With FA looming, how do you *want* the Pats to use their first draft pick?

[Ivan]

absolutely. maybe it's not worth a draft pick. They seem to be really good at finding those guys. Ted Washington way back in the day. And Alan Branch was a monster for a couple of years.

If they can find another under the radar free agent to fill that need it would be ideal, as they can then save the pick for another need.

 

[Wozzy]

They have eleven picks, that's a lot.

They need an offensive tackle or two, a big athletic cornerback and possibly another one to play free safety depending on what McCourty decides. They could really use an ultra fast and agile weak-side linebacker who can make their entire defense faster.

Planet Earth is making plenty of 6 foot tall people, it doesn't make a lot of 6'8" people... and fewer still who are good athletes. They should take an offensive tackle in the first, but definitely by the second. They have plenty of ammo to move around the board, up or down. They can also sign a free agent or two, they have plenty of cap space. They need another good offseason to put them back into contention. Go Pats!

 

[DW Toys]

That depends upon how the draft falls on draft night. Some people of those I want will be gone by #14, and some will still be there. Like every year I make a proxy list out of those who I think could be available, and I leave off those I think there is no chance of getting. This year I have the four QB’s, Will Anderson, Jalen Carter, Quentin Johnson, Paris Johnson, Christian Gonzalez, and Devon Witherspoon off the board at #14, then I go off of what remains .

My top 5 after that is :

J. Smith-Njigba WR OSU

L. Van Ness DE Iowa

B. Robinson RB Texas ( many will hate this, but if he’s as good as advertised they would have the best running game in football, and that’s a key part of keeping great QB’s off of the field.)

B. Jones OT Georgia

B. Breeze DT Clemson


There is still a long way to go, and free agency will have a significant impact on their draft plans.

I like your thought process Cousin.
Great breakfast to start the day. A veggie omelette with cheddar. home fries A fair piece of blueberry buckle cake, OJ, coffee with peppermint mocha sweetener were satisfying.

You know BB is not going to orchestrate this Draft without a few moves not expected.

IMO we must do a good job in FA and Trades to mold the Draft, I am watching our CAP resources with these players.,

Let's start at OT. Donovan Smith is available right now and would be our best OT. What the hell is BB waiting for? Sign him today.

Now lets look at CB. Rather than pay the moon, and if Johnson does not come back I am looking at 30 year old Marcus Peters after his ACL in 2021 he is still playing at a high level and should be second tier dollars. Two year deal.

OK LB. I am going out to get Chargers LB Drue Tranquil. Had an outstanding year, Is a move LB with coverage skills and should be second tier money and cheaper than say an Edmunds.

The sneaky move id 32 year old Bobby Wagner. Again a leader and reminds me of the Junior Seau signing. Can we reach a two year deal at realistic dollars? Will he leave the left coast?

Now the trade with the Cards. Why hasn't this been finalized? I feel our early 3rd round pick #76 should work. He helps our whole WR room and we still need a couple more adds, How about sighing slot guys like Bolden or Berrios who can do ST work as well.

OK, Now for the Draft:
I am swapping #14 with the Saints for their pick #29 and their picks #40. We have to add a 4th Rounder #134 to make the numbers work. The Saints are losing Davenport and Cam Jordan's not any younger. They need an elite pass rusher or more help for Carr perhaps at RB if Kamara is gone. They can't afford a FA pick up right now.

Now the BB typical move. At #29 I am going Bryan Bresee DT/DE Clemson. He was the top player in high school in the country. He had an ACL in 2021 and lost his sister in 2022. He has the ability to take over a game. He has Richard Seymour traits that BB will note. Guy is getting older and all we have on the bench are backup talent. Didn't see that coming? Mentioned above.

At our Saints pick #40 in Round two I am thinking down the road again. Darnell Washington TE Georgia. BOB will have fun with this kid and Smith is in his final year. He would be our only on line blocking TE. This is a great year to get elite TE talent.

At our pick #46 I am going Rashee Rice WR SMU. 6'2" 203 lbs. 4.51 40. Team Captain, Senior with film, 96 catches and over 1300 yards in 2022. Red Zone threat. Might be the steal of the WR class.

At #107 and #116 in the 4th I see another CB and OT from a larger sampling in that class. OL Andrew Vorhees was considered a top 100 pick and tore his ACL at the combine. Had 38 on the bench press. The best of all. Maybe stash him with a 4th at #116, and at #107 KSU CB Julius Brents. At 6-foot-3, 202 pounds, "loose and fluid for a big player at the position" who played well Senior Bowl week.

Thoughts?
DW Toys

 

[Patriot Missile]

Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones, Peter Skoronski.

Devon Witherspoon, Christian Gonzales

Quentin Johnson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Any one of these players could help us. That pretty much my short list for now.

 

[Ivan]

I like your thought process Cousin.
Great breakfast to start the day. A veggie omelette with cheddar. home fries A fair piece of blueberry buckle cake, OJ, coffee with peppermint mocha sweetener were satisfying.

You know BB is not going to orchestrate this Draft without a few moves not expected.

IMO we must do a good job in FA and Trades to mold the Draft, I am watching our CAP resources with these players.,

Let's start at OT. Donovan Smith is available right now and would be our best OT. What the hell is BB waiting for? Sign him today.

Now lets look at CB. Rather than pay the moon, and if Johnson does not come back I am looking at 30 year old Marcus Peters after his ACL in 2021 he is still playing at a high level and should be second tier dollars. Two year deal.

OK LB. I am going out to get Chargers LB Drue Tranquil. Had an outstanding year, Is a move LB with coverage skills and should be second tier money and cheaper than say an Edmunds.

The sneaky move id 32 year old Bobby Wagner. Again a leader and reminds me of the Junior Seau signing. Can we reach a two year deal at realistic dollars? Will he leave the left coast?

Now the trade with the Cards. Why hasn't this been finalized? I feel our early 3rd round pick #76 should work. He helps our whole WR room and we still need a couple more adds, How about sighing slot guys like Bolden or Berrios who can do ST work as well.

OK, Now for the Draft:
I am swapping #14 with the Saints for their pick #29 and their picks #40. We have to add a 4th Rounder #134 to make the numbers work. The Saints are losing Davenport and Cam Jordan's not any younger. They need an elite pass rusher or more help for Carr perhaps at RB if Kamara is gone. They can't afford a FA pick up right now.

Now the BB typical move. At #29 I am going Bryan Bresee DT/DE Clemson. He was the top player in high school in the country. He had an ACL in 2021 and lost his sister in 2022. He has the ability to take over a game. He has Richard Seymour traits that BB will note. Guy is getting older and all we have on the bench are backup talent. Didn't see that coming? Mentioned above.

At our Saints pick #40 in Round two I am thinking down the road again. Darnell Washington TE Georgia. BOB will have fun with this kid and Smith is in his final year. He would be our only on line blocking TE. This is a great year to get elite TE talent.

At our pick #46 I am going Rashee Rice WR SMU. 6'2" 203 lbs. 4.51 40. Team Captain, Senior with film, 96 catches and over 1300 yards in 2022. Red Zone threat. Might be the steal of the WR class.

At #107 and #116 in the 4th I see another CB and OT from a larger sampling in that class. OL Andrew Vorhees was considered a top 100 pick and tore his ACL at the combine. Had 38 on the bench press. The best of all. Maybe stash him with a 4th at #116, and at #107 KSU CB Julius Brents. At 6-foot-3, 202 pounds, "loose and fluid for a big player at the position" who played well Senior Bowl week.

Thoughts?
DW Toys

M thought DW, is that’s a lot to chew on. I’ll try to get back to you on it when I have some time.

 

[Ross12]

Zero of us voted for safety, so it’ll be safety.

I voted corner.

 

[Ivan]

Zero of us voted for safety, so it’ll be safety.

I voted corner.

I think safety is a need, but Branch is the only one with a first round, generically speaking. But I could see them trading back in the round, adding a 2nd or 3rd, and then taking him.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

That depends upon how the draft falls on draft night. Some people of those I want will be gone by #14, and some will still be there. Like every year I make a proxy list out of those who I think could be available, and I leave off those I think there is no chance of getting. This year I have the four QB’s, Will Anderson, Jalen Carter, Quentin Johnson, Paris Johnson, Christian Gonzalez, and Devon Witherspoon off the board at #14, then I go off of what remains .

My top 5 after that is :

J. Smith-Njigba WR OSU

L. Van Ness DE Iowa

B. Robinson RB Texas ( many will hate this, but if he’s as good as advertised they would have the best running game in football, and that’s a key part of keeping great QB’s off of the field.)

B. Jones OT Georgia

B. Breeze DT Clemson


There is still a long way to go, and free agency will have a significant impact on their draft plans.

If Robinson is the best player on your board by a decent margin. Then I say go for it.
He can catch the ball also.
I would hate to reach for any position. When your at pick 14 and any player is head and shoulders above the rest on your board. Pick that player.
After FA begins I will know what players I would prefer

 

[upstater1]

That depends upon how the draft falls on draft night. Some people of those I want will be gone by #14, and some will still be there. Like every year I make a proxy list out of those who I think could be available, and I leave off those I think there is no chance of getting. This year I have the four QB’s, Will Anderson, Jalen Carter, Quentin Johnson, Paris Johnson, Christian Gonzalez, and Devon Witherspoon off the board at #14, then I go off of what remains .

My top 5 after that is :

J. Smith-Njigba WR OSU

L. Van Ness DE Iowa

B. Robinson RB Texas ( many will hate this, but if he’s as good as advertised they would have the best running game in football, and that’s a key part of keeping great QB’s off of the field.)

B. Jones OT Georgia

B. Breeze DT Clemson


There is still a long way to go, and free agency will have a significant impact on their draft plans.

Tyree Wilson may end up being the best out of all these guys. He is that good. I would definitely bet he's gone right after Anderson and Carter.

 

[upstater1]

I voted CB initially but over the last week, the tackles has almost all moved up into the 1st round: B Jones, P Johnson, Skoronski, Harrison, Wright, D Jones. Seems they are ALL going to go in the 1st. So, while I think CB #1 is the type of position that is of critical importance in today's NFL, we're hurting a lot more at tackle than we are at CB. It stinks because this would've been a great opportunity to grab a Witherspoon, Gonzalez or Porter that would have locked down our D. But if Mac Jones has NO protection, it's game over. Even a mediocre tackle on the team would've allowed the Patriots to take a top CB here.

This is why the Isaiah Wynn miss ends up hurting the team many years down the road. You have to replace that hole on the team which prevents you from acquiring a crucial missing piece.

The way I value players these days:

1. QB
2A and 2B. WR1 and CB1
3. Pass rushers
4. Tackles
5. Safeties & guards
6. Linebackers who can cover
7. Tight ends
8. Run Stoppers
9. Running backs

 

[upstater1]

As for Quentin Johnson, he just has this weird running form that scares the crap out of me. His upper body is way over his lower body when he runs and he looks like he's about to topple over. It's a wonder he can maintain his speed at all. At 6'2" he's not a tall gangly type either, so I wonder why he runs like that. As though he has a weak core and he's forcing his lower back to generate all the power in his running. We don't know how fast he is but one can imagine he'd be much faster if someone helped him out with his body and running.

 

[zimmy]

It's still slightly early but it seems likely that the following players will be gone before 14: Young, Stroud, Richardson, Levis, Anderson, Carter, Wilson, Gonzalez, Skoronski, and probably one of the other tackles - lets say Johnson for the purposes of this exercise.

That leaves us looking at this sort of group in the 11-16 range: Lukas Van Ness, Devon Witherspoon, JSN, Nolan Smith, Myles Murphy, Joey Porter, Broderick Jones.

In all likelihood Jones goes before we pick too, which leaves us looking at some of the corners, taking the top WR, or a defensive player at an area of less need. If we lose Meyers in free agency I wouldn't completely rule JSN out at 14 but if he comes back I can't see us taking him given their overlapping skill sets (both primarily work the slot/middle of the field). A corner seems a decent option here but in such a strong class you wonder whether we could wait. That leaves either taking someone like Smith, Van Ness or Murphy or, more likely, a trade down. I think we're going to see a trade down to the early 20s, get some extra capital to then use to move up and around on day 2, and then zero in on the second wave of tackles with someone like Anton Harrison.

Not saying this is what I would do but think it's the most likely option if the board falls the way recent mocks have it going.

 

[EMpats]

Jaxon smith njigba is going to be that guy who everyone looks back on four years from now when he’s caught 100+ passes every year of his career and wonder how everyone passed in him. Like Justin Jefferson. Draft him and figure out tackle in round 2.

 

[upstater1]

It's still slightly early but it seems likely that the following players will be gone before 14: Young, Stroud, Richardson, Levis, Anderson, Carter, Wilson, Gonzalez, Skoronski, and probably one of the other tackles - lets say Johnson for the purposes of this exercise.

That leaves us looking at this sort of group in the 11-16 range: Lukas Van Ness, Devon Witherspoon, JSN, Nolan Smith, Myles Murphy, Joey Porter, Broderick Jones.

In all likelihood Jones goes before we pick too, which leaves us looking at some of the corners, taking the top WR, or a defensive player at an area of less need. If we lose Meyers in free agency I wouldn't completely rule JSN out at 14 but if he comes back I can't see us taking him given their overlapping skill sets (both primarily work the slot/middle of the field). A corner seems a decent option here but in such a strong class you wonder whether we could wait. That leaves either taking someone like Smith, Van Ness or Murphy or, more likely, a trade down. I think we're going to see a trade down to the early 20s, get some extra capital to then use to move up and around on day 2, and then zero in on the second wave of tackles with someone like Anton Harrison.

Not saying this is what I would do but think it's the most likely option if the board falls the way recent mocks have it going.

A lot of the updated mocks have no tackles other than Bergeron available on day 2. Harrison, Wright, D Jones and Skoronski are all gone in the 1st. This is now a problem for the Patriots. Unless they sign a tackle in free agency.

 

[slash83]

Jaxon smith njigba is going to be that guy who everyone looks back on four years from now when he’s caught 100+ passes every year of his career and wonder how everyone passed in him. Like Justin Jefferson. Draft him and figure out tackle in round 2.

I don’t think he makes it to 14, he should be the first WR off the board.

 

[hornetfb85]

Paris Johnson or Broderick Jones

 

[Ivan]

If Robinson is the best player on your board by a decent margin. Then I say go for it.
He can catch the ball also.
I would hate to reach for any position. When your at pick 14 and any player is head and shoulders above the rest on your board. Pick that player.
After FA begins I will know what players I would prefer

That s how I see it as well. You want to get an All Pro caliber of player with your first round pick, even if it isn’t your biggest need.

 

[upstater1]

I would add one thing: I would be in favor of the Patriots taking one of Gonzalez, Porter or Witherspoon at #14, then waiting and trading up if need be to take one of Wright, Dawand Jones or Harrison. I'm not sure what it would take to move up from a 2nd rounder into the late 1st, but the trade chart shows that it would cost both our 2nd and our 3rd rounder.

I would do it.

Belichick's value chart always has players valued differently anyway so NOT having a pick on day 2 would likely not alter the team's strategy at all.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

I would add one thing: I would be in favor of the Patriots taking one of Gonzalez, Porter or Witherspoon at #14, then waiting and trading up if need be to take one of Wright, Dawand Jones or Harrison. I'm not sure what it would take to move up from a 2nd rounder into the late 1st, but the trade chart shows that it would cost both our 2nd and our 3rd rounder.

I would do it.

agree. this would be perfect,

Belichick's value chart always has players valued differently anyway so NOT having a pick on day 2 would likely not alter the team's strategy at all.

we can use 2th rd picks if we want a late day 2 pick maybe, this would still leave us enough day 3 picks

 

[varjao]

Offense