Pats draft
 

I think they should try to get

Jermaine Gresham - TE
Damien Williams WR USC
Brandon Spikes LB florida, I know he doesn't shed well, but he has good instincts and could learn
AJ Edds - OLB, yes, I heard of him before the orange bowl thread
Jon Asamoah - G
Ryan Matthews, if possible RB

I think they could do that with their picks, thye might have to trade into the 3rd round.

Still could use a 3-4 DE, if they're still doing the 3-4.

Re: Pats draft
 

One WR they will definely pick is Chris McGaha of Arizona State. This guy won a dunk contest in high school at 6'1", great hands, great athlete.

Probably 5th round.

It may be too much to get all those guys I listed before.

I think they could get most of them though. I think Gresham will be too tempting around the low 20s for BB not to trade up.

Then get Spikes with a 2nd round pick.

The OL and OLB Edds in the 3rd (after pickuping up picks for trading up in the first with 2 2nds). Getting a 3rd and fourth would give us 2 3rds as Oakland has one of our thirds unless we give them a fourth, I believe.

What thinkest? I think it's good.

also Vince Oghobasse DL in the 4th or so if they can find a 4th round pick.

Re: Pats draft
 

With Seymour gone and Green going, do you really think we need a DE?

Re: Pats draft
 

No, the Pats gave up a third and a fifth (which would have been a fourth had they not acquired the fifth from Denver for LeKevin Smith).

Re: Pats draft
 

I don't want a WR or TE in the first 2 rounds. I don't think Spikes is a particularly good fit. I think there are better guards than Asamoah who will be available to us. I think Mathews runs too much like Maroney to be a complementary back. I don't see Edds being an OLB for us.

Otherwise, I'm fine with your picks.

Re: Pats draft
 

After thinking about it I wasn't too sure about the pats drafting a guy like gresham due to other more important needs but the more I see Jermichael Finley play in the Spread offense for GB the more I wouldn't mind having a guy that we can line up wide with speed on a LB as another option for Brady....I think gresham would be an excellent pick if we can get him in the second round but I still would rather have get a prospect at a position of need in the 1st.

Re: Pats draft
 

OK, here are my early targets...

DE/OLB Greg Romeus PITT 6'5" 265

Hopefully he declares, because he has the potential to be an every-down guy for the Pats. Big and strong, a knack for disrupting the pocket, but still holds up well against the run. Tips a lot of balls on the way to the QB. Not very effective against Cincinnati but looked better against Carolina in the bowl game.

CB Brandon Ghee WFU 6'0" 190

Hopefully Bodden will be back, but Springs is a situational guy now and one of Wheatley/Wilhite needs to go (maybe both). Ghee has good speed and great cover skills, but hasn't been able to turn those skills into interceptions...which should drop him in this draft. Asante and Meriweather also had the dropsies and they turned out OK. He makes my list because he is also an asset in run support, even forcing a good number of fumbles. I would think he would be good at blitzing from the corner, though I haven't seen that from him myself.

RB Dexter McCluster MISS 5'9" 170

Ideal Faulk replacement. Threat to go the distance if he gets the ball in space. Solid runner who would be particularly effective on draw plays in a spread. Can also split out into a 5-wide since he has solid hands. He is willing in pass protection and showing good technique, but he is a small dude. However, the threat he presents on screens/draws should be enough to slow down a pass rush.

DE Lawrence Marsh FLA 6'5" 305

Hurt this year and playing on the interior, so he should be undervalued in this draft if he comes out. He holds up well against the run and has shown the ability to fight off blocks to get to the quarterback. More Jarvis than Seymour at this point, but lots of potential to be as good as he wants to be.

TE Garrett Graham WISC 6'3" 250

Not as tall or fast as you would like, but a great inline blocker and effective receiver in the red zone or moving the chains. More a safety blanket than a threat downfield. He is on my radar for his blocking and flexibility (on the line, in motion, as a FB/HB). Ideal guy for a 2-TE or power formation.

QB Tim Hiller WMU 6'4" 230

Ideal measurables, strong arm, good (not great) accuracy and decision-making. Footwork is a mess and pocket presence isn't "natural" but that isn't anything that a year or two with Brady wouldn't fix. Looked to be on an elite progression after his junior year (think Roethlisberger) but the talent around him (combined with some key injuries to his supporting cast) set him back. I was on the O'Connell bandwagon but he turned out to be a bit of a headcase. Not a problem with Hiller.

P Zoltan Mesko MICH 6'5" 230

Huge leg and experience in less than ideal weather. He can change field position but this year has shown the ability to directional punt and kill the ball inside the 20. You don't mess with the Zoltan!

Re: Pats draft
 

Nice list. I like every one of your players. The only one who I have as a specific "target" is Romeus, and I like some other guys not on your list (not sure why you omitted an offensive linemen, for example), but every one on your list is a solid prospect. Lawrence Marsh in particular has a high upside as a 3-4 DE, and is very undervalued right now.

Re: Pats draft
 

I tried to stay realistic and include draft results that I think could actually happen. Since I used up the early picks on Romeus, McCluster, Ghee and Marsh, I would have to pick a mid-late round guy...and I'm just not that familiar with most of them. I was going to include Matt Tennant (gotta love BC centers) or Eric Olsen from Notre Dame (probably more as a guard than a center), but I just don't have a good feeling for how they fit.

If Mankins and Neal disappear, then a guard becomes a priority...probably in the 1st 2 rounds. But with Koppen and Light under contract, Vollmer looking like a stud, Levoir on the depth chart, Orhnberger and Bussey in the supply chain, Connelly as an experienced warm body...I'm not sweating the OL at this point. Though I believe you are correct that this draft will almost certainly produce some additional OL depth at least.

Re: Pats draft
 

There is a special brand of koolaid being brewed for those who think that we don't need an OG in the first two rounds of this draft.

INVENTORY AT OG - We keep four
(remember than one these also needs to be the backup center)

Mankins - an RFA who amny hope we will be able to extend for only $7M a year
Neal - a UFA who is often injured and cannot be counted on for a full season
Connolly - a warm body, who can fill as needed
Wendell - another warm body who can fill in as needed
Ohrnberger - a developmental warm body