Which position do you think we will draft with #7?

[jbb9s]

Stranger things have happened, but I don't see the Pats holding on to the #7 pick. I wouldn't be surprised to see them trade down with Dallas so they can add two quality players instead of one.

How do you know Dallas wants to trade up? The McFadden rumor was (A) illogical considering they have depth at RB and (B) a moot point since Mcfadden won't be on the board at 7 anyway.

 

[Deus Irae]

So he is already planning to replace Matt Light two years in advance and at the same time planning on replacing linebackers two years late?

Kindly explain your logic here. As you do, please explain to me the need to replace Thomas, Vrabel or Colvin (I omit Seau and Bruschi because we don't know their plans). Also, please explain the need to draft a linebacker that high in light of Belichick's public comments declaring a preference for experienced linebacker's in his system. Finally, given the team's penchant for 3-4 linebackers that were originally defensive ends in college (Bruschi, Vrabel, TBC, Thomas and Colvin), who is this high end Defensive end/linebacker who's going to be available and able to step right in before it's "two years late"?

I'm not saying that Belioli won't draft a linebacker, because I know better than to try anticipating their draft moves. However, history would seem to indicate a preference for linemen at the higher end of the first round more than any other position.

 

[BelichickFan]

The McFadden rumor was (A) illogical considering they have depth at RB

Julius Jones is a UFA, Barber is a RFA - their depth at draft time is uncertain.

Regarding the thread, I think we could use :

1) CB
2) RT
3) CB

I would add OLB if we don't bring Colvin back and if AD goes back inside. As of now we have Vrabel and Colvin outside with AD ready to go if needed. No need there for me.

Of course ILB is a need but until shown otherwise I'm assuming we address that with veteran FA.

I listed CB twice as Samuel and Gay are UFA.

 

[jeffbiologist]

He might have said he wants to stay in school, but when WORD gets to Mauaglua(sp)that Seau might stick around to mentor if he declares...and the fact that he wont slip past us at #7 might affect the decision. Caroll will tell him to leave if he is going to get top 10 money. Would like to trade down but this guy is worth sticking around for...

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

It is sooo hard to tell right now. First of all, the question of whether you should go for the best guy on the board, or biggest need. Then the question of whether or not it is worth the value, or if we get a better value by trading.

Even before those questions, much will change by the time the draft rolls around. Depends on who we sign/re-sign as free agents.

If we were drafting today and there were no trade offers, I think our biggest need is at linebacker, but the Patriots clearly prefer established veterans at the position and have not drafted a LB in the first 2, maybe 3, rounds. Think Vrabel, Colvin, A Thomas, Seau, C Brown, M Beisel, Pfifer, Cox and all the guys we've passed on in the draft under BB- Harris, Lawson, to name two. Same goes for cornerback, where they rarely draft high because (theory) they don't see a huge difference between the best guy out there and a third rounder.

I could see them going after a specialist guy, with Hester potential if available (Welker is a good returner, but lacks big play special teams potential.) We all know the value of a wild card like Kevin Faulk, who has a maximum of two good years left.

Also, they could go with another safety. This is a position where you need versatility and on-field leadership, and where there aren't that many great players out there. Along with Merriweather, they'd have two talented players with big potential. Harrison is getting older and Sanders is good but not great.

And although it sounds crazy, we all know how Belioli values tight ends. Watson is a free agent in two years, we've lost Graham, and we still don't have a stud TE that can change the game and add a new dimension to the passing game, and be a dominant blocker.

It is possible that we could draft a LB or CB, but we have yet to spend a high pick on either, despite having that need in the past. Belioli has historically tried to pickup veteran linebackers and grab CBs on the cheap, and these methods have worked.

 

[jbb9s]

Kindly explain your logic here. As you do, please explain to me the need to replace Thomas, Vrabel or Colvin (I omit Seau and Bruschi because we don't know their plans). Also, please explain the need to draft a linebacker that high in light of Belichick's public comments declaring a preference for experienced linebacker's in his system. Finally, given the team's penchant for 3-4 linebackers that were originally defensive ends in college (Bruschi, Vrabel, TBC, Thomas and Colvin), who is this high end Defensive end/linebacker who's going to be available and able to step right in before it's "two years late"?

I'm not saying that Belioli won't draft a linebacker, because I know better than to try anticipating their draft moves. However, history would seem to indicate a preference for linemen at the higher end of the first round more than any other position.

It was a general comment about replacing not necessarily via the draft.

However, I do think Light is good for a few years and drafting someone high to play right tackle in order to get ready to replace Light at left tackle in 09 is planning too far ahead for a #7 pick who should be able to play left tackle immediately but of course we already have a pro bowl left tackle so that wouldn't make much sense.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

did i miss something???? whats with all the talk about drafting lights replacement? maybe i watched the wrong pats team all year, but light, as well as the rest of the ol, looked really good. I say we trade the pick. this is a good draft between the 2nd, and 4th rnds. good value there, and b.b. likes value.

I am surprised that 'nsa' hasnt suggested running back at #7, or 'pf1996' suggesting we draft bradys replacement.

 

[Deus Irae]

did i miss something???? whats with all the talk about drafting lights replacement? maybe i watched the wrong pats team all year, but light, as well as the rest of the ol, looked really good. I say we trade the pick. this is a good draft between the 2nd, and 4th rnds. good value there, and b.b. likes value.

I am surprised that 'nsa' hasnt suggested running back at #7, or 'pf1996' suggesting we draft bradys replacement.

For me, anyway, it's not anything against Light. This is a young team at most positions. CB has Hobbs, Gay and Samuel. Safety now has Sanders, Meriweather and Wilson. The D-line has Green, Seymour, Warren and Wilfork. The Rb is younger than our draft pick from last season. Thomas and Watson are young at tight end. Welker, Stallworth and Jackson are at the wide receiver spots along with a 30 year old Moss. Even the line is young. The only real age is at linebacker, but Belioli, historically, doesn't seem to be looking for young linebackers early (although that could, obviously, change).

The result of having such a surprisingly young team is that the team is really in a position to look for a monster player at any position. Given the importance of the left tackle position, I just think that getting that 10 year beast, if he's available, is a good move, since we have no idea when this team will be picking this high again. The question, to me, is whether one will be available at #7. It's why I'm hopeful that Oher will declare even though indications right now are that he will not. I've not seen him on film enough to know about him, but the reports I've read claim he's got all the talent in the world and needs a lot of work to bring it out. That would be perfect for Dante and the Patriots, to my way of thinking.

 

[kriskanos]

That kid from OdBu. Hes a monster in the secondary.

 

[fnordcircle]

Quarterback.

 

[Fondantf]

Just take the best player available.
But first check if there are any losses due to FA.

After this season, we can stock up.

 

[mgteich]

Any player who goes into the draft because one of the 32 teams has a player who would mentor him is an idiot. There is reason to believe that he would get drafted by the patriots, or are you suggesting that Seau will play for whoever draft him?

He might have said he wants to stay in school, but when WORD gets to Mauaglua(sp)that Seau might stick around to mentor if he declares...and the fact that he wont slip past us at #7 might affect the decision. Caroll will tell him to leave if he is going to get top 10 money. Would like to trade down but this guy is worth sticking around for...

 

[VJCPatriot]

Just take the best player available.
But first check if there are any losses due to FA.

After this season, we can stock up.

I agree with the BPA philosophy. At #7 you can get a real stud, and he will improve your team regardless if you already have a player at that position. IE Light could be improved upon, etc.

But if I had to pick a position to draft, I would go with CB. The loss of Samuel will leave a huge void, and I don't think Hobbs is ready to step in to fill it.

 

[karran_s]

Quarterback.

That's funny ... Anyway, my take is that we will need a CB for Samuel...

Bill may trade his pick, as many have already suggested. I think we need somebody on special teams as well (punt return)

 

[godef]

How about, oh, position #20 in the first round this year and next?

 

[pheenix11]

I think we need to draft a stud Left Tackle and move Light over to Right Tackle.

I don't care what the Pro Bowl says, Light is like a turnstile against elite defensive ends. He would be much better on the right side and would be an upgrade over Kaczur.

Kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

 

[mgteich]

I don't why anyone believes that Light would be a better RT than a LT.

 

[FrontSeven]

Not Darren McFadden.

Not even close. Not even in the ball park!

 

[Italian Patriot]

Laurinaitis-LB.

 

[mgteich]

#7 is where you draft a stud. Good teams don't get to do this very often. We should take advantage. The question is how many players are considered studs by Pioli and Belichick in the 2008 draft. I suspect the answer will be in the 5-12 range. Of course, if the number is at least seven, then we are all set. I do believe that this will be BPA, beacuse I don't believe that Belichick will have a QB in the top 10, nor a 43 DE or 43 LB. We could move up a couple of spots or down a few, as long as we get a stud.

I strongly disagree with those that want to trade out of the top 10 (or out of blue chip territory) because we have so many needs. We have fewer needs than any team in football!!! We have four picks in the first three rounds. That is plenty to hopefully get three quality players. I presume that we will use our 3rd and 4th to move UP to improve our position in the second and perhaps to move the Oakland third to the second.

A stud top 10 player and two seconds is fine for the first four rounds. Given the quality of this draft, I expect all three picks to have better potential than Meriweather.

As we know, one 5-6-7 may make the team, or not.