I think Selection #7 is up for sale.

[PatsFan2]

After #7 the Best Player's Available are at positions we are all set at. You don't pay back-ups 7th overall selection money. I see this draft as Five Blue Chip Players Deep.

1)McFadden

2)Dorsey

3)C. Long

4)J. Long

5)Matt Ryan

I personally consider any other player after the Top 5 a Reach in this Top 10. Compared to other Drafts in recent years...2008 have to be considered one of the weaker Top 10's. And don't get me wrong this is shaping up to be a very Good Draft with alot of Dept. What i am really saying is i don't think their will be a Big Drop off form selections 7 - 20...that's how close i have these players ranked overall. Just look at our N.E. Patriots if we resign Randy Moss in FA we'll probably be the favorites again. We don't have many Major NEEDS, we just need an infusion of Youth at LB which would be a upgrade over what we had. When Bruschi and Seau retire it will be addition by subtraction. Back to the 7th selection, could that player make a Bigger IMPACT than a proven FA...i seriously doubt it. Take into conseideration the money we have to pay them. If we were in the Top 5 i could see us sitting Pat with one of those Blue Chip players minus Matt Ryan. Now at 7th i consider any player taken there by the N.E. Patriots a Reach! Moral of post is in a Deep Draft such as this one you just can't afford to sit pat early on. I am all for moving the pick to any takers.

 

[mgteich]

So what you are saying is that thre are 5 blue chips players, and that the patriots will convince someone else that there are more so that they will trade up?

If there isn't a big dropoff between #7 and #20, then we won't get much to trade down. Presumably you are just looking for two stupid GM's. After all, in your scenario, the jets would also be looking to trade down.

BTW, with regard to need, I don't know who you think is playing corner. Both Samuel and Gay are free agents. That leaves Hobbs, Spann and Richardson as our 2008 corners.

IMHO, your comment regarding Bruschi and Seau is least informed comment I have seen in some time. Addition by subtraction indeed! Whoever stays will start. If both stay, then they might share time with a first round LB or a mid-level free agent.

After #7 the Best Player's Available are at positions we are all set at. You don't pay back-ups 7th overall selection money. I see this draft as Five Blue Chip Players Deep.

1)McFadden

2)Dorsey

3)C. Long

4)J. Long

5)Matt Ryan

I personally consider any other player after the Top 5 a Reach in this Top 10. Compared to other Drafts in recent years...2008 have to be considered one of the weaker Top 10's. And don't get me wrong this is shaping up to be a very Good Draft with alot of Dept. What i am really saying is i don't think their will be a Big Drop off form selections 7 - 20...that's how close i have these players ranked overall. Just look at our N.E. Patriots if we resign Randy Moss in FA we'll probably be the favorites again. We don't have many Major NEEDS, we just need an infusion of Youth at LB which would be a upgrade over what we had. When Bruschi and Seau retire it will be addition by subtraction. Back to the 7th selection, could that player make a Bigger IMPACT than a proven FA...i seriously doubt it. Take into conseideration the money we have to pay them. If we were in the Top 5 i could see us sitting Pat with one of those Blue Chip players minus Matt Ryan. Now at 7th i consider any player taken there by the N.E. Patriots a Reach! Moral of post is in a Deep Draft such as this one you just can't afford to sit pat early on. I am all for moving the pick to any takers.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

The addition by subtraction statement makes no sense to me.

However I do agree that this draft has some big time blue chip prospects at the top of the board and about 25 to 30 white chip prospects after that. The big problem is that the group of red chip prospects is thin and hard to distinguish from the white chip prospects.

Once we get the combine and pro days work out numbers we should start to see some of this sorting itself out.

 

[BelichickFan]

It's too early to limit yourself to five top guys. Sedrick Ellis almost certainly will join that group. Whether they should or not, players move way up (and down) based on the combine and other workouts.

 

[PatsFan2]

So what you are saying is that thre are 5 blue chips players, and that the patriots will convince someone else that there are more so that they will trade up?

If there isn't a big dropoff between #7 and #20, then we won't get much to trade down. Presumably you are just looking for two stupid GM's. After all, in your scenario, the jets would also be looking to trade down.

BTW, with regard to need, I don't know who you think is playing corner. Both Samuel and Gay are free agents. That leaves Hobbs, Spann and Richardson as our 2008 corners.

IMHO, your comment regarding Bruschi and Seau is least informed comment I have seen in some time. Addition by subtraction indeed! Whoever stays will start. If both stay, then they might share time with a first round LB or a mid-level free agent.

You are taking what i said way out of context. And yes they are stupid GM's out there or haven't you noticed? Some stupid is going to fall inlove with a certain player, it happens every year. Regarding the N.Y. Jets why would they want to Trade down? didn't they finish with the 6th worst record last year...that means they wern't a very good Team Period! As for our FA's i know that Asante Samuel is a goner but i wouldn't bet on Blue Gay being gone...the Pats should be able to offer him a decent contract, Blue Gay has already proven that he can play in this league. I still stand by my words that both Bruschi and Seau won't be missed in 2008.

 

[ayjackson]

So what you are saying is that thre are 5 blue chips players, and that the patriots will convince someone else that there are more so that they will trade up?

If there isn't a big dropoff between #7 and #20, then we won't get much to trade down. Presumably you are just looking for two stupid GM's.

That's what trading is all about - finding a team that values the talent differently than you do. It's not necessarily about being stupid - though that can help.

 

[jeffbiologist]

Wow, not much understanding there. First, there are ALOT of people now seeing that Ellis can play the NT position and therefore would be a much better for for Parcells 3-4. Where Ryan lands will impact the pats the most, I am hoping he slips to us so we are in a position to trade down as well. We arent the only ones, alot of teams want to trade down--especially the bad ones with LOTS of needs. Dallas is a wild card, with JJ wanting to move up holding 2 1s. But you have KC likely trading back. And what are some peoples idea of blue chippers are really just safe picks(read LINEMAN). We have the luxury of having a GREAT team, and I think 1 of our ILBs retires and BB approaches the other to stay 1 more year for continuity. The ILB is the brain of our defense, you just dont hand that over all at once to either a rookie or a new guy. I even wondered if they wouldnt consider moving Seymour there and draft a new stud DL. As far as CB, we dont need a lock down guy, just a solid guy who can be a #1CB within a year or 2. We dont draft for NEED, we draft for value and if need=value then GREAT! That doesnt happen often. Vince is one of those, Maroney and Mankins maybe not. Thats not to say they arent good players, its just that they were both a bit of a reach knowing what we do in hindsight. They were considered by most others a reach at the time....

 

[Taxed in Maine]

I don't really understand what you mean at the end of your post. Yes Wilfork was a steal- need and great value as a projected top 10 pick. But Mankins and Maroney-- reaches?
Reports had several teams hoping to get Mankins soon after the Pats took him. He has turned into a Pro-Bowler and one of the best Guards in the League.
Most Draft pundits had Maroney as a top 15 guy and shouldn't have been around when we picked him. He fell right in our laps, almost as good of a value pick as Wilfork.

 

[jeffbiologist]

The meeting of NEED and VALUE. Lets just say on a grading scale A-F, Wilfork was an A. But Mankins(G) in the first round was a reach for everyone. He is a PRO BOWLER, well I would hope so, how many guards are taken with a #1? Maroney rated higher? I dont know, and most pundits will agree RB (unless they are a special player like LT, Marshall Faulk, ****erson, or Bo Jackson) is a position you can get a good one in later rounds. Look at the Packers Grant.....undrafted, leading rusher in NFL 2nd half and almost in the Super Bowl. If I had to grade drafting Mankins(c+) and Maroney(c). Again, thats not to say they arent good players, but our system accounts for a good deal of their success as well.

 

[pantherman]

I wish we would trade with you guys.

 

[Watson's IQ]

After #7 the Best Player's Available are at positions we are all set at. You don't pay back-ups 7th overall selection money.

The Patriots have a pretty clear track record of drafting players in the first round who aren't going to be the full-time starters right away.

In the last two years, both Merriweather and Maroney were brought in as part-time players. Maroney of course in a time share, but Merriweather has mostly been a special teams player who will likely see an expanded role going forward. Going further back, Watson and Wilfork were also both worked in gradually (though BW more because of injury). Mankins I believe started most games as a rookie, but I'd have to check.

I would be shocked if whoever they select is a full-time starter for the Pats this season.

That said, I do very much expect them to trade down to lower in the first round. My hope is they trade down far enough to where they can still get the first or second CB off the board.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Mankins I believe started most games as a rookie, but I'd have to check.

Mankins started every game, and, I believe, had the most snaps of any rookie in the NFL that year.

 

[patchick]

The Patriots have a pretty clear track record of drafting players in the first round who aren't going to be the full-time starters right away.

In the last two years, both Merriweather and Maroney were brought in as part-time players.

I'd say they have a pretty clear track record of spending high picks on players who they expect to start full time in their 2nd season. Mankins was a day-1 guy because they had a gaping hole at LG, and Watson is hard to characterize since different years they put 2 TEs on the field more or less often. But Meriweather, Maroney, Wilfork & Warren were all signed with exactly 1 year to learn and acclimatize before filling an important hole in the starting lineup.

 

[Watson's IQ]

I'd say they have a pretty clear track record of spending high picks on players who they expect to start full time in their 2nd season. Mankins was a day-1 guy because they had a gaping hole at LG, and Watson is hard to characterize since different years they put 2 TEs on the field more or less often. But Meriweather, Maroney, Wilfork & Warren were all signed with exactly 1 year to learn and acclimatize before filling an important hole in the starting lineup.

That's not inconsistent with what I said. I fully expect the next pick to follow a similar trend. Even if it's a CB as many (including myself) expect, I would assume they're going to bring in a veteran to start opposite Hobbs (assuming Asante leaves) for 2008.

 

[patchick]

That's not inconsistent with what I said.

True 'nuff!

 

[onegr8om]

I'm not sure if any would be available, but after last night i would LOVE to trade pick #7 for a High End Corner. I would also try to keep Asante. Hobbs isn't cutting it. He falls down too much and obviously can't cover elite receivers. Anybody know who's may be available?? I hear people saying Dallas wants to move up. Maybe one of their corners?

 

[fester]

The meeting of NEED and VALUE. Lets just say on a grading scale A-F, Wilfork was an A. But Mankins(G) in the first round was a reach for everyone. He is a PRO BOWLER, well I would hope so, how many guards are taken with a #1? Maroney rated higher? I dont know, and most pundits will agree RB (unless they are a special player like LT, Marshall Faulk, ****erson, or Bo Jackson) is a position you can get a good one in later rounds. Look at the Packers Grant.....undrafted, leading rusher in NFL 2nd half and almost in the Super Bowl. If I had to grade drafting Mankins(c+) and Maroney(c). Again, thats not to say they arent good players, but our system accounts for a good deal of their success as well.

Well, Steve Hutchinson and Alan Faneca were both late first round picks. Elite guards are worth late first round picks, and Mankins looks like an elite guard and was #32, the ultimate late first round pick. I'll give the Mankins pick an A to A+ in value as we have recently seen the contract prices of what better than average/median but not exceptional guards earn and five years of Mankins on a rookie contract is a massive bargain given his current level of play.

 

[Remix 6]

I'd agree. If Patriots arent in love or feel #7 doesnt offer someone who will dominate, I can see us trading down hopefully to Cowboys in someway to grab a combo of a CB/LB/OL

 

[mgteich]

And why would Dallas want #7

 

[Remix 6]

And why would Dallas want #7

if McFadden falls?