Patriot's first 4 picks

[Bill B.]

This is the third year in a row that the Patriots have 4 picks in the first 2 rounds. This is what I would like to see the Patriots do. Not really a mock, more of a wish list:

17- JJ Watt, DE. He would be a perfect fit for the Patriots. He rushes the passer well and is stout against the run. Also a good character guy.

28- Nate Solder, T. Time to find Light's replacement. This guy is huge. I could see him and Vollmer as huge bookends on the O-line.

33- Akeem Ayers, OLB. Very physical player, good in pass coverage. Projected as a high first, early second round pick. If he is available at 33, I can see BB drafting him.

60- Mike Leshoure, RB or Ryan Williams, RB. Not sure if LeShoure will be available at 60. I don't think any RB other than Ingram will be drafted in the first round. BB may have to move up a little to get him. If he is gone, then Williams would be a good alternative. Both are good inside runners that would help in BB's running back by commitee approach.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Where is the guard in this list? I suspect that Watkins or Pouncey could be on the Patriots radar...safety or CB/Safety is probably a priority also...

 

[carolinatony]

Here's my wish list but its only 3 picks.

Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri
Tyron Smith, OL, USC
Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

 

[Sciz]

33- Akeem Ayers, OLB. Very physical player, good in pass coverage. Projected as a high first, early second round pick. If he is available at 33, I can see BB drafting him.

There's a reason I've seen him called (and completely agree with) a pile watcher. It's not because he's "very physical."

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

There's a reason I've seen him called (and completely agree with) a pile watcher. It's not because he's "very physical."

Ayers excels at Pass Rush which is what we need

I think Ayers will have a better career than Watt as a pro defensive player who I see is your binky

 

[Sciz]

Ayers excels at Pass Rush which is what we need

I think Ayers will have a better career than Watt as a pro defensive player who I see is your binky

Ayers can't shed blocks and doesn't have anything as far as pass rush moves other than the speed rush. That's not excelling.

 

[ZoisKing]

Ayers excels at pass rush?

I thought April 1st was April Fools Day.

 

[manxman2601]

Here's my wish list but its only 3 picks.

Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri
Tyron Smith, OL, USC
Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina

You could have at least gone for Jimmy Smith with your third choice.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Mock Draft's maybe fun but I don't think they make much sense.

Instead I'd like to try an "Unmock Draft" outlining the way I suspect and do think the Patriots and the mind of Belichick works, and players he would be considering. I think he favors Defensive linemen as primary needs for a great Defense. BB has said "... there are only so many agile, 300 # linemen..." BB expects to draft smart Senior leaders, as LOT candidates in Round two, ". ..you draft Left Tackles and fill in elsewhere..." and move them as required elsewhere on the line. He believes under the CAP, you can't afford enough, by going with Blue Chip OL players.

I think he creates a group of players with whom he would be comfortable near his Draft positions. As the draft proceeds near his pick, BB selects from who is available, or positionally trades up, or out. If he has selected a position, that removes from consideration that position in a subsequent pick. If a player from a draft position falls, he an an automatic primary candidate in the next pick grouping, and may be a trade up possibility.

However, I do expect two early selections from DE-->> OLB conversion candidates, as there are two openings on the roster for those players, while success is problematical, and Belichick expects failures, and two+ years of seasoning. That is why he won't draft higher for them.

First round (#17) in order of interest:

Cameron Jordon, Mo Wilkerson, JJ Watt, Anthony Costonzo, and Ryan Kerrigan are his favorite likely available players overall, while Quinn and Dareus are unreachable.

First round (#28) in order of interest. All sliders from #17 grouping, and Cameron Heyward, Nate Solder, Jabaal Sheard, Kyle Brooks.

Second round (#33) in order of interest:
All sliders and James Carpenter, Mikel Leshore or Mark Ingram.

Second Round (#60) in order of interest: All sliders plus raw Colin Kaepernick, (40 Wonderlic, 6'5" and 1000 rushing and 2000 yds passing, every season) and Greg Romeus (w favorable Dr. opinion)

Third Round (#74) in order of interest: All sliders plus RB (perhaps Derrick Locke or Kendall Hunter or WR (???) candidate, and Curtis Brown CB.

Third Round (#90) in order of interest: All sliders plus Brandon Fusco, Greg McElroy and Greg Romeus (w unfav Dr. opinion)

I expect Greg Romeus to be a draft pick, as he has ideal size, 6'5" 270#s 4.6 ish 40, and needs a red-shirt year due to surgery. A potential 1st round pick if healthy, so this is a way to invest a draft pick for a higher reward a year later. It's like trading out for a 2012 pick, but you can begin the DE--> OLB transition, even while injured, saving a year of seasoning.

 

[Joe from Oklahoma]

My hopes for picks 17, 28 & 33:

I hope we get 2 of the following for the first 2 picks and trade pick 33 to a
lousy team (the Panthers again?) for a 1st rounder next year:

One OL: Castonzo, Tyron Smith or Pouncey

One DL: Jordan, Watt, Heyward or Wilkerson

I'd love a pass rusher, but I'm scared of converting a college DE into an NFL
OLB. A quote I read in a draft preview: The toughest thing to project is
converting a college DE into an NFL OLB. That quote was by Belichick, himself.

 

[Joe from Oklahoma]

Quote from draft preview I read a couple of years ago: "The hardest thing to
project in the draft is converting a college DE into an NFL OLB." That quote
was from Belichick, himself.

Multiple worries about Robert Quinn:

1. He was suspended (judgment?)
2. He was suspended (hasn't played since '09)
3. Conversion from college DE to NFL OLB
4. Benign brain tumor (benign, yes, but have you ever heard of anyone with a
brain tumor being completely health for the next 10 years?)
5. Would cost us a lot to move up high enough
6. Would cost us a lot of $

 

[Joe from Oklahoma]

I'm thrilled with Danny Watkins's talent and attitude. I'm not thrilled at all
with his age (he's already 26).

So, we'd lose 3 to 4 years of his career before he even plays his first NFL
snap!

 

[mgteich]

I am fine with having a player from age 27-30 instead of 23-26.

I don't think that we lose anything at all.

I'm thrilled with Danny Watkins's talent and attitude. I'm not thrilled at all
with his age (he's already 26).

So, we'd lose 3 to 4 years of his career before he even plays his first NFL
snap!

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I'm thrilled with Danny Watkins's talent and attitude. I'm not thrilled at all
with his age (he's already 26).

So, we'd lose 3 to 4 years of his career before he even plays his first NFL
snap!

His age doesn't phase me, it's the idea of drafting him late first/early second, he's a late second at best value.

 

[townes]

I have had a b.tch of a time wrapping my head around this draft but i'll take a shot here on four picks.

#17-J.J. Watt-I don't see Cameron Jordan filling a 3-4 End role because of size and don't think he can play in space well enough to move outside. I like Kerrigan but want more of a pass rusher, and Watt is the player who imo has the size, athleticism, and work ethic to turn into a really really good 3-4 end. Seymour was 6-6 295 coming out and that's where watt is at. Belcihikj wants his Ends to be at least 6-4 and those shorter tend to be role players like Jarvis Green.


#28-Derrek Sherrod- The OL is a major need and Sherrod could start opn day one and has the ability to move outisde if needed. Watkins is simply too old to use a first round pick on imo, and Sherrod has more athleticism and upside.

#33- trade down but stay inside 40. Take Brooks Reed OLB Arizona-Reed may or may not turn out to be a really good NFL player but they have to take risks at some point and if he does then his speed would really force opposing offenses to take notice and would help their defense in a variety of ways.

#60-trade up using the pick they gained trading out of #33 and take titus Young WR Boise St. I don't think Young's personality will be a problem in NE and he gives them a DeShean Jackson presence outside that forces teams to respect the patriots vertical game and opens up the underneath for all of their shorter game WR's. young and Price could combine to give the Patriots a good deep game and Brady will only get better with more field to work with.


I'll stop there but that would be my basic wish list. They can address RB and more depth at OL in upcoming picks but this would address DE. pass rushing OLB, OL, and a deep threat, which for me would be a great draft. You can't have everything but they have the ability to seriosuly address at least 4 major needs and this is how i would try to do that.

 

[townes]

His age doesn't phase me, it's the idea of drafting him late first/early second, he's a late second at best value.

His age is a consideration to me but i basically agree.

 

[stinkypete]

I'm thrilled with Danny Watkins's talent and attitude. I'm not thrilled at all
with his age (he's already 26).

So, we'd lose 3 to 4 years of his career before he even plays his first NFL
snap!

I don't see the concern over Watkins' age. If he's drafted, he plays out his rookie deal, gets franchised a year, then walks.

Who cares if the cycle starts at age 22 or age 26.

 

[BTTA]

I don't want to pick in the first round of this draft at all. The reviews of the players just don't justify it. I'd rather have seven second and third round picks and add a second for next year.

 

[sbpatfan]

If Danny Watkins can play, right now, at a starting level even with potentially no to little off season, he'd be a good pick up. If not, screw it. I'd rather just see them trade the pick. But part of the equation depends on Mankins, and we have no idea how that will work out.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

If Danny Watkins can play, right now, at a starting level even with potentially no to little off season, he'd be a good pick up. If not, screw it. I'd rather just see them trade the pick. But part of the equation depends on Mankins, and we have no idea how that will work out.

No doubt in my mind that Watkins can start in Neal's spot from day 1, but he does need to get stronger.