Right on. Was going to post almost the exact same thing. That is the method. Now for the opportunity...
DE...Can find a candidate in each group (G1-Dareus/Watt/Jordan, G2-Wilkerson/Heyward, G3-Ballard, G4-Jenkins) except there seems to be a hole in G5. G6 has some sleeper candidates in Corbin Bryant and Frank Kearse.
OLB...Loads of candidates in every group. The only weak spot seems to be G4 (Acho likely landing in that group).
OG...Nothing in G1 and limited candidates elsewhere, but they are spread out among the other groups (G2-Pouncey, G3-Watkins, G4-Ijalana, G5-Boling, G6-Moffitt). Given lack of depth, players could be overdrafted so waiting too long is probably not advised.
OT...Most interesting position since the candidates seem very clustered. A handful near the top (G1 and G2) and a second cluster much later (G5). Get one early or pick your spots in the middle rounds. Don't expect much late.
C...A pretty weak class with a couple of guys in G3 (Wisniewski/Hudson) and a couple of stragglers in G5 (O'Dowd). The rest are late picks. This is the position where good scouting could find you a diamond in the rough and it probably makes sense to get one late.
RB...Like most drafts, RBs can be found throughout. There seems to be a cluster (Todman/Murray/Hunter/Thomas) in G4 and the scat backs (Devine/Locke) seems to be really sliding and could be values late. Patience is a virtue with this position.
CB...My favorite position in this draft class. Options and variety in every group. If you can't find value at another position, there will likely be a value at CB to be had.
S...Overall a bad group. There are some guys who were productive in college but have graded out poorly for one reason or another. If they fall enough, may get a value pick. Otherwise expectations should be low.
Not profiling QB, TE, WR, NT and ILB since the Pats are already well-invested at these positions. Now for the motive...
OLB is obviously a top positional need, but the real need is for speed, athleticism and violent power from the outside. Whether that is OLB, DE or a hybrid elephant role, really doesn't matter.
The OLine needs an infusion of youth and athleticism but this really isn't the draft class to do it. Biggest challenge for Belichick. Temptation will be there to overdraft guys. Just shallow enough that waiting could cause you to miss a run and lose out altogether.
RB is in good hands with BJGE and Woodhead, but need to add another option or two. RBs always go later than they should so it pays to wait for value. Wait on CB since someone will slip through the cracks. Be ready to get a FS type if a guy you like falls into your lap.
Put it together and you get something like (in this order but not necessarily at the current Pats draft positions):
DE Cam Jordan or JJ Watt
OT Nate Solder or Gabe Carimi
OLB Jabaal Sheard or Brooks Reed
RB Ryan Williams or DeMarco Murray
OG Clint Boling
S Deunta Williams
CB Richard Sherman
C Jake Kirkpatrick
DE Frank Kearse
Following your leads:
I’m also not profiling QB, TE, WR, NT, ILB and S since the Pats are already well-invested at these positions. I identified my position priorities for the draft.
OLB 3-4 – Priority #1
G1-Miller/Quinn/Smith/Jordan
G2-Houston/ Brooks Reed
G3- K.J. Wright/ Akeem Ayers
G4- Sam Acho/ Dontay Moch
G5- Chris Carter/ Steven Friday
G6- Ugo Chinasa/ Tom Keiser/Vince Browne/Quentin Davie /Malcolm Jenkins / Markell Carter/Erik Clanton
T – Priority #2
G1-Smith
G2- Carimi/ Castonzo/ Sherrod
G3- Solder/ Barksdale
G4- Carpenter/ Brewer
G5- Derek Newton/ David Mims/ Chris Hairston
G6- Jah Reid/ Curt Porter/ Willie Smith/ Josh Davis
G – Priority #3
G1- None
G2- Ijalana/Boling/ Pouncey/ Cannon
G3- Watkins
G4- Gilbert/ Pinkston/ Franklin
G5- Schilling/ Rackley/ Ziemba
G6- Love/ Hurd/ Jackson/David Arkin/Keith Williams
DE 3-4 – Priority #4
G1-Dareus/Watt/Jordan
G2-Wilkerson/Heyward
G3-Ballard
G4-Jenkins/BaileyMcPhee
G5- Romeus/David CarterBrandon Bair
G6- Corbin Bryant /Frank Kearse/ Kentrell Lockett/ Zane Parr/ Lazarius Levingston
CB – Priority #5
G1- Peterson/Amukamara
G2- Harris/Smith/Aaron Williams
G3- Curtis Brown/ Chekwa/ Marsh
G4- Burton/ House/ Wright/ Josh Thomas
G5- Jalil Brown/ Buster Skrine/ Carmichael
G6- Cortez Allen/Justin Rogers/Richard Sherman/ Van Dyke/ Ryan Hill/ Gaitor
RB – Priority #6
G1-None
G2- Ingram/LeShoure
G3- Williams/ Todman
G4- Hunter/Thomas /Murray/ Verheen
G5- Taiwan Jones/Delone Carter/ Da'Rel Scott
G6- Roy Helu Jr/ Jamie Harper/Craig Cooper/Stephan Ridley/Bilal Powell/Anthony Allen/Alex Green
C – Priority #7
G1-None
G2-Wisniewski
G3- Hudson
G4- Fusco/ Moffitt
G5- O'Dowd/ Kirkpatrick
G6- Bartholomew/ Barnes/ Kirkpatrick
