Box,
In my ideal draft, I would have taken all the early picks. This draft has maybe 40 First round picks in it. Why wait a year for a second to become a first, when you can get the equivalent this year without waiting? My picks would be:
Willian Beatty LOT @23
James Laurainitis ILB @ 34
Connor Barwin/Larry English @ OLB 47
Ron Brace NT @ 58
Well that's nice, but you presume Beatty is an upgrade over Light, Kaczur, or LeVoir - perhaps he is, but I haven't seen it. I've already stated Laurinaitis is over-valued for what he offers the team, so I'm not impressed. English may well still be there at #47, but I believe those who expect Barwin there aren't paying enough attention to the demand for athletic pass rushers - if Aaron Maybin is projected in the top 15 so often Barwin is easily a better value then you allow - and those attempting to see English as an equivalent talent aren't looking that closely either. I'd expect Ron Brace to go a little earlier given the demand for 3-4 DL in this draft.
And then then the best remaining Safety @ 3
From among Chung, Vaughn or Moore
It's very likey all three would be gone before #89, not a good strategy.
And then Pat White QB/TB/S with the compensatory pick @ 3
I would hope to pick up Tidbury, Unger, a RB, and Tom Morestead P from the dregs.
Unger? He's very likely gone before the mid-second. Sidbury? If he lasts beyond round 3 I'll be surprised, he's just as likely to be taken in the second.
My thinking is if you can draft a future LOT take him. There is an oppening for an ILB right now. And rookies can start there, take a good one.
There are several developmental DE--> OLB conversions going on, and I don't know the status of any. Barwin or any rookie will just be beginning a multi-year conversion/development. Tedy took 3-4 years, likewise TBC; Woods has taken 3 years+, Crabel and Redd are 1 year in; and the draftee would just be starting year 0. Get the talent, but don't count on it, for this year.
Ditto for the reserve NT; when you find a good one, take him. They are rare. Then take a reserve S.
Pat White willl probably never be a starting QB; but he might well be a quality backup QB, and the best of this terrible bunch; and occasional Single Wing tailback, triple threat. And if that doesn't work, a pretty good S or WR.
The others are just guesses.
No I would not be surprised to see BB load up on linemen. But I'd like to get one defensive starter this year too; and ILB is where he can come in and play.
Beside have you noticed that BB cleared up all his possible holes with vet pickups,elsewhere. He did NOT load up on vet LBs. An Indication perhaps??
BB always tries to close the loopholes, this year is no different.
Who were the available vet LBs that had any value for NE?
A reserve NT is nice, but BB has one at a decent price, buying another doesn't make a lot of sense.
Barwin is a conversion project, but at what position? Supposedly Mayock would make him a TE day one. Could he be a TE and also focus on being a situational pass rusher rather than a full service OLB? This is BB we're talking about.
Pat White is not an NFL Quarterback, he is a fine athlete who could be developed as a WR.
Defensive starter, what good is Laurinaitis inside? Ochmed may have seen improvement in his ability to take on a block, but he's a long way from being anything but a liability in the run game. Mayo was able to make up ground with his speed, Laurinaitis doesn't have that going for him. There are later round projections who are just as, if not more athletic, and play downhill much, much better. If you want a defensive starter as a rookie you'll need a player who is a better fit for what NE does at SILB. Heck, many pundits think Laurinaitis is better as a 4-3 WLB and not at MLB.
