The 2013 Prospect Thread

[mackenzie45220]

I'm not going to get too emotionally invested in any of the DEs in the draft. I'm predicting that BB will look to stock the shelves at other positions as he has generally not used high round draft picks at a single position in back to back years. With the Jones/Bequette/Francis haul of 2012 I highly doubt he drafts another high round DE in 2013. My guess is that the positions at the top of the draft will be interior OL, DT, and WR.

I don't think you want a wide receiver. I've said it before, and I'll say it again; this class lacks elite wide receivers. If a class is weak at a certain position, everyone at that position gets bumped up a little. Guys who would normally be drafted in the mid second round get into the late first, etc. If Keenan Allen is available at 30, he's worth it. Tavon Austin has off the charts change of direction skills and could be a more extreme version of Antonio Brown. Beyond that? DeAndre Hopkins' low ceiling makes him a reach at 30. Robert Woods is just bad. Terrance Williams is solid, but Patriots fans should be looking for more than just an average pick, and that's what he would be. Cordarrelle Patterson is a raw risk.

There are some later round receivers that are worth keeping an eye on.

Cobi Hamilton is DeVier Posey without character issues. By the standards of quickness set by most 6'2 receivers, he's Tavon Austin. Good hands, good athlete.

Aaron Mellette reminds me of a not crappy version of Chad Johnson. Slightly lazy blocker, good hands, smart enough to get YAC, solid athlete, good possession receiver.

What if I told you you can get Ryan Swope in the late fourth round? He's technically not Swope, but there is very little Conner Vernon doesn't offer that Swope does.

Lastly, Emory Blake is far and away the most underrated receiver of the class. He's not a great athlete, but he incorporates DeAndre Hopkins like head fakes in his routes and has solid change of direction skills to boot. He's really a good player, 3rd round prospect in my mind

 

[mayoclinic]

Apparently, the force is with me. I have potential. I am taking the post as a complement. I can't expect to be a Jedi before I've done basic things, such as get a driver's license, right?

I have never had any doubt that the force is with you. But beware the dark side.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't think you want a wide receiver. I've said it before, and I'll say it again; this class lacks elite wide receivers. If a class is weak at a certain position, everyone at that position gets bumped up a little. Guys who would normally be drafted in the mid second round get into the late first, etc. If Keenan Allen is available at 30, he's worth it. Tavon Austin has off the charts change of direction skills and could be a more extreme version of Antonio Brown. Beyond that? DeAndre Hopkins' low ceiling makes him a reach at 30. Robert Woods is just bad. Terrance Williams is solid, but Patriots fans should be looking for more than just an average pick, and that's what he would be. Cordarrelle Patterson is a raw risk.

There are some later round receivers that are worth keeping an eye on.

Cobi Hamilton is DeVier Posey without character issues. By the standards of quickness set by most 6'2 receivers, he's Tavon Austin. Good hands, good athlete.

Aaron Mellette reminds me of a not crappy version of Chad Johnson. Slightly lazy blocker, good hands, smart enough to get YAC, solid athlete, good possession receiver.

What if I told you you can get Ryan Swope in the late fourth round? He's technically not Swope, but there is very little Conner Vernon doesn't offer that Swope does.

Lastly, Emory Blake is far and away the most underrated receiver of the class. He's not a great athlete, but he incorporates DeAndre Hopkins like head fakes in his routes and has solid change of direction skills to boot. He's really a good player, 3rd round prospect in my mind

I'm afraid this is where our thinking diverges considerably.

1. BB likes his receivers to be explosive, particularly when it comes to change of direction. Not sure I see that with the likes of Blake, Vernon or Swope. This of course likely bumps up Woods, Austin and Patterson and possibly Hopkins. They may have red flags for BB in other areas (or not) but of those near the top of the draft, they'd probably be favourites.

2. Cobi Hamilton has terrible hands. Good for at least a couple of drops per game.

3. You say DeAndre Hopkins has a low ceiling. That might be the case for more conventional teams who favour a legit #1 but the Pats offense doesn't require a #1 guy. The ability to get open quickly, the football smarts to read defenses in the same way Brady does and YAC after important for BB. Screens too are important. Apart from the football smarts which one can't really judge, Hopkins might well score more highly on those measures than a Keenan Allen/Justin Hunter more #1 type might.

4. To teams looking for a #1 receiver this may be a weakish draft but for the Pats, with Hopkins, Woods, Patterson, Austin, Wheaton, Patton and Bailey, this is in theory pretty deep.

5. We won't really know until the combine which of these will appeal to the Pats the most but if a WR posts a good 40 and a very good 3 cone then that's where you should be laying your money towards.

 

[mayoclinic]

Bradley Roby going back to Ohio St. for next year:

All-American cornerback Bradley Roby will return to Ohio State for his junior season | cleveland.com

 

[manxman2601]

Bradley Roby going back to Ohio St. for next year:

All-American cornerback Bradley Roby will return to Ohio State for his junior season | cleveland.com

Another one for that potentially strong top 10. If Milliner goes back as well, then, wowzer.

For anyone who saw TAMU in the Cotton Bowl. Was it just me or did Jake Matthews look better than Joeckel? In my eyes, he's a top 5 prospect in any year.

 

[mayoclinic]

Another one for that potentially strong top 10. If Milliner goes back as well, then, wowzer.

For anyone who saw TAMU in the Cotton Bowl. Was it just me or did Jake Matthews look better than Joeckel? In my eyes, he's a top 5 prospect in any year.

I haven't watched enough games to form an opinion, but while Joeckel seems to be more highly rated by most, it is by no means universal. I've seen a few comments suggesting that Matthews has a bit more core strength and pop to his game. I know Russ Lande at the NFL has Matthews ranked higher, though they are both top 5 prospects on his board. I guess that's why it would be a bit surprising to me for Matthews to go back next year. I can understand wanting to move to LT, but I think he's already rated so highly that there's not much he can do to improve his draft stock, and with the rookie salary scale it doesn't really matter very much whether you end up going #5 overall or #10.

 

[Get it shawtaay]

Bradley Roby going back to Ohio St. for next year:

All-American cornerback Bradley Roby will return to Ohio State for his junior season | cleveland.com

Must not have liked what he got from the advisory committee.

As for the wide receivers discussion - I'll throw in my .02. The notion that the Patriots generally look for different traits than a lot of teams in a wide receiver is true. However, that does not mean one should discount another player because their strengths may not fit that template. The one thing I admire most about Bill Belichick (and believe me, there are many of them) is his ability to approach problems -on and off the field - rationally and with an open mind, in the face of dogma, historical precedent, ugly statistics, criticism, "unwritten rules", etc. Summary: worry less about what a prospect's 3-cone time is and more on what impact they have on Saturdays.

As for Quinton Patton... I love that kid. Reminds me a bit of Branch the way he moves his feet. He's really going to be a player at the next level. Hope he falls to us, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's the 3rd receiver off the board come April.

 

[EwanSellars]

Must not have liked what he got from the advisory committee.

As for the wide receivers discussion - I'll throw in my .02. The notion that the Patriots generally look for different traits than a lot of teams in a wide receiver is true. However, that does not mean one should discount another player because their strengths may not fit that template. The one thing I admire most about Bill Belichick (and believe me, there are many of them) is his ability to approach problems -on and off the field - rationally and with an open mind, in the face of dogma, historical precedent, ugly statistics, criticism, "unwritten rules", etc. Summary: worry less about what a prospect's 3-cone time is and more on what impact they have on Saturdays.

As for Quinton Patton... I love that kid. Reminds me a bit of Branch the way he moves his feet. He's really going to be a player at the next level. Hope he falls to us, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's the 3rd receiver off the board come April.

i hope the patriots draft patton so bad he would definitely be worth a second rounder

 

[mackenzie45220]

I'm afraid this is where our thinking diverges considerably.

1. BB likes his receivers to be explosive, particularly when it comes to change of direction. Not sure I see that with the likes of Blake, Vernon or Swope. This of course likely bumps up Woods, Austin and Patterson and possibly Hopkins. They may have red flags for BB in other areas (or not) but of those near the top of the draft, they'd probably be favourites.

2. Cobi Hamilton has terrible hands. Good for at least a couple of drops per game.

3. You say DeAndre Hopkins has a low ceiling. That might be the case for more conventional teams who favour a legit #1 but the Pats offense doesn't require a #1 guy. The ability to get open quickly, the football smarts to read defenses in the same way Brady does and YAC after important for BB. Screens too are important. Apart from the football smarts which one can't really judge, Hopkins might well score more highly on those measures than a Keenan Allen/Justin Hunter more #1 type might.

4. To teams looking for a #1 receiver this may be a weakish draft but for the Pats, with Hopkins, Woods, Patterson, Austin, Wheaton, Patton and Bailey, this is in theory pretty deep.

5. We won't really know until the combine which of these will appeal to the Pats the most but if a WR posts a good 40 and a very good 3 cone then that's where you should be laying your money towards.

With a first round pick, I'm looking for a #1. That's just me.

 

[mackenzie45220]

[/B]

i hope the patriots draft patton so bad he would definitely be worth a second rounder

Patton might be the next Mike Wallace, but, on plays he doesn't make catches, he runs some really bad routes. The guy chooses weird times to break off his stem.

 

[Lord Vader]

Two posts critical of other posters and offering nothing constructive. Just what the forum needs.

It's an opinion though and in the words (wrongly) attributed to Voltaire, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"?

I suppose the same applies to Mr Vader although I'm slightly less inclined to meet my Maker on his behalf rather than The Captain's because The Captain is talking about the Patriots rather than other posters. In fact, The Captain doesn't criticise other posters at all that I remember.

Anyways, this is my bug-bear but I'll climb back down off the soapbox now.

You have controlled your fear. Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me.

 

[Snake Eyes]

With a first round pick, I'm looking for a #1. That's just me.

What do you think of Markus Wheaton in general?

 

[mackenzie45220]

What do you think of Markus Wheaton in general?

Very simple. He was underrated. His stock has risen. As of now, he's neither underrated nor overrated

 

[patsfaninpa]

With a first round pick, I'm looking for a #1. That's just me.

How many number one receivers are in the NFL? I'd say no more than a dozen. Most teams play 3 wr's in their base set. That's 96 starting players. Let's say 80 for argument's sake. Receivers 13-80 don't warrant a 1st round pick? Sounds kinda silly. That's like saying I'll only draft an CB if he's gonna be aa pro bowler.

 

[mackenzie45220]

How many number one receivers are in the NFL? I'd say no more than a dozen. Most teams play 3 wr's in their base set. That's 96 starting players. Let's say 80 for argument's sake. Receivers 13-80 don't warrant a 1st round pick? Sounds kinda silly. That's like saying I'll only draft an CB if he's gonna be aa pro bowler.

Given the fact there are 32 teams in the NFL, I would say there are 32 #1 receivers. Some teams have more than one, some don't have any. In my mind, a number one receiver is roughly Torrey Smith or better. Guys in the tier below Smith, i.e. guys like Danny Amendola, Lance Moore, Malcolm Floyd, Brian Hartline, Donnie Avery, and Andre Roberts, are not really first round picks in my eyes.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Given the fact there are 32 teams in the NFL, I would say there are 32 #1 receivers. Some teams have more than one, some don't have any. In my mind, a number one receiver is roughly Torrey Smith or better. Guys in the tier below Smith, i.e. guys like Danny Amendola, Lance Moore, Malcolm Floyd, Brian Hartline, Donnie Avery, and Andre Roberts, are not really first round picks in my eyes.

I expected a smart ass answer. Glad to know you rank every teams top receiver the same.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I expected a smart ass answer. Glad to know you rank every teams top receiver the same.

I don't know how you could read that paragraph and take that away from it.

 

[mackenzie45220]

I expected a smart ass answer. Glad to know you rank every teams top receiver the same.

I said some teams have more than one. I'm just saying top 32 is top flight. But am I right when I imply that
1. Guys like Amendola, Moore, Hartline, and Avery fall in the 33-50 range and
2. Aren't really worthy of first round selections?

 

[mayoclinic]

Tony Jefferson and Kenny Stills reportedly declaring:

Report: Oklahoma's Kenny Stills and Tony Jefferson to enter draft - CBSSports.com

 

[mayoclinic]

Sam Montgomery and Bennie Logan reportedly coming out:

Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, Bennie Logan of LSU Tigers to declare for 2013 NFL draft -- sources - ESPN

LSU's going to have a lot of rebuilding to do next year.