DRAFT DAY DISCUSSION **The Official Day 1 Patriots Draft Thread**

[Uncle Rico]

Schefter: "Multiple teams really liked Patriots first-round pick Nate Solder, some as the draft's top OT."

 

[PATSNUTme]

BB is paying me back for all the picks I got last year.

 

[reflexblue]

This is great! We'll slide him to guard. He's great at run-blocking and getting to the 2nd level. Most definitely not going to be LT because he can't handle speed rushers.

Could have got him at 28 most likely

 

[upstater1]

Two things, we could have Light play guard, move Vollmer over to LT, start Solder at RT.

Also, Mort just said the Giants were disappointed the Pats took Solder, which meshes with Gosselin's prediction.

 

[ausbacker]

So the reports are the Giants are devo the Pats just took Solder. The sky is not falling in to the chicken littles. OL was a need and Tom Brady is pretty important to the team. Defense will get looked after.

 

[italia44]

This dude would have been there at 28. This team is surprising.

nope....wouldn't have got past the gints at 19

 

[RodThePat]

Oh, and there is no way an athletic tackle who excels in pass protection like Solder was going to get past the Colts. No way.

 

[JackBauer]

Solder is a spectacular athlete with spectacular size -- the absolute Pats physical prototype. The reason I didn't expect him at #17 is that his technique is very raw...but look at what Dante did with Vollmer, seemingly overnight. I don't hate the pick.

Too much smoke and mirrors with the Patriots OL, which seems to always fall apart in the playoffs.

They need the athleticism badly.

 

[TriplecHamp]

His issues seem fixable and he's got great size, probably our future LT. We can still address pass rush with 28 or a small trade up.

 

[PushnPencils]

IMHO...What won them championships is high impact talent...especially on D. We continue to lack that. Still can't get off the field and stop folks on third down.

 

[PittPatriot]

god... can we ever draft a pass rusher... please

Maybe not...but we CAN draft O-lineman who don't have great "awareness" in the run game.

 

[BTTA]

WTF do any of us know? We have to assume that Dante and BB see this guy as having a huge upside that can be easily coached up to. The OL was an area of need. Now on to the DL and OLB.

 

[glm]

 

[Keegs]

Too much smoke and mirrors with the Patriots OL, which seems to always fall apart in the playoffs.

They need the athleticism badly.

+1

the oline beats up ****ty teams, and craps their pants when it matters most. it's been that way for years.

keep it up bb.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I'm pretty sure the Colts wanted Solder too. I can just see the Manning face now

Colts will have to settle for Costanzo or Sherrod.

In my mock draft I foresaw a big run on Ol starting in the early 20s with the Colts. I think the Pats took Solder with the understanding that he wouldn't last till 28.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Not diggin' Amkamura's creamsickle shirt...

maybe we passed, because of his poor judgement!

 

[Uncle Rico]

NFL.com analysis: "Solder has all of the tools to develop into a premier player at the position, and his development could help the Patriots solidify Tom Brady's protection for the foreseeable future. Although the team must address their defensive issues along the front, the opportunity to pick a franchise-caliber tackle at this point of the draft is an outstanding value selection."

If they can add Wilkerson at 28, that's a good first round.

 

[SVN]

remember what people said when mankins was picked, when seabass was picked. Lets see what happens before jumping ship...

 

[West Philly Patriot]

Solder is a spectacular athlete with spectacular size -- the absolute Pats physical prototype. The reason I didn't expect him at #17 is that his technique is very raw...but look at what Dante did with Vollmer, seemingly overnight. I don't hate the pick.

That makes me feel a lot better. I didn't see this coming.

 

[IllegalContact]

lots of good stuff falling to 28

solder has the biggest upside......but we need to extend mankins....

I would not be suprised to see vollmer move back to the left for next season