- Joined
- May 1, 2008
- Messages
- 21,766
- Reaction score
- 13,974
Things are starting to get into focus a bit more. With just the Combine, Pro Days, and Team Visits to go and less than 90 days to the draft, we’re getting into the home stretch. Some thoughts:
1. QB is sorely lacking
This is both a curse and an opportunity. A curse, because there are no QBs to push prospects at other positions down to the Pats. An opportunity, because QBs are scarce, and teams are desperate.
Fernando Mendozo will go #1 overall, then there is no one. The Jets and Cardinals at 2 and 3 are both QB needy. The Steelers and Rams badly need one for long-term stability. Ty Simpson and Trinidad Chambliss will go earlier than they should. If they last past the Rams at 29, other teams may be interested in trading up to the late 1st to get the 5th year option and jump the Jets and Cardinals at 33 and 34. It’s a big drop-off from there to the likes of Carson Beck, Garrett Nussmeier, John Mateer, or an injured Drew Allar.
2. The “Big 4” + 2
RT and EDGE are my personal preferred positions with our top 2 picks. Pending an unexpected drop, right now there are 4 players who could potentially be available in the late 1st where talent meets need: OTs Monroe Freeling and Max Iheanachor, and EDGEs Akheem Mesidor and TJ Parker.
I am generally a defense-first guy, but “Protect the Drake” has to be the #1 priority. Pairing Freeling or Iheanachor with Will Campbell as bookend tackles would be a dream. I’ve been on the Freeling bandwagon since he was not on people’s boards or listed in the 300-400’s. He is a 1st round stud, the best pure OT in this draft. He could go top 10 (as Field Yates has suggested), possibly to Cleveland at #6. If he somehow falls, he is an almost automatic pick for me, unless Arvell Reese or David Bailey are hanging around.
Max Iheanachor is almost as good, IMO. Guys who are 6’6” and 330# should not have his kind of footwork - it comes from his soccer background. He showed it against Texas Tech during the season, and he showed it during the Senior Bowl. He can handle speed, he can handle power, he plays with a nasty demeanor, he is big, long and athletic, he is young and he will only get better.
Manx has been calling Akheem Mesidor a 1st round talent since he was ranked as a day 3 pick. Now everyone else has finally caught on. He is as good as Reuben Bain. He is 25, with an injury history and only 1 year of dominant production, but he is clearly a 1st round talent.
TJ Parker was a top 10 pick entering the season, but his production waned. He has motor and production questions. But as he showed at the Senior Bowl, he has a very high floor with elite power.
Snagging one of those 4 guys at 31/32 is my hope, but there are 2 other guys who I would add to those 4 as prime 1st round targets if they are somehow available: DLs Caleb Banks and Lee Hunter. DT not a position of need, but these 2 may be too good to pass up.
I think Caleb Banks will a top 10 pick. Guys that big cannot humanly move like that. Teams may not know what to do with him, but he could be a Richard Seymour or Calais Campbell kind of player. He may be the most disruptive defensive player in the draft after Arvell Reese and David Bailey. Medicals will need to check out with his foot, but I think he is very, very special. Lee Hunter is almost as disruptive, though not as versatile. But the Pats have some flexibility, especially with Milt Williams, to move around the DL.
3. WR and DB are very, very, deep
Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Chris Bell (injured). But also Ted Hurst, Antonio Wiliams, Chris Brazzell, Ja’Kobi Lane, Omar Cooper, Elijah Sarratt. But also Malachi Fields, Zachariah Branch, Deion Burks, Germie Bernard, Skyler Bell, DeZhaun Stribling. But also CJ Daniels, Kendrick Law, Cyrus Allen, Reggie, Virgil, Jeff Caldwell.Josh Cameron, Tyren Montgomery. But also Brenen Thompson, Bryce Lance, Eric McAlister, Kevin Coleman, Romello Brinson. So many receivers. X, Z, slot, you name it.
Jermod McCoy, Mansoor Delane, Aveion Tarrell, Colton Hood, Brandon Cisse. But also Chris Johnson, Keith Abney, Devin Moore, Keionte Scott, D’Angelo Ponds, Treydan Stukes. But also Julian Neal, Davidson Igbinoson, Chandler Rivers, Tacario Davis, Malik Muhammad, Will Lee, Daylen Everett. But also Charles Demmings, Ceyair Wright, Hezekiah Masses,
Caleb Downs, sure. But also Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Dillon Thieneman, Kamari Ramsey, AJ Haucy, Genesis Smith, Zakee Wheatley, Jason Kilgore. But also Michael Taafe, VJ Payne, Bud Clark, Louis Moore, Skyler Thomas.
There are so many good players at these positions, well into day 3. If the value is there for a player the Pats really like, go for it, but there is no need to get antsy and reach. Good fruit will fall.
4. Manx nailed it
No surprise there. David Bailey, Makai Lemon, Akheem Mesidor, Emmanuel Pregnon, Jardarian Price, DeZhaun Stribling, Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis, Keionte Scott, Treydan Stukes, Devin Moore, Charles Demmings, Zakee Wheatley. Would be thrilled to get any of them. Michael Taafe, Brian Parker and Romello Height not quite as obvious to me, but all good players. And they are all entered in the 2026 draft.
This will be a very interesting draft. It will be intriguing to see the Combine and Pro Day numbers and how they affect prospects.
While not a strong draft overall, it is a very good draft for a young SB team hoping to add quality depth and solidify some key pieces. Just saying for a Friend. The Pats will probably not fill every need, even between the draft and FA, but my hope is that the Pats will use this draft to upgrade the overall roster and put themselves in a position to be very selective about targets in 2027 and after.
1. QB is sorely lacking
This is both a curse and an opportunity. A curse, because there are no QBs to push prospects at other positions down to the Pats. An opportunity, because QBs are scarce, and teams are desperate.
Fernando Mendozo will go #1 overall, then there is no one. The Jets and Cardinals at 2 and 3 are both QB needy. The Steelers and Rams badly need one for long-term stability. Ty Simpson and Trinidad Chambliss will go earlier than they should. If they last past the Rams at 29, other teams may be interested in trading up to the late 1st to get the 5th year option and jump the Jets and Cardinals at 33 and 34. It’s a big drop-off from there to the likes of Carson Beck, Garrett Nussmeier, John Mateer, or an injured Drew Allar.
2. The “Big 4” + 2
RT and EDGE are my personal preferred positions with our top 2 picks. Pending an unexpected drop, right now there are 4 players who could potentially be available in the late 1st where talent meets need: OTs Monroe Freeling and Max Iheanachor, and EDGEs Akheem Mesidor and TJ Parker.
I am generally a defense-first guy, but “Protect the Drake” has to be the #1 priority. Pairing Freeling or Iheanachor with Will Campbell as bookend tackles would be a dream. I’ve been on the Freeling bandwagon since he was not on people’s boards or listed in the 300-400’s. He is a 1st round stud, the best pure OT in this draft. He could go top 10 (as Field Yates has suggested), possibly to Cleveland at #6. If he somehow falls, he is an almost automatic pick for me, unless Arvell Reese or David Bailey are hanging around.
Max Iheanachor is almost as good, IMO. Guys who are 6’6” and 330# should not have his kind of footwork - it comes from his soccer background. He showed it against Texas Tech during the season, and he showed it during the Senior Bowl. He can handle speed, he can handle power, he plays with a nasty demeanor, he is big, long and athletic, he is young and he will only get better.
Manx has been calling Akheem Mesidor a 1st round talent since he was ranked as a day 3 pick. Now everyone else has finally caught on. He is as good as Reuben Bain. He is 25, with an injury history and only 1 year of dominant production, but he is clearly a 1st round talent.
TJ Parker was a top 10 pick entering the season, but his production waned. He has motor and production questions. But as he showed at the Senior Bowl, he has a very high floor with elite power.
Snagging one of those 4 guys at 31/32 is my hope, but there are 2 other guys who I would add to those 4 as prime 1st round targets if they are somehow available: DLs Caleb Banks and Lee Hunter. DT not a position of need, but these 2 may be too good to pass up.
I think Caleb Banks will a top 10 pick. Guys that big cannot humanly move like that. Teams may not know what to do with him, but he could be a Richard Seymour or Calais Campbell kind of player. He may be the most disruptive defensive player in the draft after Arvell Reese and David Bailey. Medicals will need to check out with his foot, but I think he is very, very special. Lee Hunter is almost as disruptive, though not as versatile. But the Pats have some flexibility, especially with Milt Williams, to move around the DL.
3. WR and DB are very, very, deep
Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Chris Bell (injured). But also Ted Hurst, Antonio Wiliams, Chris Brazzell, Ja’Kobi Lane, Omar Cooper, Elijah Sarratt. But also Malachi Fields, Zachariah Branch, Deion Burks, Germie Bernard, Skyler Bell, DeZhaun Stribling. But also CJ Daniels, Kendrick Law, Cyrus Allen, Reggie, Virgil, Jeff Caldwell.Josh Cameron, Tyren Montgomery. But also Brenen Thompson, Bryce Lance, Eric McAlister, Kevin Coleman, Romello Brinson. So many receivers. X, Z, slot, you name it.
Jermod McCoy, Mansoor Delane, Aveion Tarrell, Colton Hood, Brandon Cisse. But also Chris Johnson, Keith Abney, Devin Moore, Keionte Scott, D’Angelo Ponds, Treydan Stukes. But also Julian Neal, Davidson Igbinoson, Chandler Rivers, Tacario Davis, Malik Muhammad, Will Lee, Daylen Everett. But also Charles Demmings, Ceyair Wright, Hezekiah Masses,
Caleb Downs, sure. But also Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Dillon Thieneman, Kamari Ramsey, AJ Haucy, Genesis Smith, Zakee Wheatley, Jason Kilgore. But also Michael Taafe, VJ Payne, Bud Clark, Louis Moore, Skyler Thomas.
There are so many good players at these positions, well into day 3. If the value is there for a player the Pats really like, go for it, but there is no need to get antsy and reach. Good fruit will fall.
4. Manx nailed it
No surprise there. David Bailey, Makai Lemon, Akheem Mesidor, Emmanuel Pregnon, Jardarian Price, DeZhaun Stribling, Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis, Keionte Scott, Treydan Stukes, Devin Moore, Charles Demmings, Zakee Wheatley. Would be thrilled to get any of them. Michael Taafe, Brian Parker and Romello Height not quite as obvious to me, but all good players. And they are all entered in the 2026 draft.
This will be a very interesting draft. It will be intriguing to see the Combine and Pro Day numbers and how they affect prospects.
While not a strong draft overall, it is a very good draft for a young SB team hoping to add quality depth and solidify some key pieces. Just saying for a Friend. The Pats will probably not fill every need, even between the draft and FA, but my hope is that the Pats will use this draft to upgrade the overall roster and put themselves in a position to be very selective about targets in 2027 and after.
Last edited:
