DRAFT Welcome Caleb Lomu OT Utah

[mayoclinic]

Onwenu is expensive, other than that he fits just fine. He was consistently good last season. They could certainly go younger and cheaper there if that is their desire.

Not at all. Besides being absurdly over-priced, Onwenu has had weight, conditioning, and motivational inconsistencies, and is a complete outlier from the highly athletic profile of the other 4.

He's a "phone booth" legacy guy who doesn't fit the long term direction. Vrabel has a habit of dumping those guys as soon as possible.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

What's your opinion on who's available at #63?

There are lots of guys left thanks to the run on OL.
One would imagine Howell, Parker and Young go before the middle of rd 2. Young is not the guys I want.
Then you get to Jacas/DDS/Crawford.
I would be comfortable taking any of the above at 63 except Crawford.
Crawford would be a rd 3 target if we went a different direction in rd 2.
As stated multiple times, I would like LB/Edge to be our next 2 picks. If there is a run on Edge take the best LB and swing for Crawford or Height, Barham in rd 3.
Since this is what I would like, we will probably go OG and Safety in rds 2 and 3

 

[gobesmug]

Not at all. Besides being absurdly over-priced, Onwenu has had weight, conditioning, and motivational inconsistencies, and is a complete outlier from the highly athletic profile of the other 4.

He's a "phone booth" legacy guy who doesn't fit the long term direction. Vrabel has a habit of dumping those guys as soon as possible.

Are there any possible targets in the 2nd round that could fit that mold as an Owenu replacement?

 

[mayoclinic]

Chase Bisontis, but he probably will go early.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

6'6 320, 6'6 313, 6'5 310 aren't " on the smaller side. Especially given that bth Campbell and Lomu will out in muscle over the next couple of years.

Just look at the RAS for all of them - all between 5 and 7 range on the height/weight physical side, contrasting with high 9's on the athletic side. So they are not Onwenu-type road-graders - they are all only slightly above average for their position based on height/weight measurements but all elite based on their athleticism. There is absolutely a trade-off and the Pats have gone with smaller, lighter but faster and more explosive. Of course small and light for an OL is neither small nor light for any other position except nose tackle. So in absolute terms these guys are all of course simply massive.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

So in absolute terms these guys are all of course simply massive.

No doubt.
Watching Lomu hug his family after getting drafted, he looked like a bear hugging his prey.
Big dude!

 

[Wozzy]

Not at all. Besides being absurdly over-priced, Onwenu has had weight, conditioning, and motivational inconsistencies, and is a complete outlier from the highly athletic profile of the other 4.

Mike Onwenu having weight issues has been an urban myth created by idiot media members trying to guess his weight months after not seeing him. He’s played at 350 since exiting college and stayed there.

Guess who led the entire team in offensive snaps the last two season? Onwenu. You can tell us he has conditioning issues when he has ranked #1 in snaps for two seasons in a season row.

He's a "phone booth" legacy guy who doesn't fit the long term direction. Vrabel has a habit of dumping those guys as soon as possible.

“Phone booth guy” is who you turn to on 3rd and 4th and inches. Again, he’s expensive… if they want to go younger and cheaper it wouldn’t bother me, but it’s not because Onwenu hasn’t been good.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Are there any possible targets in the 2nd round that could fit that mold as an Owenu replacement?

I think there's at most 2 or 3 IOL prospects that could go in the 2nd round as there's a big dropoff after the 1st round - hence I don't think we'll be picking any of them and will focus on D in the 2nd

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You can make a case that there can be good ROI in the 3rd (given that our starting C was drafted there last year) but I still see them focusing on other positions there and in the 4th where there might be a decent pass catching TE prospect.

I'd expect to see some more OL candidates, perhaps with the BPA in the 5th, but certainly in the 6th with all the picks they have there

Heck, our current swing tackle is a 7th rounder drafted last year so if we have a need those later draft picks certainly have a chance to contribute

 

[imahobgoblin]

I meant his inexperience as a pro, not as a guard. Guard should be easier than center.

Onwenu is expensive, other than that he fits just fine. He was consistently good last season. They could certainly go younger and cheaper there if that is their desire.

Your lack of football knowledge shines as bright as ever.

 

[Real fan 02]

No doubt.
Watching Lomu hug his family after getting drafted, he looked like a bear hugging his prey.
Big dude!

Yes! 6'6 almost 6'7.. like Moses he's a massive OT.. looking for edge today and then hopefully a Safety or TE in rounds 3-4.. then dip back in round 5 to take another OL.

 

[Real fan 02]

There are lots of guys left thanks to the run on OL.
One would imagine Howell, Parker and Young go before the middle of rd 2. Young is not the guys I want.
Then you get to Jacas/DDS/Crawford.
I would be comfortable taking any of the above at 63 except Crawford.
Crawford would be a rd 3 target if we went a different direction in rd 2.
As stated multiple times, I would like LB/Edge to be our next 2 picks. If there is a run on Edge take the best LB and swing for Crawford or Height, Barham in rd 3.
Since this is what I would like, we will probably go OG and Safety in rds 2 and 3

As always good stuff DD! Looking for edge here today at 63.. OL& edge are the biggest needs.. I'd like to get our higher priorities address in rounds 2-4.. edge, TE,safety ,and then dip back in to take another OL.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Just look at the RAS for all of them - all between 5 and 7 range on the height/weight physical side, contrasting with high 9's on the athletic side. So they are not Onwenu-type road-graders - they are all only slightly above average for their position based on height/weight measurements but all elite based on their athleticism. There is absolutely a trade-off and the Pats have gone with smaller, lighter but faster and more explosive. Of course small and light for an OL is neither small nor light for any other position except nose tackle. So in absolute terms these guys are all of course simply massive.

The athleticism is the key. With the speed and athleticism of the Edge guys you have to have athletic tackles, and they now have that with Campbell and Lomu. And for this year Brown and Lomu provide depth, and Vera Tuckers versatility allows them flexibility with that depth. Vrabel and Co. have been doing a great job of building this roster.

 

[woolster22]

Agreed, love that pick. But there's some really good depth art guard and center in this draft class, there's a lot of good strong guys available later.

There are even some guys who are considered tweeners at OT who could play both positions. Want a big powerful athletic dude later, give me JC Davis out of Illinois. He's only 6'4" but weighs 322 pounds, has a 83 1/8 wingspan, wide enough to play tackle, but he motors and has quickness. There are centers like Jager Burton who is 6'4" 312 pounds, repped it 28 times on the bench. and could provide ultimate flexibility at guard or center if Wilson struggles.

I hope they load up at OL.

I suddenly want to hear about Burton and Milt Williams battling in camp.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

That is one thing that I noticed is that bootlefs to the right decreased as the season went on and I think it was due to lack of mobility on the right side of the line

Posters think Onwenu is an All-Pro only because they don't understand how his immobility affects the offense.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Not at all. Besides being absurdly over-priced, Onwenu has had weight, conditioning, and motivational inconsistencies, and is a complete outlier from the highly athletic profile of the other 4.

He's a "phone booth" legacy guy who doesn't fit the long term direction. Vrabel has a habit of dumping those guys as soon as possible.

I have repeatedly made that point.

Posters don't like to hear it.

 

[woolster22]

See a pattern here? All four are on the smaller side but super athletic. Goodbye power, hello outside zone and other movement-oriented schemes. Helps a lot with convincing play-action too - can run play-action off inside zone, outside zone/stretch, pin-and-pull, etc. And helpful in bootlegs and RPO.

Fits Hendersons game better as well. Though I'm sure Josh will still run him inside because he hates the run game.

 

[captain stone]

Sorry not sorry to break this, but...

Caleb Lomu isn't here to the be starting Right Tackle for the 2027 NEP. I think you can guess where I'm going with the rest...

Otherwise, why not just keep 125 and draft DEs TJ Parker or Zion Young instead?

Also, Eliot overpaid for the privilege. Take a peek at what the Jete paid to move their three spots...

 

[dliverey44]

Sorry not sorry to break this, but...

Caleb Lomu isn't here to the be starting Right Tackle for the 2027 NEP. I think you can guess where I'm going with the rest...

Otherwise, why not just keep 125 and draft DE Zion Young instead?

Also, Eliot overpaid for the privilege. Take a peek at what the Jete paid to move their three spots...

Not sure of position but the goal was to improve the OL and Lomu will do that. I think that Young is a less refined Dremont Jones which is good, but not sure if that is what the Pats are looking for right now.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Posters think Onwenu is an All-Pro only because they don't understand how his immobility affects the offense.

I think we will see Onwenu replaced after this season, but with the roster they inherited that they had to be careful not to create more holes when they already had so many to fill.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Not sure of position but the goal was to improve the OL and Lomu will do that. I think that Young is a less refined Dremont Jones which is good, but not sure if that is what the Pats are looking for right now.

All you had to do was watch the Super Bowl to understand what their priority would be this offseason. The Seahawks defense overwhelmed the Patriots offense, so making the offense tougher was the priority. It wasn't a star studded free agency, but it was a deliberate effort to add tough players, and they brought in Vera-Tucker at guard, Gilliam at Fullback, Hill at TE, and Doubs at WR ( a blocking upgrade over Diggs). Then they went OT with their first pick, So while it wasn't flashy they set about addressing the lack of toughness on offense, and appear to have improved that significantly.