Draft Needs

[Cassanova792]

I know the draft is 6 months away, but i wanna know what everyones opinion on who we will draft. Everyone keeps talking about trading down, but why not try to get Darren McFadden and trade Laurence Maroney to a team like the Packers who are in need of a proven RB.

Best Case Scenario:

1. We draft Darren McFadden with a top 5 pick.
2. Trade Laurence Maroney to the Packers for there First Round (20-31)
3. Draft CB Aqib Talib if the Patriots decide not to pursue Asante.
- If Asante stays, this draft pick would land us MLB Rey Maualuga replace our aging LB corps
4. If we dont get Rey, in the second round the patriots should get Vanderbilt MLB Jonathan Goff.

The only concerns i see for the Patriots next season are at CB (because of Asante) and our linebackers. The safety position is well in hand IMO with a young James Sanders waiting to replace Harrison, not to mention Merriweather who probably needs a few years to grow and learn.

I think Bruschi will be a F/A next year, but he will most likely retire or resign with the Patriots for a home town discount. Juniour Seau if the Patriots do win the superbowl will 99% likely to retire or graduate as he might say. This would fill a hole for a MLB and a Rey Maualuga/Goff would be a tremendous and somewhat realistic option.

I could see our Lineup like this:

DE: Seymour
NT: Wilfork
DE: Warren
OLB: Colvin
ILB: Rey Maualuga/Goff
ILB: Adalius Thomas
OLB: Mike Vrabel
CB: Samuel/Talib, Hobbs, Gay
S: Harrison, Sanders, Merriweather

QB: Brady
WR: Moss, Stallworth, Welker, Jackson
TE: Watson
RB: Darren McFadden, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk

 

[Crazyeechrispats1]

Trade Laurence wow let's let the guy get a few games healthy under his belt.
Only way the Patriots draft Mcfadden is if he's barry sanders part 2.

I think Long is the pick or a trade down.

 

[Joker]

uh...not to nitpick but isn't it a tad early to be doing 2008 draft mocks?

 

[PATRIOT64]

Where do these nuts who write these ridiculous posts come from when its late in the evening?

Its like being downtown in a big city at night when all the weirdos seem to rise up from the manhole covers that you don't normally see during the daylight hours.

Trade Maroney already? - I know IMO hes not as good as many people think here but trade him already? :bricks:

 

[Cassanova792]

Jake Long?? last thing we need is another OT, we are very solid at that position for a very long time, with a very young Oline to boot. Or u talking about Chris Long the DE? It wouldnt make sense to get him seeing how we have Seymour/Warren/Green.

The positions that need to be filled IMO is CB and ILB


Nothing against Laurence, because i think the has a bright future and is a productive back.... but his health is a major concern to me. Though I wouldnt mind Laurence staying... let me remind you that I am talking about Darren McFadden here... i dont know if you seen McFadden, but he is amazing, and if we have a chance with the niners pick to get this kid, it would seriously not be fair for the rest of the league. In case you dont know anything about McFadden think Adrian Peterson while running, and a Westbrook like catching.

 

[jays52]

Sounds like Ditka talking about Ricky Williams. I'm suprised there's been no consideration of taking Kenny Phillips in a move to improve at safety. That is, assuming that McFadden is off the board. I think that if McFadden was on the board, the better options would be a) Take McFadden and have two young, productive players at tailback or b) Trade the pick for Marion Barber and a second round pick from Dallas. If the draft-nerds are right about Jones' emphatuation with McFadden, not only would this work, but could potentially land us one of their first rounders instead of the more plausable second rounder. Either way, we would be in position to make a move at Laurenaitis or that ILB from USC. This would enable us to add young tallent at linebacker while securing a second high-level running back. Just a thought.

 

[Cassanova792]

Sounds like Ditka talking about Ricky Williams. I'm suprised there's been no consideration of taking Kenny Phillips in a move to improve at safety. That is, assuming that McFadden is off the board. I think that if McFadden was on the board, the better options would be a) Take McFadden and have two young, productive players at tailback or b) Trade the pick for Marion Barber and a second round pick from Dallas. If the draft-nerds are right about Jones' emphatuation with McFadden, not only would this work, but could potentially land us one of their first rounders instead of the more plausable second rounder. Either way, we would be in position to make a move at Laurenaitis or that ILB from USC. This would enable us to add young tallent at linebacker while securing a second high-level running back. Just a thought.

Ya the trade with the Cowboys would work since Jerry Jones is in love with McFadden. Plus i see Barber as a perfect fit in the New England system, with his power running attack and Maroney's quick feet, could prove to be a very dangerous combo. Not to mention Maroney and Barber were once college teamates. The late first round draft pick would most likely not land us Laurenitas since he is considered a top 15 prospect but would however give us a good chance at getting Rey Maualuga or CB Aqib Talib. The safety position is good for now since we have James Sanders who is young and improving every year as well as a somewhat promising Merriweather (though he has a long way to go).

 

[chunkypony]

Jake Long?? last thing we need is another OT, we are very solid at that position for a very long time, with a very young Oline to boot. Or u talking about Chris Long the DE? It wouldnt make sense to get him seeing how we have Seymour/Warren/Green.

Well, if you look at our current roster, most of our LBs played DE in college. So to say that drafting Chris Long doesn't make sense is pretty short sighted.

The most likely scenario IMO is that we draft C. Long and make him an ILB, or we trade down. He plays in Al Groh's system, so BB will know if he is definetly worth it or not.

 

[Handel]

uh...not to nitpick but isn't it a tad early to be doing 2008 draft mocks?

It's never early..

 

[nowayback]

if we end up with a draft pick in the top 10...i think they will trade down. maybe 2 1sts...or 1 1st and a 2nd...or maybe even 1 1st and next years 1st. dont think they want to tie up so much money with high 1st . thre doesnt seem to be any sure bet lb's . besides BB doesnt draft lb's.

maybe even trade the pick for a pro lb.

they will stick with maroney ...unless macfadden slips past 5..maybe go with maroney and mac.

James Laurinaitis is listed as 15th best in draft....Rey Maualuga is said to need to mature still...not what BB is looking for.

TE anyone?

 

[Slagathor]

As some folks know I've been an unabashed "get McFadden" guy. I honestly have gotten enamored by him, even more so in watching Addai play this weekend. Maroney for all intensive purposes is the guy everyone wanted back in that draft. Shows you how sometimes college game peformance means nothing in the NFL.

That being said, Maroney will be a decent back for us and I'm content with
the fact that we need to get an LB as all have suggested. However, Laurinaitis may stay in school, and I'm not sold on Dan Conner.

It will be interesting to see how things shape out.

 

[PatsCanada]

Everyone seems to be jumping to the conclusion that because Jerry Jones likes McFadden, he would trade Marion Barber. Meanwhile, Julius Jones is an FA, and I am sure McFadden would be his replacement. In Dallas they like the duel backs, with Barber coming in on goal line situations.

And as a side note Chris Long does seem like a good candidate to try and convert to a ILB.

 

[TheBaronPatriot]

if we end up with a draft pick in the top 10...i think they will trade down. maybe 2 1sts...or 1 1st and a 2nd...or maybe even 1 1st and next years 1st. dont think they want to tie up so much money with high 1st . thre doesnt seem to be any sure bet lb's . besides BB doesnt draft lb's.

maybe even trade the pick for a pro lb.

they will stick with maroney ...unless macfadden slips past 5..maybe go with maroney and mac.

James Laurinaitis is listed as 15th best in draft....Rey Maualuga is said to need to mature still...not what BB is looking for.

TE anyone?

Rey Rey is rumored to be coming back for his senior year

 

[TheBaronPatriot]

Everyone seems to be jumping to the conclusion that because Jerry Jones likes McFadden, he would trade Marion Barber. Meanwhile, Julius Jones is an FA, and I am sure McFadden would be his replacement. In Dallas they like the duel backs, with Barber coming in on goal line situations.

And as a side note Chris Long does seem like a good candidate to try and convert to a ILB.

Long is the best technician DE/DT in the draft.
He's going to play either DE or DT
why would you stand up somebody as good as him and force him to learn a new position?

 

[chunkypony]

Long is the best technician DE/DT in the draft.
He's going to play either DE or DT
why would you stand up somebody as good as him and force him to learn a new position?

Well, Im pretty sure Tedy Bruschi had owned the college record for sacks while he played DE at Arizona.

Why would anyone want to stand him up and force him to learn a new position?

 

[ayjackson]

Well, Im pretty sure Tedy Bruschi had owned the college record for sacks while he played DE at Arizona.

Why would anyone want to stand him up and force him to learn a new position?

perhaps because he was thirty pounds under weight for the position in the NFL.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Ya the trade with the Cowboys would work since Jerry Jones is in love with McFadden. Plus i see Barber as a perfect fit in the New England system, with his power running attack and Maroney's quick feet, could prove to be a very dangerous combo. Not to mention Maroney and Barber were once college teamates. The late first round draft pick would most likely not land us Laurenitas since he is considered a top 15 prospect but would however give us a good chance at getting Rey Maualuga or CB Aqib Talib. The safety position is good for now since we have James Sanders who is young and improving every year as well as a somewhat promising Merriweather (though he has a long way to go).

I would LOVE to see a Maroney/Barber combo. But let's not forget Sammy Morris. And with CB and LB more pressing, I doubt we see another 1st round pick invested in a RB.

 

[maverick4]

We DO NOT need to draft an RB.
Maroney had tons of highlight reels in college too just like McFadden.

It's WAY too early to judge Maroney, he has a great yards per run average and just needs more games under his belt.

This McFadden guy has a lot of big runs, but he seems mostly just super fast, more speed than RB movies, and his legs are a big too long for the NFL, I don't think he'll be a top-15 RB in the NFL.

 

[rookBoston]

Well, if you look at our current roster, most of our LBs played DE in college. So to say that drafting Chris Long doesn't make sense is pretty short sighted.

The most likely scenario IMO is that we draft C. Long and make him an ILB, or we trade down. He plays in Al Groh's system, so BB will know if he is definetly worth it or not.

Um... C Long is 280#, not the smallish 255# DEs that we usually convert into OLBs. He's Jarvis-sized. He'd have to be freakishly Adalius Thomas gifted to be that big, and still able to play in space and coverage. That seems like a risky proposition for a top-5 pick.

We'll see. I was one of those guys saying that we should definately take David Terrell (sure-fire franchise WR) over Richard Seymour (overrated).

 

[JaredOfNazareth]

A friend of mine told me McFadden has some issue with his feet. Like he will need surgery on them at some point. Have any of you heard this?

I hope Laurinitis stays at Ohio St. another year and then pulls a Pat Tillman and joins the Army Rangers just so I never have to hear about him being a "perfect fit" for NE!
IMO, LB is the most difficult position to evaluate for the NFL because in college they are all ball chasers. The Matt Millen type. In BB 3-4 it takes time to learn and there is no reason to waste a top pick on a LB who will be on the shelf for a few years.

If the 49ers continue to suck at winning football games then I will be happy regardless. If NE uses that draft pick and does not trade it then I would like Jake Long OT Mich at this point. NE wouldn't need McFadden or anyone like that. He would be the cheapest top pick. He may just be the best player in the draft. In the 3rd round we can draft LBs and CBs.

Read football outsiders article about Cleveland's Oline. www.footballoutsiders.com