PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

patriots draft

2018 PatsPropaganda Draft Big Board

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Welcome to year eight of the PatsPropaganda Big Board! The goal here is to hit as many Pats’ draft picks as possible with these 50 players, so it’s a combination of fits and needs, even if Bill Belichick doesn’t subscribe to need picks.

These are the football nerds, the team leaders, the special teams demons, the kind of players that would buy into the Patriot way and be able to make some sort of impact or at least push the starters. Next week I’ll release my mock draft featuring my favorite of this list.

The biggest areas I focused on were athletic off-the-ball linebackers, mid-round quarterbacks, potential left tackles and versatile edge players. Those are the biggest glaring needs as I see them, though I can certainly see running back, tight end and defensive back being taken because there are quite a few good fits in this draft class.

Am I missing someone you love as a fit? Let me know in the comments!

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Will the right left tackle fall to the Pats?

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The attention of Patriots draft pundits is locked on potential Nate Solder replacements and there are definitely some intriguing prospects. The Patriots’ position on NFL betting sites largely depends on who will be protecting Tom Brady‘s blind side.

There’s no question the Pats will add multiple rookie tackles, it’s just a question of how much draft capital they ‘re willing to give up. A first-round pick? Multiple picks to move up, ala Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower? Or will they just not value any of the available tackles as first-round picks and thus trade down and use the throw-it-all-at-the-wall approach?

Here’s a closer look at some of the first-round tackles and measure how well they all really fit in the Patriots’ offensive system and preferences.

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Top 10 Patriots Draft Prospect Traits

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It felt like the NFL scouting combine snuck up out of nowhere this year. We’re no strangers to having a quick turnaround from the Super Bowl to the combine in just a few short weeks, but for some reason it flew by this year for me and honestly I’m kind of happy it did, and for more reasons that having a palate-cleansing good guy Bill Belichick appearance on NFL Network.

The advantage for me jumping into the draft now is that all the measurements and times are already recorded and readily available. I don’t touch the NFL draft until, well, now. I come at it with a fresh set of eyes and for the past seven seasons I’ve tried to hold myself to some level of accountability by sticking to the same formula — a 50 prospect draft board where I try to hit as many picks and signings as possible and one solitary mock draft.

 

Last year I got back on track after my worst Top 50 performance ever, when Cyrus Jones was the lone pick I hit, however I still haven’t hit a mock draft pick in two years after hitting at least two in four of my first five mock drafts. Something to shoot for this year when I release my mock a week or so before the draft.

Before I start jumping into prospect articles I thought a better place to start is with what I look for when “scouting” players. The advantage of focusing solely on one team’s drafts is that you start to get a sense of what they look for.

Here are the top 10 things I look for in Patriots draft prospects.

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New England Patriots 2014 Draft Reaction

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Undrafted free agents will continue to land into this week, but the most of the major components of the Patriots’ 2014 draft class are in place.

Overall, I think it was an interesting haul for the Pats. My two favorite picks are Easley and Stork. Both fit the mold of exactly what I was hoping to solidify points of weakness.

My biggest surprise/disappointment was not getting a tight end in the second round. I don’t know how much the Pats loved Garoppolo, but I think they could’ve lived with one more year of Mallett as the only backup.

But oh well, Garoppolo is an interesting and unique player and I look forward to seeing how he does in the preseason.

James White runs hard and seems reliable. He’s also dangerous in space. Jeremy Gallon was a guy I had on my Pats Big Board and he fits their slot receiver mold. White should contribute immediately, Gallon could be headed for the practice squad.

Halapio and Fleming reinforce the offensive line along with Stork. One of my biggest areas to need was along the line and they really were aggressive there.

Zach Moore was on my Big Board at one point and I axed him for some reason. Unfortunately that cost me hitting four of the nine picks. Three out of nine ain’t bad. Also had Stork and Easley in my final mock draft.

Taking a closer look at Jemea Thomas, but early reports are that he could be used as a safety. Hes a ball hawk and I’m sure they’ll figure out a way to use him.

Overall, the needs at defensive tackle, offensive line and running back were addressed. Depth was added at quarterback, defensive back, defensive end and receiver.

I’d expect the Pats to add a veteran at tight end asap though the immediately signed 3 undrafted rookie tight ends. I’ll dig deeper on those guys to see if any might stick.

Perhaps even another defensive end. Depth there is still thin even with Zach Moore added to the mix.

Easley and whether or not one of the linemen emerges into a starter will make or break this draft. They need a pass rushing force so desperately, and there’s a good chance Easley could be that by the end of this season, even if he starts out on the PUP list.

All in all, another classic Belichick draft. Some solid football players and a couple picks that leave you scratching your head.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The NFL Draft: Here We Go Again

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I think I’ll start my draft research today. I’ve gotten plenty of questions about specific prospects but I don’t pay any attention to college football or the draft until now, when the Pats’ season is over.

I find that three-plus months is more than enough time for the goat rodeo that goes on each spring. There are plenty of draftniks out there that study far more film than I do and they do it year-round. 

I don’t claim to be an expert at scouting, I only claim to understand the kind of players that fit the Patriots scheme and the kind of players that they look for. If you want to see how I’ve done in each of the last three seasons with my Patriots draft board, you can find out here: 2011, 2012, 2013.

Draft analysis has almost become a competitive sport at this point, but I just try to do it for myself for fun.  People get so attached to prospects, angered at random mock drafts, or into vehement arguments regarding who will be drafted where. At the end of the draft, almost everyone is 90% wrong about everything.

Here’s a secret – even the NFL teams don’t really know what they’re doing, much less the countless amateur draftniks out there. Again, I don’t want to take away from all the hard work that many out there do, but trying to predict the completely unpredictable and then getting mad about those who disagree is silly.

A huge percentage of these prospects we spend so much time debating will be out of the NFL in a matter of years, if not months. And that one player you love for the Patriots? Yeah, they’re probably not going to draft him.

So let’s just try to have fun with it. My favorite part of the draft is when it’s over and the speculation is done. The Pats will have a handful of rookies and then we can dive into the real analysis.

I’ll be focusing on free agency in most of the posts here in the coming weeks, while slowly crafting my big board. “Needs” at this point are pointless in relation to the draft. The Pats will fill every hole they have in free agency so they’re free to take the best player available in the draft.

So our focus will remain mostly on free agency for now but the time has come once again to hit the draft pipe…