I’d go Easley in that situation, though I think both players are good fits. It just boils down to who’s going to help where they most need it? Not crazy to think Gronk finally gets and stays healthy this year and then how much do you really need Niklas? I mean, they did get by with essentially zero tight end threats for the large bulk of last year. It’s not ideal, but the position doesn’t make or break your offense.
But when I look at a potential elite interior rusher, that could be a defensive game-changer in the spots where the Pats have struggled most (third-down especially) in recent years.
As for Kirksey and Crichton, I think those are positions of need, especially for depth, so I think they’ll be filled in the later rounds.
That said, give me a trench player in round one (DE/DT/OG) and I’m happy.
