tate, if they are even available to us.

Odrick may be our consensue first choice. But if he is gone, we may need to draft a wide receiver and draft defense in the 2nd.

 

[yopats]

Those are all good players, but I just don't get really excited about them.

The only one that I get excited about being available in that 2nd round is Demaryius Thomas.. all the others I feel the same way you do..

 

[alvinnf]

This is the question of the day, especially with Watson gone. Three wide receivers are usually projected to be gone when we pick at 44. We can have the pick of the rest at 44. Will we really find the replacement for Moss there? Will we find a 2010 contributer there?

The underlying question is whether we will need to use a first to draft Bryant or Tate, if they are even available to us.

Odrick may be our consensue first choice. But if he is gone, we may need to draft a wide receiver and draft defense in the 2nd.

Based on what your saying three will be gone by 44. Most of the rankings I see for that position have Lefell and Thomas at four and five. Pick your source. So It's probably going to come down to one of those two guys. While I like Thomas allot. I wonder if they would consider him because of the simplicity of the offense he came from. Personally until Welker get's back I would love to see this team run the ball more and play out of two reciever sets. You can max protect more frequently and rely less on sight adjustments. That would help a young player.

 

[BradyManny]

I'd like to add Gilyard to get the Deion Branch type player back. The small quick-twitch wideouts have outplayed the big burners in recent year. We were burnt by Chad Jackson while Santonio Holmes flourished. Meanwhile, Desean Jackson, Maclin, Avery, these guys all look like contributors.

Forget the prototype #1 wideout and just get a guy - like Gilyard - that gets open and produces, regardless of size.

 

[mgteich]

The team needs to be built around the skills of Brady, not the limitations of a rookie wide receiver. We are not pprimarily a running team, nor will we voluntarily go into the season with the 2-receiver set as a the base or even the common set.

We need to find a couple of receivers who can learn the system. Otherwise, it will need to count on Tate and Edelman (or perhaps Patten) as the kids develop.

Based on what your saying three will be gone by 44. Most of the rankings I see for that position have Lefell and Thomas at four and five. Pick your source. So It's probably going to come down to one of those two guys. While I like Thomas allot. I wonder if they would consider him because of the simplicity of the offense he came from. Personally until Welker get's back I would love to see this team run the ball more and play out of two reciever sets. You can max protect more frequently and rely less on sight adjustments. That would help a young player.

 

[furley]

There will be a long wait until New England's first selection in the second round, and Tampa Bay, Buffalo or Miami are apt to jump on Thomas. Hence, why my attention shifted to Mitchell. And Thomas could still sneak into the first round.

Besides, Mitchell, a few other sleeper picks in later rounds, include Riley Cooper, Taylor Price, Seyi Ajirotutu and Stephen Williams.

 

[captain stone]

OK, predictably BOR already said that:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...er-scouting-prospects-page11.html#post1746301

That's what I get for coming late to this year's draft party...

Better late than never, and you'll always be welcome.

As for the OP, our #1 (or at worst our #2) WR of the Future absolutely needs to be found in the 2nd round this year, and there should still be qualified candidates avail. starting at 44. I would also like to see one of the 7th-round comps used on a developmental WR with size.

Bill needs to come out of this draft with 2 WRs who can be counted-on for the next half-decade, and there should be no excuses about a lack of talent from which to choose.

 

[bakes781]

This is the question of the day, especially with Watson gone. Three wide receivers are usually projected to be gone when we pick at 44. We can have the pick of the rest at 44. Will we really find the replacement for Moss there? Will we find a 2010 contributer there?

The underlying question is whether we will need to use a first to draft Bryant or Tate, if they are even available to us.

Odrick may be our consensue first choice. But if he is gone, we may need to draft a wide receiver and draft defense in the 2nd.

If Odrick is gone by #22 then obviously that increases the likelyhood that Bryant or Tate are there. If neither then I'd say another trade back is inevitable.

We won't find the future Randy Moss with any of these prospects IMO. We won't find a Welker type either. We can however get someone with the ability to stretch the field though. I think a burner is exactly what this offense needs. The deep threat has been sorely missing. The other aspects of that are a solid OL and threat of a run game. So it will take improvements in those areas as well for it be successful.