New Mocks have us taking...

[Pawn512]

The only WR I can see us taking early is Bowe... he's a senior, a solid route runner who knows how to get open, and ready to contribute right away - his closest comparable is Hines Ward in my opinion. Rice, Ginn, Jarret etc. all have more eye-popping height and/or speed but are all less polished or have character/attitude problems. We already have a high-upside project WR on the roster.

Despite the need, I doubt we go linebacker in round 1 - the value isn't there. Willis/Posluzny etc. are all decent enough players but none is the difference-maker you look for in a round 1 linebacker. We can do almost as well in rounds 2-4 imo.

Another intriguing possibility is Joe Staley, the OT from Central Michigan. Most profiles see him as a potential franchise OLT based on athletic ability who needs a redshirt year to get stronger and more polished. Its a bit of a luxury pick, but franchise tackles are so hard to find without a top 5 pick that it might be worth our #28.

 

[skaIownsIyou]

Hahahaha Vince Wilfork falling to 21........you never know.

SOMEONE is going to drop, take that to the bank.

yeah it always happesn, but hall is the #1 cb prospect...and there are teams who need cbs...i really dont see hall falling down to us

 

[milwaukeebeers44]

hahahaahahah leon hall falling to 24.....hahahaahah

maybe if 10-15 prospects dramatically increase their draft stock by the combine...

Hall did not play that well against OSU and USC. . .some might even say he's a bit overrated.

 

[carolinatony]

Today's mocks have us taking...
Don't know why they keep haing us take a WR

24. New England Patriots - Reggie Nelson, S Florida
---------------------------------------------------------------------------The Patriots are extremly thin at LB due to age and injury and they also
need CB help although they can address that need with their many other draft picks (star-in-the-making A. Samuel only cost them a fourth-rounder). However, R. Harrison is at the end of his career and coincidently Nelson is the best available player. He will add an instant spark to a depleted secondary.

28. New England Patriots - Sidney Rice, WR South Carolina
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caldwell dropping passes throughout the season and post-season may have
cost the Patriots another Super Bowl trip. Rice may not be ready to
start from day 1, but he is an amazing physical talent and by season's
end will develop into their best receiver, just in time for the playoffs.
####################################################################
24. New England (from Seattle)- Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
The Pats seem to always draft away from the norm, so you never know
what direction they will go, and they do have two first rounders again
this year, so they have some flexibility. They do need a talented go-to
wideout and Meachem could be very special. Meachem is a big, tall, fast,
young (under-classmen) receiver that has as much upside as any player in this draft

28. New England (12-4)- Anthony Spencer, DE/LB, Purdue
Spencer looks like a perfect fit in the Pats 3-4 defense, a hybrid outside linebacker. Spencer can really get after the quarterback, but he also has the athletic ability to play in space. Spencer was incredibly productive in college, and he comes from the same system as the Charger's standout linebacker Shaun Phillips.
#################################################################
24Darrelle Revis (CB, Pittsburgh) - NE (from SEA)

28Aaron Rouse (SS, Virginia Tech) - NE
##############################################################
24 Aaron Ross CB Texas Bill Belichick once again shows his genius.
Samuel will be a free agent, and demand huge money with the way he
played down the stretch. We all know what that means in New England.
In time, Ross may prove to be the best corner in this draft class.

28 Sidney Rice WR South Carolina Rice is projected higher than this,
but a lack of experience at the position could cause teams to let him slide
. Here is another receiver for Brady to train, that will probably be gone when
the contract is ready to renew.
################################################
24. New England Patriots-OLB Quentin Moses, Georgia
Why: New England will move Moses to outside linebacker as a pass rush
specialist in the 3-4 defense.

28. New England Patriots-CB Marcus McCauley, Fresno State
Why: Asante Samuel is looking to cash in and New England probably won’t pay him.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

The only WR I can see us taking early is Bowe... he's a senior, a solid route runner who knows how to get open, and ready to contribute right away - his closest comparable is Hines Ward in my opinion. Rice, Ginn, Jarret etc. all have more eye-popping height and/or speed but are all less polished or have character/attitude problems. We already have a high-upside project WR on the roster.

Despite the need, I doubt we go linebacker in round 1 - the value isn't there. Willis/Posluzny etc. are all decent enough players but none is the difference-maker you look for in a round 1 linebacker. We can do almost as well in rounds 2-4 imo.

Another intriguing possibility is Joe Staley, the OT from Central Michigan. Most profiles see him as a potential franchise OLT based on athletic ability who needs a redshirt year to get stronger and more polished. Its a bit of a luxury pick, but franchise tackles are so hard to find without a top 5 pick that it might be worth our #28.

The only way I see BB/SP going LB in round one is they want to lock someone with LB experience who they see as a "fit" for BB's 3-4. I'm well on my way to convincing myself Stewart Bradley (6'4" 256 - Senior Bowl weigh-in - 4.76/40 slower than I like, but he reportedly did well in coverage at the Senior Bowl, Nebraska) may be just such a player.

Staley is an interesting prospect, I'm all for grabbing another LT to develop behind Light and Kaczur.

 

[carolinatony]

Today Feb 8 ..not as many WR's today
Both CarrikerDE/LB and Daymeion Hughes CB would be a nice draft

24 New England Patriots Daymeion Hughes CB California
The Patriots are always one of the toughest teams to draft for because of their
uncanny ability to draft productive rookies that no one saw coming.
The Patriots love to have speed and athletic ability on their defense,
and Hughes covers both angles.

28 New England Patriots Sidney Rice* WR South Carolina
The only reason the Patriots didn't take a receiver withe their first pick in the
ound is because of the depth at the position. Rice is an unselfish, quiet player
who will fit in great with that mentality in Foxborough.
**********************************************************
24 Brandon Siler LB Florida Jr.
In an effort to look ahead, the Patriots get a player to put into a soon to
be vacant inside linebacker position in the future. Siler would be a wonderful
addition to the Patriots defense and would not only bring much needed
enthusiasm and intensity to the linebacker core but also will provide great run
stopping potential and superb tackling ability.

28 Michael Griffin S Texas Sr.
With an aging secondary the Patriots must look at defensive backs,
they get a good one in Griffin. Not the athletic ball hawk that they usually look
for, but Griffin's sound tackling ability and overall consistency and durability
is too hard for them to pass up.
*************************************************

24 Adam CarrikerDE/LB
(Nebraska) Guy will be a solid fit in a team that runs a 3-4 defense.
Belichick will infuse youth on D.
28 Daymeion HughesCB
Analysis: Much of what the Patriots do will depend on what happens with
Asante Samuel in free agency. If he leaves the Patriots will definitely
be shopping for a cornerback in this years draft. Hughes has been darting
up the mock draft boards because of his knack for making plays.
Marcus McCauley is another corner that the Patriots will look at but with
him off the board Hughes will be the man in New England.

 

[everlong]

Kipers latest has us taking Hughes and Gonzalez.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft07/insider/columns/story?id=2748081

I found this of interest though.

The Seattle Seahawks are the only team that does not have a first-round pick because of the trade they made with the Patriots to acquire WR Deion Branch. Seattle could use another wide receiver and, ironically, this draft has a lot of great pass catchers. (I'm projecting seven wide receivers will go in the first round.)

I think Kiper tends to over value the WR position as is shown by this post about the 2002 WR class.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=50001

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I have to agree with Box on BB taking a LB in the first round. I don't think BB is going to gamble a first round pick with a position change.

I see 3 DE's from this draft that are capable of playing OLB in our system. Spencer (although a bit short), Moses and Francis from Hawaii. (The Hawaii guy has a difficult name, so I'm calling him Francis.)

Moses or Francis should be available in the 3rd round. Spencer is a tweener and should drop into the early second round. If Spencer were 3 inches taller, I'm thinking BB might be tempted.

 

[carolinatony]

I'm surprised NO TE'S

24 Patriots Robert Meachem Wide Receiver Tennessee
The Patriots were so close to winning it all again this year, but their downfall
seemed to be the loss of their top two receivers from a season ago. Meachem
has the ideal combination of size and speed to develop into a number one
receiver, and could become Brady's go to guy even as a rookie.


28 Patriots Marcus McCauley Cornerback Fresno St.
McCauley was once considered the best corner in the draft, but a disapointing
senior year has dropped him in the rankings. Coach Pat Hill, a close friend
of Belichick, has nothing but great things to say about McCauley and he
may actually be the best athlete with the highest ceiling of any corner in this class
********************************************************************

24. New England Patriots (f/SEA): Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State
Tedy Brusci is really starting to show his age and Junior Seau looks like he's
45-years old. Timmons is extremely athletic and would be a huge value to
grab him at 24. Because of his athletic ability and size, the Patriots can choose
to use him on the inside of their 3-4 scheme, or the outside.

28. New England Patriots: Michael Griffin, S, Texas
This seems to be the spot where the Patriots are going to select the replacemen
t to often-injured Rodney Harrison. Michael Griffin is a great value here at 28,
he has a knack for being around the ball and even blocked a few kicks in his
days at Texas
**********************************************************

28. New England Patriotsaul Posluszny, ILB, Penn State
If there are any questions why the Patriots are always good, this is a great
example. They will get to draft not for need, but the best available player
on the board so they get to steal Posluszny here and groom him.

28. New England Patriots:Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
The Patriots still need some help at WR as they have lost a lot in recent years
He is a speedy threat who had a great Junior season (1298 yards and 11td's)
If he turns a super fast 40 he will move up.
************************************************************

24. New England Patriots - Reggie Nelson, S Florida
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Patriots are extremly thin at LB due to age and injury and they also
need CB help although they can address that need with their many othe
r draft picks (star-in-the-making A. Samuel only cost them a fourth-rounder).
However, R. Harrison is at the end of his career and coincidently Nelson is the
best available player. He will add an instant spark to a depleted secondary.

28. New England Patriots - Sidney Rice, WR South Carolina
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caldwell dropping passes throughout the season and post-season may have
cost the Patriots another Super Bowl trip. Rice may not be ready to start from
day 1, but he is an amazing physical talent and by season's end will develop
into their best receiver, just in time for the playoffs.
********************************************************************************

24 New England (via Seattle) WR - Dwayne Bowe 6-2, 220 LSU
28 New England FS - Brandon Meriweather 6-0, 190 Miami
*******************************************************************************************
24 New England (from Sea) - Daymeion Hughes, CB, Cal
The best ball skills of any corner in the draft.
28 New England - LaMarr Woodley, DE/LB, Michigan
Brings the versatility to help at a number of positions.