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.
Dre meet Aaron. 1 - Re-sign our key FA's.
just for fun, the ultimate fallers mock draft:
1a. Dre Kirkpatrick - the clear cut #2 CB recently was arrested for some weed. Good thing that can't happen in NE.
1b. Alshon Jeffery - preseason was considered a top 5-10 pick and in a battle with Blackmon for #1 WR. Some question his fitness level / passion for game, others blame his QB.
2a. Mark Barron - Previously considered a sure-fire 1st rounder now has an injury that will cause him to miss time in the off/pre - season.
2b. Vontaze Burfict - the best athlete of all the 3-4 ILB's / 4-3 LB's IMO. Has shown great production but falls due to his on field stupidity.
3. Peter Konz - A binky many wanted at 1a before the season may now be available in the 3rd . Getting him here is a steal.
4. Josh Chapman - Considered a 2nd round player but also has injury concerns. One thing's for sure - he can play through pain. Makes you wonder what he would have done fully healthy.
I'll use all the picks just because it's too hard to speculate trades.
1a: Fletcher Cox DL, Mississippi State:
Need playmakers on defense, and I think this kid could be a gem. Great size, burst and power.
1b: Chase Minnifield CB Virginia:
Go back to the well at CB. Good size, versatile in coverage. Solid all around player.
2a: Peter Konz OL Wisconsin:
Youth at the Center position. Koppen resigned though for one more year/as needed or alternatively Connelly is resigned and Koppen is let go unless he takes low cash because he can't get starter pay elsewhere.
2b: Ryan Broyles WR Oklahoma:
If the injury checks out the young Deion Branch to replace the old Deion Branch. I'm a big OU fan (see every game living in Norman) this guy is legit. Great hands, very athletic. Runs precise, quick routes. One of the best receivers to ever play at OU imo.
3: Markelle Martin FS Oklahoma State:
We need a Free safety not a Strong safety like Barron. This guy is a mild upgrade over James Ihedigbo and will turn into a big upgrade within a year or two. He's got the skills.
One thing I don't want is secondary help drafted in the first 2 rounds, I'll explain why in a minute.
1A - Michael Brockers -
Regardless of whether he'd be a DT in a 4-3 or a DE in a 3-4, the Patriots need another presence on the D-line next to Wilfork. Brockers has the tools to become a 5 technique DE. He won't be there for the Saints pick which is why I'd advocate trading the Saints pick AND Oakland's 2nd rounder to get him.
1B - Dont'a Hightower -
As much as Spikes emerged this year, he's still a liability in coverage and isn't as smart or athletic as Hightower. Hightower gives them a potential SILB who's a complete player, and also won't have too much pressure right off the bat because he has two ILBs in front of him. This team barely lost the superbowl and has plenty of cap space, they don't need all of their early round picks to be instant contributors.
2 - Mike Brewster -
This might be a reach but center is a position they need to address. Resign Connolly as the short term solution at C with Brewster as the long term solution.
3 - Brandon Taylor -
It's a question whether or not he'd be available as his status is unclear but he's a huge sleeper who IMO should be an early pick.
4 - Sean Spence -
He's too small to be a 3-4 linebacker (OLB or ILB) but he'd be useful in 4-3 formations, or if BB decides to stick to a base 4-3 D. He's also a guy who'd be picked much earlier if it wasn't for the mess he was involved with at the U.
5 - DeVier Posey -
Like Spence, would be going much higher if not for being in the middle of a blown out of proportion NCAA scandal (who cares if he sold his own memorabilia?). Extremely talented especially for this late of a pick.
6 - Darius Fleming -
Senior year killed his draft stock but still has good talent.
Even though secondary help is maybe the biggest need on the team, it doesn't make sense to use another 1st or 2nd rounder in the secondary. Here's the 6 1st and 2nd round picks in the secondary since 2006:
Brandon Meriweather
Terrance Wheatley
Patrick Chung
Darius Butler
Devin McCourty
Ras-I Dowling
Of those six, 2 of them were cut after two seasons, 1 of them showed major potential but never took the next step and was cut after four seasons, 2 of them looked like studs last year but regressed a lot this year, and 1 spent his rookie year on IR with the jury still being out on him. All in all, those 6 players have given a lot less production than what you'd expect from 2 late first rounders and 4 early second rounders. You certainly wouldn't expect a team that's used so many early picks in the secondary since 2006 to have such a crappy secondary.
If you look at the secondary when they were winning superbowls, it was for the most part guys who were already established when Belichick became coach (Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy), or guys who were signed as free agents when they were already veterans (Rodney Harrison, Tye Poole), with Samuel and Eugene Wilson being the two exceptions. Point being that Belichick has been a lot more effective at improving the secondary with already established veterans than through the draft, so my overall point is that they'd be better off addressing the secondary through free agency with a veteran safety.
Free Agency-
WR - Reggie Wayne -
Of the receivers who've clicked well with Brady, they've all had great route running ability, a high football intelligence, and a willingness to always play within the system (Moss is the exception to this but that's irrelevant since there isn't a receiver available with Moss's physical ability). Fortunately last season drives his price down a little bit, and no team will offer him long term money with his age. They should be able to get him at a reasonable price. Brandon Lloyd, DeSean Jackson and Vincent Jackson would all be horrible fits with this team. Bowe might have the most potential out of any FA receiver but would cost a lot.
CB - Richard Marshall -
McCourty and Arrington should be the #1 and #2 corner next season. They both had their bad moments last year but they've been relatively successful and they both defend the run. The problem is at nickel and depth. Marshall like them defends the run well and is a huge upgrade at nickel. McCourty, Arrington, Marshall, Moore, and Dowling is a good group, and Marshall can play emergency safety.
Safety - Whoever the best available free safety is - And no, it's not Dashon Goldson. Unfortunately this is a piss poor free agency class at safety and it's not like draft is stocked with safeties either. After teams make roster cuts they should sign whoever the best coverage safety is as that's by far their biggest need.
