A trade idea that certainly needs to be looked into..

[charlie2]

I believe it's been discussed briefly already but I think it would be a fantastic move to make a play for Atlanta's 2 early second round picks. I feel that the most value in this draft is in the late first and early second round as there isn't much of a drop off in talent after picks 1-15 through the mid 2nd round. I would propose the Pats offer pick 24 and a 4th (maybe a 3rd- i dont have a value chart in front of me) to Atlanta for 39 and 44. Pats would be in the prime position of batting cleanup on players that drop out of the first around and have their choice of some prime early second round talent. ( Michael Griffin, Brian Leonard, Joe Staley, Ben Grubbs, Marcus McCauley, Anthony Spencer, Merriweather, David Harris, Sidney Rice, Arron Sears, Justin Blalock, Eric Weddle, Lamar Woodley, Aaron Rouse, amonst others.) Rather than reaching for some of these guys we would have the oppurtunity to come away with three solid contributers in the first two rounds. My ideal picks would be McCauley at 28, Spencer at 39, and either Leonard or Weddle at 44. This trade also allows Atlanta to package 8 and 24 to the Lions for 2 and perhaps a 3rd rounder to go up and get their guy in Calvin Johnson.

 

[ironwasp]

Makes quite a bit of sense for NE, but only works for Atlanta if getting New England's 24th pick would be enough to help them trade up high enough to secure Calvin Johnson (if that is their aim) But I don;t think it gets them that far and they'd probably need to give up Houston's second rounder in 2008.

 

[moosekill]

The problem is, I believe the Patriots need quality, not quantity this year. Usually the teams that need lots of help are the teams trading down to get extra picks. I don't think the patriots really need lots of help, do you? If they don't then they should consider moving up not down to pick up the best players available.

 

[ironwasp]

The problem is, I believe the Patriots need quality, not quantity this year. Usually the teams that need lots of help are the teams trading down to get extra picks. I don't think the patriots really need lots of help, do you? If they don't then they should consider moving up not down to pick up the best players available.

I think you're right but I'm not sure that the difference in quality between 24 and 40,42 is going to be that great. The trade option gives an opportunity to get quality in quantity I think.

 

[charlie2]

The point is that I dont think there is all that much of a difference in the quality of a player we are going to get at 24 vs. 39 and 44 and that the best value in this draft is the early- mid second round ( With Willis, Nelson, Hall and Revis off the board, by 24 we would already be choosing from the 2nd tier prospects that fit our schemes anyways) . In addition, I diagree...this team does need quantity ( ray mickens and troy brown at corner) and this approach would alllow them to grab three solid contributers.

 

[moosekill]

The point is that I dont think there is all that much of a difference in the quality of a player we are going to get at 24 vs. 39 and 44 and that the best value in this draft is the early- mid second round ( With Willis, Nelson, Hall and Revis off the board, by 24 we would already be choosing from the 2nd tier prospects that fit our schemes anyways) . In addition, I diagree...this team does need quantity ( ray mickens and troy brown at corner) and this approach would alllow them to grab three solid contributers.

This team needs to draft players who are better than the players who are currently on our roster. There are very few players in this draft that will be able to make our team. The further down we move, the less likely it will be that a player is better than the incumbent. That is why, with this team, I hope we either

A. Trade up. We don't need more players, we need better players.
B. Trade for future drafts. We don't need players this year, but we will next year.

 

[dryheat44]

this team does need quantity ( ray mickens and troy brown at corner) and this approach would alllow them to grab three solid contributers.

Troy Brown was like our #7 corner last year. We don't have the roster space to allow for seven cornerbacks on the roster. Ditto Mickens...We signed him in December, right? We can't go into opening day seven deep at all positions to allow for injuries.

 

[DW Toys]

The problem is, I believe the Patriots need quality, not quantity this year. Usually the teams that need lots of help are the teams trading down to get extra picks. I don't think the patriots really need lots of help, do you? If they don't then they should consider moving up not down to pick up the best players available.

Cousin,
Lets face it. This years draft is terrible. I agree with you. Lets not go for SOG's. Lets focus on a player we need that could help us. I'd rather trade up to get a Willis or a Landry because they can play in 2007 and we aren't losing anything big by packaging some 2007 picks here. The second rounders this year are fourths in 2004,2005 and 2006.
Second choice would be trade out and take some pics for 2008 and hope the crop is better.
Finally, lets take one of these gamble first round choices and swap for a Briggs who is a known commodity, and who can play MLB very well thank you.
Look at the roster! We will wind up cutting half the draft class in 2007 if we go for all eight choice (including comps).

What do you out there say!!! I say half the draft class or better gets cut in 2007 if you look at the roster.

This is why Briggs or trading up makes sense. Cousins, check out the roster and tell me your cuts!

DW Toys

 

[rookBoston]

Very worthy idea... but the draft chart says that #24 and #90 wouldn't be enough to land #39 and #44. Even if you toss our 4th rounder into the mix, it still isn't enough. Atlanta would have to be desperate.

Still, this:

#28 - LB Jon Beason
#39 - RB Brian Leonard
#44 - S Eric Weddle

is very, very strong. Three starters. Not pro-bowlers, but when have the Pats had a lot of those? These guys are Belichick-type players, who will be tremendously productive.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Very worthy idea... but the draft chart says that #24 and #90 wouldn't be enough to land #39 and #44. Even if you toss our 4th rounder into the mix, it still isn't enough. Atlanta would have to be desperate.

Still, this:

#28 - LB Jon Beason
#39 - RB Brian Leonard
#44 - S Eric Weddle

is very, very strong. Three starters. Not pro-bowlers, but when have the Pats had a lot of those? These guys are Belichick-type players, who will be tremendously productive.

Would rather have Landry than those 3 players.
Or stay put and draft two possible starters. Possibilities include Nelson, Revis, Houston, Ross, etc.

 

[3 to be 4]

I believe it's been discussed briefly already but I think it would be a fantastic move to make a play for Atlanta's 2 early second round picks. I feel that the most value in this draft is in the late first and early second round as there isn't much of a drop off in talent after picks 1-15 through the mid 2nd round. I would propose the Pats offer pick 24 and a 4th (maybe a 3rd- i dont have a value chart in front of me) to Atlanta for 39 and 44. Pats would be in the prime position of batting cleanup on players that drop out of the first around and have their choice of some prime early second round talent. ( Michael Griffin, Brian Leonard, Joe Staley, Ben Grubbs, Marcus McCauley, Anthony Spencer, Merriweather, David Harris, Sidney Rice, Arron Sears, Justin Blalock, Eric Weddle, Lamar Woodley, Aaron Rouse, amonst others.) Rather than reaching for some of these guys we would have the oppurtunity to come away with three solid contributers in the first two rounds. My ideal picks would be McCauley at 28, Spencer at 39, and either Leonard or Weddle at 44. This trade also allows Atlanta to package 8 and 24 to the Lions for 2 and perhaps a 3rd rounder to go up and get their guy in Calvin Johnson.

I would take it a step further and take a page from 2003. The Patriots had an extra 2nd round pick and traded it to Miami for a 1st rounder the following year that turned into Vince Wilfork.
Trade #24 and a 3rd for the 2 #2's, then trade one of your 3 #2's for an extra #1 in the stronger 2008 draft.
You'd still have a 1 and 2 2's in 2007 and 2 #1's in 2008. A good way to keep a dynasty going.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I would take it a step further and take a page from 2003. The Patriots had an extra 2nd round pick and traded it to Miami for a 1st rounder the following year that turned into Vince Wilfork.
Trade #24 and a 3rd for the 2 #2's, then trade one of your 3 #2's for an extra #1 in the stronger 2008 draft.
You'd still have a 1 and 2 2's in 2007 and 2 #1's in 2008. A good way to keep a dynasty going.

Where are these 3 second round picks coming from? The Patriots already traded their second round pick for Wes Welker. So if they acquired 2 second round picks from Atlanta they would still only have 2 second rounders total. If they trade away one of those second rounders they would be left with a 1st round pick (#28), one of Atlanta's remaining second round picks, no third round pick. Sometimes it's a good idea to just stay put unless you can really get superior value.

 

[sebman2112]

Nah, since the draft is weak in the late first, and strong in the early second you would rather pull a trade like this:

Trade 24 + 28 to GB for 16 + 47

At 16 you could land one of the true first round talents (maybe even Willis)
At 47 you could land someone like Harris, McCauley, Woodley, Weddle, Spencer, Leonard, Harrell, Grubbs, Blalock, Meriweather, Griffin, Bradley, Beason, Tanard Jackson, Josh Wilson, Hughes.


If Patrick Willis survived to 14-15 NE could throw in a 6th round pick, or two in order to move up one or two spots to get him. They used a 6th to move from 14 to 13 when they selected Ty Warren. They'll have the picks (10) to do it.

 

[DaBruinz]

This team needs to draft players who are better than the players who are currently on our roster. There are very few players in this draft that will be able to make our team. The further down we move, the less likely it will be that a player is better than the incumbent. That is why, with this team, I hope we either

A. Trade up. We don't need more players, we need better players.
B. Trade for future drafts. We don't need players this year, but we will next year.

Moosekill -
What you are not understanding is that this draft doesn't have a lot of top end talent, but has tons of players who are about the same that will go in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds.

So, its about VALUE. Trading down out of 24 allows you to get 2 players of almost similar value as to what you would get at 24. That is value. And yes, its my belief that those 2 players would have a very good chance of being better than the bottom 20 players on the Pats roster.

 

[DaBruinz]

Very worthy idea... but the draft chart says that #24 and #90 wouldn't be enough to land #39 and #44. Even if you toss our 4th rounder into the mix, it still isn't enough. Atlanta would have to be desperate.

Still, this:

#28 - LB Jon Beason
#39 - RB Brian Leonard
#44 - S Eric Weddle

is very, very strong. Three starters. Not pro-bowlers, but when have the Pats had a lot of those? These guys are Belichick-type players, who will be tremendously productive.

The "Draft Value Chart" no long applies fully because of the change in the contract years. Picks 5-16 are worth more then they were previously. Picks 17-32 are also worth more than they were previously. The 2nd round picks aren't worth as much or stayed about the same.

I think the Pats could possible swing that deal if Atlanta was hot to trot for someone.

 

[DaBruinz]

Would rather have Landry than those 3 players.
Or stay put and draft two possible starters. Possibilities include Nelson, Revis, Houston, Ross, etc.

Well, then you wouldn't be following the Pats value rule. Landry is not more valuable then 3 potential starters. Though I don't care for Beason and don't believe he'd fit in the Pats scheme. I think that Leonard and Weddle are great picks.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Well, then you wouldn't be following the Pats value rule. Landry is not more valuable then 3 potential starters. Though I don't care for Beason and don't believe he'd fit in the Pats scheme. I think that Leonard and Weddle are great picks.

I just don't like the 3 players listed all that much. They look like 2nd/3rd tier guys. I don't believe in spending 1st round picks on fullbacks, Beason is undersized for our system, and Weddle is only my 4th or 5th rated safety overall. If you named 3 better players I'd think about it. Landry is the best defensive talent in this draft so with a team that is pretty much complete I don't think trading up is unthinkable. Anyways I believe I said I'd rather have Landry OR stay put and pick 2 better players at 24/28.

 

[sebman2112]

I just don't like the 3 players listed all that much. They look like 2nd/3rd tier guys. I don't believe in spending 1st round picks on fullbacks, Beason is undersized for our system, and Weddle is only my 4th or 5th rated safety overall. If you named 3 better players I'd think about it. Landry is the best defensive talent in this draft so with a team that is pretty much complete I don't think trading up is unthinkable. Anyways I believe I said I'd rather have Landry OR stay put and pick 2 better players at 24/28.

The problem with swinging a trade for Landy is not just the draft picks, but also the contract involved. Landry's contract will likely be larger than the contract of the two players taken at 24 + 28 combined.

So, you're getting one likely elite player over two likely starters, possibly elite players, with a combined smaller contract.

 

[DaBruinz]

I just don't like the 3 players listed all that much. They look like 2nd/3rd tier guys. I don't believe in spending 1st round picks on fullbacks, Beason is undersized for our system, and Weddle is only my 4th or 5th rated safety overall. If you named 3 better players I'd think about it. Landry is the best defensive talent in this draft so with a team that is pretty much complete I don't think trading up is unthinkable. Anyways I believe I said I'd rather have Landry OR stay put and pick 2 better players at 24/28.

See, you problem is that Leonard is NOT just a FB. 2nd, You wouldnt' be spending a 1st rounder on him. You'd be spending a 2nd.

Beason isn't that undersized if you stop and think about Tedy Bruschi. Though I do agree that Beason isn't a good fit for the Pats.

As for Weddle being your 4th or 5th rated safety, well, so friggin what. The fact of the matter is that you can't just group all the safeites together. Weddle is nearly as good or as good a FS as Griffin or Merriweather. Nelson is a strong safety.

Well, You could rather have LANDRY, but getting to Landry is going to cost the Pats more than just their 2 1st rounders. And sorry, NO SAFETY is worth 2 first rounders, let alone additional picks on top of that.

 

[Boston Tim]

And sorry, NO SAFETY is worth 2 first rounders, let alone additional picks on top of that.

Ed Reed? Roy Williams? etc.