New England Patriots Thread Mod Warning Post #253

Coreyhotline

It's hard to know what to do with the draft, as I think we've too many holes.

Looking at the cornerback group, I see a load of good number 2 cornerbacks and slot corners (assuming Jones is fit this year), but don't see a true number 1. That might be OK if we continue to play more zone, but definitely would like to draft a true number 1 corner if they're there so we can flex between zone and man. More zone might be better though instead of playing man and chasing superfast receivers all around the field. I'd be Ok with a Mills/Butler/Bryant combo if we were mainly playing zone. Also think the depth at safety would lend itself to that.

Like most people, I think if we want to optimise Mac then we need a stud receiver. However, not sure that they'll be there by 21, so my guess is this will be a value pick like Metchie in the second round. I also hope Aglohor and Jonnu Smith might come on in their second year, so we might have a pretty serviceable group of pass catchers.

LB is the position that worries me the most. Even if High comes back, I think he's in the latter years of his career and playing accordingly. Of all the positions, I'd like to see us address this first as I think this is the one where we've the least depth and the least talent. Seems like Nakobe Dean is dropping down draft boards, so a good chance he'd be there at 21, or possibly even early second round if we trade back. The right talent here could make a massive impact (like Leonard in Indy or White in TB)

Don't think OL is as much a concern as that's one area we've always done a good job of identifying mid-to-late round talent as well as developing depth players.

Again, DL is an another area where we do really well picking up vet talent, and suspect this will be addressed in post-draft free agency.

So in short, talked myself out of corner and into 3-down sideline to sideline linebacker.

Speckydodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118983313#Comment_118983313

Devin Lloyd looks a good shout for LB at 21 if still there.

They'd really like to trade down and pick up a Quay Walker and a Kyler Gordon I imagine that's their dream scenario.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118983615#Comment_118983615

Yeah I think if McDuffie is gone and Lloyd still there you have to take him.

There's a lot of depth in this draft class so I don't see much trading down happening.

Of course we all know that it's very hard to predict what Bill will do. We are all aboard the corner and linebacker first round pick so he'll probably go DL or OL or even safety!!!

Coreyhotline

I actually saw a 7 round mock on nfl.com that had us taking 2 safeties! Probably allow us play the 7 man zone bill has tucked away in his back pocket.

Speckydodge

The draft is always a complete mystery for pat's fans to predict, but this year the entire thing is crazy, it might be lacking in superstar talent but it's really intriguing to see how it's all gonna play out.

eagle eye

We traded away one of our fifth rounders to the Texans for a sixth and seventh.

ssshhh123

Lads anyway of watching draft highlights first thing tomorrow? I know the obvious is youtube but i dont want see spoilers as i search..

Speckydodge

I was wondering about that myself, it'll be hard without seeing anything

Shedite27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118987447#Comment_118987447

If ya have a Sky box, you can record it on Sky Mix (the free one that doesn't require a Sky Sports subscription), then watch "as live" tomorrow morning.

Coreyhotline

I can tell you who we’re not taking. Read an article yesterday on Kiper and McShay final mock drafts, and in the last 10 drafts, they’ve got one pick right between them (think mcshay picked Mac Jones). Therefore, safe bet that we’re not taking Daxton Hill, DB Michigan (Kiper pick) or Devin Lloyd, LB Utah (McShay pick), although I’d be quite happy with Lloyd.

ssshhh123

Spotted it there few mins ago cheers. There also draft day1 recap on at 10am sky nfl. So might watch that on the phone in work.

eagle eye

I took tomorrow off. Looking forward to it.

eagle eye

We traded 21 to the Chiefs for 29 and a third and fourth and they take McDuffie. ☹️

eagle eye

I think it's gotta be Kyler Gordon we want, Bill must prefer him to McDuffie.

Could be McCreary either.

eagle eye

• Do we take Cole Strange, an offensive guard out of Chattanooga, projected by everybody as a second rounder with the 29th pick. Have to say I'm disappointed. Still thus is how we are set up for the rest of the draft.
• Round 2: No. 54
• Round 3: No. 85
• Round 3: No. 94
• Round 4: No. 121
• Round 4: No. 127
• Round 5: No. 158
• Round 6: No. 183
• Round 6: No. 200
• Round 6: No. 210
• Round 7: No. 245

Coreyhotline

I don’t love it from a needs or value perspective. However, looks like he will be a solid pick, and when he makes the pro bowl in 2/3 years time, we’ll probably forget about where he was picked. On the plus side, 2 extra picks in the top 100 in this draft is good business.

Coreyhotline

Interesting, sbnation had identified kansas as a potential trade partner with a swap of firsts and a 5th for a second, so getting a 3rd and a 4th for nothing looks like really good business.

Shedite27

First word out of the analysts mouth on the broadcast after the pick were "I had this guy as a 3rd rounder". I'd like to say "In Bill we trust" but the first round picks recently have been awful. Hope it works out but hard to be excited about it today

eagle eye

Well the most similar pick to this was a guard taken at 32 out of Fresno State. He was 6'6" and 301lbs, Strange is 6'5" and 304lbs.

That guys name was Logan Mankins.

Shedite27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118992232#Comment_118992232

Well lets hope we hit the jackpot twice, the video of McVay's reaction to the pick (he was looking at him for pick 104) sounds fairly common around the league

eagle eye

Some of Bills comments last night after the draft.

Asked if Cole was in consideration if they'd picked at 21.

'Yeah, well, if we had stayed at 21, then we would have obviously picked somebody. Probably a good chance it would have been him(Cole). I don't know, there were several teams that we talked to prior to when we made the trade. There were some other conversations going on there, but ultimately that's the one we chose.

Glad Cole was there when we picked, and as I said, feel like we made the best decision that we could at 21.'

Asked if he thought he would have been there for our next pick.

'Yeah, he wouldn't have lasted much longer.'

It was mentioned about the comparison with Logan Mankins but he wouldn't go there.

Speckydodge

He looks like a good player but whether he is or isn't doesn't stop it from being completely baffling.

1. Guard was a need this of-season ok, but it's a need they created themselves for no apparent reason.
2. It's not a premium position where contract control is important with the 5th year option.
3. You have to look at who they've passed up to make this move.
4. It in no way helps the problems they have in the division of stopping the crazy fast offences.

There's no way to spin it to make this look like a good pick.

eagle eye

Mel Kiper said Mankins was a reach in the first round in 2005. That was the general consensus among the media 'draft experts'. Mankins went on to be a six time all Pro and seven time pro-bowler.

I didn't like the pick but we have a good history taking offensive linemen in the first round.

Shedite27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118993335#Comment_118993335

ee, you're taking the one time a longshot working out and hoping it happens again. Bit like picking the same lottery numbers that came up last week and hoping for the same result. Might work, but lightening doesn't strike twice

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118993620#Comment_118993620

I'm not though, fact is we have a great record drafting offensive linemen. The higher we draft them the better they turn out. The exception being the injury prone Isaiah Wynn. Matt Light and Sebastian Vollmer were second rounders, Joe Thuney and Nick Kaczur were third rounders.

Shedite27

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118993775#Comment_118993775

Lets hope it works out and Bill has found a diamond that other teams/anaylsts don't see

BizzyC

I don't hate the pick of Strange, he plugs a position of need and I think he'll turn into a "safe" pick.

Was he the best potential player available, no...

I was really hoping we'd pick up Quay Walker or Devin Llyod at 21 to help our aging LB corps, I'm wondering now if he traded down hoping Llyod would still be available and didn't expect the Jags to step in and take him at 27.

In the end though, I prefer picking Strange vs taking a reach on a player at another position.

Speckydodge

I'm hoping they are aggressive tonight and move up for Gordon or Booth , possibly a wide out like Watson or Sky Moore too. Should be able to get a decent LB in round 3 still some talent out there.

Mr. Guappa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118995328#Comment_118995328

We've nine picks left according to Sky, which is 2nd most of all teams. Three picks tonight, and plenty of ammo to move up.

I don't mind picking a Guard at 29, but it's just annoying that it's viewed by most experts as poor value and a pick that could have waited.

Coreyhotline

My issue with this more than anything else is that while it’s a pick that will improve the unit, it’s not a pick that will improve the team e.g. pass or run blocking better won’t put another win in the column