How would you feel if we drafted Revis and Leonard in the first?

[TeamPats]

If pioli thinks someone is a "shutdown corner" in the NFL, we'll draft him in the first round and have a contributer for five years.

If Leonard reminds you of Pass, I don't think you've seen him play much. Besides, isn't it about time for Pass to retire?

To be a bit more serious, I would like to us draft Leonard in the second, moving up if we need to.

I love Leonard and would like to see him as a Patriot, but didn't Pass get drafted in 2000? I know he is one of the only Patriots to play throughout the Super Bowl run, but if he was drafted the year Brady was I don't think he would be old enough to start considering for retirement.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I love Leonard and would like to see him as a Patriot, but didn't Pass get drafted in 2000? I know he is one of the only Patriots to play throughout the Super Bowl run, but if he was drafted the year Brady was I don't think he would be old enough to start considering for retirement.

Based on age, no, based on utility for the Pats...he may not be brought back. He and Faulk are of an age, with roughly the same mileage, I'd like to bring in a younger Utility Back/Third Down Specialist to develop behind Faulk. If that someone can develop as a downhill complement to Maroney, more power to them. If Pass comes back, no big deal, we know what he can do for the team.

 

[jcdavey]

leonard in the 1st? wow...i know people love leonard, me included, but 1st round? damn i'd be shocked if that happened

 

[patsox23]

If the Patriots draft a RB in the first two rounds I'll be surprised. In the first round, I'll be pi$$ed. It is, in my view, a silly idea - especially considering this guy isn't even a top-tier, elite RB.

 

[ATippett56]

Not saying that I want Leonard in the first round, but several great players like Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, etc. weren't rated as first round draft picks but most would give them first round grades in retrospect considering their level of play so take ratings with a grain of salt. But I also understand that if none of the other teams would have picked him in the first round , then you are not getting value by picking him too high. The tricky part is that you don't know how the other teams have Leonard rated. That's the fun part of the draft since the ratings and draft gurus are often wrong. Having said that, I wouldn't mind getting Leonard for a second round pick or even trading up in the second round if the team thinks he is worth the value.

The Patriots have far greater needs than running back especially considering the Patriots selected Laurence Maroney in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. The New England Patriots depth at linebacker is simply otracious and the cornerback depth is extremely questionable aside from last year starters Asante Samuel and Ellis Hobbs. Meanwhile, the free safety position is far from adequate considering Eugene Wilson has not returned to his 2003-2004 form and Artrell Hawkins is on the wrong side of 30 years of age.

 

[jczxohn1]

Do you expect ANYONE we select at #24 to start this season? As a general guideline, year two is the expected date for anyone in that slot to become a starter. And any CB would be part of the sub-packages his rookie season, eventually competing for the starting spot the next season. That would be the hope...

That's what he sounds like, a lot of hope. Has this kid been seriously challenged? I don't know, apparently a lot of people do. But if you compare his stats to the other top 5 CB's in the draft, this jr. sounds inexperienced. I'm left wondering if he's the real deal or a product of early hype.

 

[mgteich]

We'll see what happens in the combine. It seems that most of us like Leonard for the patriots, if we can olnly get him with our 2nd, or a as move up from our 2nd.

If he move up after the combine, I think the possibility exists of us drafting him as 28, so that we can sign him to a 5 year , rathr than a 4 year contract.

 

[BelichickFan]

We'll see what happens in the combine. It seems that most of us like Leonard for the patriots, if we can olnly get him with our 2nd, or a as move up from our 2nd.

If he move up after the combine, I think the possibility exists of us drafting him as 28, so that we can sign him to a 5 year , rathr than a 4 year contract.

Most people at the Senior Bowl seemed to think he made a mistake there losing weight to look like a RB not a FB. The bottom line is that he's really an athletic FB not a real RB and nothing he can do at the combine will change that. We can get a 5-7 carry big guy later. We already have Faulk (and Maroney) out of the backfield and Mills as an H-Back. The only way we take him in the first round is if we've had a really good FA period and have few needs left on draft day.

 

[Clonamery]

Most people at the Senior Bowl seemed to think he made a mistake there losing weight to look like a RB not a FB. The bottom line is that he's really an athletic FB not a real RB and nothing he can do at the combine will change that. We can get a 5-7 carry big guy later. We already have Faulk (and Maroney) out of the backfield and Mills as an H-Back. The only way we take him in the first round is if we've had a really good FA period and have few needs left on draft day.

"Most people?" Not disagreeing with your assessment but I hate the vagueness of that term.

Leonard's best value is not as a running back where he was the #1 guy in his Junior year but in his pass catching, blocking, special teams abilities and being a team-first guy. He may have lost the weight in order to be quicker at the Combine. Who knows, maybe he had the flu?

If the Pats needs are a luxury at #28, I'd take him without a second thought. But as of right now defensive needs are a priority.......

 

[BelichickFan]

"Most people?" Not disagreeing with your assessment but I hate the vagueness of that term.

OK, most people that I read or heard from. It's just a pain to have to write that EVERY time. Just like IMO; most of what we all say is in our opinion but we don't need to say it with every sentence.

Anyway - just say no to Leonard in the first round.

 

[patchick]

I think the value of a Leonard depends a lot on what BB and co. thought of Mills last year. If they're happy with Mills as the H-back of the future, the incremental improvement to the team of adding Leonard is minimal. Minus Mills, there's a lot he could do for this team.

 

[Digger44]

I would be ripped if the tool Leonard in round one, an not because he is a TE. Like others have said, IMO he is not a 1st round talent. I would love Greg Olsen @ 28.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I would be ripped if the tool Leonard in round one, an not because he is a TE. Like others have said, IMO he is not a 1st round talent. I would love Greg Olsen @ 28.

Huh? Been sippin' the good stuff again partner? RB/FB not TE...

Leonard played as a FB this season at 238 pounds to help his team (too small for TE, but I'd bet he'd give it a try if asked), he dropped to 224 for the Senior Bowl to try and showcase his RB potential (a lot more money in RB, kudos to the kid for trying). Those of us who like him look at his "fit" as a decent runner inside or out, an excellent receiver (with the potential to challenge Faulk's third down role) and a good blocker who needs some refinement in blitz pick-up to be very good. This is a smart, tough, team first kid who has skills that can be used in a number of ways, if he gets back up to 238 he could be another Chris Cooley tweener (but from the RB position), who knows. If, I say if, he was picked at 28 by the Pats I'd have no kick, he's good, but like Ochmed I agree that defense makes more sense there, and like Patchick, I'm waiting to see what happens with Mills. Still, in a weak looking draft class, this kid is a solid investment.