IMHO these are the Pat's needs in descending order-
1) ILB - put simply, the 3-4 is ALL about the LB's. Count on Fletcher or Edwards plus a high rookie. If no decent FA can be signed I'd say an ILB will be the first pick for us and will start. We need two players here, not just one.
2) Safety - A 215lb. missile with a brain completely changes our D. ( See RH)
3) WR - Brady would benefit from more ultra elite talent outside. No knock at all on Chad Jackson but I'd not be surprised to see our first pick be a WR who really fly and has a superior attitude. Yes, I know WR's often have trouble in their first year, the point is then that we have scary threats outside sooner than if we wait any longer to draft one.
4) RB - this is very close to being number 3. Dillon is finished as any kind of feature back, plus he won't be happy about being forced to restructure. I think Maroney can be a star. But that's the problem, I only think it, I'm just not convinced yet. Faulk is productive still but he's too old now to count on. The bottom line is that the RB spot is Maroney plus older and/or fill-in/special team types, we need a real shot of youth. FA's could answer some of this need, see Marcel Shipp.
5) OLB - if the Pats don't pick up any talent soon then this will be number one next year. Woods will have the crash course the first two weeks of camp, if he can't stand up to the pressure we're mighty thin outside and BB will be looking at vets. Beyond the second tier FA OLB we will sign, I bet a few more JAG OLB's will be in camp this year for certain.
6) CB - Samuel gets franchised but we will need talent to fill his spot eventually. No later than third round we will pick a CB. Besides, if the front seven is killer then the CB's can be less than stellar and we'll still be very good.
7) QB - We need another form of life that has not begun to rot like Vinny T. Second to a linebacker, I'd say that us drafting a QB ( or signing another UDFA) is the surest bet you can make on BB list of picks.
8) OL - This is a wildcard because a first round plowhorse would not surprise me. Our OL is good, but far from great or dominant when it comes to run blocking.
9) TE - Dave Thomas is a start waiting to happen. If Graham doesn't stay, we'll soon forget he's gone as the Texas English Muffin Man catches everything in sight. Thomas has great feet, sticky hands and was voted captain by the players on a National Championship team just bursting with talent. He's bound to be a big time offensive leader, relieving some of the pressure Brady has carried on his own lately. I think Graham signs and stays, Watson is the one who will be gone soon. Mills was ultra productive in college, don't count him out yet...
I wish the Pats were more predictable sometimes, so I could say things like "dude you are
so wrong," but hey, if the FO agrees, fine. I think the value approach may well yield players exactly as you request them; maybe not. Need obviously plays in as well, but an "offer you can't refuse" at some of these positions may push them right up the totem pole in Patsland.
Howsomever, I have to say I am okay with your rundown through number 1 and number 2 (though number 2, not so much... I would even concentrate at LB, and hold off a year at safety.) Here's where we start to diverge...
#3 - "ultra elite" receiver talent? Sorry, you just don't know that until 3 years after a draft. Maybe spending a first day pick at WR makes sense, but I would definitely not go first round, because I perceive a need
right now. Your big stories at WR are so often late round finds, like NO's Colston or arizona's Boldin. I remember the latter holding down the fort while 2 first rounders were sitting around licking their wounds... in any event, I think the Chad experience tells us one thing: you can't just insist on instant fixes out of the draft at WR. Chad may come along, he may not... but let's not do a high-round WR 2 years running, to fix a perceived
present need. Second comment... in terms of FA, I've come around to the idea that an "upper middle class" WR, if he comes at that pricetag, would be okay... I'm high on Bennett, but I don't know what his demands are likely to be.
#4 - no, no, no, no, no. First off, Faulk is a role player, first last and always. That means low mileage. He's also going to be 31 this year, not ancient. Faulk's not getting any younger... though he is getting more noisome in terms of cap space. I would say ask him to consider restructuring... but no, we do NOT need another candidate for featured back. Maroney is the man until proven otherwise. With luck, we get a repeat of this year's backfield, which actually produced quite well. (Now watch BB go and grab TJ Duckett from Washington as a power back/goal line vulture, and just to make me look like an ass.)
5, 6 - you're back on track.. I think these get addressed pretty much as you've written it.
7 - Maybe. What little we've seen of our "development project" here looks okay. I'd like to know more about Cassel, but then again, I wouldn't, because that would mean something happened to Brady. Maybe it
is likely we'll throw in a QB choice, if history is our guide... and I think yes, another veteran backup would be a good idea, not the guy who has a social security check in addition to the game check.
8 - The more the merrier... agreed. I don't think BB is ever afraid to throw in more OL talent.
9 - NOT ANOTHER TIGHT END... but you know it's coming. Only question is whether it's one more or 2.
PFnV
