ESPN.com mock draft--Pats on clock till 1 PM

[ctpatsfan77]

Yeah, the format is teh suck, but I know some people might be interested.

Anyhow, the Pats' "choices" are:

• Ryan Clady OT
• Sedrick Ellis DT
• Leodis McKelvin CB
• Keith Rivers LB
• Antonio [sic!] Rodgers-Cromartie CB

Voting closes at 1 PM; right now, Rodgers-Cromartie is lapping the field with 40% of the 18K votes.

And, BTW, so far, the sheeple have voted thusly:
1. 'lphins--Matt Ryan
2. Rams--Jake Long
3. Falcons--Darren McFadden
4. Raiders--Chris Long
5. Chiefs--Glenn Dorsey
6. JEST--Vernon Gholston

 

[signbabybrady]

Yeah, the format is teh suck, but I know some people might be interested.

Anyhow, the Pats' "choices" are:

• Ryan Clady OT
• Sedrick Ellis DT
• Leodis McKelvin CB
• Keith Rivers LB
• Antonio [sic!] Rodgers-Cromartie CB

Voting closes at 1 PM; right now, Rodgers-Cromartie is lapping the field with 40% of the 18K votes.

so we draft a high 2nd round pick on the rise with #7 overall.

 

[BelichickFan]

Clady may be in last place - but it's not because of me

 

[primetime]

Clady may be in last place - but it's not because of me

Me either. I'd take Clady at that spot 7 days a week and twice on Sunday.

I'd also take Antonio Cromartie. But not Dominique.

 

[BradyManny]

Boo this poll.

 

[killerrob]

Keith Rivers or Ellis make the most sense here. We are going to have 3 free agents on the D line after 2009, so Ellis keeps us young there but puts a lot of money in D linemen. Rivers I like the most, can't argue with the #55 from USC. He is going to be special in this league and would like to see him manning the middle of our Defense. The draft is deep in corners and BB has a good eye for them. We will get a good one in the second or third. Not enough good linebackers in this year's draft which has me leaning towards Rivers. No way do I think Clady is a good pick, I thought this before I read Reiss's Mailbag this week.

 

[primetime]

As I read more about Rivers I'm really beginning to like him. He sounds like he has the potential to be an out-of-this-world player. But does he project better to the middle of a 3-4 defense or to the outside? Certainly he has the talent for both, but will that talent be maximized in the middle or is he better on the outside? Either way, if he is the selection and the Patriots feel he's better as an OLB in the 3-4, then it frees up Adalius to move inside anyhow, and I suspect quite strongly that he won't be the only LB the Patriots select this year.

 

[miDeuce]

But does he project better to the middle of a 3-4 defense or to the outside?

I've read that he could project inside of a 3-4.

 

[PonyExpress]

ILB has the least value of any position in the 3-4. At #7 it seems like a misallocation of resources to draft ILB that high for that money. The best options are OLB, CB, LT or trade down. That means the Longs, Clady and Gholston, since no cb in this draft is worth #7 money. Otherwise freefall as far as possible and take a combination of Avril/Groves and Cason/Talib.

 

[killerrob]

The only way we trade down is if Ryan falls to us at 7. Everyone knows Baltimore will take him at 8, so teams like Carolina, Chicago, and Minnesota could be looking to move up, but are not going to give up a whole lot to make the move. I wouldn't mind seeing a Minnesota trade that involved CB Winfield.

As far a value goes, Rivers won't make it past the Saints at 10 and then after him it's a crapshoot at LB inside and out. That to me makes him excellent value, knowing you can get a good CB and OT in later rounds. We need the help inside and also build for the future. I really think Clady or any of the top three Corners are alot more of risk, especially when you factor in how much of our cap we are going to have commit to that player.

 

[PonyExpress]

The only way we trade down is if Ryan falls to us at 7. Everyone knows Baltimore will take him at 8, so teams like Carolina, Chicago, and Minnesota could be looking to move up, but are not going to give up a whole lot to make the move. I wouldn't mind seeing a Minnesota trade that involved CB Winfield.

As far a value goes, Rivers won't make it past the Saints at 10 and then after him it's a crapshoot at LB inside and out. That to me makes him excellent value, knowing you can get a good CB and OT in later rounds. We need the help inside and also build for the future. I really think Clady or any of the top three Corners are alot more of risk, especially when you factor in how much of our cap we are going to have commit to that player.

Why are you so sure that the Pats couldn't trade down if McFadden or Dorsey or Clady is on the board, the elite players at their positions in the draft? I can envision numerous trade down possibilities which don't involve Ryan, although having Ryan last to #7 would be ideal.

"It's a crapshoot" with Rivers too. Where is Rivers regarded as a "can't miss" prospect? I really have to wait to see how he works out at his pro day before passing judgment, since he didn't do anything at the combine and made few impact plays in college. His main attraction is his athletic ability, but he hasn't even worked out yet.

As far as the cap charge at #7, it will be almost identical regardless if Clady or Rivers is the pick. If the Pats draft one of them, its because they regard the player as a future starter. Better to pay a true Left Tackle that money, considering guards are signing for 40 million, than to pay an ILB. ILB is really a filler position in the 3-4 capable of being adequately manned by 39 year old has-beens as long as they are playing behind a stellar D-line.

OTOH, Brady is the franchise and his health is the most vital issue with this team every year. As long as he is upright, this team is a potential SB team. If he is injured this team is an also ran.

 

[captain stone]

As far a value goes, Rivers won't make it past the Saints at 10 and then after him it's a crapshoot at LB inside and out. That to me makes him excellent value, knowing you can get a good CB and OT in later rounds. We need the help inside and also build for the future...

I think that NO might take a CB with #10.

I don't think that Rivers can play OLB in this defense; his only position here would be WILB.

Dam the Cardinals for not beating SF at least once. If they had, then we'd be sitting pretty at #3.

 

[signbabybrady]

I think that NO might take a CB with #10.

I don't think that Rivers can play OLB in this defense; his only position here would be WILB.

Dam the Cardinals for not beating SF at least once. If they had, then we'd be sitting pretty at #3.

and the Dolphins would still take Chris Long but at least we would get Gohlston. but it would cost more. I think we are sitting pretty good where we are. We have a good chance one of the talented LBs makes it and if they don't one of the guys that garner the best trade for us may. by being at seven we will either get the player a little cheaper or we will trade back and get some extra value.

There is a small chance we stay at seven and slightly reach for someone in which case we would than have been screwed by the cardnals not beating the 49ers at least once.

 

[Seneschal2]

The only way we trade down is if Ryan falls to us at 7.

Bears coach Lovie Smith works out Clady

Bears coach Lovie Smith traveled to the edge of the Rocky Mountains on Monday to see a mountain of an offensive tackle.

A week after Boise State junior Ryan Clady impressed at his pro day, Smith showed up at the campus known for the blue turf in Bronco Stadium to work him out personally.

Clady is considered one of the top two or three tackle prospects, a position high on the Bears' list of needs. The 6-6, 309-pounder might be off the board before the Bears select at No. 14...

---
So why wouldn't the Bears be interested in trading up to #7 -- especially if Lovie was impressed?

 

[killerrob]

Why are you so sure that the Pats couldn't trade down if McFadden or Dorsey or Clady is on the board, the elite players at their positions in the draft? I can envision numerous trade down possibilities which don't involve Ryan, although having Ryan last to #7 would be ideal.

"It's a crapshoot" with Rivers too. Where is Rivers regarded as a "can't miss" prospect? I really have to wait to see how he works out at his pro day before passing judgment, since he didn't do anything at the combine and made few impact plays in college. His main attraction is his athletic ability, but he hasn't even worked out yet.

As far as the cap charge at #7, it will be almost identical regardless if Clady or Rivers is the pick. If the Pats draft one of them, its because they regard the player as a future starter. Better to pay a true Left Tackle that money, considering guards are signing for 40 million, than to pay an ILB. ILB is really a filler position in the 3-4 capable of being adequately manned by 39 year old has-beens as long as they are playing behind a stellar D-line.

OTOH, Brady is the franchise and his health is the most vital issue with this team every year. As long as he is upright, this team is a potential SB team. If he is injured this team is an also ran.

McFadden I feel is too talented to get past the Jets, they role the dice and let him beat up patrons at Manhattan bars for the next 3 years. Dorsey's knee problems are not going to interest anyone into giving up more then one pick on him. Clady is just not the athlete for us, and I do not see anyone wanting to jump up for a OT with such depth in the year's draft class.

Rivers is widly reguarded as the best pure linebacker in this class. There is no sure thing in the draft BTW. I feel that we have to look at all needs and fill them the best way we can. When Rosie went down after the Eagles and our 39 year old has-beens had to play regularly our defense slowed way down and teams were able to keep games close. River's highlights from college have been pretty nice, he has good insticts to the ball and shed blockers well. Youtube him, I think you will be impressed.

You are right with the charge being the same, my point is with OT and CB we can get better value in rounds 2,3 & 4. Those positions are deep. Why pay more then we have to. We have a great OLT now, and one of the best O-lines in the game. We were outschemed in teh Superbowl, not going to happen a whole lot. Light has had problems with speed rushers, but why not run more 3 TE and spread plays to counter the blitzers, hundred things have been said about the game, sorry for bringing it back up. But replacing Matt Light is a mistake. I like O'Callagahan and would like to see what kind of progress he makes this offseason.

Brady is the reason we win. See above paragraph.

Thank you for the conversation, living in New Orleans I don't get to talk Pats with anyone who doesn't tell me how great it is the Manning's killed us two year's in a row.

 

[mcsully]

From what I'm read from different sources, DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE, is nothing more than a workout warrior and who had a good senior bowl.
His body of work in college in college isn't great and he had only 2 int's this past season..

One article mentioned that he was beaten constantly by WR"s that will never see the light of day on SUNDAY AFTERNOONS..

 

[tuckeverlasting]

unfortunately, we're the seventh team in a six player draft. someone needs to jump up the draft board and sneak into the top five so i can have one of my binkies, howie's kid or gholston.