Patriots draft thoughts

[BobDigital]

So the season is almost over and we should have some down time in the next few weeks assuming we get a bye. So i figured it it time to talk about the NFL Draft a little.

Here is a list of the current Patriots on the roster I'd like to keep.

QB - Brady/Mallet
RB/FB - Ridley/Blount/Vereen/Develin
WR - Edelman/Amendola/Dobson/Thompkins
OL - Solder/Mankins/Wendell/Cannon/Vollmer/Connolly/Svitek
TE - Gronk/Hooman

Good but expendable: Boyce/Bolden

DE - Jones/Ninkovich
DT - Wilfork/Kelly/Jones/Siliga
LB - Mayo/Collins/Fletcher/Hightower/Spikes
CB - Talib/Dennard/Arrington/Ryan
S - McCourty/Gregory/Harmon

STs

Allen/Gost/Aiken/Slater/Ebner

So overall that is 42 players I'd like to see us keep that fill a role well.

To me the most obvious weaknesses are TE
DE (need a solid backup)
DT (might need a replacement starter depending)
OG/C (the inside could use an upgrade)

Of course CB becomes a need if we let Talib go (same with WR if Edelman leaves). Also i think we need a backup for Vereen as a 3rd down back.

 

[mgteich]

Draft needs are usually discussed on the draft sub-board. Team needs are often discussed here, since there are other ways to fill needs in addition to the draft.

For example, in your example, you re-sign about a dozen of our free agents. You also keep both Wilfork and Kelly.

For me, the first issue to evaluate who we have under contract for 2014 and consider a plan to meet needs. The first, and most important, is the re-signing of some of our free agents.

That will help determine how much cap money we have for the rest of free agency.

So the season is almost over and we should have some down time in the next few weeks assuming we get a bye. So i figured it it time to talk about the NFL Draft a little.

Here is a list of the current Patriots on the roster I'd like to keep.

QB - Brady/Mallet
RB/FB - Ridley/Blount/Vereen/Develin
WR - Edelman/Amendola/Dobson/Thompkins
OL - Solder/Mankins/Wendell/Cannon/Vollmer/Connolly/Svitek
TE - Gronk/Hooman

Good but expendable: Boyce/Bolden

DE - Jones/Ninkovich
DT - Wilfork/Kelly/Jones/Siliga
LB - Mayo/Collins/Fletcher/Hightower/Spikes
CB - Talib/Dennard/Arrington/Ryan
S - McCourty/Gregory/Harmon

STs

Allen/Gost/Aiken/Slater/Ebner

So overall that is 42 players I'd like to see us keep that fill a role well.

To me the most obvious weaknesses are TE
DE (need a solid backup)
DT (might need a replacement starter depending)
OG/C (the inside could use an upgrade)

Of course CB becomes a need if we let Talib go (same with WR if Edelman leaves). Also i think we need a backup for Vereen as a 3rd down back.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Do not agree at all on Boyce ... he needs time ... all 3 rookie WR's need time.

If Bill uses a low pick or brings in 2-3 FA WR's after the draft then fine.

 

[supafly]

As nice as it would be, I doubt that we could afford to pay another offensive lineman like Alex Mack in free agency, so we'll likely have to turn to the draft for some reinforcements on both sides of the trenches.

OL/DL are key areas of weakness that need immediate improvement, and even more so an influx of youth for the future.

CB/S is another area that we likely have to pursue at some point, although the situations of Talib and Gregory will have some bearing as to exactly when those positions are addressed.

If it were up to me (we can all thank God that it isn't) I would probably trade down again to accumulate an additional 2nd or 3rd round pick. I would then use at least one pick in the higher rounds of 1-3 on the positions of secondary and the trenches, with consideration for another blue chip TE in the middle rounds or above. Of course any BPA choice that may be available to us would also have strong consideration, and we will also need to select or pick up a developmental QB or a backup with experience in our system as Mallett will likely be gone at the end of 2014 in free agency.

 

[Husse]

I want to see if Buchanan can develop with an offseason to bulk up. He has shown some sparks of potential. And as I recall he was a better prospect the year before he came out because he lost a lot of weight during his last year in college.

 

[DaBruinz]

The Pats free agents at the end of the season are as follows: (not including anyone who they might cut)

Talib, Wendell, Svitek, Spikes, Edelman, Hoomanawanui, Fletcher, Aiken, Chris White, Andre Carter, Josh Kline, Justin Green, Kanorris Davis, Braxton Cave, Jordan Devey, Sam McGuffie.

The OP missed a bunch of people who are signed for low contracts who are on the IR:

Mark Harrison, Armond Armstead, TJ Moe, Markus Zusevics, Adrian Wilson, Corey Grissom, Elvish Fisher, Quentin Hines, Brice Scwab, and Luke Patterson.


It would be great if the Pats kept Edelman, Spikes, and Talib. However, I see Talib walking and the Pats being fine with it because of the development of Logan Ryan and Dennard. Not to mention Justin Green.

I can see the Pats re-signing Fletcher, Aiken, White, Kline, Green, Cave and Devey because they are low cost re-signings.

The Pats have 3 good RBs in Ridley, Vereen, and Blount. Bolden is replaceable. Develin has proven to be an above average lead blocker and decent pass catcher the times he's been asked to do it.

The Pats have Amendola, Boyce, Thomkins, and Dobson to build around so they could easily let Edelman go. That doesn't mean they should. In fact, I think they will work to keep him.

They have the ever wounded Gronk at TE and then Mulligan and Willliams. But I wouldn't be surprised to see Mark Harrison working as an H-back unless they release him. The Pats will probably look for someone in the draft as well.

O-line - I think the Pats will look for an upgrade to Wendell. What was clear to me this year is that Mankins has been doing his best to pick up the slack for Wendell and it's been hurting his own play. I'd like to see Josh Kline back since he's stepped in at LG and filled in pretty well. It will be interesting to see what the Pats do for RT and back up OTs. They currently have 4 OTs on the IR in Vollmer, Zusevics, Fisher, and Scwab. The Pats definitely need a 4th OT who can play either position the way Svitek can.

D-Line - It will be interesting to see how Wilfork and Kelly are in their return. Chris Jones, Sealver Siliga, and Joe Vellano stepped in and played well. Isaac Sopoaga was decent in limited time, but he'll probably be let go. Drafting Wilfork's eventual replacement is something I believe we'll see this year. Jones and Ninkovich are very good bookends. Buchanon showed some spark early on and has continued to prove valuable on special teams.

LBers - Collins, Mayo, Hightower- Bringing back Spikes and Fletcher would all but cement this position, though we could see the Pats bring in someone via the draft.

CBs - Ryan & Dennard, Arrington- The Pats will go into the off-season with this being a major need. Re-signing Green will bring them one step closer, but don't be surprised to see the Pats draft another "head scratcher" like Logan Ryan in the upcoming draft. Of course, re-signing Talib will solidify the position, but with Talib going to the north side of 30, how much he has left remains to be seen.

Safety - McCourty, Gregory, Harmon, Wilson, Wilson - This grouping seems pretty set unless Adrian Wilson decides to retire. The Pats could part ways with Stephen Gregory from a salary cap standpoint. Then the Pats could be looking at signing an inexpensive back-up or drafting someone.

Special Teams: Allen, Gostkowski, Slater, Ebner - Re-signing Aiken seems like a no-brainer. He's been steady since he got here. Adding a Punt Returner to replace Edelman if he leaves or adding a kick-returner to help in the event of another Boyce injury could be in the cards, but likely not a draft pick.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Aiken, Chris White,

Aiken is a restricted FA, so the Pats can keep him for the minimum RFA tender.

Chris White is not a FA at all this season; he'll be on the last year of his rookie contract in 2014. (He was drafted by Buffalo, traded to Detroit, and then claimed off waivers by NE.)

 

[Ochmed Jones]

They have the ever wounded Gronk at TE and then Mulligan and Willliams. But I wouldn't be surprised to see Mark Harrison working as an H-back unless they release him. The Pats will probably look for someone in the draft as well.

O-line - I think the Pats will look for an upgrade to Wendell. What was clear to me this year is that Mankins has been doing his best to pick up the slack for Wendell and it's been hurting his own play. I'd like to see Josh Kline back since he's stepped in at LG and filled in pretty well. It will be interesting to see what the Pats do for RT and back up OTs. They currently have 4 OTs on the IR in Vollmer, Zusevics, Fisher, and Scwab. The Pats definitely need a 4th OT who can play either position the way Svitek can.

D-Line - It will be interesting to see how Wilfork and Kelly are in their return. Chris Jones, Sealver Siliga, and Joe Vellano stepped in and played well. Isaac Sopoaga was decent in limited time, but he'll probably be let go. Drafting Wilfork's eventual replacement is something I believe we'll see this year. Jones and Ninkovich are very good bookends. Buchanon showed some spark early on and has continued to prove valuable on special teams.

By the time BB is on the clock most if not all the OT's with first round grades will be off the board. But all the OG's with first round grades should still be on the board. But I do not see BB taking an OG in the first round.

There are only two TE's with first round grades and one will probably be off the board by the time the Pats are on the clock.

On the D Line, I only see two DT's with first round grades, Nix and Hagerman. Nix could be off the board by the time the Pats are on the clock.

Regardless, of who is on the board, BB should have a chance to trade his first round pick again this year I see a bunch of teams that would jump at the chance to get back into the first round and would be willing to pay BB's price.

 

[Gronkandez]

The Pats free agents at the end of the season are as follows: (not including anyone who they might cut)

Talib, Wendell, Svitek, Spikes, Edelman, Hoomanawanui, Fletcher, Aiken, Chris White, Andre Carter, Josh Kline, Justin Green, Kanorris Davis, Braxton Cave, Jordan Devey, Sam McGuffie.

I can see the Pats re-signing Fletcher, Aiken, White, Kline, Green, Cave and Devey because they are low cost re-signings.

The Pats have 3 good RBs in Ridley, Vereen, and Blount. Bolden is replaceable. Develin has proven to be an above average lead blocker and decent pass catcher the times he's been asked to do it.

.

Are you implying LeGarrette Blount is signed for 2014?