It Will Be Difficult Not To Draft A Starting LG With Our First Draft Pick

We have no starters at LG, and Kline is our backup.

If we were to draft a DT, he may or may not start. He could be a significant advantage over Siliga-Branch-Easley-Jones or not.

If we were to draft a CB, he might start, or not. He could be a significant 2015 advantage over Fletcher-Butler-Arrington or not. (We also have backups McClain, Davis and Chekwa).
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Last year, we had two centers, and waiting until the 4th to draft a center. Belichick had no reason to panic. After all, we would have been OK if Stork took longer to develop.

This year, unless the team is moving one of its tackles to LG, we have Kline and Devey. I've seen occasional arguments for Fleming or Cannon as being a future RG; left guard, not so much.
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BTW, I could see Belichick thinking that the group of OG's is so good, that he can get a starter and a backup at 64 and around 97. It does seem that there is likely to considerable value at 32, a much better player than available at 64.

Whatever happened to the teams interest in Mathis? That would have been a big upgrade.

VectorPrime said:

Whatever happened to the teams interest in Mathis? That would have been a big upgrade.

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Rumors out of PHI that they will end up cutting him if he doesn't take a pay cut, so they may have him in the mix with some other guys like Wisniewski who they are keeping an eye on.

I'd much rather have Wisniewski 10/10 times over, but Mathis would be a fine addition at a cheaper cost.

mgteich said:

We have no starters at LG, and Kline is our backup.

If we were to draft a DT, he may or may not start. He could be a significant advantage over Siliga-Branch-Easley-Jones or not.

If we were to draft a CB, he might start, or not. He could be a significant 2015 advantage over Fletcher-Butler-Arrington or not. (We also have backups McClain, Davis and Chekwa).
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Last year, we had two centers, and waiting until the 4th to draft a center. Belichick had no reason to panic. After all, we would have been OK if Stork took longer to develop.

This year, unless the team is moving one of its tackles to LG, we have Kline and Devey. I've seen occasional arguments for Fleming or Cannon as being a future RG; left guard, not so much.
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BTW, I could see Belichick thinking that the group of OG's is so good, that he can get a starter and a backup at 64 and around 97. It does seem that there is likely to considerable value at 32, a much better player than available at 64.

Click to expand...

I still think there are a lot of options up in the air, and that with 4 weeks remaining to the draft, it's way too early to think that IOL will be the first pick. After all, we've seen it ONCE in the Belichick era (Mankins), and we don't know whether or not he attempted to trade down. One could argue that they are attempting to address it with a seasoned vet, rather than a rookie.

They just brought Wisniewski in for a visit last week. He is a 2nd round selection (top 50 pick) from 2011 with a good football family history, and some obvious young talent. He could easily be our LG....as could a guy like Mathis, if he is ever cut or compensation is agreed upon. Dan Connelly may not be the first choice, but he is also a possibility nonetheless. There's 3 vets right there.

I do think that we take a future LG in the top 101 picks, but I'm not convinced that it will be with the top pick. There are plenty of other options with BPA, or even DL and CB. We may have a better idea in the next 3-4 weeks.

Belichick does not appear to be in panic mode ... if he was Connolly would be signed.
If he's not in panic mode then we shouldn't be either.

VectorPrime said:

Whatever happened to the teams interest in Mathis? That would have been a big upgrade.

Click to expand...

Even if we end up with Mathis. He is getting old. He'd only be a stopgap. That being said, I'm in favor of waiting to see who drops to us. If none of the top OGs are there and the others are a reach and there's a top guy at a different position you gotta go with the better value and hope we hit on an OG later.

Given the success of Stork at CE, if available, it doesn't seem unreasonable to think the Patriots could plug in Tre Jackson, Ali Marpet or Arie Kouandjio with their second round pick. That said, unless there is a slider in round 1, trading back from 32 is what I would like the Patriots to do. There will be some very good picks available later in the draft.

IcyPatriot said:

Belichick does not appear to be in panic mode ... if he was Connolly would be signed.
If he's not in panic mode then we shouldn't be either.

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This. I cannot believe that BB goes into the draft not knowing what he's going to do at LG next year.

Eh, depends who is available, and what offers are for the pick. Making this up, but if, Washington or some team offered their #2 and #3 or whatever for 32, I'd listen. I also would not be amazed if some guy dropped into the 20's and we traded up to get him. ( We have 9 picks, Last year all the drafted rookies did not make the team.)

This assumes that Goodell doesn't forfeit our entire draft for Deflategate, say the day before the draft so that there's no time for recourse.

mgteich said:

We have no starters at LG, and Kline is our backup.

If we were to draft a DT, he may or may not start. He could be a significant advantage over Siliga-Branch-Easley-Jones or not.

If we were to draft a CB, he might start, or not. He could be a significant 2015 advantage over Fletcher-Butler-Arrington or not. (We also have backups McClain, Davis and Chekwa).
==========

Last year, we had two centers, and waiting until the 4th to draft a center. Belichick had no reason to panic. After all, we would have been OK if Stork took longer to develop.

This year, unless the team is moving one of its tackles to LG, we have Kline and Devey. I've seen occasional arguments for Fleming or Cannon as being a future RG; left guard, not so much.
=====

BTW, I could see Belichick thinking that the group of OG's is so good, that he can get a starter and a backup at 64 and around 97. It does seem that there is likely to considerable value at 32, a much better player than available at 64.

Click to expand...

It was probably difficult not to pick a WR with our first pick in 2013, but I'm glad they picked Jamie Collins.

Wisniewski is an awesome C. I can only imagine he is still available because he was with a putrid team and/or has some medical anomaly, but if he is 3/4 of what he was as a center, he is a upgrade over Wendell and Conolly.

It should be noted that he stands at 6.3 and weights 305 lbs, so if we intend to get bigger at the line, he is in the Connoly (6.3, 305) and Wendell (6.2, 300)

IcyPatriot said:

Belichick does not appear to be in panic mode ... if he was Connolly would be signed.
If he's not in panic mode then we shouldn't be either.

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I don't think he has a panic mode.

I'm still guessing...we could use our first and some combination of thirds and fourths to end up with a massive amount of second and third rounders (with Mankins 4th being almost a third). This would allow BB to take chances and still be covered if he sees a great OL DL CB or whatever available and cover himself with the extra picks.

Can people stop with Wisniewski as a Guard stuff. He doesn't want to play Guard and wants to be paid like a top Center.

ausbacker said:

Given the success of Stork at CE, if available, it doesn't seem unreasonable to think the Patriots could plug in Tre Jackson, Ali Marpet or Arie Kouandjio with their second round pick. That said, unless there is a slider in round 1, trading back from 32 is what I would like the Patriots to do. There will be some very good picks available later in the draft.

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Absolutely right. If you're dying to take a G, it's not going to be at 32 of the first round.

AJ Cann and Laken Tomlinson are early to mid second rounders. Trey Jackson is 2nd/3rd. Marpet, Kouandijo and John Miller are third rounders.

Maybe Cameron Erving is a consideration at that first pick, but I don't see the point when you can grab one of the others at the end of the second round.

From my reading of the draft, there are 3 or 4 raw DE types who will be hovering around that 32nd pick of the 1st round. They are all around 6-5 or 6-4 and 260-270 pounds. Very Chandler Jones like. Don't know much about arm reach though. But Dupree, Odigizuwa and Preston Smith are very good sized for the Patriots. Danielle Hunter is a little light at 252 but he is 6-5 and can likely put on 10-15 pounds.

The available CBs are all going to have huge question marks and they present a risk. Byron Jones, Marcus Peters, Jalen Collins. May want to wait until later in the draft for a CB rather than risk taking a questionable player such as these.

supafly said:

I still think there are a lot of options up in the air, and that with 4 weeks remaining to the draft, it's way too early to think that IOL will be the first pick.

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Obviously, things could change before the draft. We could sign Connolly or Wisniewski or Mathis. My point is that if none of these are signed that belichick would find it difficult to pass on one the several players who would be worth the 32nd pick and could start at LG. I understand that someone drafted in the 4th could start. However, last year we had two other starting centers already on the team. For now, our LG's are Kline and Devey.

Also, I think that we forget that many of the players that folks have mentioned as OL picks at 32 are OT's. Given that Solder is not signed for 2016 and Vollmer has an injury history, it is not at all unreasonable to sign a LT, who might start his NFL career at LG. Personally, IF THE DRAFT WERE HELD TODAY, I think that Fisher would be given high consideration. Obviously, that depends on who else is available.
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AS AN ASIDE

The day of the draft would be "too early" to think that Belichick would draft a particular position. So, I don't think that it is too early to speculate. We all understand that Belichick could sign a LG before the draft, which may or may not affect the decision when the pick comes.

They will draft Jake FISHER OT OREGON. Most certainly. He could play guard. Cameron ERVING is another possibility.

CB is the # 1 need followed by NT.

A G can be had later in the draft.