Time for a another bump, just to kick the tires on this thread. Once gain, it's obviously just throwing darts at this stage of the game. I'm also assuming the Pats pick at 32 in each round.
1. Dion Jordan, DE/LB/"DB", Oregon. 6'6" 245#.
Hybrid Beast! Jordan is a rare animal, a 6'6" guy with great explosion and quickness off the edge who is unreal in space. He came to Oregon as a WR, converted to TE, and then to DE. He is so agile in space that the Ducks sometimes use him to play press CB and to cover slot receivers. He spends most of his time playing out of a 2 point stance, even when he is on the line. Jordan is not stout enough to be a full time edge setter, but he has good core strength for his size. The Pats could move him around, including playing DB in "big nickel" packages. With his length, speed and agility, Jordan could be a unique weapon in a defense which already has playmakers like Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower.
*** Trade: Pats trade #32 for a pick in the 35-40 range.
2. Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama. 6'4" 330#.
Beast! Star Lotulelei and Johnathan Hankins will likely be out of reach in 2013, but there is still plenty of depth and talent at the DT position. Williams could be a steal, and may have as much upside as either of those guys. An Australian transplant and JUCO transfer by way of Arizona, Wiliams played 3-4 DE for the Tide in 2011 but is taking over at NT for Josh Chapman in 2012. A former rugby player, Williams has tremendous strength and terrific movement skills for his size. He is a weight room fanatic with incredible core strength, who recently benched 600 lbs (Dontari Poe, who led the 2012 Combine at the bench press, had a best of 500 lbs. at Memphis), and very little body fat. Best quote: "I stopped looking for the monster under the bed when I realized the monster was me." Williams has enough agility and athleticism to play outside in the 3-4 and probably play 4-3 LDE as well, and enough strength and size to play 3-4 NT, 4-3 NT and 4-3 DT. Getting Williams might require a trade up in the 2nd round.
3. Mark Jackson, OT/OG, Glenville St. 6'5" 328#.
Sleeper! Rated the #7 center in the country by Rivals coming out of high school and signed by Illinois, Jackson subsequently transferred to a small school and has been flying under the rader. A big kid with excellent footwork for his size, Jackson has positional versatility at tackle, guard and center. He's still a bit under the rader, but with a strong season he'll probably be a top 100 pick, and could even sneak into the 2nd round. I could see him becoming a Brian Waters kind of player at guard.
4. David Bass, DE, Missouri Western St.. 6'5" 280#.
Super Sleeper! Mackenzie Pantoja has recently profiled Bass, who has an intriguing combination of size, length, long arms, verticity, instincts and processing speed. Pantoja writes: "I have never before scouted a player who is tremendous at so many different things needed to stop the pass" and "I’m not sure if I could design a player better suited to cover the NFL’s new breed of 'super tight ends' (Gronk, Graham, etc.)". A 280# LDE who can drop back into coverage from a 3-point stance and cover a TE or a slot WR in addition to rushing the passer, clogging the passing lanes and setting the edge would be a tremendous weapon - so much so that Bass got me to pass on Margus Hunt in the 1st round in favor of Dion Jordan. A DE group of Fanene/Bass/Bequette at LDE and Chandler Jones/Bequette/Cunningham at RDE would have terrific depth and versatility.
5. Brandon Moore, DT, Texas. 6'5" 335#.
Super Sleeper Beast! Moore was recruited by Nick Saban to Alabama, and left the team for disciplinary reasons before transferring to Texas to be reunited with his old line coach. A huge kid with terrific athleticism, Moore has reportedly been dominant in Spring practices. With VInce Wilfork turning 32 in 2013 and Myron Pryor and Ron Brace UDFAs after this year and Kyle Love a RFA, a second interior lineman would be a nice addition. A front 6 of Wilfork, Jesse Williams, Jonathan Fanene, Love, Deaderick and Brandon Moore would be a very strong group. I'm guessing that a deep DT class and his past disciplinary issues could push Moore down a bit.
The big wrench in this mock was passing on SMU DE Margus Hunt. Hunt is a beast at 6'8" 295# with 4.7 speed and Olympic strength, who is still learning the game. But (1) Hunt may be overvalued as a "workout warrior" after he blows away the Combine next spring, and (2) he will be 26 next summer. And the ability of a guy like David Bass to play 4-3 LDE and drop into coverage was too enticing to pass up. The combination of Bass and Dion Jordan would give the Pats some really nice versatility and coverage ability in guys with the ability to play up front.
I'd also like to add another offensive lineman and a WR, but will wait until it's clearler exactl what picks the Pats have.
