Did a Fanspeak mock with trades trying to hit all those prospects or tiers that I’ve targeted and I’m going to explain some of my thinking as the mock proceeds. CBS big board.
First Round
I have quite a decent sized tier of late first/early second prospects all bunched together. There are the DTs (Tillery. Lawrence), WR’s (AJ Brown, Deebo, McLaurin, Harry(?)) and OL (Risner, McGary, Lindstrom). My initial thought was to just take AJ Brown who is, arguably, the best WR in the draft for me. But then I was offered a trade from the Bills. Pick 1.32 for 2.40 and 3.10 and the value of the trade plus knowing I could still get someone from my first tier was too tempting.
40. Chris Lindstrom, OL, Boston College
Backup interior OL year one and future Thuney or even Andrews replacement long-term.
Second Round
I felt I really needed a quality WR to go into the season with, someone who could contribute significantly and early. AJ Brown is my no1 Guy for that but he went at 32 leaving Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin. So I decided to trade up from 56 so I traded 2.24 and 3.37 for 2.15 and the Panthers. This trade up enabled me to get two from my initial tier which was pleasing.
47. Deebo Samuel, WR, S Carolina
So the 64 pick is next. I targeted safety and TE here knowing that 73 provided a backstop hopefully enabling me to pick up both positions. On my board at this point were Thornhill, Savage, Sternberger and Knox (safeties like Rapp and Abrams would be long gone). Safety was more likely to go first so that was what I was targeting at 64. Unfortunately, Thornhill went just before, leaving me with Savage. Thornhill would have been my pick because of his versatility (a head pick as it were) but Savage is an exciting prospect that gets the juices flowing (the heart pick). I was very happy to take him at 64. And who wouldn’t want a Patriots jersey with SAVAGE written on the back?
64. Darnell Savage, S, Maryland
So that leaves me with TE at 73. As I’ve said, I had two main ones that I was targting in Sternberger and Knox. Now at any other time, Knox would be my preference as I think his potential is to be a more rounded TE1. However, considering the state of the roster, I was looking for contributions in 2019 so I decided to make Sternberger my pick purely because I think he has more skills in the passing game right now. Thankfully, both made it to 73.
73. Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A & M
So that’s 4 key needs addressed with quality prospects. I was now targeting later prospects to round out the roster and there were a few round 4 prospects I was targeting. Time for another trade pick. I traded 3.10 (from Buffalo) to the Ravens for 3.38, 4.21 and 4.21.
However, as the 3rd round progressed, there was one key prospect from this round I really wanted so I traded back up in the third using the recently acquired 3rd from the Ravens and our own 4th. 3.38 and 4.32 back to the Ravens for 3.21
85. Mecole Hardman, WR, Georgia
Hardman gives us electric speed, a gadget player and a punt returner. Useful value in 2019 but an enticing future prospect at WR but one that will only need to contribute in specific roles year one.
97. Anthony Nelson, DL, Iowa
Zach Allen is one of my favourite prospects in this draft but his value is too rich for what I’m trying to achieve here and I see Nelson as a reasonably similar prospect. It’s also worth noting that he matches Chandler Jones’ athleticism very closely. This was a BPA pick for me and one I was very happy to make.
Going into the 4th round, there were two names I really wanted. One was Max Scharping and the other Ben Banogu and with the trades I’d made, I had two 4th round picks to do it. So at 113, I was happy to make the first of those picks.
113. Ben Banogu, LB, TCU
Note I call him a linebacker. I see him as a Jamie Collins type that could play the Van Noy position moving forward. Alternatively, he’s competition for Derek Rivers. Either way, I want that explosiveness on the roster with no desperate need to rush him.
And then disaster! Max Scharping, my target to be the swing OT went before my next pick so I traded out. Traded 4.21 to the Giants for 5.4 and 5.33
Now, with Scharping gone, I had one more name I was specifically targeting and at 5.4, I pulled the trigger.
142. Drew Sample, TE, Washington
With such a need at TE, a double dip was well worth the expense of a 5th round pick. I really like Sample, he’s a solid Y TE and the best blocker at the position according to PFF grades. He’s not flashy, he’s not likely to be a TE1, but he’s a quality TE2. Very happy getting this alternative to Sternberger to cover eventualities.
And that was largely that. There are still 6 picks to go but I’d got all the prospects I was targeting with the one annoying exception of Max Scharping. But you can’t win them all. And those final six picks for the back of the roster and the practice squad?
171. Jimmy Moreland, CB, James Madison
Undersized slot corner but very feisty and a real ballhawk. Future Jonathan Jones replacement?
205. Kingsley Keke, DL, Texas A&M
Interior sub rusher that can give you reps as a DE too.
239. Cody Thompson, WR, Toledo
Adam Thielen? One can hope. But we’ll worth the triple dip just in case.
243. Yosuah Nijman, OL, Virginia Tech
Needs plenty of work but he has Nate Solder size and Nate Solder athleticism. Well worth taking a shot.
246. Alexander Mattison, RB, Boise State
Mike Gillislee and Alex Collins comps for Mattison. He’s fun to watch and should disaster hit the RB room, could certainly carry the load.
252. Armon Watts, DL, Arkansas
Lance Zierlein has him as DT10, much higher than anyone else. Worth a shot.
I’d also add a post draft DT free agent signing. Allen Bailey possibly.