Assuming A Butler Trade, I'm Locked In On Melifonwu

[maineman209]

I think if I had to fill out a DL from this draft for that scheme, I'd do:

Malik McDowell
Nazair Jones
Eddie Vanderdoes
Jonathan Allen

I might even look into someone like Daeshon Hall and get him to put on 20 pounds.

Naturally, some of these guys will be high picks, but you don't build a defense in a single year either.

I'm beginning to like Tomlinson and Glasgow a bit more lately. Both seem like they could be very useful.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Zach Whitman has inducted Melifonwu in to the 3 sigma club (Three times more athletic than the average NFL athlete). He joins only JJ Watt, Lane Johnson and Byron Jones still active in the league. Calvin Jones and Evan Mathis were in the club until they retired.

Inducting (Another) New 3-Sigma Athlete

Makes sense. They were just waiting on confirmation of agility drill times, but I figured that he would be a shoe in once I saw the SS and 3-cone results. Those guys don't really make it out of the 1st round.

Edit: look who is number 2 on the safety list. Good thing I mentioned him already, so I don't look like I'm just jumping on a bandwagon.

 

[maineman209]

Makes sense. They were just waiting on confirmation of agility drill times, but I figured that he would be a shoe in once I saw the SS and 3-cone results. Those guys don't really make it out of the 1st round.

Edit: look who is number 2 on the safety list. Good thing I mentioned him already, so I don't look like I'm just jumping on a bandwagon.

Nacua and Leston are (likely UDFA) prospects with whom the Pats have had pre-draft contact.

Comparing each positional list to the Pats' contact list provides a lot of good clues as to who the Pats may be targeting on Day-4, or even with the #200 & #239.

EDIT:
Just reviewed the RBs. Dalton Crossan comes in at #22. Add in the fact that he's also a lacrosse player and he seems like a lock for the Pats to try to sign.

 

[Husse]

Browns eye Myles Garrett, Mitch Trubisky in NFL Draft | The MMQB with Peter King

The Saints (picking 11, 32, 42, 76, 103 in the first three rounds) are still interested in Butler, but someone familiar with their thinking believes they are leaning toward keeping their first three picks.

Peter King dosen't seem to think the Saints are willing to trade a high enough pick for us to be able to have a chance at Melifonwu. Reiss also tweeted part of the about quote. So it would seem quite far-fetched at the moment, but you never know.

I'm still a little bit scared of Melifonwu though, but he certainly does have potential.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Question -- given the premise here of:
- Butler trade for 32
- Jason McCourty signing
- drafting Melifonwu

How would we expect him to be utilized, both in year one and then long-term? I'm asking because in that scenario, literally every defensive back is signed through/including the 2018 season except Justin Coleman and Nate Ebner (and possibly JMac depending on the deal). Seems like a crowded situation, but of course talent and work ethic will always win out in the end; just seems like a high pick for that situation though.

 

[maineman209]

Question -- given the premise here of:
- Butler trade for 32
- Jason McCourty signing
- drafting Melifonwu

How would we expect him to be utilized, both in year one and then long-term? I'm asking because in that scenario, literally every defensive back is signed through/including the 2018 season except Justin Coleman and Nate Ebner (and possibly JMac depending on the deal). Seems like a crowded situation, but of course talent and work ethic will always win out in the end; just seems like a high pick for that situation though.

They need to find a replacement for DMac at some point. I think he turns 32 before the end of his current contract in 2019 (?). Chung is about the same age, although he played over 1200 combined snaps in 2016 (defense and ST).

If Meifonwu is BB's guy and BB can get him, he'll find room for him, one way or another.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

They need to find a replacement for DMac at some point. I think he turns 32 before the end of his current contract in 2019 (?). Chung is about the same age, although he played over 1200 combined snaps in 2016 (defense and ST).

If Meifonwu is BB's guy and BB can get him, he'll find room for him, one way or another.

I don't disagree here. That said, I phrased it the way I did because we know that's how the Patriots analyze it from War Room -- who is the player going to beat out in year 1, and who is he going to beat out in year 2+.

If Belichick really likes the guy, he will find a use for him as you say. I'm just curious as to what that reshuffling would be. Maybe Rowe's role would be more limited.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't disagree here. That said, I phrased it the way I did because we know that's how the Patriots analyze it from War Room -- who is the player going to beat out in year 1, and who is he going to beat out in year 2+.

If Belichick really likes the guy, he will find a use for him as you say. I'm just curious as to what that reshuffling would be. Maybe Rowe's role would be more limited.

He can take Jordan Richards' roster spot in year one and be used as a situational player (bigger TEs for example) or as a backup. In year two, he could be challenging any safety on the roster.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Speaking of 3Sigma, they've updated all their rankings with pro day information. I noticed that my favorite OL sleeper Kofi Amichia is #1 on their list. Thanks for confirming what my eyes were telling me, even if I was on a bandwagon of one.

I also looked up Marcus Sayles, since he had incredible testing numbers, and I found out that he's blocked 10 kicks in the last two years and 13 overall in his career. He sounds like a perfect late round guy to bring in as a ST superstar and potential slot corner. I don't recall ever seeing a faster 10 yard split before:

Height: 5092
Weight: 177
40 Yrd Dash: 4.50
20 Yrd Dash: 2.56
10 Yrd Dash: 1.45
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 15
Vertical Jump: 40
Broad Jump: 11'00"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.06
3-Cone Drill: 6.56

 

[maineman209]

I don't disagree here. That said, I phrased it the way I did because we know that's how the Patriots analyze it from War Room -- who is the player going to beat out in year 1, and who is he going to beat out in year 2+.

If Belichick really likes the guy, he will find a use for him as you say. I'm just curious as to what that reshuffling would be. Maybe Rowe's role would be more limited.

Or Harmon's. Either way, there'd be some hellacious (for opposing QBs) nickel and dime packages out there.

 

[captain stone]

I think if I had to fill out a DL from this draft for that scheme, I'd do:

Malik McDowell
Nazair Jones
Eddie Vanderdoes
Jonathan Allen

I might even look into someone like Daeshon Hall and get him to put on 20 pounds...

Hall has already gained a lot of weight within the past 2 years; I'd rather see what he can do as a 4-3 DE before having him bulk-up into a 3-tech DT.

 

[miloofcroton]

Hall has already gained a lot of weight within the past 2 years; I'd rather see what he can do as a 4-3 DE before having him bulk-up into a 3-tech DT.

Fun fact: JJ Watt entered college as a TE. He was 220 coming out of high school.

Now, Hall is not quite at Watt's level. According to the 3 Sigma theory mentioned earlier, Watt is in the top 5 of the most athletic football players of the past 15-20 years.

That being said, Hall seems well-equipped to succeed with extra weight. What is he as a pure edge defender? He's slower than average, doesn't have great hip dip, doesn't have elite agility. His best attributes are his strength and length, which he combines with above average athleticism for that size. If he added 20 pounds, I think he would accentuate his positives by being far more athletic than average for that size, and his length and relative flexability would give him a massive advantage for *applying* that strength in the variety of wrestling moves that one has with offensive linemen. It's one thing to be strong, but it's another to be able to apply it.

Anyway, I was thinking of Hall as more of a 4 or 5 tech. He could play 3, surely, with that extra bulk, particularly on passing downs when you might want extra speed on the field.

 

[manxman2601]

Fun fact: JJ Watt entered college as a TE. He was 220 coming out of high school.

Now, Hall is not quite at Watt's level. According to the 3 Sigma theory mentioned earlier, Watt is in the top 5 of the most athletic football players of the past 15-20 years.

That being said, Hall seems well-equipped to succeed with extra weight. What is he as a pure edge defender? He's slower than average, doesn't have great hip dip, doesn't have elite agility. His best attributes are his strength and length, which he combines with above average athleticism for that size. If he added 20 pounds, I think he would accentuate his positives by being far more athletic than average for that size, and his length and relative flexability would give him a massive advantage for *applying* that strength in the variety of wrestling moves that one has with offensive linemen. It's one thing to be strong, but it's another to be able to apply it.

Anyway, I was thinking of Hall as more of a 4 or 5 tech. He could play 3, surely, with that extra bulk, particularly on passing downs when you might want extra speed on the field.

I don't think Hall as a 5-tech would be an issue for the Pats anyway. Our DEs do tend to play a 5-tech style. When was the last time we played in a strictly edge rusher style - when we had Mark Anderson and Andre Carter?

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Hall gained over 50lbs last 2 years

 

[maineman209]

Hall gained over 50lbs last 2 years

Me, too!

Okay, maybe not quite that much. But still, I've been even more of a lazy sob the past couple years than usual.

 

[maineman209]

Me, too!

Okay, maybe not quite that much. But still, I've been even more of a lazy sob the past couple years than usual.

And, no, I can't rush the passer.

Refrigerator? Well, now you're in my wheelhouse.

 

[captain stone]

I don't think Hall as a 5-tech would be an issue for the Pats anyway. Our DEs do tend to play a 5-tech style. When was the last time we played in a strictly edge rusher style - when we had Mark Anderson and Andre Carter?

Chandler Jones.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Chandler Jones.

Even Jones played more of a 5-tech role at times. He was a pass rusher, yes, but he wasn't turned loose like Anderson was, or at least not on a regular basis. He was pretty ideal for our system, until he showed up outside of the police station no longer in his right mind. Weird episode.

 

[manxman2601]

Chandler Jones.

I disagree. He tended to attack the O Lineman rather than get outside of him.