2014 draft priorities

[Brady6]

Hindsight is 100%. However, I agree that we had 2 major opportunities to bring in a wide receiver in the 2012 draft. Our choices in of Wilson and Bequette were pretty awful.

With regard to Gregory, it is precisely because we have McCourty that we do OK at safety with Gregory starting. However, I agree that we need to draft yet another safety to add to the kiddie corp (Harmon, Wilson, and Ebner).

The development of our DBs is concerning to me personally. You have a player in Tavon Wilson who flashed the ability to do several things as a rookie; he contributed 41 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 6 pass defends. He also according to Reiss who actually mentioned him in an article yesterday is well liked in the locker room and considered a team first player (quote and link below).

“Wilson's primary contributions now come on special teams and in the locker room, where it's clear that he's well-liked and a team-first player.”

Why Tavon Wilson is on the mind - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

How is it that we’re unable to develop these players, I am not say Tavon Wilson was great as a rookie but he certainly contributed and the fact he has been on the field for less than 10 defensive snaps in his second year is mind boggling. You saw a enough in this player to draft him 48th overall, use him as #3 on your safety rotation as a rookie over players like Pat Chung and now he isn’t even seeing the field. What happened in the last 10-12 months that led to this?

I think Belichick is the greatest coach of all time, if there is ever something I question it is when he puts players so deeply into the dog house that it because detrimental to their development and eventually destroys any possibility of them becoming the player they could have been. So many posters, media members and fans refer to players like Wilson, Chung, Dowling, Butler Cunningham and other as BUSTS and the blame for that is always placed squarely on the player themselves but I don’t know if that’s true I think you have to hold the coaching staff accountable for this as well. These players all showed something in terms of capability that is why they were drafted that is why many of them saw the field a significant amount in year 1 of their careers and then they went into witness protection in future years. That is a problem in my mind, the development of young players needs to be the primary focus of all the positional coaches, banishing them to the dog house is not going to develop them and at the end of the day they still get paid the team is the one that wasted its resources and got minimal contributions in return.

 

[Brady6]

Folks keep on listing DL as a TOP priority. I don't understand. We just extended Ninkovich.
Our DE's are Ninkovich, Jones and Buchanan. Our DT's are Wilfork/Kelly, Jones, Siliga. Armstead and Vellano.

Yes, we NEED a passing rushing stud at DE. So does everyone else in the NFL. Perhaps we might draft one if we had a top 15 draft choice.

There is little mention of linebacker. We have Mayo, Hightower and Collins for 2014. At least one more seems indicated.

• Vince Wilfork (restructured)
• Chandler Jones
• Rob Ninkovich
• Michael Buchanan
• Armond Armstead
• Chris Jones

Those are the players I see a high likelihood of being on the 2014 squad. The rest of the players like Siliga, Vellano and Kelly I am not so certain about, and players like Sopoaga and Carter I see no chance of. Bequette is a wild card.

 

[Ivan]

TE-They aren't going to pay for a top flight TE so a high pick is the best route to get one. DL and interior OL are also really high on the list, but if they address them in free agency it will lessen the need.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, many posters have a strange concept of bust. I believe Chung and Butler are still playing. Chung contributed while he was here. However, he did not develop beyond his rookie year. Dowling was a "bust" only because Belichick apparently shouldn't draft injury prone players (like Gronk). Cunningham would be here for THIS year and next, if he were healthy.

So, yes, a lot of the issue seems to be coaching rather than the players themselves. Wilson was an OK backup as a rookie. The gospel according to Belichick would say that Harmon simply beat him out for reps, and that Gregory is better than both. That would not explain why Ebner got reps over Wilson.

So many posters, media members and fans refer to players like Wilson, Chung, Dowling, Butler, Cunningham and other as BUSTS and the blame for that is always placed squarely on the player themselves but I don’t know if that’s true I think you have to hold the coaching staff accountable for this as well.

 

[Brady6]

I don't like your plan at all. Even if everything works, you aren't in great shape. I see now point in cutting Connolly.

SOLDER - recovering from concussions.
MANKINS - I suppose you could restructure; I wouldn't. He has no reason to take less $.
WENDELL - Why would he sign for a low rate? He would just go elsewhere as Koppen did.
CANNON - He isn't as good at OG as Connolly or he'd be playing more this year.
VOLLMER - Our injury prone star need a quality backup; Cannon has served well.
BACKUPS - Are you counting on mid-rounders and JAG free agents as backups.
===========================

A DIFFERENT PLAN
1) Use a high draft choice ( 1-3) on a center or guard.
2) Keep at least one of Connolly and Wendell, preferably both.
3) Keep Cannon at backup OT where he is certainly needed.
4) Sign our annual veteran of the year (or re-sign Svitek).

TO PUT IN ANOTHER WAY

TACKLES: Solder, Vollmer, Svitek or another veteran

INTERIOR - Mankins, top rookie, Connolly, Wendell or other vet center, Kline

SWING - Cannon

It is not really a plan MG it is a likely scenario in my opinion. Wendell is a solid starting NFL center that we could retain most likely on a team friendly deal. In our scheme it makes no sense to pay big money for a center in my opinion. Wendell has only been penalized 3 times all season and 2 times in 2012. The line is currently ranked as the #1 run blocking line in the NFL and #9 in pass protection, the play has not been as bad as it seems too many. I think you have to keep in mind the fact that this team is playing from behind much more often than in years past and when you’re playing from behind teams can key in on the pass and bring more pressure. The Patriots are also the #1 team in the league when running up the middle behind the left guard and center averaging 4.74 YPC which is significantly higher than the #2 team which is KC with 4.49 YPC.

I see Wendell being back as a near certainty personally, I think his struggles are extremely exaggerated amongst the fan base and overall he does a fine job and can be retained at a fair market price.

LT: Solder (age 25)
LG: Mankins (age 31)
OC: Wendell (age 27)
RG: Cannon (age 25)
RT: Vollmer (age 29)

The only huge concern I see is LG who will be 32 at the start of next season, I would restructure him on a 3 year deal bring his cap figure way down and run with this group. Draft an interior lineman and develop some of the younger players we already have. Many forget about very promising players in Markus Zusevics who is still under team control and Braxston Cave who is on the practice squad. Those players could bother contribute, Zusevics as a swing tackle and Cave as an interior lineman.

 

[Brady6]

I think they’ll take Coleman with their first round draft pick whether they see WR as a need or not.

Brandon Coleman | Rutgers, WR : 2015 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

 

[mgteich]

1) I agree that the patriots should pay market value to Wendell, a solid present and future center. From previous posts, it seemed that most want him to accept a lowball offer. The market will determine the price of a "solid quality starting NFL center". I don't see why you except Wendell to take a "team friendly" discount.

2) Connolly is a solid backup. You seem to make believe that we need no backups. Given the health situation of Vollmer and Solder, it seems wrong to want to start Cannon in a new position without backup when we need him as a backup OT. BTW, Cannon will be in his contract year. At very least, we need to have Connolly compete with Cannon in camp.

3) I haven't a clue why Mankins would reduce his salary. If the patriots don't want him, I suspect that he is willing to happy to go on the open market. Maybe he would get the $6M that he is schedule to get, perhaps not. But that isn't the question, is it? If the patriots cut Mankins, the likelihood is that someone will offer about the same as the patriots and he will go.

4) You brag on the performance of the OL, as well you might. However, you then replace Connolly with Cannon. If Cannon were a better guard than Connolly, he'd be already starting. We need to draft our 2015 starting OG. We've no guards signed through 2015 except Mankins ( we also have Barker and Kline.

It is not really a plan MG it is a likely scenario in my opinion. Wendell is a solid starting NFL center that we could retain most likely on a team friendly deal. In our scheme it makes no sense to pay big money for a center in my opinion. Wendell has only been penalized 3 times all season and 2 times in 2012. The line is currently ranked as the #1 run blocking line in the NFL and #9 in pass protection, the play has not been as bad as it seems too many. I think you have to keep in mind the fact that this team is playing from behind much more often than in years past and when you’re playing from behind teams can key in on the pass and bring more pressure. The Patriots are also the #1 team in the league when running up the middle behind the left guard and center averaging 4.74 YPC which is significantly higher than the #2 team which is KC with 4.49 YPC.

I see Wendell being back as a near certainty personally, I think his struggles are extremely exaggerated amongst the fan base and overall he does a fine job and can be retained at a fair market price.

LT: Solder (age 25)
LG: Mankins (age 31)
OC: Wendell (age 27)
RG: Cannon (age 25)
RT: Vollmer (age 29)

The only huge concern I see is LG who will be 32 at the start of next season, I would restructure him on a 3 year deal bring his cap figure way down and run with this group. Draft an interior lineman and develop some of the younger players we already have. Many forget about very promising players in Markus Zusevics who is still under team control and Braxston Cave who is on the practice squad. Those players could bother contribute, Zusevics as a swing tackle and Cave as an interior lineman.

 

[Deus Irae]

Swearinger has been an absolute disaster. There was a reason we passed on him, and it's plainly obvious why - he sucks.

It's not about Swearinger. It's about getting the needed safety. If he didn't think Swearinger (who's been better than you claim, though that wouldn't take much given your post) was good enough, he shouldn't have traded down and missed out on Cyprien/Elam.

 

[hwc]

These players all showed something in terms of capability that is why they were drafted that is why many of them saw the field a significant amount in year 1 of their careers and then they went into witness protection in future years.

Just because a player is forced into action as a rookie doesn't mean that player is actually going to be an NFL caliber player. Sometimes, it's just a case of needing a body at a position due to injuries and you end up with a special teamer practice squad type guy making multiple starts. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see that player disappear the next year.

For example, we don't know how his career will play out, but it wouldn't be shocking to see Vellano disappear after multiple starts his rookie season.

 

[hwc]

I think the biggest concern on the O-line is that Vollmer's chronic back problems will cut his career short sooner rather than later. Those are the kinds of issues that shape a draft strategy.

 

[Brady6]

1)2) Connolly is a solid backup. You seem to make believe that we need no backups. Given the health situation of Vollmer and Solder, it seems wrong to want to start Cannon in a new position without backup when we need him as a backup OT. BTW, Cannon will be in his contract year. At very least, we need to have Connolly compete with Cannon in camp.

I like Connolly I think he would be a fantastic backup interior lineman because he can play all 3 positions (LG, OC and RG). I just don’t think he is worth the $3m he costs against the cap next season. I wish we had retained Thomas, I liked him and thought he was promising, he was injured early on this season but I think he has a bright future.

3) I haven't a clue why Mankins would reduce his salary. If the patriots don't want him, I suspect that he is willing to happy to go on the open market. Maybe he would get the $6M that he is schedule to get, perhaps not. But that isn't the question, is it? If the patriots cut Mankins, the likelihood is that someone will offer about the same as the patriots and he will go.

I don’t think the market would be that strong for Mankins who has missed 14 games since the start of 2010 and is not nearly the player he was back in 2005-2009. Mankins is a player who is respected here he has made a ton of money and in my opinion is looking for a championship and not a payday anymore, his best shot at that is here in New England, similar to Vince Wilfork I think Mankins knew that they would have to restructure in the final year and his agent like Vince’s looked for a high cap hit for leverage to extend out for additional years.

4) You brag on the performance of the OL, as well you might. However, you then replace Connolly with Cannon. If Cannon were a better guard than Connolly, he'd be already starting. We need to draft our 2015 starting OG. We've no guards signed through 2015 except Mankins ( we also have Barker and Kline.

I think Cannon has proved in Vollmers absence that he deserves to be a starting OL in the NFL. The only place that can happen on this team is LG or RG in 2014 because Solder and Vollmer will both be back, in my opinion Mankins is significantly better than Connolly also I think Cannon fits better on the right side of the line matched up with the strong side defenders instead of the more agile defenders on the left side.

 

[Deus Irae]

Yes, many posters have a strange concept of bust. I believe Chung and Butler are still playing. Chung contributed while he was here. However, he did not develop beyond his rookie year. Dowling was a "bust" only because Belichick apparently shouldn't draft injury prone players (like Gronk). Cunningham would be here for THIS year and next, if he were healthy.

Chung, Butler, Dowling and Cunningham were all high round picks that failed to pan out in New England. There's nothing strange about that resulting in them being labeled a bust.

So, yes, a lot of the issue seems to be coaching rather than the players themselves. Wilson was an OK backup as a rookie. The gospel according to Belichick would say that Harmon simply beat him out for reps, and that Gregory is better than both. That would not explain why Ebner got reps over Wilson.

Chung still has the same problems he always did, Dowling couldn't stay healthy and eventually lost some ability due to his injuries, Cunningham is out of the NFL and Butler took 2 more stops before he put it together, because his problems were internal as much as anything else, and he's still a depth CB/CB3 who's had his ups and downs on the field for the Colts. None of those players failed due to coaching.

 

[micronin127]

Before I can think about the draft, generally the season has to be over and I'm still pretty engaged with our team's chances in an AFC that doesn't appear to have a dominant team.

I can start with our free agents:

RFA LS Danny Aiken

UFA RB LeGarrette Blount
UFA WR Austin Collie
UFA WR Julian Edelman
UFA TE Michael Hoomanawanui
UFA TE Matthew Mulligan
UFA TE DJ Williams
UFA OT Will Svitek
UFA C Ryan Wendell
UFA DL Andre Carter
UFA LB Dane Fletcher
UFA LB Stephen Larsen
UFA LB Brandon Spikes
UFA CB Marquice Cole
UFA CB Aqib Talib

Keeping Talib, Wendell, and Edelman may be difficult but those would be my priorities.

Can't decide on draft priorities until I see what players we re-sign or sign as free agents.

I'd definitely look for a TE and G/C for the offense.
I'd definitely look for a CB, S, and OLB for the defense.

Depending on what they do with Wilfork and Kelly we might need a DT too.

I guess I would take the CB and TE earliest in the draft and look for the G/C and S next. The OLB with coverage skills later than that.

At the tail end of the draft, I'd look for a KR specialist and a developmental QB or more of a blocking TE than the TE they take early who should be a skill player.

 

[Jimke]

What about Matt Stinky-Witch? He's still on the roster.

The Patriots have Braxston Cave on their practice squad. He was the 5th
ranked center in the 2013 draft and was signed by Cleveland as an UDFA.
The Patriots claimed him when Cleveland cut their roster to 53. He
spent a little time on the Patriot's 53 man roster early on before they
signed him to their practice squad. He is being paid more than the
practice squad minimum.

 

[Leemo]

I think they’ll take Coleman with their first round draft pick whether they see WR as a need or not.

Brandon Coleman*|*Rutgers,*WR*:*2015 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

What a dumb post.

 

[Snake Eyes]

1) I agree that the patriots should pay market value to Wendell, a solid present and future center. From previous posts, it seemed that most want him to accept a lowball offer. The market will determine the price of a "solid quality starting NFL center". I don't see why you except Wendell to take a "team friendly" discount.

Wendell sucks who has consistently been a weak link in the O-line, he ought to be a backup at best. I'd much rather sign Alex Mack in Free Agency and pay Wendell like a backup, if he doesn't like it I'd show him the door.

 

[State]

Because Jones and Vellano stepping in coincide with the Pats becoming one of the worst run defenses in the league, Wilfork's a major question mark going forward, Armstead has yet to practice in the NFL, Kelly is 32 and just went on IR with a knee injury, Forston isn't good, and Sopoaga's option likely won't get picked up for the price.

The way I see it, you can reasonably assume that one of Wilfork/Kelly will come back as a healthy starter, and that Jones has proven himself as an extremely capable pass rushing specialist and rotational player.

This team has too many holes now for the Patriots to roll the dice on risky or questionable players like Ras-IR Dowling and Tavon Wilson in the second round. It hurts what could have been instead with Torrey Smith and Kendall Reyes

In Bill I Trust in the first round and later ones. But the heart of the draft are rounds two to four.

Also, the Standford Cardinal TE Ernst drafted high last year by Chip Kelly and the Eagles would have been a dynamic fit here. But that was before we the Hernandez situation broke, I believe.

CB, TE, DT, OL. Why not bring back Nick McDonald, who was so capable as a do-everything reserve? Is there an injury to him? I heard the Pats brought him back several weeks ago to look at.

I'm guessing we may have another Dennard playing in the secondary, but this one--a cousin of the Patriots player--pronounces his name a different way, denNARD. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

That will be weird, having to have two pronunciations for the same name.

 

[bbell31]

We should & need to draft a Dt,cb, or maybe a te with our first pick. Our cbs have to b betr & our interior oline. Nix, Amaro, Dennard just sum ideas

 

[kennyb]

Problem is rookie dts are hit or miss too iffy. They need to acquire a good one in free agency unless they are convinced Kelley will be 100%. Probably even with Kelley they need someone who won't be physically overwhelmed at the point.

 

[chasa]

I think we have a couple of good young DT's I really think we just need one larger guy like vince in there opposite one of them, Really though the biggest issue is Mayo being out and exposing Hightower to having to be in coverage that he just isn't capable of handling.