4/13 Rob Rang 2 round mock draft

[mayoclinic]

This from NFLdraftscout:

NFL Draft - CBSSports.com Football

For the Pats:

23 - Larry English, DE/OLB
34 - Donald Brown, RB
47 - William Moore, S
58 - James Casey, TE

Other notable picks:

15 - Malcolm Jenkins, CB
18 - Rey Maualuga, ILB
20 - Brian Orapko, DE/OLB
21 - Knowshon Moreno, RB
22 - Eben Britton, OT
24 - Darius Butler, CB
25 - Robert Ayers, DE/LB
28 - William Beatty, OT
29 - Clay Matthews, LB
30 - Evander Hood, DT
32 - Hakeem Nicks, WR
40 - Louis Delmas, S
44 - Sean Smith, CB/S
48 - Jarron Gilbert, DE/DT
50 - Clint Sintim, LB
51 - Patrick Chung, S
52 - Mike Wallace, WR
55 - Connor Barwin, DE/OLB
56 - Pat White, QB/WR
64 - Eric Wood, OG/C

It's a bit of a weird draft to me. 3 days ago Rang put out a 1 round mock in which he had Connor Barwin going to NE at #23. Now he has Barwin dropping 32 spots to #55 in 3 days and being passed up 3 times by the Pats. That's kind of perplexing. I wonder if he's heard anything specific?

I'm not a fan of English at 23. Rang's comment is "English is quietly rising as the draft approaches"; if he is rising, it's certainly been quiet, because all signs suggest he has fallen out of first round play. Donald Brown at 34 is an interesting pick. I like James Casey a lot, but at 58 I would take Eric Wood without hesitating.

 

[Boston Boxer]

a lot of drafts have us taking Donald Brown...i just dont get it. Do we really need a RB. Maybe Faulk CANT play forever. We will see soon.

 

[DW Toys]

a lot of drafts have us taking Donald Brown...i just dont get it. Do we really need a RB. Maybe Faulk CANT play forever. We will see soon.

You think they take Brown to get rid of Faulk in that scenario Cousin?
DW Toys

 

[JMarr]

This is the best mock I've seen thus far. The only thing that really stands out to me is Pettigrew at 31--he'll go much higher. It is weird how wildly different this mock is from Rang's last effort.

 

[mayoclinic]

You think they take Brown to get rid of Faulk in that scenario Cousin?
DW Toys

I think Donald Brown is much more than just a 3rd round back - not to diminish Faulk in the least. But Brown could just as easily displace Maroney as Faulk.

Here's a nice take on Brown from Adam Schein at Fox Sports:

FOX Sports on MSN - Video - Video Central

 

[DaBruinz]

This is the best mock I've seen thus far. The only thing that really stands out to me is Pettigrew at 31--he'll go much higher. It is weird how wildly different this mock is from Rang's last effort.

From a Pats point of view, it doesn't make sense. You don't pass over top end talent like Delmas, Smith, Barwin and Gilbert for a Donald Brown. He's good. But RB isn't a position of need. Not with 5 RBs on the roster already. Same goes for Casey. The need just isn't there.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Mayo, thanks for posting all these Mock drafts. I appreciate it alot.

 

[mayoclinic]

From a Pats point of view, it doesn't make sense. You don't pass over top end talent like Delmas, Smith, Barwin and Gilbert for a Donald Brown. He's good. But RB isn't a position of need. Not with 5 RBs on the roster already. Same goes for Casey. The need just isn't there.

I would agree with that. I like Brown a lot, but I value all 4 players you listed ahead of him for the Pats on my current value board.

As I said in the OP, I'm particularly confused about Barwin at 55 to Atlanta. I have no problem with Rang pulling a Nawrocki and rating Barwin as a late 2nd rounder - I wouldn't agree, but I would understand his view. But on his April 10 mock Rang had Barwin going #23 to the Pats, and I don't think he had Larry English in the first round. I can understand changing players, but for someone to drop a whole round in 3 days I would think there was some specific issue that had come up. It's a little strange to me, and it makes me wonder a bit if he isn't trying to make some points with his mock and force fit things a bit.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

a lot of drafts have us taking Donald Brown...i just dont get it. Do we really need a RB. Maybe Faulk CANT play forever. We will see soon.

Brown is a solid player AND a solid team mate. He has a lot of wear on the tires, but he makes plays and punishes defenses. I see no rerason he and Faulk can not co-exist on the team. It's Maroney I worry about if Brown is drafted.

Someone suggested a while back we send Maroney to Denver for a 2010 4th rounder. Maybe with Brown that could be an option.