I’ll give it another go before today’s game. Once again I need to be a bit creative to fit my guys in, but it’s too early in the process to worry about that.
Tag and trade Welker for 3rd + 4th
I think this could be Welker’s last year in New England with the focus shifting away from him. This is the same compensation the Cards got for Anquan Boldin
Comp picks in 4th and 5th for Mark Anderson and BJGE
Purely a guess.
1. OL- Barrett Jones- Alabama- 6’4” 305lbs
Mid-way through last season I mocked Jones to the Pats with the idea of moving him to OC. Well Nick Saban must have listened because that is exactly what has happened this year for Alabama, and that only adds more value and versatility to the guy I think is the best O-Lineman in the draft. Jones could step in from day 1 and start at OC or OG and maybe even fill in at OT. He is smart, well coached and battle tested against the best D-Lineman in the SEC over the past few years. At first I thought we would have no chance at getting him because we will be picking at 32, but the more I look the more he seems to be undervalued. It seems Chance Warmack is rated higher by most, and with the depth of this draft its possible Jones could be available at the end of round 1. If he’s not I would also be happy with Warmack or a trade down.
2. LB- CJ Mosley- Alabama- 6’2” 232lbs
Originally I had this pick as Dion Jordan from Oregon because he is an athletic freak. But then I watched some tape of Mosley and he really stood out. He is fast, instinctual and is a very good coverage LBer who would form a fantastic rotation with Mayo, Hightower and Spikes. He also adds versatility on special teams and like all Alabama players (you will see a trend here) he is experienced, tested and well coached. I’ll take the football player over the athlete every day.
3a. DL- Kwame Geathers- Georgia- 6’6” 350lbs
At the moment I am pretty happy with our front 7, especially the two big guys up front. But Wilfork is getting up there in age and you can never have too many quality D-Lineman. Geathers seems perfect as a DT for the Pats two-gap 4-3 where he can use his size and anchor to hold the point of attack and control the line of scrimmage. He is somewhat limited as a pass rusher at this stage but that isn’t an issue with this scheme. He would be a solid two down player that could rotate in with Wilfork and Love and hopefully develop into a monster in the middle of that defense.
3b. WR- Marcus Davis- Virginia Tech- 6’4” 232lbs
We have seen over the past few years the Pats move towards a TE based offense which allows them to create mismatches with defences. I would like to see that continue further by adding even more size, speed and matchup problems outside the numbers with a big, physical WR. Over the past 2 years I have loved Julio Jones and Alshon Jeffery, but there doesn’t seem to be that kind of elite, physical guy in this draft. The closest might be Marcus Davis, who is still raw, but has a ton of upside. At 6’4” 230lbs, Davis has reportedly run a 4.37 40, and holds the Virginia Tech record with a 44 inch vertical. He is by no means a finished product though. He needs to improve his route running and concentration because he has a habit of looking to make a move before he has made the catch, but the upside is immense. Speed and size on the outside to create even more mismatches and demand safety attention will only increase the effectiveness of our TE’s.
4a. TE- Michael Williams- Alabama- 6’6” 270lbs
Now I know most of you will think I’m crazy here, but I believe Michael Williams is the best TE in college football. He may not be the flashy, uber productive pass catching TE that most people fall in love with, but I don’t think any TE in college football adds more to their team than Williams. Since mid last year he has been a binkie of mine, and after watching him again against Arkansas he is a must draft. I don’t care what it takes, a 1st round pick, a trade up, whatever it takes he must be a Patriot. While he hasn’t put up big catch or yardage numbers, what he does do is make the entire offense better. He is the best blocking TE in college football and looks like and extra lineman when he is on the field. He has played a huge part is the success of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, as well as Alabama’s QB’s by giving them time and space to make plays. He may not make a ton of catches, but he seems to have good timing when he does by making a play at a key moment. He is a very good athlete and currently underutilized as a receiver by Alabama due to his blocking skills, but in the NFL I think he could flourish. I could see him as a Brandon Pettigrew type TE who is very well rounded and effective in the run game and passing game. Then we take into account his value on special teams units where he also excels and adds even more value. And that is before we get to character, leadership and intangibles where he is as good as it gets. He is a hard worker, team player and true leader that embodies the Patriot way as both a player and a person. Yes, I have a huge man crush on this guy.
4b. DL- Damion Square- Alabama- 6’3” 286lbs
Yep, another Alabama player (and I would take them all if I could). Square is probably overlooked because of the amount of talent around him, but he is a legit NFL prospect as well. With the shift to a 4-3 I think he is a good fit as a heavy LDE on early downs and shifting inside during passing situations. He has good quickness for his size and has experience two gapping for Alabama. It should be a fairly easy transition for him to a 4 man front, especially with his versatility. He is underrated now, but could move up draft boards pretty quickly (I think I read somewhere that someone already thinks he will go in the 1st round).
4c (comp). OT- Seantrel Henderson- Miami- 6’8” 345lbs
Will Vollmer’s injury history and impending free agency, RT could be a big need if the Pats aren’t comfortable with Marcus Cannon. While it may not be a great idea to replace an injury plagued OT with another player with a history of injury, I think Henderson might be too good of value to pass up. The former top OL recruit in the nation a few years ago, Henderson hasn’t quite lived up to the hype yet due to injury. But the talent is certainly there, and at 6’8” 345 lbs he could be a monster RT. He is surprisingly athletic for his size, and with some coaching from Dante, he could be one of the best RT’s in the NFL, provided he stays healthy.
5 (comp). QB- Best Player Available
It seems to me the position that will provide the best value in this draft will surprisingly be QB. There are at least 7 or 8 Senior QB’s who could be solid developmental guys and that is before any underclassman declare. This could be one of the deepest QB drafts in recent memory, and with the amount of young QB’s being drafted high in recent years, the demand doesn’t seem to be there and some quality guys could fall. There are 9 first or second year QB’s starting now in the NFL, and adding the established veterans, the demand for QB doesn’t seem to match the supply. I think it’s very possible that someone like Landry Jones, EJ Manuel, Mike Glennon, Ryan Nassib or even Aaron Murray could be available in the 5th round simply because of the depth and lack of demand. So this could be a perfect opportunity to grab another quality developmental QB.
7. WR- Kyle Prater- Northwestern- 6’4” 215lbs
While I think it’s highly unlikely that Prater declares in 2013 because he is only a Redshirt Sophomore, I would love to take a shot at this guy when he does declare. He has great size, good hands and has the potential of a #1 WR. He isn’t a primary receiver at Northwestern at the moment because he is new to the system after transferring from USC, but I think it’s only a matter of time before he has an impact.
And on a final note, is anyone else amazed by how good this Alabama team is, especially after the amount of talent that has left over the past few years. I have never seen as dominant an O-Line in college football with 3 guys currently projected as 1st round picks and a 4th who is a sophomore who might be the most talented of them all and a future 1st round pick. While their style might not be as exciting as some other teams, for anyone that just appreciates good quality football they are a pleasure to watch. They are more professional than half the teams in the NFL.
