Does New England want to trade up to ten?

[mgteich]

Yes, we will have our choice of at least two of these if a third quarteback is drafted in the top 16. There are several here that I have no interest in.

QB: 3
WR: 2
OT: 1
other offense: 0
LB:1 Miller
DB:2 Peterson, Amukamara
DL/OLB 9 Dareus, Fairley, Bowers, Quinn, Jordan, Watt, Kerrigan, Smith, Liuget

Newton and Gabbert are locks as top 5 picks. Washington at 10 and Minnesota at 12 are the key to this draft. If one of them blinks and drafts Locker, that pushes another good player down to the Pats at 17. I have a feeling they will get their choice of defensive end at 17.

 

[furley]

Reportedly, there are enough teams that are high on Colin Kaepernick that he has received an invitation to attend the live draft. So Newton (Car), Gabbert (Cin), Locker (Was) and Kaepernick (?) could all be locks to go in the first round.

With that said, you're almost guaranteed to have a top fifteen player (non quarterback) slide out of that group to seventeen. You've to be patient...

 

[furley]

Reportedly, Dallas could select Cameron Jordan (or trade down in an attempt to draft him) as opposed to Tyron Smith, and Minnesota could select Da'Quan Bowers as opposed to a quarterback. Supposedly, Washington is high on Jordon as well.

Dallas has an interest in Aldon Smith too.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Reportedly, there are enough teams that are high on Colin Kaepernick that he has received an invitation to attend the live draft. So Newton (Car), Gabbert (Cin), Locker (Was) and Kaepernick (?) could all be locks to go in the first round.

With that said, you're almost guaranteed to have a top fifteen player (non quarterback) slide out of that group to seventeen. You've to be patient...

Because of the new prime time format, the NFL began inviting projected round two kids so they'd have some photographic moments with Goodell for Friday night's showing. We can't use whom the NFL invites as a predictor of first round status anymore.

 

[ZoisKing]

Um, Amukamara can't cover effectively?

When I watch Prince play, I don't see a guy who can turn and run with NFL caliber receivers. He also doesn't locate the ball particularly well if he's beaten even by a little bit. He's a good press corner and a solid tackler. It's why I like him at free safety. However, if you're looking for a shutdown cover corner, one that you're willing to trade up for the 9th pick to get, then he isn't that guy IMO.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

When I watch Prince play, I don't see a guy who can turn and run with NFL caliber receivers. He also doesn't locate the ball particularly well if he's beaten even by a little bit. He's a good press corner and a solid tackler. It's why I like him at free safety. However, if you're looking for a shutdown cover corner, one that you're willing to trade up for the 9th pick to get, then he isn't that guy IMO.

Fair enough, he certainly seems like a good FS candidate from what I've read, I didn't see him enough to get a feel for his coverage.

 

[Keyser Söze]

Reportedly, there are enough teams that are high on Colin Kaepernick that he has received an invitation to attend the live draft. So Newton (Car), Gabbert (Cin), Locker (Was) and Kaepernick (?) could all be locks to go in the first round.

With that said, you're almost guaranteed to have a top fifteen player (non quarterback) slide out of that group to seventeen. You've to be patient...

Kaepernick is a late 3, more than likely a 4th round pick. I cant see a team being dumb enough to over value him that highly.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Reportedly, Dallas could select Cameron Jordan (or trade down in an attempt to draft him) as opposed to Tyron Smith, and Minnesota could select Da'Quan Bowers as opposed to a quarterback. Supposedly, Washington is high on Jordon as well.

Dallas has an interest in Aldon Smith too.

Links to all these reports? The name I've been hearing linked to Dallas has been Tyron Smith consistently.

 

[patfanken]

I don't think there is too much concern about Kerrigan setting the edge. I think the bigger concern is wether or not he can play in space.

That is a skill that can be taught. He clearly has the athletic ability to do it, just not the experience. Take it from someone who had to make the adjustment from OLB to SS. In his first year all Kerrigan needs to do is play great special teams, start learning to set the edge, and RUSH THE PASSER....the rest will come in time

 

[townes]

Damn I wish i had the NFL Network. It's invaluable when it comes to The Draft. Time Warner Sucks.

 

[ZoisKing]

I'd like NFL Network a bit more if they would move on from their coverage of top ten guys and mid first rounders and start fully showcasing the 2nd and 3rd round guys. I'd be more entertained seeing video of those later guys than the same rehashed stuff concerning Bowers' knee, Ingram's knee, which quarterback should go 1st, what is Cam Newton's potential, blah, blah, blah, etc.

I actually find more helpful information coming onto various boards, hearing about different players, watching video, etc. This is much more helpful than trying to get an expert's feel. There are some highly intelligent folks on this board who can do better than what you see on TV.

 

[Off The Grid]

Damn I wish i had the NFL Network. It's invaluable when it comes to The Draft. Time Warner Sucks.

Don't fret. It's 99% Talking Heads, and 1% useful information...IF that.

I'd like NFL Network a bit more if they would move on from their coverage of top ten guys and mid first rounders and start fully showcasing the 2nd and 3rd round guys. I'd be more entertained seeing video of those later guys than the same rehashed stuff concerning Bowers' knee, Ingram's knee, which quarterback should go 1st, what is Cam Newton's potential, blah, blah, blah, etc.

I actually find more helpful information coming onto various boards, hearing about different players, watching video, etc. This is much more helpful than trying to get an expert's feel. There are some highly intelligent folks on this board who can do better than what you see on TV.

That's certainly true.

To glean useful tidbits is an excavating endeavor, regardless ~ a separation of the Wheat from the Chaff ~ but on TV, it's far more inefficient, because you're trying to discern the occasional and random bit of useful Insight from mouths that generally spew mindless, regurgitated dogma, while On Line, you're rapidly weaving your way around the Mindless Regurgitated Dogma Spewers, in search of the proven ~ and easily recognizable ~ Wisdom speakers...with the occasional pause to assess the jib of The New Guy.

 

[MaineMan]

I'd like NFL Network a bit more if they would move on from their coverage of top ten guys and mid first rounders and start fully showcasing the 2nd and 3rd round guys. I'd be more entertained seeing video of those later guys than the same rehashed stuff concerning Bowers' knee, Ingram's knee, which quarterback should go 1st, what is Cam Newton's potential, blah, blah, blah, etc.

I actually find more helpful information coming onto various boards, hearing about different players, watching video, etc. This is much more helpful than trying to get an expert's feel. There are some highly intelligent folks on this board who can do better than what you see on TV.

Welcome to the increasingly st00pid world of TV sports broadcasting. Agree with OTG - online is a much better bet if you want to keep up with what's happening and get the details (the ACCURATE details, that is). The blathering heads will lose all interest by the middle of the second round and you'll get more info (and in a more timely fashion) from watching the scroll with the sound off.

 

[serifyn]

Julio Jones is a player i think the patriots would be very interested in, he played in a prostyle offense and belichick can get all the information he needs about him (not just his statistics but his personal life and what kind of person he is on and off the field).

Belichick traded randy moss away early in the season because he thought he could do without him. the tight ends picked up big time and the balance of having 2 TE sets really opened up the run game for the patriots who may value the WR position less than they did when randy moss was a patriot.

Whoever the patriots bring in at wide receiver would need to beat out Deion branch or Wes Welker (especially if they go ahead julio jones in the top 10), as those are the only WRs who will be in when they use double TE sets (which i think will now be the norm)

Another Thought is whether the patriots might consider splitting Aaron Hernandez out wide, since he is a better receiver than Alge Crumpler but not as good of a blocker on the line, but he has the size to give corners problems who line up against him outside.

i think the patriots think they have enough quality players right now at the position which would prevent them from trading up to get a WR.

Welker, Branch, Tate, Price, and Edelman might be enough, although branch really struggled against Revis, i dont know who you would be able to bring in here not named Larry Fitzgerald who could fix this right away.

The Patriots would love to have Julio Jones, but they have bigger needs on both sides of the line.

 

[furley]

Links to all these reports? The name I've been hearing linked to Dallas has been Tyron Smith consistently.

These reports are from this week and last week.

April 19th

- The Dallas Cowboys may deviate from taking Tyron Smith with the 9th pick if they can’t trade down. We hear the recent knee issues which have surfaced on the junior tackle from USC have not scared the team but they are also considering picking up a veteran free agent tackle, once free agency begins, then taking a defensive lineman with their first choice. The thinking is a veteran free agent tackle could break into the starting line-up sooner than Smith, especially since the lockout will reduce every rookies time spent in mini-camp, OTA’s, etc. Sources have said the defensive lineman they are targeting is Cameron Jordan- in our minds the most underrated player in this draft. Ultimately they’d still prefer to trade down, collect some extra picks and then select an offensive tackle later in the first frame. The other team very high on Cameron Jordan at this point are the Washington Redskins.

- How far will Da’Quan Bowers fall? Not as far as many are predicting. Sources have told us if they can’t come away with either Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert look for the Minnesota Vikings to grab the junior defensive end with the 12th pick of the draft.

April’s NFL Draft Insider News & Notes: 4-19

The latest name to pop up with the Dallas Cowboys and their No.9 pick is former Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith.

That's the rumor, according to Wes Bunting of the National Football Post, who wrote, "Southern Cal OT Tyron Smith is getting a lot of interest from the Cowboys at nine, but I am also hearing that they like Missouri DE Aldon Smith a lot and would love to pair him opposite DeMarcus Ware off the edge."

NFL Draft 2011: Aldon Smith Rumored Now as Potential Dallas Cowboys Pick | Bleacher Report

 

[Sciz]

Multiple reports today that Aldon Smith will be a Texan at pick 11. If he's their guy (I still think Watt is ahead of him), then we'd definitely see a trade up.

 

[furley]

The Dallas Cowboys are highly enamored of Wisconsin star defensive end J.J. Watt and are strongly considering drafting him with the ninth overall pick of the first round, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

Per a source, the Cowboys are leaning strongly toward selecting Watt if they don't draft USC offensive tackle Tyron Smith.

The source said the Cowboys love Watt's intensity, technique, toughness and motor and have grown tired of problem players and want to add someone of high character to their locker room.

Watt visited the Cowboys earlier this month.

Source: Cowboys love Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt | National Football Post

 

[ZoisKing]

A trade of 28 and 33 would get us to ten if Washington's interested.

I just want to see the Pats get an OLB, DE, and OG. I'd like a top prospect at each spot. I was initially hoping for Kerrigan, Heyward, and Watkins at our first 3 spots, and still would be very happy with that.

However, if there's a guy we really like-maybe Aldon Smith-then we'd have the firepower to get him. Then we'd still have 17 and 60 to address DL and OL. I like Boling at 60.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

A trade of 28 and 33 would get us to ten if Washington's interested.

I just want to see the Pats get an OLB, DE, and OG. I'd like a top prospect at each spot. I was initially hoping for Kerrigan, Heyward, and Watkins at our first 3 spots, and still would be very happy with that.

However, if there's a guy we really like-maybe Aldon Smith-then we'd have the firepower to get him. Then we'd still have 17 and 60 to address DL and OL. I like Boling at 60.

I absolutely love Boling at #60. The best pulling OG in this draft. Feet to play college OT and the nastiness to grow into a big time pro OG, ala mini-Mankins. Does a decent job sinking those hips and difficult to bull rush when histechnique is on. After a year in Dante's Inferno, he will be a player and ready to start. (PS: I wish we still had Woicik!!!!!!!!)

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Multiple reports today that Aldon Smith will be a Texan at pick 11. If he's their guy (I still think Watt is ahead of him), then we'd definitely see a trade up.

Smith would be an excellent pick to line up on Mario Williams outside shoulder and have Demarco on the side of him inside. If Houston can not go up and get a CB, then Smith is not a bad player to settle for.

Unfortunately we do not have a Mario Williams type on our roster.