What's the best overall strategy for this year's Draft.

[patfanken]

Every day now I take a moment and go to PFN to use their Mock Draft simulator. It got me thinking a bit as I started to see the same names available at each pick.

When I started I was convinced that we needed to pick a CB with #14, if Porter or Witherspoon was there. Even when I traded down, a CB or OT. It was simple. If Johnson, Jones, Porter or Witherspoon were available that's who'd I pick If it was the OT then CB next one or visa versa.

But the more I thought on it and got a better feel for the talent Things started to change. I'd keep seeing names like Van Ness, Bresee, and Kancey and Smith popping up. These are BIG guys with special size and combine numbers and tape. Hardest thing to find in football are the rare talents on the offensive and DL's We are talking about men who are 300 running sub 48 40's. BTW that was a time that is shared by both Rodney Harrison and.....me, back in the day.

So the I'm trying to start a conversation about what's the best strategy for THIS season. Is it the easy choice, "best player" or drafting to fill needs? Do we trade down to get more picks in the very juicy 2nd and 3rd rounds. We don't NEED a DT like Bresee or Kancey. Our edge situation is probably the best its been a few years, but what if Van Ness is there when we pick

So tell me what YOU'd do if you wore the GM hat. Tell me your strategy. Who are the players you are NEVER going to pass up if available, Build the trenches, or find the skill players? Bresee or Witherspoon? Van ness or Porter? etc

 

[ralmat55]

Your initial thoughts were correct. They need to get longer, faster and more physical in the secondary if they want to have the special defense needed to be truly competitive in their division and conference.

 

[DarrylS]

With Josh Allen, Tua/Hill/Waddle and probably Rodgers gotta think about a CB at the top of a list as much as there is a need for a WR/OT the offense will not be able to keep up with these good and improved offenses.. moving down makes sense as long as we do not move below #20..

 

[goheels22002]

Offensive line at #14 continues to be the top priority, particularly with all of the other investments in the offense - Bill O'Brien, Adrian Klemm, WR. TE, RB and depth guys. Complete the picture with a top three rookie OT. Really, there is not much else on offense needed.

Now, Patriots have five picks in rounds 2-4, all of whom will more than likely make the 53. There's plenty of draft capital there to trade for or draft a player at all three levels of the defense. Clearly DB is a priority, but it need not be a rookie. Another veteran CB who can handle bigger receivers would be such a good move with some combination of those 2-4 round picks. If BB gets four players with those five picks who can contribute in 2023-2024, we'll be thrilled.

With the three sixth rounders, BB can select projects. There are a bunch of OL and DL collegians on the board with skills who need work on technique and a year or two to add weight and strength. It's interesting to see just how many college guys kept weight off to focus on quickness. The move up to the pros requires size and strength to make it through the longer schedule and to deal with the veterans who dominate in the trenches.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

Strategy
1. Draft a top 3 LT
2. Draft a top 2 CB
3. trade back
a. draft receiver
b. draft 3-4 best corner
c. draft edge
4. Trade up 8-12 spots in the 2nd round.

That being said things could get thrown off if Bijan slides to 14 as I could see the Pats picking him.

 

[Steve102]

Best corner not named Joey Porter, I think you're drafting his father as well. I'm all in on best OT at #14, and I am down to trade back a few spots as well, so let's say best OT R1 and best CB in R2.

 

[Gator Mike]

Is there enough CB depth where they could afford to wait until a later round?

Because I'm not thrilled with the later round OT options.

 

[upstater1]

Stay put at #14, but if you draft a CB, DE or WR there, you must trade up into the 2nd round to make sure you land a tackle like Bergeron.

So, my strategy is trade up in the 2nd round, and do everything you can to hold onto the 3rd rounder, because he will be a very good player.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

trade down from 14 to thr 18-23 range and trade up to the 30-35 range with the acquired pick from the trade down
select a bigger CB like Banks, Brents or Forbes and Harrison or Wright and the draft would be great. This would still give us ammo for
round 3 and 4 for WR, D-Line or inline TE etc.
In a perfect draft Jake Moody goes to the pats as well not just because i bet on him in dingleberrys casino

 

[zimmy]

This team needs high end talent. I don't want to pass on that to pick a lesser player at a position of need. The other challenge is the team needs good players at multiple spots, which might mean a slight trade down in the 1st to get more picks in the 20-75 range. I would also aim to take advantage of the quality classes at CB and TE. We need both.

 

[Sciz]

I’m more worried about getting a good player than what position he plays. I guess if they see Skoronski as a guard then they’re not picking him. I’ll rule out QB too unless there’s a free fall from a top guy. But beyond that, just take the best player. In many scenarios that looks like a tackle, corner, or edge rusher, which is even better.

I’ll even forgive them if it’s a great player at a different position. They took Dugger despite having McCourty and Phillips and thinking they’d have Chung (he opted out), and The Athletic recently had him 13th overall in a redraft. If Bijan or Branch or Kincaid or Flowers is going to be a top 5 player from this draft in 5 years, then just take him at 14 at call it good.

I’d be awfully tempted to jump the Jets (especially for a tackle), but that might be difficult. The Texans (pick 12) already have 12 picks and may decide they don’t need more. Pick 11 currently belongs to the Titans, but if they trade up then the team that trades down to 11 probably wants to pick there instead of trading back even further. In terms of chart value (ignoring whether the other team wants to trade back), they can get to 11 or 12 without giving up pick 76 thanks to the extra 4ths. I don’t think you’re realistically getting to 10 without giving up 76, though.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Top 2 LT or CB, after that its bpa for me. Still pondering if Levi falls which I doubt he does.

Basically, Johnson,Jones and Witherspoon are my top 3 guys. After that, trade down or bpa. I’m easy to please.

 

[patfanken]

Best corner not named Joey Porter, I think you're drafting his father as well. I'm all in on best OT at #14, and I am down to trade back a few spots as well, so let's say best OT R1 and best CB in R2.

That would be the best thing about drafting Jr. Having to watch is father put on Pats gear when he comes to his son's games.

 

[Steve102]

That would be the best thing about drafting Jr. Having to watch is father put on Pats gear when he comes to his son's games.

He's never ever ever, never ever, ever, never ever going to be at our level.

 

[patfanken]

As I read your responses this came to mind. There may be only 2 OT's in this draft that are worth a top 15 pick and both are likely to be gone. So do you pick up a what BCG would call a 1B guy That high. The same goes for CB. Only Gonsales and Witherspoon are 1A guys, the rest like Porter, Brents, the MD. guy, etc all have some holes in their game and Gonsales and Witherspoon are likely to be gone.

That is why I would be definitely be looking to move down. My best hope is that one of the 4 top QB's start to fall and someone feels the need to get to 14. In my ideal world, Richardson starts to fall and a team like Seattle (which would be a perfect place for him to develop) does a deal. they have the 37th pick in round 2. The deal I would LIKE would be our #14 plus our 107, and our 2025 4th. More realistically it probably take our #76 to get that done. But since we are fantasizing anyway, Pete has a senior moment and takes the first deal.

At 20 I think will be the perfect place to get value on an CB, OT, WR, or DLman. and with the #37 and 46 the same would apply. That kind of thing would be Ideal. 4 picks in the top 100 SHOULD get us 4 quality PROSPECTS of which 2 you hope will be starters and 2 will play a role by 2025

 

[Gator Mike]

Throwing it out there...

If the organization really wants to support Mac Jones, they should be looking to enhance what he does well, which is throwing the ball off play action, especially in the middle of the field.

If you're looking for a dynamic middle of the field target with good hands, could Dalton Kincaid be a consideration?

 

[TheBeers]

For me it's this:

Tier 1 or 2 OT and CB. I feel these are the biggest needs.

After that, i'd like to see DL/edge, WR, TE, S, RB. Wouldn't mind drafting K or P in the late rounds.

Ultimately if we get a couple quality starters in the mid/late rounds, in addition to a good OT/CB i'll be happy. We have a lot of picks!

 

[SlowGettingUp]

The chatter is that everyone wants to move down, so maybe this is the year Belichick zigs while everyone else is zagging. We have more picks than we can use, so maybe he moves up a couple of slots to make sure of some prospect.

If Belichick is not that confident in Mac, and no top WR's to be had, maybe he blows everyone's mind and picks Bijan Robinson. Add a big LT and a big TE and go all-in on the running game plus pass-action. Bijan is a good receiver so there are also two-back sets that will create matchup problems.

 

[mike_usagisan]

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

The chatter is that everyone wants to move down, so maybe this is the year Belichick zigs while everyone else is zagging. We have more picks than we can use, so maybe he moves up a couple of slots to make sure of some prospect.

If Belichick is not that confident in Mac, and no top WR's to be had, maybe he blows everyone's mind and picks Bijan Robinson. Add a big LT and a big TE and go all-in on the running game plus pass-action. Bijan is a good receiver so there are also two-back sets that will create matchup problems.

Half our picks are in the 6th and 7th round. The Pats can not move up in the 1st unless they use the 2nd or 3rd - I hope not.

Yes, if Bijan is a good receiver (I think he is) then BOB could get creative, but I think he wants to do that with the TEs, Henry and Gesicki. Also BOB had Jahmyr Gibbs at Alabama who is a great receiver so I think they would go with him later in the 1st or 2nd - RBs always drop.