How will the Patriots get that third round pick?

[bucky]

This draft is too deep not to take advantage of it. We need fresh blood at multiple positions, and having several picks in the 2nd - 5th rounds is a great way to begin the transfusion.

To take this 1 step further, I'd say there are currently available roster spots at the following positions:

1-2 RB
1-2 WRs
2 TEs
1-2 G/C
1 DL
1 ILB
2-3 OLB
1-2 DB
1 Punter

That's between 11 and 16 positions that are either open, or are candidates for an upgrade. A few will surely be filled in by players currently on the roster and some will still be done via free agency. But the reality is 6th and 7th round picks are crap shoots. So we could certainly stand to get more than 5 early picks to upgrade the roster.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I'm still not following the logic of why the Pats must have a third (and a fifth.)

I don't see how one pick in each of rounds one through five is superior to what the Pats have right now.

Yes there are two large gaps, but so what?
At that point the Pats will have already drafted what is the equivalent to those two missing picks.

Unless your concern is future salary cap implications or budget concerns, I just don't see the need to obtain a third round pick.

The Patriots like to have a spread of picks across the rounds so that they have the flexibility to move around and get a guy they have targeted. However I can see your point; maybe since the third will be on Friday night (mea culpa there ) there is less urgency to fill the gap.

 

[MaineMan]

I'm not buying getting a 3rd round pick simply because we don't have one or because there's likely to be a lot of talent there. It's really all about playing the difference between how the Pats value certain prospects and how the rest of the market values those same prospects. And I'm not talking about how Kiper or McShay or CBS ranks these guys, but what the Pats know about the preferences of the other teams - likely a whole lot more.

If the highest-rated guys on the Pats Big Board are unlikely to be taken by anyone before #44 according to the Pats information, why not work out a trade for the #22 that may net them a 3rd rounder? And maybe there's a guy or two that the Pats value highly who are likely to go in the late 3rd/early 4th. Why spend a #53 when you can get the difference in draft-pick value from some other team through a trade (a difference that may well be a 2011 2nd rounder)? I mean, for instance, would you rather spend a #53 on Te'o-Nesheim or get him in the third plus a 2011 mid-2nd-round pick?

It's not that it's intrinsically necessary to have a 3rd rounder, but it may (or may not) be a case of maximizing the value of the picks you have in hand.

 

[Blizzzard]

I agree that you don't NEEd a 3rd round pick, because those 2 extra 2nd rd picks mean you get to take 2 better guys than you would get in the 3rd round.
It makes no sense that people are saying we need to get that pick back. if we had 1 pick in each round 1-7 and we traded our 3rd for a 2... people would be ecstatic! In fantasyland we could basically say that we gave up a 3rd but gained 2, 2nds... whats wrong with that?!?!?

However, if someone we wanted was there at 44 (or any of our 2nd rd picks), but bill thinks we can get him at 47 (or the next pick we make or trade for).. and someone offers us a later 2nd rounder plus a third... That would be great, and i'd fully welcome getting another good player in the third for the small trade down. WIN!

I am less excited about trading our #22 for an extra third. Unless the move back was very minimal (3-5 spots) and we could still get our guy, plus a HIGH 3rd round or late 2nd.
I think trading #22 for something 20-35 picks later, just to get a 3rd is stupid. the difference between the player we get at 22 and the one at #44 could POTENTIALLY be the same difference between the #1 overall and our pick at #22.
I know this is a deep draft and most likely the difference will not be that substantial, but it still COULD be. It could mean the difference between getting a Great player and a Very Good player. While that is still good, sometimes games or seasons come down to 1 Great play. As pats fans we have seen close plays define history many times, both on our team (barely missed INT and missed sack in SB44... making big kicks to win SB's) and on other teams (The raiders being 1/1000 of a second too late on the tuck rule play. Steelers ST player letting that kick get blocked and returned for a TD by Brown in the 2001 AFC championship game).

conclusion:
Another high pick for an inconsequential move down = Great.
Giving up a chance to get a special player for a "missing" 3rd round pick = Bad.

 

[cstjohn17]

I have to believe that BB does not want to enter the third round first thing on Sat. morning without a pick. He must be plotting and scheming to get a third. Maybe he will will trade down from 22 a number of picks to get it (maybe this was why he was showing off Tebow so Jax would be tempted to trade up from their second (with a third as trade bait?))

Trade Marshall for #22 and take Denver's 3rd rounder.

 

[borg]

I'm betting that BB has 3 guys that he wants bad and will move #2s around to get in position to get his guys
1st pick: #19-22. A RB upgrade is a must and could impact the 2010 wins column quicker than any other position. Gosselin has 2 backs going at #15 and #20. BB will target either Spiller or Matthews
2nd and 3rd Picks. #28-35. BB will go for a DB. It's a passing league and quality QBs found a DB to pick on most games...Wilhite, Springs, Wheatley were abused at times...and once again BB will make DB a feature pick. BB will also make a value pick. Grab a guy that was a bonified first rounder in 2009 but warts/injuries dropped their value for this draft. I see a couple guys that may be the Tate of 2010.
I'm leaning away from OLB (loved Griffen till I listened to an interview and said 'you know" 45 times.)

 

[Bring Back Antowain!]

I have to believe that BB does not want to enter the third round first thing on Sat. morning without a pick. He must be plotting and scheming to get a third. Maybe he will will trade down from 22 a number of picks to get it (maybe this was why he was showing off Tebow so Jax would be tempted to trade up from their second (with a third as trade bait?))

Not to be an @ss, but your post doesn't make sense.

First, the third round of the draft takes place on Friday night. So your theory of Belichick wanting to enter Saturday wanting to pick in that "first round" is moot. Although I would agree with you that I think Belichick would like to fill that gap between 53 and 119 with a pick.

Also, while Jacksonville would seem like an ideal trade partner to trade down with, we already have their second round pick. I think Buffalo could be an ideal trade scenario.

 

[zgotts]

I'm betting that BB has 3 guys that he wants bad and will move #2s around to get in position to get his guys
1st pick: #19-22. A RB upgrade is a must and could impact the 2010 wins column quicker than any other position. Gosselin has 2 backs going at #15 and #20. BB will target either Spiller or Matthews
2nd and 3rd Picks. #28-35. BB will go for a DB. It's a passing league and quality QBs found a DB to pick on most games...Wilhite, Springs, Wheatley were abused at times...and once again BB will make DB a feature pick. BB will also make a value pick. Grab a guy that was a bonified first rounder in 2009 but warts/injuries dropped their value for this draft. I see a couple guys that may be the Tate of 2010.
I'm leaning away from OLB (loved Griffen till I listened to an interview and said 'you know" 45 times.)

I would agree here. Sure this draft is deep, and having 3 picks in the second round is nice, but I think it's a lot better to move up as you need to get the player you WANT than to just sit and wait and pick whoever's left.

My perfect example would be Jerry Hughes. Some people have him going to Green Bay at 23, others have him falling all the way to us at #44. There's no doubt BB is interested in him. But if there's a player at #22 that he favors over Hughes, why wait until #44 and miss out on Hughes?

I wouldn't be surprised to see 2 of our 2nd rounders go to Green Bay for #23.

I'd love to see a combo of Ryan Mathews and Jerry Hughes at #22 and #23, then take Tyson Alualu at #47, or even trade down from #47 to make up for the pick we lost.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Not to be an @ss, but your post doesn't make sense.

First, the third round of the draft takes place on Friday night. So your theory of Belichick wanting to enter Saturday wanting to pick in that "first round" is moot. Although I would agree with you that I think Belichick would like to fill that gap between 53 and 119 with a pick.

Also, while Jacksonville would seem like an ideal trade partner to trade down with, we already have their second round pick. I think Buffalo could be an ideal trade scenario.

Actually my post did make sense but it was erroneous about the timing and JAX's picks. I should have checked my "facts" before posting. I still think that BB wants to fill that gap but maybe it is not as urgent since the third will be on Friday night. Friday promises to be fast and furious for Patriots fans (Thursday night could be very droll the Patriots as they are almost certainly going to try to trade down) so gap in the third would not be so bad.

 

[Real World]

I think the draft set up is going to work very well for the Pats if they're open to moving a 2nd. The 2nd round is going to see a lot of trades I think, as teams sleep over who's left, and maybe move to mortgage 2011, to draft a guy in this years 2nd. It's why I wouldn't be surprised to see BB trade a 2nd this year, with some icing, for a 1st next year, and maybe a 3rd this year. That would mean three 1st rounders next year.

 

[Clonamery]

..but it may (or may not) be a case of maximizing the value of the picks you have in hand.

Yup. BB will happily be up all early morning Friday listening to offers and scenarios.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think the draft set up is going to work very well for the Pats if they're open to moving a 2nd. The 2nd round is going to see a lot of trades I think, as teams sleep over who's left, and maybe move to mortgage 2011, to draft a guy in this years 2nd. It's why I wouldn't be surprised to see BB trade a 2nd this year, with some icing, for a 1st next year, and maybe a 3rd this year. That would mean three 1st rounders next year.

I agree,the second round could be a huge roller coaster with teams moving all over the place. This is not the year to be without a second round pick.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I guess they really did indeed want to fill the third-round gap. Twice. BB is the master. As I said before the he hates to have gaps.

 

[captain stone]

And Bill did it pretty much as I hoped he would: a slight trade-down from 22 to 27 netted a 3rd (90) & 6 spots in the 4th round (119 to 113). Then a trade-down in the 2nd round netted a 5th (150).

The question now becomes: Did Bill take the fullest advantage possible of those extra picks?

Personally, I would've drafted CB Kyle Wilson instead of McCourty; Sergio Kindle instead of Gronk; and WR Golden Tate instead of Cunningham.