Manziel, Bridgewater visting Pats today; team also met with Bortles
The Patriots are apparently making sure to do their due diligence on the three top-tier quarterbacks in this years draft. According to multiple reports, Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater, both pegged as top ten picks, are visiting with the team today.
Additionally, according to Albert Breer, the Patriots checked out Blake Bortles last week when they were scouting players in Florida.
So the big question here is: Why? Why are the Patriots using their time and resources to scout players who will almost surely be off the board when their turn at the podium comes at pick # 29? There are a variety of theories from NFL pundits floating around today. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com suggests that the Patriots are using a "top to bottom" scouting approach, and that in assessing the abilities of the top tier QB's, they will have a better ability to rate and evaluate the middle rounders at the position, where they may look to fill in their need for a back-up quarterback:
Reiss also suggests that the Patriots may simply be doing their research should one of these top prospects slide to the later stages of the first round. Ryan Mallett's contact is up after this season, and it is time for the Patriots to start considering who their quarterback is in the long-term, once Tom Brady's career winds down. Working under the tutelage of Brady for a few seasons would certainly serve to benefit a talented young quarterback like Manziel, Bortles, or Bridgewater.
Another interesting theory raised by Pro Football Talk writer Mike Florio is that the visits tie into the Patriots draft day tendency to trade down for more picks and better value:
So, what do you guys think? If one of these players somehow slides to the late first round, would it be worth it for the Patriots to select one of them? If so, which of the three would you most like to see in a Pats uniform? Vote in the poll below and let us know on Twitter: @PatriotsLife and @LiamPCunningham.
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| AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg |
Additionally, according to Albert Breer, the Patriots checked out Blake Bortles last week when they were scouting players in Florida.
It's interesting, b/c in addition to Manziel, the Patriots visited with Blake Bortles while checking out UCF prospects in Orlando last week.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 1, 2014So the big question here is: Why? Why are the Patriots using their time and resources to scout players who will almost surely be off the board when their turn at the podium comes at pick # 29? There are a variety of theories from NFL pundits floating around today. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com suggests that the Patriots are using a "top to bottom" scouting approach, and that in assessing the abilities of the top tier QB's, they will have a better ability to rate and evaluate the middle rounders at the position, where they may look to fill in their need for a back-up quarterback:
Having the most complete information on Manziel and other top quarterbacks such as Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater will give the team the best overall view of the position when rating others, such as Georgia's Aaron Murray, LSU's Zach Mettenberger and Pittsburgh's Tom Savage, who are more likely options later in the draft.
Reiss also suggests that the Patriots may simply be doing their research should one of these top prospects slide to the later stages of the first round. Ryan Mallett's contact is up after this season, and it is time for the Patriots to start considering who their quarterback is in the long-term, once Tom Brady's career winds down. Working under the tutelage of Brady for a few seasons would certainly serve to benefit a talented young quarterback like Manziel, Bortles, or Bridgewater.
Another interesting theory raised by Pro Football Talk writer Mike Florio is that the visits tie into the Patriots draft day tendency to trade down for more picks and better value:
In recent years, the concept of draft slots having a specific value has yielded to the idea that the value relates to the specific player for whom the move is being made. Two years ago, the second overall pick yielded the sixth overall pick, two other first-round picks, and a second-round pick not because of the inherent value of the No. 2 pick but because the move put Washington in position to draft Robert Griffin III.
That’s why the Rams are scouting the quarterbacks believed to be at the top of the draft. They won’t take one with the second overall pick, but they possibly will trade down with a team that wants one of them.
For the Patriots, it’s the most logical explanation for the decision to host Manziel — especially in light of New England’s history of trading down in an effort to stockpile picks. If Manziel is on the board at No. 29 and someone wants to move up to get him, the Patriots will have a better idea regarding what they should request if they have a better idea regarding Manziel.
So, what do you guys think? If one of these players somehow slides to the late first round, would it be worth it for the Patriots to select one of them? If so, which of the three would you most like to see in a Pats uniform? Vote in the poll below and let us know on Twitter: @PatriotsLife and @LiamPCunningham.
