You be the GM: Post your preferred draft picks

You be the GM.

Using a site that lists draft prospect rankings such as DraftTek or CBS Sports (or another of your choice), list the players and positions you would like to see the Patriots use their draft picks on. Your choice doesn't have his ranking fit exactly with the Pats' selection, but try to keep it real - say within five slots for the first round, ten slots for the 2nd and third, and fifteen slots after that.

If you want to get creative and include trades, go for it; similarly, make the hypothetical trade realistic by using a trade value chart.

You don't necessarily have to do a full seven rounds, but try to make at least more than one selection so we can see the order of your preference by position.

As a reminder, the Patriots own the following draft picks:

• 1st round, 29th pick, 29th overall
• 2nd round, 30th pick, 62nd overall
• 3rd round, 29th pick, 93rd overall
• 4th round, 30th pick, 130th overall
• 4th round, 40th pick, 140th overall (compensatory pick; cannot be traded)
• 6th round, 22nd pick, 198th overall
• 6th round, 30th pick, 206th overall
• 7th round, 29th pick, 244th overall

29. Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
62. Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State
93. Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh
130. Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia
140. A.C. Leonard, TE, Tennessee State
198. Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford
244. Larry Webster, DE, Bloomsburg

Without a whole lot of thought, here goes nothing:



NFL Draft Prospect Rankings 2014 | CBS Sports

I tried to put together a list of players that reports indicate should most likely be available, so I've ruled out other players that I might have chosen. Having said that:

Rnd 1: Tuitt - Versatile enough that he should be able to play 3-4 DE, 4-3 DT and some 4-3 DE, had a down year due to injury, and the Patriots might even be able to trade down and still get him. I'm not looking for Richard Seymour level talent. I'm fine with a Ty Warren. If a top guy (i.e. Dennard) fell, I'd be fine with that sort of move as an alternative.

Rnd 2: Niklas - All the TEs worry me, and Niklas is no exception. Hitting the weight room would put him in position to give the Patriots two big red zone targets. His lack of explosiveness is an issue, but he'd still require a bigger defender, meaning teams would be stretched to the limit trying to find those guys for both Gronk and Niklas.

Rnd 3: Martin - They need a center, he's got the ability and needs the strength, technique improvement, and drive, all of which can be developed

Rnd 4: Archer/Turner/Williams/Fiedorowicz/Mettenberger etc.. - Need pick with upside, availability will be a question, this pick seems to be the most difficult to nail down with a consistent choice when looking at mocks and simulators, it's really a case of finding the slider, for me

Rnd 4: Danield McCullers - run stuffer and toilet clogger, needs work and can learn behind Wilfork and Kelly

Rnd 6: Southward - late to football, he needs time to develop, but he's got the size for the position and could start on special teams as he learned the position

Rnd 6: OT/OG - too many will be moving around to really nail which one would both be left and be the best fit for the Patriots (I've seen Linder fall this far in some mocks/simulators and not others, for one example), so I'm leaving it as a position pick rather than as a specific player

Rnd 7: Lyerla - He's a gamble, but they need to fix the position. By taking him in the 7th, you get him without having to fight for him, and you pin his money, which should avoid any issue there. I could see the Patriots not even having him near their board, and I can see other options here, but I'll go with him, mostly just because it seems like a complete "not happening" kind of pick and this team seems to grab one of those in a lot of drafts.

I voted OG by which I mean more of an OT moved toOG, but SS would work nicely too.

Someone like Logan Mankins was. Preferably Joel Bitonio or Zack Martin. There's considerable speculation that for the last year or two Mankins has been dealing with chronic injuries due to wear and tear. The OL is a very tough position on the body. I want a stud in the pipeline should Logan's play drop off precipitously, and at any rate before next year, when his cap situation makes him a likely cap cut.

OC is probably our biggest need IMO. But I don't see a prospect worthy of our first pick.

Or a top notch Safety alongside McCourty would be great instead. My preference is Buchannon after a small trade down. Our Defensive backfield would be dominant. Gregory (who wasn't very good IMO) was cut and the guys who couldn't beat him out are now expected to be starters*. In the way that a great pass rush benefits a Defensive Backfield. A dominant Defensive Backfield makes the opposing QB hold the ball longer and that benefits our pass rush.

*I'm not buying the Logan Ryan-to-Safety talk. He showed promise at CB last season. CB is the more valuable and hard to find position. When you find a promising one you don't move him from the position. Even if you don't need him there immediately. Let him push Arrington for the slot CB spot while Revis is here. Plus we don't know for sure what we have in Browner (who's returning from a major injury) or even if he'll avoid a major suspension should he flunk just one more drug test.

No trades, using the CBS rankings.

• 29th Kony Ealy - DE - Missouri
• 62nd Dominique Easley - DT - Florida
• 93rd CJ Fiedorowicz - TE - Iowa
• 130th Kevin Norwood - WR - Alabama
• 140th Brock Vereen - SS - Minnesota
• 198th Kevin Pierre-Louis - LB - Boston
• 244th Brandon Thomas - OG - Clemson

29: Pryor, Tuitt, Hageman, Nix, Ealy, Ford, Lee, Bridgewater (if his stock continues to fall)
62: Easley (3-tech), Kareem Martin, ASJ, Niklas, Bucannon
93: Fiedorowicz, Marcus Martin, Swanson, Mettenberger, Murray, Jeffcoat, Purifoy
130: Christian Jones, Tripp, Norwood, Street, Archer, Gaines
140: KPL, Campanaro, Gaffney, Storm Johnson
198: Aaron Lynch, Exum, Janis, Dontae Johnson, Bullough, DeAnthony Thomas
244: Colvin, Burton, Wilder

Sorry for the sloppiness, but those are all my preferences at each pick.

I don't have the time to put together a draft , but I do want an upgrade at center, a top TE and a TE prospect later in the draft. I'm intrigued by Thomas from VA Tech. Could he be a TE & backup QB?
Thoughts? Feel free to shred the idea, but I'm thinking he's a late rounder who may be best suited at TE.

29th- Hageman DT (best value is the defensive line in the first round, would also consider Tuitt, Nix, Shazier, Pryor or Ford)
62nd- Niklas TE( would love if he fell here, might not happen, that's why I think it would be a good idea to possibly trade back in the first round to get an extra pick or two)
93rd- Swanson C ( A definite upgrade is needed)
130th - Jordan Tripp LB (a lot of speed and athleticism)
140th- Will Clarke DT/DE
198th-Kevin Pierre -Louis LB
244th-Tre Boston-S

drpatriot said:

29. Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
62. Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State
93. Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh
130. Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia
140. A.C. Leonard, TE, Tennessee State
198. Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford
244. Larry Webster, DE, Bloomsburg

Click to expand...

Nice draft. I'd like a LB too, but this seems like a solid infusion of talent

ashley1992 said:

29th- Hageman DT (best value is the defensive line in the first round, would also consider Tuitt, Nix, Shazier, Pryor or Ford)
62nd- Niklas TE( would love if he fell here, might not happen, that's why I think it would be a good idea to possibly trade back in the first round to get an extra pick or two)
93rd- Swanson C ( A definite upgrade is needed)
130th - Jordan Tripp LB (a lot of speed and athleticism)
140th- Will Clarke DT/DE
198th-Kevin Pierre -Louis LB
244th-Tre Boston-S

Click to expand...

29 Stephon Tuitt DE
62 Troy Niklas TE
93 AJ McCarron QB
130 Brandon Coleman WR
140 Jerick McKinnon RB
198 Kevin Pierre-Louis OLB
206 John Urschel C
244 Lonnie Ballentine SS

jmt57 said:

You be the GM.

Using a site that lists draft prospect rankings such as DraftTek or CBS Sports (or another of your choice), list the players and positions you would like to see the Patriots use their draft picks on. Your choice doesn't have his ranking fit exactly with the Pats' selection, but try to keep it real - say within five slots for the first round, ten slots for the 2nd and third, and fifteen slots after that.

If you want to get creative and include trades, go for it; similarly, make the hypothetical trade realistic by using a trade value chart.

You don't necessarily have to do a full seven rounds, but try to make at least more than one selection so we can see the order of your preference by position.

As a reminder, the Patriots own the following draft picks:

• 1st round, 29th pick, 29th overall
• 2nd round, 30th pick, 62nd overall
• 3rd round, 29th pick, 93rd overall
• 4th round, 30th pick, 130th overall
• 4th round, 40th pick, 140th overall (compensatory pick; cannot be traded)
• 6th round, 22nd pick, 198th overall
• 7th round, 29th pick, 244th overall

Click to expand...

A slight correction. The Patriots also have pick #206>
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/draftorder/draftorder.shtml

Using the DraftTek rankings as I've used the CBS rankings a zillion times.
29. Truitt DT/DE
62 Niklas TE
93 Swanson C
130 McCullers DT
140 Andre williams RB
198 ron Blancflower TE
206 Matt hazel WR
244 Ryan Groy OG

Wow- I am impressed at how much football knowledge so many people have. I consider myself a pretty hardcore fan, and I follow the draft, but I'd be hard pressed to name more than five players who are projected beyond the top 20.

Player rankings from CBS...Draft pick trades per the point system...

Okay here it goes:

13. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina [ (2014 # 1, 3) + (2015 # 1, 3) ]
62. Will Sutton, DT, Penn State
130. Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU
140. Brent Urban, DE, Virginia
198. Tyler Gaffney, RB, Stanford
206. Corey Linsley, C, Ohio State
244. Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon

Some of these picks are real headscratchers. Folks, we have scored less than 20 points in each of our last 3 postseason losses! We need PLAYMAKERS, we need a game changer at the WR position to enable us to score more than 20 points in the championship games!

We have been looking hard at WRs for a reason. I say we go Marquis Lee with our first round pick at WR, and address defense/OL in the 2nd/3rd rounds. Did you guys see some of the catches Lee made at the combine? He is a future star.

NG Pats Fan said:

Some of these picks are real headscratchers. Folks, we have scored less than 20 points in each of our last 3 postseason losses! We need PLAYMAKERS, we need a game changer at the WR position to enable us to score more than 20 points in the championship games!

We have been looking hard at WRs for a reason. I say we go Marquis Lee with our first round pick at WR, and address defense/OL in the 2nd/3rd rounds. Did you guys see some of the catches Lee made at the combine? He is a future star.

Click to expand...

Defense wins Championships.

Give the Patriots a relentless pass rush to go along with what looks like one of the top secondaries in the league on paper then you don't need to worry about the Offense because you'll see more turnovers which can lead to more points and they'll help swing the time of possession in the Patriots favor by getting off the field on 3rd down etc.

Not to mention most of the WRs last season were rookies (and injured in the playoffs) give them a chance! They weren't horrible last year - the problem was lack of production at TE.

Ive done trades with mine...

4/18/2014 Patriots 7 Round Mock Draft(Used CBS Sports Big Board)

29. Traded to Vikings for #40, #79, #148
40. Ra'Shede Hageman DT Minnesota
62. Troy Niklas TE Notre Dame
79. Deone Bucannon SS Washington State
93. Jordan Tripp OLB Montana
130. AJ McCarron QB Alabama (CBS Big Board has him going in the 4th round)
140.(COMP) Kevin Norwood WR Alabama
148. Bryan Stork OC Florida State
198. Traded to Eagles for 2015 5th Rounder
206. Aaron Lynch DE Florida State
244. Brandon Thomas OG Clemson

I'm torn between wanting to solidify the OL with a high quality CE who can be the team's linchpin for the next decade or adding to the DL with a DT or DE who will spend the next decade disrupting the opposing line with Chander Jones.