Part II- Patriots Draft
Pre-Draft Trades
QB Brian Hoyer and 3rd (96) to Cle for 3rd (68) and 4th (100)
Cleveland has extra picks from the Julio Jones trade so this trade has minimal effect on them. While the Pats get good value for Hoyer because of the weak QB class.
OLB Jermaine Cunningham to KC for 7th (203)
I’ve given up on JC and I don’t expect him to make the roster next season. You can say it was the switch to the 4-3 that hurt him, but if he was good enough he would have made it onto the field, plain and simple. Send him to Pioli in KC for a 7th as OLB depth.
Free Agent- WR Brandon Lloyd
Seems everyone is assuming Lloyd comes here now with McDaniels. I really hope this is true because he is a great fit.
1a (27 from NO). OLB- C. Upshaw- Alabama
I know his stock is a bit higher than this at the moment, but I think his measurables could hurt him leading into the draft. I personally think he is just a beast of a football player and think he is the best OLB in the draft (yes, even better than Hightower)
1b (32). WR- A. Jeffery- South Carolina
I’ve stated here before that if Jeffery drops I would be all over him. I still think he is a top 10 talent and to get him at 32 would be a steal.
2a (48 from Oak). Trade for 2013 1st
It’s hard to predict who this trade would be with, but someone will fall in love with a player and offer up their 2013 first (I hope)
2b (64)- Trade to KC for 3 (77) and 4 (108)
Not a fan of the talent at the end of the 2nd at the moment, move back and grab some extra picks.
3a (68 from Cle)- CB- T. Johnson- Montana
I’ve had Johnson in my mocks for a while now, unfortunately each time it’s at a higher spot. One of the most physically gifted CB’s in the draft, Johnson would allow the Pats to play a lot more press man coverage with him across from Dowling. Also a FS option.
3b (77 from KC)- Trade to Washington for 4 (103), 4 (110) and 2013 5th
Keep on moving down and adding picks
3c (96)- CB- C. Harris- Oregon
Was a 1st round pick heading into the season but off the field incidents have really derailed him. Not big enough to be an outside CB, but would be perfect in the slot. He’s a playmaker both on defence and as a punt returner.
4 (100 from Cle)- WR- J. Criner- Arizona
Criner is my favourite WR in this draft and I love his fit with the Pats. While he may be quicker than he is fast, he does everything at speed which makes him great after the catch. He also has the size and body control to be a deep threat, so he is effective at all three levels.
Ever hear the expression throw s*** at the wall and see what sticks? That’s the idea for the next few picks. High upside guys that haven’t put it all together yet.
4 (103 from Wash)- DT- M. Forston- Miami
Talented DT that has had injury issues. Not a fit in the 3-4, but could be very effective for the Pats in 4 man fronts as a role player.
4 (108 from KC)- DL- K. Randall- Texas
Talented 3-4 DE that hasn’t lived up to expectations. Very good run stuffer, but doesn’t offer a lot as a pass rusher. Could be a very good rotational guy.
4 (110 from Wash)- Trade to Den for 5th (130) and 5th (153)
4 (128)- LB- E. Acho- Texas
Acho is an athletic and instinctive LBer that would be ideal in sub packages in passing situations. Guyton is obviously in the doghouse with Cunningham so I think he is gone after the season as well.
5 (130 from Den)- DE/OLB- D. Paige-Moss- UNC
Considered a 1st round pick before the season, off the field issues and poor play cost Paige-Moss his starting job. He still has a ton of talent as a 3-4 OLB and is well worth the risk in the 5th round.
5 (153 from Den)- OT- Josh Oglesby- Wisconsin
Oglesby was the top rated OT recruit a few years ago and injuries have kept him from really living up to his potential. He is a big RT prospect with a high ceiling and a great work ethic.
7 (203 from KC)- DL- Akiem Hicks- Regina
*** 10 Pick Limit!!! ***
A former 4 star LSU recruit who went to Canada after housing issues reportedly involving a booster. He has been absolutely dominant up north and has shown some of that potential so far at the East-West Shrine Game. He has the size and athletic ability to be a dominant 3-4 DE, but he is as raw as they come and needs a lot of technique work.
Final Notes
In the 3-4 vs 4-3, 1-gap vs 2-gap debate, I don’t think it really matters. I think the Pats will use a combination of fronts and techniques to best suit their needs on defence. To play this hybrid defence I think they need the personnel to fit both. I think Upshaw offers that kind of versatility and I would be very happy with him or Dont’a Hightower in the first round. I think either guy would upgrade the Pats pass rush, and ideally learn under Andre Carter and Mark Anderson, whom I hope are both re-signed. I think Forston and Randall would be very good role players for the Pats to allow them to play these different fronts when required week to week or during different periods of the game. Akeim Hicks is a hige upside pickup late that could hopefully be coached up to be an every down, monster DL. He has the size and athleticism, he just needs time to be coached up.
In the secondary I think the Pats need another big corner to give them the option to play press man coverage when required. I think Trumaine Johnson paired with Ras-I Dowling could give the Pats this extra dimension and allow McCourty to move to FS. When they play zone, McCourty could go back to CB, or stick at FS with Arrington, Moore and Harris stepping up at CB. While I would love to add another S there aren’t any in the draft I’m too excited about. But with this many talented DB’s im sure BB can put them together in some way to be effective. I also think the coverage of our LB’ers needs to improve, especially in Guyton’s spot. Tarpanian could be an option as a coverage LB’er, but I think Acho could really excel in this role. With his athleticism and instincts I think he could be great in sub packages and special teams.
On offence I think WR is the big need. Even if we sign Brandon Lloyd I think we still need at least one draft pick to come in and learn. Alshon Jeffery is too good of value to pass up at 32 and I think he could be unstoppable with Tom Brady throwing him the ball. I also think a big WR on the outside that can be a deep threat would increase the effectiveness of our TE’s (if that is even possible). Without any outside threats and so much focus on the TE’s, the middle of the field is condensed and that makes it harder not only for Gronk and Hernandez, but also makes it harder to run the ball. If you can add a WR or two (or 3) to the roster that can spread out the defence and really put pressure on the safeties, then I think this offence could go to yet another level.
I’m pretty happy with the O-Line at the moment, although I would like to add a young C. But at this stage I am happy to wait a year and go after Barret Jones from Alabama. I am also happy with the TE’s we have. I know some people think a 3rd TE is a need, but I like Dorin ****erson as a backup for Hernandez and I think Solder could continue to be a monster blocking TE in different packages.
Roster
QB- Brady, Mallet
RB- BJGE, Woodhead, Ridley, Vereen
WR- Welker, Lloyd, Jeffery, Criner, Branch, Edelman
TE- Gronk, Hernandez, ****erson
OT- Light, Vollmer, Solder, ? (Oglesby, Hix, Thomas, McDonald)
OG- Mankins, Water, Cannon
C- Connolly, Wendell
Offence- 24
DL- Wilfork, Love, Deaderick, Brace, Pryor, Randall, Forston
DE/OLB- Carter, Anderson, Upshaw, Ninko, Paige-Moss
ILB- Mayo, Spikes, Fletcher, Acho
CB- Dowling, Johnson, Arrington, Harris, Moore
S- Chung, McCourty, Ihedigbo
Defence- 24
K- Gostkowski
P- Mesko
LS- Aiken
ST- Slater
ST- Tarpanian
Total 53