Grid
Interesting list. Lot's I agree with, here's where I differ to varying degrees:
1. Ras-I-Dowling. It's pretty clear from what we've been hearing out of the organisation that he was drafted as a CB and that they want to play him there. as I said in the other 2013 thread (and I know you differ here), I think we need a specialist safety, one that's an upgrade on Patrick Chung, and is therefore a high priority either through draft or FA.
2. DT. I think this could be a high draft priority. I'm all for a beast to play alongside and eventually replace Wilfork. However, this is entirely conditional on the right player being there. The last two drafts have demonstrated that adding bodies to the position are not high on BB's priority list. However, if Lotulelei or Hankins are that special big body, and early looks suggest thwey might be, then I'm sure BB will look in that direction.
3. By the time the next draft rolls around, we will be only one year away from Gronk and Hernandez being out of contract. Keeping both will be very tough so I do think a potential replacement, most likely for Hernandez, becomes an important consideration for the draft.
4. I'm glad you highlighted the need for a will type midfilder. I think my biggest disappointment from the draft was that we didn't get a midfielder who can drop into coverage. I'm hoping for this as a second to third round option.
5. Unless we're talking a Barrett Jones or DeCastro quality OL, I don't think this is necessarily a first round option. Whilst BPA at a position of need applies, I think OL's can be found later in the draft.
Whilst not fixed in stone, I'd target our draft priorities somethin like:
1. A potentially best in the league type DT. If not there, then I think it's importance as a position of need drops sharply.
2. Safety. It's still our biggest hole, I'm not sold on what I've seen of Wilson, although hopeful and supportive, and I think Chung, in the last year of his contract, can be upgraded.
3=. WR. I really like what we've done FA-wise but I do think it's a short-term patch rather than a long-term fix. I'd like BB to start thinking about a longer-term approach to our receivers.
3=. A pass defending midfielder. I like Hightower, but I'm not sure he's someone you want dropping into coverage too much. aside from Mayo, there's not much else there.
3=. OL. For Barrett Jones, I'd move this one up the list but I think the Patriots have shown themselves capable of bringing in quality vets or developing prospects.
4. TE.
5. RB. Unless Vereen or Ridley show they are capable of carrying the burden, and I'm still hopeful they can, then as an advocate for a good running game, it's a position I'd like them to address.
6. QB. I like Mallett's chances as the long-term Brady replacement, but with Hoyer likely gone, bringing in a developmental guy who could be competition for Mallett will be a good thing.
I don't think I differ from you substantially, there's only a slight difference in emphasis.
Ah!! Good stuff, here, Brother Manx ~ agreements and divergences,
both. 
1 ~ Please keep in mind: This is
my demented Vision of things, not my prediction of what Mad Bill would do: And it's quite possible that
Ras I Dowling will prove to be an
exceptional Corner Back, but at this early juncture, I'm only highly confident in his ability to excel at Free Safety. More importantly, from my perspective, is that I consider it wise to develop a team whose Free Safeties might
very well be able to excel at Corner, thus building in Depth of Talent at Corner. And I think the best way to do this is to ignore Free Safeties in the Draft, and to target Corners...for the most part. Mad Bill may
indeed think otherwise.
2 ~ Defensive Tackle
is an high Priority...for
me!! Whether or not
Bill The Mad (Genius) concurs is
another matter, my good man. Considering the absolutely
vital importance of this role ~ I consider it second in critical importance only to QuarterBack, and
not by much ~ and considering that this team seems clearly headed ~ and wisely so ~ towards Sets ~ especially the
245 and
425 ~ that require not one but TWO high caliber D Tackles...and considering, above all, our inadequate Depth of Talent at that position, especially in light of
Vince Wilfork's astonishing Work Load, the last two years, and how susceptible to a season-ending injury they make him...I think it clearly behooves us to make this position a
major Priority.
3 ~ Hah!! No way in HELL would I let either
Rob Gronkowski or
Aaron the Navigator go until
2020 or so:
Flex End + Wing Back command the center of the Chess Board. The impact of those two positions ~ relative to Wide Receivers ~ has a dramatically
disproportionate effect on winning Games and Championships...and we have two of the very,
very best. To allow
either to walk ~ or even enter Free Agency ~ would be flat out NIGHTMARISH, in my view. So while I
am the Original ~ and, for a LONG time: ONLY ~ advocate of drafting Depth of Talent at Flex End and Wing Back...we'll have to disagree on taking measures to replace
either of those guys for the next several years.
4 ~ Yes, I couldn't agree more. We had a unique Opportunity to scoop up an
amazing Pass Coverage MidFielder, in
LaVonte David, and Mad Bill
inexplicably let him slide. I was an enormous fan of
DeMario Davis, as well, to say nothing of
Cam Johnson as an HeffaLump Prospect...Ah, well.
5 ~ Yes, you understand: I wasn't saying we
have to go 1st Round to get an O Guard of suitably awesome Potential ~
Senio Kelemete went in the 5th round, which simply
amazes me ~ so we agree on that principle. However, O Guard is a
major Priority for me, as I consider them
unbelievably vital to winning
The Grim Games of Late January.
Barret Jones is my favorite for O Guard at this early juncture, and I would love the idea of snatching him and his mate,
Chance Womack, and both should be early Rounders...You can't
count on an O Guard prospect of Kelemete's stature to drift into the 5th Round every year: This year's crop was
incredibly deep, and who knows when we'll see
that again??
Brother Manx Priorities
1 ~ Could NOT agree more!! :rocker: DT is my #1, as well, you know, and I am INTENSELY excited about this year's Prospects, as BEAUTIFULLY Broken down by The Immortal Brother Mayo!!
2 ~ I don't place Safety anywhere near as high as you, but that, of course, is mostly because I think
Pat Chung is a BEAST, and because I want Dowling to swing out to Free Safety. I think Chung will play FAR better with a better and healthier crew around'm, allowing him to focus on his
own responsibilities, but we'll see!!
3 ~ I don't place as much emphasis on Wide Outs, generally, but am 100% in agreement with you that SOMETHING needs to be done!!
We are looking BEAUTIFULL right now, and would CONTINUE to, if Mad Bill shocks me and actually EXTENDS some people instead of letting them go, like he did
Mark Anderson...but not for too long, and ~ considering how long it takes Wide Outs to learn their trade ~ I really wanted him to get a piece or two in place THIS year...So I definitely agree that this NEEDS to be addressed!!
4 ~ 100%
with you on the
Pass Defending MidFielder!! DAMN, I wish we'd snagged David!!
5 ~ Yup!! LOVE Jones...We just diverge on Priority, here.
6 ~ Tight End. I'm really happy with
Daniel Fells as a backup for Gronk for the next few years!! But we BADLY need to get Depth of Talent to go with Aaron the Navigator.
Evan Rodriguez would've been an
amazing addition to this crew, rather'n some 14 Century Full Back!!
7 ~ Yeah, I REALLY wanted us to snag
Michael Smith, this year. Opportunity LOST. I think
Shane Vereen is going to AMAZE some people, though, and I think we'll have a great crew....In any case, I'd love to see one more Flex Back ~ a guy who's dangerous as a Runner
and as a Receiver...and who can block, of course.
8 ~ We diverge on Mallett, of course: He's just not my kind of QuarterBack.
9 ~ Concur, Sir!! And it was a great pleasure to share ideas with you, my good man!! Thanks for taking the time, too: Outside of Brother Mayo's posts, there ain't much to read, this time'f year!!
