DRAFT: Pats On The Move?

Ian Logue

Apr 22, 2003 at 4:00am ET

With 13 draft choices heading into this weekend, all signs are beginning to point to New England making a move in the upcoming NFL Draft.

According to ESPN.com's John Clayton Texas A&M defensive tackle Ty Warren may go as high as No. 14 to New England, unless the Patriots are able to move up higher. Warren fits the Patriots need for a nose tackle who can play the two-gap system, but according to most reports he seems to be the team's third option behind Dwayne Robertson and Jonathan Sullivan.

In the event New England has to settle on Warren, they have reportedly spent plenty of time looking at him, and according to several reports have him rated higher than most teams. They apparently like his toughness, and the interior presence he may be able to provide along side Richard Seymour.

Meanwhile the Patriots also seem to have their eye on Sullivan, who experts feel would be a great fit with the Jets with their 13th pick. According to ESPN.com New England would be the more likely team to move ahead of the Jets and get Sullivan or Kevin Williams of Oklahoma.

After finishing the regular season 31st in the league in rushing defense there's no question that New England will be looking to grab a player who will make an immediate impact on their defense. Now it's just a matter of what they'll need to do to be able to get their man.

THEY HAVE A HISTORY

The New York Jets were burned when Bill Belichick left to go and later win a World Championship in New England, and draft weekend hasn't been very kind to them either. In the past two drafts, the Patriots have twice jumped in front of the Jets with a trade.

Last year the Patriots traded up to 21 from 32, one spot ahead of the Jets in Round 1 when New England chose to select tight end Daniel Graham, and in 2001 the Patriots jumped over the Jets in the second round, and grabbed left tackle Matt Light who the Jets were said to be interested in at the time.

In the event their interests lead them to the same player yet again, it will be interesting to see who wins this year's bidding war in trading up to get him.