2018 Draft/Positional Needs for Patriots

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Should have listened to Bacon. #TacoSux

Imagine being so ****in dumb you believe "smaller" pass rushers aren't every bit as effective as a "bigger" guy?

Not like Miller, Mack, Ingram, Matthews and on and on haven't been tearing up the league forever.

 

[Double TE]

#1) OL
#2) Pass Rushers
#3) QB

 

[BradytoMosstoGronk]

Not a Falk fan.

Benched twice. Weak arm. Poor dec making & turtles under pressure.

Agreed. I’m from the area and he’s going to be a bust. Spent as much time throwing to the other team as he had touchdowns down the stretch, the last 3-4 games. Holds onto the ball way too long.

 

[maineman209]

Bell-end. That's a new one. Had to look that one up.

Insults from across the pond seem so much more lyrical and literary than our own. I suppose that's because they've been working on them a lot longer.

 

[mgteich]

Insults from across the pond seem so much more lyrical and literary than our own. I suppose that's because they've been working on them a lot longer.

I don't think that our equivalent slang words would be acceptable.
bell-end - Wiktionary

 

[NormZauchin]

We could really benefit from another sequence of drafts like the Chandler Jones/HT/Collins drafts that set the front seven for years.

In this past draft it seems like we hit on Wise Jr, so let's see if we can double dip at LB or DE/LB in the next one. The problem is that there's not much draft capital and ideally you draft the 1st rounders first, and then the stud 2nd/3rd rounder in the following year, so you have a 5 year window with these players.

I'm calling it now the bomb/surprise trade for the next free agency, Rob Gronkowski for a 1st rounder.

Yes. Trading Gronkowski would be in the fine old Patriot tradition of getting rid of future Hall of Famers in the middle of their careers. See Buoniconti, Nick and Haynes, Mike.

 

[NormZauchin]

With Dana Farber and Children's Hospital being the top pediatric care facilities for kids in the world right here I'm not sure it would be wise to leave the area over a couple of bucks.

I think the Pats would really need to pork him for Nate to leave the team.

I also don't know how well Nate would perform without Scar's coaching.

 

[captain stone]

As of today, in no particular order -

Offense: QB, Power Back, Big WR, LT, C/G

Defense: DE, 3-down DT, Outside/Coverage LB, SS

 

[Tony2046]

As of today, in no particular order -

Offense: QB, Power Back, Big WR, LT, C/G

Defense: DE, 3-down DT, Outside/Coverage LB, SS

Offense:

QB - Yes
Power Back - Low priority- One that can catch out of the backfield. Gillislee may still fill that role although he is a bit small.
Big Receiver - Low Priority - MM, Hogan, Cooks, Dorsett are a solid receiving corp.
LT - Yes and follow the philosophy of drafting for an LT if he doesn't work out switch him to G or RT.
C - Not needed. I think Karras is viable and would like to see more of him. The run game looked good against the Raiders and Miami. Both he and Andrews are young.

Defense:

DT/NT - Yes and High priority. Branch is not the same.
Outside Coverage LB - Yes and only second to DT.
DE -- We already have Rivers on IR. Wise has been decent and hopefully makes a 2nd year jump. A. Butler same as Wise.
SS - Low Priority - Yes- I like Harmon and he's still young. McCourty still has a year or two left in him. I like speed over size at this position btw.

Edited: @mgteich corrected my position.

 

[mgteich]

SS - Low Priority - I like Harmon and he's still young. McCourty still has a year or two left in him. I like speed over size at this position btw.

We often play a lot of 3 safeties, depending on game plan. Richards is the only backup. IMHO, we need another safety.

 

[Tony2046]

We often play a lot of 3 safeties, depending on game plan. Richards is the only backup. IMHO, we need another safety.

You're right.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

As of today, in no particular order -

Offense: QB, Power Back, Big WR, LT, C/G

Defense: DE, 3-down DT, Outside/Coverage LB, SS

If you're looking for a big WR, I recently sang the praises of Juwan Johnson: BGC 2018 NFL DRAFT/PATRIOT-TYPE THREAD

 

[supafly]

I want to see BB draft at least a QB and an edge rusher in 2018. By the time the Pats' pick comes up, I expect the "big three" QB's (Rosen, Jackson and Darnold) to be gone. Of those left, I like Josh Allen (who threw to Jacob Hollister at Wyoming), Luke Falk (from Drew Bledsoe's alma mater,Washington State) and Clayton Thorson (an overachiever from Northwestern who looks like he might flourish in a system

Mason Rudolph from Ok St should be in the mix here, no? He needs to bulk up a bit, but I think we’ve seen that before, somewhere.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see 5 QBs taken in the top 35-40 picks.

 

[Deus Irae]

For the first time in a long time, and possibly the entire BB tenure, this team is fine at WR, so I don't get the people putting that on the list.

Edelman
Cooks
Hogan
Mitchell
Dorsett
Amendola

Tell me which of those isn't/aren't coming back, and I'll tell you if they'll need a replacement. But, for now, that position should be considered full unless a slot WR talent drops in their lap.

 

[Tony2046]

For the first time in a long time, and possibly the entire BB tenure, this team is fine at WR, so I don't get the people putting that on the list.

Edelman
Cooks
Hogan
Mitchell
Dorsett
Amendola

Tell me which of those isn't/aren't coming back, and I'll tell you if they'll need a replacement. But, for now, that position should be considered full unless a slot WR talent drops in their lap.

That list is one of the most complete WR corps in the NFL. Not only is every WR need filled but they overlap each other in capabilities. From Slot to Deep Threat they are all covered in various degrees from one guy to the next. And that list doesn't include Lewis, Burkhead or White either.

 

[supafly]

That list is one of the most complete WR corps in the NFL. Not only is every WR need filled but they overlap each other in capabilities. From Slot to Deep Threat they are all covered in various degrees from one guy to the next. And that list doesn't include Lewis, Burkhead or White either.

I think we could see some nice progression from Dorsett with a full offseason and training camp, assuming that he puts in the work, of course. Cooks is an obvious weapon, and Edelman will be returning. That leaves Hogan, who was having a nice year prior to his injury, Malcolm Mitchell, and Amendola as the experienced vet who provides good value and could push someone for the WR5 spot if he stays another year. Some will scoff at that idea, but I think keeping Amendola through TC at the very least, is an absolute no brainer.

That’s 6 quality options that give the offense many different options. I agree with Deus, though. If a mid-late round slot receiver is available, they have the luxury to take a shot on the future. The same thinking applies to an UDFA who may be stashed on the practice squad; otherwise, this is a position that looks set for 2018.

 

[Minitron]

For the first time in a long time, and possibly the entire BB tenure, this team is fine at WR, so I don't get the people putting that on the list.

Edelman
Cooks
Hogan
Mitchell
Dorsett
Amendola

Tell me which of those isn't/aren't coming back, and I'll tell you if they'll need a replacement. But, for now, that position should be considered full unless a slot WR talent drops in their lap.

The thing that gets people to say we need a wide reciever is that nobody of this group is taller than 6'1'. Because you know every offense that has success needs that 6'3'/6'4' WR

 

[captain stone]

Too bad that Michael Floyd wasn't re-signed as a backup Outside WR; we could use somebody like him now, and our WR depth would be truly complete.
I had hoped that Jake Hollister would get more looks after Hogan's injury, but I guess that he must be a good STer.

 

[maineman209]

Too bad that Michael Floyd wasn't re-signed as a backup Outside WR; we could use somebody like him now, and our WR depth would be truly complete.
I had hoped that Jake Hollister would get more looks after Hogan's injury, but I guess that he must be a good STer.

Since wk-6 (@NYJ) Hollister has been averaging a bit over 12 ST snaps/game (playing on 2 units). Over the same span, he's been averaging only 3 offensive snaps/game and has been targeted only once (a 13-yard reception).

I think part of what's been keeping him out of the offensive lineup is that his blocking has been sub-par, both at the line and downfield (although he had a couple nice blocks v. MIA last week, so he may be making some progress on that).

 

[maineman209]

I think we could see some nice progression from Dorsett with a full offseason and training camp, assuming that he puts in the work, of course. Cooks is an obvious weapon, and Edelman will be returning. That leaves Hogan, who was having a nice year prior to his injury, Malcolm Mitchell, and Amendola as the experienced vet who provides good value and could push someone for the WR5 spot if he stays another year. Some will scoff at that idea, but I think keeping Amendola through TC at the very least, is an absolute no brainer.

That’s 6 quality options that give the offense many different options. I agree with Deus, though. If a mid-late round slot receiver is available, they have the luxury to take a shot on the future. The same thinking applies to an UDFA who may be stashed on the practice squad; otherwise, this is a position that looks set for 2018.

FWIW, McCarron has received a Practice Squad Player of the Week award for the last three consecutive victories, presumably for playing the part of an opposing slot receiver/returner on the scout team.