Pats Posits: Digging on Draft

As I start to really grind on my Top 50 Big Board it slowly becomes an impossible game of need and value while projecting who might be the perfect Patriots picks.

Now, I know the Patriots try to take need out of the equation, but it’s undeniable that there are roster holes to still be filled. And yes, I’m still assuming they can figure things out with Gostkowski who is currently on a USO Tour.

(Though I can’t lie, throwing the former Assumption kicker into the mix is tempting, even if he’d be a severe kickoff downgrade from Gostkowski.)

Updating the Patriots’ biggest needs since I last wrote about them, the tight end spot becomes the biggest priority even more than it already was. As usual the problem is not picking until 32 so it’s impossible to fall in love with many of the perfect elite fits.

At this phase it would make sense for the Patriots to trade up for tight end TJ Hockensen. In theory, it’s a slam dunk, though it’s not like Hockensen alone would be enough. He’s not Gronk 2.0 but he’s the best all-around tight end in the class.

But the Patriots rarely, if ever, make the slam dunk moves outside of drafting Joe Cardona. That leaves us with tons of draft capital and a haze of projection picks.

Let’s try to sift through some of it in the Posits.

— Michael Bennett will replace some of that for sure, but at this stage of his career I think he and the team would be best off if they don’t have to play him 75 percent of the snaps every game. As a situational rusher he’ll be extra effective and hopefully less likely to get hurt. And for certain gameplans there will be times he does play those 75 percent-plus, I’d just prefer to let one of the young guys, present roster included, develop.

— Those young guys include Derek Rivers, Keionta Davis, and Ufomba Kalmalu already, so the depth is not as absent as it is at tight end and tackle. Rivers is the key guy to watch.

— Chase Winovich is one prospect that caught my eye as a potential first and second down defensive end who can have some time to develop his pass rush skills. That’s where the Patriots could find value, because they do have situational rushers like John Simon, Adam Butler and Bennett already in the mix.

— Tight end is really two positions (Y and F) and the Pats need both guys at both of them. Y is the problem because you must have a tight end who can block and the run-dominant 2018 Pats lost two excellent blocking tight ends. Losing Gronk really made losing Allen hurt all that much more. The F spot isn’t a necessity to the foundation of the offense that’s why I have trouble seeing them reach for a “tight end” who isn’t going to be a force in the blocking game. It’s why Daniel Graham was always more valuable than Ben Watson. Kaden Smith from Stanford might be my best value/need combo pick.

— The safety room needs a new young body and I’d love to add someone in the mold of Patrick Chung, the true game-changer of the latest Patriots dynasty run. He can do so much but his versatility in the box on early downs, ability to cover tight ends and, perhaps most importantly, his sure tackling. What I’ve found is there’s quite a few good Patriots fits for that kind of role with my favorites being Taylor Rapp (Washington), Johnathan Abram (Miss State), and Amani Hooker (Iowa).

— I’ve admittedly slacked on this years cornerback and interior offensive linemen. I’m sure I’ll run through them eventually but the Patriots have just been so good at developing them and are so stacked at the positions I might not use up any spots on the 50 Board with those positions. I’m aiming to get as many as I can people and those feel like low percentage projections!

— Offensive tackle could make sense in the first round. The third tackle spot is wide open right now and who knows, the right pick might even unseat Isaiah Wynn before he’s even seated. Andre Dillard (Washington) comes from pass-heavy Washington but he’d be a great addition behind Wynn and Marcus Cannon. Tytus Howard (Alabama St) is a former quarterback and really athletic. That would fit where the Patriots line has been headed with Mason and Wynn. Cody Ford (Oklahoma) is athletic and nasty too.

— These final couple weeks leading up to the draft will be all about running backs and taking an in-depth look at the quaterbacks. Will Grier and Daniel Jones are a couple QBs who seem intriguing on initial glance.