Is a pass rush specialist worth a top 40 pick?

[Ochmed Jones]

That's another thing I noticed in your post-having Clayborn slim down. If he lowers himself to around 270, then he'd be back to the 2009 version-or close to it-that was a top ten pick. He probably can't cover much at all, but he can play the pass and run very effectively.

If Clayborn gets his weight back down the 265 - 270 range and he gets his burst back, he could project very well in our defense at OLB, or he could be the next Crabel.

Because we use the word if, that makes him a projection selection and BB does not take projection selections in round #1.

The numbers on Clayborn at the combine and pro day could go a long way into helping us figure out if he is a Pats type player.

If he shows up to the combine at 280 plus pounds, he is probably not on BB's draft board. If he shows up to the combine at 265 pounds and runs well, then I think we have to put him on the draft board.

 

[Off The Grid]

I don't know what the hell a "Pass Rush Specialist" is, but I DO know that Ryan Kerrigan and Aldon Smith are BOTH worth a top 40 pick.

How does that expression go??

You can NEVER have too much FirePower!!

Now there are two completely opposite prospects!

They certainly ARE!!

Smith just hasn't won me over. He's an impressive athlete, fast and fluid in space. But to me, too much of his pass rush seems to consist of using his speed to leave college guards flat-footed. I'm not impressed with the way he uses his hands, and I'm not sold on his upper body strength.

Then you have Kerrigan, with his awesome hands and power and overall relentlessness, but who looks awfully lumbering for a linebacker conversion.

*If only we could take half of each.*

Lobster??

Cracked Crab???

Why not have BOTH????

 

[cstjohn17]

I put Ayers, Kerrigan, Smith ahead of the pack because they offer the one thing the Patriots could use, the ability to rush the passer.

There are always players that are well rounded but pretty much average in every category (Ninchovich, Fletcher, Woods, etc.), these guys are a dime a dozen.

 

[MaineMan]

IMO Jeremy Beal is the Swiss Army Knife in this draft.

Check.

There's no one thing that's particularly exciting about him, which is why he seems like a perfect BB candidate.

 

[cstjohn17]

Check.

There's no one thing that's particularly exciting about him, which is why he seems like a perfect BB candidate.

Except when its 3rd and long and the guy is not particularly close the QB, that is not exciting.