The Goldfishwars Patriots Draft Guide

[goldfishwars]

Here's a few candidates I like in areas of needs for the team.

Defensive Tackle

With Kyle Love not being able to put four quarters together, Gerard Warren looking old and health concerns around Ron Brance we need help on our inside D-line. Because Vince is an all round threat, we need someone who can excel at either pass-rushing or to eat space so Vince doesn't see so many double-teams. With the Pats looking to mix around their sets next year, I'll be looking at guys who could play in either.

Candidates:

1st round:

Devon Still, Penn State - Can play 4-3 DT or five technique. He's massively powerful and has overwhelmed offensive lineman with a bull-rush, can stay low despite being 6'5 - team captain. Top of the tree.

Brandon Thompson, Clemson - He's a one-gap guy who won't bring a huge amount in terms of a pass-rush, however he'll eat up double-teams all day long and is a work-horse around the field.

Dontari Poe, Memphis - He's huge at 350 and 6'5, which has lead many to believe he's a NT in a 3-4 only - but he's hugely athletic for his frame. Not a pass-rusher, but excels at run stopping.

Marginal 1st Round/2nd Round

Jerel Worthy, Michigan State - This is a high-ceiling guy. He's a natural inside pass-rusher who has an array of moves at his disposal. He can take over games. Not a high-motor guy and has questions around conditioning - but massive potential. Excellent value in the 2nd.

Fletcher Cox*, Mississippi St. - Another versatile player who could play as a pass-rushing 4-3 DT or as a five technique. He has a nice burst and very active hands - he's excelled at getting into the backfield to be a disruptive force. Possibility he stays in school.

Kawann Short, Perdue - Again, another 4-3 or five technique. He's been dominant this year and impressed against rates Center Michael Brewster from Ohio. Not an explosive player, but can stay low and has strong and violent hands. Possibility he stays in school too.

3rd Round +

Kendall Reyes, Connecticut - He's a raw talent that could flourish in the Pats system. Ideally suited as a 4-3 DT or five technique - he's a high ceiling guy with fast hands and quickness. He's a high-motor guy who could be a steal in the 3rd. Wouldn't take him any earlier than that because he's a project.

Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati - He's a bit of a tweener, but could play in either set as a pass-rushing DT or someone who could develop into a 3-4 DE. Not a hugely impressive runs-stopper, but someone who could get after the QB with 7 sacks this year.

Kheeston Randall, Texas

Very strong, tough to move off the point. He's probably a 4-3 NT at this point, but one who could develop into a run stuffinf 3-4 End. He's not a pas-rusher and lacks a bit of quickness - but can control his man and make plays as a run-stopper.

Defensive End/3-4 OLB

We need someone who can compliment or replace Andre Carter and Mark Anderson, an edge-rusher who can switch between 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB. There's a lot of undersized DE's (Ronnell Lewis, Bruce Irvin) in college these days. Guys playing there at 6'2 and 225-240 - they're not going to be playing 4-3 DE in the NFL anytime soon. There's also some excellent 4-3 Ends who aren't suited as 3-4 rushers - Quinton Coples for one, Melvin Ingram, Andre Branch and (probably) Whitney Mercilus falls into this category.

1st Round:

Nick Perry*, USC - Possibly stays on for another year, but if he were to declare would probably go 1st round. Would need to add a little bulk to play every down 4-3 DE - but would excel as a situational pass-rusher or as a 3-4 OLB from the off. Huge ceiling with this guy, hugely explosive and elite speed off the edge.

Marginal 1st Round/2nd Round

Brandon Jenkins*, FSU - Another underclassman. High motor guy and fluid, balanced athlete who uses spins moves, rather than quickness to rush the Quarterback. Not a great run-stopper - although could develop.

Vinny Curry, Marshall - Has posted back to back double-digit sack seasons. He has a great 1st step - and the size (6'5) which BB likes in his 3-4 outside linebackers. He's also a team captain.

3rd Round +

Cam Johnson, Virginia - Has experience as a 3-4 linebacker and a 4-3 DE after the defensive scheme was changed to 4-3 this year. Has a solid mix of speed/size as a rusher - has questions around his motor, but would see plenty of rotational work as a Pats defensive player anyway.

Frank Alexander, Oklahoma - The much vaunted Ronnell Lewis's opposite End, Alexander has 8.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for a loss this year. With no truly outstanding attributes to speak of, he just seems to be a playmaker and in a deep class, this guy has draft day steal all over him.

Shea McClellin, Boise State - Again he's going to get lost and fall in the draft due to the number of end/linebacker rushers - but he's capable of playing 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB and he's a clever, crafty rusher with an explosive step. He has a high motor which keeps going.

Safety

I don't susbscribe to the idea we look at FS only. Chung is banged up a lot of the time and he has experience of playing FS anyway. This is a BPA situation and we should look at a guy in the 2nd where the value seems to be.

Marginal 1st Round/2nd Round

Mark Barron, Alabama - He's a violent hitter who's improving his instincts. A bigger, built like a linebacker Safety who has comparisons to Adrian Wilson. Was beaten through the air a lot in 2010, but has turned his coverage problems around.

2nd Round

Robert Lester, Alabama - He might go back to school, but Lester would be a decent pick up in the 2nd. Overshadowed slightly by Barron's performances this year, he's a ball hawk who makes a lot of interceptions - although was down on last year's numbers.

Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State - Has huge upside athletically with fluid movements and good instincts in coverage. He's not a natural tackler however, which is something he'll need to work on.

Kenny Vaccaro, Texas - He's been rising up the boards of late because he's such a solid all-rounder. Has excellent size and bulk for the position and plays with decent instincts, good open-field tackler. Won't get buckets of interceptions - but will break up plays. Will contribute heavily on special teams.

3rd Round +

Harrison Smith, Notre Dame - He's thickly built, which makes him play a little tight. He's great at playing down field and is a good open field tackler having converted from linebacker. I can see his stock shooting up after a good showing at the combine.

Aaron Henry, Wisconsin - Solid all-rounder with natural coverage skills, he's good at re-routing receivers and is a fluid mover. He's a little raw and could play some special teams before developing into a starter.

Wide Receiver

I'd prefer a smaller, fast receiver here - someone who can get seperation easily and get deep - a natural replacement for an ageing Deion Branch.

1st Round

Kendall Wright, Baylor

He's had an amazing 2011 - with his breathtaking speed and open-field running. He's sill a little raw as a route runner, but we've all seen the impact Mike Wallce and the other speedsters have had in Pittsburgh and Wright fits that mould. He can play inside and outside in the NFL.

3rd Round +

Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma - He's probably an early 2nd round pick who will drop because of the ACL injury. He probably doesn't have huge straight line speed - but he's the kind of crafty, intelligent receiver BB likes. He has fantastic hands and is an elusive runner.

AJ Jenkins, Illinois - Will probably run in the late 4.3's/4.4s - has been very productive this year. He's been uncoverable at times this year and just gets open. He'd be very solid value in rounds 3 onwards.

Jarius Wright, Arkansas - Not the biggest, but will work the seams and is lightning quick. He's been playing on a pro-style offense in Arkansas and has very reliable hands. He's been very productve this year.

Jordan White, Western Michigan - The cat might be out of the bag with this guy - will have comparisons with another famous receiver from the same school, but he's a legitmate player in his own right. Makes a lot of yards after the catch and has excellent straight line speed.

SAM Linebacker

1st Round

Dont'a Hightower, Alabama - There isn't really a prospect I like more than Hightower. He's a large linebacker who could play SAM and ILB in a 4-3 or 3-4. He's another team captain who makes a lot of plays on the Alabama defense. He's an excellent run defender in the box and leads a very complex pro-style defense.

3rd Round

Audie Cole, North Carolina St. - He's played outside and inside linebacker for North Carolina. He's a versaitle player, who's tall and good in coverage - does lots of things well and has size (6'4) for the position that BB likes in his linebackers.

Cornerback

I'm going to ignore the corners who are probably out of reach - Morris Claiborne, Dre Kirkpatrick and Alfonzo Dennard.

1st Round Marginal/2nd Round

Chase Minnifield, Virginia - Does well in man and zone coverage. He's Dowling's former running mate at Virginia and the son of a former Browns player. He has a very specific skillset that's taylor made for the position and it's worth noting how much teams threw away from Chase this year.

2nd Round

Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina - He's a bigger corner who can get burnt a little, but makes a lot of plays. You can't teach a playmaker and he has it - if coverage can improve, he looks like a baller.

Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt - I think he'll go in the 2nd, some think later, but he's underrated. He's a smart and highly productive corner who makes a lot of plays. He's an intelligent guy off the field and that would appeal to BB.

3rd Round +

Coryell Judie, Texas A&M - He's a fluid mover with great straight-line speed. He's also a good wrap-up tackler He'll attack the ball and make turnovers - in a deep corner class he could drop and become excellent value.

Donnie Fletcher, Boston College - He's a solid all-rounder and with no outstanding attributes will drop because of the deep class - however he'll be a real steal in rounds 3 onwards. He has a good combination of size and speed and ball skills.
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Thanks Duron Harmon!

[patsfan25]

Good stuff. I'm still interested in seeing your own mock of what the Patriots draft will be this offseason. If you want to reserve that for later, it's fine. Thanks for the thread.
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[mcmurtry86]

I'm not really a fan of the DL crop this year. Cox and Reyes are mildly intriguing in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Thompson is a bad fit for the system, unless the Pats are running exclusively a 4-3. Still is just another Penn State DL - I like his skillset but not sold on his transition to 5-technique. Poe is intriguing, although seems a bit miscast in the Pats' scheme with Wilfork on board.

The edge-rusher class is pretty unappealing as well. Jenkins doesn't look like he's good enough against the run to be on the Pats radar. Curry is a favorite on this board but he struggles at times against really marginal offenses so I'm not sure what kind of impact he'll have (at least early on). Cam Johnson intrigues me but he's a real tweener - seems too stiff to play OLB and not really quick enough to play RE in a 4-3. He also has some sloppy technique and doesn't do a very good job with gap responsibility. He's a real project, albeit one with a high upside.

[trivium2009]

Just wandering cuz I kinda got a draft crush on this guy, what is your opinion on Jared Crick DE Nebraska?

[NinjaZX6R]

[goldfishwars]

[goldfishwars]

[mcmurtry86]

I don't understand where you're projecting Hightower to play. Are the Pats (in your scenario) dumping Spikes?

[goldfishwars]

[NinjaZX6R]

[goldfishwars]

[NinjaZX6R]

[mcmurtry86]

I don't see the Pats taking another ILB. Spikes looks decent and they run so many sub packages that there isn't going to be a lot of playing time for a guy like Hightower.

I don't really see Hightower's 4-3 SAM ability as a big selling point. The Pats will be playing (again) a lot of sub and probably mixing in 3-4 fronts.

Don't get me wrong - I like him a lot as a prospect. But I don't see him as a fit in New England.

[goldfishwars]

[mcmurtry86]