1) What receivers do you think are worth taking in the top 61 picks?
It's not about the number they are taken on the board, because the team's allowed WR to become a position of need. It's the number of WRs taken before them, and who they are. Just for example, if you're enamored with the Austin, you've got to trade up in round one, because he's likely to go as the first WR off the board. I'm not there, but I'm seeing a handful (+/-) after him and Patterson that would seem to best fit the team needs, and they'll likely be among the earliest WRs taken.
2) Are you satisfied with the safeties that will be available in the 3rd? Others would have to be satisfied with the corners that we might get in the 3rd.
They drafted a 3rd-4th round safety last year, in Tavon Wilson, and he couldn't get off the bench much of the time. It was time to spend serious draft capital to finish off the starting 5 of the secondary.
3) For me, a 3rd round corner or safety would be a bencher for this year; but, perhaps, that's OK.
If Matthieu is what he was in college, and the time off hasn't set him way back, he should be ready to function as a dime, or even a nickel, this season.
4) I trust that you're OK with a strategy that has us picking a WR first, with Belichick deciding whether it is at 29 or a bit later. Belichick would have the same decision with regard to WR2, picking at 61 or a bit lower.
I don't want the team waiting until 61 for the second WR.
BOTTOM LINE
A) Belichick has PURPOSELY chosen to go with Amendola, Jones, Jenkins and Edelman. He was not forced to do so. He still isn't forced to do so (he could re-sign Lloyd). Belichick likely does NOT believe that the offense has suffered a major setback or has a major weakness at WR.
The first three sentences are certainly true. The last two are guesses on your part, and the last one is a guess that I don't think he's fool enough to actually believe. He's a very smart football man, so I assume that, looking back with the smoke cleared, he realizes his screw up with Welker.
B) On the other hand, Belichick has knowingly chosen to patch the secondary by signing one-year patches Talib, Wilson and Cole. Having a long-term plan of Dennard, Dowling and Arrington doesn't seem sufficient to me. Neither does a future of McCourty and T. Wilson, although Belichick may be willing to take a wait and see attitude at safety with vets A. Wilson and Gregory able to play opposite McCourty if Wilson isn't up to the task.
I expect Gregory will be gone after this season. There's a fair amount of dead money on him for this year, but it's cut in half next year. It's another reason I thought going safety early was the way to go.
However, I also think that the Patriots expect 2014 to be "Walmart, part 2", so I wouldn't be surprised if they're thinking they'll have a very legit shot at Talib again next year.
C) A strong argument can be made that Belichick is planning to focus more on the defense in the draft than WR. Folks have been arguing for an additional pass-rusher plus secondary help for months.
I remember many of those same folks talking about how good Chung was going to be and how Gregory was a starting caliber safety. Focusing on defense would be a mistake, IMO, unless a demigod of a pass rusher slips down, and there aren't any of those thought to be in this draft.