Home About Schedule Updated Rankings: Receivers and Running BacksApril 26th, 2007Receivers1. Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech2. Ted Ginn, Jr., Ohio State3. Dwayne Bowe, LSU4. Jason Hill, Washington State5. Dwayne Jarrett, USC6. Steve Smith, USC7. Sidney Rice, South Carolina8. Craig Davis, LSU9. Anthony Gonzales, Ohio State10. Robert Meachem, TennesseeOverrated: MeachemUnderrated: HillDay 2 SleepersLaurent Robinson, Illinois StateCourtney Taylor, AuburnChansi Stuckey, ClemsonChris Davis, Florida StateRyne Robinson, Miami (Ohio)Legedu Naanee, Boise StateRunning Backs1. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma2. Tony Hunt, Penn State3. Marshawn Lynch, Cal4. Kenny Irons, Auburn5. Lorenzo Booker, Florida State6. Brian Leonard, Rutgers7. Brandon Jackson, Nebraska8. Michael Bush, Louisville9. Dwayne Wright, Fresno State10. Antonio Pittman, Ohio StateOverrated: PittmanUnderrated: IronsDay 2 SleepersAlonzo Coleman, HamptonDarius Walker, Notre DameJustise Hairston, Central Connecticut StateAhmad Bradshaw, Marshall--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Updated Rankings: LinebackersApril 26th, 2007Inside Linebackers1. Patrick Willis, Ole Miss2. David Harris, Michigan3. Brandon Siler, Florida4. Buster Davis, Florida State5. Zak DeOssie, Brown6. Desmond Bishop, Cal7. Jon Abbate, Wake Forest8. Kelvin Smith, Syracuse9. H.B. Blades, Pitt10. Anthony Waters, ClemsonOverrated: WatersUnderrated: BishopDay 2 SleepersJustin Warren, Texas A&MThaddaeus Washington, ColoradoDedrick Harrington, Missouri (For my man Pony Express. Watch out for this guy as a possible undrafted free agent)Pure Outside Linebackers1. Jon Beason, Miami2. Lawrence Timmons, Florida State3. Paul Posluszny, Penn State4. Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma5. Stewart Bradley, Nebraska6. Justin Durant, Hampton7. Antwan Barnes, Florida International8. Rory Johnson, Ole Miss9. Quincy Black, New Mexico10. Stephen Nicholas, South FloridaOverrated: Tim Shaw, Penn StateUnderrated: AlexanderDay 2 SleepersPrescott Burgess, MichiganKaMichael Hall, Georgia TechDallas Sartz, USCDefensive End/Outside Linebacker Hybrids1. LaMarr Woodley, Michigan2. Anthony Spencer, Purdue3. Jarvis Moss, Florida4. Tim Crowder, Texas5. Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame6. Jay Moore, Nebraska7. Quentin Moses, Georgia8. Dan Bazuin, Central Michigan9. Ikaika Alama-Francis, Hawaii10. Brian Robison, TexasOverrated: MosesUnderrated: MooreDay 2 SleepersVictor DeGrate, Oklahoma StateJustin Hickman, UCLAMkristo Bruce, Washington State--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Updated Rankings: Defensive BacksApril 26th, 2007Cornerbacks1. Chris Houston, Arkansas2. Darrelle Revis, Pitt3. Aaron Ross, Texas4. Leon Hall, Michigan5. Jonathan Wade, Tennessee6. Josh Wilson, Maryland7. Daymeion Hughes, Cal8. Eric Wright, UNLV9. Marcus McCauley, Fresno State10. Michael Coe, Alabama State/Usama Young, Kent StateOverrated: HallUnderrated: WadeDay 2 SleepersDeAndre Jackson, Iowa StateC.J. Gaddis, ClemsonBo Smith, Weber StateC.J. Wilson, BaylorSafeties1. LaRon Landry, LSU2. Michael Griffin, Texas3. Reggie Nelson, Florida4. Brandon Meriweather, Miami5. Josh Gattis, Wake Forest6. Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech7. Eric Weddle, Utah8. Sabby Piscitelli, Oregon State9. John Wendling, Wyoming10. Marvin White, TCUOverrated: No oneUnderrated: GattisDay 2 SleepersDaren Stone, MaineEric Frampton, Washington StateJ.D. Nelson, OregonLeonard Peters, HawaiiMelvin Bullitt, Texas A&M--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Draft Buzz - 1st UpdateApril 26th, 2007-We have more news on Patrick Willis. Apparently, the Jets are now interested in Willis’ services. The Jets are talking with teams picking in the top half of the draft about possibly dealing Jonathan Vilma to move up and get Willis or one of the two stud defensive tackles. It’s not likely that Willis would slip to 15 but if he does, the Jets could have a trading partner in the Steelers. Pittsburgh is looking to move down and Vilma would fit in well with the Steelers new Tampa 2 scheme. Apparently, the Jets are looking to pick up some bigger linebackers in this draft with interest in both Willis and David Harris.-The Packers have made an offer to the Chiefs for running back Larry Johnson. The deal is said to involve at least four draft picks on Green Bay’s part, including a first and second rounder this year.-According to a league source, the quarterback that teams will be interested in trading up into the bottom of the first round for is Michigan State’s Drew Stanton. Names like Kevin Kolb and John Beck have been surfacing recently but we were told that the guy teams really want is Stanton. As a matter of fact, a few teams have Stanton rated as the top quarterback in this draft.-In our mock draft we have OT Joe Staley going to the Texans at pick 10. While he may not end up in Houston, Staley is shooting up draft boards and is now considered the No. 2 tackle by a lot of teams. That’s bad news for Levi Brown, who could slip in the draft due to Staley’s recent surge.-The Calvin Johnson free-for-all is in full swing. We said earlier the Falcons were serious about moving up but we’re hearing close to 10 teams are interested in getting up to the second pick if the Raiders pass on Johnson. Included in that list are the Falcons, Redskins, Packers and Bears. Getting up to No. 2 is key because there’s been talk that much like last year with the Saints and Reggie Bush, the Browns will go away from need and take Johnson - the top rated player on their board - with the third pick.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Draft BuzzApril 26th, 2007This is the latest buzz going around the NFL. Keep in mind a lot of stuff gets thrown out before the draft that never actually happens, but it’s fun to talk about all the rumors flying around this time of year. Here are some of the more juicy ones we’re hearing at the moment:-The Cowboys are desperately trying to trade running back Julius Jones. Dallas believes Marion Barber is ready to carry the load and if the team trades Jones, they would select another running back on Day 1 of the draft. The Cowboys are currently looking to move Jones for a second round pick and the team most interested is the Buffalo Bills. Don’t be surprised if Dallas and Buffalo make a draft day deal involving Jones.-More news out of Dallas is that the Cowboys are targeting S Brandon Meriweather. Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips like Meriweather’s coverage abilities and his presence could help make up for Roy Williams’ awful play.-The Bills are said to be hot for Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis. Buffalo lost starting linebackers London Fletcher-Baker (free agency) and Takeo Spikes (traded to Philadelphia) this offseason. Whether or not the Bills land Willis will depend on what the 49ers do with the pick before. San Francisco is debating over Willis, Arkansas DE Jamaal Anderson and Michigan DT Alan Branch. If the 49ers opt for Branch or Anderson, it shouldn’t take long for the Bills to turn in the card with Willis’ name on it.-It’s no secret that the Lions want to trade down out of the No. 2 slot. One team that hasn’t been talked about but is believed to be interested in moving up if Calvin Johnson is still available is the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson would give the Falcons the playmaker they need at receiver. However, drafting Johnson would also cut down on the number of excuses used to describe why Mike Vick is an average quarterback. The Falcons did sign Joe Horn this offseason but he’s 35 and on the downside of his career. If the Lions do stay at No. 2, they’ll most likely select Clemson DE Gaines Adams.-A hot name right now is Michigan’s David Harris. Pro Football Talk reported that the Patriots are interested in Harris with the 28th pick. The only problem is he may not be there when they select. We’re hearing both the Bengals and Jets also have Harris high on their wish list. If the Patriots really want the Michigan linebacker, they may have to take him at 24, or he could go one pick later to the rival Jets.-Rumors have circulated recently that Alan Branch, Ted Ginn and Reggie Nelson are slipping in the draft. The truth is that while some teams have questions regarding these three players, others are very high on them. Branch should still go in the top 11 picks, while Nelson and Ginn probably won’t get past 20. Check back throughout the day and all the way up until the Raiders select Ryan Leaf, I mean JaMarcus Russell, for the latest draft buzz. We’ll be updating it every time we hear something interesting from around the NFL.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Special edition of Patriots Today on Saturday!April 26th, 2007Don’t miss a special draft-day edition of Patriots Today on Saturday night on Patriots.com! Highlights of the newest Patriots, reaction and a full recap of the day. Plus, we’ll be hanging out at Vince Wilfork’s draft party at Pinz in Milford and we’ll hear what Wilfork and some of his teammates have to say about the Pats’ selections. So don’t miss Patriots Today on draft day!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------More mockeryApril 26th, 2007How does Texas safety Michael Griffin sound at 24? Or even Michigan DE/OLB LaMarr Woodley at 28?That’s exactly how yours truly picked in those slots representing the Patriots in a writers’ mock draft Wednesday evening conducted by sports radio WSKO in Providence, Rhode Island. The first selection came with the likes of cornerbacks Chris Houston and Aaron Ross still on the board as well as linebackers Jon Beason and David Harris. With the top needs of secondary and linebacker in mind, I thought Griffin represented the top value at that time. I think he’s a proven playmaker who would bring instant leadership, depth and youth to the New England secondary.When I was back on the clock a few minutes later, players coming off the board in the mean time were Houston, Ross and Miami tight end Greg Olsen. That being the case I targeted linebacker with my 28th selection and went a half step outside the box to go with Woodley. I think he’s a flat out playmaker and football player. He’s not prototypical for a Patriots 3-4 outside linebacker, but I think Bill Belichick can put his impressive abilities to good use. I know others may have gone with either Beason or Harris, but I have questions about the Hurricane’s fit in New England’s scheme and think if the team wants Harris it might be able to trade down a bit and still grab him. If fact as the WSKO mock played out, neither Beason nor Harris got selected in the first 32 picks.I think Woodley is good enough to forget the “prototypical build.” Plus, the second of two first rounders later in the round is the perfect place to maybe take a chance on a guy who won’t be around too much longer. That worked out with Logan Mankins a couple years back and I think it could work out with Woodley as well.All told I think the Patriots would be very intrigued to see Saturday’s draft unfold as this writers’ mock did. While there are not sure-fire steals that slipped to 24, having their pick of Griffin, Houston, Ross, Beason, Harris and others would likely give Belichick and Co. plenty of solid options. Will they go the direction I went? Probably not, they know a heck of a lot more than I do. Will they go the right way with the pair of picks? Based on their track record, that’s a virtual certainty.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------NFL Mock DraftApril 26th, 20071. Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell, QB LSU – I think Russell is going to be one of the biggest busts in draft history. I also think Calvin Johnson is the highest rated prospect to enter the draft in years. Which way do you think the Raiders will go? Just take a look at Al Davis’ decision making over the last 15 years for the answer to that question.2. Detroit Lions: Gaines Adams, DE Clemson – The Lions will most likely trade down from this spot but if they stay, look for them to take Adams to help improve their toothless pass rush.3. Cleveland Browns: Adrian Peterson, RB Oklahoma – Despite injury concerns, Peterson is just too good to pass up here for the Browns. He has the ability to be a dominant running back for the next 10 years.4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Calvin Johnson, WR Georgia Tech – If the Bucs get Johnson here, someone should call the cops. He’s the best overall player on most draft boards, so to get him at No. 4 would obviously be a steal for Tampa Bay.5. Arizona Cardinals: Joe Thomas, T Wisconsin – If Thomas is still on the board when the Cardinals pick, it should take about three seconds to get the card up to the commissioner. Their offensive line was garbage last year.6. Washington Redskins: LaRon Landry, S LSU – The Redskins could go in a number of different directions here but the thought of teaming Landry with Sean Taylor might be too good for Washington to pass up.7. Minnesota Vikings: Brady Quinn, QB Notre Dame – Andy Hart loves Tavaris Jackson but he’s in the minority. Jackson has some skills but he’s extremely raw and not ready to lead an NFL team. With the Vikings current quarterback situation, it would be hard for them to pass up on Quinn here.8. Atlanta Falcons: Amobi Okoye, DT Louisville – The Falcons would love to take Landry here but if he’s gone, Bobby Petrino could go with the 19-year old phenom he coached in college. Okoye will help improve a leaky Falcons rush defense.9. Miami Dolphins: Alan Branch, DT Michigan – Branch is a beast in the middle and would add some size and youth to an aging Dolphins defense. Branch should be able to come right in and contribute as a rookie.10. Houston Texans: Joe Staley, OT Central Michigan – Looking for a draft day shocker? Staley has been flying up draft boards and he fits in perfectly with the Texans zone-blocking scheme. If Peterson slides, he’ll be the choice here but don’t be surprised if Houston takes Staley to help improve its porous offensive line.11. San Francisco 49ers: Jamaal Anderson, DE Arkansas – This pick will probably come down to either Anderson or Patrick Willis. The 49ers need to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the trio of Manny Lawson, Tully Banta-Cain and Anderson should help solve that problem.12. Buffalo Bills: Patrick Willis, LB Mississippi – If the draft unfolds this way, the Bills will be ecstatic. They are pining over Willis after losing London Fletcher-Baker and Takeo Spikes this offseason. The former Ole Miss star would step right in as the Bills starting middle linebacker.13. St Louis Rams: Adam Carriker, DE Nebraska – The Rams defense was abysmal last year, especially against the run. Carriker would add some size to the Rams front and he has the ability to play both inside or outside in St. Louis’ defense.14. Reggie Nelson, S Florida – The Panthers could use some help at linebacker but with Willis off the board, this is too high to grab Jon Beason or David Harris. Mike Minter is entering his final season and Carolina has very little depth at the safety position. The athletic Nelson would make an already good Panthers defense even better.15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Leon Hall, CB Michigan – With the Steelers going to more of a Tampa 2-style defense, Hall would be a solid selection for them because he likes to play off receivers. Darrelle Revis is also a possibility here, depending on which player Pittsburgh likes better.16. Green Bay Packers: Marshawn Lynch, RB Cal – Vernand Morency is currently the starting running back in Green Bay. Enough said.17. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jarvis Moss, DE Florida – The interior of the Jaguars defensive line is tremendous but they need to get more pressure on the quarterback. Moss will help Jacksonville in that regard.18. Cincinnati Bengals: Darrelle Revis, CB Pitt – The Bengals selected Jonathan Joseph in the first round last year but they still need to upgrade the cornerback position, especially after losing Tory James. Deltha O’Neal is coming off a terrible season where he got beat on a regular basis. Revis would give the Bengals another talented young corner to team with Joseph for the foreseeable future. David Harris and Jon Beason are also strong possibilities at this spot.19. Tennessee Titans: Chris Houston, CB Arkansas – With the loss of Pacman Jones, the Titans need to bolster the cornerback position and Houston fits in nicely with what Tennessee likes to do on defense. A fast, strong cornerback, Houston excels at playing man-to-man defense and can also return kicks.20. New York Giants: Levi Brown, T Penn State – The Giants really struggled at offensive tackle the last two years and after releasing Luke Petitgout, they need to address the position in the draft. If Jones lasts this long, he would be a great value pick for the Giants.21. Denver Broncos: Paul Posluszny, LB Penn State – The Broncos are trying to move up in the draft but if they stay at 21, defensive end or linebacker will probably be the pick. With Al Wilson gone, Posluszny fills an immediate need and could help add some size to the Broncos linebacking corps.22. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Meriweather, S Miami – Jerry Jones is easier to read than the Sunday comics. The Cowboys love Meriweather’s coverage skills and his presence will make Roy Williams’ annual Pro Bowl appearances look a little more credible.23. Kansas City Chiefs: Ted Ginn, Jr., WR Ohio State – This would be a dream scenario for the Chiefs. Not only would they get one of the top receivers in the draft, Ginn could also replace the recently departed Dante Hall as Kansas City’s return man. Any team that gets a player with Ginn’s physical tools this late in the draft should thank its lucky stars.24. New England Patriots: Jon Beason, LB Miami – This is an extremely tough call between Beason and Michael Griffin. I actually think Griffin may be gone by this point in the real draft. If he’s still on the board, the Patriots may have to pull the trigger. However, Beason is a player they like and he fills a more pressing need in my opinion. Tough call here but we’ve been projecting Beason to the Pats for three months now, so we might as well go down swinging.25. New York Jets: Anthony Spencer, OLB Purdue – The Jets need to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and Eric Mangini is still trying to find players who fit his defensive scheme. Spencer kills two birds with one stone and he should help the Jets increase their sack total in 2007.26. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Griffin, S Texas – The Eagles really struggled at safety last year and even though Brian Dawkins is still a stud, he’s starting to get up their in age himself. Griffin could start as a rookie and take over as the Eagles leader in the secondary once Dawkins retires.27. New Orleans Saints: David Harris, LB Michigan – The Saints need size in the middle of their defense, both at DT and MLB. Tennessee’s Justin Harrell could be a possibility here but I think that’s a bit of a reach. Harris would add some much needed size and speed to New Orleans’ defense. The only problem is he may not still be available when the Saints pick.28. New England Patriots: LaMarr Woodley, OLB Michigan – I really believe the Patriots will trade down from this spot but if they stay put, New England has the luxury of taking the best player available. Woodley would be a monster in Bill Belichick’s defense. He can combine with Rosevelt Colvin and Adalius Thomas to form a dangerous trio of pass rushers off the edge.29. Baltimore Ravens: Ben Grubbs, G Auburn – The Ravens need help along the offensive line and they’re a team that usually takes the best player available. Grubbs is not only the top rated guard in this draft, he would also fill a big need for Baltimore. Grubbs is a powerful run blocker, something the Ravens look for in their guards.30. San Diego Chargers: Dwayne Bowe, WR LSU – The Chargers are in desperate need for receiver help and Bowe would be a great pick at this point in the draft. Bowe is a little raw but he has the potential to become a dangerous NFL receiver.31. Chicago Bears: Greg Olsen, TE Miami – Olsen could be gone by now but if the Panthers and Jets pass on him, I really don’t see Olsen fitting in with any other team. The Bears have been looking for a quality tight end for years and Olsen will give Rex Grossman another weapon in the passing game. Now all Grossman needs to do is learn how to throw a forward pass.32. Indianapolis Colts: Aaron Ross, CB Texas – The Colts will be looking at CB or LB here. After losing both Jason David and Nick Harper, Ross would add some depth to the Colts secondary. He’s also a dangerous kick returner, another area the Colts could stand to improve in. Florida State LB Lawrence Timmons is also a possibility here.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------PFW’s Final Patriots Mock DraftApril 25th, 2007Round 1AJon Beason, LB Miami (6-0, 237)– When we came back from the Combine and did our first mock draft, we had the Patriots selecting Beason with the 24th pick in the draft. Actually, I believe we were the first ones to predict Beason to the Pats. That set off a floodgate of e-mails asking if we had lost our minds. One e-mailer even declared that Beason wouldn’t be drafted on the first day. Well, Beason isn’t only going to be picked on the first day, he may not even be on the board when the Patriots select.At the Combine we heard the Patriots had a lot of interest in Beason and since then, they’ve done nothing to make us think otherwise. New England worked Beason out down in Miami and he also visited Gillette Stadium this month. Add all this up and Beason is a definite possibility to become a Patriot on draft day.On the surface, Beason looks like a Tampa 2 outside linebacker but that’s not necessarily the case. He has the toughness and physical ability to move inside and play the MIKE in a 3-4 scheme. That would give the Patriots the luxury of grooming Beason behind Tedy Bruschi and using him on passing downs as a rookie because of his good coverage skills. Beason is also a big hitter and solid special teams player. He would have an instant impact on the Patriots defense and add some much needed youth and athleticism to an ageing position.Michigan’s David Harris is also a strong possibility with this pick, as is a defensive back.Round 1BLaMarr Woodley, DE/OLB Michigan (6-1, 268)– I really think the Patriots are going to trade down from this spot and acquire a second round pick but if they stay, New England has the luxury of taking the best player available. In my opinion, that player would be Woodley.Let me start off by saying that I think there is going to be a big run on defensive backs in the first round. I don’t believe Michael Griffin, Reggie Nelson, Brandon Meriweather, Leon Hall, Chris Houston or Darrelle Revis will be on the board at this point. If one of those players is available, they will certainly be a strong possibility with this pick.I think Woodley is one of the best “football players” in the draft and will be a future stud at the pro level. I keep hearing about his size and questions about where he’s going to play in the NFL but when you watch him on tape, he’s a monster that does a lot of things well. His style of play is very similar to a guy the Patriots just paid a lot of money to acquire this offseason.Woodley is a tremendous athlete, versatile, extremely quick and works his tail off. When you’re talking about value at the end of Round 1, there will be very few, if any, players left on the board more talented than Woodley. He could be a pass rushing terror in New England’s defense for years to come. A coach like Bill Belichick could do wonders with a player of his ability. With Woodley, Adalius Thomas and Rosevelt Colvin rushing from the edge, Peyton Manning will have a lot of sleepless nights.Like I said, I see the Patriots moving down from this spot and getting a second round pick, which they could then use on a running back like Tony Hunt, Lorenzo Booker, Brian Leonard, Kenny Irons or Michael Bush. There are going to be a lot of backs that go in Round 2, so New England needs to get a pick in that area if there’s one in particular they’re eyeing.Round 3Josh Gattis, S Wake Forest (6-1, 206)– If the draft unfolded this way, Gattis would be a steal for the Patriots here. Gattis weighs 206 pounds, although he has a thick build and really unloads on ball carriers. He’s a smart player who’s rarely out of position on the field. Gattis does a good job of covering the short middle of the field, something a lot of safeties struggle with.A couple of reasons why Gattis doesn’t get a lot of national publicity are because he played for Wake Forest and he’s not a “wow” player. What I mean by that is when you see LaRon Landry play he wows you with his vicious hits and incredible speed in coverage. Gattis is more of a lunch pale-type player. He may not be flashy but Gattis is very consistent and reliable. He’s a leader on the field and a guy I believe can step right in and contribute as a rookie because of his intelligence.Gattis is also a good special teams player. In 2005, he led the ACC with 15 special teams tackles. Gattis shows great instincts on the field and was the leader of a very good Wake Forest defense last year. We get a lot of e-mails referring to certain prospects as being a “Patriots-kind of player”. If you’re searching for a Patriots-kind of player (Intelligent, tough, versatile, team-first attitude), then look no further than Gattis. He reminds me a lot of former Bronco Steve Atwater with the way he plays. Gattis should be a quality starting safety in the NFL for the next 10 years. I think most teams would take that.Aaron Rouse, the bone-jarring safety out of Virginia Tech, would be another good selection in this spot.Round 4Michael Coe, CB Alabama State (6-0, 190)- Coe played his first two seasons at Arkansas before transferring to Division 1-AA Alabama State for his senior year. He also played some safety and returned kicks in college, so he has the versatility Belichick likes from his defensive backs. Coe was a late addition to the Senior Bowl but helped his cause by having a good week of practice and intercepting a pass in the game. Since then, Coe’s draft stock has been on the rise.Coe has the size to play both corner and safety in the NFL, but he’ll probably start off his career as a nickel cornerback. He’s a very instinctive player (which is important at the cornerback position) who has tremendous ball skills. Coe goes up and fights receivers for the ball and does a good job of getting his head turned around. He also uses his body well to overpower smaller receivers.Coe isn’t going to come in and be a superstar right off the bat. However, in New England he doesn’t have to. Coe can contribute to the Patriots by being their fourth or fifth defensive back and returning kicks during his rookie year. But make no mistake about it, Coe does have the physical tools to be a starter in the NFL and after a year or two under Belichick’s tutelage, he should be ready to shine in the Patriots secondary.Usama Young is rising up draft boards and was recruited by current Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees when he was the head coach of Kent State. Young is also a strong possibility if he’s still on the board at this point.Round 5Chris Davis, WR Florida State (5-10, 185) – Davis was one of the most impressive receivers we saw on tape and that says a lot considering who was throwing him the football at Florida State. Davis is also a guy the Patriots have shown interest in leading up to the draft.Davis comes out of his breaks very quickly, a quality the Patriots look for in their receivers. He’s explosive in the open field and Davis made a lot of tough catches on tape due to the awful quarterback play at Florida State. That’s the main reason why Davis’ production isn’t better. It’s hard for a receiver to put up big numbers when their quarterbacks can’t play.One of the things I like most about Davis is he’s fearless going over the middle. He kind of reminds me of a faster version of Wes Welker. Despite his size, Davis will go into traffic and take a big hit. He has great hands and is an effective blocker for a smaller receiver.Davis would be a good selection for the Patriots on Day 2 of the draft. His game is refined and I think he could come in and contribute as a slot receiver and kick returner as a rookie. Also, Davis’ best days are still ahead of him. Unlike Florida State, the Patriots actually have a quarterback who throws the ball pretty well.Round 6ADeAndre Jackson, CB Iowa State (5-11, 193) – Jackson is a mid-round prospect I’m extremely high on. He’s one of the most athletic corners available this year and he really has a nose for the football. Jackson showed great instincts on tape. He’s quick to react to the ball and knocks down a lot of passes. Jackson is a player who could be a real steal because he’s coming off an injury. He tore his ACL last year and missed the second half of his senior season. If Jackson didn’t get hurt, he might have been a second round prospect but now he could slip to the fifth or sixth round. That’s great value for a player with Jackson’s physical skills.Besides being an impressive cornerback, Jackson is also an exceptional kick returner and special teams player. He’s someone who is always around the ball and is very similar to another former Cyclone, Ellis Hobbs. If he’s still on the board in the sixth round, Jackson could be reunited with Hobbs in New England. He’s a very talented corner and return man with a lot of upside.Round 6BDesmond Bishop, ILB Cal (6-1, 239)– Bishop is a player we’ve been projecting to the Patriots all along because we know he’s someone they’ve been showing interest in since before the Combine. Bishop is one of the better run-stuffing linebackers in the draft. He’s not blazing fast and won’t wow anyone running the 40, but when you see him on the field he just makes plays. Bishop led the Pac-10 with 124 tackles last year, so he’s proven to be a force against the run.Bishop is that big, physical linebacker the Patriots haven’t had since Ted Johnson retired. He’s very productive playing in the box and Bishop has the size to take on bigger offensive linemen. He trimmed down to 239 pounds so he could improve his speed for pro scouts but Bishop’s natural playing weight is closer to 245 pounds, with the frame to carry 250. He played some 3-4 at Cal but still needs to improve in coverage. At the Combine he said his favorite thing to do is take on big guards and throw them off to the side before making a tackle. Sounds like the kind of linebacker that would be a good fit in the Patriots scheme.Round 6CDwayne Wright, RB Fresno State (5-11, 231)- Wright is a big guy who can play that RB/FB hybrid position similar to Heath Evans and Patrick Pass. The former Bulldog is a powerful runner who wears down defenses between the tackles. He doesn’t have great speed but is a versatile player who can do a lot for a team. Wright’s ability to pound the ball and get the tough yards would be a nice complement to Laurence Maroney’s slashing running style.Wright came back in 2006 after tearing the patellar tendon in his knee to rush for 1,462 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. He also caught 29 passes last season for Fresno State. Because he’s not very fast, Wright will probably never be an every-down back in the NFL. However, his ability to block, play special teams and be a short-yardage back makes him an intriguing prospect late in the draft.Oregon State tight end Joe Newton is another possibility if he’s still available in the sixth round.Round 6DRyne Robinson, WR Miami (5-9, 180) – Robinson is a late-round receiver I really like. He’s coming into the draft under the radar but Robinson was very productive in college and has impressive physical skills. As a junior, Robinson caught 75 passes for 1,119 yards and eight touchdowns. He had an even better senior season, finishing with 91 receptions for 1,178 yards and eight scores. He finished his career at Miami, Ohio averaging 14.3 yards per catch.On tape, Robinson showed he’s fearless going over the middle and racked up a lot of yards after the catch. He has great hands and is also a crisp route runner. He’s not very big but Robinson is a tough guy who breaks a lot of tackles for his size. He’s a dangerous deep threat, although he turned a lot of short receptions into long gains as well. Robinson is also an explosive kick returner because he gets upfield quickly. In my opinion, Robinson is a big-time sleeper and would be a great selection by the Patriots in the later rounds of the draft.Round 7Jeff Rowe, QB Nevada (6-5, 226)– I think with four sixth round selections and a seventh, the Patriots will pick a young quarterback in this draft. They like Washington’s Isaiah Stanback and he will be a definite possibility if he’s still on the board in Round 6. However, Stanback is on the rise and I’m not sure if the Patriots would pull the trigger on him in the fifth round, unless they really like his potential as a receiver. If New England can’t get the versatile Stanback, Rowe could be a possibility late in the draft.Rowe was the MVP of the East-West Shrine Game and was productive as Nevada’s starting quarterback over the last three years. In his last two seasons, Rowe connected on 63 percent of his passes, while throwing 38 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in Nevada’s “Pistol” offense.Rowe has a long way to go before he’s ready to step on the field in the NFL but he’s accurate, throws a nice ball and moves around well in the pocket. If the Patriots decide to go with a quarterback late in the draft, Rowe – along with Oregon State’s Matt Moore, Central Missouri State’s Toby Korrodi and Idaho State’s Matt Gutierrez – could be possible targets.Be sure to check back here tomorrow as we’ll be doing a first round NFL mock draft. We will also be kicking off our “Draft Buzz” section where we let you know all the rumors we’re hearing from around the league. We have some really interesting rumors to share, so don’t miss it.
