THEARCHIVES said:
At the #21 pick of the draft I would not take a LB. Why are you guys so high on Carpenter? Just because he working out with Vrabel doesn't mean anything.
I like Carpenter because he has the body size and skills to be able to play either ILB or OLB in the 3-4. While the draft is deep in LBs, not everyone projects well to the 3-4. IMO, Carpenter projects very well there. He has a great attitude, great work ethic, loads of physical talent, and good instincts. Is he the best LB in the draft? No. But, IMO he's a great fit for the Pats (and sure, him working out with Vrabel helps there), and would be solid value at 21, or preferably trading back a few picks.
Yes, Lawson is more of a physical specimen in terms of speed (but 20 pounds lighter than Carpenter), and has more potential upside. Carpenter though is (IMO) more able to step in in week 1 as a starter, and is less of a risk. There are other DE-OLB tweeners that could be taken later in the draft as projects to develop, rather than taking Lawson in round 1. But, I can certainly see BB taking Lawson if he's there at 21. I just see him as a bit more of a risk, but yes, with more potential upside in terms of his speed.
You can speculate all you want, no one knows what the Pats will do with the Pick.
Duh. SO why did you bother starting a thread that's purely asking us to speculate?
The draft is too deep at LB, get another player that can help you out in other areas, then in the 2nd round of even third, you should be able to get a quality player.
IMO, there's a substantial dropoff after round 1 (or early round 2) in terms of ability to be a starter as a rookie. Many of the other guys we'd look at later in the draft are DE-OLB tweeners. There's always more risk there, since you don't know how well the person will be able to pick up a new skillset, and how their talents will project to that position. I see Carpenter as more of a guarantee than the LBs who will be picked in round 2 and afterwards. We can then use one or two later picks on tweeners like Chris Gocong, Ryan LaCasse, etc. as guys with good potential upside, but who won't be as much of a guarantee. Maybe even an ILB like Kai Parham may slip to day 2 due to his slow 40 time.
So if Maroney is available, I take him. Who knows if Dillon will show up in shape and will stay on the field. He's 31 years old, and the lack of running game was part of the reason why opposing teams tee'd off on Brady. Not to forget the injury's to the O-Line. We NEED TO GROOM A REPLACEMENT NOW!
IMO, some of the round 2 and 3 RBs are closer to Maroney in terms of talent and readiness than the round 2 and 3 LBs are to a guy like Carpenter. I'd be happier having Carpenter in round 1 and Addai in round 2 or Norwood in round 3, than Maroney in round 1 and any round 2/3 LB.
I'd go:
1. Carpenter (trading down a few picks if it looks reasonable (i.e. still guys like Greenway and Sims on the board, such that the Giants won't trade up to target Carpenter) and there's a willing trade partner)
2. Joseph Addai (RB) (probably trading up some - with Lendell White falling, trading up to get Addai will likely be required). Presumably whatever we can get for trading back a bit for Carpenter could be used to trade up for Addai.
If we can't get Addai, and Richard Marshall (CB) is still on the board, I'd grab him. Otherwise, I'd trade back 10-20 picks and take Jerrius Norwood (RB).
3a. If we took Richard Marshall in round 2, I'd take Jerrius Norwood here. Otherwise, one of these TEs: Lewis, Byrd, Fasano, Klopfenstein, or Scheffler (the last two could be had by trading back a ways).
3b. Chris Gocong or Ryan LaCasse, as a developmental LB.
day 2 would target one or more OLmen, one of the QBs who could be converted to WR (while serving as 3rd string QB), and another LB, perhaps Kai Parham, since I think he'll fall to round 4 or 5 due to his slow 40 time (which makes him unappealing as a 4-3 MLB, but he'd be a great run stuffing 3-4 ILB).
and of course a kicker.
