Which Prospect Most Excites You?

[reflexblue]

He's supposed to have relatively long arms. Looks that way on tape anyway. maybe it just looks that way because he's relatively short and squat. Have to see at the senior bowl.

Wilfork has kind of short arms.

The scouting report i read said he had short arms. Whether thats true or not i don't know.

As far as VW goes i went back and read some scouting reports on him. Only one mentioned his arm length, and it said sometimes he plays like he has short arms.

 

[Snake Eyes]

The scouting report i read said he had short arms. Whether thats true or not i don't know.

As far as VW goes i went back and read some scouting reports on him. Only one mentioned his arm length, and it said sometimes he plays like he has short arms.

The players legs are vastly more important than the arms, as are understanding timing, position, angles, weight distribution, etc.

 

[cstjohn17]

One more I've thought of is Brandin Cooks. If I had to take on receiver, I'd probably want Landry but Cooks is very exciting to watch.

I agree, Brandin Cooks is great. Solves the needs at KR, PR and helps at WR.

In a weird way Auburn guards always excite me... so even though Greg Robinson plays tackle I get excited thinking about him lining up a guard and destroying people.... but enough about me.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Eric Ebron, Chris Borland, Lamarcus Joyner, Darqueze Dennard and Jason Verrett. If somehow we can come out of the first 2 rounds with a combination of these guys then I'm overjoyed.

I just like the name Darqueze, tough to beat that one.

 

[meatface]

I agree, Brandin Cooks is great. Solves the needs at KR, PR and helps at WR.

In a weird way Auburn guards always excite me... so even though Greg Robinson plays tackle I get excited thinking about him lining up a guard and destroying people.... but enough about me.

you dont like Edelman at PR or just assume he is leaving?

 

[reaper8]

Zack Martin from the tape ive seen,will be a monster at guard

 

[cstjohn17]

you dont like Edelman at PR or just assume he is leaving?

Love him at PR but I consider him a goner.

 

[manxman2601]

Zack Martin from the tape ive seen,will be a monster at guard

I agree. I think I had him as my first or second pick in my very first mock.

 

[mayoclinic]

Potential prospects that particularly excite me for the Pats:

- QB Brett Smith, Wyoming. 6' 2 1/2" 208#. NFL DraftScout #57.
- RB Devonta Freeman, Florida St. 5'8" 203#. NFL DraftScout #106.
- FB/H-Back Trey Millard, Oklahoma. 6'3" 253#. NFL DraftScout #268.
- WR Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt. 6'3" 206#. NFL DraftScout #44.
- TE Troy Niklas, Notre Dame. 6' 6 1/2" 270#. NFL DraftScout 51.
- TE/H-Back Richard Rodgers, Cal. 6'4" 245#. NFL DraftScout #251.
- OC Travis Swanson, Arkansas. 6'4" 318#. NFL DraftScout #29.
- OL Billy Turner, North Dakota St. 6'5" 314#. NFL DraftScout #108.
- DE Trent Murphy, Stanford. 6'6" 265#. NFL DraftScout #32.
- DT Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota. 6'6" 312#. NFL DraftScout #21.
- OLB Kyle Van Noy, BYU. 6'3" 245#. NFL DraftScout #37.
- DB Jonathan Dowling, Western Kentucky. 6' 2 1/2" 198#. NFL DraftScout #273.
- DB Lamarcus Joyner, Florida St. 5'9" 190#. NFL DraftScout #53.
- S Calvin Pryor, Louisville. 6'2" 208#. NFL DraftScout #36.

(All NFL DraftScout rankings as of 1/11/14)

 

[mayoclinic]

NFL DraftScout has updated their rankings with the underclassmen declarations complete. Ignoring their top 15 (who won't likely be in our range) and following their rankings (and in no particular order of preference), I would potentially be "excited" about any of the following:

18. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina. 6'4" 245#.
19. Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota. 6'6" 311#.
22. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma St. 6' 200# (only if Aqib Talib leaves).
27. David Yankey, OL, Stanford. 6'5" 314#.
29. Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville. 6'2" 208#.
30. Stephon Tuitt, DE/DT, Notre Dame. 6'6" 312#.
32. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas. 6'4" 318#.
34. Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford. 6'6" 261#.
39. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU. 6'3" 245#.
46. Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt. 6'3" 205#.
55. Lamarcus Joyner, DB, Florida St. 5'8" 190#.
61. Joel Bitonio, OL, Nevada. 6'4" 315#.
63. Kyle Fuller, DB, Virginia Tech. 6' 194#.
66. Louichez Purifoy, DB, Florida. 6' 190# (only if Aqib Talib leaves).
72. Troy Niklas, TE, Notre Dame. 6'6" 270#.
89. Weston Richburg, OC, Colorado St. 6'4" 300#.
91. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, DB, Nebraska. 6'2" 220#.
92. Ego Ferguson, DT, LSU. 6'2" 309#.
98. Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee. 6'5" 351#.
100. Billy Turner, OL, North Dakota St. 6'5" 310#.
101. Devonta Freeman, RB, Florida St. 5'8" 203#.
102. Keith McGill, CB, Utah. 6'2" 205#.
111. Bryan Stork, OC, Florida. 6'4" 312#.
151. Brandon Linder, OG, Miami. 6'6" 319#.
153. Brett Smith, QB, Wyomiong. 6'2" 206#.
168. Taylor Hart, DE, Oregon. 6'6" 287#.
171. Cody Hoffman, WR, BYU. 6'3" 210#.
184. Larry Webster, DE, Bloomsburg. 6'6" 249#.
197. Cameron Fleming, DL, Stanford. 6'6" 318#.
206. Brent Urban, DE/DT, Virginia. 6'7" 295#.
213. Richard Rodgers, TE, Cal. 6'4" 245#.
218. DeAnthony Thomas, XB, Oregon. 5'9" 170#.
220. DeAndre Coleman, DT, Cal. 6'5" 315#.
233. Storm Johnson, RB, Central Florida. 6' 216#.
238. Dri Archer, WR/KR, Kent St. 5'8" 175#.
239. Trey Millard, FB/H-Back, Oklahoma. 6'3" 253#.
241. Xavier Grimble, TE, USC. 6'5" 250#.
247. Zach Kerr, DT, Delaware. 6'2" 334#.
267. Justin Ellis, DT, Louisiana Tech. 6'2" 351#.
268. Jonathan Dowling, DB, Western Kentucky. 6'2" 198#.
281. Jeff Matthews, QB, Cornell. 6'4" 225#.
316. Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon. 6'5" 250#.
555. Zach Bauman, RB, Northern Arizona. 5'7" 196#.

Near-binkies in bold.

 

[JerseyShore99]

NFL DraftScout has updated their rankings with the underclassmen declarations complete. Ignoring their top 15 (who won't likely be in our range) and following their rankings (and in no particular order of preference), I would potentially be "excited" about any of the following:

18. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina. 6'4" 245#.
19. Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota. 6'6" 311#.
22. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma St. 6' 200# (only if Aqib Talib leaves).
27. David Yankey, OL, Stanford. 6'5" 314#.
29. Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville. 6'2" 208#.
30. Stephon Tuitt, DE/DT, Notre Dame. 6'6" 312#.
32. Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas. 6'4" 318#.
34. Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford. 6'6" 261#.
39. Kyle Van Noy, OLB, BYU. 6'3" 245#.
46. Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt. 6'3" 205#.
55. Lamarcus Joyner, DB, Florida St. 5'8" 190#.
61. Joel Bitonio, OL, Nevada. 6'4" 315#.
63. Kyle Fuller, DB, Virginia Tech. 6' 194#.
66. Louichez Purifoy, DB, Florida. 6' 190# (only if Aqib Talib leaves).
72. Troy Niklas, TE, Notre Dame. 6'6" 270#.
89. Weston Richburg, OC, Colorado St. 6'4" 300#.
91. Stanley Jean-Baptiste, DB, Nebraska. 6'2" 220#.
92. Ego Ferguson, DT, LSU. 6'2" 309#.
98. Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee. 6'5" 351#.
100. Billy Turner, OL, North Dakota St. 6'5" 310#.
101. Devonta Freeman, RB, Florida St. 5'8" 203#.
102. Keith McGill, CB, Utah. 6'2" 205#.
111. Bryan Stork, OC, Florida. 6'4" 312#.
151. Brandon Linder, OG, Miami. 6'6" 319#.
153. Brett Smith, QB, Wyomiong. 6'2" 206#.
168. Taylor Hart, DE, Oregon. 6'6" 287#.
171. Cody Hoffman, WR, BYU. 6'3" 210#.
184. Larry Webster, DE, Bloomsburg. 6'6" 249#.
197. Cameron Fleming, DL, Stanford. 6'6" 318#.
206. Brent Urban, DE/DT, Virginia. 6'7" 295#.
213. Richard Rodgers, TE, Cal. 6'4" 245#.
218. DeAnthony Thomas, XB, Oregon. 5'9" 170#.
220. DeAndre Coleman, DT, Cal. 6'5" 315#.
233. Storm Johnson, RB, Central Florida. 6' 216#.
238. Dri Archer, WR/KR, Kent St. 5'8" 175#.
239. Trey Millard, FB/H-Back, Oklahoma. 6'3" 253#.
241. Xavier Grimble, TE, USC. 6'5" 250#.
247. Zach Kerr, DT, Delaware. 6'2" 334#.
267. Justin Ellis, DT, Louisiana Tech. 6'2" 351#.
268. Jonathan Dowling, DB, Western Kentucky. 6'2" 198#.
281. Jeff Matthews, QB, Cornell. 6'4" 225#.
316. Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon. 6'5" 250#.
555. Zach Bauman, RB, Northern Arizona. 5'7" 196#.

Near-binkies in bold.

From this list I could see us realistically targeting Gilbert (if, which I doubt, Talib goes), Yankey, Tuitt, Swanson, or Murphy. Out of those my favorite prospect is Murphy, I can't see BB wasting a high pick on O-line with Dante's success, but odds are he trades down, the BB way. I would honestly be interested to see him trade up however, with an already deep roster, maybe grab Amaro for the right price (our 1st and a third or fourth)

 

[mayoclinic]

From this list I could see us realistically targeting Gilbert (if, which I doubt, Talib goes), Yankey, Tuitt, Swanson, or Murphy. Out of those my favorite prospect is Murphy, I can't see BB wasting a high pick on O-line with Dante's success, but odds are he trades down, the BB way. I would honestly be interested to see him trade up however, with an already deep roster, maybe grab Amaro for the right price (our 1st and a third or fourth)

Good list. Murphy is also my favorite prospect, though I wouldn't be upset with Tuitt (or Hageman). I think Gilbert and Hageman will probably be out of reach. Travis Swanson and David Yankey would have near-binky status except that there are so many really good prospects available much later. I have to believe that Scar would take Bryan Stork/Weston Richburg or Billy Turner/Joel Bitonio and turn them into absolute beasts.

I'm personally just as excited about Richard Rodgers, DeAndre Coleman, Trey Millard and Jonathan Dowling. Serious talent.

 

[JerseyShore99]

Good list. Murphy is also my favorite prospect, though I wouldn't be upset with Tuitt (or Hageman). I think Gilbert and Hageman will probably be out of reach. Travis Swanson and David Yankey would have near-binky status except that there are so many really good prospects available much later. I have to believe that Scar would take Bryan Stork/Weston Richburg or Billy Turner/Joel Bitonio and turn them into absolute beasts.

I'm personally just as excited about Richard Rodgers, DeAndre Coleman, Trey Millard and Jonathan Dowling. Serious talent.

Agree with you Mayo, I would love to see Stork in Foxborough, great Center that fits in a BB-line. Billy Turner also interests me a lot, looks like a monster but I don't see the need for a T (Vollmer, Solder, Svitek, Cannon), I think we need interior line more importantly with Connolly and Wendell not playing too well

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

I understand why there is so much love for Ebron, Amaro and ASJ, but Niklas and Fiedorowitz interest me far more for the Pats. Amaro and ASJ especially either have no concept of how to block properly, or dont care enough to engage. Niklas really does have some mini-gronk to him, while Fied in his Iowa gear looks like the next Heath Miller.

Having a move TE is important, I just could never move up to go and get one when there are block beasts in the midrounds. Plus, as has been noted, guys like Gimble and Rodgers will be available for a fraction of the cost.

In certain offenses Amaro and Ebron will be incredible, but the idea of having a true TE bookending our line with Gronk has to be very appealing with the power game we have established this year.

 

[JerseyShore99]

I understand why there is so much love for Ebron, Amaro and ASJ, but Niklas and Fiedorowitz interest me far more for the Pats. Amaro and ASJ especially either have no concept of how to block properly, or dont care enough to engage. Niklas really does have some mini-gronk to him, while Fied in his Iowa gear looks like the next Heath Miller.

Having a move TE is important, I just could never move up to go and get one when there are block beasts in the midrounds. Plus, as has been noted, guys like Gimble and Rodgers will be available for a fraction of the cost.

In certain offenses Amaro and Ebron will be incredible, but the idea of having a true TE bookending our line with Gronk has to be very appealing with the power game we have established this year.

Well Amaro and ASJ replace AH, while Niklas and Fiedorowitz are more of Grnonk-type TEs, they both interest me however I'd prefer an ASJ or Amaro

 

[mayoclinic]

Agree with you Mayo, I would love to see Stork in Foxborough, great Center that fits in a BB-line. Billy Turner also interests me a lot, looks like a monster but I don't see the need for a T (Vollmer, Solder, Svitek, Cannon), I think we need interior line more importantly with Connolly and Wendell not playing too well

I project Turner moving inside to guard, but also being able to play tackle. Svitek is a FA, and while he's been ok, we may not be able to afford bringing him back.

Draftinsider had this to say about Turner:

Small school left tackle prospect better inside at guard. Fluid, athletic and strong. Plays with a nasty attitude, works through the whistle and a terrific run blocker. Lacks the footwork necessary to stay on the blind side yet has a tremendous amount of upside in his game.

?14 NFL Draft: Guard & Center Rankings

If we drafted Stork and Turner, let Wendell walk, and possibly cut Dan Connolly for cap reasons ($4M cap hit, $2.5M savings according to Miguel) and re-signed former OL Nick McDonald at much lower cost, our OL would look something like the following:

Starters: LT Solder - LG Mankins - OC Stork - RG Cannon - RT Vollmer
Backups:
- LT: Vollmer, Mankins, Turner, McDonald
- LG: Mankins, Turner, Kline, McDonald
- C: McDonald
- RG: Turner, McDonald
- RT: Cannon, Turner

That would be very good depth with an 8 man group. Turner, Stork, McDonald and Kline would all be very low cost.

 

[mayoclinic]

I understand why there is so much love for Ebron, Amaro and ASJ, but Niklas and Fiedorowitz interest me far more for the Pats. Amaro and ASJ especially either have no concept of how to block properly, or dont care enough to engage. Niklas really does have some mini-gronk to him, while Fied in his Iowa gear looks like the next Heath Miller.

Having a move TE is important, I just could never move up to go and get one when there are block beasts in the midrounds. Plus, as has been noted, guys like Gimble and Rodgers will be available for a fraction of the cost.

In certain offenses Amaro and Ebron will be incredible, but the idea of having a true TE bookending our line with Gronk has to be very appealing with the power game we have established this year.

Love it. That's exactly why I have Niklas as my top priority, with Rodgers/Grimble as my day 3 move TE options. Also, Trey Millard, while nominally a fullback, could be a terrific day 3 option who can function as more of an H-Back. He compares favorably to Kyle Juszczyk last year.

 

[manxman2601]

I understand why there is so much love for Ebron, Amaro and ASJ, but Niklas and Fiedorowitz interest me far more for the Pats. Amaro and ASJ especially either have no concept of how to block properly, or dont care enough to engage. Niklas really does have some mini-gronk to him, while Fied in his Iowa gear looks like the next Heath Miller.

Having a move TE is important, I just could never move up to go and get one when there are block beasts in the midrounds. Plus, as has been noted, guys like Gimble and Rodgers will be available for a fraction of the cost.

In certain offenses Amaro and Ebron will be incredible, but the idea of having a true TE bookending our line with Gronk has to be very appealing with the power game we have established this year.

Respectfully, I just spat out my lunch.* ASJ can't block! When I've watched him he's been a dominating blocker. The only blocker I've seen better at the position is Fiedorowicz who is great at getting you 5-10 yards but is too slow for much else.

* I didn't really but am just surprised at this evaluation and to be fair to you, I've seen it elsewhere. Thing is, the only place I don't see it is on the playing field. Maybe it's just me.

 

[p8ryts]

Watched Rashede Hageman in Bowl game didn't look like he did much.

 

[JerseyShore99]

Watched Rashede Hageman in Bowl game didn't look like he did much.

Haven't really studied him too much but I'm not a fan of Hageman