Does SB52 change how you view the draft?

[ctpatsfan77]

For me, it doesn't.

Yes, they need to spend some high picks on the defense (especially the front 7), but they still need some help on offense, too (since I don't think all of Solder, Waddle, and Fleming will be back, and I'm concerned about the reports about Garcia losing weight).

I'd prefer to see two of the top four picks on the front seven, and the other two on a QB and an OT.

 

[jboston19]

It has me thinking about the o line more, but just reaffirmed my feelings otherwise. Mason and Thuney are free agents after next season. Do we resign both or look at Hernandez or price (or, in all probability, someone I've never heard of) as a replacement for one and deal the other to Indy or Detroit perhaps?
We drafted Garcia, but whatever illness cost him 40 lbs and a year of development. If a top tackle falls, does Bill pounce and upgrade there?

Gronk needs a talented backup. There's no replacing him, but a young player that can block and receive would be ideal.

As for my pregame feelings, Definitely need a coverage linebacker or big safety, probably 2 of them. And I thought they might hold off on d line until later, but I suspect Bill will grab one early. He my trade up for vea.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It has me thinking about the o line more, but just reaffirmed my feelings otherwise. Mason and Thuney are free agents after next season.

Mason is, but Thuney is signed through 2019.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

We need to stop the run and rush the passer. I'd trade up for Vea if he falls into the 20s.

 

[ashley]

I'd say at the minimum 3 of our first 4 picks should be on defense. Need to get better and quicker in the front 7 and another cb or safety wouldn't hurt either.

 

[zimmy]

Not at all. Our main priority is to get more speed and athleticism at LB and along the defensive line. That has been our achilles heel all year.

If we can find our QB of the future that would be great too.

The offensive line played pretty well yesterday. Mason will get a long term deal soon.

 

[scott99]

After the defensive embarrassment of SB 52, I want them to spend ALL of their picks on defense. That being said, WR, TE and QB need to be addressed. Edelman, 32 coming off of major knee surgery. Amendola, 32 and a FA. I really don’t think we can count on Malcom Mitchell, his knees are shot. And Cooks is on the last year of his contract. Gronk is talking about retiring, and so was Bennett. So TE is an issue. And we MUST prepare for Brady’s eventual decline/retirement. So a QB must be drafted, preferably no later than the 3

 

[patsfaninpa]

Not at all. Our main priority is to get more speed and athleticism at LB and along the defensive line. That has been our achilles heel all year.

If we can find our QB of the future that would be great too.

The offensive line played pretty well yesterday. Mason will get a long term deal soon.

We need help in the secondary too. A cb and a safety. Richards is a bum. Need help at all 5 levels; dt, edge, lb, cb and s. I was disappointed in Guy and Malcom Brown
last night. They got man-handled.

I'd spend money on offense; Solder, Lewis, Amendola and give Gronk some
cash to keep him happy. Obviously, good enough to win it all.

We cut; A. Branch, D. Harris, McClellin, Bennett, Allen and Gillislee. We'd have
over 33-34m in cap space but a lot would be going to Solder and Lewis.

Try to have a killer draft on D like NO did last year. Defense needs; Hightower,
Valentine and a kid like Jonathan Jones or Rivers to emerge too.

 

[hornetfb85]

I just want someone that can at least put a finger on the QB. We would have been carved up by Brucie off of the Longest Yard last night due to our lack of pressure.

 

[meatface]

I think no matter what happened they were going to look at Secondary, Defensive line, Line backer and a project QB. That hasnt changed

 

[meatface]

We need help in the secondary too. A cb and a safety. Richards is a bum. Need help at all 5 levels; dt, edge, lb, cb and s. I was disappointed in Guy and Malcom Brown
last night. They got man-handled.

I'd spend money on offense; Solder, Lewis, Amendola and give Gronk some
cash to keep him happy. Obviously, good enough to win it all.

We cut; A. Branch, D. Harris, McClellin, Bennett, Allen and Gillislee. We'd have
over 33-34m in cap space but a lot would be going to Solder and Lewis.

Try to have a killer draft on D like NO did last year. Defense needs; Hightower,
Valentine and a kid like Jonathan Jones or Rivers to emerge too.

yes, they should definitely try and make sure they draft all instant pro bowl caliber players.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I'd say that any player they draft this year is going to have minimal impact on the 2018 season, especially a guy on defense. It takes a long time for defensive players to get up to speed in Belichick's system. We have very few Seymour, Mayo, and Chandler Jones immediate impact guys - two of whom were top 10, the other was taken 10 picks ahead of where the Patriots are picking. I guess McCourty was and his draft spot is comparable. But otherwise you're looking at:
- Wilfork wasn't Wilfork until Thanksgiving 2005,
- Malcom Brown didn't turn into a plus starter until this season,
- Hightower didn't become the player he is until 2014,
- it took Chung forever,
- it took Warren until 2004,
- it took Collins a full year to have a plus game in the 2013 AFC Divisional
- Meriweather broke into the safety rotation by the end of 2007 but one can question whether he ever really got it

Point is, IMO, we need to be drafting with long term needs in mind, while all the holes need to be patched in some way via free agency and hopefully a return to health for Hightower and Valentine (I'm assuming McClellin is cut). Recognizing of course that injuries are a part of the game, so redundancies should be built in wherever they can too.

I've seen various comments comparing last year's defense to this year's and saying we need a complete defensive rebuild through the draft because, "our front seven stinks now, we lost Ninkovich, Long, Sheard, Branch wasn't effective, McClellin was injured, and in the secondary Butler regressed (not getting into SB benching issue; Butler still wasn't as effective in 2017 than 2016)," what stands out to me is that only Butler began his career with the Patriots; the rest were all free agent signings.

They need to do a better job in free agency and trades. They hit home runs in 2014 and 2016, and not surprisingly won the Super Bowl. This year they didn't and it showed. I would be disappointed if I see the team entering the draft with major holes at a position, like it did in 2013 with wide receiver, and 2017 with defensive end (Ealy wasn't acquired until the draft itself).

 

[Gabriel_p94]

I dont think the super bowl changes how we view the draft, it just reinforces what we already knew. New england has to get deeper on defense. Philly was able to stay fresh throughout the game because of their depth up front. The same couldnt be said for new england. We had essentially the same four on the field for the entirety of the game. Im aware that we have rivers comes back this year along with valentine but they need maybe another piece or two to really be able to make the rotations they need.

Along with help on the defensive line they also need linebacker help. Elandon roberts is a complete liability in coverage. Its a given that if the opposing team runs play action that they are gonna target roberts and it usually is a pretty big gain. Now i dont really know if we need to use a high draft pick on a coverage linebacker because i really like marquise flowers. He can run with runningbacks and I like his instincts that he showed on the tackle for a loss on nelson agholor. Hopefully he can be resigned or we look at malik jefferson or rashaan evans if need be.

Another point that needs to be handled is jordan richards. He is strictly a special teams player. Nothing drives me crazy more than when a player takes that bad of angles on a tackle. It was ridiculous how long he stayed in the game. A player im starting to really like is kyzir white. I think he can really play that money backer position. Especially with patrick chung still in place I believe he can still find a way to get playing time. He looks versatile enough to be able to play some LB which could mitigate the need to draft a linebacker this year.

My last point of need for this team is the skill postion. Maybe its just me but does it seem like we really need some size at the reciever position? I know we have gronk who is almost uncoverable but when it comes to the red zone defenses lock in on him and force us to look elsewhere. I havent really got that far into the receivers coming out of the draft that fit that description yet but ill get to it. As for tight end im hoping by some miracle dallas goedert starts to slip a bit, having him and gronk in the red zone would be ridiculous. Im still very depressed about missing out on engram last year .

Im sorry for the long post but id rather type this when i had the time than a bunch of smaller posts. But it was a good year guys. Hopefully next year will be a little better for us.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I’m on the fence now about drafting Lauletta/Jackson in the second round. At this point I think we just need to put our faith in Brady & invest all in defense.

If Tom reaches his goal of playing until 45 then a QB drafted now will be done with his rookie contract by then. We might want to wait until 2019-2020 to draft one.

 

[JerseyShore99]

SB52? Nope, just further confirms that NE could use a young, athletic LB, young, athletic DE (regardless of Rivers), and in my opinion maybe even a DT to join Brown, Guy, Butler, Valentine, and maybe RJF
Gronk retirement? Absolutely, a youth movement on O is LONG overdue and that accelerates it...Can't replace 87 but you can add crucial O pieces...Went from Brown and scrap pieces to Moss and Welker to Welker and Gronk to Jules and Gronk...Now Jules is 32, 'Dola is 33, and Gronk is probably retiring or close to it...time to address it, need a gamechanger to build the O around (Yes I know Cooks exists but he's a one dimensional WR that's gone this time next year latest)

 

[Patriot Missile]

Short term as in next year they are looking good. Hightower, Rivers, McClellin, Canon and Edelman return. Thats huge right there.

Defense needs some work but unless they land longshot studs can't see how they help right away. LB, CB, LT, WR QB. Not to mention looming free agency for guards.

We'll see how it goes.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

One way someone can help right away is if they are a senior with 40 plus starts in their college career.

Bb seems to find and like these type guys.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

For me, it doesn't.

Yes, they need to spend some high picks on the defense (especially the front 7), but they still need some help on offense, too (since I don't think all of Solder, Waddle, and Fleming will be back, and I'm concerned about the reports about Garcia losing weight).

I'd prefer to see two of the top four picks on the front seven, and the other two on a QB and an OT.

I still feel solder will be back. Will lose butler and maybe dion Lewis.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I still feel solder will be back. Will lose butler and maybe dion Lewis.

Really hoping for Solder to return. Gonna cost some dough though. Even fair market value for really good LT's don't come cheap.

 

[ATippett56]

For me, it doesn't.

Yes, they need to spend some high picks on the defense (especially the front 7), but they still need some help on offense, too (since I don't think all of Solder, Waddle, and Fleming will be back, and I'm concerned about the reports about Garcia losing weight).

I'd prefer to see two of the top four picks on the front seven, and the other two on a QB and an OT.

Yup!

The New England Patriots need to draft not one but two cornerbacks. One to replace Malcolm Butler and the other to play in the slot. The "Big Nickel" proved to be a "Big Flop". Furthermore, I don't rate Eric Rowe as a starter nor as a slot cornerback.

Defensive tackle is also a priority since Alan Branch (33 years old) is done and Ricky Jean Francois (31 years old) is not the answer.