Needs
For me the most obvious need is DT. Tommy Kelly is getting old, Armstead hasn’t played a snap yet and I don’t think anyone believes Vellano is the answer, although he has held his own. And as much as I love Big Vince (as you can tell by my sn) he will be a 325lb (yeah right) man coming off an achilles injury at the age of 32. Add into that he has an $11.6mil cap number for next year and I think it’s a legitimate question as to whether he will be back. Ideally he would re-structure but we still don’t know how he will recover. So we not only need a long term replacement for him but also greater depth and quality at the DT position. That would be my biggest aim.
I think some of the other needs are interior O-line, both OG and C. Wendell is a free agent and hasn’t played as well as last season and Connolly could be a cap casualty. We also need to look for a long term replacement for Mankins, who I could see gone after 2014 due to an $11mil cap number in 2015. CB could be a need but I think worst case scenario we franchise Talib for next season so I wouldn’t consider it a huge need right now. We could use another quality safety, but I think that’s tough to do without a high pick so I would look for a veteran. TE is also a need but again something I wouldn’t spend a high pick on. We should be able to get value in the later rounds and maybe look into the free agent market. With 3 rookie WR’s currently on the team I don’t see room to draft another one, unless it’s a late round developmental guy. RB is a late round option if Blount leaves, and while I would like him to stay I think he takes the money.
Trade 2nd, 2015 2nd and Ryan Mallett for 1st
I’m not usually a fan of trading away future picks, especially high ones, but I see this as a special circumstance. I think this is the perfect opportunity to solidify our D-line for the next decade with two potentially dominant DT's who I think are a perfect fit for this team. It would take some manoeuvring, but these are the resources I would be willing to give up to move back into the 1st round.
Picks
1a. NT- Louis Nix III- ND
I think Nix is the best DT in this draft and the best NT since Haloti Ngata. He is a big monster of a man with quick feet and violent hands. He makes his money vs the run but I think he is also has some upside as a pass rusher. He can push the pocket as well as create penetration, and while he may not put up big sack numbers he will pressure throws and be a TFL machine in the NFL. Don’t let the score of the National Title game fool you, Nix had a very good game against a top quality O-line and Alabama game plan. They ran everything away from him, so even when he was constantly pushing Barrett Jones into the backfield or getting penetration the play was always running away from him. I also love the way he plays hard, to the whistle and chases everything. I have no doubt in a few years he will be the best NT in the NFL.
He reminds me so much of Vince Wilfork both as a player and a person, just a humble, soft spoken kid from Florida with a big smile. Right now he is projected to go high in the 1st round but I think he will be available a bit lower than people expect right now. Over the last few years we have seen DT’s drop a bit in the draft, particularly NT’s, so I think Nix could be available in the 15-25 range if not later. He’s not going to blow up the combine like a Dontari Poe, so he won’t be a sexy pick, but he will be a great pick.
1b. DT- Ra'Shede Hageman- Minnesota/Stephon Tuitt- ND
Hageman has by far the most upside of any DT in this draft and I think he has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL. I love his size, length, athleticism and versatility and think he would be a perfect fit for this team. He can play 3-4 DE, 4-3 DT or even 4-3 LDE against the run. I think he could be our Mohammed Wilkerson type disruptive DT. Because of his upside I think he could be out of reach even with trading up so my backup would be Stephon Tuitt, another big, athletic and versatile DL. I don’t think he has the same athletic upside as Hageman, but he still has a ton of potential and could be a very good NFL DE/DT.
3. C- Travis Swanson- Arkansas
If he stays the top C in the draft he probably won’t be available here, but it’s a mock draft in October so why not? According to the Arkansas coaching staff, Swanson is a special athlete having been clocked at 7.39 seconds in the 3 cone drill, better than both Luke Joekel and Lane Johnson at last years combine. I would love to see what Dante could do with this guy.
"His movement ability is second only to (Cleveland Browns All-Pro left tackle) Joe Thomas out of linemen that I have worked with in the last 12 years," said strength coach Ben Herbert, who came over from Wisconsin.
4. FB- Trey Millard- Oklahoma
My favourite player in this draft, Millard is the most versatile weapon in college football and he is still being underutilized. Not only is he a quality lead blocking FB, he can run the ball as a single back, catch it out of the backfield and line up at TE as a blocker or receiver. Oh, and he is also Oklahoma’s best special teams player. I think he has the skills to be the Pats FB, #5 RB, #3 TE and a core special teamer.
5. QB- AJ McCarron-Alabama/Keith Price- Washington
McCarron is the prototype Patriots QB. He is a leader, good decision maker, game manager and above all else a winner. For a few years now people have been talking about grooming McCarron to be Brady’s replacement and I think it would be a good idea. The thing that impresses me most about AJ is the fact that he keeps getting better. I think he would be a great fit in this system.
If McCarron is gone the other QB I really like is Keith Price. He might not be the prototype but I love his game. To me he is a cross between Russell Wilson and Drew Brees. He is a pocket guy, but he has the athleticism to make plays with his legs if he needs to. He has a good arm, good accuracy and has really stepped up this year. After a monster Bowl Game against RG3 to end the 2011 season, he had a poor 2012 season, but he seems to have put that behind him and I think he is a legit NFL prospect despite his lack of size.
6. RB- Carlos Hyde- Ohio State
If Blount leaves as a free agent I think Hyde would be the perfect replacement. He is a big, powerful downhill runner that could be a workhorse back or bruising short yardage back. Also have to consider his character concerns as well as the Urban Meyer connection here.
6c. OT- Cornelius Lucas- Kansas State
Big, long and athletic, that sounds like a Patriots OT to me. I love his size and length (6’8” 328lbs) and would love to see what Dante could turn him into. Very good pass blocker, if he can improve as a run blocker he could be a beast.
6c. TE- Gabe Holmes- Purdue
Upside pick. Has good size and athleticism but needs to improve catching the ball and has an injury concern.
7. CB- Stanley Jean-Baptiste- Nebraska
He has some fans on here. I like his size and ball skills as a late round flier.