Why it's stupid to draft for need right now

PatsFan2 said:

A chain is as stong as it's weakest link...our Defense especially pass rush have been this Teams problems since losing McGinest and Vrabel to age. I see your point to a point...but lets say your scenario plays out and the BPA is a TE...i know both myself and others would be pretty pissed if the Patriots Drafted a TE in Rounds 1 or 2. There is alot of holes on our Defense we NEED more complete playes on that side of the ball instead the average Two Down Thumpers.

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I would not be pissed if the Patriots drafted a tight end in the top 64 for the following reasons:

1) Gronk and Hernandez each have 2 years left on their rookie contracts, getting some very talented and cap cheap insurance is not a bad idea in case one or both don't want to resign.

2) The Patriots offense is predicated on having three guys who defenses should not single cover. Look at the Super Bowl, Gronk has single coverable, and it changed the complexion of the game. The Pats need a 4th match-up nightmare for depth if nothing else. Now if all 4 are healthy, then Josh McDaniel will be creaming himself. In my opinion, it does not matter (too much) if that 4th guy who is should not be routinely single covered is a tight end or an outside receiver, as Hernandez is can flex out wide... the Pats just really need that 4th guy to give defenses headaches.

3) Power run game.

Depth AND value. While it looks like we drafted Solder to learn behind Light he most likely wouldve REPLACED him had Light not come in and earned his spot. And we have to remember that this team drafts in the first to fill specific holes, even if they arent apparent on this board. If Brady cant throw 20 yard passes anymore and we have to rely this much on RAC I can see 4 TE sets on the field. The evolution of the game is something no one here can really see. We can complain about last years WR and need going into the draft but we were relatively healthy there and our 3rd WR was instead our 2nd TE. Going into the draft I kinda knew that Bodden wasnt going to make it, too much money coming off an injury. Still surprised he didnt last when Dowling went to IR but there you go. Obviously Dowling was coming in to replace Bodden but there is 1 constant in every year under BB....we lose at LEAST 1 DB in camp and usually another during the year. We see 2 "starters" on the field, BB sees injuries waiting to happen and tries to plan for it. Our 5th CB has to be able to cover their 2nd WR 1 on 1. So look on Miguels page for the highest salaries vs production and those are our most likely "holes". If players who can play in the system are available at any position and we can trade the pick then throw em against the wall and see if they stick. I think our draft success has been over rated for a long time now, 18 undrafted FAs on a super bowl team?? That likely wont happen again.

If Trent Richardson is somehow available with our first pick in the draft, I hope to God we don't pick him or another RB. And if we somehow pick another TE with our first two picks, please kick me in the head.

mgteich said:

We didn't have a front seven need?

Then why did Belichick spend considerable resources on Carter, Anderson, Ellis, Haynsworth and Warren. Clearly, we need front seven help.

I suppose some thought that we could get solid production from more than 2 of Deaderick, Love, Brace, Pryor and Wright.

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I said outside an edge rusher. Carter and Anderson were edge rushers. Haynesworth was a low risk, high reward move. Warren and Ellis were back ups from day one.

If you supposed some thought the Pats would have gotten solid production out guys on the roster, you would be right because the defensive line was at its best when the 3-4 d-line consisted of players who were on the roster during last April's draft. The last month of the season and the playoffs proved that the d-line wasn't a need in last year's draft since the starters were Wilfork, Love, and Deadrick (all on the roster in April of last year). And if Wright and Pryor didn't go to IR both would have been key players.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

Just look at last year. We were wondering if we'd carry seven receivers since they were all "so good"- we ended up cutting Tate and Price. Nobody else was even decent after Branch, so we played with a two-deep WR core all ear. Nobody thought it would make any sense to draft a wide receiver last year, and when we got Ocho, we wondered why it was even necessary.

We were convinced that our secondary was primed and ready to go with a solid safety combination in Chung and Merriweather, elite corners in McCourty and Bodden, and some decent depth. Well, how did that work out? By the time the season started, Meriweather and Sanders were gone, Dowling was injured, Bodden was useless/injured, and it turned out McCourty can't play man coverage.

Yet, last year, we all thought we should address the front 7 at draft time. The front 7 was actually pretty darn good last year, especially with Carter. But even without him, we saw several of our d-linemen step up, the emergence of Ninkovich, and vast improvement from Spikes. Cunningham was the only major disappointment.

My point?

We have $20M in cap space to sign some key players for next season at positions of need. For the draft, these are the types of players we'll need to build the rest of the team around. Draft the best player available, with the exception of quarterback. Who the heck knows where the strengths and weaknesses will be next season.

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I don't think they usually draft for need, but I am kinda happy they drafted a couple tight ends and linebackers in recent years. The best player you cut and gift to another team isn't always the best idea. Obviously, Ras I didn't show, but I'm guessing there opinion of Merriweather butler and some others influenced that pick.

They definitely don't confine themselves to any cookie cutter philosophy. I'm sure they take a great player when they have other needs, but they damn sure have a prototype at a position they keep an eye out for.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

Just look at last year. We were wondering if we'd carry seven receivers since they were all "so good"- we ended up cutting Tate and Price. Nobody else was even decent after Branch, so we played with a two-deep WR core all ear. Nobody thought it would make any sense to draft a wide receiver last year, and when we got Ocho, we wondered why it was even necessary....

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I'm not sure where you're getting this from, because WR need was a topic that was discussed quite often.

mgteich said:

We didn't have a front seven need?

Then why did Belichick spend considerable resources on Carter, Anderson, Ellis, Haynsworth and Warren. Clearly, we need front seven help.

I suppose some thought that we could get solid production from more than 2 of Deaderick, Love, Brace, Pryor and Wright.

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This.

The DL / 34DE has been a major need for many years now. I want them to draft TWO in this draft....early.
Edge rushers are kind of a shallow hal view. It all starts up front.
Mcginest and Vrabel had Seymour -Warren -Wilfork. Put talent like those three in front of Ninko, Carter, and Anderson and we would not be talking about a pass rush.

When this team puts some talent next to wilfork in the front 3 you will see an large improvement in this defense.

DL is the absolute #1 need on this team right now.

i dont think this is a very deep Draft at lest not like the 2010 Draft so i dont think the pats will get much more then good dept out of the 2012 rookie class and maybe they can become staters in 2 or 3 years