As much as I like Lawson, Sims and all of the big guys I find it hard to believe Belichick will pass on a CB.
The Patriots system is built around having a shut down / island type of CB. This allows them not only to switch between 3-4 and 4/3 but to blitz more out of those same schemes.
Not sure if anyone has noticed but we blitzed way less than ever last year. We blitzed way more when we had Ty Law and he was healthy. Hobbs I am not sure but Samuel and all the others are more slot type CB's and not real and true shut down CB's.
I think we could have turned the Denver game around last year if we could have blitzed more. But with all the injuries and no Ty Law type CB we were almost helpless having to wait for an INT to turn the emotional flow of the game around.
So, depending on a run of CB's or no run... we can expect to see a CB taking first....unless there is a run like last year and the value of the CB's slips to round 2 value. which is what happened when we took Hobbs...still a great pick but not a true shut-down type CB.
Jimmy Williams may be a shut-down CB but will be gone by #21.
Tye Hill and Youboty are very good but not shut-down type CB's.
Good news is that Joseph and Cromartie could develop into shut-down CB's but they will need to develop which may let them slide enough for Belichick to grab in a trade-up move in round 2 or a trade-down in round 1. IMO OF COURSE.