Report: Patriots Want To Trade Up In First Round, Draft Wide Receiver

[danmateus]

If they trade up it would be to around 10 for Justin Gilbert. Big time playmaker and a big time kick returner who has 6 returns in his collegiate career. BB loves that kind of versatility.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

BB is going to draft the best available CB in the first round. For 3 resaons.
Depth for 2014.
Learn from Revis.
Replace Revis if they can't resign him.

By that logic, the Patriots should draft a RB in the first, since they have none at all signed for next season.

 

[danmateus]

By that logic, the Patriots should draft a RB in the first, since they have none at all signed for next season.

The big difference is that rb's are a dime a dozen. To get an opportunity to get a potential big play cb in the draft is a lot harder to pull off.

 

[danmateus]

The big difference is that rb's are a dime a dozen. To get an opportunity to get a potential big play cb in the draft is a lot harder to pull off.

Also the need for let's say a dt is now just a useless as drafting a rb with a high pick. This is a passing league and you need to load up as much as you can to throw the ball and stop the pass. That is the league today.

 

[Joker]

Wow...you watched the Super Bowl and the Seahawk DT's collapse Manning's pocket and force him off his spot all game ...and you come up with "DT's aren't important today"..??? Uh, just how much of an effect did Denver's big time WR attack have in THAT game?

 

[Ring 6]

The big difference is that rb's are a dime a dozen. To get an opportunity to get a potential big play cb in the draft is a lot harder to pull off.

Wait, are you saying with Revis, Browner, Dennard, Ryan and Arrington on the roster, you want to draft a CB in round 1?

 

[DaBruinz]

Teddy bruschi said so earlier and as soon as hopkins was taken at 27 that's when I believe belichick decided to trade down.

No offense to Tedy, but he doesn't know what the Pats were looking at doing anymore than you or I. The day that Tedy accepted the ESPN job, he lost any inside access he might have had with Belichick.

 

[DaBruinz]

Firstly, IMO I hated the fact we passed on both Dez Bryant and Cordelle Patterson in recent times. Both I wanted, both would have been great additions.
I like Kelvin Benjamin but I like everyone else think its more likely to be defence and look to replace longterm on Wilfork.
As for WR I think we are going to draft Rutgers WR Brandon Coleman early in the 3rd, after dropping out the 2nd and picking up another 3rd next year.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10205039

As for this rumour, I think it happens every year to enable the draft team to gauge what is going on out there with other teams, helping to understand who is taking who via team needs and team visits therefore gauging who may drop.

How do you know they would have been great additions? Living in Texas, I can tell you that Dez Bryant is a head-ache for the Cowboys...

You seem to have a penchant for liking head-case WRs.. That is was Dez Bryant and Kelvin Benjamin bring to the table.. There are plenty of reasons people here don't want them.

Also, there is $20M reasons why is highly improbable for the Pats to draft a WR. That's how much money the Pats have committed to the WR position in the last year. Think on that.

 

[DaBruinz]

I would rather grab Interior OL or TE earlier than DT and potentially trade up in the third for Easley if he is still around and if not pick DaQuan Jones from PSU. Both are bigger needs than DL IMO.

Ideal:
1st: Bitino/Su'a-Filo/Martin OL
2nd: Niklas/ASJ TE
3rd: Easley/Jones DL
4th: Christian Jones/Tripp LB
4th: Antone Exum DB VT
6th: Burton TE
6th: BPA
7th: BPA

One of the posters who followed the draft, put together a list of measurables that the Pats seemed to look for in their upper tier O-linemen. It included a vertical of 30" and a broad jump of 9 feet, I believe as well as good Bench Press numbers. Su'a-Filo doesn't meet those numbers.

It's actually much easier to grab an interior lineman LATER than it is earlier. DE and DT are needs as well as OC and OG. I think we can expect those 4 as well as LB and TE to be added in this draft..

 

[manxman2601]

One of the posters who followed the draft, put together a list of measurables that the Pats seemed to look for in their upper tier O-linemen. It included a vertical of 30" and a broad jump of 9 feet, I believe as well as good Bench Press numbers. Su'a-Filo doesn't meet those numbers.

It's actually much easier to grab an interior lineman LATER than it is earlier. DE and DT are needs as well as OC and OG. I think we can expect those 4 as well as LB and TE to be added in this draft..

If you are thinking of Box O'Rocks' work, it was vertical jump which was 30", short shuttle of 4.5, 3-cone of 7.5 and a 1.85 10 yard split. At the combine, only Bitonio, Jake Matthews and Lewan ticked every box whilst Charles Leno, John Urschel and Ju'Wian James came close. Su'a Filo did well with the movement tests but poorly in the vertical (25") and Matt Patchan had a very good vertical (33.5") but didn't do the movement tests.

The below are the linemen we've had pre-draft contact with. The bolded hit 29" or higher on the vert:

Jamal Ellis, OL, Newberry (U)
Donald Hawkins, OT, Texas (OV)
Trey Hopkins, OG, Texas (PW)
Charles Leno Jr., OT, Boise State (PW)
Matthew Paradis, OC, Boise State (PW)
Matt Patchan, OT, Boston College (CI)
Weston Richburg, OC, Colorado State (PW)
Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA (CI)
Kevin Pamphile, OT, Purdue (OV)

Paradis and Richburg are centers and the vert thing doesn't necessarily apply to that position.

Edit: no 10 yard split time, but Matt Patchan put up a 4.65 SS and a 7.45 3-cone which makes him one of the better fits athletically. Combined with his length, I could see him taking the Svitek spot on the roster.

One final note, I don't have the link but the short shuttle/OL link is one of the two best predictors of future NFL success that there is in terms of athletic testing. Amongst centers, Paradis and Richburg had two of the best (Gabe Ikard of Oklahoma was the best) but Marcus Martin's wasn't good at 4.93 (only 3 worse at combine). Bitonio, Leno and Urschel all had good sub 4.5 short shuttles.

 

[manxman2601]

We've only ever drafted one interior lineman before the 5th round in BB's time here and he, Logan Mankins of course, was an OT.

 

[Luxusdk]

But Manx getting 3-4 of those names on the list doesn't need to cost more then a few day 3 picks. Only Bitonio there is the question. What there adds to he's value is the knowlegde of Mankins contract. Patriots need "Mankins" Money to re up Solder with. So that might make another hole NeXT season.

 

[manxman2601]

I'

But Manx getting 3-4 of those names on the list doesn't need to cost more then a few day 3 picks. Only Bitonio there is the question. What there adds to he's value is the knowlegde of Mankins contract. Patriots need "Mankins" Money to re up Solder with. So that might make another hole NeXT season.

I'm intrigued enough by Bitonio and Richburg that I could see either on day two but I agree that a day 3lineman or two is more likely. As for Mankins, I can see him being on the roster another couple of years and I'm all in on Scherff as his future replacement.

 

[king_ejd]

No offense to Tedy, but he doesn't know what the Pats were looking at doing anymore than you or I. The day that Tedy accepted the ESPN job, he lost any inside access he might have had with Belichick.

I agree. In fact, I remember hearing from multple "sources" last year that the Patriots were

going to select Marcus Trufant if he was available @ 29. And, when Atlanta took him @ 22, they

decided to trade down.

 

[king_ejd]

*Desmond Trufant

 

[DaBruinz]

If you are thinking of Box O'Rocks' work, it was vertical jump which was 30", short shuttle of 4.5, 3-cone of 7.5 and a 1.85 10 yard split. At the combine, only Bitonio, Jake Matthews and Lewan ticked every box whilst Charles Leno, John Urschel and Ju'Wian James came close. Su'a Filo did well with the movement tests but poorly in the vertical (25") and Matt Patchan had a very good vertical (33.5") but didn't do the movement tests.

The below are the linemen we've had pre-draft contact with. The bolded hit 29" or higher on the vert:

Jamal Ellis, OL, Newberry (U)
Donald Hawkins, OT, Texas (OV)
Trey Hopkins, OG, Texas (PW)
Charles Leno Jr., OT, Boise State (PW)
Matthew Paradis, OC, Boise State (PW)
Matt Patchan, OT, Boston College (CI)
Weston Richburg, OC, Colorado State (PW)
Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG, UCLA (CI)
Kevin Pamphile, OT, Purdue (OV)

Paradis and Richburg are centers and the vert thing doesn't necessarily apply to that position.

Edit: no 10 yard split time, but Matt Patchan put up a 4.65 SS and a 7.45 3-cone which makes him one of the better fits athletically. Combined with his length, I could see him taking the Svitek spot on the roster.

One final note, I don't have the link but the short shuttle/OL link is one of the two best predictors of future NFL success that there is in terms of athletic testing. Amongst centers, Paradis and Richburg had two of the best (Gabe Ikard of Oklahoma was the best) but Marcus Martin's wasn't good at 4.93 (only 3 worse at combine). Bitonio, Leno and Urschel all had good sub 4.5 short shuttles.

Yes, Manx, it was B_O_R who I was referring to. I tried to search for that post, but got a "No record found" result. I hoped that you or one of the other Draftniks would chime in with it.

 

[bbell31]

Highly doubt this unless we r trading a couple wrs or its for Mike Evans as a te hybrid

 

[ripatsfan91]

One of the posters who followed the draft, put together a list of measurables that the Pats seemed to look for in their upper tier O-linemen. It included a vertical of 30" and a broad jump of 9 feet, I believe as well as good Bench Press numbers. Su'a-Filo doesn't meet those numbers.

It's actually much easier to grab an interior lineman LATER than it is earlier. DE and DT are needs as well as OC and OG. I think we can expect those 4 as well as LB and TE to be added in this draft..

I don' think the Pats look at just measurables and numbers in assessing interior OL. I agree it can be found later in the draft; the only sure-fire OL I would take at 29 would be Zack Martin.

This draft is very weak for 4-3 ends. Not a fan of Ealy at all. I would rather go with Will Smith and Michael Buchannan as top backups for Nink and Jones.

Tight end should be addressed but not in the 1st. We would just be reaching unless Ebron is around. Use a 2nd round pick on a TE.

LB is interesting if Shazier or Mosley were there I would take them and not look back. Tripp, Christian Jones, and Telvin Smith are all options for other rounds.

DT It's definitely a need, but how much? Wilfork, Kelly, Siliga, Armstead, Jones, and Vellano are all on the roster. I think all of them will be good role players and have a place on the team (Vellano is the only guy I think absolutely must be replaced). Donald won't be there are #29. Jernigan could be an option. Hageman is a freak. And I think Easley could be the best of them down the road, but he has too many injury issues to spend our 1st on.

Safety would be interesting if Pryor falls to us, but I don't think he will. I like Bucannon and Loston a lot. We need a guy that is equally adept in coverage as he is playing in the box. Exum is probably my favorite prospect and we can get him in the 5th/6th.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

DT It's definitely a need, but how much? Wilfork, Kelly, Siliga, Armstead, Jones, and Vellano are all on the roster. I think all of them will be good role players and have a place on the team (Vellano is the only guy I think absolutely must be replaced). Donald won't be there are #29. Jernigan could be an option. Hageman is a freak. And I think Easley could be the best of them down the road, but he has too many injury issues to spend our 1st on.

He's the most likely to be replaced, certainly, but he was getting decent minutes (20-25% of snaps, IIRC) even when Wilfork and Kelly were healthy.

The one thing that needs to be avoided is Vellano/Jones vs. the running game.

 

[ripatsfan91]

He's the most likely to be replaced, certainly, but he was getting decent minutes (20-25% of snaps, IIRC) even when Wilfork and Kelly were healthy.

The one thing that needs to be avoided is Vellano/Jones vs. the running game.

Correct me if I am wrong, but Siliga and Chris Jones both weren't on the roster prior to Wilfork going down. Either way, both were head and shoulders above Vellano over the course of the entire season. If the guy hasn't put in a lot and I mean A LOT of work this offseason (getting heavier, improving strength, working on technique) I don't view him as worthy of a spot on a roster.

Armstead will also be in the mix this year and I think he can really add a pass rushing presence to this team. He was a priority free agent and Belichick alluded to the fact that in the offseason it was the plan that he was the top backup at DT.

Armstead/Siliga/Jones may make Vellano just a body in training camp. Especially if the patriots also add another DT in the draft.