The draft

[Zuma]

Which of the TE's (not named Hockenson) are ready to be counted on as a Game One starter?

Fant. IMO Smith too GASP

 

[Sciz]

Why wouldn't Obi be the future Strong Safety? Chung's replacement?

I read somewhere that there was some concern about his bulk for playing in the box consistently. Yes he’s 224 pounds, but he’s so tall that he has the same BMI as Jonathan Jones.

I wonder if the up-and-comer on the roster at strong safety is actually Dawson. He has that more compact build like Chung, especially if he gains back the 10 pounds that his listed weight dropped between 2016 and 2018 (from 208 to 198).

 

[Zuma]

Jalen Hurd visits Patriots who are on hunt for receivers

"Baylor receiver Jalen Hurd also visited with the team this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports. Hurd, who worked mostly out of the slot, caught 69 passes for 946 yards with four touchdowns last season. He began his college career as a running back at Tennessee, rushing for 2,844 yards and 23 touchdowns on 637 carries. He also caught 136 passes for 1,438 yards and 10 touchdowns."

This kid has great size, is quick and tough...

 

[Deus Irae]

Hogan I guess if he helps the new receivers learn the route tree or if we have a bad run of preseason injuries. Sure hope our receiver core is restocked and Hogan does not make the team. He played like doo last year.

Yeah. IMO, bringing back Hogan doesn't really make sense if the team drafts WR in the top 3 rounds, unless they think their FA signings are absolute stiffs who can't even compete for WR3/WR4/WR5 slots.

 

[mgteich]

As I recall from last year, all the WR's competing for roster spots are usually available for Game 1.

Hogan for $1M signing bonus is a fine insurance policy.

Yeah. IMO, bringing back Hogan doesn't really make sense if the team drafts WR in the top 3 rounds, unless they think their FA signings are absolute stiffs who can't even compete for WR3/WR4/WR5 slots.

 

[50-yard-line]

Messing around with FANSPEAK, Draftplex and User Voted Needs (just random on those) and I got a top 6 I kind of like a lot...


32: R1P32
WR DEEBO SAMUEL
SOUTH CAROLINA
56: R2P24
DL ZACH ALLEN
BOSTON COLLEGE
64: R2P32
G CHRIS LINDSTROM
BOSTON COLLEGE
73: R3P9
EDGE ANTHONY NELSON
IOWA
97: R3P33
TE JACE STERNBERGER
TEXAS A&M
101: R3P37
WR MILES BOYKIN
NOTRE DAME

 

[Deus Irae]

As I recall from last year, all the WR's competing for roster spots are usually available for Game 1.

Hogan for $1M signing bonus is a fine insurance policy.

???

Giving him a $1m signing bonus just to fight for a spot would be a needless overpay.

 

[mgteich]

So our insurance should be jags and late round draft choices?

???

Giving him a $1m signing bonus just to fight for a spot would be a needless overpay.

 

[manxman2601]

Messing around with FANSPEAK, Draftplex and User Voted Needs (just random on those) and I got a top 6 I kind of like a lot...


32: R1P32
WR DEEBO SAMUEL
SOUTH CAROLINA
56: R2P24
DL ZACH ALLEN
BOSTON COLLEGE
64: R2P32
G CHRIS LINDSTROM
BOSTON COLLEGE
73: R3P9
EDGE ANTHONY NELSON
IOWA
97: R3P33
TE JACE STERNBERGER
TEXAS A&M
101: R3P37
WR MILES BOYKIN
NOTRE DAME

It would be hard to better that mock although Allen AND Nelson is a little redundant and I really don’t see Sternberger lasting that long. But those are all prospects I want.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

My latest mock from walkthemock.com for NE via Default ranking

2:15 - NT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
2:32 - WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
3:9 - QB Will Grier, West Virginia
3:13 - DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
3:20 - EDGE Zach Allen, Boston College
3:33 - WR Andy Isabella, UMass
3:37 - RB Darrell Henderson, Memphis
4:5 - DL L.J. Collier, TCU
4:21 - LB Germaine Pratt, North Carolina St.
5:7 - WR Cody Thompson, Toledo
5:21 - WR Jalen Hurd, Baylor
7:25 - WR Mecole Hardman, Georgia
7:29 - QB Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
7:32 - OT Oli Udoh, Elon
7:38 - OT Tyler Roemer, San Diego St.


Acquired via (CAR): 2:15, 3:13
Traded Away: 1:32, 4:32
Acquired via (TB): 3:6, 4:5, 5:7
Traded Away: 2:24, 6:32
Acquired via (SEA): 3:20, 4:21, 5:21
Traded Away: 3:6

 

[manxman2601]

Which of the TE's (not named Hockenson) are ready to be counted on as a Game One starter?

I think it depends on what you’re looking for. If it’s someone who can block and catch, then probably not many. I like Sample as someone with a high floor but lowish ceiling who could probably contribute straight away. Irv Smith too although he doesn’t really project as an inline TE because he’s a little smaller. Sternberger, Oliver and Knox might contribute early as pass catchers but might need time to learn the intricacies of being a Y TE.

One thing to bear in mind is that TE is notorious for being a position that it’s hard to get big contributions from early. Zach Ertz and Hunter Henry had 36 receptions each in their rookie year. I think that’s the upper end of what you’d hope to get. Hayden Hurst, last year’s first rounder had 13.

 

[Deus Irae]

So our insurance should be jags and late round draft choices?

Let's revisit my earlier post:

Yeah. IMO, bringing back Hogan doesn't really make sense if the team drafts WR in the top 3 rounds, unless they think their FA signings are absolute stiffs who can't even compete for WR3/WR4/WR5 slots.

So, with Edelman, Dorsett, Draftee, FA signings, and possibly Gordon, where does this 'insurance' come into play in some manner that I didn't address?

 

[supafly]

unless they think their FA signings are absolute stiffs who can't even compete for WR3/WR4/WR5 slots.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I read somewhere that there was some concern about his bulk for playing in the box consistently. Yes he’s 224 pounds, but he’s so tall that he has the same BMI as Jonathan Jones.

I wonder if the up-and-comer on the roster at strong safety is actually Dawson. He has that more compact build like Chung, especially if he gains back the 10 pounds that his listed weight dropped between 2016 and 2018 (from 208 to 198).

Thanks. 224 at 6'4" is a bit skinny as you note. He also had a hip injury which sometimes is very hard to return from. So we will see. He is a local kid, so I am sure he is thrilled to be a Patriot - let's hope he is healthy and it all works out.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

My latest mock from walkthemock.com for NE via Default ranking

2:4 - QB Drew Lock, Missouri
3:9 - DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
3:13 - DL L.J. Collier, TCU
3:21 - WR Andy Isabella, UMass
3:33 - TE Dawson Knox, Ole Miss
3:36 - TE Kahale Warring, San Diego St.
3:37 - WR Miles Boykin, Notre Dame
3:38 - EDGE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
4:13 - RB Darrell Henderson, Memphis
4:32 - EDGE Christian Miller, Alabama
6:18 - WR Mecole Hardman, Georgia
6:32 - EDGE Shareef Miller, Penn St.
7:25 - CB Hamp Cheevers, Boston College
7:29 - FS Jalen Thompson, Washington St.
7:32 - OT Tyler Roemer, San Diego St.
7:38 - LB Dakota Allen, Texas Tech


Acquired via (SF): 2:4, 6:3, 6:39, 2019 Rd 5
Traded Away: 1:32
Acquired via (CAR): 3:13, 3:36, 4:13
Traded Away: 2:24, 6:39, 6:3
Acquired via (BAL): 3:21, 3:38, 6:18
Traded Away: 2:32

 

[50-yard-line]

It would be hard to better that mock although Allen AND Nelson is a little redundant and I really don’t see Sternberger lasting that long. But those are all prospects I want.

Allen is such a great fit for New England, I had to grab him, and Nelson was BPA at that point.

 

[Deus Irae]

So our insurance should be jags and late round draft choices?

It won’t be Chris Hogan.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

My latest mock from walkthemock.com for NE via Default ranking

2:4 - QB Drew Lock, Missouri
3:9 - DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame
3:13 - DL L.J. Collier, TCU
3:21 - WR Andy Isabella, UMass
3:33 - TE Dawson Knox, Ole Miss
3:36 - TE Kahale Warring, San Diego St.
3:37 - WR Miles Boykin, Notre Dame
3:38 - EDGE Jaylon Ferguson, Louisiana Tech
4:13 - RB Darrell Henderson, Memphis
4:32 - EDGE Christian Miller, Alabama
6:18 - WR Mecole Hardman, Georgia
6:32 - EDGE Shareef Miller, Penn St.
7:25 - CB Hamp Cheevers, Boston College
7:29 - FS Jalen Thompson, Washington St.
7:32 - OT Tyler Roemer, San Diego St.
7:38 - LB Dakota Allen, Texas Tech


Acquired via (SF): 2:4, 6:3, 6:39, 2019 Rd 5
Traded Away: 1:32
Acquired via (CAR): 3:13, 3:36, 4:13
Traded Away: 2:24, 6:39, 6:3
Acquired via (BAL): 3:21, 3:38, 6:18
Traded Away: 2:32

Ahhh, the classic 16-man draft class.

 

[50-yard-line]

Ahhh, the classic 16-man draft class.

With Tillery and Collier in the 3rd...

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

With Tillery and Collier in the 3rd...

Hey players fall all the time for various reasons.