Source says Patriots willing to trade two first round picks to move up to Top 10

[captain stone]

I hope its Claiborne but can't see him falling that far.... how would people feel if it was Trent Richardson...

I would puke all over my laptop.

 

[OhExaulted1]

i just hope its not coples.... but it will be

Coples had the typical Sr. play-not-get-hurt season. I wouldn't be that opposed. Poe wouldn't make me wince either. Go get the big uglies. Our secondary luck has left alot to be desired as of late.

 

[s3antana5757]

I'd rather they went after Trent Richardson.

 

[Snake Eyes]

I'd rather they went after Trent Richardson.

I'd rather they signed Mike Tolbert and used their picks for more needy positions.

 

[Banjo]

I think it's Poe or Coples! If they feel that strongly about them, I say do it

 

[TriplecHamp]

Brockers, Poe, or Coples please

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Better check for a snowstorm in hell before believing this tweet. I can just see Al Davis strapping on his ice skates.

It is far more likely that the Patriots will trade one or two or even three of their first 4 picks to move down. There is no way that BB will go into the third day with one pick (4); no way.

 

[Wilfork#75]

Its still 44 days until the draft. Any talk of the Pats seriously considering moving up at this stage would be complete B.S. The composition of the first round will still change so much over the coming weeks that even thinking about moving up that high to get a specific player would be a useless exercise. Outside of the top 5 players, there is still the possibility of so much movement that we don't know who could fall. Right now I have Upshaw and Still falling to the Pats in the 1st, so there is no way I would trade those 2 for anyone in this draft. Unlike some others that think the talent in this draft falls off a cliff at around 20, I think you can find quality players into the mid 30's, so if there is going to be a trade up I would make it 48, into the very early 2nd.

And if we traded up for Richardson I would hate that pick with a passion. Not that I don't love Richardson and think he would be a beast player, but it would be a complete waste of either a top 10 pick, or the 2nd and 3rd's you used last year on RB's. You think you've seen me complain about those picks, I would absolutely lose it if we drafted Richardson.

 

[s3antana5757]

Its still 44 days until the draft. Any talk of the Pats seriously considering moving up at this stage would be complete B.S. The composition of the first round will still change so much over the coming weeks that even thinking about moving up that high to get a specific player would be a useless exercise. Outside of the top 5 players, there is still the possibility of so much movement that we don't know who could fall. Right now I have Upshaw and Still falling to the Pats in the 1st, so there is no way I would trade those 2 for anyone in this draft. Unlike some others that think the talent in this draft falls off a cliff at around 20, I think you can find quality players into the mid 30's, so if there is going to be a trade up I would make it 48, into the very early 2nd.

And if we traded up for Richardson I would hate that pick with a passion. Not that I don't love Richardson and think he would be a beast player, but it would be a complete waste of either a top 10 pick, or the 2nd and 3rd's you used last year on RB's. You think you've seen me complain about those picks, I would absolutely lose it if we drafted Richardson.

Good points. Richardson is going to be a stud though. If this is true, they're not going for Brockers. His stock has dropped significantly since the Combine with some of his tape looking pretty bad.

Poe is a good idea, alot like Wilfork, but I don't know if he fits if we go back to the 3-4. Croples seems the most likely of the bunch mentioned so far.

Some outside the box thoughts:
Michael Floyd
Morris Claiborne
David DeCastro

 

[Huckleberry1]

I doubt it is true but if it were the player I would take is Luke Keuchly, I think he will be an imPact defender from the start.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I doubt it is true but if it were the player I would take is Luke Keuchly, I think he will be an imPact defender from the start.

I don't think they'd need to trade into the top 10 for Kuechly; while pretty much everybody and their cat has Luke Kuechly slotted in at #15 to PHI, I've seen a bunch of Iggles fans who find the thought repulsive.

 

[manxman2601]

Its still 44 days until the draft. Any talk of the Pats seriously considering moving up at this stage would be complete B.S. The composition of the first round will still change so much over the coming weeks that even thinking about moving up that high to get a specific player would be a useless exercise. Outside of the top 5 players, there is still the possibility of so much movement that we don't know who could fall. Right now I have Upshaw and Still falling to the Pats in the 1st, so there is no way I would trade those 2 for anyone in this draft. Unlike some others that think the talent in this draft falls off a cliff at around 20, I think you can find quality players into the mid 30's, so if there is going to be a trade up I would make it 48, into the very early 2nd.

And if we traded up for Richardson I would hate that pick with a passion. Not that I don't love Richardson and think he would be a beast player, but it would be a complete waste of either a top 10 pick, or the 2nd and 3rd's you used last year on RB's. You think you've seen me complain about those picks, I would absolutely lose it if we drafted Richardson.

Sorry Wilfork, can't agree with you here on both fronts:

1. Firstly, I'm not putting a lot of stock in this, but if, for the sake of argument, this is how BB has decided to approach the draft, his determination would most likely be that a) the players at the end of the first don't warrant a first round pick in his eyes and B) there isn't going to be the scope to trade down. On that second point, I can see that being the case, there's a lot of players with similar grades down there, similar positions too (Brandon Thompson/Kendall Reyes & Zach Brown/Lavonte David/Bobby Wagner) for example. Why does a team give up a draft pick to trade up for Brown when they can sit and wait for David? The scope for trading back could be a lot worse this year. BB might make the determination that there is better value in getting one starter than two role players.

2. As for Richardson, whilst I'd be amazed at them trading up for him, there is merit to it. 1) It forces teams to put 8 in the box, something with our fairly mediocre RB's they don't have to do now, thus opening things up for Gronk and Hernandez. 2) They get BJGE+. No fumbles, excellent blitz blocker with the added ability to go the distance. 3) Getting more carries for TR extends the career for Tom Brady - less pass rush because of play action, less wear and tear on Tom. Having Trent in the team would mean a fitter Tom Brady in the playoffs.

I will go so far as to say this. Trent Richardson would be a bigger improvement to our passing game than Justin Blackmon would be.

 

[Wilfork#75]

Sorry Wilfork, can't agree with you here on both fronts:

1. Firstly, I'm not putting a lot of stock in this, but if, for the sake of argument, this is how BB has decided to approach the draft, his determination would most likely be that a) the players at the end of the first don't warrant a first round pick in his eyes and B) there isn't going to be the scope to trade down. On that second point, I can see that being the case, there's a lot of players with similar grades down there, similar positions too (Brandon Thompson/Kendall Reyes & Zach Brown/Lavonte David/Bobby Wagner) for example. Why does a team give up a draft pick to trade up for Brown when they can sit and wait for David? The scope for trading back could be a lot worse this year. BB might make the determination that there is better value in getting one starter than two role players.

I'm not saying by draft day that BB might not take this approach, my problem is this report coming out 6 weeks before the draft saying the Pats are willing to trade both 1st's to move up to about 10, when the composition of the draft is still a complete unknown. Sure it technically might be true, because BB will do whatever is best for the team, and trading up is a potential option. But it is far too early for these sorts of suggestions to come out in the media. That is my biggest issue.

Personally I don't think trading up that high in this particular draft is a good idea at all. I don't think the difference in talent between 10 and 30 is that large. Lets look at the consensus top 4 DT's. Right now one of them will be drafted in the top 10, possibly 2. But it is also highly likely that one of them will fall at least into the mid 20's where a small trade up will make sense. I think most people around here would agree that Fletcher Cox is the top DT in this draft, but is the difference in talent between him and Devon Still or Michael Brockers worth the 31st pick in the draft? To me the answer is hell no. Fletcher Cox is a very good player and the top DT in this class, but the gap between him and the 4th DT in this class isn't worth a 1st round pick.

You can look at player grades and all that stuff, but I just like to simplify things. How many of these trades would you actually make.

Upshaw/Mercilus/Branch and Devon Still/Brockers for Cox/Poe/Coples/Ingram?

Jenkins/Gilmore/Dennard and Kendal Wright/Stephen Hill for Morris Claiborne?

Peter Konz and Mark Barron for David DeCastro?

While the exact composition of the trades is impossible to tell right now, the idea is still the same. To me I don't make any of these trades. I think the idea that the talent in this draft drops dramatically at about 20 is a complete myth. I think there will be quality players available to the Pats at the end of the 1st round, that aren't that much lower rated than the guys in the top 10. BB might see things differently, but he certainly isn't planning things like this 6 weeks ahead of the draft when we don't know exactly who will go where.

2. As for Richardson, whilst I'd be amazed at them trading up for him, there is merit to it. 1) It forces teams to put 8 in the box, something with our fairly mediocre RB's they don't have to do now, thus opening things up for Gronk and Hernandez. 2) They get BJGE+. No fumbles, excellent blitz blocker with the added ability to go the distance. 3) Getting more carries for TR extends the career for Tom Brady - less pass rush because of play action, less wear and tear on Tom. Having Trent in the team would mean a fitter Tom Brady in the playoffs.

I will go so far as to say this. Trent Richardson would be a bigger improvement to our passing game than Justin Blackmon would be.

Don't get me wrong, I love Richardson and I think he would be great on this team. But would you be happy having spent two 1st round picks, a 2nd and a 3rd rounder all on RB's in 2 years. That to me is horrible strategy, no matter how good the player may be. I don't think for this team that any RB is worth two 1st round picks because I don't see the offensive scheme changing no matter who they have at RB. Again, I love Richardson, but to me investing that many resources into a position of such low value such as RB is crazy. I agree he would definitely add something to this offense, but I just don't agree that the upgrade he would provide would be worth that much value.

 

[fester]

I'm not saying by draft day that BB might not take this approach, my problem is this report coming out 6 weeks before the draft saying the Pats are willing to trade both 1st's to move up to about 10, when the composition of the draft is still a complete unknown. Sure it technically might be true, because BB will do whatever is best for the team, and trading up is a potential option. But it is far too early for these sorts of suggestions to come out in the media. That is my biggest issue....

It depends on what the report actually is: Is it "The Patriots are truly determined to move to the Top-10 IF their guy is there..."? Then I completely agree with you.

OR is it:

"The Patriots are doing their due diligence in calling 30 other teams (Eff the Jets) to identify potential trading partners and to get a feel for what teams want to do so that in the final week, effort can be focused on fruitful paths instead of prep work..."

Then I completely disagree with you, I completely buy the Pats doing due diligence when they have the time to do so.

 

[Wilfork#75]

I completely agree with you. If its just due diligence it's fine. But the impression I got from the tweet on page 1 was it was more than that, and was something they were really looking at.

@nfldraftscout Source tells us #Patriots willing to trade two first round picks (27, 31) to move up to Top 10. Looking at defense.

Maybe I'm just reading too much into it. I think it was more to create controversy than anything.

 

[Mark Morse]

At this time of year, GMs are contacting each other to guage what it would take to move up if a certain player they like is still on the board. Its all hypothetical. Pats have two 1st round picks. Will team XYZ picking at #9 be willing to trade down ... will two 1st rd picks be enough?

 

[IllegalContact]

makes absolutely no sense at this moment. they have no clue who is going to be there at #10. this would be a draft day deal, so it is pointless right now

 

[Patriot Missile]

I would trade up for Richardson in a heartbeat. He's the missing link on a ultimate offense provided they acquire someone like Lloyd through free agency.

I'm perfectly fine moving up to get Brockers or Couples as well.

I'd trade 27 31 and a 3rd to get Claiborne. He's the best defensive player in this draft and a true shutdown corner imo. There is no player in this draft that would help our defense more than this guy.

 

[rookBoston]

Okay, I'll bite. Even tho I know this is a crock, it's a fun little game.

If BB was really considering this, it would be for Melvin Ingram aka Mr. Versatility Himself. Rare talent at a position of chronic need for the Pats.

Watch the game film against Georgia. Melvin Ingram vs Georgia 2011 - YouTube

He does the following in that one game:
- Play as DE, hand down in 4-3, sealing the edge
- Play as DT, hand down taking on the double team
- Play as OLB, standing and outside rush
- Play as OLB, dropping into coverage
- Play as ILB, in run blitz
- Score TD on fake punk designed for him
- Recover a fumble for a TD
- Recover onside kick as part of the good hands team to end the game

In high school, he played the following positions:
QB, RB, SS, K, P, WR, LB, LS

276# which is Willie McGinest size, and just about every skill you could want from a defensive lineman. Just an incredible, natural football player.

Sounds like someone BB would go out of his way for.

 

[reflexblue]

Okay, I'll bite. Even tho I know this is a crock, it's a fun little game.

If BB was really considering this, it would be for Melvin Ingram aka Mr. Versatility Himself. Rare talent at a position of chronic need for the Pats.

Watch the game film against Georgia. Melvin Ingram vs Georgia 2011 - YouTube

He does the following in that one game:
- Play as DE, hand down in 4-3, sealing the edge
- Play as DT, hand down taking on the double team
- Play as OLB, standing and outside rush
- Play as OLB, dropping into coverage
- Play as ILB, in run blitz
- Score TD on fake punk designed for him
- Recover a fumble for a TD
- Recover onside kick as part of the good hands team to end the game

In high school, he played the following positions:
QB, RB, SS, K, P, WR, LB, LS

276# which is Willie McGinest size, and just about every skill you could want from a defensive lineman. Just an incredible, natural football player.

Sounds like someone BB would go out of his way for.

I like this guy even though he is a couple of inches shorter than a BB OLB/DE. I would rather take a shot on a player like Ingram with the skills he has at 6'2'' than grab a jag who is 6'5'' and try and coach him up