Manti Te'o, would the Pats draft him at #29 ?

[TruthSeeker]

Mods, please don't put this in the draft board. This thread has as much to do about Te'o as it does about our current ILB's.

What is everyone's thoughts on Te'o ? Don't get me wrong, I love our current crop of ILB/MLB, but, none of them have the overall package of talent that Te'o has. He's big enough to be a Pat's ILB/MLB 6'2" 255. He has more speed than Highsmith or Spikes, so he can cover TE's (Highsmith and Spikes, not good at that), he had 7 INTS last year, so obviously he has good hands and is always around the ball. The prior season he had 5 sacks, so he can get to the QB like Highsmith.

So what do you all think ? Would you take a shot at Manti Te'o at #29, IF he was there ? With Spikes contract up after this year, I would. He could turn out to be a great ILB/MLB.

 

[JackBauer]

If that transpired, I would begin to question BB's sanity.

 

[Deus Irae]

 

[patsinthesnow]

I wouldn't draft him at 59 or 91 let alone 29.

 

[Marqui]

Is their anything the Pats need less than another big slow linebacker?

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

We collect tight ends, not middle linebackers/ inside linebackers. Some say the cupboard's overfilled already if you think that the best position for Spikes, Hightower, and Mayo is MLB/ILB

 

[signbabybrady]

I got to be honest I dont know exactly where he would have originally been slotted (thought it was a high first rounder) to go but given what transpired I find it hard to believe any team giving up a first rounder for him or even a second rounder.

I think once you get past the second round though he will become more intriguing. Not sure if I would want the Pats to take the gamble though as I think most players will not have much respect for him and I dont think the gamble of what that could do to our lockeroom is worth it. A team on the bottom looking up it could be worth the gamble but I suppose you could flip script and suggest only a lockeroom strong like the Patriots and few others could handle it.

 

[n1e]

still trying to figure out who Highsmith is on the Pats roster

 

[signbabybrady]

still trying to figure out who Highsmith is on the Pats roster

I think it is a combination of Hightower and the man who played him Bubba Smith...Highsmith.

 

[randomk1]

That guy couldn't tell if his GF was real.

No way do i want him making reads against NFL offenses.

heh

 

[TruthSeeker]

still trying to figure out who Highsmith is on the Pats roster

lol, My apologies, had to run in to a meeting, and was writing this prior to the meeting. And hey, I believe there is a Highsmith available in the draft.

 

[fxkane]

What happened to Te'o has absolutely nothing to do with his draft status. That he found himself in a quick pickle and told a little fib has little to do with his character on or off the field.

He will be drafted long BEFORE #29.

 

[TriplecHamp]

short answer: no







long answer: **** no

 

[BradyBranch39]

Tom Condon. So, no.

 

[everlong]

Even without the off the field drama I thought he got exposed by Alabama and that's the type of O-Line's he's looking at facing every week going forward.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Is their anything the Pats need less than another big slow linebacker?

As I stated in my original post, Te'o is faster than any LB we have, where have you ever seen him described as slow (except maybe mentally due to the controversy). Here's a good scouting report on Te'o:

Manti Te'o NFL Draft Scouting Report | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2013 NFL Draft

 

[JackBauer]

As I stated in my original post, Te'o is faster than any LB we have, where have you ever seen him described as slow (except maybe mentally due to the controversy). Here's a good scouting report on Te'o:

Manti Te'o NFL Draft Scouting Report | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2013 NFL Draft

How can you justify the prospect of taking a LB in the first round, not to mention a bust in waiting in Te'o?

 

[TruthSeeker]

How can you justify the prospect of taking a LB in the first round, not to mention a bust in waiting in Te'o?

It's more a case of upgrading what we have already. I don't see Te'o as bust potential, in fact I see him as a helluva linebacker. With Spikes being slower, and in his last season of his contract, I don't see how I would have to justify taking a possible great player. Te'o is a 3 down linebacker, who can do it all. Like someone else said in this thread, he may be gone by pick 29, and I agree, I see him going in the top 20, regardless of the moronic controversy he got into. I see him as an upgrade over Spikes.

 

[BritPat]

It's more a case of upgrading what we have already. I don't see Te'o as bust potential, in fact I see him as a helluva linebacker. With Spikes being slower, and in his last season of his contract, I don't see how I would have to justify taking a possible great player. Te'o is a 3 down linebacker, who can do it all. Like someone else said in this thread, he may be gone by pick 29, and I agree, I see him going in the top 20, regardless of the moronic controversy he got into. I see him as an upgrade over Spikes.

You don't spend a first round pick on a Linebacker unless he has an exceptional skill-set/pedigree/production.

Te'o doesn't have any of the above.

He's a smart guy who reads the run well but struggles shedding blocks and gets picked on in space.

Mayo is better at everything, Hightower has better hand-usage, recognition skills and is a fine pass-rusher, and Spikes is the best run-playing LB in the league.

He adds nothing to what we have, unless he's Derrick Brooks incarnate.

Which he ain't.

 

[TriplecHamp]

As I stated in my original post, Te'o is faster than any LB we have, where have you ever seen him described as slow (except maybe mentally due to the controversy). Here's a good scouting report on Te'o:

Manti Te'o NFL Draft Scouting Report | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2013 NFL Draft

when did we cut Mayo?