While there is no doubt another Warren or Seymour would be great for this team, I just dont see that player in this draft. The Patriots have such a complex system that most college DL simply dont fit. The best fit scheme wise is probably Cameron Hayward, but I wouldn't touch him anywhere in the first round because he hasn't shown any consistency. Then you have guys like JJ Watt who I dont see as a great fit, and who will probably be overdrafted well ahead of 17 anyway. The only guy I would be comfotable taking in the top 20 picks is Nick Fairley and he will be well gone. So who is the guy to take? Do you reach for Cam Jordan? While the idea of a great DE seems intriguing, in practice I just dont see the next Richard Seymour or Ty Warren in this draft.
My top rated DE behind Fairley is Muhammed Wilkerson from Temple and I have him as a mid second round prospect. He seems by far the best fit at DE and solid value in the early/mid second round. However, like most 5-techs his stock will probably rise to a point where he doesnt offer much value. So while in theory a stud DE may be a great idea, im struggling to find that guy, and im not willing to reach or compromise the requirements of the system to get them.
I watched Wilkerson in one game the previous season and caught him twice this season, the latter two while Temple was battling Ohio and Miami for MAC East, so decent competition. reamer used my impression of him as a blend of Ty Warren's strength/stoutness with Mike Wright's penetrating/disruptiveness. Out of Seymour, Warren, and Wilfork, only Wilfork was a considered a no-brainer pick, yet the first two turned out okay and I think Wilkerson in the late first/early second is excellent value; if he interviews well he may even grow into the Oakland pick.
Early in the season I saw Watt and wrote he looked too raw and should plan to stay his senior season. Later in the season I was impressed with how much better he looked, to the point I no longer believe he's taking an ill-advised risk coming out early. He's still raw, but he had the work ethic and intelligence to take his game up a couple levels over the course of this season. He needs to be stronger, needs to develop technique and an awareness of what the offense is trying to do to handle him, he'll need work on assignments and reads, but I also like him late first/early second. Watt has athletic tools which, as long as he works at his craft, would give NE some interesting opportunities, including some OLB reps in limited packages.
For those that say that there are alot of DE's to choose from this year;
Which one is the best run defender, who would play on early downs and could play virtually the whole game against the Ravens,
And which one is the best for defending pass plays??
And could they both be picked up within the first 2 rounds??,
the first 100 picks??
Ranking the top of the DL draft list as I see it:
1. Fairley - I'm actually cooling on him a little, but he's got the tool set if the mental/emotional side of the game doesn't get away from him. He's been strongest shooting the gap to disrupt pass plays, but if he's willing to work, he could do it all.
2. Dareus/Paea - two entirely different players, but guys who have some flexibility for NE's many packages and who could be blended around the returning core of Wilfork/Ty Warren to do some fun things for opponents (the where's Wilfork game for instance). Dareus is well-rounded, Paea is stronger against the run.
3. Wilkerson - see above. Well-rounded.
4. Watt - see above. For now, he's better against the pass, but I believe he could do it all.
5. Jenkins - I thought he looked decent playing inside for Clemson. I've still got their bowl game to watch and I expect him in an All-Star game for another look before I finalize things. More of a run stuffer.
Cory Liuget declared and luckily I still have his bowl game to watch, some have speculated that he could be in consideration.
Heyward, Jordan, Clayborn, Bailey, Ballard, Taylor, and Austin didn't get it done on the field for me.
Finally, Jerrell Powe is out of condition and he needs to get stronger now that he's dropped a lot of weight. He reminds me of Brace coming out of BC, size & untapped potential - maybe Self-Help Guru Vince Wilfork can inspire him the way he did big Ron. He might be a reasonable project for Coaches Woicik & Nash to develop for reserve NT if Love doesn't keep progressing.
Well said. Looking at this year, Ty Warren and Ron Brace are natural fits at LDE and should stick around. However, we need an athlete who can hold down RDE in the 3-4. Pryor and G. Warren are best used as sub players. Deaderick clearly has issues so not much can be expected of him. Love has been ho-hum. Wright might never play football again.
The big wildcard to me is Kade Weston. He's a big underachiever, but if his potential is realized he could stick around as a run stuffer. Not much potential as a pass rusher but if he can play with good leverage and eat up blockers thats enough for me.
We're gonna get another outside linebacker as well, to platoon with Ninkovich and Cunningham on early downs.
Weston being a Caribbean soccer lad who came late to the gridiron is indeed a wild card. I'll be watching him with some interest if he's still around for pre-season - I thought it was interesting to see him getting NT reps before he was waived and IR'd.
Richard made a significant jump from his rookie training camp, pity he went on IR because I had him pegged for another season on the Practice Squad with a shot to work onto the roster.