CNNSI Early 2011 Mock Draft

[dryheat44]

Duh, of course you need an OL to run behind. But there is a marked difference between a JAG RB and an Adrian Peterson. Are you telling me this team wouldn't be better with an Adrian Peterson than a Laurence Maroney? Give me a few minutes to LMFAO first and I'll get back to you.

If Ingram is that special #1 type RB, I have no problem taking him early in the first round. 3 of the Pats current RBs are over 30 - Morris, Taylor, and Faulk. And Maroney and BJGE are Jags. Most of their contracts will expire in 2011. This all points to a huge need at RB.

Okay, finish laughing. Do you really not get it?

Yes, Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, Walter Payton, Eric ****erson, and Barry Sanders were worth the #1 pick in the draft. Is Adrian Peterson, who's not much in the passing game, runs behind a very good (left side anyway) offensive line, and whose fumbles literally killed the Vikings season, in that category? I'd say no, and the fact that some say he is is a testament to fantasy football's popularity, but whatever.

What evidence is there that Mark Ingram, who ran behind perhaps the best OL in the NCAA last year, is in that category? None. I'm not sure he'll be the best RB prospect for next year's draft.

If we had pro-bowl level starters at all other positions, maybe I'd take a chance on an RB that early, but the odds are much more likely that he'll be a slight upgrade on what's on the roster right now.

 

[Defsoul]

In defense of Mark Ingram: Of course he ran behind a good line, but so did Ryan Mathews, Jahvid Best or Toby Gerhart. They all ran behind good run blocking lines.

What separates Mark Ingram from the average college back is his vision, his ability to sidestep tacklers and his abiltiy to run through tackles. He is no burner, but he seems to move faster with every cut he makes and I think he has a good chance of becoming a good NFL prospect.

 

[dryheat44]

... I think he has a good chance of becoming a good NFL prospect.

No argument there. I just don't think he's worth a 1st round pick to the Patriots.

Running backs are funny, in that a half dozen very good college RBs enter the NFL every year. Well, there are only 32 teams. Every year some pretty good RBs get cut prior to the season because a rookie, and not even necessarily a highly-drafted one, can do the job for much cheaper. LenDale got traded for what...something like a 12 spot move-up in the 5th round? And he's a productive, recent 2nd round pick. The Titans figured they could get 5 carries a game much more cheaply. Same thing happened to Chester Taylor.

It's probably never a good idea to give a RB a second big contract when his first runs out, and without a crystal ball, it's never a good idea to draft them in the first 25-or-so picks.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

The conversation really isn't about grabbing Ingram but the #1 back in next years draft. This very well might be Ingram but there is a whole year for things to change. We have 2 2nd rounders as of now, so if we want to grab a guy in the 2nd that is also a possibility.

 

[Metaphors]

At this point in the process, you have to try hard NOT to get 2 excellent players at positions of need that project to the Pats scheme. How sweet is that?

 

[patsfan-1982]

i don't see that oakland pick being a top 5 pick i think it will be more like 15 to 20

and the only way a see the pats useing both picks is if ther is a rookie CAP if not one of them will turn into a #1 in 2012 or a 2th and 3rd in 2011.


RB or a top G/C or T would be a better pick then WR the pats just drafted two pass catching TE's it time for brady to start throwing to he's TE's and they have Julian Edelman, if wes welker, gets back to 100% by 2011 the pats have lots of weapons for brady to throw to.



if the pats can re-sign Logan Mankins, long term with Sebastian Vollmer, and use both #1's on and G/C and a T that will add 4 for years to bradys playing days

 

[patchick]

Yes, Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, Walter Payton, Eric ****erson, and Barry Sanders were worth the #1 pick in the draft.

...

If we had pro-bowl level starters at all other positions, maybe I'd take a chance on an RB that early, but the odds are much more likely that he'll be a slight upgrade on what's on the roster right now.

Let's do a little thought experiment. Everybody, imagine you had your choice of ANY of those guys in bold to add to the Patriots. But your other options with the pick are Lawrence Taylor, Demarcus Ware, Walter Jones, Anthony Muñoz, Reggie White, Cortez Kennedy, Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Your goal is simply to improve your team as much as possible. Are you tempted by the RBs?

 

[tuckeverlasting]

Let's do a little thought experiment. Everybody, imagine you had your choice of ANY of those guys in bold to add to the Patriots. But your other options with the pick are Lawrence Taylor, Demarcus Ware, Walter Jones, Anthony Muñoz, Reggie White, Cortez Kennedy, Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Your goal is simply to improve your team as much as possible. Are you tempted by the RBs?

that's easy, i'd go lt and reggie white and if either of those two were gone i'd go munoz. the larger point is you build from the lines out. skill players thrive because of the lines.

 

[Coach42]

Yep.

I don't understand wanting to waste a first round pick on a running back. Are there a few "elite" RBs in the NFL? Sure, but there's no indication Ingram will be one. Typically, an RB is probably worth 15% of a team's running success. As long as you have good linemen and a passing game that prevents the defense from stacking the box, a good RB will perform about the same as a "great" one. And since the NFL, and the Patriots in particular, are now pass-first, why waste a 1st round pick on an RB at the expense of a play-maker on defense or very good lineman?

Make no mistake, RB is the most fungible position on the team.

Totally agree I'm not even sure that Ingram is the best pro prospect at RB on his own team.

 

[Seneschal2]

5. New England Patriots (via Raiders)
A.J. Green, WR, Georgia*

At #5, Belichick would select the BEST defensive player at a position of need. Undoubtedly -- and expectedly -- an impact player who everyone and their grandma has been clamoring for. My guess would be DE or DE/OLB.

And I agree, no WR that high.

 

[TriplecHamp]

At #5, Belichick would select the BEST defensive player at a position of need. Undoubtedly -- and expectedly -- an impact player who everyone and their grandma has been clamoring for. My guess would be DE or DE/OLB.

And I agree, no WR that high.

Im a defense first guy but your wrong here as of now.

 

[furley]

Like New England, I place a lot of value on character. If Ingram is a character guy, then he deserves as much credit for this as he would get as a player.

All I know is, Belichick took a chance on a running back in the first round, Maroney. There's no reason to believe that he couldn't consider doing it again with their pick next year. If not in the first, then maybe you target Ingram in the second round with either their pick or Carolina's or a combination of the two picks in order to trade up.

 

[dryheat44]

that's easy, i'd go lt and reggie white and if either of those two were gone i'd go munoz. the larger point is you build from the lines out. skill players thrive because of the lines.

I think that's the overriding point...although I'd probably get Jerry Rice in there.

 

[bakes781]

WR is more likely as at least they aren't dependent on the OL creating holes and they don't take a beating like RBs. Thus it's easier to spot a great WR prospect & while still risky not nearly as much. I personally wouldn't mind seeing Julio Jones in a Patriot's uni in 2011.

 

[Coach42]

WR is more likely as at least they aren't dependent on the OL creating holes and they don't take a beating like RBs. Thus it's easier to spot a great WR prospect & while still risky not nearly as much. I personally wouldn't mind seeing Julio Jones in a Patriot's uni in 2011.

I don't think they would use their top on a WR simply because of the depth at WR next year. Green, Jones, Baldwin, Floyd in some order are the top picks and more than likely one would be available at their second pick. We know how they feel about trading down if they feel they can get a comparable talent later and add picks. Also, the development of Tate and Price will have a large role in determining if WR is even necessary.

 

[dryheat44]

Let's do a little thought experiment. Everybody, imagine you had your choice of ANY of those guys in bold to add to the Patriots. But your other options with the pick are Lawrence Taylor, Demarcus Ware, Walter Jones, Anthony Muñoz, Reggie White, Cortez Kennedy, Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Your goal is simply to improve your team as much as possible. Are you tempted by the RBs?

You've inspired me to take this experiment to it's possibly logical conclusion. I'd love to do a mock draft with about 5-8 teams, with every player in the history of the NFL as the draft pool. It might tell us something about optimal roster construction, and give us something to do for a little while.

I don't think we need a 53-man roster, but maybe a complete starting lineup, plus a few essentials like 3rd WR, nickleback, 3rd down rush specialist, 3rd down back. Anybody interested?

 

[patchick]

You've inspired me to take this experiment to it's possibly logical conclusion. I'd love to do a mock draft with about 5-8 teams, with every player in the history of the NFL as the draft pool. It might tell us something about optimal roster construction, and give us something to do for a little while.

I don't think we need a 53-man roster, but maybe a complete starting lineup, plus a few essentials like 3rd WR, nickleback, 3rd down rush specialist, 3rd down back. Anybody interested?

Love the idea, but I don't think I have the depth of knowledge to pull it off. (Who are the all-time elite centers?) It would be interesting to see how it does and doesn't resemble a fantasy draft. I think QBs still have to go first -- Montana, Brady, Manning top 3? -- but I imagine RBs will slide, not only behind defensive players but some other offensive positions as well.

 

[Why?PJ]

Love the idea, but I don't think I have the depth of knowledge to pull it off. (Who are the all-time elite centers?) It would be interesting to see how it does and doesn't resemble a fantasy draft. I think QBs still have to go first -- Montana, Brady, Manning top 3? -- but I imagine RBs will slide, not only behind defensive players but some other offensive positions as well.

then again, imagine some of the greats on an actually good team. If Barry Sanders had a team around him, what type of records would he have set?

 

[SeauOUCH]

then again, imagine some of the greats on an actually good team. If Barry Sanders had a team around him, what type of records would he have set?

Imagine if Barry Sanders played on those Cowboys super bowl teams. I always felt bad that he was stuck in Detroit. How can you have Barry Sanders & not build a team around him??

People always point to his negative yards ( most runs for a loss in NFL history ) but his offensive line was HORRIBLE. The guy had to make 2 defenders miss before he even got to the line of scrimmage on 90% of his runs.

 

[patchick]

then again, imagine some of the greats on an actually good team. If Barry Sanders had a team around him, what type of records would he have set?

You know, I'm not sure. Look at what happened to Adrian Peterson when the Vikings got an actual NFL QB. More receptions, but a big drop in both carries and YPC. Or look at Ladanian Tomlinson, who became a huge star circa 2003 when the Chargers' passing game was pathetic. Sometimes being the whole offense is what makes an RB a star.