Could the Lions be a target?

[ctpatsfan77]

[Note: I took advantage of a deal that magazines.com had last month, for two years of ESPN the Magazine for $15, plus I got a 16% rebate, and Insider access.]

ESPN Insider is reporting that apparently the Detroit Lions absolutely love Iupati at G, and would love to take him at 34.

Unfortunately, they're also not at all convinced he'll actually, you know, be there at 34, but he could certainly be there at 22. . . .

If you were BB, and the Lions came calling, what would you ask for in return for #22? [They have the second pick in every round except the seventh, plus they have an extra fifth from Denver.]

 

[Sciz]

I'd take Iupati myself...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I'd take Iupati myself...

I have this feeling the Pats are looking at Asamoah (trained this year by the guy who trained Mt. Vollmer).

But, for the sake of argument, if you didn't want Iupati, and were considering trading down to 34, what would you ask Detroit to give in return?

 

[mgteich]

Now that's funny! We don't have starting RG. Arguably, the best RG in the draft is available when we pick. Instead of celebrating or picking a top OLB or DE, we trade down?

And BTW, I'm at all sure who is the best RG at the moment. I am just noting the consensus.

HOWEVER, this is certainly Bill's kind of move. Trade 22 for 34 and 66 (Detriot's second pick in the 2nd and 3rd rounds).

 

[BelichickFan]

The generic value chart says the difference is the 10th pick of round 3. So their #2 and #3 for our #1 and a throw in pick would be what I would want. That doesn't sound bad.

 

[DaBruinz]

The Patriots could also look at Mike Johnson from Alabama for the RG position. Johnson has played every position on the line but C. He's a team leader and and rarely gets surprised by a blitz.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Now that's funny! We don't have starting RG. Arguably, the best RG in the draft is available when we pick. Instead of celebrating or picking a top OLB or DE, we trade down?

And BTW, I'm at all sure who is the best RG at the moment. I am just noting the consensus.

HOWEVER, this is certainly Bill's kind of move. Trade 22 for 34 and 66 (Detriot's second pick in the 2nd and 3rd rounds).

You're right; the Pats took the consensus best LT in the draft at #23 when he was avail—wait, they didn't?

 

[mgteich]

I would note that this is what Belichick did last year instead of choosing Butler at 23. Given that Belichick's man at 23 and 26 (and 41 after he traded up) was Butler, I would say that Belichick would certainly entertainly the option.

However, I too would not be at all surprised to see us pick Iupati ourselves if we don't sign a free agent starter at RG.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I'd take their 2nd and 3rd rounder this year. And a 2nd next year. I'm greedy that way.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, Belichick made the trade and would have been EXTREMELY disappointed if Vollmer weren't there at 58.

Oher would NOT have been an aweful choice.

You're right; the Pats took the consensus best LT in the draft at #23 when he was avail—wait, they didn't?

 

[mgteich]

No problem, no trade.

I'd take their 2nd and 3rd rounder this year. And a 2nd next year. I'm greedy that way.

 

[upstater1]

I would do the trade.

That value chart is fool's gold this year since this is such a deep draft and the 3rd round pick should have more value than what the chart reads, so a pick at the top of the third round for a drop of 10 slots is MORE than worth it.

Iupati looks great and will surely make some team very happy, but the fact remains: we need a pass rush, we need DEs and OLBs, we need WRs, and we need an ILB.

If the Patriots somehow landed Karlos Dansby, this would open up the draft and allow Belichick the luxury of taking a guy like Iupati, because then he could focus his other picks on needs, but given the current needs, I don't think you can take a guard in the first round. Too many holes to fill more important than guard.

In 2007 Koppen, mankins and Light went to the Pro Bowl, and it wasn't because they used to be so much better than they are now. It's because Brady had more weapons and got the ball out sooner. Just like a pass rush makes CBs look 10x better, WRs make the offensive line look 10x better.

 

[mgteich]

An offensive line of Light, Mankins, Koppen, Kaczur, Vollmer is arguably as good as we had in 2007, as long as Brady has weapons.

The free agent offensive help that Belichick secured in 2009 consisted of Taylor, Baker, Lewis, Smith and Galloway. Given the injury to Welker, Belichick will need to do much better in 2010.

I would do the trade.

That value chart is fool's gold this year since this is such a deep draft and the 3rd round pick should have more value than what the chart reads, so a pick at the top of the third round for a drop of 10 slots is MORE than worth it.

Iupati looks great and will surely make some team very happy, but the fact remains: we need a pass rush, we need DEs and OLBs, we need WRs, and we need an ILB.

If the Patriots somehow landed Karlos Dansby, this would open up the draft and allow Belichick the luxury of taking a guy like Iupati, because then he could focus his other picks on needs, but given the current needs, I don't think you can take a guard in the first round. Too many holes to fill more important than guard.

In 2007 Koppen, mankins and Light went to the Pro Bowl, and it wasn't because they used to be so much better than they are now. It's because Brady had more weapons and got the ball out sooner. Just like a pass rush makes CBs look 10x better, WRs make the offensive line look 10x better.

 

[MagnumPI5]

I think that you would be looking at our 1st and 6th rounder to Detroit for their 2nd and 3rd rounder. Barring a free-fall of an elite player, I would pull the trigger on that deal.

 

[mayoclinic]

An offensive line of Light, Mankins, Koppen, Kaczur, Vollmer is arguably as good as we had in 2007, as long as Brady has weapons.

Absolutely. That would be a very solid OL, especially given the injuries to Light, Neal and Kaczur in 2009. If Neal retires he could still be available for call up if injuries hit. We might get half a season out of him, which is probably all he would be good for anyway given age and injuries.s

LeVoir is solid as a swing tackle. Kaczur always has backup OT potential. Ohrnberger and Bussey would have a year under their belts, with Connelly and Wendell for depth. Add one developmental OG/RT prospect who would NOT need to immediately start, and we should be in good shape. We could pick up a Jared Veldheer or Vlad Ducasse in round 3 at this point.

If you added an offensive playmaker like CJ Spiller or Dexter McCluster plus a FA WR, we should be in good shape, particularly if Brandon Tate can play in 2010. Julian Edelman should continue to improve at the slot - he won't be Welker, but IMHO be over-depended on Welker and will benefit from spreading the ball around more.

 

[mayoclinic]

Players whom I would consider worth taking at 22 include:

- DT/DE Ndamukong Suh - will go top 3
- ILB Rolando McClain - will go top 12
- CB Joe Haden - will go top 12
- DE/OLB Carlos Dunlap
- RB CJ Spiller
- DT Dan Williams
- DE/LB Brandon Graham
- OT Brian Bulaga
- Possibly OG Mike Iupati

Guys who could also possibly be worth taking, depending on what happens between now and the draft, include DE/OLB Everson Griffen, DE/OLB Jason Pierre-Paul, and DT Terrance Cody.

If none of those guys is available then I would strongly favor trading back to #34 and picking up an early 3rd round pick from Detroit.

 

[mgteich]

In many drafts Dunlop, Bulaga and Spliller are long-gone. Buluga is an intriguing choice. However, I don't think he'd help much in 2010 at all. There is certainly something to be said for a player who could replace Light or Mankins to start in 2011. I do NOT see him playing on right side.

Dan Williams seems an ideal choice as a 3-4 DE as well as a 3-4 NT, and a DT in 43 sets. My suspicion is that he will be moving up past 22 in the coming month.

As I look at more and more mocks, it is as you, and many others have said. We could trade two picks to move up to get a blue-chipper. We could get LUCKY and have a blue-chipper fall to 22 (I include Williams in that group). Or we could be looking to start trading down as we did last year.

With reagrd to guys like Graham, we'll know more after the combine, but I'm not sure he is a blue-chipper, and there are lots of red-chippers that will be drafted between 23 and 72 of this very deep draft. For me, that is a 50 pick sweet spot. Counting our 22, we should have four picks and could have five if we trade down even a little (throwing in our 4th).

Players whom I would consider worth taking at 22 include:

- DT/DE Ndamukong Suh - will go top 3
- ILB Rolando McClain - will go top 12
- CB Joe Haden - will go top 12
- DE/OLB Carlos Dunlap
- RB CJ Spiller
- DT Dan Williams
- DE/LB Brandon Graham
- OT Brian Bulaga
- Possibly OG Mike Iupati

Guys who could also possibly be worth taking, depending on what happens between now and the draft, include DE/OLB Everson Griffen, DE/OLB Jason Pierre-Paul, and DT Terrance Cody.

If none of those guys is available then I would strongly favor trading back to #34 and picking up an early 3rd round pick from Detroit.

 

[mayoclinic]

As I look at more and more mocks, it is as you, and many others have said. We could trade two picks to move up to get a blue-chipper. We could get LUCKY and have a blue-chipper fall to 22 (I include Williams in that group). Or we could be looking to start trading down as we did last year.

I think this draft will be very fluid. IF the right guys slip, we could trade up, either from 22 or from our 2nd round for an additional 1st. And if they don't, we could easily trade back and accumulate more depth and talent. Either way I suspect we'll do well, though I have a preference for getting a couple of playmakers.

 

[WhiZa]

I would love to trade back as long as we pick up some impact players in FA. I don't want to go through another year rooting for potential

 

[mgteich]

By season's end, we had three 2009 draftees starting. I think that this is more than "rooting for potential"

I would love to trade back as long as we pick up some impact players in FA. I don't want to go through another year rooting for potential