Mike Dussault

Pass rusher/defensive tackle.

As much as the offensive line is upgradeable, they’re pretty solid and I wouldn’t say it’s impossible to win a Super Bowl with an offensive line entering it’s third-straight year with the same top six. Continuity can be underrated.

But the pass rush needs every bit of help it can get immediately. I’m not sure you get 19 or 20 consistently effective pass rush games out of Nink, Chandler, Buchanan, maybe Will Smith and Jake Bequette at DE and Wilfork and Kelly coming off injury, Sealver Siliga, Chris Jones, and unknown Armond Armstead at DT.

They seem to be pretty picky when it comes to pass rush-only guys, and really, pass rushing in the pros is a lot different than doing it in college where one or two moves done well are enough.

I’d be happy with either, but it would be a little more exciting if they took someone like Kony Ealy.

Here’s the only one I’ve done so far. I’ll do one more the Monday before the draft. Some of these guys might be overdrafted as I did this one in February, but overall I still like these prospects.

Now that we’ve had the bulk of free agency, I think defensive end and tight end have to be bigger priorities. I still expect a versatile interior OL. Maybe two. A linebacker is likely too.

They don’t have a lot of glaring holes, but they do have a bunch of needs.

Well, here’s where me and Coach BB disagree, I think, but I’d use a first rounder if the right guy is there with the explosion and array of moves necessary to win as a pass rusher in the NFL.

Here’s my argument, BB has said that the nickel corner is essentially considered a starter now. And that’s backed up by the fact that the traditional “sub” defense is now actually the base.

That’s not to say that this sub defense means it’s an all-out pass rush defense. You very well might not have your designated pass rusher in there, especially on early downs, even if you have five defensive backs on the field.

Still, the DPR is the next guy into the mix, and while you can’t technically call him a “three-down” player, he’s going to have a significant impact on a significant percentage of the defensive snaps.

When you look at what the Patriots defense has stunk at in recent years, it’s clear. 

In the last four seasons, the Pats are the worst defense in the NFL giving up 20+ passes and on third down. Those are critical areas.

Those two situations speak directly to the DPR as I see it and these stats are inexcusable. It’s pretty much a miracle that the Pats have won as much as they have, but what has saved them is their red zone defense (esp. 2013) and TFB.

So that’s why I think a DPR is worth a first round pick. They will be an impact player at a position of extreme need. Will they play a ton against a run-first team? Maybe not, but against the elite QB’s of the league they might not come off the field.

It’s pretty amazing that last year heading into camp one of the biggest questions was how does all this tight end depth play out. Then they cut almost everyone, with Buchanan winning the DPR role out of camp and we see Nink/Chandler essentially never come off the field with Andre Carter coming on late in the season.

There’s no question that better cornerback and defensive tackle play will help the pass rush. And really, there’s a lot more to defensive ends than pass rush. It’s a part of the equation, but nearly as important as setting the edge, playing strong at the point of attack, etc.

I think the real question is can they find a legitimate threat as a designated pass rusher. Mark Anderson in 2011, pre-Carter injury, is the only time they ever really had that threat and we saw the results. Had Carter not gone down, the Pats very well closed out the Giants in the Super Bowl.

Buchanan could still be that guy, but I think you’re right, they need to throw more at the wall and I’m sure that will happen in the draft and late free agency.