Could we be Getting Ready to Trade Up?

VrabelJr said:

For everyone that thinks trading up is justified because of the Atlanta Falcons and Julio Jones: Have you seen the Falcons OL and entire defense recently? That's what happens when you trade picks.

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You should add 'and your head coach is Mike Smith.'

rochrist said:

You should add 'and your head coach is Mike Smith.'

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was Mike Smith, he got the boot after the season.

I'm almost convinced that if anything the Pats will trade down in the first round. Maybe grab a 2 and a 3, or something like that. Unless someone is there at #32 that the Pats really want. You have to remember the new CBA, only first rounders get 5 year contracts now. So say if someone like, Todd Gurley is still on the board at #32, the Pats could grab him and essentially lock him up for 5 years under a rookie deal. Considering that 5 years seems to be the life span of most RB, it would make financial sense.

FreeTedWilliams said:

was Mike Smith, he got the boot after the season.

I'm almost convinced that if anything the Pats will trade down in the first round. Maybe grab a 2 and a 3, or something like that. Unless someone is there at #32 that the Pats really want. You have to remember the new CBA, only first rounders get 5 year contracts now. So say if someone like, Todd Gurley is still on the board at #32, the Pats could grab him and essentially lock him up for 5 years under a rookie deal. Considering that 5 years seems to be the life span of most RB, it would make financial sense.

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Yeah, I know. But he also had a few years with Julio and took them right into the toilet.

rochrist said:

Yeah, I know. But he also had a few years with Julio and took them right into the toilet.

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Because that team is extremely untalented outside of QB, WR and CB and lacks depth all across the board.

Pats will do what they always do. They'll observe who is dropping and compare it to their board. If there is a player they covet which represents good value andthe cost isn't exorbitant, (draft position, salary slot)they will trade up X # of positions to get him.

We complain a lot about what the Pats need but at the end of the day they NEED a top-end, shutdown CB a road-grading guard (or 2) and a solid interior DT that can collapse the pocket and stop the run.Can those players be fetched in later rounds? Maybe but if the Pats see top 15,blue-chip talent falling within striking distance and can work out a deal with a trusted trading partner that isn't trying to fleece them, then I do see the scenario of them moving up a few spots to grab someone they really like.

rochrist said:

Didn't they trade up for either Hightower or Jones?

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Both. patchick ever so nicely laid the smackdown earlier, pointing out (1) Mayo was a down trade, not up and (2) that both were modest up moves.

Sadly, while I enjoy players, performances, coaching and schemes, the Pats drafts are viewed with more interest by me after rather than before or during the events (I claim little knowledge of the college ranks). My memory on those topics is wanting as I largely scan the ESPN tracker once the first round concludes, and am more concerned with the player selected by the Pats and who he is.

Nice catch, and thank you.

If they trade up, it better be for either a cb, dt or guard.

They could very well trade up...or down...with the pats..we have no idea till it happens

ashley1992 said:

If they trade up, it better be for either a cb, dt or guard.

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Are there any players at those positions really worth trading up for?

meatface said:

Are there any players at those positions really worth trading up for?

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Without knowing who is available and what players drop tough to tell, but I think it's highly unlikely that we would trade up and the more likely scenario would be taking the best player available or trade back.

ashley1992 said:

Without knowing who is available and what players drop tough to tell, but I think it's highly unlikely that we would trade up and the more likely scenario would be taking the best player available or trade back.

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While I agree that we are unlikely to trade up, there are three corners now projected to go in the last half of the first round. If Belichick has a clear preference, I could see him trading up if the price is right.

http://www.drafttek.com/2015-NFL-Mock-Draft-Round1b.asp

I'm thinking they'll either trade up, trade down, or stay in their current position.

You know, every time I've ever seen a video from inside the war room, it seems like the situation is quite a bit more fluid than the end result would indicate. (Meaning it always seems they're open to doing more than just trading back, but that BB has trouble finding sensible value in other options at those times.)

So I'd say in practice it's safe to say that we're most likely to trade back from our early picks, I don't think that's because they go into the draft room planning to do that specifically. Movement on the board combined with how phone calls go just causes it to go that way for us based on our internal valuation system.

So no. I don't think they're planning to trade up. I don't think they're planning to trade down. I think they're planning on getting players at the round they value them at. Which is pretty well what they always do.

50-yard-line said:

What BB understands better than anyone is that the drop-off between player A and player B in any given position is usually nominal, particularly when you have good coaching that will scheme to the strengths of the players.

The weakness of most people is that they want the BEST, period. Apple knows this and so gets the lines with every new product.

It's like a video game that has an in-game, player-run auction house. The top sword or helmet will sell for 10,000 gold, but the tier below it, which are the top items from the previous season and will be just a tick below in terms of quality, have been severely devalued. So that 10k might get you the top helmet, but it could get you the top helmet, the breastplate and the sword from the previous season.

That's where BB shops.

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Great analogy!

kennyb said:

For whom would they pats trade?

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The Patriots might trade up for either CB Marcus Peters, or CB Kevin Johnson who are projected to go in the low- to mid-20s. They could trade #32 and a 4th to move up 10 or 12 spots to get an impact corner.

Philadelphia at #20 is doing splashy things, the Titans have that extra #1 at 17. It's a possibility.

We are on the clock now folks, in about 158 hours the mystery will begin to unravel, in the three day spectacle that has become the NFL Draft..

Does anyone remember how we used to get the info??.. The picks would scroll across the bottom of ESPN, you had to be quick to figure out what the Pats were doing either that or wait for tomorrow's paper.

Prior to that you just waited for the paper.... Kyper et al were just a twinkle in someone's eye.

DarrylS said:

Kyper et al were just a twinkle in someone's eye.

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I suspect Kyper was more of a drunken leer.

Brit patriot said:

Yes there are a few areas we need to work on, but we are in a lot stronger position than almost every other team.

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I can't agree with the OP given the reality that NE lost its two starting CBs and starting DT. Let's not forget 2 out of the 3 starting LBs are coming off of major surgery as is the star DE. And the stud DT taken with a #1 in 2014 was shut down last year. I don't know how any can argue the NE defense is in a strong position when it sure looks like a partial rebuild is under way. The secondary will be worse....that is a given.
The offense is in a strong position with fewer question marks...but G and 3rd down RB are issues. NE leaned on Vereen in the playoffs but that option is now gone. Expecting a rookie to fill that void is expecting too much. I do expect the NE passing game to be exceptional in September unlike last year when Brady was feeling out his new weapons and a limited Gronk. They should be hitting on all cylinders vs defenses still figuring themselves out early in the year. Huge advantage offense. I expect Brady to have a huge year putting up big numbers because I see many shootouts....given the reality of the D issues.
On draft day, I fully expect the #1 to be CB/DT.....and having paid zero attention to this draft class....and only basing my prediction on BB tendencies, I expect DT to be the pick at #32. Less bust probability and D starts in the trenches. IMO

PATSYLICIOUS said:

I'm thinking they'll either trade up, trade down, or stay in their current position.

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Or they could just let time run out and get the first and last pick of round 2. I think they lose the 5th year option doing that tho.

Brit patriot said:

Could we be getting ready to trade up in the draft? Could that be one of the reasons we haven't gone mad in Free Agency?

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No.