2013 NFL Draft prospects discussion thread

[BostonSports96]

S. Need a Safety badly so McCourty can return to CB. Pair him with Wilson
DT. Prospect
DE. Although, I feel like we need to give Cunningham and Bequette the opportunity to show us what they got. Nink for LB and DE depth
T. We only have 2 Tackles right?
WR. Depends on Welker. I want someone tall please. Someone who can go after the deep ball.

As for our secondary:
S: Wilson, [Draft Pick], with Chung and Gregory playing a reduced role
CB: McCourty, Talib, Dennard, with Cole and Ras-I for depth

I think BB intends to keep him at FS, therefore, I'd draft Xavier Rhodes/Jonathan Banks at CB in the 1st round.

However, if BB puts DMac back at CB, we have so many options (Kenny Vaccaro, TJ McDonald, Matt Elam)

CB: Talib, Rhodes/Banks, Dennard Cole, Dowling
S: McCourty, Wilson, Gregory, IDK about Chung

OR

CB: McCourty, Talib, Dennard, Cole, Dowling
S: Vaccaro/McDonald/Elam, Wilson, Gregory

[Sportfan]

I haven' really checked out prospects yet but I really want an OL in the first 2 rounds. DB seems like a bigger need but the line HAS to be at a surplus or our offense collapses.

[subroc]

I would like the Patriots to limit their draft this year and parlay their picks for the future. Fill need through free agency. Trade their 1 for a 2 or 3 this year and a 1 next year. if they get a 2 use it and trade their 2 for a 2 next year and a 3 or 4 this year.

All this is predicated on if anyone wants their selections and finding a trading partner.

They have a lot of young talent they need to develop more than a need for more young talent.

That said, depending on how this year progresses probably DB (safety, corner) and maybe O-line.

[BostonSports96]

I would like the Patriots to limit their draft this year and parlay their picks for the future. Fill need through free agency. Trade their 1 for a 2 or 3 this year and a 1 next year. if they get a 2 use it and trade their 2 for a 2 next year and a 3 or 4 this year.

All this is predicated on if anyone wants their selections and finding a trading partner.

They have a lot of young talent they need to develop more than a need for more young talent.

That said, depending on how this year progresses probably DB (safety, corner) and maybe O-line.

Forget about the youth part, we need ELITE TALENT. Brady's window is closing.

We need a top CB (Rhodes, Amerson, Banks) and a developmental O-line man in the first 2 rounds.

Then we can start trading picks.

[ItsallabouttheU]

my wish list for draft prospects:

Won't be there when we pick unless combine stock falls deeply:
1: Jarvis Jones UGA- Stud pash rusher but would need some time developing into a complete LB but would be an immediate impact pash rusher.
2: Star Lotulelei UTAH- Very athletic NT that could contribute right away in both pash rush and run D. Could potentially be the successor for Big Vince in a few years.
3: Bjoern Werner FSU- very strong DE that has really surprised me this year. Was more of a pash rush situational guy from what I've heard last year ( didn't watch him much) and has thus far this year turned into more of an every down type of end. Would immediately improve the pash rush and form a formidable duo with Chan Jones.

Could fall to us with some luck and chance:
1:Keenan Allen CAL- Big play WR that has the speed and size we haven't had since Moss in '07. Numbers dropped a bit this year but I think it's mainly due to Cal having not many other formidable options to throw to resulting in lots of double covering. Paired with Lloyd, Gronk, Hern, Ridley, Vereen and hopefully Welker, he could push this offense to a point where we wouldn't have thought humanly possible. Great after contact and after catch guy who has the size to keep trucking through after contact has been made and has the speed to make you miss and take it an extra 10+ yards.
2: Dion Jordan ORE- big, long, strong, and fast DE that is more of a pash rusher at this point but could be a project and turn into something special. One of the only DE players I've seen that can effectively rush the passer and drop into zone and sometimes man coverage on athletic bigger tight ends and hold his own. Would be a great thing to have with all the new breed TE's coming into the game.
3: Dee Milliner ALA- Good sized CB with strong Ball skills and good tackling ability. Good in man or zone and can bump and run as well as anyone in CFB. Lots of comparisons between him and former Bama teamate Dre Kirkpatrick. Would Help greatly if Talib either doesn't work out or can't be resigned.
4: Sam Montgomery LSU- big strong athletic DE/OLB hybrid thats a very solid pash rusher and run defender. kind of scares me a bit after watching some film on him against some of the elite OT's in CFB this year but I think as a project he could be special.
5: Justin Hunter TENN- Big WR at 6'4 and has very good 4.4 -4.45 speed. A bit undersized at only 200lbs and very lanky. Big play guy and extremely athletic however and could do to our offense what I believe the previously mentioned Keen Allen could do as well. Not the best yards after contact guy as he is routinely brought down by arm tackles but has enough speed to break a few tackles and add some yards after catch before being hit.

Realistically will be there when we pick:
1:Matt Elam UF- Big, Rangy, Hard hitting safety. Point blank....The guy makes plays all over the field. He can cover, he helps against the run and always seems to be in the right place. I personally am not sold on Tavon Wilson and believe the only thing he has going for him is happening to be in the right place at the right time. Although useful I don't think it's the type of game changing player Matt Elam can be. He reminds me a short haired non samoan Troy Polamolu.
2:Jonathan Banks MISS- Very good cover corner who plays the run extremely well. He is a big guy for a corner at 6'2 and matches up well against taller receivers. He has great ball skills and has a knack for creating big plays.
3: Xavier Rhodes FSU- big CB at 6'2 215lbs that matches up well with bigger stronger receivers. Excellent in press man coverage and very solid in the run game. has very good speed and is a surprisingly hard hitter and is capable of putting a lick on RB's or WR after catches.
4: Tavon Austin WVU- 5'9 with electric speed. Big play threat whenever the ball is in his hands. WOuld be a perfect replacement for welker or compliment to Gronk and Hernandez. I view him as very similiar to Percy Harvin in respect to what his most successful role in the NFL would be. Would love a guy who could instantly turn any play into a huge gain or TD. Great after the catch guy as well.

Guys who could fall into the end of first round/ guys your probably haven't heard much about:
1: Ezekiel Ansah BYU- Big rangy DE that has excelled in pash rushing but could use some work in defending the run. Basically he is this years version of Chan jones/ JPP/ Aldon Smith. has the potential to be an elite pash rusher and above average run defender. Has very long arms and uses them extremely well. Was a track athlete before deciding to play football so he's got some pretty nice wheels on him. Keep this name in your mind and remember it very well.
2: EJ Gaines MIZZ- Decent size at 5'10 190lbs. To call him a Ball Hawk would be an indecency to his talents. He doesn't always get the picks but is always around the play and has shown an uncanny knack for breaking up passes. Has a real mean streak when playing and often plays with a chip on his shoulder. Good man cover CB and can play zone just as effectively. Is a decent run defender and has very good speed. Can only benefit from having to cover 6'6 superstud young receiver Dorial Green-Beckham in practive every day and has routinely played well against elite SEC competition this year. Definitely a name to keep track of and watch as the year goes on and the combine takes place.
3: Damontre Moore TX A&M- big physical pass rush specialist. Not the best run defender but could easily change that with his athletic ability and football smarts with some coaching up. Would love to see him as a project kind of guy similiar to ezekiel ansah with less of an upside but still mighty good.
4:Baccari Rambo UGA- Big athletic playmaking saefty the Pats both need and have been searching for. With some good coaching I think he could be a huge steal at the end of the first or early second for any team. He can do it all pretty much. He can play the run as well as any saefty I've seen as he routinely takes good pursuit angles and makes huge hits. Pairing him with spikes would make this Defense rather intimidating. He can play well in zone and is very instinctive in coverage. But as we've seen with instinctive DB's ( see Samuel, Asante) there comes a risk of letting up a big play which Rambo is definitely guilty of. But with a name like Baccari Rambo and the athletic ability and big play ability he has, I'd be all for picking him in the late first or early second if we were to parlay a trade for our first.

Well let me know what you think guys, or if you'd like some more insight on any of these guys. The few times I've posted on the Pats forum you guys have been accomodating but try not to rip me up to much if ya don't like something. I hear you guys can be pretty brutal sometimes .

[WVpatsfan]

my wish list for draft prospects:

4: Tavon Austin WVU- 5'9 with electric speed. Big play threat whenever the ball is in his hands. WOuld be a perfect replacement for welker or compliment to Gronk and Hernandez. I view him as very similiar to Percy Harvin in respect to what his most successful role in the NFL would be. Would love a guy who could instantly turn any play into a huge gain or TD. Great after the catch guy as well.

My man crush this season. People who don't watch WVU games just don't understand. I have never seen anything like Austin when he has the ball. It's incredible. His speed is just insane too. He is also the exactly the type of player BB likes. He plays WR, can play RB, return punts/kickoffs, and does them all exceptionally well. I think Edelman's play as of late is making it a slimmer chance of drafting him tho. I am going to get his jersey no matter where he goes, I will just have a tougher time wearing it out in public if it is a NYJ or MIA jersey.

[ItsallabouttheU]

My man crush this season. People who don't watch WVU games just don't understand. I have never seen anything like Austin when he has the ball. It's incredible. His speed is just insane too. He is also the exactly the type of player BB likes. He plays WR, can play RB, return punts/kickoffs, and does them all exceptionally well. I think Edelman's play as of late is making it a slimmer chance of drafting him tho. I am going to get his jersey no matter where he goes, I will just have a tougher time wearing it out in public if it is a NYJ or MIA jersey.

I just this year started watching him more closely and was amazed after the WVU- Baylor game at how explosive of an athlete he is. Literally any time he touches the ball it could be for 6. If we didnt resign welker I'd be all for drafting this guy to assume his role or assume a Percy Harvin type role.

[sdceltsfan]

Just saw today that Tyrann Mathieu is saying he will enter the draft in 2013. Anyone have interest in him at all?

Removed from the game for quite some time; I'd say that as far as draft stock goes, his actions have caused him to go from a top 5-10 pick, to maybe 3rd round, if he's lucky. More likely a middle to end of the draft selection now. I think he could step in as an awesome special teams guy, right off the bat. He has/had the ability to play some CB, but maybe more of a SS/Nickle type of DB.

I would be all for using a 3rd rounder to bring him to the Pats.

[BostonSports96]

Just saw today that Tyrann Mathieu is saying he will enter the draft in 2013. Anyone have interest in him at all?

Removed from the game for quite some time; I'd say that as far as draft stock goes, his actions have caused him to go from a top 5-10 pick, to maybe 3rd round, if he's lucky. More likely a middle to end of the draft selection now. I think he could step in as an awesome special teams guy, right off the bat. He has/had the ability to play some CB, but maybe more of a SS/Nickle type of DB.

I would be all for using a 3rd rounder to bring him to the Pats.

Yeah, as soon as I saw that report I thought "Belichick will take a chance on him."

He's a great player, bad kid. I might take a chance on him too in the 3rd round.

[Celts22]

Just saw today that Tyrann Mathieu is saying he will enter the draft in 2013. Anyone have interest in him at all?

Removed from the game for quite some time; I'd say that as far as draft stock goes, his actions have caused him to go from a top 5-10 pick, to maybe 3rd round, if he's lucky. More likely a middle to end of the draft selection now. I think he could step in as an awesome special teams guy, right off the bat. He has/had the ability to play some CB, but maybe more of a SS/Nickle type of DB.

I would be all for using a 3rd rounder to bring him to the Pats.

Him and Demps would make a killer KR/PR duo next year. Only issue I have taking a chance on him is the lack of picks the Pats have in the draft this year. Belichick might not want to risk wasting one on a project when they only have picks in rounds 1-3 and 2 7ths.

[ItsallabouttheU]

He kind of reminds me of a defensive Tebow lol. By that I mean you can tell he's not neccesarily suited for the position he plays but he's just a really good football player and contributes and makes plays. He can change the game with a big play in the blink of an eye and I think he could do well as a slot corner where the slot receivers are generally quicker and shorter which would help with his uh "height deficiency".

Wouldn't mind taking a flyer on him in the later rounds, and Belichick doesn't seem to mind players from the SEC that smoke pot ( Hern and Spikes both caught with marijuana). SO he could be intrigued by him. Kind of makes me wonder if BB is a closet pothead....maybe that's why he's always so even-keeled and emotionless lol.

[BostonSports96]

He kind of reminds me of a defensive Tebow lol. By that I mean you can tell he's not neccesarily suited for the position he plays but he's just a really good football player and contributes and makes plays. He can change the game with a big play in the blink of an eye and I think he could do well as a slot corner where the slot receivers are generally quicker and shorter which would help with his uh "height deficiency".

Yeah, I think he might work well as a nickel back, but only if we don't take a DB in the first 2 rounds. If not, I'd take a chance on him in the 3rd.

Wouldn't mind taking a flyer on him in the later rounds, and Belichick doesn't seem to mind players from the SEC that smoke pot ( Hern and Spikes both caught with marijuana). SO he could be intrigued by him. Kind of makes me wonder if BB is a closet pothead....maybe that's why he's always so even-keeled and emotionless lol.

I've always thought of BB as an extreme, meth-lab in the basement kind of guy. Wouldn't surprise me lol.

[sdceltsfan]

I definitely don't see him stepping in and having a defensive rookie of the year type season for any team. However, I think he could step in for this particular defense and play some strong safety and nickle DB, and be a lot more effective/consistent than Tavon Wilson has been so far.

He has the natural ball skills, field awareness, and big play ability to develop in to elite talent, despite his smaller frame, IMO.

[bagwell368]

Tyrann Mathieu will probably go below mid 3rd. BB can trade down to snag him if he's at say #104. He's a project and a headache, but has skills that can't be coached.

I don't think the Pats need a DE as much as they need a DT that bring pressure.

They need a CB and two S (bye bye Chung) - but the S's can be low round or FA.

They need an OL, but they won't use up the first two picks unless it's some 10x All Pro type kid.

They need a 6' or better WR from somewhere and a slot if Welker is gone.

Need list isn't that bad.

[BostonSports96]

Tyrann Mathieu will probably go below mid 3rd. BB can trade down to snag him if he's at say #104. He's a project and a headache, but has skills that can't be coached.

Agreed, I can definitely see BB taking a risk on him with a low pick, kind of like Dennard.

I don't think the Pats need a DE as much as they need a DT that bring pressure.

Agreed, Wilfork needs a protege and we'll still have Jones and Nink back next year.

They need a CB and two S (bye bye Chung) - but the S's can be low round or FA.

Agree on CB, but I think we get 1 S instead of 2. We already have D Mac, Gregory, Wilson.

They need an OL, but they won't use up the first two picks unless it's some 10x All Pro type kid.

Just re-sign Vollmer, draft a low round kid.

They need a 6' or better WR from somewhere and a slot if Welker is gone.

Doubt they grab another WR.