Draft Rumors

[Sciz]

Daniels is a really good player, but if he's going to sit on the bench as a rookie (or only be a marginal upgrade) and then get the fifth year option that's excessively high for most interior lineman, then I worry that the three cheap years in the middle might not be enough value with that kind of pick.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

If we were to draft an IOL in the first round I could see Mason being traded for a couple of mid round picks to fill in our gap. I doubt Bill would be scared to start a first round guard as a rookie.

 

[primetime]

Daniels is a really good player, but if he's going to sit on the bench as a rookie (or only be a marginal upgrade) and then get the fifth year option that's excessively high for most interior lineman, then I worry that the three cheap years in the middle might not be enough value with that kind of pick.

I suspect he'd push Andrews from the get-go.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

That was my initial reaction, the more I think about it, the more I like it. Daniels is perfect for this OL and plays much like Mason did - athletic, very quick footed. It’s a very interesting possibility. I don’t know where the linebacker is coming from - Kiser and Skai Moore perhaps or Carter, but they could go defense in the 2nd and Falk in the 3rd. Just a thought.

I was musing about this very early in the offseason. Linebacker is probably the toughest position on the Patriots defense to learn. How many rookies have had a significant positive impact in year 1? Mayo, but he was a top 10 pick. Hightower started off fast but cooled as the season progressed. Brandon Spikes had an impact. Then you had guys like Guyton and Roberts who played but mostly because of need and were inconsistent. So I was hoping they'd sign a veteran for the role like Preston Brown, which didn't happen.

Maybe they're viewing it similar to me and saying, if there's no one they consider plug and play, why not take a developmental LB in the later rounds instead? And maybe sign Casillas as a stop gap after the draft. Just a thought.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I suspect he'd push Andrews from the get-go.

If they take him in the first round and he's a Center only, he'd better do more than push him.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

If we were to draft an IOL in the first round I could see Mason being traded for a couple of mid round picks to fill in our gap. I doubt Bill would be scared to start a first round guard as a rookie.

Agreed. That way you get immediate return out of your pick and additional picks to maybe help out at other spots

 

[manxman2601]

This is an interesting tweet



The guy generally projected to go 3 is “flying up boards”? This comes on the back of Mary Kay Cabot saying it’s Allen v Mayfield for the Browns pick at 1.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

If they take him in the first round and he's a Center only, he'd better do more than push him.

I hope he isn’t center only. Andrews is on one of the best team friendly deals in the league.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I’ll take Rashaan Evans and Daniels (if the pats decide to go IOL).

 

[scott99]

I think Luke Falk is very underrated. I think he could be a good NFL starter. I feel the same about Lauletta. Could probably get him in the 3rd round (Falk). Lauletta will probably go in round 2.

Falk is also a HUGE Tom Brady fan. Does the TB12 diet, has the book. Watches a lot of film on him. Some similarities as I think he has a chip on his shoulder, believe he was a walk on.

He’s probably the 2nd best QB in the draft when it comes to mechanics (behind Rosen).

I also think we put too much thought to attributing potential (starter vs backup) to where QBs are drafted. Look at where the TOP free agent QB was drafted his draft year. Just because he was drafted in the 4th round, didn’t mean his ceiling was backup.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I like Daniels a lot. It's a little out of the blue for a mock but doesn't shock me, the Ferentz pipeline is strong. His brother LeShun was in camp a couple years ago with the Patriots too.

Agreed once I found out he was Leshuns bro it just made it clearer. I love him. Wish he was a lil better working the 2nd level but hes a great prospect.

 

[carmelo15]

Looks like Rueben Foster's girlfriend has retracted all allegations against him. "Claims" it was all done in a "fight" with another woman. Must of been some fight.

Looks like the 49ers need of a lb has subsided which may drop another talented lb to the Pats.

Smh sure

 

[maineman209]

I was musing about this very early in the offseason. Linebacker is probably the toughest position on the Patriots defense to learn. How many rookies have had a significant positive impact in year 1? Mayo, but he was a top 10 pick. Hightower started off fast but cooled as the season progressed. Brandon Spikes had an impact. Then you had guys like Guyton and Roberts who played but mostly because of need and were inconsistent. So I was hoping they'd sign a veteran for the role like Preston Brown, which didn't happen.

Maybe they're viewing it similar to me and saying, if there's no one they consider plug and play, why not take a developmental LB in the later rounds instead? And maybe sign Casillas as a stop gap after the draft. Just a thought.

Casillas or Bowman after the draft - maybe? At least they'd add some of the experience that was sorely lacking last season.

Christian Sam as a later round selection - maybe?

Maybe the Pats coaches see more potential in Langi, Marquis Flowers, and even Roberts, than we know about?

If the Pats don't see any greater potential to make an immediate impact, or significantly higher long term upside, in the guys they'd need to take early versus the guys available later, or the guys available in FA, or the guys already on the roster, then why spend the high pick?

 

[maineman209]

Isaiah Wynn?

 

[supafly]

Isaiah Wynn?

I initially felt that IOL was probably the one position that we could safely wipe off of the board, but it’s quite possible that those positions are only punter and kicker.

Lots of options, but lots of needs too, especially if Belichick is looking into 2019, which he likely is. Over the past couple of weeks, arguments have been made for QB, OT, TE, WR, and now IOL. Only RB seems to be excluded, and personally, I’d love to see one taken in the middle rounds.

On the other side of the ball we’ve seen S, CB, LB, DE, and even DT. There’s almost no position that isn’t in play. I just don’t remember it being this way in most years, especially the recent drafts.

 

[maineman209]

I initially felt that IOL was probably the one position that we could safely wipe off of the board, but it’s quite possible that those positions are only punter and kicker.

Lots of options, but lots of needs too, especially if Belichick is looking into 2019, which he likely is. Over the past couple of weeks, arguments have been made for QB, OT, TE, WR, and now IOL. Only RB seems to be excluded, and personally, I’d love to see one taken in the middle rounds.

On the other side of the ball we’ve seen S, CB, LB, DE, and even DT. There’s almost no position that isn’t in play. I just don’t remember it being this way in most years, especially the recent drafts.

The Pats actually worked out a punter, Ryan Anderson (presumably left footed), AND a kicker, Matthew McCrane, and interviewed yet another kicker, Drew Brown, at the Combine.

The thing for me is this:

If I'm on the clock at #23 and I have the choice to take either the 3rd best OT prospect in this class - a guy I'm no more confident about than a guy I might get later - or a really good OG - who I'm confident can replace Mason - which way do I go?

If I take the OT because I "need" one, and let the OG go, I'm potentially allowing the development of another future weakness on the OL while not necessarily strengthening the OT position.

If I take the OG at #23, and one of the "lesser" OT prospects later, I'm preventing that future OL weakness and am no worse off at OT than I was before.

LB v. DT might be a similar choice. Do I take a highly-touted LB who might not really fit because I "need" one, or do I take a DT who I know will be able to replace Malcolm Brown for 2019?

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Gostkowski’s contract is up next year. Would not be surprised to see them draft a kicker.

 

[TomPatriot]

I think Luke Falk is very underrated. I think he could be a good NFL starter. I feel the same about Lauletta. Could probably get him in the 3rd round (Falk). Lauletta will probably go in round 2.

Falk is also a HUGE Tom Brady fan. Does the TB12 diet, has the book. Watches a lot of film on him. Some similarities as I think he has a chip on his shoulder, believe he was a walk on.

He’s probably the 2nd best QB in the draft when it comes to mechanics (behind Rosen).

I also think we put too much thought to attributing potential (starter vs backup) to where QBs are drafted. Look at where the TOP free agent QB was drafted his draft year. Just because he was drafted in the 4th round, didn’t mean his ceiling was backup.

Not only a walk on, but then beat out higher ranked high school prospects to start. He’s also tough as nails. I think the Pats select him at 43. Better than Lauletta.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Josh Allen apparently is not a fan of Lebron, which could be a problem if he ends up in Cleveland lol.

Josh Allen’s offensive high school tweets unearthed