After trading out Seymour and letting Green walk our most glaring hole has to be at DE. You can never have enough DLinemen and BB has a history of taking them in the first round. With more 3-4 defenses than ever these guys are getting tougher to find. Holding still at #22 may not be an option to get someone to start at that position this year. So lets eliminate the hybrid DE/OLBs and NTs, who do you think can play that technique and where do you think the value drops off? There is alot of talk about the 2 best DT's at the top of the draft this year, what would their fit be at a 3-4 DE? After Odrick, who are the next best guys?? We have all these 2nd round picks but I havent seen anyone jumping on anyone there to be an impact player. Is anyone comfortable with Wright starting at DE??? Pryor?? Brace??
Basically the Patriots are returning the same unit as last year across the D Line minus Green who was much more of a situational player. So if the team did nothing they could put out an adequate line.
God I hope they don't do that. I want the front seven to be superior.
Outside of Odrick I don't see anyone who can come close to starting in year 1 that is why I have proposed tarding a 2nd rounder for either Marcus Spears or Kedric Golston from Washington.
Some possibilities for 3-4 DE, as you said not an OLB, not a NT but a 3-4 end include:
Round 1
Jared Odrick DT Penn State 6-5 304
Round 2
Tyson Alualu DT California 6-3 295 <-- a bit short but has played in a 3-4
Cam Thomas DT North Carolina 6-4 330 <-- a bit heavy but apparently moves pretty well
Rounds 2+
Alex Carrington DE Arkansas State 6-5 285
Lamarr Houston DT Texas 6-3 305
Mike Neal DT Purdue 6-3 294
Arthur Jones DT Syracuse 6-3 301
C.J. Wilson DE East Carolina 6-3 290
Al Woods DT LSU
Vince Oghobaase DT Duke 6-5 302 <-- falling fast
Sean Lissemore DT William & Mary 6-3 297
Very interested in opinions on these or any other prospects.