I have come at this from a different perspective to look at needs. I basically had a look at our roster and am basing my picks on the places we do not need. The places i thought we could upgrade best through the draft were Slot CB, DT, DE and Saftey.
Assumptions:
Resign (at least untill camp): Julian Edelman WR/PR, Aqib Talib CB , Sebastian Vollmer OT, Wes Welker WR, Nick McDonald C/G, Michael Hoomanawanui FB/TE, Donald Thomas G, Tracy White ST/OLB, Danny Woodhead RB, Trevor Scott DE, Marquice Cole and Niko Koutouvides ST/LB.
Leave via FA/Retire:
Kyle Arrington, Ron Brace, Deion Branch, Patrick Chung, James Develin, Marcus Harrison, Derrick Martin.
IMO Not needs: QB, RB, FB, TE, ILB and OLB (base), OG
Medium Needs: Penetrating DT/DE, CB Depth, OT Depth and C
Thinner positions:
WR (only Welker, Edelman and Lloyd under contract)
4-3 DE (Jones is the Starter, the rest comes down to our FO's view of Cunningham, Bequette, Francais and Ninkovich as our future at the position)
Saftey (with Chung leaving in this scenario depth may be needed here to push this years rookie and FA pickups opposite McCourty)
1.) Trade 32 back to 38 and 102
Ezekial Ansah DE: he seems to be a bit of a project and didn't have the best bowl game. But he undoubtably has the raw athletic ability.
I think we have enough depth at the position in Nink, Cunningham, Bequette. So we can bring him on in our own time and on passing downs let him lose in our NASCAR package with Jones, Cunningham e.t.c
Dion Jordan is another worth consideration... i am just not completely sold here as he doesn't look solid enough against the run for a pick this high and he seemed from the tape i watched to be limited to the speed rush... but he is another guy with the frame and athletic ability to be a difference maker on D.
I thought about Tavon Austin here but in my opinion we have him light in Julian Edelman who has come along way this year before his injury. I'd also rather continue to invest in our defense.
2.) Robert Lester SS: With the departure of Chung and the up and down play from the other 2 players at the position. Lester could be another piece to the puzzle that is creating a dominant defense for the Pats. If he turns out to be more Mark Barron than Bust it could be a big piece.
WR's like Stills and Patton could come into consideration here as well pending how WR is addressed in FA. I personally view Hernandez as a WR anyway hence keeping Hoomanawanui and Ballard as the other 2 TE's. But i think grooming a young WR is a very good option also.
3.) Tyrann Mathieu CB: I'm taking a risk here but he is a real talent and i don't mind wasting a 3rd on this gamble. Upside would be a great STer, Slot CB and just allround athletic play maker.
4.) Traded for a 2014 3rd rounder
7.)William Campbell DT Good specimen a camp body to keep up competition with Pryor, Love and Deadrick.
7.) Terron Armstead, OT: Good developmental prospect to see if Dante can mold into a swing tackle prospect even guard.
That leaves the camp roster at:
OFF:
QB: Brady, Mallett
RB: Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, Demps, Woodhead
FB/TE: Hoomanawanui
TE: Gronk, Hernandez, Ballard
WR: Lloyd, Welker, Edelman, FA?
OT: Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Armstead
OG: Connolly, Mankins, Thomas
C: Wendel, Macdonald
DEF:
Saf: McCourty, Gregory, Wilson, Lester
CB: Dennard, Talib, Ras-I, Mathieu, Cole
OLB: Hightower, Mayo, White
ILB: Spikes, Fletcher, Rivera
DE: Jones, Bequette, Cunningham, Ansah, Ninkovich, Scott, Francis
DT: Wilfork, Love, Pryor, Deadrick, Campbell
ST: Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken, Niko Koutouvides, Nate Ebner, Matt Slater
