My general rule of thumb is that you can’t go wrong drafting an OL or DL in the first round, assuming the guy fits. But I think taking an RB, when they’ve really been devalued in recent drafts, is going to be a common feeling for Pats draft pundits.
Let’s face it, if the Patriots were able to add an explosive running back that could make something out of nothing, it would be scary. They’ve never had that kind of back for Brady, but at the same time, those kind of backs are very rare and usually gone by the last pick of the first round.
Are Gurley/Gordon that player? I don’t know, but if the Patriots felt they were and they were available, there’s certainly an argument to be made that they would be a good choice.
However, the unfortunate truth is that the Pats are probably trading out of the first round to a team that wants to give up their second rounder plus other picks to get that last player on day one who fell.