Here's the thing. Our BIGGEST positional needs at this moment are clearly CB and OT. BUT.... while both positions are fairly deep in "good" talent, they are very THIN in what might be considered "elite"/can't miss talent. I think that at least both the top 2 OT's and CB's WILL be gone before the Pats pick at #14, so unless someone drops a trade down (as usual) looks to be likely. (hopefully to add an additional 2nd)
However there has been a number of you you who have mentioned Van Ness, and I'm kind of split on this since we were very good off the edge last year with Judon, Uche, and Wise. But the fact is that good CB's WR's are more available simply because of their size, there are more of them. And because of their size, there are simply FEWER OL and DL types. Plus when the OL and DL's are very good, EVERYTHING that happens behind them gets better.
So in the end I have come to change my mind on these drafts. I'd pick an OT for sure if I thought there would be one worth of the 14th pick, but I don't think there is one. A shut down CB can also be a very impactful position, BUT...I don't see Witherspoon or Gonsalves being there, and while I like Joey Porter a lot, if a big guy like Breesee, or Van Ness are available at 14, I'd have to jump there and go OL in the 2nd. We have found and developed THREE all pro CB's that we got as UDFA's in the last 10 years, surely we can find one in the 3rd of 4th rounds of the draft. Say a guy like Ricks from Alabama.