Patriots trading down in 2008 (1 Viewer)

[the branded hand]

If the Pats traded down (packaging 7th. pick plus a player) with someone who had a player they coveted, they could address their needs and avoid having to select someone who'll command a "Top 10" draft pick payday (they'll need some of that to keep Samuel). Cap management could make this move a reality. Besides, the pick they got from SF was A GIFT! They trade down between 15-32 and they could still be in a better position. Losing pick #32 stings but they could, theorhetically, improve their positional needs (CB, LB, WR) by trading down.

Picks 15-32 are as follows:

15. Detroit Lions

16. Arizona Cardnals

17. Minnesota Vikings

18. Houston Texans

19. Philidelphia Eagles

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

21. Washigton Redskins

22. Dallas Cowboys

23. Pittsburgh Steelers

24. Tennessee Titans

25. Seatle Seahawks

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

27. San Diego Chargers

28. Dallas Cowboys

29. San Francisico

30. Green Bay

31. New York Giants

Not sure of their specific needs, but someone should be willing. It's a lot more appealing than Parcell's putting the #1 on the block (unless they're willing to gamble/pay-out-the... ).

Any opinions?

 

[Boston]

It's always tough to predict what the Pats will do. One offseason they sit tight and the next they bring in a bunch of free agents. One year they load up on draft picks and the next they almost take a pass on the draft. No matter how much you follow them you just never know what they'll do.

Right now I think there are three issues that need to be addressed before you can really get a handle on what direction they will go:

1) Asante Samuel-If he leaves than CB has monster exposure. This area would need a major upgrade. Ellis Hobbs is average and Randall Gay is probably gone as well. After that there's almost nothing. There's the kid from ND (Richardson) who they seemed to like before he went on IR but there's no way they can count on him. Go into the season with a rookie and Hobbs as your starters is a disaster waiting to happen regardless of how highly touted the rookie is. The bottomline is if Samuel leaves this area becpmes their biggest need. If he stays it could use an upgrade of depth but that won't be too difficult to accomplish.

2) Randy Moss-If Moss leaves that leaves a huge hole in this offense. I love Welker but making him a #1 is something he is not suited for. My guess is Stallworth is a goner and Gaffney comes back. If you have Moss, Welker and Gaffney you're in great shape. Add in another solid veteran, maybe a mid-round rookie and hope that Jackson can get his head on straight and you'll have a big time unit. Let Moss leave (and not replace him with a big time talent) and you're in a situation where the passing game could take a big step backwards.

3) Rosie Colvin-His deal will have to be reworked. If he comes back healthy than you have Thomas, Vrabel and Colvin. There will still be work to do but it can be done. Lose Rosie and suddenly you need to bring in three LBs and two of them will have to start (I'm assuming both Bruschi and Junior are gone here). The only potential contributor they have on their roster is Pierre Woods and I don't have a clue what they think of him...other than he hardly played this year. I'd love to see him follow in the footsteps of Banta Cain but who knows what the deal is here.

As all three of those issues get cleared up you'll have a much better idea what they'll have to do this offseason. You'll also get an idea how much of it can be done thru the draft and how much can be done thru free agency.

 

[Tecmo]

i like to think if they let Samuel go, then that 7th pick is a lock on a CB. Prob add a vet CB in free agency for next year

 

[MAC_32]

Their only true need is at CB and as of right now there isn't much of a difference between the 1st CB and the 5th off the board. Ideally they'd like to trade down, but as proven in the past that is easier said than done. There may be a significant drop off in talent from pick #6 to #7 too, in which case that would make trading up to the Pats' spot less appealing for most/all teams.

 

[Boston]

Their only true need is at CB and as of right now there isn't much of a difference between the 1st CB and the 5th off the board. Ideally they'd like to trade down, but as proven in the past that is easier said than done. There may be a significant drop off in talent from pick #6 to #7 too, in which case that would make trading up to the Pats' spot less appealing for most/all teams.

How can you say LB is not a need?

 

[MAC_32]

Their only true need is at CB and as of right now there isn't much of a difference between the 1st CB and the 5th off the board. Ideally they'd like to trade down, but as proven in the past that is easier said than done. There may be a significant drop off in talent from pick #6 to #7 too, in which case that would make trading up to the Pats' spot less appealing for most/all teams.

How can you say LB is not a need?

At the beginning of the draft? No. Belichik doesn't believe in drafting young studs at the position, he prefers veterans who are less likely to blow their assignment. All of his previous drafts prove this; they always "need" a LB and they always go another direction. I wouldn't rule out a LB in round's 2, 3, or later, but round 1? No way.

 

[Boston]

Their only true need is at CB and as of right now there isn't much of a difference between the 1st CB and the 5th off the board. Ideally they'd like to trade down, but as proven in the past that is easier said than done. There may be a significant drop off in talent from pick #6 to #7 too, in which case that would make trading up to the Pats' spot less appealing for most/all teams.

How can you say LB is not a need?

At the beginning of the draft? No. Belichik doesn't believe in drafting young studs at the position, he prefers veterans who are less likely to blow their assignment. All of his previous drafts prove this; they always "need" a LB and they always go another direction. I wouldn't rule out a LB in round's 2, 3, or later, but round 1? No way.

I agree with you (i.e. I misunderstood what you said). I thought you said LB wasn't a need in general instead of talking about the #7 pick.

 

[dudaman]

The first thing they have to do is decide if Merriweather is ready to start. He bombed this year - atrocious hands! Got run over countless times and dropped 5 or 6 easy INT's over the second half of the season. And it's not like those dropped INT's were because he was in great coverage - they hit him in the hands as he stood in a zone with the play in front of him. The Pats better trade down and get DB/LB help, quick!