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* Top 64: What Are Your First 4 Picks?? *

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Re: * Top 64: What Are Your First 4 Picks?? * 2.0

I think Meriweather's issues have all been in the mental part of the game, so there's hope, maybe this fine and BB's sideline glare will be enough to get him to refocus.
I sure hope so. It would be wonderful not to have to blow another high pick on a safety.
 
Re: * Top 64: What Are Your First 4 Picks?? * 2.0

Ideally:

early 1st rounder: Marcell Dareus - 3-4 DE is the biggest need on the team right now, and Dareus offers the most potential out of all the 3-4 DE prospects. Dareus and Wilfork up front has the potential to anchor an elite 3-4 defense like Aaron Smith and Casey Hampton do.

late 1st rounder: Joseph Barksdale - I know left tackle is Vollmer's true position, but he's been really good at right tackle so far and if they moved Vollmer back to left tackle they'd still need a replacement to avoid starting Kazcur. Barksdale is the most athletic left tackle in the draft and has great technique and can keep a low pad level, he'd get more attention if Jordan Jefferson wasn't a bumbling idiot with no pocket presence whatsoever.

early 2nd rounder: Akeem Ayers - He's not a complete 3-4 OLB yet but he has decent size and sets the edge well against the run, and he isn't bad in coverage. His pass rushing needs work but they have TBC for obvious passing downs.

late 2nd rounder: Devier Posey - A great value here for a receiver who'd be a borderline 1st round pick any other year when the draft wasn't loaded with receiving prospects. He put up good numbers last year even with Terrell Pryor's inconsistent passing.

pick 3A: Kristofer O'Dowd - Potential/eventual replacement for Koppen.

pick 3B: Will Hill - insurance/depth if Meriweather never snaps out of it/ultimate replacement if they let Meriweather go.
 
Love the first two picks. For me it's Fairley or bust (no pun intended). After that, I like Da'Quan Bowers, Aldon Smith, and Robert Quinn all about the same, although they bring different strengths and weaknesses to the table. Bowers is probably the best fit for our defense, though.
Completely agree. Although, I'm not really sure if Aldon will declare.

Blackmon is a guy I've really started to like. He's a really natural receiver, and if he does declare, probably will be available later than his production/talents dictate, but only because A.J. Green, Michael Floyd, Julio Jones, Jon Baldwin, and Ryan Broyles are going to steal the spotlight in the first round.
The later we can get him the better. Kid's a beast.

Really excellent picks all around. I couldn't complain in the least, although I dislike Daniel Thomas' running style. He's way too upright and straight-line; he is a big guy, but he'll be blown up in the NFL--just look at his game against Nebraska. I'm not a believer. Leshoure and Smith are good second round values, though. Great work.

Thanks. I wasn't able to watch the Nebraska game, but I have it recorded for later. If he gains about 10 pounds I wouldn't mind taking a look at LaMichael James in the late 2nd to 3rd round if he declares.
 
Ryan Broyles from oklahoma looks good.I dont know wat to make of him.He could go in the first round or early.Very explosive wr.
 
Ryan Broyles from oklahoma looks good.I dont know wat to make of him.He could go in the first round or early.Very explosive wr.

I've made the comparison before, but I'll make it again: I think he's the next DeSean Jackson. So quick and competitive. While he hasn't racked up as much yardage lately (his yards per catch are down), it doesn't change the fact that he's just super fast, productive, and fiery. I love watching him play, but I just don't see where he fits in this offense; I think Tate and Branch make him redundant.
 
I've made the comparison before, but I'll make it again: I think he's the next DeSean Jackson. So quick and competitive. While he hasn't racked up as much yardage lately (his yards per catch are down), it doesn't change the fact that he's just super fast, productive, and fiery. I love watching him play, but I just don't see where he fits in this offense; I think Tate and Branch make him redundant.

How many more seasons would you anticipate that Branch will be with us? Granted, the draft pick needed would be a huge factor in it but the best time to get a replacement for a player is before you need the replacement.
 
GBN has a new mock with us taking M. Dareus at 5 and R.Broyles at 30. OU plays at Mizzou Sat. Night. Should be interesting. Aldon Smith said he's playing.

Great Blue North Draft Report
 
How many more seasons would you anticipate that Branch will be with us? Granted, the draft pick needed would be a huge factor in it but the best time to get a replacement for a player is before you need the replacement.
Branch is currently signed through 2011. He'll be 33 for the 2012 season.

The trouble with taking a "replacement" in the 2011 draft is who does he displace on the roster?
-- Edelman has been dinged up this year which is holding him back, but he's young and has the potential to develop as Branch did.
-- Tate was a potential first round pick who fell due to injury and has looked pretty good in his first real work at WR.
-- Price is an unknown with some solid physical tools.
-- Welker is also signed through 2011, he'll be 31 for the 2012 season.
-- On the PSquad is Darnell Jenkins who flashed some Branch-like skills in preseason, so who knows how he shakes out.
-- NE may get back two Navy prospects who have been on the reserve/military list next May.

It's easy to look at the PSquad and reserve/military kids and say they can be cut in favor of a first or second round receiver, but it's more difficult to look at guys who are being developed and are starting to produce on the roster. Price as a 4th is a modest value, but you can argue he was intentionally drafted as a 2011 player due to the type of offense he played in and the known delay in reporting for the offseason program due to his school's schedule.

We know NE has reportedly scouted three Georgia games, however A.J. Green was suspended for at least one of them - so was he the player getting the most attention? If you look at the top Senior and Junior Wide Receivers as ranked by NFL Draft Scout, and you compare their college teams to the scouting activity reports in the draft forum, it doesn't look like NE is particularly interested in WRs.

NE will bring some new WR projects into camp, but for 2011 I'd argue NE is comfortable with the current crop of youngsters and veterans and will be mainly looking at competition and depth at the back end of the WR roster.
 
Re: * Top 64: What Are Your First 4 Picks?? * 2.0

EPIC Mock, Brother Wifork. EPIC.

I'll have to break this in two, because we're only allowed 10 pix per post...

Wilfork's Mock Draft 2.0 Part I

This is my second mock with a some small changes from a few weeks ago, but my overall philosophy stays the same. I don’t see a whole lot of major needs for the Pats going forward, with most of the problems not personnel deficiencies, but rather youth and inexperience. This leaves the Pats with a huge amount of flexibility to be aggressive and target impact players, especially in the early rounds.

A few weeks ago I posted the idea of trading Meriweather, moving McCourty to FS and drafting Patrick Peterson (more as a hypothetical idea if anything). But the more I think about it and the more I watch Meriweather’s play, the more I would absolutely make this move. Everything I have seen or heard about McCourty leads me to believe he could be an elite FS and leader of the secondary. It would also allow the Pats to draft a shutdown corner like Peterson or Prince Amukamara who have the size to match up with the bigger WR’s in the AFC East. The following is more of a dream scenario where all of these guys fall into place.

I currently project the Oakland pick to be around 3rd, which would allow the Pats to move down 2-3 sports and still have Peterson or Amukamara fall to them. The value of moving from 3 to 5 is worth roughly a high second round pick, and with a rookie wage scale in place and teams fighting over guys AJ Green, Robert Quinn and possibly Jake Locker, there should be good interest to move up to the Pats spot.

Trade FS Brandon Meriwether for a 2nd (Dallas?)
Franchise and trade OG Logan Mankins for a 2nd and 5th (Chicago?)
Trade 1st (3) for 1st (5) and 2(5)
Trade 3 2nd’s for a 1st (8-10 range)
Trade the Pats 1st (32) and a 2nd to move up into the 10-12 range
(The value of these trades are based on the assumption that the Pats will pick 32 and Mankins and Meriwether are traded for mid 2nd round picks (15-20 range).

1a (5) - CB- Patrick Peterson- LSU Tiggers!!



Big time shutdown corner prospects that can potentially be left on an island with a wideout. Adding a Patrick Peterson type corner could unlock an enormous amount of blitzing possibilities with the confidence that the opposing #1 WR is covered. Also allows the Pats to trade Meriweather and move McCourty to FS

1b (8-10)- DE/OLB- Da’Quan Bowers- Clemson Tiggers!!



Da’Quan Bowers has been ‘my guy’ since before the season started. He is an unbelievable talent and probably the best fit for a two gap OLB convert. He is great against the run, and already plays with sound two-gap principles; he can rush the passer, drop into coverage and has experience on his feet or with his hand on the ground. He also has the versatility to play 3-4 OLB, 3-4 DE on passing plays an inside of 4-man fronts. Forget Robert Quinn, Da’Quan Bowers is THE BEST DE/OLB in this draft. Instead of looking for the DeMarcus Ware Prototype, 10 years from now people will be looking for the Da’Quan Bowers Prototype. (OK I may be getting a little excited but I really believe this kid will be special).

1c (10-12)- RB- Mark Ingram- Alabama Crimson Tide!!



I believe he really is the perfect compliment for the Pats offence. He might not be elite at anything, but he is great at everything. I think he can be the most well rounded back in the NFL. Adding this extra dimension to the offence could lead to limitless possibilities. If the Pats can consistently run for first downs, this offence could be unstoppable.

2 (Car) - WR- Julio Jones- Alabama Crimson Tide!!



You can tell from my previous mock I love Julio Jones as a fit for the Pats. He is a big physical target that can add to so many dimensions of the offence. He is currently slipping down draft boards because of some inconsistency issues and the overall strength of WR’s in this class. If he is there in the early 2nd with Carolina’s pick I would jump all over him.

3a (Min) - Best OT available- Nate Solder- Colorado



There are a number of possibilities here with OT. While there is no elite talent at the top of the first, there seems to be decent depth for both RT and LT in the mid rounds. Some of the interesting guys are Nate Solder, who has amazing potential but is slipping because he is yet to put it together. Another guy I really like is Joe Barksdale, who I think is really undervalued and underappreciated. It really comes down to who the Pats put the highest grade on that is available at this point.

3b- OC- Rodney Hudson- Florida State Seminoles!!



Hudson is hugely talented and should go much higher, but teams will really see his size as an issue. At 285 pounds he is too small to play in the NFL, and teams worry that adding weight may affect his athleticism and mobility, which could drop him to the 3rd or 4th round. If he is there at the end of the 3rd I wouldn’t hesitate to take him. He is the most talented interior lineman in this draft and I don’t think his lack of size would be a huge issue in the Pats system.

IMMENSE Haul!! :rocker:

MIND you: I agree with PatChick: I don't think there's any way in HELL we get a 2nd Rounder for Merriweather. If we had traded him in February, I could see us getting a 2nd and a 4th, but if we traded him this week, I think we'd just be looking at the 4th: a PRECIPITOUS drop in Market Value.

Also: To move from #32 to #11 or so, you'd need a lot more than just a 2nd Rounder, unfortunately: The Draft Value Chart is an estimate, of course, and no two situations are identical, but it tends to be very accurate.

And it says that to move up to #11 (1250 points) from #32 (590 points), we'd not only need that middle 2nd Rounder you mention ~ I'll call it #48 (420 points) ~ but at least our 1st 3rd Rounder ~ I'll call it #80 (190 points) AND our last 4th Rounder, #128 (44 points).

More likely, we'd need to move a 1st, a 2nd, and BOTH 3rds, getting a 4th kicked back our way.

Between that and the Merriweather bit, I confess that I believe you've overestimated our position by Julio Jones, Nate Solder, and John Clay, those 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Round picks. I hope I'm not being an unforgivable pain in the balls to point all that out!!

And of course: This is your vision, not mine...And this is, taken as an whole, an absolutely beautifully crafted, thoroughly researched, and extremely creative and insightfull Mock Draft.

Thanks for sharing it with us. It was a pleasure.
 
Wilfork's Mock Draft 2.0 Part II

4. RB- John Clay- Wisconsin Badgers!!



A big short yardage back that can also play some fullback. He is a really talented player who would be a great compliment to a running back core of Ingram, BJGE and Woody.

5a – DE- Cedric Thornton- Southern Arkansas MuleRiders!!



This guy is a big time small school sleeper. He dominates lower competition for Southern Arkansas but also takes his opportunities against tougher competition. He is the prototype 3-4 DE at 6’4, 295 pounds and is hugely talented. He is currently a 5-6th rounder but will likely rise into the 3-4th round range as we get closer to the draft. I would be surprised if he came off the board at the end of round 2. Definitely someone to keep an eye on.

5b – OG- James Carpenter- Alabama Crimson Tide!!



A starter at LT for a big time program in the SEC, so you know he is playing at a high level. He will move inside to guard in the NFL where I think he would be a very good fit for the pats. He isn’t a mauler, but he is a very intelligent blocker, and makes very good use of angles and technique to open up running lanes. Adequate size and good athleticism, which allows him to be very successful at getting to the second level. He seems like he would be a great fit for the Pats offence, and given some time with Dante he could be a very good contributor.

6. NT- Kenrick Ellis- Hampton Pirates!!



One area I would like to see the Pats add a player is nose tackle, by adding another legit 340 pound monster, to allow VW#75 an occasional breather, and also play in packages where Wilfork shifts to DE. This seems to be quite successful against very good running teams; however, with a legit 340 pound NT next to Wilfork instead of Mike Wright, this package could be even more effective. Kendrick Ellis is a very talented player, but he is also a major red flag in terms of character. He has already been dismissed for South Carolina, and been suspended at Hampton. His stock will drastically fall coming into the draft and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he went undrafted. However, in the 6th round I would take the risk and ideally give him a year on the Practice Squad.

7. OLB- Ugo Chinasa- Oklahoma State CowBoys!!



The prototype OLB, he is 6’5, 255 pounds and very athletic. He seems like he is finally starting to put it together on the field so he may go higher than this on draft day. But he is still very raw and would require some coaching. He likely wouldn’t make the team initially but would make a good practice squad candidate.

UDFA- QB- Greg McElroy- Alabama Crimson Tide!!



Game manager QB that is a two year starter in the SEC. He won’t be Brady’s successor but would be a good candidate as a back up and a guy to push Hoyer. Likely another practice squad candidate and QB depth, that would be a good fit for the Pats dink and dunk offence.

UDFA- QB- Mitch Mustain- USC Trojans!!



A really interesting QB that the Pats could see as the next Matt Cassel. He has some talent but has never gotten the opportunity at USC. As an UDFA I would definitely take a shot at him and let him and McElroy battle it out for a spot on the practice squad.

Absolutely ROCKING Late Rounders, sir.

~ Thornton looks very intriguing. You can NEVER have too much FirePower on the Edge.

~ GREAT Argument in favor of drafting another BEAST Nose Tackle. Crushing the Run wins Championships, plain and simple.

~ Chinasa is VERY interesting pick!! It would be tremendous, to snag a 6.5/256 Flanker that late in the Draft!!
 
Re: * Top 64: What Are Your First 4 Picks?? * 2.0

EPIC Mock, Brother Wifork. EPIC.

I'll have to break this in two, because we're only allowed 10 pix per post...

Wilfork's Mock Draft 2.0 Part I



IMMENSE Haul!! :rocker:

MIND you: I agree with PatChick: I don't think there's any way in HELL we get a 2nd Rounder for Merriweather. If we had traded him in February, I could see us getting a 2nd and a 4th, but if we traded him this week, I think we'd just be looking at the 4th: a PRECIPITOUS drop in Market Value.

Also: To move from #32 to #11 or so, you'd need a lot more than just a 2nd Rounder, unfortunately: The Draft Value Chart is an estimate, of course, and no two situations are identical, but it tends to be very accurate.

And it says that to move up to #11 (1250 points) from #32 (590 points), we'd not only need that middle 2nd Rounder you mention ~ I'll call it #48 (420 points) ~ but at least our 1st 3rd Rounder ~ I'll call it #80 (190 points) AND our last 4th Rounder, #128 (44 points).

More likely, we'd need to move a 1st, a 2nd, and BOTH 3rds, getting a 4th kicked back our way.

Between that and the Merriweather bit, I confess that I believe you've overestimated our position by Julio Jones, Nate Solder, and John Clay, those 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Round picks. I hope I'm not being an unforgivable pain in the balls to point all that out!!

And of course: This is your vision, not mine...And this is, taken as an whole, an absolutely beautifully crafted, thoroughly researched, and extremely creative and insightfull Mock Draft.

Thanks for sharing it with us. It was a pleasure.

Off The Grid you are correct with the value of the trade up from 32. I forgot when I did my calculations to move up to that spot that I also included a 2012 2nd round pick (32 again), which I must have skipped over when I was writing this up. It seems like quite a heavy price and something out of character for the Pats, however it is something I would definately consider. With the amount of young, core players already on the roster and not too many major needs, I would be willing to use some high future picks in order to add elite level talent this year. In the end you can only have 53 on the roster, so I think the Pats are at the point where they can afford to move up and add top guys and difference makers to this team.

In terms of players falling to the spots I mocked, it probably is quite unrealistic. I can see each of these guys falling to these sports individually because they all have question marks, but the odds of all of them falling to these spots is quite astronomical. Like I said this is probably a dream scenario more than anything.

Finally with the Meriweather trade, im still holding out hope that he can start to put it together for the rest of the season. He still has 11 games and a superbowl run to lift his stock, but if he doesnt improve I agree that he wont have much value.
 
Off The Grid you are correct with the value of the trade up from 32. I forgot when I did my calculations to move up to that spot that I also included a 2012 2nd round pick (32 again), which I must have skipped over when I was writing this up. It seems like quite a heavy price and something out of character for the Pats, however it is something I would definately consider.

With the amount of young, core players already on the roster and not too many major needs, I would be willing to use some high future picks in order to add elite level talent this year. In the end you can only have 53 on the roster, so I think the Pats are at the point where they can afford to move up and add top guys and difference makers to this team.

Excellent! If we were to upgrade that to a 2012 1st Rounder, to go along with the 2011 1st and 2nd, then that would square things out perfectly, because the 2012 late 1st Rounder would have the Market Value of a 2011 2nd Rounder. Expensive? Absolutely. But I'm 100% in agreement with you: we're at the point where Coach B can stop accumulating Draft Picks, and actually spend them; even pull some forward, as you suggest, to really lean into it.

In terms of players falling to the spots I mocked, it probably is quite unrealistic. I can see each of these guys falling to these sports individually because they all have question marks, but the odds of all of them falling to these spots is quite astronomical. Like I said this is probably a dream scenario more than anything.

You'll get no argument from ME: I've been working on Version 2.0 for a few weeks now ~ on my 10th rendition, in fact!! ~ and BELIEVE me: it is the Dream Version of my Vision!!

Finally with the Meriweather trade, im still holding out hope that he can start to put it together for the rest of the season. He still has 11 games and a superbowl run to lift his stock, but if he doesnt improve I agree that he wont have much value.

Fair point, sir. In fact, I almost said as much, myself.

My perspective on that is that I have a funny feeling that Merriweather has hit his nadir. I believe, based on what he's said, that, despite those vicious hits, he got the message that Coach B sent with his recent benching, and that he's about to turn a corner and start playing effectively and consistently within the System.

Should that, in fact, transpire, we will have one HELL of a talented, young, explosive Free Safety on our hands.

I'd just as soon ride with that, with Chung's Star blasting off at Strong Safety, and McCourty's at CornerBack, along with an awfully deep and talented crew at BOTH positions.

I place an IMMENSE emphasis on the Front 7, and the D Line, in particular, you see.

But that's all along the lines of sharing my own philosophy.

Yours is obviously extremely well considered, and looks like an emphatic winner.

And, indeed, if I'm right about Merriweather ~ if we both are ~ it will play right into your game plan.
 
This thread rulez.

 
In 09 the Jets only had to give up a mid-2nd to move from 17-5.

And, that was to get a qb where you should get more.

The Jets threw in a couple of castoffs; K.Coleman, A.Elam and B. Ratliff. I'll give em T.Wheatley if they twist my arm. I don't think we'd have to give up 2a to go from 29-15 for example. That might get our guy. Only 2b.

Quite an interesting point, there, that I want to revisit.

Did the Browns discount the #5, because of the bloated Rookie Salary factor?

And now, with a Rookie Salary Cap being a virtual certainty, but with the degree that these salaries will be reduced being uncertain, will prospective Traders be willing to pay full "Book Value" for those picks?

The way that pick broke down, those 3 vets were essentially included in lieu of a second 2nd Rounder.
 
Re: * Top 64: What Are Your First 4 Picks?? * 2.0

We could really use a Fred Marion type of FS. Not a glamour all-pro. Just a guy who understands the position. Everyone wants the next Ed Reed. But, I'd settle for a guy like Marion. Do you think SS is Meriweather's best position Box?

Fred Marion reference!! :rocker:
 
Quite an interesting point, there, that I want to revisit.

Did the Browns discount the #5, because of the bloated Rookie Salary factor?

And now, with a Rookie Salary Cap being a virtual certainty, but with the degree that these salaries will be reduced being uncertain, will prospective Traders be willing to pay full "Book Value" for those picks?

The way that pick broke down, those 3 vets were essentially included in lieu of a second 2nd Rounder.

I think it was a case of not being any premium players on board at 5. The guys picked after Sanchez were; D H Bey, E.Monroe, BJ Raji, M. Crabtree, A. Maybin, K.Moreno, B.Orakpo, M. Jenkins, B. Cushing. Some good prospects at the time. But, nobody who jumped off of the page at you.

I think a couple of factors could help us if we want to deal down. I don't think there are any good QB prospects after Locker. And honestly, I don't think Locker is a great prospect. But,, he's a qb. And, a lot of these draftniks guys think he is. I think the timing is really good for a trade with Seattle. There are teams picking between us and them in my scenario that would take Locker. So, if they want him. They have to pay the piper.
 
Re: * Top 64: What Are Your First 4 Picks?? * 2.0

I think Meriweather's issues have all been in the mental part of the game, so there's hope, maybe this fine and BB's sideline glare will be enough to get him to refocus.

I couldn't've said it better.

Brandon Merriweather has all the physical tools to be an exceptional Free Safety.

And I don't mean as a guy who's focused on HighLight Reel crap that gets him in the All Pro game, but as a guy who plays as an integral part of a vicious, destructive Championship Winning crew.

I admire Brother Wilfork's extraordinary work in putting this Mock together, and wouldn't have'm change a thing.

But my own philosophical approach will be to focus on the Front 7, as I am absolutely convinced that the impact of a player on a Defense's Fortunes is directly proportional to his proximity to the QuarterBack, when the ball is snapped.

Much as I would LOVE to have Peterson join our ranks, I would ride with Merriweather, because my money is on him turning it all the way around.
 
Re: * Top 64: What Are Your First 4 Picks?? * 2.0

Brian Lainhart from Kent State. He's bigger than BM, can lay the lumber and is a ball-hawk. His career stats are 15 picks and 9 forced fumbles. Listed at 6'1 and 207 lbs. He is slowly creeping up draft boards. Should be able to get him in the late 4th or 5th.

Boy...

Keeping in mind my position on Merriweather, I would, never the less, LOVE to get this guy on Day 3.

NICE call.
 
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