Mike Dussault

I think they still need additions at linebacker, defensive tackle and cornerback with a high-round cornerback being most likely to immediately contribute the most.  That doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily take one early, but the opportunity is there if they do.

Linebacker is a strange one because you don’t really know how big of a need it will be this year. No question they need depth – ideally a versatile guy who can run, but if Mayo/Hightower come back and are okay, it’s not necessarily a starter need for the entire season.

Any defensive tackle they draft (Eddie Goldman) or sign (Red Bryant) is going to be part of a rotation. Not sure they’ll be able to acquire anyone who’s going to come in and play 75 percent of the snaps right off the bat. That’s okay though, Siliga, Chris Jones, Easley and even Antonio Johnson deserve a chance to contribute.

In starting to put together my mock draft it’s a tough three-way battle in the first two rounds between these positions. They can’t address all three (and guard) immediately. As always, it will depend on how they see the value at their draft spots.

I think it gives the Pats just a very well-rounded tight end group that can be mixed-and-matched to give defenses a lot of problems. Obviously Chandler has great size, though he seems to get knocked for his blocking. I have to take a closer look at that to really be able to comment on it.

Wright is fascinating to me because he showed some great flashes last year after getting thrown into the fire. If he takes a big step forward could he influence the offense back toward more 12 personnel? That could directly affect Danny Amendola.

The red zone is the easiest place to start with all these big targets.  Imagine a Gronk-Chandler-Wright-Blount-Cannon package. That’s a lot of beef that can throw or run with equal devastation.

How it all plays out will depend somewhat on injuries, but on paper it’s an imposing group that covers the spectrum.