My Big Board

[manxman2601]

thats a fair point, but he seems to be looked over, and many want the team to take the top DE/olb with a first rounder.

If you dont spend in UFA's, you end up spending in the draft. Both are appropriate ways to spend resources, but I think its harder to find young players to drop in to our system than a more experienced player who has already had some success. I find that especially true for the position Ayers plays. As with every potential signing, if Ayers ends up overly expensive, that could end that relationship quickly. At the same time, you dont want to wave goodbye to Ayers and feel boxed in at the draft and need to overdraft a position.

I think it's more a matter of understanding that BB won't overspend on someone like Ayers and that another team probably will. I've said upthread that if we re-sign Ayers I probably wouldn't look at an EDGE player until day 3. However, I'd still consider Obdighizuwa because of what he offers inside in the sub package.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

The more options the better obviously. I am pretty interested to see how our defense looks with Ayers, Mayo and Easley in the lineup. I believe our pass rush could be mammoth just from keeping those pieces together, and could create a great place for development pieces to come along slowly.

 

[manxman2601]

The more options the better obviously. I am pretty interested to see how our defense looks with Ayers, Mayo and Easley in the lineup. I believe our pass rush could be mammoth just from keeping those pieces together, and could create a great place for development pieces to come along slowly.

It certainly allows for a lot of flexibility on defense.

 

[mayoclinic]

I think it's more a matter of understanding that BB won't overspend on someone like Ayers and that another team probably will. I've said upthread that if we re-sign Ayers I probably wouldn't look at an EDGE player until day 3. However, I'd still consider Obdighizuwa because of what he offers inside in the sub package.

Definitions of what it means to "overspend" for Ayers vary greatly. Many people on this board felt that BB overspent for both Kyle Arrington and Marcus Cannon. Andy Johnson, among others, has argued that Ayers' snap count after Chandler Jones returned is indicative of a small role and a low retention value. I disagree. I think Ayers fills an important role that is hard to fill, and I wouldn't be shocked to see him get a fairly sizable contract, in the Cannon/Arrington range.

 

[manxman2601]

Definitions of what it means to "overspend" for Ayers vary greatly. Many people on this board felt that BB overspent for both Kyle Arrington and Marcus Cannon. Andy Johnson, among others, has argued that Ayers' snap count after Chandler Jones returned is indicative of a small role and a low retention value. I disagree. I think Ayers fills an important role that is hard to fill, and I wouldn't be shocked to see him get a fairly sizable contract, in the Cannon/Arrington range.

Well Andy Johnson's not wrong, Ayers' role diminished greatly once Chandler Jones returned and that's without Mayo being active so there'll be an even more diminished role for him next season...and this is the important bit...before any injuries cause us problems. The issue for BB will be, how important does he think insurance against injuries will be? Because Ayers covers a lot: DE, OLB, ILB.

At the end of the day, I don't think it will come down to BB. He'll probably make an offer but it will be at the lower end of what the agent expects and the question will be, is there a team out there willing to offer more? Other teams will decide if Ayers stays, not BB I suspect.

 

[mayoclinic]

Well Andy Johnson's not wrong, Ayers' role diminished greatly once Chandler Jones returned and that's without Mayo being active so there'll be an even more diminished role for him next season...and this is the important bit...before any injuries cause us problems. The issue for BB will be, how important does he think insurance against injuries will be? Because Ayers covers a lot: DE, OLB, ILB.

At the end of the day, I don't think it will come down to BB. He'll probably make an offer but it will be at the lower end of what the agent expects and the question will be, is there a team out there willing to offer more? Other teams will decide if Ayers stays, not BB I suspect.

And I disagree on both points. I don't think Ayers will have a diminished role next year - and if you really do, then I don't understand why you would use a 1st round pick to replace him. And I think BB will make a strong push to retain him. Most people expected Marcus Cannon to test the market and get more money elsewhere.

Time will tell how things play out.

 

[Off The Grid]

I've decided to re-work my Big Board based upon this grading system from the Patriot Reign book:


Scouts are also asked to put players into a specific box, and they have eight groupings from which to choose:


1. Starter: A+9.00-9.99, A8.00-8.99, and Q (height deficient) 8.00-8.99


2. Circumstantial starter - a first year NFL starter whose production has been restricted by circumstance - NCAA rule violation, problems with an agent, personal/family conflict. C7.00-7.99


3. Make It + - a player who won't start right away in his first season but is expected to contribute in year one and an eventual starter: 6.50-6.99


4. Dirty starter- could start, but something about the player is restrictive (maybe not enough speed/athleticism). The manual says this could be the category for over and under achievers 6.00-6.49


5. Make it - a backup who won't win or lose a game for you. 5.50-5.99


6. Free agent - not expected to make the team but could rise to 'make it'. Practice squad or [now defunct] NFL Europe: 5.00-5.49


Note: There are two other grades that I've left, one for "Pats reject" and one for "Reject".


We aren't told how this sorts into rounds, but I'll work to the following:


Starter:


There are effectively three grades here:

1. A+ - This is a future hall of famer and is someone who goes in the top 5 and could be taken with the first pick.
2. A - A first year starter. A lock to be taken in round one.
3. A (Q) - The same as no 2 but height deficient. A prospect like this would get taken behind a Starter (A) grade but before any player in the next tier.

Circumstantial Starter


Think Gronk (back injury) or Jamie Collins (Smaller school, lack of experience). This is a first round prospect you should be able to draft by trading back into the first half of the second round.



Make It Plus



Round Two - Early Round Three



Dirty Starter



Could go at the end of day three or 4th round.



Make It


Rounds 5 and 6


Free Agent


Round 7 and UDFA



See the following link for more details


http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=301992

"Dirty Starter!!" Love it!!

By the way, I strongly suspect that the Terminology derives from Wes Bunting's from'is National FootBall Post days...But who knows where he might've picked that up in the first place?


It might very well have ultimately derived from that Cosmic Opus of FootBall, Semi Tough.


The Book was clearly written from a toxically chauvinistic and racist point of view, mind you...


But it was suffused with Gold, my Brothers!!


Such as this passage, lovingly transcribed by one Witch Hazel, Grand High Priestess:


"Mankind's 10 Stages of Drunkenness, one of the most essential lists I've ever come across. Here it is, copyrighted by Mr. Jenkins, of course:


Witty and Charming

Rich and Powerful

Benevolent

Clairvoyant

Phuck Dinner

Patriotic

Crank up the Enola Gay

Witty and Charming, Part II

Invisible

Bulletproof


But there's another list that three Jenkins characters — Billy Clyde Puckett, Shake Tiller and Barbara Jane Bookman, in Semi-Tough — came up with. I couldn't find it to link to, so I had to hand-copy it out of the Google book. This is, to say the least, an interesting look into some Southern men's minds.


Once again, quoting from Semi-Tough, (C) Dan Jenkins, American:


"A long time ago, way back in college at TCU, me and Shake and Barbara Jane to a certain extent had worked up this rating system for girls, or wool.


"Mostly, it was Shake’s terminology and we had never forgotten it.


"Anything below ten was a Running Sore. That was something that only a Bubba Littleton or a T.J. Lambert would fool around with, but of course either one of them would diddle an alligator if somebody drained the pond.


"From the bottom up, our rating system went like this:


"A Ten was a Healing Scab. Had a bad complexion, maybe, but was hung and could turn into some kind of barracuda in the rack.


"A Nine was a Head Cold. Good-looking but sort of proper and didn’t know anything at all about what a man liked.


"An Eight was a Young Dose of the Clap, but pretty in a dimestore kind of way, and not bad for an hour.


"A Seven was just rich.


"A Six was a Stove or a Stovette. A Stove was over thirty and preferably married. A Stovette was just under thirty, divorced, talked filthy, and tried to make up for all the studs she never got to eat because she got married so young.


"A Five was a Dirty Leg. She wore lots of cheap wigs, waited tables or hopped cars, was truly hung, might chew gum, posed for pictures, and got most of her fun in groups.


"A Four was a Homecoming Queen or a Sophomore Favorite and a hard-hitting dumbass. Fours married insurance salesmen and got fat and later in life stayed sick a lot.


"A Three was a Semi, which a Texan pronounces sem-eye. You had to beware of Semis because you might marry them in a weak minute. Threes had it all put together in looks and style and sophistication. They could drink a lot and dance good and hang out and make conversation.


"A Two was a Her. With a capital. If a Semi was tough, a Her was tougher. You might marry the same Her twice. Or three times. Barbara Jane was a Her, or a Two.


"And there just had never been a One. Ever."

 

[Mike the Brit]

Picture me, OTG, on my first visit to the United States, picking up that book and reading it (with some amusement -- the chauvinism and racism notwithstanding) but never having seen a football game.

 

[manxman2601]

"Dirty Starter!!" Love it!!

By the way, I strongly suspect that the Terminology derives from Wes Bunting's from'is National FootBall Post days...But who knows where he might've picked that up in the first place?


It might very well have ultimately derived from that Cosmic Opus of FootBall, Semi Tough.


The Book was clearly written from a toxically chauvinistic and racist point of view, mind you...


But it was suffused with Gold, my Brothers!!


Such as this passage, lovingly transcribed by one Witch Hazel, Grand High Priestess:


"Mankind's 10 Stages of Drunkenness, one of the most essential lists I've ever come across. Here it is, copyrighted by Mr. Jenkins, of course:


Witty and Charming

Rich and Powerful

Benevolent

Clairvoyant

Phuck Dinner

Patriotic

Crank up the Enola Gay

Witty and Charming, Part II

Invisible

Bulletproof


But there's another list that three Jenkins characters — Billy Clyde Puckett, Shake Tiller and Barbara Jane Bookman, in Semi-Tough — came up with. I couldn't find it to link to, so I had to hand-copy it out of the Google book. This is, to say the least, an interesting look into some Southern men's minds.


Once again, quoting from Semi-Tough, (C) Dan Jenkins, American:


"A long time ago, way back in college at TCU, me and Shake and Barbara Jane to a certain extent had worked up this rating system for girls, or wool.


"Mostly, it was Shake’s terminology and we had never forgotten it.


"Anything below ten was a Running Sore. That was something that only a Bubba Littleton or a T.J. Lambert would fool around with, but of course either one of them would diddle an alligator if somebody drained the pond.


"From the bottom up, our rating system went like this:


"A Ten was a Healing Scab. Had a bad complexion, maybe, but was hung and could turn into some kind of barracuda in the rack.


"A Nine was a Head Cold. Good-looking but sort of proper and didn’t know anything at all about what a man liked.


"An Eight was a Young Dose of the Clap, but pretty in a dimestore kind of way, and not bad for an hour.


"A Seven was just rich.


"A Six was a Stove or a Stovette. A Stove was over thirty and preferably married. A Stovette was just under thirty, divorced, talked filthy, and tried to make up for all the studs she never got to eat because she got married so young.


"A Five was a Dirty Leg. She wore lots of cheap wigs, waited tables or hopped cars, was truly hung, might chew gum, posed for pictures, and got most of her fun in groups.


"A Four was a Homecoming Queen or a Sophomore Favorite and a hard-hitting dumbass. Fours married insurance salesmen and got fat and later in life stayed sick a lot.


"A Three was a Semi, which a Texan pronounces sem-eye. You had to beware of Semis because you might marry them in a weak minute. Threes had it all put together in looks and style and sophistication. They could drink a lot and dance good and hang out and make conversation.


"A Two was a Her. With a capital. If a Semi was tough, a Her was tougher. You might marry the same Her twice. Or three times. Barbara Jane was a Her, or a Two.


"And there just had never been a One. Ever."

Nice.

So Jake Bequette ended up a 10 then?

And:

diddle an alligator

I'm sure that said "bildo an alligator" when I first read it. Not that the meaning is much different.

 

[Off The Grid]

Nice.

So Jake Bequette ended up a 10 then?

And:

diddle an alligator

I'm sure that said "bildo an alligator" when I first read it. Not that the meaning is much different.

Yeah!! Diddle an Alligator!! I've worked that into conversation many a time, my friend!! True Story!!

 

[manxman2601]

Yeah!! Diddle an Alligator!! I've worked that into conversation many a time, my friend!! True Story!!

There's nothing I can say to that. Except that I laughed out loud.

 

[manxman2601]

This isn't going to be a big board or a mock draft, they might follow this weekend, but just a post on how I view how the draft might/should unfold for the Patriots. Now that we're getting nearer the draft, I'm going to get a little more focused on how I think the Patriots will view the draft rather than just being focused on my favourite prospects. Sometimes, those two perspectives do mesh though.


Round One

There are options at 32. DT in Eddie Goldman, Arik Armsted or Jordan Phillips, RB in Todd Gurley or even CB in Byron Jones. He might not be a need but he'd be a hell of an upside pick providing he runs fast. But my #1 need for now is someone to play LT/LG. I don't know what the likelihood of re-signing Nate Solder is, but considering who his agent is (Welker/Vereen's), I don't think one can be that confident that he'll be here beyond next year and that means he'll need a replacement. I also believe that LG is the biggest hole on the roster currently which makes the LT/LG prospect my highest priority in this draft and therefore my pick with my #1.

There are three prospects I really like within this range: TJ Clemmings, Cam Erving, Jake Fisher.

1. TJ Clemmings has the physical attributes BB likes with a first pick. He's got good height/weight and length attributes, did well at the combine and has huge capacity for improvement. Whilst he struggles a bit in pass pro for now, in the run game he can be dominant. I think he's worth trading up for personally.
2. Cam Erving is really solid and extremely versatile and whilst I don't think he has Clemmings' upside, he'd still be a fine pick at 32. He could lock down the LG spot for a decade. There also appears to be an interest in the FSU linemen with Dante leading the way on that. Another reason I think Erving is a possibility.
3. Jake Fisher was almost an exact match for Nate Solder athletically at the combine. He's an ideal RT but I do have some concern with him as a long-term LT (arm-length) and I worry he's too tall for LG (6'6"). Those aren't serious worries however, Fisher is someone who could feature on our OL for a long time in whichever position best suits him. It might be possible to grab Fisher in a trade back.

Round Two

I know others are worrying about the DT position and I certainly think it needs to be addressed but in terms of matching up need and value in the draft, I'm going in a different direction to most. I'm focusing on the Shane Vereen role.

Firstly, as a disclaimer, I don't know how the team views White or whether Vereen returns. So it could well be that this next section is moot. But...

1. In 2011, we went LT in round one and receiving RB in round two and I wouldn't be surprised if we went that way this year.
2. Ameer Abdullah and David Johnson are both great fits for the Patriots. Yes Abdullah has a fumbles history, so did Kevin Faulk, but in every other sense Abdullah is an ideal Patriot. It's not being reported as such because of his slowish forty (4.6), but Abdullah was one of the stars of the combine. He had the second best shuttle of all the participants (3.95), an excellent 3-cone (6.79) which is a common theme amongst our current stable of RBs and had a 42.5" vert.
3. Not only did David Johnson test well at the combine, he's got excellent size to be an offensive weapon beyond merely a RB. He'd be an ideal compliment to this offence and a great weapon for Josh Mcdaniels.

My preference would be for Abdullah, he's the better RB and the better runner in space but Abdullah might need a trade up from 64. I'd be fine with that but I'm not sure whether BB would be if Johnson is sitting there at 64. Truth is, I'd be fine with either.


Summary

So I see the first two rounds as OL in round one and RB in round two. However there a couple of exemptions. Firstly, whilst I don't think Jake Fisher's stock has settled yet, it might be possible to trade up from 64 to get him. that would open up opportunities at 32 to go in a different direction. Owamagbe Obdighizuwa and Todd Gurley would be my preference but this would also be the chance to get a DT in Eddie Goldman, Jordan Phillips or Arik Armstead. Byron Jones would also be an outside possibility*.

So:

32 - Clemmings, Erving, Fisher (possible trade back)
64 - Abdullah, D Johnson

or

32 - Odighizuwa, B. Jones, Gurley
64 - Jake Fisher (possible trade up)


* Byron Jones: We don't know what he's going to run yet, but people who put up the kind of numbers he did rarely run slow. There are a lot of reasons why he won't be the pick, first and foremost, we probably won't need him and secondly, that he'll go way too high for him to be even a consideration. But, if he is there and he runs sub 4.5, he has to be considered a possibility because, on day one, he'll be one of the most athletic DBs in the NFL and you don't pass on them in a hurry if they have skills.

Rounds 3-7 to follow

 

[patchick]

In 2011, we went LT in round one and receiving RB in round two and I wouldn't be surprised if we went that way this year.

This is exactly where I am. We may not agree on exactly who/how, but given the combination of team needs and draft talent, this general shape makes a ton of sense to me.

 

[manxman2601]

Rounds 3-7

I'm going to sort these picks by position rather than round. My best guesses in bold:

QB - NIL

RB - Not now that Gurley, Abdullah or Johnson have gone. I'm fine with Blount, Ridley (if he returns), Gaffney, Gray, Bolden and White all battling for spots on a RBBC behind one of the former we've drafted.

WR - It's impossible to know whether we'll draft a WR. Do Dobson or Boyce have anything to offer? Will Amendola stay? And there's probably more of a chance of getting success by bringing in a FA receiver over a draftee. But, there are WRs I like. Tre McBride (might be gone), Deandre Smelter (great value as a late pick or UDFA), Darren Waller/Dezmin Lewis (BB gets his tall, athletic receiver) or Kenny Bell (another nice Patriots fit). I'd guess that Darren Waller's combination of size and athleticism make him the more likely pick

TE - What do they think about Tim Wright? His involvement dropped off significantly as the season passed. I wonder if it's just because there were five receivers ahead of him and there wasn't much opportunity or whether he was struggling with the offense. Regardless, he might not be the issue. Michael Hoomanawanui is a decent to good blocker but zero threat in the passing game and looks to be a potential cut. There are three draft TEs that intrigue me. Tyler Kroft is a good receiving TE, I'm less convinced he's a threat to block. for me he's too much like Tim Wright. Blake Bell has plenty of upside and could probably be had late day three. He's much more of an inline TE that could backup Gronk long-term and he can probably be had cheaply. But I wonder if he's too much of a developmental prospect. My pick is Jeff Heuerman. He's the obligatory Urban Myer pick (he's supposed to be his favourite ever player (?) ) and he's good blend of being able to block inline and as a receiver. He didn't test at the combine so it will be interesting to see what happens at his pro-day.

OL - My big question here is what is going to happen at RT and whether Cameron Fleming is the answer there. If he is, I'm not worried about drafting another RG. If not, then we need a Wendell replacement. Like Mayo, I'd love Marpet but that's ambitious at this point in the draft. there are a number of options: John Miller, Jeremiah Poutasi, Mark Glowinski, Bobby Hart, Mitch Morse and Jarvis Harrison. In reality, it could be any one of them but I'm going for a binky at this position and going with Georgia Tech's Shaq Mason. He's undersized, although he is Wendell's size, but he's one of the best technicians in the draft and is a great run blocker.

DL - There are four on my radar in the mid to late rounds. My two favourites, Marcus Hardison and Rakeem Nunez-Roches aren't necessarily the best fits. The other two are Deon Simon who has excellent athleticism in a fine frame and Leterrius Walton who is a run-stopper with upside. I can't choose between either so one of the two will do. there is one other prospect that really intrigues me and that is NT Terry Williams. For someone of his size (330lbs), he's got terrific, almost Wilfork-like, movement skills. His problem is character issues and only being 5'11". He could be really interesting though.

EDGE - If we haven't drafted Odighizuwa then this becomes a concern for me because I don't love any day three pass rusher. Lynden Trail is intriguing and certainly intrigues the NFL but he lacks twitch or power. Anthony Chickillo might be the best bet but doesn't strike me as being better than anything else we have in place. Now, if Hau'oli Kikaha falls to the end of round three, he should be a consideration at that point. He doesn't thrill me but he's arguably the best potential day three option. However, If I'm not getting a pass rusher in rounds one or two, I'm happy passing in this draft and hoping Buchanan/Moore step up or that we re-sign Ayers.

LB - There are two that interest me at this point. One is Zach Hodges who hasn't been at his best during the pre-draft process. However, he has shown tremendous attitude, both practicing at the Senior Bowl and working out at the combine whist injured. And even whilst injured, he's a 250lb linebacker that runs 4.68. That might work for BB. However, a prospect that really excites me is Ben Heeney. He's undersized (but then so is Jonathan Castillo) but he's an extremely athletic linebacker with outstanding instincts. Jordan Tripp was, quite rightly, a forum favourite last year. I like Heeney more than him.

DB - I haven't really scouted defensive backs so far because of the uncertainty over McCourty and Revis. However, there are four day three names that intrigue me. Damarious Randall is an Arizona State safety. Whilst I haven't studied him, he kept on popping during ASU games. It's starting to look like he's jumping into the second round. Josh Shaw is a CB with lots of upside, he was once considered a potential first rounder until he had some character issues that got him suspended. But the prospect that interests me the most is Nick Marshall. He actually looked pretty good playing CB at the Senior Bowl although he'd be a developmental prospect still. He has excellent size for a press corner and ran pretty well at 4.54, was explosive and even had a sub 7.00 3cone. I wonder whether h can be the defensive Edelman. Doesn't hurt to have a 3rd string QB on the roster either. Cassius Sends, a safety from Kentucky, is the other DB I'm interested in but I'll wait for his pro-day before deciding whether he's worth a pick.

That's the way I'm thinking currently. I will be doing a Patriots mock and an updated big board in the near future.

 

[manxman2601]

I should have included DJ Humphries in my first post as one of the LT/LGs that interest me between 32 and 64.

 

[BobDigital]

My board is growing too. There are sub levels to it (high a high 2nd if you trade down) but I will just do it purely based on round and current not in order within rounds

Round 1

Goldman - DT
Dupree - DE
Gurley - RB

**I know this is a very short first round board. Just the more I look the less difference I see between some of the guys who i know will be there in round 2 and a lot of the potential round 1 guys. I honestly think if these are not there (or someone i didn't even bother rating cause i assume they would be gone is there) then trade down

Round 2

Cameron Erving - OG/C* (IDK if he can play tackle in the NFL if need be but a very good Guard/Center)
Jake Fisher - OT/OG
Cedric Ogbeihu - OT/OG
DJ Humphries - OT
AJ Cann - OG
Diggy - DE* (Almost made it to round 1 so he is priority if a trade down happens)
Nate Orchard - DE
Eli Harold - DE
Malcom Brown - DT* (if available after a trade down pounce but not quite first round material IMO)
Michael Bennet - DT (How small do we want to go on DT though?)
Tevin Coleman - RB* (If they go RB he is the guy I'd like them to get).
Jay Ajayi - RB
Green-Beckham - WR
Devin Smith - WR
Phillip Dorsett - WR
Bernardrick McKinney - LB* (I think he will be a player but will have a hard time getting reps here)
Jalen Collins - CB
Byron Jones - CB

Round 3

Marpet - OG
Tomlinson - OG
Tre Jackson - OG
Arie Kouandjio - OG
Ellis McCarthy - DT (call me crazy but i am starting to like him more than Phillips, Edwards & Armstead)
Markus Hardinson** - DT (still have not watched tape on him but out of respect for certain people' opinions i value i will put him here as a place holder).
Jordan Phillips - DT
Mario Edwards - DT/DE (wanted to put him in round 2 but something about him seemed wrong)
Armstead - DE (the more i see the further he falls it seems)
Preston Smith - DE
Za'Darius Smith - DE
Markus Peters - CB (character concerns knock him down but not out... other talent CBs in this draft though)
Duke Johnson - RB
Mike Davis - RB
T J Yeldon - RB
Shaq Thompson - ?? (just too raw to take in the first 2 rounds)

Round 4

Tre McBride - WR
Olomu - CB (might miss a lot of or all this season but the talent is there clearly)
Jeremiah Poutasi - OG

Off my board

Carl Davis - DT (strong character concerns)

Obviously need to look at more round 4 guys.

 

[manxman2601]

My board is growing too. There are sub levels to it (high a high 2nd if you trade down) but I will just do it purely based on round and current not in order within rounds

Round 1

Goldman - DT
Dupree - DE
Gurley - RB

**I know this is a very short first round board. Just the more I look the less difference I see between some of the guys who i know will be there in round 2 and a lot of the potential round 1 guys. I honestly think if these are not there (or someone i didn't even bother rating cause i assume they would be gone is there) then trade down

Round 2

Cameron Erving - OG/C* (IDK if he can play tackle in the NFL if need be but a very good Guard/Center)
Jake Fisher - OT/OG
Cedric Ogbeihu - OT/OG
DJ Humphries - OT
AJ Cann - OG
Diggy - DE* (Almost made it to round 1 so he is priority if a trade down happens)
Nate Orchard - DE
Eli Harold - DE
Malcom Brown - DT* (if available after a trade down pounce but not quite first round material IMO)
Michael Bennet - DT (How small do we want to go on DT though?)
Tevin Coleman - RB* (If they go RB he is the guy I'd like them to get).
Jay Ajayi - RB
Green-Beckham - WR
Devin Smith - WR
Phillip Dorsett - WR
Bernardrick McKinney - LB* (I think he will be a player but will have a hard time getting reps here)
Jalen Collins - CB
Byron Jones - CB

Round 3

Marpet - OG
Tomlinson - OG
Tre Jackson - OG
Arie Kouandjio - OG
Ellis McCarthy - DT (call me crazy but i am starting to like him more than Phillips, Edwards & Armstead)
Markus Hardinson** - DT (still have not watched tape on him but out of respect for certain people' opinions i value i will put him here as a place holder).
Jordan Phillips - DT
Mario Edwards - DT/DE (wanted to put him in round 2 but something about him seemed wrong)
Armstead - DE (the more i see the further he falls it seems)
Preston Smith - DE
Za'Darius Smith - DE
Markus Peters - CB (character concerns not him down but not out... other talent CBs in this draft though)
Duke Johnson - RB
Mike Davis - RB
T J Yeldon - RB
Shaq Thompson - ?? (just too raw to take in the first 2 rounds)

Round 4

Tre McBride - WR
Olomu - CB (might miss a lot of or all this season but the talent is there clearly)
Jeremiah Poutasi - OG

Off my board

Carl Davis - DT (strong character concerns)

Obviously need to look at more round 4 guys.

That's a really nice board. You're tough on not giving first round grades. What are Davis' character issues that keep him off your board when DGB is still on it? They must be pretty severe.

 

[BobDigital]

That's a really nice board. You're tough on not giving first round grades. What are Davis' character issues that keep him off your board when DGB is still on it? They must be pretty severe.

Green's issues are pot (which honestly i don't care about) but more importantly he had a violent incident involving a woman about a year ago. However, everything i read after that seems to indicate he has honestly turned his life around. I am not opposed to 2nd chances for something of this level if it appears there is honest remorse which i think there is. He is a low 2nd high 3rd right now and it was borderline. And it is tentative as if i read anything that makes me think it is not a 100% genuine turn around he is off the board.

Davis is not nearly as bad as Green in most regards except his problems don't appear to be getting better. He takes plays off during games and wants to tell the coaches how much he should play and takes it easy in practice. That to me means even if he did not do scumy things in the past the way Green did he is not a guy i want. I just don't see value in players like that. It is a bad make up to have. A lot of it has been chalked up to him just trying to avoid injury in his last year. I never like that in a player. Guys who played scared or if bang up want to slow down don't win championships.

Look at the SB. A ton of star players played through injury for a chance to win. Would Davis? Would he play if he thought there was a chance he'd have to miss next season if something went wrong? IDK and that is a big concern for me.

EDIT: Also yes. I don't like to give out many first round grades. In the past few years i have done this I have never given out 32 first round grades. There almost always seems to be a talent drop off after about 22-27 or so guys and the last 10-5 to me are really not different from a lot of 2nd round options for a number of reasons.

 

[mayoclinic]

Davis is not nearly as bad as Green in most regards except his problems don't appear to be getting better. He takes players off during games and wants to tell the coaches how much he should play and takes it easy in practice. That to me means even if he did not do scumy things in the past the way Green did he is not a guy i want. I just don't see value in players like that. It is a bad make up to have. A lot of it has been chalked up to him just trying to avoid injury in his last year. I never like that in a player. Guys who played scared or if bang up want to slow down don't win championships.

I agree. I don't put much stock in Walter Football, but this report by Charlie Campbell got my attention:

Davis was tremendous during Senior Bowl practice. He used speed and quickness to fire by offensive linemen, yet had the power to shed blocks or bull rush them into the marker. Davis (6-4, 321) has ideal size with the ability play a variety of techniques while fitting a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. In all three practices and during the Senior Bowl game, Davis was phenomenal.

However, Davis is a complex evaluation. Teams told WalterFootball.com that Davis interviewed terribly. He came across lazy and arrogant while giving excuses of protecting himself against underclassmen offensive linemen for why he didn't practice hard at Iowa. In his games for the Hawkeyes, Davis was inconsistent as he would flash his great ability but disappear for stretches. He also took himself off the field for a lot of plays and told NFL teams that he needs to spend about half the plays on the sideline. If it weren't for his skill set and the way he played in practice, Davis would have killed his draft stock in the interviews. However with his Senior Bowl performance, someone will take him on Day 2 at the latest.

http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2015stock_20.php

I take that report with a big grain of salt. However, if Davis really did have those issues, it would be a major factor. I don't have him off my board right now, but I have him with a very big red flag that needs to be checked out. We know his tape was very inconsistent. If his "football character" is really this bad (as opposed to DGB's off-field character, a distinction that Patchick has made in the past) then it would kill his stock for me. I'm sure the Pats will do their homework on him.

 

[mayoclinic]

My board is growing too.

Round 3

Ellis McCarthy - DT (call me crazy but i am starting to like him more than Phillips, Edwards & Armstead)

I don't call you crazy at all. Ochmed has been very high on McCarthy for a long time. He has nice versatility and upside. I had him on my short list for the late 3rd/4th round prior to the Combine:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...ot-of-the-2015-draft-and-value-picks.1117152/

I don't think I'd pull the trigger in the 3rd round, but along with Deon Simon he's my main day 3 target right now.