2007 Pats Mock Draft - Day One

[patsfaninpa]

My gut tells me that eventually BB has to look long and hard at revamping his back 8 on defense and re-energizing them with speed and some youth. Maybe they prove me wrong this Sunday night against Indy, I hope so.

Also, agree with your earlier post about losing Asante and Graham.
We're not talking Michael Haynes and Russ Francis. They will be missed.
But, both are replaceable. Graham's greatest strength is his blocking.
We can sign a veteran te who can block. Play him on 1st down. And,
take him out when we go 3-wide. Asante will probably have to be
replaced with a draft pick unless we can sign someone like Clements
from Buffalo.

1A CB. Three pretty good Sr's. L.Hall,M.McCauley and D.Hughes. I'm
putting the whammy on Sea. as I type this and hope they miss the
playoffs. Should put us in a spot high enough to get one of the 3.
Or, in position to move up a little. Trade a 3. Especially if we get
a supplemental 3. Can always move back from 32. Which, I think
we will do. But, for a pick next year. My pick D.Hughes - CB Cal.
He's having a tremendous season 8 picks already! Good size. The other
guys will probably work out better. Which, should help us. 6'2" 190

1B S There are 3 or 4 guys mentioned here. Landry will be gone. The
rest are; B.Meriweather - Miami,A.Rouse - Va Tech,T.Zbikowski - ND
and M.Griffin - Texas. I'm trading down. Getting my 3 back and taking
M.Griffin - S Texas. 6"0" 205. I've seen him play quite a bit. Texas is on TV
a lot. Good player. Not spectacular. Has blocked a couple of punts.
I don't think he's Rodney's replacement. But, will help on special teams
in 07 and replace. E.Wilson when he leaves.

2 We are going to draft a lb on day one some year right? My preference
would be an edge pass-rusher. Not going to get one of those at 64.
Posluszny,P.Willis,Abiamri and Woodley will be gone. Some possibilites
include; D.Harris - Mich, B.Davis - FSU, HB Blades - Pitt,. Harris looks
to have thesize you need in an ilb in a 3-4. And, will get bigger and
stronger once he gets in the pros. 6'1" 245. Probably shorter. One
hedge here. If S. Smith - WR - USC starts to drop. I'm taking him.

3. Can start looking offense here. This would be the 3 we get back
in a trade down. Hoping we get a 3 in supple. for Givens. We could
use some depth at skill positions. So, should get good value here.
Rb's tend to drop. Could use another WR. Crapshoot at this point.
J.Hicks - T Tech 6'2" 210. Good size. Plays in a spread and has
caught a lot of balls.

Would like to get a rb,te and def. lineman too.

 

[cstjohn17]

11/7/06
- changing my gameplan, very knee jerk

Wishlist
- Adalius Thomas looks solid, he played great against Cincy, love to see him as a Pat but more than likely it will be a mid-tier signing like Bryan Thomas, Jets, http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5908
- I don't know who but a veteran ILB would be nice
- assumes Samuels is extended and Graham leaves, the CB free agency market is not so hot, Clement is having an off year and Samuels may be better on the long run
2007 FAs - http://www.footballsfuture.com/2007/nfl/freeagentsDB.htm

1A) Michael Griffin, SS/FS, Texas, 6'1 205, 4.48
- playmaker at either Safety position
1B) Daymeion Hughes CB, California, 6'2 188
- top senior CB
2) Johnny Lee Higgins, WR, Texas El-Paso, 5'11 185, 4.40
- game breaker, PR / KR/ WR
- same mold as Branch but faster
- smallish at 5'11 but very quick and fast enough to get over the top
3) David Harris, ILB, Michigan, 6'2 245, 4.75
- player to groom
4) Matt Spaeth, TE, Minnesota, 6'7 262, 4.80
- coming off shoulder injury, becomes blocking TE


------------------------------------------------------------------
Nice list, another player I am curious about in Michael Bush from Louisville. Big back 6'2, 250 coming off an injury, I wonder if there will be any interest if he is available at the end of round 1?

Here are my picks for this week.

Not sure about how smart, tough, fast, etc. these guys are just players I have liked so far based on what I have seen.

10/30/06
- assume a veteran FA LB is signed, likely an OLB pushing Vrabel back inside
- either Bryan Thomas, Jets, http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5908 or Adalius Thomas, Ravens, http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5215
- Adalius will be much more expensive
- assumes Samuels is extended and Graham leaves

1A) Zach Miller, TE Arizona, 6'5 260, 4.75
- excellent receiver and blocker, best TE available in the next two drafts
1B) Reggie Nelson, FS, Florida
- Junior playmaker, athletic enough to also line up at CB
2) Johnny Lee Higgins, WR, Texas El-Paso, 5'11 185, 4.40
- game breaker, PR / KR/ WR
- same mold as Branch but faster
- smallish at 5'11 but very quick and fast enough to get over the top
3) Kareem Brown, DT, Miami, 6'4 315, 5.05
- this guy is a beast, not involved in the brawl as far I as could tell
- DL is a position of strength but you can never have enough top end talent in the trenches
- potential to be a dominant end in a 3-4 and big enough to play inside in a 4-3
- takes Hill's roster spot
4) Anthony Waters, ILB, Clemson, 6'3 242, 4.6
- coming off an injury, should be healed by the draft
- was a 1st round talent, could be a steal if available in later rounds

------------------------------------------------------------------
10/25
Feeling a little crazy today.. I will guess at the first four rounds.

1A) Zach Miller, TE Arizona, 6'5 260, 4.75
- excellent receiver and blocker, best TE available in the next two drafts
1B) Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina, 6'4, 205, 4.5
- third-year sophomore, draft eligible
- has even played a little free safety ala Troy Brown
2) Aaron Ross, CB, Texas 6'0 192, 4.45
- great athlete, starting experience at top school
- has experience as a returner and on special teams coverage
3) Kareem Brown, DT, Miami, 6'4 315, 5.05
- this guy is a beast, not involved in the brawl as far I as could tell
- potential to be a dominant end in a 3-4 and big enough to play inside in a 4-3
4) Anthony Waters, ILB, Clemson, 6'3 242, 4.6
- coming off an injury, should be healed by the draft
- was a 1st round talent, could be a steal if available in later rounds

 

[cstjohn17]

11/13/06
- more knee jerk

Veterans FAs
- assumes Samuel and Graham leave

Nate Clements, CB
- although he is not having a great year my hope is they sign him
- great athelete, physical and can play the run
- cost 6 years , 33 million

EJ Henderson, LB
- not the best player but solid
- sign EJ or some vet in his mold (Kawika Mitchell)
- Henderson to take over for Seau, 10 years younger and faster than Seau

2007 FAs - http://www.footballsfuture.com/2007/...eeagentsDB.htm

1A) CB -Antoine Cason, Arizona (Jr) - 6'0, 185 4.43
- start as nickel, challenge Hobbs for #2 spot
- true cover corner
1B) WR - Robert Meachem, Tennessee (Jr) - 6'3, 210 4.48
- game breaking WR
2) OLB\DE - Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech (Jr) - 6'5, 255, 4.65
- add youth to LB, excellent player
- if he shows enough Vrabel would move inside and Ellis would start outside
3) S - Josh Gattis, Wake Forest - 6'0, 212, 4.49
- player to groom behind Rodney
- can play either S position and special teams
4) Anthony Waters, ILB, Clemson - 6'3 242, 4.6
- more youth at LB
- coming off an injury, should be healed by the draft
- was a 1st round talent, could be a steal if available in later rounds
---------------------------------------------------------------------11/7/06
- changing my gameplan, very knee jerk

Wishlist
- Adalius Thomas looks solid, he played great against Cincy, love to see him as a Pat but more than likely it will be a mid-tier signing like Bryan Thomas, Jets, http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5908
- I don't know who but a veteran ILB would be nice
- assumes Samuels is extended and Graham leaves, the CB free agency market is not so hot, Clement is having an off year and Samuels may be better on the long run
2007 FAs - http://www.footballsfuture.com/2007/...eeagentsDB.htm

1A) Michael Griffin, SS/FS, Texas, 6'1 205, 4.48
- playmaker at either Safety position
1B) Daymeion Hughes CB, California, 6'2 188
- top senior CB
2) Johnny Lee Higgins, WR, Texas El-Paso, 5'11 185, 4.40
- game breaker, PR / KR/ WR
- same mold as Branch but faster
- smallish at 5'11 but very quick and fast enough to get over the top
3) David Harris, ILB, Michigan, 6'2 245, 4.75
- player to groom
4) Anthony Waters, ILB, Clemson, 6'3 242, 4.6
- coming off an injury, should be healed by the draft
- was a 1st round talent, could be a steal if available in later rounds


------------------------------------------------------------------
Nice list, another player I am curious about in Michael Bush from Louisville. Big back 6'2, 250 coming off an injury, I wonder if there will be any interest if he is available at the end of round 1?

Here are my picks for this week.

Not sure about how smart, tough, fast, etc. these guys are just players I have liked so far based on what I have seen.

10/30/06
- assume a veteran FA LB is signed, likely an OLB pushing Vrabel back inside
- either Bryan Thomas, Jets, http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5908 or Adalius Thomas, Ravens, http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/5215
- Adalius will be much more expensive
- assumes Samuels is extended and Graham leaves

1A) Zach Miller, TE Arizona, 6'5 260, 4.75
- excellent receiver and blocker, best TE available in the next two drafts
1B) Reggie Nelson, FS, Florida
- Junior playmaker, athletic enough to also line up at CB
2) Johnny Lee Higgins, WR, Texas El-Paso, 5'11 185, 4.40
- game breaker, PR / KR/ WR
- same mold as Branch but faster
- smallish at 5'11 but very quick and fast enough to get over the top
3) Kareem Brown, DT, Miami, 6'4 315, 5.05
- this guy is a beast, not involved in the brawl as far I as could tell
- DL is a position of strength but you can never have enough top end talent in the trenches
- potential to be a dominant end in a 3-4 and big enough to play inside in a 4-3
- takes Hill's roster spot
4) Anthony Waters, ILB, Clemson, 6'3 242, 4.6
- coming off an injury, should be healed by the draft
- was a 1st round talent, could be a steal if available in later rounds

------------------------------------------------------------------
10/25
Feeling a little crazy today.. I will guess at the first four rounds.

1A) Zach Miller, TE Arizona, 6'5 260, 4.75
- excellent receiver and blocker, best TE available in the next two drafts
1B) Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina, 6'4, 205, 4.5
- third-year sophomore, draft eligible
- has even played a little free safety ala Troy Brown
2) Aaron Ross, CB, Texas 6'0 192, 4.45
- great athlete, starting experience at top school
- has experience as a returner and on special teams coverage
3) Kareem Brown, DT, Miami, 6'4 315, 5.05
- this guy is a beast, not involved in the brawl as far I as could tell
- potential to be a dominant end in a 3-4 and big enough to play inside in a 4-3
4) Anthony Waters, ILB, Clemson, 6'3 242, 4.6
- coming off an injury, should be healed by the draft
- was a 1st round talent, could be a steal if available in later rounds

 

[drpatriot]

3(98) WR Steve Breaston, Michigan
So, here's what I'm looking for: a shifty, elusive, undersized WR with speed and quickness. After years running a passing attack centered on Iron Smurfs like Brown, Branch, Patten and Givens, the Pats are finally stocked with all these tall, fast, rangy, physical receivers centered around Gabriel, Jackson, Watson and Thomas. So, ironically, I'm looking for an undersized quick receiver, whose been productive, is elusive, has good hands and runs good routes. Breaston is my early pick to play that role. He's got explosive talent and a refreshingly understated, professional demenor. Still, I'll be reading a lot of scouting reports to find a WR that fits the bill. Honestly, I dont think a tall rangy WR in the first round makes a lot of sense for the Pats. We need a compliment to Jackson, not a twin.

As a Michigan fan, I'm hoping that we don't select Breaston. He has terrible hands and is not a particularly good route runner. If we want a WR, he is not our man.

However, if we are looking for a KR/PR in the 4th or 5th round (and we likely are) then Breaston would be a fantastic choice.

In fact, I wouldn't expect us to take a WR before the 4th or 5th round regardless. That'll be Belichick's big surprise this year.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I've stopped drafting based on need alone-- BB just doesn't do it. He always drafted players he likes, first and foremost, then adapts the scheme to take advantage of their talent. As it turns out, there are only a few dozen players in any draft that are "real Pat" prospects. There are too many reasons NOT to draft a player.

Bingo!

Of course, we aren't going to spend a first-round pick on a QB and it wasn't an accident that we took a kicker last year, but those are pretty much the only limits to "best player available". The good consequence is that we've had very few first-round busts. On the other hand, the team can get unbalanced quite quickly if the free agent market is not as liquid as it might be.