We’ve obviously been using the last few weeks to slowly get up to speed on the 2011 draft. That’s the great thing for someone like me who doesn’t follow college football, as soon as the Patriots season ends there’s a whole world of knowledge to be uncovered. So it definitely helps getting over the end of football.
Our goal this year is to end up with a list of about fifty prospects that fit the Patriots scheme and personnel requirements and then find out how many of their actual picks were on that list. So as we’ve started there have been some really encouraging things that we’ve uncovered.
First, if you had to list the Patriots draft needs (not that they necessarily draft for need) they’d probably look something like:
- OLB – tall, heavy, run stopping/pass rushing type
- DE – big, hold your ground, shift inside and rush the passer type
- RB – big, physical type to compliment Woody/Benny
- WR – big, physical type to compliment smaller receivers
- G/C – big, physical, Logan Mankins-type
- FS – intelligent, ball-hawking type
So the good news, there are a lot of these players that fit what the Pats need, except for maybe the FS which is probably the least pressing of these needs.
There are at least 3 first round graded defensive ends that look like 3-4 types. There are 7 of the top 11 WRs that are 6’ 1" or bigger, and there are quite a few large running backs as well. There are at least two tough, versatile interior OL that are projected to go mid-late first round.
The OLBs remain the toughest to project, but on paper there appear to be at least a couple that could have some Pats potential.
It is pretty much guaranteed that an elite player right in the wheelhouse of Pats’ needs is going to fall to 17. It might not be the sexy pass rusher most are hoping for, but it’s clear the Pats are in prime position to draft impact players at positions of need.
As always, they have the ammunition to move up the board if they want to. It looks like this draft could make as much of an impact as the 2010 class did and that is downright scary.
Check out our draft page to see where we’re at with our research. Questions and comments are welcome!
