2014 draft priorities

[Snake Eyes]

This is all I want,a grooming project. Brady will be 37 next year and Mallett in the final year of his deal. We need the next developmental kid. However, the difference this time is that whatever kid we draft COULD end up being the successor in 3-4 years. There will be 1st round QB talents in rounds 2 and 3; we should take advantage.

As supafly and you say though, if BB likes a late round/UDFA kid like this I'm fine with that too.

Right now Tanney is on the Cowboys practice squad, we can sign him for peanuts.

 

[ATippett56]

How can you honestly make a statement like that while attempting to keep a straight face?

Offensive linemen are affectionately known as "Grizzlies". Grizzly is a type of Bear.

Besides, I'm not the one who originally coined the phrase:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...monium-positional-preview-offensive-line.html

 

[ATippett56]

RE your point that we got Hernandez late in the draft and we could do it again. I think this is a bit of a straw man argument because the reality is you could find examples at all positions where in the 4th,5th, 6th 7th rounds e.t.c you find good players. My point is only that historically C's and interior lineman of a good NFL caliber can be found mid-later in the draft.

No thanks.

I don't want a serviceable center, I want a damn good one. I seriously doubt the New England Patriots will find a collegiate offensive center no later than the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft that would start immediately.

 

[Huckleberry1]

QB... we need Tom Brady's successor and we need him now

They aren't going to be seeing the field for 4-5 years so i don't think it's too much of a priority next draft. If McCarron is there in the 2nd go for it.

 

[Huckleberry1]

No thanks.

I don't want a serviceable center, I want a damn good one. I seriously doubt the New England Patriots will find a collegiate offensive center no later than the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft that would start immediately.

I get your point, i would love to have a dominant Center but they can get a good one in the mid rounds. Koppen was really good and he was a 4th.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Next draft priorities

QB... we need Tom Brady's successor and we need him now

LOL, Tom is still gonna be performing well for 5 years I bet. Unless he gets a serious injury.

 

[Tunescribe]

I agree with the need for linemen on both sides of the ball. Maybe middle linebacker? Mayo returning to his previous form is not a given -- torn pec is hard to come back from.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I agree with the need for linemen on both sides of the ball. Maybe middle linebacker? Mayo returning to his previous form is not a given -- torn pec is hard to come back from.

I am not at all worried about Mayo, I think he comes back as strong as ever. Much as i hate to say it Big Vince is the one who worries me the most because that injury with that body is a recipe for trouble. I hope he has already started his comeback because he is going to have to get into the best shape of his life to make a healthy return from this injury. I think he can do it because i think he's a really dedicated guy who will do all he can to get back to form and to the field, but it is going to be tough.

 

[jsull87]

No thanks.

I don't want a serviceable center, I want a damn good one. I seriously doubt the New England Patriots will find a collegiate offensive center no later than the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft that would start immediately.

That's fair enough. Do you think they will be able to get a stud in the 1st couple of rounds for this draft.

Personally my philosophy is as long as we have scar and give him NFL level talent we will have a top 10 line in the league year in year out. Especially while Solder, Mankins and Vollmer are on this team.

 

[supafly]

I get your point, i would love to have a dominant Center but they can get a good one in the mid rounds. Koppen was really good and he was a 4th.

Your point is well taken. It's possible that they double up with interior lineman who can play both C and G. One could be taken in the higher rounds, and one could be taken in the mid to later rounds.

Koppen was actually taken in the 5th round, which proves your point even more.

 

[supafly]

Offensive linemen are affectionately known as "Grizzlies". Grizzly is a type of Bear.

Besides, I'm not the one who originally coined the phrase:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...monium-positional-preview-offensive-line.html

If you had said anything at all about "grizzlies, etc" I would have understood just fine. I am certainly familiar with the term "grizzly" when talking about an offensive lineman.

Your statement was "it's more like the Dante Scarnecchia school of dancing bears," which doesn't really come off as sounding too positive---especially coming from you, who is generally known as being rather pessimistic 9/10 times.

No offense meant, as it isn't a shot at your character, I'm just saying that it was easy to take it as a knock on the OL for some of its struggles this year.

 

[supafly]

I agree with the need for linemen on both sides of the ball. Maybe middle linebacker? Mayo returning to his previous form is not a given -- torn pec is hard to come back from.

Quite possible that Hightower ends up as our middle linebacker, especially if Spikes leaves in the offseason as many expect. Collins would play strongside and Mayo would be the weakside.

I'm not sure that Belichick would see LB as a need again, especially after taking 3 or 4 in the past year and a half, but anything's possible of course.

Mayo signed a pretty nice contract extension not too long ago, so it'd be one hell of a major blow to lose him permanently...Should we really be that concerned about Mayo having difficulties trying to return from a torn pectoral muscle with almost a full year to heal properly?

It's not like it was a torn Achilles or a torn ACL etc. There's not really any reason to believe that it will be that difficult to return back to full health with a relatively common NFL injury that occurred very early in the season, is there? I mean, nothing is a given of course; but I didn't think that anyone was even remotely concerned about Jerod Mayo not being able to come back from a torn pec muscle..

 

[Aßßynormal]

Completely disagree on the draft priorities. On offense, the New England Patriots draft priority is at center and a double dip is in order. I would not bother drafting a tight end until the fourth round. Furthermore, a quality center is more important to the offensive line than offensive guard.

As for the defense, if the New England Patriots are unable to re-sign Aqib Talib, then the number one overall draft priority for the New England Patriots is cornerback. A young run stuffing defensive tackle would the next priority if either Vince Wilfork is unable to adequately recover from Achilles tendon surgery or if Isaac Sopoaga becomes a salary cap casualty.

I completely agree with two OC picks and TE as priorities. I differ on the round we take the TE.

I'd be okay with a first round pick or a trade up in the second round. I want a Gronk size type, huge with long arms who can, at minimum, block very well and be very effective in the Red Zone. He needs to be able to replace Gronk when he's injured, in Red Zone plays/blocking. More than that would be a bonus.

 

[ATippett56]

I completely agree with two OC picks and TE as priorities. I differ on the round we take the TE.

From my perspective, the 2014 NFL Draft hinges on what occurs with the following players during the off-season:

Talib
Wilfork
Sopoaga
Kelly

As for tight end, I'd be fine with the selection of Arthur Lynch, Georgia Bulldogs senior tight end, in the fourth round.

 

[manxman2601]

That's fair enough. Do you think they will be able to get a stud in the 1st couple of rounds for this draft.

Personally my philosophy is as long as we have scar and give him NFL level talent we will have a top 10 line in the league year in year out. Especially while Solder, Mankins and Vollmer are on this team.

Travis Swanson of Arkansas is a potential stud. Projected as late second to early third at the moment. His OL coach said he's the most athletic lineman he's coached since Joe Thomas and his current HC Bret Bielema, formerly of Wisconsin where they grow linemen on trees said that Swanson was the best at tne position that he's seen. That's my guy.

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema raves about center Travis Swanson - NFL.com

Freaks List: The 20 craziest athletes in college football - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com News, Scores, Stats, Schedule and BCS Rankings

 

[ATippett56]

Travis Swanson of Arkansas is a potential stud. Projected as late second to early third at the moment.

Freaks List: The 20 craziest athletes in college football - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com News, Scores, Stats, Schedule and BCS Rankings

The link was already referenced in post #104 of this thread.

 

[ATippett56]

That's fair enough. Do you think they will be able to get a stud in the 1st couple of rounds for this draft.

Personally my philosophy is as long as we have scar and give him NFL level talent we will have a top 10 line in the league year in year out. Especially while Solder, Mankins and Vollmer are on this team.

New England Patriots mock drafts for your perusal.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...13/1034735-2014-mock-draft-thread-page15.html

NFL Draft - 2014 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[Fencer]

Maybe, maybe not.

How many good QBs have their been past 38 years old? The wrangler jean man himself?

Guys are lasting longer than they used to in multiple sports, and it's not just because of forbidden treatments like HGH. I'm guessing that applies to QBs like Brady and Manning (currently 37) too.

 

[kennyb]

#1 is a TE who can complement or substitute for the Gronker.

The rest depend on the status of Talib, Mankins, Wendell, Wilfork, Kelley, etc.

I would guess Wilfork will retire or at least have a huge pay cut. Kelly will likely stay around for another year after his knee heals.

So I don't think DL is a huge need.

I would guess Mankins will get cut, doubt they pay a slightly above average guard 6M or whatever he's getting in salary. He'll probably refuse to take a pay cut. Stubborn guy that Mankins.

So I think #2 need is interior OL, especially if they don't resign Connolly or Wendell.

If they sign Talib, it would probably be a franchise tag, so #3 is CB again. Hopefully they get a Dennard or a Ryan and not a Butler.

#4 is a LB who can cover instead of the slug like Spikes and the not much better Hightower.

 

[RayClay]

Defensive tackle. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security. Kelly is probably toast, at least here. Wilfork, on the optimistic side will be a savvy veteran who is physically limited. Sopoaga isn't a spring chicken either.

Chris Jones could be a nice penetrating tackle in a rotation. Vellano is a nice guy, Armstead is a mystery. They need one top DT and soon they'll need another one.

Remember, when we played the 3-4 most successfully, we had three guys who were dominant and the nose tackle could play end and both ends could play nose tackle.

With two tackles you need to hold that line and also have some versatility or defenses will force us to adjust and we will be weaker up the middle, or at the pass rush, safety, linebacker or whatever adjustment is necessary.

One beast gives us a few years to develop the other guy and we have a head start on a rotation with Jones and maybe Armstead.