Linebacker At 44 and Beyond or Early?

[Nonentity]

44 - Damian Williams. I'm not really sold on him over Benn or Tate, or anybody else for that matter. It's obvious though that the team needs a WR who can step in fairly quickly and has the ability to beat 1-1 press coverage.

The big worry with Williams is his ability to beat the jam off the line of scrimmage. If he gets a free release he can run excellent routes though. He played in the slot a lot of USC, which is another concern - what is he like playing on the outside?

 

[bucky]

The big worry with Williams is his ability to beat the jam off the line of scrimmage. If he gets a free release he can run excellent routes though. He played in the slot a lot of USC, which is another concern - what is he like playing on the outside?

I don't really know the answer. Ability to play in the slot is not a bad thing considering Edelman is the only slot received and he's going to have to last at least 8 weeks till Welker comes back. In terms of beating press coverage, that seems like the 1 area all college WRs have issues with. I've heard the same knock on Tate. Demaryius is the one guy who might be the best fit for us, but I doubt he's ever played against press coverage and he won't be there at 44 anyway. Given a choice between him and Best, I'd go with Best though and grab a WR later. I want to say that Eric Decker is the guy we need, but truth is we need a guy with speed. If Brandon Tate is that guy, then perhaps we can go with a bigger possession receiver like LaFell or Decker.

 

[bucky]

I understand. I've understood since we drafted Graham instead of a linebacker. I just disagree.

We had a need at OLB last year. We projected to have such a need in 2010 and 2011. Our answer was that we needed a backup NT and backup safety more. Somehow I think that Matthews might have learned our tough, tough defense. And if he wasn't the man, then we needed to develop someone else.

And what was the reason? The reason was that the 2010 draft was he place to draft our defensive help. The draft was so strong at DE/OLB!

So, here we are again. And our answer is to again hope that a developmental prospect at 53 or even later? I know that you may be right. We've been here for at least five years waiting to develop OLB's. The time is now!!!

And perhaps in 10 days I will again need to be part of a discussion on how Belichick's grand plan is to have a top 5 defense based on the LB play of Banta-Cain, WOods, Ninkovich and Crable. I surely hope not!

Well I won't argue with you about last year. I'm not 100% sold that Matthews was the answer. But certainly would have picked Barwin ahead of Brace or even Butler. I think there was a lot of "next year" from the posters here, but I don't remember BB ever saying 2010 is the year we get an OLB. I'm actually proposing getting 2 guys in the first 3 rounds. Just that neither of them comes before 47. Is Jerry Hughes a better prospect than Jason Worilds or Gibson? Sure. Is he an NFL-ready OLB? No. He will still require some development and there is no guarantee that he'll be any better in 2010.

 

[bakes781]

I think you have to go OLB early in this draft.

Of the talent that will be there at 22, the top OLBs are MUCH clearer than the 3-4 DEs.

At OLB, you're really looking at Graham, Hughes, and Kindle (personally I like Hughes the most). I understand even these guys have their question marks, but I think it is agreed they have MUCH fewer questions than anyone that will be available at 44.

At 3-4 DE, who's sitting there at the top who will be there at 22? Odrick? Odrick doesn't really excite me. I think he's much less a sure thing at 3-4 DE than Hughes or Graham are at OLB. And after Odrick? There are definitely other guys who can fill that spot, but most or all of them will be there later in the draft.

More importantly, next years draft is going to be BIG for DE/DTs, and chances are high that we'll have a top 10 pick.

As for the draft as a whole, though it's definitely deeper than most, I really think it's worth it to trade 2 2nd rounders for another first and a 5th rounder (Green Bay would be the perfect trade partner).

The Patriots definitely have a LOT of needs, but I feel that rather than sit around in the 2nd round and hope the guys we want fall to us, why not trade up and get guys we KNOW are going to contribute?

My plan:

#47 + #53 to Green Bay for #23 and #151 (5th round pick).

#44 + GB 5th round pick to Philadelphia for #55 and #87 (2nd and 3rd rounders.

#22 Ryan Mathews
#23 Jerry Hughes/Brandon Graham
#55 Damian Williams/Eric Decker/Andre Roberts
#87 Arthur Jones
#118 Dennis Pitta

Certianly will take a lot of work to make it happen, but with so many teams interested in the 2nd round, I don't see why it wouldn't be possible.

I like your trade scenarios a lot but I'm not a fan of your selections.

Here's who I'd take:
#22 Jared Odrick
#23 Maurkice Pouncey
#55 Dexter McCluster
#87 Carlton Mitchell/Austen Lane
#118 Brandon Lang/David Gettis