- Joined
- Feb 8, 2005
- Messages
- 43,665
- Reaction score
- 24,250
Going into the 2015 Draft, I see the two biggest needs being as follows:
NT/DT - Someone to start taking over for Vince. Branch and Siliga are better complimentary players than they are starters.
OG - The Pats need 1, possibly 2 guys for the interior of the line. I believe that Fleming will take over one of the guard positions. I believe that Kline and Devey will be good reserve players, though Kline is the better spot starter. However, they need someone who can be a Mauler inside, but also bounce outside.
The other positions:
O-Line - Solder and Vollmer both had off-years. Vollmer I am willing to over-look due to his injury history. Solder seemed to have issues with trusting the guy next to him and trying to over-compensate. The Pats have him back next year, but they will likely draft someone by the 3rd round to cover the potential of Solder moving on. Much like they drafted Solder before Light retired (and Light before Armstrong retired). The Pats have Cannon signed for another 2 years. Cannon has actually shown an ability to be the swing Tackle.
Safety - Yes, the Patriots could use someone to line up next to McCourty. Yes, I expect a long term deal with McCourty to get done. Both Harmon and Wilson seemed to make some pretty good strides this year. That being said, I don't believe that Harmon is ready to take over as the starter next to him.
CB- The Big question is whether or not they get an extension done for Revis before the season officially starts in March. My guess is that they will. That would give the Pats a group of Revis, Browner, Arrington, Ryan, Dennard, Butler. Something has been wrong with Denanrd this year. He's not been the same player that we were used to. Ryan has been hit or miss. Arrington has played better than average.
LB- A lot will hinge on the Pats being able to re-sign Ayers and whether Mayo comes back healthy. If those two things happen, then the Patriots have a very strong core with Hightower and Collins. If not, then they will be scrambling to add quality to the LB core.
WR - I see this as a low draft priority. They have Edelman, LaFell, Amendola and Tyms right now. They also have the oft-injured Dobson and Greg Orton. And on the PS they have Boyce and Jonathan Krause. They may make a free agency signing, but, again, it will not be a huge name..
TE - The Pats have Gronkowski and Wright. They've had little luck in TEs beyond their #2. Hoomanawanui has underperformed, even as the #3. The Pats went out and signed re-tread Steve Maneri to help in jumbo packages in the run game since they weren't getting the blocking they needed from Hoomanawanui. I wouldn't be surprised to see a late round pick used on a TE prospect.
QB - The Pats drafted Garappolo and he could, very well, be the heir apparent to Brady. Only time will tell. The Patriots did sign Garrett Gilbert at the end of the 2014 season to their practice squad to give them a 3rd QB. This was after trying to sign David Fales to their PS from Chicago's only to have Chicago promote him to their pro-roster.
NT/DT - Someone to start taking over for Vince. Branch and Siliga are better complimentary players than they are starters.
OG - The Pats need 1, possibly 2 guys for the interior of the line. I believe that Fleming will take over one of the guard positions. I believe that Kline and Devey will be good reserve players, though Kline is the better spot starter. However, they need someone who can be a Mauler inside, but also bounce outside.
The other positions:
O-Line - Solder and Vollmer both had off-years. Vollmer I am willing to over-look due to his injury history. Solder seemed to have issues with trusting the guy next to him and trying to over-compensate. The Pats have him back next year, but they will likely draft someone by the 3rd round to cover the potential of Solder moving on. Much like they drafted Solder before Light retired (and Light before Armstrong retired). The Pats have Cannon signed for another 2 years. Cannon has actually shown an ability to be the swing Tackle.
Safety - Yes, the Patriots could use someone to line up next to McCourty. Yes, I expect a long term deal with McCourty to get done. Both Harmon and Wilson seemed to make some pretty good strides this year. That being said, I don't believe that Harmon is ready to take over as the starter next to him.
CB- The Big question is whether or not they get an extension done for Revis before the season officially starts in March. My guess is that they will. That would give the Pats a group of Revis, Browner, Arrington, Ryan, Dennard, Butler. Something has been wrong with Denanrd this year. He's not been the same player that we were used to. Ryan has been hit or miss. Arrington has played better than average.
LB- A lot will hinge on the Pats being able to re-sign Ayers and whether Mayo comes back healthy. If those two things happen, then the Patriots have a very strong core with Hightower and Collins. If not, then they will be scrambling to add quality to the LB core.
WR - I see this as a low draft priority. They have Edelman, LaFell, Amendola and Tyms right now. They also have the oft-injured Dobson and Greg Orton. And on the PS they have Boyce and Jonathan Krause. They may make a free agency signing, but, again, it will not be a huge name..
TE - The Pats have Gronkowski and Wright. They've had little luck in TEs beyond their #2. Hoomanawanui has underperformed, even as the #3. The Pats went out and signed re-tread Steve Maneri to help in jumbo packages in the run game since they weren't getting the blocking they needed from Hoomanawanui. I wouldn't be surprised to see a late round pick used on a TE prospect.
QB - The Pats drafted Garappolo and he could, very well, be the heir apparent to Brady. Only time will tell. The Patriots did sign Garrett Gilbert at the end of the 2014 season to their practice squad to give them a 3rd QB. This was after trying to sign David Fales to their PS from Chicago's only to have Chicago promote him to their pro-roster.