Instead of who......ask WHY?
From a Patriots perspective, my view of this draft has always been....get a sure thing starter in the first round.....and then create organizational depth. Drafting last in every round dictates this philosophy. Given how young the team is, this Super Bowl Championship team I might add, I have to believe BB likes his roster....and by observing BB's lack of activity moving up for specific pieces....and his willingness to move backwards (rumored deal to relinquish #32 and trade 0f #96), I get the feeling BB is not too impressed with the class of '15.
Now...after two nights of drafting defenders only....it is becoming clearer how BB is planning to compensate for the lack of a shut down corner:
1) Beef up the interior DL...Brown
2) Pass rushing depth....Grissom (Sheard, Easley)
Think about it....has NE ever had so many pass rushing tools .... INTERIOR/EDGE/LB. The Patriots now have multiple options at DT to shoot gaps (remember last year's intern Easley ) multiple options at DE (3) who can get after the QB (hard to believe a team that historically had maybe one feature pass rusher now has 3 quality DEs), and multiple options a LB to create havoc (with two physically gifted freaks Collins/Hightower).
3) In the box safety depth that will be needed given what I perceive to be a defense that will rely on flooding the secondary with an extra DB to compensate for their lack of a Revis type solo artist. I get the Richards pick. Chung will get hurt (his health last year was an outlier IMO) and BB wants a safety that can pick up the system fast, one who can direct the secondary on the field. I fully expect the team to be in dime defense more than ever given NE's ability to score lots of points and the fact that opponents will perceive NE's secondary as a liability and therefore attack this liability. To counter this perceived tactic, BB has decided to boost the pass rush and create not necessarily the most talented secondary but the best organized secondary. Given how quickly BB snapped up Richards, it seems logical to conclude BB strongly believes a Richards type cerebral Safety is vital.
The NE defense will be scheming more than in the past IMO in order to counteract the CB deficiencies. Time will tell....but I can envision an attacking defense coming from all directions....and ....unlike last year, I fully expect the offense to hit the ground running (actually... hit the air throwing). Unlike last September when Brady lacked his Gronk and lacked comfort with his new WR, Brady has the gang back (except Vereen) and his OL will be healthier and hopefully more in sync.
The Pats are gonna Kill Pittsburgh.