I love both Nix and Hageman. Nix is the most dominant NT I have seen in college football since I started following the draft (which is only 6 years), and while ND may have been dominated by Alabama, none of it was his fault. I actually thought he had a very good game and Alabama did a good job of running plays away from him. I also don't think its fair to view him as just a run stuffer. He may not be a pure pass rusher but he has violent hands, gets off the line quickly with good penetration and can really push the pocket. He may not put up great individual stats but he will be a fantastic facilitator for those around him. What's one of the best ways to get your edge rushers more sacks? Don't give opposition QB's a pocket to step up into, and that is exactly what Nix does. Even against teams like Alabama and Stanford with top quality O-lines, Nix consistently knocked his opponent back off the line on initial contact and created pressure up the middle. Call me crazy but right now I would take Nix over Clowney for the Pats. Clowney has the insane athleticism and upside, but I think Nix is more proven, plays a position of greater need for this team and is just a flat out better football player right now.
On Hageman, I put him in my first mock draft and I don't plan on taking him out any time soon. He is much more raw than Nix but his athleticism and upside is crazy and he has the potential to be a top 5 pick. He is the most versatile and explosive DT in this draft and right now I have him ranked only behind Nix, although that can change if he continues to prove himself.
I think both of these guys could be special and I would be willing to give up the entire draft and Mallett just to get these two. I'm not usually a fan of trading future picks but I would be willing to give up one of next years picks (probably a 2nd, I wouldn't want to give up a 1st) to move up and grab both if available. If we could somehow come out of the draft with Nix, Hageman and my other binky Trey Millard I don't think I could ask for a better draft.
Now the likelihood of either guy being available for the Pats is pretty slim right now, although we really are only getting into the early stages of draft evaluation. The one thing that does give me hope is that I think DT in the draft is becoming an area of market inefficiency. With the demand for pass rushers increasing in a pass happy NFL, I think the DT position is becoming undervalued in the draft and good position of value. DT's are falling, especially run stuffers like Nix, so there is still a chance he could be on the board in the mid/late 1st. Just look at Jonathan Hankins who was seen as a top 10 pick this time last year. Sharrif Floyd and Star Lotulelei were suppose to be top 5 picks, John Jenkins went in the 3rd round, Brockers and Cox went a bit lower than expected in 2012, and you have to go back to 2010 to find the last pure DT to go in the top 10. I really think DT is a position that is becoming overlooked and that may put Nix and/or Hageman in a spot the Pats could move to get them.