"With the 32'd Pick of the First Round, the New England Patriots select..."

patchick said:

I'm with you. At CB, in particular, they have plenty of bodies -- the need is for an impact player. If he's not there, move on.

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The "Best Available CB" people are way off. We lost two and signed two (of those who have played a lot in the NFL, we actually signed three). We lost quality not quantity. We won't have a shortage of respectable, NFL caliber CB to put on the field. Of course, we won't have a Revis either but it's quality not quantity that's a need at CB.

If the CB and DT are gone, I'm sticking with Shaq Thompson as my predicted pick. A 4 down player who's versatile and can be used in a bunch of ways.

I'm in agreement about the CB/DT situation. I don't believe Belichick will address the issue if there isn't a CB/DT prospect with value worth the #32 draft pick.

Also, I agree that Shaq Thompson would be a potential candidate for the #32 pick because he would be an "upgrade" to his versatile LB Jonathan Casillas, who I think was a proof-of-concept player for Belichick. He played an important role in some Patriots games and filled in for Hightower in the San Diego game.

3. With Dont'a Hightower out of action with a shoulder injury, Jonathan Casillas stepped into a full-time role for the Patriots defense, playing 51 total snaps (89%). The Patriots used him as a blitzer, in coverage, and in run defense. He was a three down player, and while he wasn't the beast that was Jamie Collins, he was far from a liability. Bill Belichick's midseason pick-ups this season have been nothing short of extraordinary.

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http://www.patspulpit.com/2014/12/9...ap-counts-is-the-patriots-offense-predictable

I wouldn't be broken hearted to see BB take Shaq Thompson at 32. But I think he's more likely to take snaps from Chung than Hightower. He'd play in the box on passing downs, giving coverage on the TE in something that looks like a Big Nickle or Big Dime.

rookBoston said:

I wouldn't be broken hearted to see BB take Shaq Thompson at 32. But I think he's more likely to take snaps from Chung than Hightower. He'd play in the box on passing downs, giving coverage on the TE in something that looks like a Big Nickle or Big Dime.

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I agree. They've also looked at Jacquiski Tartt (6'1", 221) and Ronald Martin (LSU 6'1", 217). That's who I see Thompson challenging for the Patriots' attention.

There is a possibility he could take snaps from Chung and that's not a bad option either.

But using the San Diego game as an example and looking at the profiles of Casillas and Thompson,

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2011/profiles/jonathan-casillas?id=71249

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/shaq-thompson?id=2552447

I'm sure Belichick would find a role for Shaq.

BelichickFan said:

The "Best Available CB" people are way off. We lost two and signed two (of those who have played a lot in the NFL, we actually signed three). We lost quality not quantity. We won't have a shortage of respectable, NFL caliber CB to put on the field. Of course, we won't have a Revis either but it's quality not quantity that's a need at CB.

If the CB and DT are gone, I'm sticking with Shaq Thompson as my predicted pick. A 4 down player who's versatile and can be used in a bunch of ways.

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The CBs we signed are crap. The CBs we lost are very good. That's why fans are saying best available CB, because the draftable CBs (highly rated 1st round ones) are probably better than what we have on our roster.

scott99 said:

The CBs we signed are crap. The CBs we lost are very good. That's why fans are saying best available CB, because the draftable CBs (highly rated 1st round ones) are probably better than what we have on our roster.

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Yup, they are cannon fodder for camp. The Patriot are still short two quality CBs and I don't see how they can replace them unless they get a lot better at drafting CBs.

scott99 said:

The CBs we signed are crap. The CBs we lost are very good. That's why fans are saying best available CB, because the draftable CBs (highly rated 1st round ones) are probably better than what we have on our roster.

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Perhaps we should be talking about the best corner with first round value to the patriots. I doubt that this list is longer than the five, currently being projecting to be drafted in the first round). Maybe one will be available, maybe not. For example, DRAFTEK has ZERO corners being drafted between 33 and 60. Unless Belichick likes whoever is left at 32, he will likely wait until 64 to pick a corner, or have a slight trade up or down from 64.

FredFromDartmouth said:

Yup, they are cannon fodder for camp. The Patriot are still short two quality CBs and I don't see how they can replace them unless they get a lot better at drafting CBs.

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So, do you think that Belichick is planning to start two corners from this draft?

PERHAPS, Belichick is HOPING for serious contributions from one of the drafted corners. I could see us drafting two in the 60-80 range; however, one is more likely.

More likely is that Belichick plans to start two of Fletcher, Butler, Ryan and Dennard. We are all set in the slot with Arrington and his new backup McClain. Our drafted corner will have every chance in camp to compete for reps and a starting position.

So, NO, Fletcher is NOT cannon fodder for camp.

mgteich said:

So, do you think that Belichick is planning to start two corners from this draft?

PERHAPS, Belichick is HOPING for serious contributions from one of the drafted corners. I could see us drafting two in the 60-80 range; however, one is more likely.

More likely is that Belichick plans to start two of Fletcher, Butler, Ryan and Dennard. We are all set in the slot with Arrington and his new backup McClain. Our drafted corner will have every chance in camp to compete for reps and a starting position.

So, NO, Fletcher is NOT cannon fodder for camp.

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I would hope Ryan and Butler can become our starters and make big jumps from one year to the next. You have to like Butler's quickness and football IQ, and Ryan's decent size and athleticism. That's if we don't get one of the top 5 CBs in the draft. I would think any CB drafted outside the first round would be for depth. Then again, we won a SB in 2004 with an Undrafted FA (Randall Gay) and a 2nd year 4th round pick (Assante Samuel), so anything is possible.

Ochmed Jones said:

Shaq thompson starting to slide and may be available at 32. I could see bb jumping all over that.

Collins also sliding fast as well. Another player I could see bb jumping all over at 32.

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if collins were there at 32, I'm 100% confident he would be he pick. He is about as safe of a bet as it gets, and would give us two elite safeties for the next 5 years.

He would be such a steal & a starter from day one on all 4 downs. Immediately try to trade Chung for a late round pick

scott99 said:

I would hope Ryan and Butler can become our starters and make big jumps from one year to the next. You have to like Butler's quickness and football IQ, and Ryan's decent size and athleticism. That's if we don't get one of the top 5 CBs in the draft. I would think any CB drafted outside the first round would be for depth. Then again, we won a SB in 2004 with an Undrafted FA (Randall Gay) and a 2nd year 4th round pick (Assante Samuel), so anything is possible.

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Sure, I guess we can HOPE that Ryan and Butler will be quality 2015 starters, and we can believe that therefore Belichick only signed camp fodder, and will sign depth in the draft.

Hope is NOT a plan. I don't think that Belichick expects Ryan and Butler to be our starters. We should re-visit some of the posts in March where the discussion was about whether Ryan was even qualified to get ANY reps at CB since he is such a poor corner, and should be moved to safety in this year, perhaps his last.

I really think bb had stumbled into the future of nfl defenses with his 4 2 5 defense. It is the perfect defense for today's nfl if you have the right players to make it work.

Given that, I think bb continues to draft players that can make that defense work better, but can also contribute if he needs to play the more traditional 3-4 or 4-3

The way I see it, the key is versatile tweeners. (Shaq Thompson is a perfect fit) strong front four (Goldman fits nicely) and press man coverage (peters or Williams are ideal)

Seems like Goldman and peters will be off the board by 32 and we can pick up Thompson or Williams in the 40's.

Based on that a trade down from 32 seems the best move.

The Patriots will draft 2-3 CBs this year. One at 32 or 64 and then some late-round gambles. This seems to happen when they focus in on a position; they get their man but also uncover some gems that they also grab.

I see them going for someone like Gaines or P.J. Williams in the first and then picking up Ifo Ekore-Olomu in the mid-rounds or someone like Bobby McCain in the late rounds (or both!)

The more tape I see of CB Kevin Johnson (Wake Forest), the more I like @ 32. He's great in man and great in zone, and really lays the lumber in run support. The big knock on him is his weight, which limits him in press-man. And a few months-to-a year in a pro strength and conditioning program will change that.

I'm hoping that one of Johnson, Byron Jones or Marcus Peters - bad attitude and all - is still available
at 32. If not, then I'll pray that Cameron Erving is.

mgteich said:

Sure, I guess we can HOPE that Ryan and Butler will be quality 2015 starters, and we can believe that therefore Belichick only signed camp fodder, and will sign depth in the draft.

Hope is NOT a plan. I don't think that Belichick expects Ryan and Butler to be our starters. We should re-visit some of the posts in March where the discussion was about whether Ryan was even qualified to get ANY reps at CB since he is such a poor corner, and should be moved to safety in this year, perhaps his last.

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I agree. We only have one start-caliber CB and that is Butler. Ryan was exposed during the Super Bowl. If we go into the next season with Ryan at one corner, we are in Big Trouble.

CB has to be THE primary need in the draft. There is no way you can scheme around bad CBs. There is no way to pick up a good CB in Free Agency and trading one is difficult (but not impossible --i.e. Talib). CB is the most difficult position to fill in the NFL and the Patriots have whiffed so far; the draft is the last chance to fix the secondary.

Trags was just on WEEI, he thinks we'll move up for a cb. If you want a safety in Round 1 pick Landon Collins. Shaq Thompson is a will. He hasn't played safety. Pick 32 is too high for a position not needed in a 4-2-5.

patsfaninpa said:

Trags was just on WEEI, he thinks we'll move up for a cb. If you want a safety in Round 1 pick Landon Collins. Shaq Thompson is a will. He hasn't played safety. Pick 32 is too high for a position not needed in a 4-2-5.

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I see him as a safety/linebacker hybrid in a 4-2.5-4.5. Kam Chancellor is pretty much a linebacker in the Seahawks system and that's how I'd envisage both Collins and Thompson.

By the way, this is the draft of bland names: Jones, Johnson, Thompson, Collins, Brown, Peters, Davis. I'm amazed there isn't a Smith. Oh wait. Devin.

We will have to move up in the 1st to get a CB because the only 3 I have any interest in are Jones, Johnson and Peters and they will all be gone by 32.

I just don't see Belichick having the likes of Darby, Williams, Collins, Rowe etc ranked higher than a) some of the OL/WR prospects available at 32 and b) rated much higher than the CBs he already has on his roster.

Therefore I personally see us waiting and drafting some CB prospects in the middle rounds. Personal favourites of mine are Golson and Roberts.