I am really agonizing over this final mock draft, as you can probably tell from my double posts today sharing my thoughts on putting it together.
Ultimately here’s what it comes down to: Do I pick the guys for how the 2012 Patriots ran things? Or do I pick the guys for how I think the 2013 Patriots should evolve?
The easiest example of this is on the defensive line where I’ve written ad nauseum about the need for pass rush in the base defense. While I have stats to back that argument up, it’s impossible to know if they want to stick with the “double-nose” base.
If they want to stick with that there are plenty of options like Jesse Willams or Johnathan Hankins at the top of the draft. But if I stay true to how I think they should evolve I would take someone like Sylvester Wiliams or Kawann Short.
Same thing goes for receivers. Ideally a tall outside threat seems like the missing piece, so someone like Justin Hunter would make sense. But maybe the Pats like their offense built around possession receivers just fine, so that would put those 6’0" or under into play as well.
Wish there were some perfect guys who are a combination of both but I don’t see anyone clear cut.