As of today (2/10), who do you *want* the Pats to draft first?

[Pape]

You have to find that "LT that is an anchor".

Listen here's the reality, it isn't just "people here" purposefully underrating lineman. There's no draft board or analysis that has the top lineman anywhere near Carter as a prospect or Hunter or Graham for that matter.

And then once you get to the LT's it's like 4-5 guys who are all bunched together.

So yeah, if you want to trade down and get an extra pick somewhere to get one of those guys, fine. But if you are saying "nah just use the 4", that's pure insanity. That's the type of stuff that has agents questioning the current regimes competency and the media running stories about how the Patriots made one of the biggest draft reaches in history with a stud in their grasp.

Then show me that. The boards I see don't say that. At least one of the LTs have been in the top ten of every big board.

 

[Huckleberry1]

another Harry?

I don’t know. I don’t think he’s going to be a bust, and I think he can help teams that need a #2 possession receiver, but the Patriots need receivers who can get separation. They need speed and quickness. I don’t think they want Maye throwing into coverage hoping his guy will come down with it. I would rather see them go after Luther Burden or Mathew Golden.

 

[Steve102]

a lot of the guys here are purposefully underrating the OT's in this draft...The "reach" if there is a "reach" at all, isn't as far as they are making out to be... Is it a bad move to go out and draft a guy like Abdul Carter? is it a sexier pick than a LT, no doubt about it... would love to have a guy that drops 10 sacks in a season... but thats a luxury pick...

The order of priority for the Patriots this year starts with Left Tackle / Offensive line. Why? Protecting Drake Maye is of paramount importance. He already had his bell rung twice last year...

He's a reach if he's a guy who should be drafted at 8-12. Don't get me wrong, I am all in on in on Campbell, Banks or Simmons, just not at #4. If Carter is there, he's not a luxury, he's a need as well. The best defenses are the ones who can rush the QB with 4 guys and cover. Carter might be that guy, and you don't have that guy on the team currently. Mason Graham might be another guy who's a need up front. There's no luxury pick in this draft for the Pats.

 

[lancerman]

Then show me that. The boards I see don't say that. At least one of the LTs have been in the top ten of every big board.

Maybe fringe top 10, and there's usually another in the next spot or two two spots. And it's almost never the same guy. There's like 4-5 lineman in the 9 to 18 range.

Carter is consistently 1 or 2.

 

[Lansdowne]

You have to find that "LT that is an anchor".

Listen here's the reality, it isn't just "people here" purposefully underrating lineman. There's no draft board or analysis that has the top lineman anywhere near Carter as a prospect or Hunter or Graham for that matter.

And then once you get to the LT's it's like 4-5 guys who are all bunched together.

So yeah, if you want to trade down and get an extra pick somewhere to get one of those guys, fine. But if you are saying "nah just use the 4", that's pure insanity. That's the type of stuff that has agents questioning the current regimes competency and the media running stories about how the Patriots made one of the biggest draft reaches in history with a stud in their grasp.

Yup. Drafting strictly for need rather than taking the best player available is how bad teams stay bad. There are no Joe Alt type OT prospects in this draft, otherwise I’d definitely advocate for drafting one at 4.

 

[Pape]

Yup. Drafting strictly for need rather than taking the best player available is how bad teams stay bad. There are no Joe Alt type OT prospects in this draft, otherwise I’d definitely advocate for drafting one at 4.

That's a hollow talking point. When your QB has 2.3 seconds in the pocket, gets sacked 34 times (9% of his drop backs, 7th worst in the league in 12 starts) you better be drafting for need.

 

[pazrul72]

I voted Abdul Carter simply because I strongly believe in winning the trenches and taking BPA at a position of need. The strength of this draft is the d line though deeper at DT. For that reason i would love to see them take both an edge and a DT 1 and 2, build a truely nasty line that takes over games and lets Gonzo do his thing. Sign an A tier sideline to sideline LB in FA and now we are cooking with gas. Get the edge first because while i think Carter vrs Graham is a wash in value and id be ecstatic with either, i think the 2nd round DT would be better then the 2nd round edge. If both are gone then i want to trade down to the 9-12 range pick up an extra 2nd and grab the best OT according to thier evaluation. Any one of those 3 scenarios would make me very happy

 

[Lansdowne]

That's a hollow talking point. When your QB has 2.3 seconds in the pocket, gets sacked 34 times (9% of his drop backs, 7th worst in the league in 12 starts) you better be drafting for need.

And you’re certain a tackle prospect who profiles as more of an interior lineman at the NFL level due to his short arms is the answer? Didn’t we already go through this with Isaiah Wynn?

If the Pats get Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter or Mason Graham, well guess what, they just drafted for need because there are glaring needs all over the roster as well. Sign a LT in free agency and take the best player available at 4 or trade down and get extra assets. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

 

[Water Boy]

That's a hollow talking point. When your QB has 2.3 seconds in the pocket, gets sacked 34 times (9% of his drop backs, 7th worst in the league in 12 starts) you better be drafting for need.

True. If we're going the BPA route the pick at 4 is Ashton Jeanty.

The Josh Simmons decision will of course depend on his rehab/recovery from knee surgery. He is the best of the bunch imo.

Simmons' knee makes me more nervous than Campbell's arms.

 

[lancerman]

Yup. Drafting strictly for need rather than taking the best player available is how bad teams stay bad. There are no Joe Alt type OT prospects in this draft, otherwise I’d definitely advocate for drafting one at 4.

Yup. Like I said, wanting something and it being there are two different things. And frankly, that's doubly so for one of the least talented rosters in the league. We can't be in the business of passing up better players to chase ghosts because we really want it.

I get that is a ****ty draft to be at 4, but it is what it is.

 

[Pape]

Simmons' knee makes me more nervous than Campbell's arms.

I understand that reticence

 

[mike_usagisan]

Some team in the mid 1st like Atlanta might sacrifice their 2nd rounder to draft Abdul Carter. I could see it.

Carter will be gone (I believe).

 

[mike_usagisan]

Here's Lazar's takes:

Lazar's NFL Draft Tiers: A Pre-Combine Ranking of the Patriots Options with the Fourth Overall Pick

1) Carter
2) Hunter
3) Campbell
4) Graham

 

[203Pat]

Wouldn't be mad if we stay put at 4 and take Abdul Carter but ideally I want to trade back a few spots and pick up an extra 2nd rounder and take whomever they like better at OT with Campbell and Banks. Picking up an additional 2 would give them 4 picks between rounds 2 and 3 which would be some good ammo to move around with.

 

[Ross12]

Carter will be gone (I believe).

Only so many ways it can go. I am pretty certain at least Cam Ward will go in the top 3. So that leaves 2 other draft picks. If no team drafts Sanders, then yes Carter and Hunter will be gone, but then that opens an avenue for the #4 pick to be traded down to a team who wants to take Sanders. Conversely, if Sanders does go in the top 3, then one of Hunter or Carter will be there at 4.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Only so many ways it can go. I am pretty certain at least Cam Ward will go in the top 3. So that leaves 2 other draft picks. If no team drafts Sanders, then yes Carter and Hunter will be gone, but then that opens an avenue for the #4 pick to be traded down to a team who wants to take Sanders. Conversely, if Sanders does go in the top 3, then one of Hunter or Carter will be there at 4.

I'm not completely convinced that Sanders is going to go that early or that teams will want to give up a lot for him. We might just have to bite the bullet and take Graham or Campbell or whoever else the team likes. I'm intrigued by Simmons if we can get him in the second or trade up from second to get him.

 

[lancerman]

I'm not completely convinced that Sanders is going to go that early or that teams will want to give up a lot for him. We might just have to bite the bullet and take Graham or Campbell or whoever else the team likes. I'm intrigued by Simmons if we can get him in the second or trade up from second to get him.

Sanders is in no way going in the top 4. Titans are already saying they are going with a generational talent (IE Hunter or Carter). The Browns are stuck with Watson for awhile and can't go QB when they need to just figure out how to make their mess work.

It all comes down to the Giants and if they want Ward. I think they take Ward. But there's a world where they don't like either and view paying for Goff as a much better bet.

But I think even in a scenario where the Titans throw a curveball, and get Ward, the Giants might not want Sanders.

 

[Pape]

And you’re certain a tackle prospect who profiles as more of an interior lineman at the NFL level due to his short arms is the answer? Didn’t we already go through this with Isaiah Wynn?

You assume I am talking about Campbell. You'd be wrong

If the Pats get Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter or Mason Graham, well guess what, they just drafted for need because there are glaring needs all over the roster as well.

yeah, great. we get ten sacks. we'd also allow 50+ sacks again. we gave up 52 sacks vs the weakest schedule in the league. which has a bigger impact?

Sign a LT in free agency and take the best player available at 4 or trade down and get extra assets. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

sign a DE in free agency. there are better dline men available vs ol

 

[yukon cornelius]

I'm not completely convinced that Sanders is going to go that early or that teams will want to give up a lot for him. We might just have to bite the bullet and take Graham or Campbell or whoever else the team likes. I'm intrigued by Simmons if we can get him in the second or trade up from second to get him.

graham is going to be there at 4, and i like the pick

barring a run on OT, we can do OK at the top of 2, or even trade back up.........and i know this thread is "right now", but there is no way we don't address OT in FA, either.......so not reaching for an OT at 4 has gotta be guaranteed

trading down to 10-14 somewhere still likely gets an OT......but I don't want to see them take an OT that projects to G, either.......I'd almost rather see one of the 2nd round OTs that actually projects to an OT but needs work......i;d be ok with a college OT who projects to G later in the draft, like a Zabel in the 2nd.........but gotta get an OT or preferably 2 in FA......

 

[yukon cornelius]

You assume I am talking about Campbell. You'd be wrong

yeah, great. we get ten sacks. we'd also allow 50+ sacks again. we gave up 52 sacks vs the weakest schedule in the league. which has a bigger impact?

sign a DE in free agency. there are better dline men available vs ol

you're looking at this in a vacuum......OL CAN be addressed both via FA and in later rounds; i fully expect a 2 to be used at OL

barring a trade down, there isn't an OT who really projects to be a starting OT who is worthy of the 4 pick........you don't take 10-12 talent at 4 because of need; you have a top 5 pick you have to take top 5 talent; otherwise trade down