carolinatony
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2006
- Messages
- 2,844
- Reaction score
- 0
Registered Members experience this forum ad and noise-free.
CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Precious few are worth it, IMO, especially if the pick inches toward the top 5. For that kind of pick at that kind of money you're not just looking for a great talent, but a position where the upgrade will make a major impact on your team's composition...and a position that's generally highly paid. With a strong veteran team you can't come close to saying "BPA" because you'd be paying megabucks for a benchwarmer, terrible cap management.
At first pass, I'd say the positional requirements for the Patriots rule out QB, RB, OG, C, TE, WR, S, DE, DT and possibly ILB. What does that leave? An elite cornerback, a Merriman/Ware-type pass rusher, and a franchise left tackle. Uh-oh. OT Jake Long is the only guy who fits the bill, and he's likely to go in the top few picks.
That mirrors my thinking almost exactly. We need a roster upgrade, and a position where there's a low bust rate.
Jake Long is the safe pick, and if we can't trade out of #5, I'd be cool with trading up to #3 or so to grab him.
I wonder how hard it really is to trade down if you're not shooting for the moon. Say #5 for #12 & #43 to a team eyeballing a McFadden, or their choice of QBs. That would leave the Pats with 5 day-1 picks and plenty of flexibility.
Precious few are worth it, IMO, especially if the pick inches toward the top 5. For that kind of pick at that kind of money you're not just looking for a great talent, but a position where the upgrade will make a major impact on your team's composition...and a position that's generally highly paid. With a strong veteran team you can't come close to saying "BPA" because you'd be paying megabucks for a benchwarmer, terrible cap management.
At first pass, I'd say the positional requirements for the Patriots rule out QB, RB, OG, C, TE, WR, S, DE, DT and possibly ILB. What does that leave? An elite cornerback, a Merriman/Ware-type pass rusher, and a franchise left tackle. Uh-oh. OT Jake Long is the only guy who fits the bill, and he's likely to go in the top few picks.
Good question, I guess if we are 'stuck' with the pick I would shoot for one of the studs Jake Long (OT), McFadden (RB), Phillips (Safety). Assuming they are gone I would look at these players (in this order):
Malcolm Jenkins (CB) Ohio State
Campbell (DE/DT) Miami
Stewart (RB) Oregon
Harvey (DE/OLB) Florida
Groves (DE/OLB) Auburn
Whoever their top ILB is (Laurinitis, Connors, etc.)
I don't think it gets any simpler than this: we only pick if we find someone who we really think is going to be a superstar in the league, whether it's Long, Phillips, Campbell, McFadden or whoever else, otherwise we trade down (and it's a good enough draft that somebody will pay big for a top 5 pick). We should have solid starters at every position through next year anyways.
Outside of QB and maybe D Line** there isn't a single unit that wouldn't be improved by a top 10 pick. I don't understand the positional requirements argument, the Patriots have only had one top ten pick (Seymour) and he started in the first year and became a pro bowler. I don't think any draft pick would be expected to start so I don't see why an elite player at any position couldn't come in and become the top reserve and eventual starter.
AD, Bruschi, SeauI agreed with everything until the last sentence, who are the solid CBs and ILBs in 2008?
AD, Bruschi, Seau
Samuel, Hobbs, Gay
Granted, we could lose both Bruschi and Seau, or both Samuel and Gay, but I really don't consider either as strong possibilities and if worst comes to worst think we would probably sign a FA or make a trade. The great prospects of this draft aren't at CB or ILB anyways, or so I'm told.