What position do you *want* drafted first this year?

Posting here since I'm genuinely curious. Sorry about the lack of RLKAG; too many choices.

And, again, the poll question is what position you want them to take first, not what you think they need to/should/will do.

Tackle. They might have the LT but they definitely need to be prepared to replace Moses. Without time to throw and holes to run there is nothing else that will make up for that.

I would want an edge rusher, but only if they are in position to get one who is worth getting. Either at 31 or trading up. I don't want them to reach for an edge rusher though.

I still think AJ Brown will be a Patriot after June 1. So they don't need to draft a WR high.

RT would be my next choice.

It totally depends who's on the board when we pick.

Say someone like Dillon Thienman has an unlikely slide on draft night, I'm not going to say "No, we need to take Cashius Howell because he's the best Edge left on the board"

Username said:

It totally depends who's on the board when we pick.

Say someone like Dillon Thienman has an unlikely slide on draft night, I'm not going to say "No, we need to take Cashius Howell because he's the best Edge left on the board"

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That is partly why the question is what you WANT them to do (or hope they do, I guess).

Go best player available. When you're at the top of the draft order, you can draft for need (especially if those needs are as glaring as they were in the last two years). At the bottom of the draft it's a matter of finding a quality player. Though I'd never say "never", I'd be disappointed in a running back or tight end, given that, in my opinion, good to very good ones are available in the second, third and fourth rounds (Michel was a good player, but so too were Harris and Stevenson).

1st round? Linebacker. Best bang for your buck, and IMO it's the biggest need on the team, an off-ball linebacker.

Me...me...me... *WR* even if we get A.J. yeah I'm Greedy.

TommyD4207 said:

1st round? Linebacker. Best bang for your buck, and IMO it's the biggest need on the team, an off-ball linebacker.

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Insert whatever qualifier of "BPA always" necessary, but if you have the luxury of picking given what's available... if we can draft an LB and have the defense set for quite a few years, that opens up offensive drafting for awhile. Byard addressed one of the needs on D (And hopefully brings some vet. communication for their zone), but if we can nail an OLB that can clean-up our interior disruption and finish the job? Could be one of the best defenses of the decade. Which buys as much development time for Maye as possible. Hard to argue against it.

TommyD4207 said:

1st round? Linebacker. Best bang for your buck, and IMO it's the biggest need on the team, an off-ball linebacker.

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I agree. Spillane is good but is 30. Ellis is ok but has some deficiencies. He might be playing more than he should but whatever. An elite LB who can play all over the field and cover well would be an incredible addition to the D.

A Gronk 2.0 is also a major need. Specifically in the run/pass blocking and can be a solid 2nd/3rd read in the passing game. HH will most likely be gone next year.

If we are drafting need a RT who can be serviceable year 1 if Moses goes down (which is highly possible) and could spell him for a few snaps a game. Protecting Drake is a priority.

Count me as someone who won't be glued to my TV as 30 OTHER teams get all excited about the players before we go (yes players with an S as 4 or 5 teams will have multiple picks before we get to pick our one pick}. Better to get a good night's sleep or read a good book than waste 3 or 4 hours watching Macaffee waxing poetically about Pittsburgh.

I mean we should be used to it by now. We went, literally, a decade without sniffing anything close to the teens in the draft. I remember we were almost giddy the year we picked Solder all the way up at 17, or that miraculous year we got Mayo at 10. Now THAT was an exciting April.

23 and 24 were HORRIBLE seasons to go through, but DAMNED they made for very interesting Aprils and picking in the top 5 two years in a row. Well now we are back in our usual place at the back of every round hoping to find 2nd and 3rd tier players who develop into quality starters. (BTW- I've always thought that a more equitable method to the draft that would reward excellence as well as recognize failure would be to implement a serpentine draft like some people use in FF. Let the 2nd, 4th and 6th rounds go in reverse. So while we pick next to last in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th, and 7th, we would get the 2nd pick in the 2nd, 4th, and 6th rounds. I doubt that will eliminate tanking but make the draft fairer and is a small way, reward good play.) Just a thought.

As for which position, I'm now torn. I want an edge guy, but there seems to be some interesting guys available all the way through the 3rd round that might drop to us, while the list of quality OT prospects is a lot thinner that a guy like Icheanachor might not even get close to us. So Edge, or OT will be fine with me. Or even a LB though I'm not really familiar with that group beyond the top 3 guys.

Edge or OT whichever is a more talented prospect at the time. Willing to trade up a bit if someone special unexpectedly falls e.g. outstanding WR prospect.
Round 2 if no trade up in R1 willing to trade up for talented player including WR, FS, TE, fast LB prospects.
Same for R3...even more so as lots of comp picks make R4 a long way off
Get the talent we need to improve, even if some need a year of seasoning. Like OT to replace geezer at RT in 2027

RobertWeathers said:

I agree. Spillane is good but is 30. Ellis is ok but has some deficiencies. He might be playing more than he should but whatever. An elite LB who can play all over the field and cover well would be an incredible addition to the D.

A Gronk 2.0 is also a major need. Specifically in the run/pass blocking and can be a solid 2nd/3rd read in the passing game. HH will most likely be gone next year.

If we are drafting need a RT who can be serviceable year 1 if Moses goes down (which is highly possible) and could spell him for a few snaps a game. Protecting Drake is a priority.

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EVERYBODY wants a Gronk 2.0, but those are as rare as hen’s teeth.

The Gr8est said:

EVERYBODY wants a Gronk 2.0, but those are as rare as hen’s teeth.

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Point is a TE who can block run/pass and be active in the passing game.

Hmmmm, trading down. Maybe one of the draftniks could help me out. What would be the kind of return the Pats could expect from a trade down that would keep our 2nd rounder in the 38-45 range? Would be an additional 3rd or even a lower 2nd? plus. The Problem with a trade down this year is that we already have 11 picks, 2nd highest in the league and we are NOT going to keep 11 rookies on this team. Would you give up 31 to pick at say 40 and 63 to get an extra 2nd next year or would it take more.

I want best value available, regardless of position, so I voted “something not listed”.

To be clear, that’s almost the same as “best player available” but not exactly. It’s adjusted according to the Pats existing roster.

What I want is the player who will most improve the team. Picking at 31 I don’t expect an immediate starter.

So it’s mostly how much of an improvement over the backup he’ll replace, and also how much need there is for improvement of depth at that position.

The one other question is whether trading either up or down would be better than picking, especially at 31. I’d be fine with either, as long as the end result maximizes improvement of the team.

OT He/Him

Protect Maye.

Best player available at any position of need.

Mike the Brit said:

Go best player available. When you're at the top of the draft order, you can draft for need (especially if those needs are as glaring as they were in the last two years). At the bottom of the draft it's a matter of finding a quality player. Though I'd never say "never", I'd be disappointed in a running back or tight end, given that, in my opinion, good to very good ones are available in the second, third and fourth rounds (Michel was a good player, but so too were Harris and Stevenson).

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Agree on TE, not so much on RB.

In a crazy world where the ND RB slid to 31 I’d dead ass consider it.

Not much depth in this years RB class and I DO think they need more than Hendo and Mondre. Odd to me that they didn’t sign a servicable vet in FA.

That said, OT/Edge are the real spots I think they go at 31 if possible.

Edge makes the most sense to me as a cross section of it being a very big position of need and a spot where very good players will be there at 31.

That said, I could also see the argument for LB, TE, and maybe RT. You don't have as immediate of a need but you have players aging out very soon and will need a starter ready to go, and those positions will generally bring you better value at 31. You might not get as much value at RT but it should be fine. The LBs and TEs available at 31 should be pretty high end though.

I could also see an argument for trading down, as silly as that might sound. Trade down to the low 30s/high 40s in exchange for an extra 3rd, then trade up with your late round picks to get an extra 4th or two, and make a lot of 2nd/3rd/4th round choices to stock your cupboards with lots of good depth, which is really where the team is lacking.