If Kyle Rudolph is the best player on the board available at #33....

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Do you have a problem with the team drafting him there?

Not in terms of need for us,but maybe the best player at that time of selection if we keep the pick.

I think we wait another season to grab a 3rd TE once Crumpler retires which I think will be the case in 2012 but if Rudolph who is by far the best TE of this years group is there,I am not sure BB won't pull the trigger on a position of TE which we all know he has hard-ons for.

 

[letekro]

Do you have a problem with the team drafting him there?

Not in terms of need for us,but maybe the best player at that time of selection if we keep the pick.

I think we wait another season to grab a 3rd TE once Crumpler retires which I think will be the case in 2012 but if Rudolph who is by far the best TE of this years group is there,I am not sure BB won't pull the trigger on a position of TE which we all know he has hard-ons for.

Of course I would have a problem with that....you don't need 3 elite TEs when you have other holes. Need ALWAYS factors into the BPA analysis.

 

[Off The Grid]

Do you have a problem with the team drafting him there?

Not in terms of need for us,but maybe the best player at that time of selection if we keep the pick.

I think we wait another season to grab a 3rd TE once Crumpler retires which I think will be the case in 2012 but if Rudolph who is by far the best TE of this years group is there,I am not sure BB won't pull the trigger on a position of TE which we all know he has hard-ons for.

I would much prefer we grab "Lieutenant" Lance Kendricks and "Air" Jordan Cameron in the 3rd and 4th rounds, spending a portion of the Picks we GOUGE out of whichever team is foolish enough to pay us a King's Ransom for #33 so that they can draft whichever QB they've got a Jones for.




...But it wouldn't break my heart.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Of course I would have a problem with that....you don't need 3 elite TEs when you have other holes. Need ALWAYS factors into the BPA analysis.

I said something to this effect before with respect to QBs: if the Pats can meet their key needs, and still have a high pick left over to draft a luxury player, I don't see a problem with that.

I wouldn't take him higher than GRONK, but I'd consider him if he fell into the 40s.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Rudolph is a very good player who may slid due to his injury last year. I don't think he makes it past the Falcons at 27, but I could be wrong. I fully expect #33 to be traded away for a bump down and another pick next year, but if the Pats do go DE, OLB, OL AND THEN Rudolph is still ob the board at say 50 and the Pats are on the clock, he might be too goo to pass up. I have a hard time seeing how you could get all three TE on the field, but I'm sure BB would think of something, it would make for a great goaline offense if nothing else.

 

[dryheat44]

Um...no. Kyle Rudolph is in no way, shape, or form, a blocking TE. Why in the world would we use #33 to draft him? He can't fill Crumpler's role. Better to draft guys very late or sign as PFAs who are blocking TEs: Andre Smith out of VT or maybe one of the many lightweight OTs that have TE experience.

 

[BelichickFan]

Rudolph is my pick at #33 although I realize it's unlikely.

I'll admit it's partly because my list is based on players I want on the team (thus Ingram at #28) and not just need/value. But it also works for me. Crumpler is likely gone after this year and Hernandez is good at what he does but more of a usable part as a move TE than a true TE. Rudolph would not just insure a true TE if Gronk ever got hurt but would give us a killer two TE package long term and we use that package a lot.

Do I think it will happen ? Absolutely not. But I'd be happy if it did. Other holes ? Plenty of picks to fill those.

My Pats mock from 3 days ago :

1a) C. Jordan
1b) M. Ingram
2a) K. Rudolph
2b) A. Bailey
3a) C. Boling
3b) W. Rackley
4) G. Romeus

I flipped 3a and 3b after feedback that Boling likely wouldn't make it to 3b. I also realize we probably won't get Jordan at 1a. In that case I'd trade it down, take Heyward later in the first and add a 2012 pick.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I said something to this effect before with respect to QBs: if the Pats can meet their key needs, and still have a high pick left over to draft a luxury player, I don't see a problem with that.

I wouldn't take him higher than GRONK, but I'd consider him if he fell into the 40s.

Its like we share the same brain...............

 

[BelichickFan]

Um...no. Kyle Rudolph is in no way, shape, or form, a blocking TE.

The consensus on Path to the Draft is that Rudolph has the skillset to be a good blocker and I have little doubt he'd put forth the effort. Others may disagree but what Mayock/Casserly/Lombardi say means something to me.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The Charlie Weis effect could play a role perhaps if we select him there??

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Its like we share the same brain...............

You speak German with a Texas drawl too?

 

[dryheat44]

The consensus on Path to the Draft is that Rudolph has the skillset to be a good blocker and I have little doubt he'd put forth the effort. Others may disagree but what Mayock/Casserly/Lombardi say means something to me.

Well, I'll give you Mayock....

 

[SeanBruschi54]

I would not mind at all.

I think he's a great addition to Gronk and Hernandez

 

[BelichickFan]

Well, I'll give you Mayock....

I know the history with Casserly and Belichick but it makes me laugh that anyone here thinks they know more than Casserly. Maybe they do - but it's highly, highly unlikely.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Rudolph certainly wont make anyone forget Dave Casper from the Irish but he may be a decent player.

 

[Bigfatcat999]

I would like to see the Pats pick up one developmental TE. A guy who will need time behind Gronk and Hernandez. Just a big blocking TE who will soon replace Crumpler.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

I know the history with Casserly and Belichick but it makes me laugh that anyone here thinks they know more than Casserly. Maybe they do - but it's highly, highly unlikely.

Everyday, Casserly gets to crow a little more for picking Mario Williams ahead of Vince Young and Reggie Bush, at the time he was getting killed for it, and once VY won ROY it pretty much costs him his job, but in the long run (too bad for him, he was fired before the long run came about) he was right.

I will admit, I give him much more creedance these days, although I'm not sure if BB does.

 

[BelichickFan]

I will admit, I give him much more creedance these days, although I'm not sure if BB does.

I love Bill as much as the next guy but he's just irritated that Casserly said on TV (I saw it) that the Packers reported the Patriots about illegal filming and Bill was dumb enough to not stop once he knew he'd been caught a year before it all blew up. It wasn't Casserly's fault "it is what it is".

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Casserly:

"Saffold last year was a better prospect than any lineman in this draft"

Thats a ******ed statement.

I DO NOT like good time Charlie.

 

[dryheat44]

I know the history with Casserly and Belichick but it makes me laugh that anyone here thinks they know more than Casserly. Maybe they do - but it's highly, highly unlikely.

I can watch TV and see that the guy can't block. He has no interest in it. Could he be taught/coerced? Maybe.

Let's assume he can be at least achieve average TE run blocking ability.

Is it a good idea to spend the #33 pick in the draft on what will be your third TE? A guy who might get five snaps + special teams a game ... if he even cracks the gameday 46? When both of our TEs are FIAP as young as he is, and have contracts that run concurrent? When we have needs along both lines, linebacker, RB, WR?

Besides K, P, and LS, I can't think of a bigger misuse of an early pick than on TE. Even quarterback makes more sense.