The upcoming Double Draft

[AzPatsFan]

The pats draft fro 2007 is shaping up to be a pretty good one from a picking standpoint.

The Patriots have all of their 7 selections plus ones coming to them for Ross Tucker, (estimate 7th), and Now Brandon Gorin, (estimate 6th).

In addition they have compensatory picks coming for three players Givens, (estimated 3rd plus maybe a 7th), and for Adam Vinatieri (estimated 5th but possibly a 4th), and for Ashworth (estimated 5th or 6th) Willie was released so he doesn't qualify, else we'd have another 3rd.

But to summarize the Patriots 2007 draft currently appears to be:
1, 2, 3,3, 4, 5,5,5, 6,6 and 7,7,7 for a total of 13 picks just one shy of a full "Double Draft".

The question is what to do with them? Is there room on the roster or are we going to merely restock the League with our cuts?

The Patriots have been unable to position themselves for a good LB and haven't been in the position to draft the college CBs that the scouts predict will be the next "shutdown" corner. Derrick Williams went at 13, AJ Hawk in the top eight, and Carpenter and Greenway were gone by 18. So were Merriman and Ware the year before.

Packaging a 1st (#32) and a second round pick (#64) might merely move us up to around #20. Can you get the LB or CB you want there? They couldn't the last two years, when they drafted at around twenty.

The great LBs seem to be available in Rounds 1, picks 1-15, and good ones into round 2; The sure fire CBs seem to be top ten picks, but good ones can be gotten through the top three rounds. Premium Safeties can be found in Rounds 2 through 4. I would think that the Pats will draft defenders, LB &/or CB high with a couple of picks; a single first day pick probably a two, on a WR (to replace Troy), and then BPA the rest of the way.

It just doesn't seem there are all that many older players that need replacing and there is plenty of cap money to prevent many of the FAs from walking.

Is this the big packaging year? Would BB ever package his entire draft for a top five player, like Mike Ditka did? is there any available this year that might even interest him? The team has the picks to spend.

What about a blockbuster trade for a pro bowl LB or shutdown CB in his prime? BB did do that once before. Was the Colvin experiment worth it? Similarly, if they went after a FA, they have the big dollars available.

Any draftniks have a view?

 

[GraftonPatsFan]

Pats will reload on D just like they loaded up on offense this year. After reloading on D they will make another long run. Not that I am counting them out for this year, but I think that's management's plan.

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't think Belichick or Pioli has a clue right now. They're just accruing value. It could be to trade up, trade into 2008, trade for a WR or LB tomorrow - they're accumulating wealth and will spend it when they see value.

It's a nice position to be in, though

 

[DB15]

1, 2, 3,3, 4, 5,5,5, 6,6 and 7,7,7

thats scary awsome

 

[Slagathor]

The pats draft fro 2007 is shaping up to be a pretty good one from a picking standpoint.

The Patriots have all of their 7 selections plus ones coming to them for Ross Tucker, (estimate 7th), and Now Brandon Gorin, (estimate 6th).

In addition they have compensatory picks coming for three players Givens, (estimated 3rd plus maybe a 7th), and for Adam Vinatieri (estimated 5th but possibly a 4th), and for Ashworth (estimated 5th or 6th) Willie was released so he doesn't qualify, else we'd have another 3rd.

But to summarize the Patriots 2007 draft currently appears to be:
1, 2, 3,3, 4, 5,5,5, 6,6 and 7,7,7 for a total of 13 picks just one shy of a full "Double Draft".

The question is what to do with them? Is there room on the roster or are we going to merely restock the League with our cuts?

The Patriots have been unable to position themselves for a good LB and haven't been in the position to draft the college CBs that the scouts predict will be the next "shutdown" corner. Derrick Williams went at 13, AJ Hawk in the top eight, and Carpenter and Greenway were gone by 18. So were Merriman and Ware the year before.

Packaging a 1st (#32) and a second round pick (#64) might merely move us up to around #20. Can you get the LB or CB you want there? They couldn't the last two years, when they drafted at around twenty.

The great LBs seem to be available in Rounds 1, picks 1-15, and good ones into round 2; The sure fire CBs seem to be top ten picks, but good ones can be gotten through the top three rounds. Premium Safeties can be found in Rounds 2 through 4. I would think that the Pats will draft defenders, LB &/or CB high with a couple of picks; a single first day pick probably a two, on a WR (to replace Troy), and then BPA the rest of the way.

It just doesn't seem there are all that many older players that need replacing and there is plenty of cap money to prevent many of the FAs from walking.

Is this the big packaging year? Would BB ever package his entire draft for a top five player, like Mike Ditka did? is there any available this year that might even interest him? The team has the picks to spend.

What about a blockbuster trade for a pro bowl LB or shutdown CB in his prime? BB did do that once before. Was the Colvin experiment worth it? Similarly, if they went after a FA, they have the big dollars available.

Any draftniks have a view?

Could this have anything to do with our surplus cap space?

 

[DaBruinz]

The pats draft fro 2007 is shaping up to be a pretty good one from a picking standpoint.

The Patriots have all of their 7 selections plus ones coming to them for Ross Tucker, (estimate 7th), and Now Brandon Gorin, (estimate 6th).

In addition they have compensatory picks coming for three players Givens, (estimated 3rd plus maybe a 7th), and for Adam Vinatieri (estimated 5th but possibly a 4th), and for Ashworth (estimated 5th or 6th) Willie was released so he doesn't qualify, else we'd have another 3rd.

But to summarize the Patriots 2007 draft currently appears to be:
1, 2, 3,3, 4, 5,5,5, 6,6 and 7,7,7 for a total of 13 picks just one shy of a full "Double Draft".

The Patriots will have 4 compensation picks. They will be for Givens, Ashworth, Andre Davis, and Vinatieri. And its primarily based on the contracts that they signed. Also, you can NOT receive 2 compensation picks for the same player.

Givens is more likely a 4th rounder, not a 3rd, because the cut off, previously, has been over 5 million.

Vinatieri and Ashworth will probably net 6th rounders and Davis a 7th.

Here is a link to AdamJT13's predictions on the comp picks for this year.
http://www.kffl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163280

The question is what to do with them? Is there room on the roster or are we going to merely restock the League with our cuts?

The Patriots have been unable to position themselves for a good LB and haven't been in the position to draft the college CBs that the scouts predict will be the next "shutdown" corner. Derrick Williams went at 13, AJ Hawk in the top eight, and Carpenter and Greenway were gone by 18. So were Merriman and Ware the year before.

Who is Derrick Williams? Are you referring to Tye Hill?

Packaging a 1st (#32) and a second round pick (#64) might merely move us up to around #20. Can you get the LB or CB you want there? They couldn't the last two years, when they drafted at around twenty.

The great LBs seem to be available in Rounds 1, picks 1-15, and good ones into round 2; The sure fire CBs seem to be top ten picks, but good ones can be gotten through the top three rounds. Premium Safeties can be found in Rounds 2 through 4. I would think that the Pats will draft defenders, LB &/or CB high with a couple of picks; a single first day pick probably a two, on a WR (to replace Troy), and then BPA the rest of the way.

There were good LBs available for the Patriots this year, but they chose to go with a RB and WR instead in the early rounds because they felt those two players were the better value.

It just doesn't seem there are all that many older players that need replacing and there is plenty of cap money to prevent many of the FAs from walking.

Is this the big packaging year? Would BB ever package his entire draft for a top five player, like Mike Ditka did? is there any available this year that might even interest him? The team has the picks to spend.

There should be a few good LBs available in the 1st round this year. From Posluszny to Gaines Adams (who plays DE/OLB for Clemson in their "BANDIT" role)

What about a blockbuster trade for a pro bowl LB or shutdown CB in his prime? BB did do that once before. Was the Colvin experiment worth it? Similarly, if they went after a FA, they have the big dollars available.

Any draftniks have a view?

Its a matter of finding a player whom Belichick feels he can mold into what the Pats need for an LB. Not a matter of finding one with talent. Both in free agency and in the draft.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Um, maybe draft a Linebacker ?

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

Trading 'em all up to pick Paul Posluszny in the first round in '07.

 

[smg93]

Wow, draft time already and we haven't even started the season. In order for us to have an even better draft next year we can actually just go 1-15 and then not have to package draft picks to get to the top of the first round! yahoo... boo hoo...

 

[TruthSeeker]

Wow, draft time already and we haven't even started the season. In order for us to have an even better draft next year we can actually just go 1-15 and then not have to package draft picks to get to the top of the first round! yahoo... boo hoo...

Please don't get the 1st pick, BB & Pioli will pull a 2004 and draft Adrian Peterson, when we already have Maroney, ala Watson/Graham in 2004.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Thanks. If ajt says this is the compensation, then that is the compensation.
No one is better.

The LB I was thinking of is the guy that went to KC the year before last about #12 or so. Derrick Johnson. Excuse me.

So we have 1,2, 3, 4,4, 5, 6,6,6,, 7,7,7,7.,

 

[40yrpatsfan]

All those low round picks aren't real exciting, but Belichik will have fun peddling them one way or another. We can't trade comp picks, we have to pick players with them, which means we'll be trading some of our own picks and/or these we just acquired.

If the draft were now and we didn't acquire any more picks, I would guess we'd do something like this:

Pick: our low 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th; the comp picks in rounds 4, 6, 6, and 7; plus the high 6th from AZ = 9 players

Trade: our low 5th, 6th, & 7th, plus the high 7th from CL = 4 picks. Probably use 2 of these to move up, and the other 2 are moved for 2008 picks.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The pats draft fro 2007 is shaping up to be a pretty good one from a picking standpoint.

The Patriots have all of their 7 selections plus ones coming to them for Ross Tucker, (estimate 7th), and Now Brandon Gorin, (estimate 6th).

In addition they have compensatory picks coming for three players Givens, (estimated 3rd plus maybe a 7th), and for Adam Vinatieri (estimated 5th but possibly a 4th), and for Ashworth (estimated 5th or 6th) Willie was released so he doesn't qualify, else we'd have another 3rd.

But to summarize the Patriots 2007 draft currently appears to be:
1, 2, 3,3, 4, 5,5,5, 6,6 and 7,7,7 for a total of 13 picks just one shy of a full "Double Draft".

Based on the comments below, a better way of looking at it would be this:

1, 2, 3 * * * 4T, 4, 4C; 5T, 5; 6, 6C, 6C; 7, 7C

The Ts are my guesses re: trades (we'll find out later, but I'm guessing a 4 and 5), the Cs are for comp picks. Presumably both CLE and ARI will be picking before the Pats, so they'll come first in each round, while the comp picks follow the Pats' normal picks--and can't be traded.

 

[PatsWorldChamps]

Based on the comments below, a better way of looking at it would be this:

1, 2, 3 * * * 4T, 4, 4C; 5T, 5; 6, 6C, 6C; 7, 7C

The Ts are my guesses re: trades (we'll find out later, but I'm guessing a 4 and 5), the Cs are for comp picks. Presumably both CLE and ARI will be picking before the Pats, so they'll come first in each round, while the comp picks follow the Pats' normal picks--and can't be traded.

i doubt we get a 4 and 5 for those trades... i'd expect a 6 and a 7

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Pending Chad's recovery, I think the Pats pretty much batted 1000 or close to it in this past draft, and also, Scott, the continued drafting of tight ends has actually worked, if you look at how the Pats are using them (4 tight end sets indeed.) True, it's an embarassment of riches, whereas we're thin at 'backer, but the time will come for that position.

The key to the BB/SP draft success seems to be 1) they evaluate better than most of their rivals and 2) they refuse to cave in to "need thinking" in almost every circumstance. Hence, this year they added 2 more TEs (1 a projected FB,) despite the fact that Fauria's departure made the Pats "just right," at 2 very good receiving tight ends (one of whom is basically a physical freak, the other of whom plays like he's in a war, and gets to be the blocking tight end "by default" -- though BB will probably demand that of Watson too.)

BB/SP get away with it because they draft football players more than position players. They want everyone to show up knowing any skill they have will be utilized - witness "nickel back" Troy, "tight end" Vrabel, "wideout" Willie Andrews, "full back" Daniel Graham -- and whoever else can provide a skill to fill a need. That's not to say they don't think Maroney's a great running back. No doubt that's the most important thing about him. But you ever see BB take a RB that he doesn't think can pick up the blitz? Uh-uh.

All of this to say, with some input of "need," BB/SP will continue to do what they always do, and draft to value. They'll continue to get head-scratching "I guess they know what they're doing" comments from ESPN. And they'll continue to get "C+" or whatever grades from silly fan magazines every year. Then their rookies will all contribute immediately (well, in the case of this year anyway.)

What I'd love to see at this point if for TBC to take a giant step forward... even so, having another blue chip LB for depth might not be a bad thing, if they're there at an accessible spot.

One other thing I've noticed: drafting for value allows you to punk other teams for players that sank lower than they should. F'rinstance, the Pats easily got a #1 pick, top 15 players, had it been another year, in Laurence Maroney. But this year RBs meant Reggie Bush, then everybody else. Maroney? Ho-hum. Ho-hum dropped him so low the Pats got him at 21. They also quite possibly got the best receiver in the draft in the second round. Unfortunately, he is now just the best receiver in his physical therapy class, if anywhere. But the (in)jury is still out.

Okay enough yammering. All those late round picks could add up to something (when did we grab O'Callahan?) or they could be packaged to move up at strategic places within rounds. Not a bad place to be, of course.

PFnV

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Didn't read the other thread first. Revised version:

1, 2, 3 * * * 4, 4C; 5T, 5; 6T, 6, 6C, 6C; 7, 7C