Bedard's pre draft theory: This is the 2013 Draft

[MoLewisrocks]

Will be interesting (some will say maddening) to see if he is on to something. His final mock had us taking a CB (Trumaine Johnson) at 27 if we don't even trade out there and TE Fleener (actually to Colts in a trade there).

He is citing all the FA signings to fill holes this off season vs. the 34 players signed for 2013 (including some entering their final year in 2013). Thinks we are looking for depth for the future at CB (he believes McCourty will be converted to S), WR, OL, interior DL (thinks Carter will still be back) and won't like any of the value much at the end of the first.

Tape your TV controllers to the coffee table night approaches...

They have holes to fill - a year from now - The Boston Globe

 

[Uncle Rico]

One of Bedard's colleagues nicknamed him "the wet blanket of reason" and I think that's a suitable nickname. Hard to argue with his thinking. Good column (I posted about it in the draft forum) earlier today).

I don't see Belichick making a big trade up, like some folks anticipate ... that whole thing about not falling in love with an individual player, plus, you know, maintaining a winning program over the longterm. Bedard's scenario of dropping down and getting more guys to build around seems more Belichick-like. I did think Bedard's comments on possibly choosing a receiver were interesting:

Don’t be surprised if the Patriots make a play for Kendall Wright (Baylor), whom they worked out this week, Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech), or Rueben Randle (LSU). But the pressure would be off this season. The Patriots need them in 2013.

I think it'll be fun to watch the draft unfold and see where some of these players go, what some division rivals do. But I won't be anticipating any big Patriots splash. (On the plus side, it's nice to root for a team whose biggest night of the year isn't draft night!)

 

[Rob0729]

I would be pretty surprised if the Pats draft a CB and a TE in the first round. I don't know how they keep Fleener on the roster. I can't see the Pats carrying four TEs.

 

[Rob0729]

One of Bedard's colleagues nicknamed him "the wet blanket of reason" and I think that's a suitable nickname. Hard to argue with his thinking. Good column (I posted about it in the draft forum) earlier today).

I don't see Belichick making a big trade up, like some folks anticipate ... that whole thing about not falling in love with an individual player, plus, you know, maintaining a winning program over the longterm. Bedard's scenario of dropping down and getting more guys to build around seems more Belichick-like. I did think Bedard's comments on possibly choosing a receiver were interesting:



I think it'll be fun to watch the draft unfold and see where some of these players go, what some division rivals do. But I won't be anticipating any big Patriots splash. (On the plus side, it's nice to root for a team whose biggest night of the year isn't draft night!)

I hope to God that the Pats don't draft Stephen Hill. Arguably one of the most overrated players in this draft and there are a lot of overrated players this year.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I hope to God that the Pats don't draft Stephen Hill. Arguably one of the most overrated players in this draft and there are a lot of overrated players this year.

That settles it...Now Stephen Hill will end up a 2 time MVP and 4 time pro bowler

 

[Gronkandez]

I would be pretty surprised if the Pats draft a CB and a TE in the first round. I don't know how they keep Fleener on the roster. I can't see the Pats carrying four TEs.

He's not saying the Patriots will draft Fleener. He's saying they will trade the pick to someone who will take him.

I personally don't like his reasoning on the draft. If anything, IMO, all the FA signings allow them the luxury of trading up. I don't see them drafting for depth/quantity.

 

[Uncle Rico]

I would be pretty surprised if the Pats draft a CB and a TE in the first round. I don't know how they keep Fleener on the roster. I can't see the Pats carrying four TEs.

Bedard has the Colts taking Fleener at 31 after a trade. Here's the actual mock.

 

[ATippett56]

That settles it...Now Stephen Hill will end up a 2 time MVP and 4 time pro bowler

More like the second coming of Bethel Johnson.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I would be pretty surprised if the Pats draft a CB and a TE in the first round. I don't know how they keep Fleener on the roster. I can't see the Pats carrying four TEs.

The Fleener pick is actually a trade down with the Colts. They probably would love to land Fleener if he's still available at the end of the first, but if he is he might also be there at the beginning of the 2nd (although the Rams pick first in that round and are looking for more picks and someone else could always talk the Giants out of 32 in the interim if they're targeting him). But the Colts are so screwed on defense transitioning to a 3-4 and seemingly unable to flip Freeney for the kind of bounty they'd envisioned (King says they'd still like to but the trade market is depressed as Asante's trade just underscored and he had to take a big haircut which Freeney likely won't agree to) so they'd likely prefer to have more picks.

This is another odd draft where there are reportedly a half dozen top tier picks and then a lot (75 according to King) of borderline somewhat fungible first to second round selections depending on whether you're targeting BPA or need at a specific position or some combination thereof. He says a lot of teams have only 18-24 first round grades on their boards... So that is the kind of draft Bill tends to look to trade back out of the first in altogether unless one of them is falling to him. He's traded down 5 times and up only once in the first.

 

[Rob0729]

He's not saying the Patriots will draft Fleener. He's saying they will trade the pick to someone who will take him.

I personally don't like his reasoning on the draft. If anything, IMO, all the FA signings allow them the luxury of trading up. I don't see them drafting for depth/quantity.

Sorry, my bad. I should have read his article more closely.

 

[Peachhead]

If the Pats are looking for a WR, with more of a mind toward 2013 then the perfect guy for them is Ryan Broyles, Okla. In the late 2nd or 3rd. He's coming off an acl tear. So he should be there. He should be good to go for limited duty by training camp, and even better next year. He's been ridiculously productive in his college career. Give him a year to get fully healthy and watch out!

 

[PATSNUTme]

It seem that every writer or pundit has their own theory as to what the Patriots will do tonight. I read and listened to way too many of them and I don't think any of them have it right.

I have my own theory which will be just as wrong as the media guys.

I'll be starting draft threads a few hours before the draft and then we can all give our theories.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

It is national NFL disinformation day but LaCanfora also is hinting at the Pats targeting a CB, although his is with the pick they trade 31 back into the second for.

Surprise corner for Patriots?

Like others, I expect New England to trade one of its two first-round picks. If they stay at No. 31, though, they have done a lot of work on corners. It would be a surprise, but I continue to hear strong reports on Vandy corner Casey Hayward. New England did a lot of work on him. If New England does deal with Cleveland, and move back atop the second round, then Howard may be in play there as well.

Supposedly NE did a lot of work, and late work on some WR targets. But sometimes the late work is related to potential trade partners and whom they might be targeting and other times just some intel on rumored potential targets of division rivals.

 

[DefenseRules]

Meh, I'm taking the same approach with this draft as I did with free agency. I have no expectations, or binkies in this one. That way when they continuously trade down, I will stay calm. But I will throw something at my tv if they draft another damn tightend.

 

[ATippett56]

Will be interesting (some will say maddening) to see if he is on to something. His final mock had us taking a CB (Trumaine Johnson) at 27 if we don't even trade out there and TE Fleener (actually to Colts in a trade there).

Greg Bedard is an idiot. One of the most worthless articles written during the entire 2012 NFL Pre-Draft process.

NFL Draft - 2012 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Trumaine Johnson does not even warrant a second round grade. Jamell Fleming is a much better cornerback prospect, as a second round draft selection, than Trumaine Johnson and without the baggage.

Trumaine Johnson, Montana, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Johnson had some off field concerns, including missing games for eligibility problems and an arrest last October when police were called to a late-night party and tased Johnson before taking him into custody.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Meh, I'm taking the same approach with this draft as I did with free agency. I have no expectations, or binkies in this one. That way when they continuously trade down, I will stay calm. But I will throw something at my tv if they draft another damn tightend.

LOL Given your temperement, you must be on a valium drip...

They won't draft a TE, but they may find a team who wants the highest rated one is one of their potential trading partners. The other may be Cleveland trying to trade back into the end of the first for a mature rookie QB... If they do pick the concensus picks seem to be McClellin and Harrison. I could live with that. So it probably has no shot of happening...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Greg Bedard is an idiot. One of the most worthless articles written during the entire 2012 NFL Pre-Draft process.

NFL Draft - 2012 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Trumaine Johnson does not even warrant a second round grade. Jamell Fleming is a much better cornerback prospect, as a second round draft selection, than Trumaine Johnson and without the baggage.

Trumaine Johnson, Montana, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Some folks are claiming we're a no brainer landing spot for Jenkins... The BB Rehab Unit. And Johnson is showing up late on in a lot of first round mocks. Who knows, it is as I said national disinformation day. I think Bedard has developed some sources, just not sure they are within the building. He's basing some of his theory on things Jonathan and Caserio have said about the business of building roster depth and how it hurt them last year not to have enough.

 

[BradyManny]

Will be interesting (some will say maddening) to see if he is on to something. His final mock had us taking a CB (Trumaine Johnson) at 27 if we don't even trade out there and TE Fleener (actually to Colts in a trade there).

Sound analysis by Bedard.

Is it ideal that this is what will transpire? Maybe in an ideal world there are players that can step in and contribute now, but that seems unlikely. I see a few nickel CBs that would be immediate contributors, but other than corner, I don't see a lot of potential draftees that will pay dividends in 2012.

 

[Ring 6]

Will be interesting (some will say maddening) to see if he is on to something. His final mock had us taking a CB (Trumaine Johnson) at 27 if we don't even trade out there and TE Fleener (actually to Colts in a trade there).

He is citing all the FA signings to fill holes this off season vs. the 34 players signed for 2013 (including some entering their final year in 2013). Thinks we are looking for depth for the future at CB (he believes McCourty will be converted to S), WR, OL, interior DL (thinks Carter will still be back) and won't like any of the value much at the end of the first.

Tape your TV controllers to the coffee table night approaches...

They have holes to fill - a year from now - The Boston Globe

Not Bedards best article. Quite a few errors, particularly stating that Light was under contract with a handshake agreement to retire when Solder was drafted, when in fact he was a FA looking around, and that Dowling didn't become a stater until Bodden was injured and released when in fact Dowling started week 1 and was on IR before Bodden was released.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

This is why BB will trade out of the first round tonight.