Thoughts On Patriots Draft

DP labeled the Patriots as "losers" in the first day of the draft, and in many ways I think he is right, but after thinking about it for awhile, I think I am starting see a strategy and if what I am thinking is true I really like it.

I am not going to sit here and tell you I know the first thing about offensive lineman, and that includes the ones in the NFL. The only time I notice them is when they get toasted and Brady is laying dead on the field. So, there first pick filled a need, because Light is most likely gone, and they are getting very thin up front.

The Patriots traded their 2nd pick, which turned out to be Ingram. I like Ingram, but here is what I think the Patriots are looking to do in the 2nd round, which they now have 3 picks in.

- Their first pick I actually think they are going to trade. There are rumors the Bengals were desperately trying to move up into Green Bay's spot (last pick 1st round), so it stands to reason that they might try the same with the Patriots (1st pick 2nd round). This is especially true because the Bills pick right before the Bengals, which is another team that could grab a QB. If that's true the Patriots could have yet another first round pick in next year along with another pick in this years draft.

- With the other picks I see two things happening. They Patriots will draft their pass rushing OLB/DE, which could be someone like Brooks Reed, Akeem Ayers, or Bowers. Any of these players I could justify going in the 1st round and would be happy to have on the squad.

- The other pick they will make will be RB Mikel Leshoure, or Ryan Williams. Also, both of these guys I would be fine with, and some people actually like Leshoure more then Ingram. I don't know if I would take it that far, but I do like him.

All of this is obviously speculation, but if they were able to do these three things today you would quickly have to say the Patriots had one of the better drafts in the NFL.

Day 1 Winners and Losers

Winners:
New Orleans Saints:
Filthy draft. First the pick up DE from Cal Cameron Jordan and then they got a gift from the Patriots and selected the best RB in the draft in Mark Ingram from Alabama. They fill two holes in their roster. They strengthen their D Line and then will have a lot to work with at rb with Reggie Bush and Mark Ingram.

Carolina Panthers:
Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
I was hesitant to like this pick, but I completely flip flopped on this. I think this kid is the real deal and will win this team some ball games. He's big, athletic and has a cannon. He's not your typical athletic QB who looks to run before pass, he passes pretty well. The Panthers have a lot of holes, but their future looks brighter with Newton behind center.

Baltimore Ravens:
Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
The only reason he fell was due to off field issues, but this kid is 1A to Patrick Peterson. He's big at 6'2 and just as athletic as Peterson. The Ravens needed some defensive backfield help and got a big time player in Smith. I was really hoping he would fall to the Steelers.

Losers:
New England Patriots:
They had 2 picks to fill pretty glaring needs. I like Nate Solder the OL out of Colorado. He is huge and could be really good. Plus with Logan Mankins drama coming up and Matt Light retiring (maybe) but he's a project. Anthony Costonzo out of BC and Danny Watkins from Baylor have higher ceilings than Solder. I understand the position they pick, just not the player. I think they will really regret trading that second pick for New Orleans 2nd pick and next years 1st. They had 2 players they could have drafted that would have filled huge holes in Mark Ingram or Muhammed Wilkerson the DE from Temple. This was a big swing and miss for the Patriots and they will be haunted about this for years.

Minnesota Vikings:
With the 12th pick they select Christian Ponder. Yea.... really? I know the Vikings needed a QB but this is a reach of epic proportions. If I were to reach on a QB I would have taken Andy Dalton, Ryan Mallet and even Colin Kaepernick over Ponder. I don't get it, they could have drafted Robert Quinn the DE from UNC or Mike Pouncey the G from Florida.

San Fransisco 49ers:
I think Aldon Smith was a little high. Cam Jordan, Nick Fairley or even JJ Watt would have better selections.

Rumor: Patriots Trading Up To 6th Pick?

"According to a report from Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe, the Patriots have had trade discussions with the Browns about the No. 6 overall pick in Thursday's NFL draft. Citing a league source, Bedard reports that the Patriots -- owners of the No. 17 and No. 28 picks in the first round and the first pick of the second round, No. 33 overall -- may want to move up (WEEI)."

Would love to see this, as it is rumored that they would be going after Robert Quinn, who is the exact kind of player the Patriots need on their defense. He is one of those hybrid OLB/DE, which we know Belichick loves, because it gives him a lot of options with his game planning. Haven't really heard much about him? Well because he didn't play last year, he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for lying to investigators about receiving travel accommodations and jewelry... Cool whatever, thsi guy was a beast in 2009 with 11 sacks (at age 19!).

When scouts try to compare him to someone in the NFL they compare him to Julius Peppers, that good enough for me. Still, I put the probablity of this happening kind of low, just because it is very rare to see the Patriots trade up that high in the draft (if at all). So unless, Belichick really has his eye on this guy it sounds like just another rumor. But I can dream....can't I?

Fuck the Whole Pick By Pick, The Draft Is Tomorrow

DP's Picks:
24. NO: Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
25. Sea: Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State
26. Balt: Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
27. Atl: Bruce Carter, OLB, UNC
28. NE: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
29. Chi: Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pitt
30. NYJ: Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor
31. Pitt: Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida
32. GB: Marcus Cannon, OL, TCU

BMack's Picks:
24. NO: Brooks Reed, DE, Arizona
Fills the need at DE for the Saints, and adds a good pass rusher to a team that really needs one.

25. Sea: Jake Locker, QB, Washington
I like Mallet a lot, but with all the questions surrounding being a booze bag and what not I think Seattle takes a pass. I also like Locker a lot and if Seattle can bring back Matt Hasselbeck for one more year I think he could be real good.

26. Balt: Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado
Ravens need to improve thier defensive backfield, and Smith could end up being the 2nd best CB in this draft.

27. Atl: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa
Was projected to be a top 15 pick last year, but dropped in this years rankings (nerve damage/5 less sack then 2010), could be a steal this late in the first round.

28. NE: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado
Dude is huge (6-foot-8 319 pounds), and the Patriots could be very thin on the OL depending on what happens with the CBA/free agency.

29. Chi: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin
The Bears have to find a way to protect Cutler, this is a good start,

30. NYJ: Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State
Big, strong pass rusher is exactly what the Jets need, but what makes him special is he is great against the run.

31. Pitt: Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor
Not a sexy pick, but lets be honest the Steelers have to find a way to protect Big Ben.

32. GB: Justin Houston, LB, Georgia
Gives the Packers another OLB pass rushing option other then just Matthews. Houston is also versitle, and could eventually be a DE, another need for the Packers.

The NFL Gives The Patriots A Playoff Birth Without A Game Being Played

Cheer up Tom, you will have another year to choke it up in the playoffs.

Look at this schedule people:
1 Mon, Sep 12 @ Miami 7:00 PM
2 Sun, Sep 18 vs San Diego 4:15 PM
3 Sun, Sep 25 @ Buffalo 1:00 PM
4 Sun, Oct 2 @ Oakland 4:15 PM
5 Sun, Oct 9 vs New York 4:15 PM
6 Sun, Oct 16 vs Dallas 4:15 PM
7 BYE WEEK
8 Sun, Oct 30 @ Pittsburgh 4:15 PM
9 Sun, Nov 6 vs New York Giants 4:15 PM
10 Sun, Nov 13 @ New York 8:20 PM
11 Mon, Nov 21 vs Kansas City 8:30 PM
12 Sun, Nov 27 @ Philadelphia 4:15 PM
13 Sun, Dec 4 vs Indianapolis 8:20 PM
14 Sun, Dec 11 @ Washington 1:00 PM
15 Sun, Dec 18 @ Denver 4:15 PM
16 Sat, Dec 24 vs Miami 1:00 PM
17 Sun, Jan 1 vs Buffalo 1:00 PM

Are you fucking kidding me NFL. Patriot fans have already told me, oh that stretch after the bye is a killer. Shut up and don't sell me that bullshit. The only tough teams they face this season is the Jets, Pittsburgh, Philly and Indy and I honestly believe the Jets will falter a little and the same thing with the Colts. On Paper the Gaytriots should go 13-3.

Patriots Already Talking About Trading Draft Picks

One of the most active teams in recent seasons when it comes to draft pick trades has been the New England Patriots. So Bill Belichick's revelation during an appearance on Sirius NFL Radio on Monday -- that teams have contacted the team about trading picks, per Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald -- is about as surprising as the ban on lawn darts.

"We've definitely been contacted by teams below us, offering [us] to move back, and [teams] seeing if we want to move up into a better position," Belichick disclosed. "Of course, that usually doesn't get finalized until draft day, but there definitely seems to be a lot of interest in our draft picks."

"As you know, we're not afraid to trade them," he confirmed. "We'll do what's best for the team. We'll evaluate those opportunities if they come up on draft day and take it from there (ESPN)."

You know what? I am really starting to get sick of this. The Patriots always trade down for more picks, and although it has given them great depth, it's something I have grown very tired of. Imagine if they didn't trade their pick a couple years back and drafted Clay Mathhews? Hmmm, a pass rushing OLB with a great motor, yea that doesn't sound like exactly what the Patriots have been looking for over the past 4 years.

My point is I'm sick of having just depth, the Patriots need talent, especially on defense. This is a deep draft in terms of defensive players, and I want to see the Patriots bring in some top talent. They have enough picks, and they are young enough where they don't need a ton of picks in years to come. If they make any deal I hope it's to move up, because I will be upset if we once again stockpile future picks or later round picks.

With The 17th Pick In The NFL Draft The New England Patriots Select...

DP's Pick:
Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue

Well I believe this pick will be traded, but lets just pretend they will use this pick. It's pretty obvious that the Patriots need some defensive line help and now that all the guys I believe will be good are gone, they go with the next big thing. Kerrigan doesn't have a high ceiling like the other guys in this draft, but can be plugged in immediately and that's what the Patriots need the most. He is smart guy, was a team captain and a high character guy, something that the Patriots look at.

BMack's Pick:
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple

He was a DT in college, but most people think he will be a DE in a 3-4 defense. He can get pressure on the QB, which is something the Patriots have been missing for a couple years now. With good CBs, Warren coming back to the defensive line the Patriots should be a much improved defense if they can get a guy like this in the draft. I do agree with DP that there is a good chance that they trade this pick, because they seem to do it every year, but if they were to stick around this is exactly the kind of player they would be looking for.