Draft Priorities and Round 1 and 2 Priorities

Leemo said:

I like your lists there and agree with them all except WR. Not a fan of any of those guys even at #64. My guys are Agholor, Strong or DGB for any point in 2nd. In the 3rd or early 4th my list is Lockett, Bell, Greene or McBride.

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Not a fan of Strong (7.33 3-cone) and I don't think we'll take DGB because of his troubles which is why I left him off. Agholor is definitely a possibility though. By the way, those weren't the picks I'd necessarily want, just those I think BB might pick. I would take Smelter, Bell and McBride over any second round WR except Devin Smith (and maybe Agholor).

ATippett56 said:

First Round - Cornerback
Second Round - Interior Offensive Lineman

The two biggest needs off the table in the first two rounds.

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This assumes that a) there's a CB worth taking at 32 and b) the same for IOL in the second. I don't want to reach if the value isn't there. For example, if Jones, Johnson and Peters are off the board at 32, I don't want them taking Collins, Williams or Darby there just because we have a need at CB. That might mean switching around your order and going OL at 32 (Fisher, Erving), trading back for a Collins, Williams etc or going with an altogether different position, either at 32 or after a trade back - someone like Grady Jarrett or Jordan Phillips.

There are currently nine CBs on the roster (10 if you include McCourty). Whilst there's no obvious #1, I think there's enough on the roster that we shouldn't be panicking about drafting a CB in the draft.

I'm not suggesting you are, I'm just using your post as a segue to discussing what I've been thinking.

Manx if you could take 1 player form this draft and run with it who would you pick?

manxman2601 said:

This assumes that a) there's a CB worth taking at 32 and b) the same for IOL in the second. I don't want to reach if the value isn't there. For example, if Jones, Johnson and Peters are off the board at 32, I don't want them taking Collins, Williams or Darby there just because we have a need at CB. That might mean switching around your order and going OL at 32 (Fisher, Erving), trading back for a Collins, Williams etc or going with an altogether different position, either at 32 or after a trade back - someone like Grady Jarrett or Jordan Phillips.

There are currently nine CBs on the roster (10 if you include McCourty). Whilst there's no obvious #1, I think there's enough on the roster that we shouldn't be panicking about drafting a CB in the draft.

I'm not suggesting you are, I'm just using your post as a segue to discussing what I've been thinking.

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I would currently trade the New England Patriots third round pick (#96 overall) to move up to #26 overall to select a cornerback and move ahead of the Green Bay Packers.

As for the second round, Ali Marpet is moving up the draft boards.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2015/OG

I personally do not like either Florida State offensive guards since neither are as athletic as I would like for the position.

ATippett56 said:

I would currently trade the New England Patriots third round pick (#96 overall) to move up to #26 overall to select a cornerback and move ahead of the Green Bay Packers.

As for the second round, Ali Marpet is moving up the draft boards.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2015/OG

I personally do not like either Florida State offensive guards since neither are as athletic as I would like for the position.

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I like this strategy. My only concern is that I personally would like to find a way to add Grady Jarrett too.

Which CB would you take at 26? I'd be fine with Jones, Johnson or Peters and that's it. Do you have anyone different?

Luxusdk said:

Manx if you could take 1 player form this draft and run with it who would you pick?

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Tough question.

If I'm thinking about it logically, it would be Byron Jones.He's a need fit, he's one of the most athletic guys, not just in this draft, but in the NFL, he's got perfect size/athleticism for the position and he has the Patriot-type intangibles.

If I'm feeling sentimental then it would be Marcus Hardison or Cassius Sendish. I feel a sense of loyalty to both because they were my 'finds' as it were.

But, the way I'm thinking right now, and this is largely value driven, I'd be hard pressed not to go with DeAndre Smelter. I really like he's fantastic value and such a great fit for the Pats.And he was one of the very first prospects that got me excited.


OMG! No Abdullah on that list! Damn you for making me choose between my binkies

What about you? What about everyone else?

manxman2601 said:

I like this strategy. My only concern is that I personally would like to find a way to add Grady Jarrett too.

Which CB would you take at 26? I'd be fine with Jones, Johnson or Peters and that's it. Do you have anyone different?

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Defensive tackle, especially a run stuffer, is not that great of a priority for me and can wait until the latter rounds of the 2015 NFL Draft or the 2016 NFL Draft. In addition, the New England Patriots selected Dominique Easley in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

As for cornerback, your list is fine with me.

manxman2601 said:

Tough question.

If I'm thinking about it logically, it would be Byron Jones.He's a need fit, he's one of the most athletic guys, not just in this draft, but in the NFL, he's got perfect size/athleticism for the position and he has the Patriot-type intangibles.

If I'm feeling sentimental then it would be Marcus Hardison or Cassius Sendish. I feel a sense of loyalty to both because they were my 'finds' as it were.

But, the way I'm thinking right now, and this is largely value driven, I'd be hard pressed not to go with DeAndre Smelter. I really like he's fantastic value and such a great fit for the Pats.And he was one of the very first prospects that got me excited.


OMG! No Abdullah on that list! Damn you for making me choose between my binkies

What about you? What about everyone else?

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Dont think value - But the 1 player you beleave would be the best player for Patriots, red flags or not.... Yes you can pick Winston if you want to

Luxusdk said:

Dont think value - But the 1 player you beleave would be the best player for Patriots, red flags or not.... Yes you can pick Winston if you want to

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I can't make that decision. Byron Jones is probably the best fit. But is he? Brandon Scherff is also a great fit. Leonard Williams is probably the best player in the draft so has to be considered. Todd Gurley also needs consideration.

Just because of the holes at CB and LG, I'll say Byron Jones or Brandon Scherff. They would probably be #1 and 2 on my Patriots specific board.

The more I think about it the more I think that they will trade back from 32 and then get a CB in the second with their first pick of the draft. Then DT and OG in the second or third. Then SS and WR.

doesntmatter1 said:

Linebacker is the biggest need imho. Hightower is coming off surgery and Mayo has become undependable. The drop off from these guys to someone like Skinner is too steep and needs to be addressed early.

Next is oline.

Running back is filled w/ unknowns and this draft has a lot of options. If we wanted, we could completely blow up this position and make it become a strength next season.

Defensive tackle isn't really a need. We kind of just need one more. Could be early, could be another udfa like Siglia or vet like branch.

I do not believe cb is as big a need as everyone thinks. I do not see many clear choices that are actually better than Dennard, Ryan, and Butler.

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I agree with you on this. I don't understand why there is so little concern about IL. We seem to have massive homer blinders on about Mayo's upcoming performance and injury history, plus the contract status for both Mayo and Hightower gives us nothing past this year. Given the team just finished a complete review of the roster, which would be a multi-year projection, how could IL be seen as a strength? It needs massive investment of new, relatively inexpensive starting caliber players, now.

Renegotiating the contracts will provide some relief, and one guy (Hightower) for a few more years, but that's not nearly enough.

I'd love to be convinced otherwise.

betterthanthealternative said:

I agree with you on this. I don't understand why there is so little concern about IL. We seem to have massive homer blinders on about Mayo's upcoming performance and injury history, plus the contract status for both Mayo and Hightower gives us nothing past this year. Given the team just finished a complete review of the roster, which would be a multi-year projection, how could IL be seen as a strength? It needs massive investment of new, relatively inexpensive starting caliber players, now.

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And yet earlier in the offseason, plenty of posters were advocating for trading or cutting Mayo due to the "surplus" of LB talent on the team. Go figure.

We have three quality linebackers on the roster when we tend to only field two on most plays, Colin McCarthy and Brandon spikes can still be signed and we have nine picks in the draft. I just don't see it being the priority others do. I'm fine with Stephone Anthony in the 2nd, Dawson in the third or Heeney, Luc, Vigil later but I'd be disappointed with using a first round pick on a linebacker. I could just about be reconciled with Shaq Thompson because he, at least, can play safety too.

I am becoming more comfortable with Paul Dawson from 64 onwards though. Not a very good athlete, but damn! he has some fine film.

I am narrowing down a list of guys I see as a great fit for us but the one guy that is just leapfrogging everyone for me is Miss St. Preston Smith. We probably don't even need a pass rusher this year but we all know how hard it is to find a guy that fits what we do. He is bigger than UCLA's Diggy and seems extremely similar to Chandler Jones. Chandler was on my radar the year we drafted him and I think Smith's tape looks better.

doesntmatter1 said:

I am narrowing down a list of guys I see as a great fit for us but the one guy that is just leapfrogging everyone for me is Miss St. Preston Smith. We probably don't even need a pass rusher this year but we all know how hard it is to find a guy that fits what we do. He is bigger than UCLA's Diggy and seems extremely similar to Chandler Jones. Chandler was on my radar the year we drafted him and I think Smith's tape looks better.

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I prefer Diggy myself but Smith was growing on me. I gave up on the idea of either once we signed Sheard. Anthony Chickillo in a later round might be an interesting compromise though in terms of similar players.

manxman2601 said:

I prefer Diggy myself but Smith was growing on me. I gave up on the idea of either once we signed Sheard. Anthony Chickillo in a later round might be an interesting compromise though in terms of similar players.

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I'm going to check out Chickillo later tonight.

I'm still not done, but here are some guys that I view worthy of #32 that have a chance of being around: Preston Smith, Kevin Johnson, Eric Rowe, Jaelen Strong, Nelson Agholor, and Eric Kendricks. If none of these guys are available, I would try to trade down. I don't see any defensive tackles that scream 1st round pick btw. Quite a few lb I would take early in the second.

Kevin Johnson and Agholor barely make the cut for me. Johnson is slightly too slow and Agholor might not seem 1st round material but he is the closest thing I have seen to Edelman and that alone makes him valuable to us.

It is very hard to figure out what kind of guard we will target later in the draft. Power like Laken Tomlinson or technician like my binky Reese Dismukes. We might even go back to Florida State after the season Stork had. Just ???

doesntmatter1 said:

I'm going to check out Chickillo later tonight.

I'm still not done, but here are some guys that I view worthy of #32 that have a chance of being around: Preston Smith, Kevin Johnson, Eric Rowe, Jaelen Strong, Nelson Agholor, and Eric Kendricks. If none of these guys are available, I would try to trade down. I don't see any defensive tackles that scream 1st round pick btw. Quite a few lb I would take early in the second.

Kevin Johnson and Agholor barely make the cut for me. Johnson is slightly too slow and Agholor might not seem 1st round material but he is the closest thing I have seen to Edelman and that alone makes him valuable to us.

It is very hard to figure out what kind of guard we will target later in the draft. Power like Laken Tomlinson or technician like my binky Reese Dismukes. We might even go back to Florida State after the season Stork had. Just ???

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My picks at 32 (or with a trade up). Not in order.

Byron Jones
Kevin Johnson
Cam Erving
TJ Clemmings
Todd Gurley
Odighizuwa (if we hadn't signed Sheard).
Jake Fisher

As for Kevin Johnson's speed being an issue, he's 4/100 slower than McCourty. That's not an issue for me personally.

Two weeks Thursday. We'll find out soon enough.

manxman2601 said:

We have three quality linebackers on the roster when we tend to only field two on most plays,

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The Pats draft won't be just about 2015. It will be about the next 3-5 years. It always is, and this year is even more so, as they just completed an extra-ordinary review of the roster .

"Linebacker" is not a position any more than "offensive lineman" is. We are OK at OLB.

They have only one quality ILB at this point on the roster, and he has only one year of affordable contract left. They might be able to renegotiate with him to a reasonable salary beyond 2015, or not.

They have another ILB whose last quality season was 2012 and is often injured, is aging, had average quickness to start with, and is very expensive in 2015. He may be able to recover, renegotiate his contract, and play well under limited circumstances in 2015. Or not.

This is a problem. I see far less here than there is at CB, DT, and WR, three positions far more commonly held up here as critical draft needs. And if the "front seven" is going to improve its game from last year in order to compensate for the loss of talent at CB, an often cited foundation for a high quality defense next year, this problem needs to get fixed.

betterthanthealternative said:

The Pats draft won't be just about 2015. It will be about the next 3-5 years. It always is, and this year is even more so, as they just completed an extra-ordinary review of the roster .

"Linebacker" is not a position any more than "offensive lineman" is. We are OK at OLB.

They have only one quality ILB at this point on the roster, and he has only one year of affordable contract left. They might be able to renegotiate with him to a reasonable salary beyond 2015, or not.

They have another ILB whose last quality season was 2012 and is often injured, is aging, had average quickness to start with, and is very expensive in 2015. He may be able to recover, renegotiate his contract, and play well under limited circumstances in 2015. Or not.

This is a problem. I see far less here than there is at CB, DT, and WR, three positions far more commonly held up here as critical draft needs. And if the "front seven" is going to improve its game from last year in order to compensate for the loss of talent at CB, an often cited foundation for a high quality defense next year, this problem needs to get fixed.

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Who do you consider an ILB or an OLB? Hightower and Collins both fit the 4-2 very nicely. And yes, Mayo has had two unlucky years. I'm not prepared to write off his career just yet. I just think it's easier to fill the linebacker position than it is LG or #1 CB. Not that I'm averse to drafting one, I just don't think we should be reaching for one at #32.

Luxusdk said:

Dont think value - But the 1 player you beleave would be the best player for Patriots, red flags or not.... Yes you can pick Winston if you want to

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I would go for CB Tre Waynes or DT Leonard Williams. Waynes is a radical pick but but shutdown CBs are harder to find than QBs.