Love your work once again OTG. I though I'd give it a go.
1a- DE/OLB- Courtney Upshaw- Alabama
It seems that Courtney Upshaw is the early favourite to be the board’s major binkie of the 2012 draft and I am certainly jumping on board. Although he lacks the ideal measurable for a Pats OLB, he has the ideal skill set and would be a great addition to this team. Unfortunately his stock is rising, so hopefully the Saints can lose a few to give us a shot at this kid. Another option would be Brandon Jenkins from Florida State.
1b- Trade for 2nd and 3rd
I like the players towards the top/middle of the 2nd more than the late 1st, so I would look to move down and grab another pick.
2a- FS- TJ McDonald- USC
After watching some tape on the safeties in the offseason, TJ McDonald is the guy that clearly stood out to me and he hasn’t disappointed me yet this year. He has good size and athleticism at 6’3” 205lbs, and has the versatility to play FS and SS. With the Pats tendency to play left and right safety rather than free and strong, I think McDonald is the perfect fit for the defence. He can put on a big hit, and his size makes him a great matchup against TE’s. I think he would really give the secondary a presence.
2b- DE- Devin Taylor- South Carolina
Devin Taylor’s stock has been slipping this year and I think it has a lot to do with him being overshadowed by his teammates Javedoen Clowney and Melvin Ingram. I don’t think Taylor is physically ready for the NFL and should stay at South Carolina for another year, but if he does declare I would take shot at him in the 2nd round because of his immense upside. There are questions on where he would play in the NFL after he adds the necessary bulk, but if he can manage to keep his athleticism with the added size, I think he could be a monster 3-4 OLB. He has already shown the ability to play the run and drop into shallow zones, and with some coaching he could be a devastating pass rusher as well. And even if he does lose his athleticism as he bulks up, some believe he could play 3-4 DE.
2c- Trade for two 3rds
With no picks after the 4th round and many questions surrounding this team, I would keep going down and adding more picks.
3a- WR- Dwight Jones- UNC
With the NFL becoming a pass oriented game, and rules making it difficult for DB’s to play physical, I think the Pats are really missing a big, physical WR to take advantage of that. We have seen some of the bigger WR’s in the AFC give our CB’s some trouble with their size and physicality, either by going up and getting the ball or by drawing a penalty. I think that is something this Pats offence really misses and something that Dwight Jones would be a perfect for at 6’4” 225lbs. He has the size to win contests, as well as the speed and athleticism to beat DB’s and create a threat deep. Before the season started I really liked Jeff Fuller for this role, but he has really disappointed so far and Jones has really stepped up. Unfortunately, if he continues like this he could find himself in the late 1st/early 2nd round.
3b- DT/DE- Kheeston Randall- Texas
I mocked Randall to the Pats back in March and I really think he is the best fit as a two-gap 3-4 DE in this draft. He doesn’t offer much in terms of a pass rush, but he is a run stuffer and can take on double teams. He hasn’t lived up to the expectations yet, which is why his stock is falling at the moment, but I think he has the talent to be a good NFL player.
3c- S- Tony Dye- UCLA
The last few years we have seen the Pats double dip in the draft, and I think most expect if it is going to happen again, that safety would be the position targeted. Earlier I took a big, physical safety that can match up with TE’s, now I’m taking a smaller, quicker safety to match up with slot receivers. Tony Dye is just a really good all-around safety that can help this team out in a variety of ways. I think a trio of Chung, McDonald and Dye would give the Pats a great amount of versatility in the secondary, and would turn the safety positions into a strength.
3b- Trade for two 4ths
Keep adding more picks
4a- C- David Molk- Michigan
Dan Connolly has done a very good job stepping in at OC for Dan Koppen. But I still think the Pats need to add a young guy into the mix to add some depth and competition. I haven’t seen a whole lot of Molk this season, but I know a lot of people on this board are high on him and I trust their opinion.
4b-TE- Michael Williams- Alabama
I was surprised the Pats cut Crumpler before the season, and I was even more surprised they cut both Yeatman and Smith. I don’t like the idea of only having two TE’s on the roster, especially when Hernandez is virtually a big WR. That where Michael Williams steps in. He has great size at 6’6” 270lbs, and has decent athleticism. He is one of the top blocking TE’s in this draft, but can still contribute a bit in the passing game. He plays at Alabama so you know he is well coached and well prepared.
4c- TE- Ladarius Green- Louisiana Lafayette
I know it might seem strange taking another TE, but what I think Green does is continue to add another dimension to the offence. He is raw and really needs to add some bulk at 6’6” 235lbs, but he has a great frame and unlimited potential. He needs some time to develop, especially as a blocker, but as a receiver he could be a mismatch for defences. At the moment he is more like a huge WR, but he could become a Jimmy Graham type TE. Along with Dwight Jones, Green would add some physicality to the Pats offence.