Dynamic Duos

[mayoclinic]

You may select up to 3. You may mix and match 1st and 2nd choices, or add your own. If other, please specify.

This is just a game to stir around thoughts.

As of right now, Pats have #1 pick in the 2026 draft.

 

[mayoclinic]

In 2024 the Pats picked QB Drake Maye at #3, could have had WR Ladd McConkey or DB Cooper DeJean in the early 2nd round.

In 2015 the Pats picked OL Will Campbell at #4, RB TreVeyon Henderson at #38.

 

[mayoclinic]

I would go Peter Woods in the 1st, probably Keldric Faulk if Woods not available. Would be torn between Sadiq Charles, Conner Lew, Mansoor Delane, Dillon Thienemann and Sonny Styles with the 2nd pick.

Of the posted options, I went with Woods-Charles. Think we can get a good OC in the 3rd round, or with 1 of our 2 4ths.

 

[manxman2601]

That was really tough because I liked almost all the options. I ended up going with:

Woods-Sadiq
Bain - Lew
Parker - Klare

However...if we actually do end up picking 1st overall I think it would have to be QB because let's face it, in that scenario, Drake Maye has crapped the bed.

Good thread idea.

 

[Clonamery]

Woods choice is #1.

Other than that I would want a starter for the OL either OT/C with 1st/2nd.

 

[manxman2601]

Woods choice is #1.

Other than that I would want a starter for the OL either OT/C with 1st/2nd.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but how would you fit Woods on a roster that already has Milton Williams and Barmore? Just play as a straight 3-man rotation or play Woods or Barmore as a 5-tech on a 3 man interior front?

 

[mayoclinic]

Manx, I tried to make it tough for you.

I also picked Woods/Charles and Bain/Lew, then other. Tough passing on Arch Manning/RLKAG.

Right now the Pats have the #1 pick. I doubt that will hold, but IF it did:

- Trade top 5 to a QB-desperate team for their 2026 1st and 2nd and a 2027 1st or 2nd.

1: Peter Woods, DL. If gone, Keldric Faulk, DL. Both big men with insane movement skills and versatility.

2A/B. Mansoor Delane if available, but CBs go early, doubt he will be there. S, C and TE tend to drop, however, so with 2 top 40 picks I go with TE Sadiq Charles and OC Conner Lew. Without the imaginary trade back from #1, more realistically we'd have to pick 1 of these 3., would be ecstatic if any were available. Very tough call, but going Charles for now.

3. LB Sonny Styles or Harold Perkins.

4A/B. A big WR and a DB. Nyck Harbor, for example. If no trade back to address OC in the 2nd, would consider OL here.

I think overloading on the DL is a fine way to grow. Look at the 2007/2011 Giants or 2024 Eagles. Woods/Faulk + Williams and Barmore very hard to handle. Throw in some quicker EDGE/LBs like Landry + Styles/Perkins, and tough for any team to scheme against.

Just mind games for now, but fun to think about.

 

[Clonamery]

I'm not disagreeing with you, but how would you fit Woods on a roster that already has Milton Williams and Barmore? Just play as a straight 3-man rotation or play Woods or Barmore as a 5-tech on a 3 man interior front?

Since it's just September speculation. I'm not worried how he'll fit. It's the same if our pick at 1/2 winds up being a LT, there's a myriad of options that could play out for us.

As long as we are not taking a WR or QB with our 1st pick, I'll be satisfied.

 

[manxman2601]

Since it's just September speculation. I'm not worried how he'll fit. It's the same if our pick at 1/2 winds up being a LT, there's a myriad of options that could play out for us.

As long as we are not taking a WR or QB with our 1st pick, I'll be satisfied.

Spoil sport.

I would take Woods with a top 10 pick just because there's a good chance he'd be BPA and this team needs as much talent as it can get. I don't know if I'd take him top 5 though because of his lack of pass rush production and because two of our three best players fill his position. I'd probably look at Fano, Bain or Faulk before him because I have them all equally rated but they all fit positions of need.

 

[Clonamery]

Spoil sport.

I would take Woods with a top 10 pick just because there's a good chance he'd be BPA and this team needs as much talent as it can get. I don't know if I'd take him top 5 though because of his lack of pass rush production and because two of our three best players fill his position. I'd probably look at Fano, Bain or Faulk before him because I have them all equally rated but they all fit positions of need.

I am spoiled but I don't feel as desperate as I did last year at this time looking at the 1st round. I would be disappointed if our QB doesn't show some authority by the 3rd game.

 

[mayoclinic]

Spoil sport.

I would take Woods with a top 10 pick just because there's a good chance he'd be BPA and this team needs as much talent as it can get. I don't know if I'd take him top 5 though because of his lack of pass rush production and because two of our three best players fill his position. I'd probably look at Fano, Bain or Faulk before him because I have them all equally rated but they all fit positions of need.

Woods has ridiculous burst. Played something like 40% of his snaps at DE last year, and didn't look out of place. Runs down plays, has phenomenal movement and burst for his size.

Could be an Aaron Donald difference maker. Like him much better than Mason Graham last year (who I liked).

Not panicking on Maye yet, but concerned re signs of regression. Was not a fan of the McDaniels hiring. This is not 2007 with a mature Brady making reads from the shotgun, with a group of stud receivers to choose from.

 

[manxman2601]

Woods has ridiculous burst. Played something like 40% of his snaps at DE last year, and didn't look out of place. Runs down plays, has phenomenal movement and burst for his size.

Could be an Aaron Donald difference maker. Like him much better than Mason Graham last year (who I liked).

Not panicking on Maye yet, but concerned re signs of regression. Was not a fan of the McDaniels hiring. This is not 2007 with a mature Brady making reads from the shotgun, with a group of stud receivers to choose from.

I’ll ask the same of you as I did Clonamery and this isn’t an attempted gotcha, I’m genuinely interested in the answer.

Do you?

A) Use him as part of a 3 man rotation with Barmore and Williams?

B) Deploy a 3 man front of Woods-Williams-Barmore?

C) Cross that bridge when you get to the season?

FWIW, I’d go with B with Landry as OLB.

 

[mayoclinic]

All of the above.

I want an aggressive, attacking, violent, multiple front defense in which I can deploy people in a variety of capacities, dynamically adjust, and overload. Woods/Faulk fit that perfectly.

Can easily see over loading with all 3 at the same time. Add in some combination of quicker EDGE rushers and LBs, change up formations. Lots of room for a creative DC to scheme multiple and shake things up. Blitz, change gaps, move people around, confuse coverage and rushing schemes.

Of course, there will also be injuries, so having 3 studs doesn't hurt. It is also useful to spell people and bring waves of fresh players. Saw way too many 4th quarter collapses from gassed defenses recently.

 

[mayoclinic]

Here's a front I'd love:

- Landry- Barmore - Williams - Woods/Faulk on the line
- Spillane and Sonny Styles standing up at 2nd level
- 5 DBs

Can blitz Styles, keep him in zone, or put him in coverage an a TE or RB (former safety). Can also drop Landry back. Can switch them up to cause confusion, rush both, or drop both back. Spillane will generally man the middle, spy, and QB the defense.

Can rush 3, 4, or 5, not including DBs.

Can bring any of the linemen from the interior or off the EDGE.

 

[mayoclinic]

Manx making me giddy with visions of Woods/Faulk + Thienemann/Delane. Could go TE/OC in the 3rd/4th rounds.

Switched my vote to add Faulk/Thienemann as 3rd choice.

Love the Oregon prospects: World, Charles, Uigaleilei and Thienemann all really exciting.

 

[manxman2601]

Manx making me giddy with visions of Woods/Faulk + Thienemann/Delane. Could go TE/OC in the 3rd/4th rounds.

Switched my vote to add Faulk/Thienemann as 3rd choice.

Love the Oregon prospects: World, Charles, Uigaleilei and Thienemann all really exciting.

Funnily enough, I did a mock today on PFF that went exactly that way:

Rnd1: Faulk
Rnd 2: Thieneman
Rnd 3: Michigan TE Marlin klein
Rnd 4a: Arizona State DB Keith Abney
Rnd 4B: Oregon C Iapani LaLoulu

 

[mayoclinic]

Great mock. That's the general gist of where my thinking is at right now.

 

[Clonamery]

Funnily enough, I did a mock today on PFF that went exactly that way:

Rnd1: Faulk
Rnd 2: Thieneman
Rnd 3: Michigan TE Marlin klein
Rnd 4a: Arizona State DB Keith Abney
Rnd 4B: Oregon C Iapani LaLoulu

I did that exact mock on PFN this morning but switch Abney and Klein.

 

[manxman2601]

I did that exact mock on PFN this morning but switch Abney and Klein.

It's interesting that we're starting to develop a consensus about safety as an important need for the team. Well, when I say consensus, it seems to be a consensus of three but that'll do.

 

[mayoclinic]

Too much agreement!

I would be ecstatic with that in terms of both addressing needs and infusing talent.