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National Football League
Draft King Mailbag
April 5, 2007
Lou Pickney, DraftKing.com
Reader feedback is always welcomed here at DraftKing.com. Send your thoughts to me at LouPickney@gmail.com.
From: Brian Heisler
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 4, 2007 10:38 PM
Subject: patriots draft options for 2007
Hi Lou-
Love your site. I've been a faithful reader for a few years now.
About the Patriots' picks in the first round....I really think they should consider moving one of those picks, as I don't believe any of the players they really like will be still be on the board (Willis, Nelson - maybe even Posluszny, Ross and Griffin). As we all know with Belichik, if its not a good value pick, he won't make it (ie taking a David Harris or an Eric Weddle at 24 or 28 just because they need ILB or SS help).
There are a few players that may be available at 24, but I am not sure they are the type of player NE can fit in their system. (I know that is cliche, and at some point doesn't hold true - if Okoye or some one else slides, they will take him) but IMHO Timmons is undersized to play OLB in the 3-4, and Moss is a stretch to be an effective OLB.
I could see them moving a RD1 pick, if they can find a team that wants to move up into RD1...this of course depends on 2 things: 1) what the teams do at the top of RD1 and 2) who slides to 24-28. If Carriker slides to 24 and Atlanta used their #8 to take Landry or Brown, I could see them trading #39 and #44 to get a guy with that value....this allows the Pats to get 2 guys that they would have drafted at 28 anyhow (I don't believe there is much difference - ie, Griffin, Beason, Siler, Leonard, Houston could all go at 28 or be there at 39).
Just some thoughts...I guess I am saying that in this draft, the Pats would be crazy to not try and trade out of the first and net more players in the 30-80 range, as they are all in the same pool IMHO.
Lou: It would not surprise me at all for the Patriots to take value over "need" at #24 and #28. Quantifying that is difficult, though; what if New England regards Eric Weddle highly and decides to take him at #28 because they see him as a good value player who, also conveniently enough, plays safety?
The Patriots have done a good job of acquiring players that fit their system. Look at how they took Ty Warren and Richard Seymour, both listed as "DT" coming out of college, and worked them into the 3-4 with great success (especially for Seymour.) With the free agency signing of OLB Adalius Thomas from Baltimore, the OLB hole has been filled (Rosevelt Colvin posted 8 1/2 sacks last year from the other OLB side.) ILB needs some work, but outside of Patrick Willis, there doesn't appear to be any MLB worthy of pick #24 or 28 who would fit in the system. Moreover, at DB there's a dropoff after LaRon Landry and Reggie Nelson, but there's no guarantee that New England will look to the first round to fill those two needs.
Trading down is an option to consider, probably in a scenario where they'd deal down while on the clock (if a player slides that another team is anxious to acquire.) I haven't heard any whispers of New England shopping the picks around (either to move down or to trade both to make a big leap), but it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Patriots moved down a few spots with one (or even both) of their picks come draft day.
From: Steve Crall
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 5, 2007 12:48 PM
Subject: April 5th Mock
Just wanted to give you a compliment and ask you a question. I am addicted to mock drafts and over the last 3 years it has been cut down to only yours, great job. Oh and nice Reservoir Dogs reference. My question is, why do you think the Cowboys will pass on Alan Branch if he falls that far? He seems like a prototypical 3-4 Nose Tackle and well Dallas has no one worth mentioning in terms of depth at that position. Again great job on the Mocks
Lou: The projection of Alan Branch's drop has received arguably the most questioning of any move on here this off-season. I can understand why: a top ten talent suddenly slotting in the mid-20s seems strange. But DT is so often an all-or-nothing position, and if there are conditioning concerns about Branch, he could end up falling because of the fear of teams not taking him.
The 4/4/07 mailbag (which, along with this mailbag, is a couple of days old in going online; I've written replies and saved them as drafts in my GMail account but not posted as I've tried to work the kinks out of my new computer) addresses the NT situation with Jason Ferguson. But, if Dallas likes what Branch has shown, it is very possible that the Cowboys would snap him up at #22.
I'm glad you liked the Reservoir Dogs reference; that is one of my favorite all-time films (it was the first movie I ever saw on DVD, way back in 1997.) For those of you who've never seen it, I highly recommend that you rent it.
From: Joe Wasicka
To: LouPickney@gmail.com
Date: Apr 5, 2007 7:28 PM
Subject: 2007 Mock Draft
Lou,
It was my first time visiting your site. I liked the layout and will be back. Any site that quotes Reservoir is my kind of site.
I also liked your mock draft but was curious why you thought GB would pass on Branch if he was available? They were gashed up the middle last year (believe me, it was painful to watch) and they could use a big bubba in the middle. Yes, I know. Another Packer Fan.
P.S. Ginn and Jarrett ahead of Meacham and Bowe could very well happen, but I think Meacham and Bowe are the better picks. I absolutely love Ginn's speed but his frame and strength bother me a bit. Is 6-0 and 180 pounds enough to hold up to the NFL? What will happen when he takes a hard shot over the middle? Will he be able to have enough strength to break free at the line? If he does, he will be one heck of a player. And I know everyone says not to worry about Jarrett's 4.6 speed. They say he has "game speed", but I'm not big on drafting intangibles in the first round. As you can tell, I prefer the 6'2" receivers and I like Bowe's strength. But I'll be the first to admit I don't know what I'm talking about and it's just a crap shoot. But that's why we love it.
Anyway Lou, I liked your site and hope to hear from you.
Why do I have to be Mr. Pink?
Lou: "You're not Mr. Purple, you're Mr. Pink!" I'm glad you found the site.
Green Bay has a number of needs, particularly at running back, and I would actually be surprised to see Branch be taken by the Packers in spite of those needs. Corey Williams came on strong in 2006 with 7 sacks, and at the other DT spot Ryan Pickett was as serviceable for the Packers in 2006 as he had been for the first five years of his career with the Rams. Green Bay needs DT depth, to be sure, and Branch would be a great addition to the team, but I would suspect that the Packers will look to fill need before taking Branch.
The Packers have some very strong spots on defense, particularly at DE and in the LB corps with Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk, and they could easily sneak up on people this year if they can stay healthy.
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