So what do the Pats NOT draft in 2012??

[Water Boy]

On Offense, I would say an interior Offensive lineman, and Center...Koppen is the remaining oldster on the O-Line, and will probably need replacing.

I wish Cannon was a Center. With the number of 3-4 defenses in the league, it would be nice to have a mammoth guy to handle 3-4 NTs.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

BB won't even consider a DB or TE

That looks almost identical to a dozen or so posts I saw before this draft

I'm curious about the depth of the 2012 draft, as I'm fairly new to the draft sub-forum. It seemed like BB had a few targets here and there but really seemed to want to look to the future. The deal at #28 was great value, but the way he was working the phones for #33 to include a 2012 2nd, and the 3rd/4th trade to the Raiders for next year's #2 makes me think it could be a much better draft.

 

[sg14]

I guess drafting the #2 OG in the draft does not count.

Anybody consider the drafting of Cannon to be pure luck, (hopefully it's luck for all parties involved)??

I am sure they had their own rating, but how would they know he would last till the fifth round. So this was one of those "Hey, that guy is still on the board" type picks.

So no telling who they would have drafted if Cannon was not there.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I wish Cannon was a Center. With the number of 3-4 defenses in the league, it would be nice to have a mammoth guy to handle 3-4 NTs.

That is why I think BB will invest in a Center in the first two rounds. He h wants a big guy to dance with the spread of the 3-4 and mammoth Nose Tackles. Center candidates 6-5 Mike Brewer OSU, and 6-5 Peter Konz UW look like just what the doctor ordered in 2012...

 

[NewFeep]

it's tough to project to next year's draft until we see what the team looks like after Free Agency, but for the moment a center would look to be a pretty big need. Kppoen has been a great pro but he's getting pushed around pretty good these days.

Safety and WR maybe.......

Lord knows we are stacked out OLB!

 

[DaBruinz]

"What position will they not draft next year"

I feel like it's almost impossible to rule any position out. ILB and OT would be unlikely (and CB). But other positions I feel like there's always a chance that depends on value. Could they take a Safety? I don't see it, but if Meriweather leaves and it's just Sanders and Chung and if Sanders' contract is ending shortly, then they might feel that drafting a safety is fair game. Interior O-Line makes sense in drafting someone to succeed Koppen. With TE, if Crumpler is gone and Lee Smith doesn't work out as well, then they could conceivably draft someone which would continue BB's old obsession with drafting TE's. OLB is always possible. ILB we have good young players, and BB doesn't usually go after linebackers anyway. WR is a possibility (even though we haven't faired that well in drafting them). RB is possible, but less of a need than other positions. The DL is fair game, particularly at NT where we still don't have a quality back-up. Drafting a DL will depend on how Brace, Deaderick, and others work out. QB - Surely they won't take a qb...

These things will depend on how the new CBA shakes out. Maybe there will be no franchise tag, or maybe it takes fewer years to accrue for free agency.

While there is a lot that will happen between now and next year, I have to say that ruling out safety is just silly.

Meriwether and Sanders are both UFA after the season. Page, if he signs his tender, would become a UFA as well. Sergio Brown will be an RFA unless they change the rules. So that would leave the Pats with Chung and possilby Ras-I Dowling, if the rumors are true that the Pats plan to move Dowling to safety.

I wouldn't rule out cornerback as Wilhite will be a UFA and need to be replaced. Especially if Dowling has moved to safety.

WR will be a place where they'll look for someone to develop since both Welker and Branch will be UFA. And it remains to be seen what Price, Tate and Edelman are truly capable of.

I don't see RB next year since the Pats just drafted 2 and still have Woodhead.

I think a starting RDE will definitely be on the agenda unless Brace steps up the way the Pats hope. But I would expect a NT unless Kade Weston works out there.

OLB - With Cunningham and Ninkovich, I think the Pats have two guys they can rely on. But they definitely need more depth there. Especially since Eric Moore is only a short-term solution and TBC didn't do as well as hope.