A Couple Of Rumours For What They're Worth

[manxman2601]

I do a fair amount of draft related browsing and there's a couple of Pats related rumours that I've come up with from team related boards relevant to the Patriots which I thought I'd share. I am not ascribing any credibility to them, they may be BS but they MAY come from a source other than someone just speculating which is why I'm sharing them.

1. First, a rumour from a Dallas Cowboys message board which I visit from time to time. They have two commentators there that the rest of the board seem to respect a lot. Both commentators claim sources with knowledge of the Cowboys draft intentions. I cannot comment on the reliability of those claims, but the respect other commentators show for their information suggests that there might be something there.

The first commentator had this to say about the Cowboys pick @9:

Most recently I have also been told the Cowboys have spoken to the Patriots who have been active lately trying to gauge the market value to move up. Interesting enough I’m told the Cowboys are the only team the Patriots have contacted in the top 10. I’m sorry I don’t have many details on what was discussed.

In response, the other commentator added:

I can confirm his comment about New England contacting us for our #9 pick. I will add that they want Julio Jones. Arizona, Cleveland, St. Louis, Houston and Detroit have all expressed interest I am told.

Also related to the Patriots is that the Cowboys are seriously looking at JJ Watt although Tyron Smith is still the most likely. for those adverse to the Pats trading up, not all is lost. The two "insiders" are sure that if Peterson falls to the Browns at 6, the Cowboys will look to trade up and snag him.

2. I'm sure a lot of you know about Blinded By the Lombardies, the Patriots forum at Sons of Sam Horn. There is a commentator there called ElcaballitoMVP who claims a source within the Patriots organisation. The reason that I think he has some credibility is that on the day of the draft last year, before it started, he said that he was hearing the pick was Devin McCourty. Therefore I'll just share what he's been saying recently. There's not much, except that he has said that:

I keep hearing the team really likes Danny Watkins from Baylor. I should get more info. as we get closer to draft time, but he's a guy to keep an eye on.

Also, the whole Pats looking at QB's in the 1st/2nd round rumor is mostly a smoke screen. I guess they're really happy with Hoyer as the backup. Obviously, if a guy falls and is a great value they could make a move but I don't think it'll be with any of our first 4 picks.

I haven't heard anything to confirm this trade rumor from Peter King, but I'm trying to find out.

and (this is a couple of weeks old)

Stil rather early in the process but a couple of names of interest I'm hearing are:

Justin Houston OLB from Georgia
Mikel Leshoure RB from Illinois

Not sure where they'd be interested in drafting either guy (I doubt it would be at 17, but 28/33/60 could all be in play).

Take this FWIW, but I figured I'd pass it along.

Probably nothing there, but I thought I'd share anyway.

 

[zimmy]

I don't doubt that the Pats are looking at trading up. They are probably looking at trading down too. It all depends how the board falls.

The top 6-7 is probably already set (Newton, Gabbert, Dareus, Miller, Peterson, Green, Quinn) so if we trade up to 9 it could only really be for a few prospects - Jones and Amukamara seem logical as these are two that definitely will not fall to 17 and we would have to leapfrog St Louis, Houston etc to get to them. I guess one of the DEs could be in play too if they have a much higher grade on say Watt over a number of others.

Belichick and Jon Robinson have said in the past week that this is a really deep class for Defensive and Offensive lineman so they probably feel they can get good value at those positions outside the 1st round.

Maybe all this Ingram stuff has been a smokescreen and actually the Alabama prospect they want is Jones

 

[VJCPatriot]

Pats interested in Julio Jones? Now I think that's the ultimate Smokescreen! The Pats are probably judging how much it would take to get up to 9 in case a stud like Dareus somehow falls through the cracks. I very much doubt they are after Jones though.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

Pats interested in Julio Jones? Now I think that's the ultimate Smokescreen! The Pats are probably judging how much it would take to get up to 9 in case a stud like Dareus somehow falls through the cracks. I very much doubt they are after Jones though.

or peterson. you know bb loves his db's.

 

[mgteich]

Trading up for Jones has always made sense. We have discussed this several times. The Cowboys and the Redskins are obvious trade partners (with cost being 17 plus 60 plus either 92 or 125).

It also makes sense to trade up for the one front seven defender that Belichick really wants, if there is such a player. Some have suggested Quinn, some Watt, some Jordan. I'm sure that some have suggested Bowers.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Seems a little far fetched to me. If there were any truth to it though I couldn't argue with a player like Julio Jones. Great college numbers, courageous combine with fantastic results. Not our true need but a good bet to be a impact player. Not our main need though and I'm pretty confident he won't be the pick.

 

[MDHQ]

Watkins makes a lot of sense, he fits the Patriots character mold, and will give them a cushion in moving Mankins if they choose to continue that route

 

[NEPats1]

FWIW, it seems Schefter confirms the rumors in the OP:

AdamSchefter Adam Schefter
Pats, Eagles amongst teams open to trading UP in draft. But right player has to be there and won't know that until draft night.

Twitter

 

[mgteich]

So the question becomes who the patriots are interested in. #9 and #10 seem to be the appropriate targets.

 

[Patriot Missile]

So the question becomes who the patriots are interested in. #9 and #10 seem to be the appropriate targets.

It's a tough call if it were true. One of the only players in almost every scenario that won't be there at 17 is Julio Jones. Most of the top 10 are locks to not move. Ofcourse they could be just setting up partners just in case an unthinkable drop happened again. TSN latest mock has DT Wilfork moving way up. - Arizona Sports Fans Network

I would be dissapointed with Jordan,Watt,A Smith,Wilkerson and Kerrigan with a trade up that high. They are considered good players who could be impact. But to trade up for one of them all the way to 9 or 10 is not letting the draft unfold to you. You are losing a good pick in the process and one of those guys would of fell to you anyways.

 

[BTTA]

Seems a little far fetched to me. If there were any truth to it though I couldn't argue with a player like Julio Jones. Great college numbers, courageous combine with fantastic results. Not our true need but a good bet to be a impact player. Not our main need though and I'm pretty confident he won't be the pick.

Given that we lost our playoff game to a team that has a defensive scheme we can't solve with our current athletes, and that we will have solve that team at least twice a year forever, then one could make the case that having a WR like Jones could in fact be our #1 need. Particularly given that the draft is very deep for the two lines this year and we could get those needs met in the third through fifth.

 

[TriplecHamp]

I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas, what presents will BB bring us this year?

 

[Potstickas]

Would love to have Jones... The WR corp needs a stud, it lookes deep only because Brady got in the zone after the cleveland game and started guided missles at everyone.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Given that we lost our playoff game to a team that has a defensive scheme we can't solve with our current athletes, and that we will have solve that team at least twice a year forever, then one could make the case that having a WR like Jones could in fact be our #1 need. Particularly given that the draft is very deep for the two lines this year and we could get those needs met in the third through fifth.

I'm not going to go down this road again. We lost for a lot of reasons. Bottom line is the team didn't execute. Our QB and offensive line had their worst day of the season. More so our QB. We didn't apply the pressure neccesary to win the game. And oh yeah, our wr's were blanketed. So go ahead and take your pick. If you want to start at WR be my guest. Dropped pass by Crumpler=check. Bad fake handle by Chung=check. Fumble by Woodhead=check. We didn't touch Sanchez. We didn't hurry Sanchez. Take away the turnovers which are very out of character and give us a pass rush and we beat the crap out of that team every time.

Noone had any problem with the WR's when they gave the Jets the beatdown of the century a few weeks earlier. But according to you our offense can't solve the Jets. We could of went up 14-3 in that game and had them on their heels but execution was the main factor. Btw Julio Jones is an excellent pick. I just think we need to build differently. Trenches always come first imo. To each his own.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

The offensive situation goes back to the AFCC game we lost to Colts 5yrs ago. The Pats have lost several tight games because the D couldn't hold up when the offense went in the tank and couldn't convert some crucial 3rd downs/TDs. That means the D needs to be better yes, but just as BB obviously realized when he obtained Moss and Welker, the O needs to be able to dominate in big games. And that doesn't have to mean scoring 45pts. It means looking at 3rd and 4, 3rd and 3, etc., in crunch time and just getting it done. No panic, no major sweat, we can get what we need when we need it. Moss didn't bring that like BB thought he would and that was the biggest reason he's gone.

Julio Jones - a hard working, football loving, no-one-is-going-to-stop-me power stud with a good clean personality - would change the Pats for better as much as ANY player they could draft this year. I'm all for them moving up.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I really, really like Julio Jones. I think he makes our offense virtually unstoppable. I mean, pick your poison, Branch, Welker, and then 6'4" Julio Jones, 6'6" Gronkowski, and hopefully a healthy Hernandez, with Woodhead coming out of the backfield. Sheesh, that would be insane. That being said, I'd bet almost any amount of money that Belichick does not trade up for Jones. But man, Jones would be like a Larry Fitzgerald in this offense. I personally would be thrilled. Jones is one of my favorites in this draft.

 

[MaineMan]

Another way to look at this is to try to figure out what other team(s) might react to rumours about the Pats being interested enough in Jones to consider a large trade up. Perhaps a team whose top three WRs are all FA, the best of whom is almost certainly gone? A team that might also be looking for similar defensive players and that has plenty of ammo to make a huge trade up?

 

[NEPats1]

I really, really like Julio Jones. I think he makes our offense virtually unstoppable. I mean, pick your poison, Branch, Welker, and then 6'4" Julio Jones, 6'6" Gronkowski, and hopefully a healthy Hernandez, with Woodhead coming out of the backfield. Sheesh, that would be insane. That being said, I'd bet almost any amount of money that Belichick does not trade up for Jones. But man, Jones would be like a Larry Fitzgerald in this offense. I personally would be thrilled. Jones is one of my favorites in this draft.

If you loved Jones before, read this:

AdamSchefter Adam Schefter
@Strong words from @MelKiperESPN on Julio Jones in this year's draft guide: "Jones is the best blocking wide receiver I have ever graded."

and

But he's also a very, very good blocker, and if you're gonna run the ball, . . . you're gonna have to have a wide receiver that's gonna block.''


Ohio.com - Julio Jones closes gap as top wide receiver in 2011 NFL Draft

He sounds like he'd fit perfectly here!

 

[Sciz]

Food for thought:
Trade up into the top 10 for Julio, take Ingram at 28. That gives the Pats a deadly 2TE/2WR/1RB combo, with 4 very good blockers and 5 very good receivers.

 

[Triumph]

or peterson. you know bb loves his db's.

No more Butler