McShay's 4/24 seven round projection

[sebman2112]

The full mock can be found here

Patriots Pick:

24. New England (12-4) (from Seattle)
Projected pick: +Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
Needs: ILB, S, CB, OLB, RB, OT, QB, P, NT
• The Patriots, who own 10 picks overall, have made 23 draft-day trades during the Bill Belichick/Scott Pioli era, which dates back to 2000. So don't count out a deal with one of their two first-round picks in this year's draft.
• The Patriots' top needs exist at inside linebacker and safety. In this scenario, Nelson is the best available option. At 6-0 and 198 pounds, Nelson has very good range and playmaking potential as a centerfielder-type free safety. Head coach Bill Belichick loves players from Florida because he has tremendous respect for coach Urban Meyer.
• The team has spent quality time with Meriweather during the pre-draft process and Griffin is another possibility if New England elects to draft a safety at No. 28.
• The Patriots never act as if they're handcuffed by needs during draft weekend, but the Asante Samuel situation should increase their interest in this year's cornerback crop. Ross would be a possibility if available at No. 24 overall. If not, the team has shown interest in Fresno State CB Marcus McCauley, which it could nab later in this round or by trading up into the top half of Round 2.

28. New England (12-4)
Projected pick: +John Beason, LB, Miami-FL
• After landing S Nelson four picks earlier, the team could use this pick on the best available linebacker. New England would consider Michigan's David Harris here, but Beason is the better value. He's instinctive, quick and tough enough to develop into a good starter at inside linebacker in the team's 3-4 scheme. Belichick's system is complex, which is why the team typically avoids drafting linebackers high. However, Beason would have ample time to learn as a backup in 2007 behind aging veteran ILBs Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel.
• As is always the case with the Patriots, don't be surprised if they stray from their needs and take advantage of a player who falls to them at No. 28 overall. Some examples could include OT Staley, Auburn G Ben Grubbs, USC C Ryan Kalil, WR Bowe, DT Harrell or OLB/DE Spencer.

91. New England: Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State
127. New England: Michael Coe, CB, Alabama State
171. New England (compensatory selection): Justin Hickman, OLB, UCLA
180. New England (from Arizona): Kelvin Smith, ILB, Syracuse
202. New England: Roy Hall, WR, Ohio State
208. New England (compensatory selection): Matt Moore, QB, Oregon State
209. New England (compensatory selection): Antonio Johnson, DT, Mississippi State
247. New England (compensatory selection): Jason Snelling, FB, Virginia

Some picks of interest:

25. N.Y. Jets (10-6)
Projected pick: Anthony Spencer, DE/OLB, Purdue
Needs: CB, OLB, TE, WR, NT, ILB,C, S
• The Jets should take advantage of their good fortune if Spencer is still on the board at No. 25. Undersized with very good speed and up-the-field playmaking skills, Spencer could be a steal late in the first round if he builds on the progress he made as a senior at Purdue (nation-best 26.5 tackles for loss). He would be an ideal fit opposite DE/OLB Bryan Thomas when the Jets line up in their 3-4 look, and he could provide depth at defensive end when the team is using a four-man front.
• TE Olsen and DT Harrell are two other prospects the Jets will target if available at No. 25.
• Considering their need to upgrade at cornerback, CB Houston should also be on the Jets' short list of prospects in this scenario. Teams have differing opinions regarding Houston's value. Although he certainly has room to improve with regards to his technique and overall run-support skills, Houston is blessed with outstanding speed, athleticism and upper-body strength. However, it's not typically the style of the Bill Parcells/Belichick coaching tree to spend a high pick on the cornerback position.

26. Philadelphia (10-6)
Projected pick: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami-FL
Needs: CB, S, DE, OLB, RB, WR, TE, MLB, PK, DT
• Although the Eagles certainly can use depth at several different positions, it's hard to find a glaring weakness at any starting spot on their depth chart. One thing is certain, the Eagles will not be handcuffed by positions of need in this year's draft.
• Meriweather is a good value here because of his versatility and toughness, so long as the Eagles are comfortable with his character. The team could use Meriweather as insurance at the safety position, as Brian Dawkins is 34 and Sean Considine is still unproven.
• Other possibilities in this scenario could include S Griffin, CB Houston, and OLBs Posluszny and Beason.

32. Indianapolis (12-4)
Projected pick: Michael Griffin, S, Texas
Needs: OLB, DT, ILB, RB, G, CB, WR, OT, QB
• The Colts have bigger needs at linebacker and defensive tackle, but Griffin is a good value because he brings experience and versatility to the table after notching 250 tackles during his last two seasons at Texas. He could provide quality depth behind Antoine Bethea and oft-injured Bob Sanders, especially with Mike Doss (Vikings) bolting in the offseason.
• The team would like to see DT Harrell or LB Beason slip to this spot.
• ILB Harris is a possibility but he just doesn't seem to fit the Colts' mold of undersized, speedy defenders.
• Cornerback is a possibility here after the Colts lost both Super Bowl starters (David and Nick Harper) via free agency. However, the team won't reach for one in the first round because the Tampa 2 defense doesn't place as much value on cornerbacks as other schemes. CB Houston is the best available in this scenario but he's an undersized man-to-man coverage specialist who doesn't fit the Colts' prototype.
• A guard like Grubbs or a WR like Smith would be quality values at positions that need an upgrade.

45. Carolina: David Harris, ILB, Michigan
50. Tennessee: LaMarr Woodley, DE/OLB, Michigan
52. St. Louis: Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State
53. Dallas: Josh Wilson, CB, Maryland
59. N.Y. Jets: Jonathan Wade, CB, Tennessee
61. Baltimore: Stewart Bradley, OLB, Nebraska
77. Pittsburgh: +Brandon Jackson, RB. Nebraska
78. Green Bay: Josh Gattis, S, Wake Forest
80. Tennessee: Lorenzo Booker, RB, Florida State
83. Carolina: Sabby Piscitelli, S, Oregon State
114. Cincinnati: Zak DeOssie, LB, Brown
123. New Orleans (from Kansas City): Anthony Waters, ILB, Clemson
128. Tennessee (from Baltimore): John Wendling, S, Wyoming
148. St. Louis (from Buffalo): Chris Davis, WR, Florida State
153. N.Y. Giants: +Dwayne Wright, RB, Fresno State
156. Pittsburgh: +C.J. Gaddis, CB, Clemson
161. Seattle: DeAndre Jackson, CB, Iowa State
164. N.Y. Jets: Desmond Bishop, ILB, California

 

[bakes781]

61. Baltimore: Stewart Bradley, OLB, Nebraska

That's the highest I've seen him taken so far.

128. Tennessee (from Baltimore): John Wendling, S, Wyoming

Seems very low very him.

 

[Handel]

Wow, a lot of BS:

Head coach Bill Belichick loves players from Florida because he has tremendous respect for coach Urban Meyer

 

[sebman2112]

Wow, a lot of BS:

That's not BS at all. BB and Urban are very good friends. Maybe he doesn't "love" Florida player's but he's signed or drafted a ton over the past year.

 

[SamBamsFan]

"91. New England: Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State
127. New England: Michael Coe, CB, Alabama State
171. New England (compensatory selection): Justin Hickman, OLB, UCLA
180. New England (from Arizona): Kelvin Smith, ILB, Syracuse
202. New England: Roy Hall, WR, Ohio State
208. New England (compensatory selection): Matt Moore, QB, Oregon State
209. New England (compensatory selection): Antonio Johnson, DT, Mississippi State
247. New England (compensatory selection): Jason Snelling, FB, Virginia "

Well I like the picks if Hunt, Coe & Johnson. I like Snelliing though I'm not sure about his fit w/ the Pats O. Wasn't Roy Hall the one who mugged Ted Ginn in The NC game? If so, think of how many $'s he probably cost Ginn since then.

 

[Urgent]

Love that draft.

I almost always love the mocks more than the actual. Then realize that I knew nothing.

But Nelson, Beason, Hunt, Coe - that would be fantastic.
Coe, who is not much discussed, would be a terrific fourth round pick and fit. Coach's son, versatile corner/safety, punt returner.
Hickman, the OLB, had 12.5 sacks at UCLA last year - sort of a TBC role.
Kelvin Smith had 115 tackles at Syracuse and would be decent depth at ILB. Should be better than Alexander.

Great defensive draft, plus Hunt.

Nelson would start.
Beason would platoon with Bruschi and Vrabel, and could start when one of those two are injured.
Hunt would be right in the rotation, also very versatile. Good ST as well.
Coe would be nickel when Gay is injured.
Hickman and Smith would both sub now and then.

The rest would struggle to make the team.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Needs: ILB, S, CB, OLB, RB, OT, QB, P, NT Fairly done, if slightly different from how I'd rank them.

24. New England (12-4) (from Seattle) Projected pick: +Reggie Nelson, S, Florida Poorly done. If the stories about Nelson's difficulty with complex playbooks are legitimate, this is a very poor fit at Safety for the Pats. Should they want to use him as a CB, maybe, but he seems a poor choice for Safety.
28. New England (12-4) Projected pick: +John Beason, LB, Miami-FL Poorly done. People love him for his reported playmaking ability, but his playmaking has come as a WLB in a 4-3, a poor position for translation to NE's 3-4. At least a SLB has demonstrated the ability to engage a TE.
91. New England: Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State With the teams who need RB help, and the rumors of Lynch's off-field choices and back health starting to surface again, how does he figure Hunt to last this long?
127. New England: Michael Coe, CB, Alabama State Decent choice.
171. New England (compensatory selection): Justin Hickman, OLB, UCLA Decent choice.
180. New England (from Arizona): Kelvin Smith, ILB, Syracuse Questionable choice, Smith may be able to bulk up to Pats prototype weight, but he's definitely a project. I'd rather have Prescott Burgess who has the frame to more easily reach prototype size.
202. New England: Roy Hall, WR, Ohio State Decent choice.
208. New England (compensatory selection): Matt Moore, QB, Oregon State Decent choice.
209. New England (compensatory selection): Antonio Johnson, DT, Mississippi State DT is in short supply in this draft, how does he figure this kid will last into the sixth round with his raw talent and the need so many teams have for DT?
247. New England (compensatory selection): Jason Snelling, FB, Virginia Fair choice, but a head scratcher in terms of talent & need.

 

[PonyExpress]

If the Pats draft Nelson I could see them moving him to cb. His football intellect, if it really is a problem, would not be as exposed there as at S, and his size could become an advantage instead of a flaw. If Beason becomes an impact LB for any team in the NFL, I will be very surprised. Seems like a good guy, I'm rooting for him, but he is a long shot IMO. Taking him in rd 1 seems like folly. I like Hunt, Antonio Johnson and J. Hickman is a real sleeper. Hickman's explosion is lacking but his speed and agility are competitive. He has a chance to develop into a starter in 3 years.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think BOR's analysis is very close to how I feel as well about this draft.

I think it was the Globe that first started publishing reports that Chad Jackson was having difficulties with the playbook. I could see that whole scenario all over again with Nelson.

If BB thinks Beason can be his "coverage" LB then this choice makes sense. But this kid is not going to step into the hole and take on guys like Steve Hutchinson, Eric Steinbach or Alan Faneca and expect to have a career more than 5 minutes long. Most NFL OG's would truck a little guy like this 97 times out a 100.

Coe is a large DB and lacks quick twitch. Hard to see BB playing him at CB. However he could pay huge dividends if switched to FS.

 

[dryheat44]

My favorite picks are Coe and Moore. My very favorite is Johnson, but I don't think Johnson lasts until the second day. Once you get past Carriker, Harrell, and Alama-Francis, Johnson is probably the best 3-4 DE in the draft at 6-3 305 and a sub-5.00 40. With about 8 teams playing 3-4 most of the time, I can't see it.