Patriots Life Mailbag
Starting this week, we at Patriots Life will host a mailbag to answer questions from followers on Twitter. In the following weeks, look for tweets from Patriots Life and its writers asking for your questions. Your tweets will be included, as well as our answers in articles like this.
With the draft upon us, it seemed like the right time to compile a number of questions and answer as many of them as we can. This week, Adam Bogdan (@PatriotsInform) will be answering those questions.
Q)
A) The top names I would have their are Nelson Agholor, Byron Jones, Eddie Goldman, Laken Tomlinson, and AJ Cann. I would have no issues with any of those players being the pick. That said, I think three or more of them will be available in the mid 2nd round as well, making a trade down an enticing option.
Q)
A) All depends on who is available. I could see up to five positions as possible targets, OG, WR, CB, DL, LB. Despite New England's history of picking a DB or DL in the 1st round, I could see them breaking from tradition and going WR if Nelson Agholor is there, or trading down into the early 2nd and grabbing either Laken Tomlinson or AJ Cann with that acquired pick.
Q)
A) Trading down. Trading up in the first round is risky due to how much it typically takes to move up. That said, as I've been saying for weeks, my dream scenario is a trade down with the Jaguars or Buccaneers into the early 2nd and then using some of their 3rd and 4th round picks to move up again into the 2nd round to have a total of three picks between 33 and 64. With those picks they could add impact players at WR, OG, and DT.
Q)
A) The Patriots have been talking to several safeties over the course of the offseason. Those names include Damarious Randall and Ibraheim Campbell. Personally, I think they are just fine with Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, and Patrick Chung as their main three safeties. Wilson and Ebner are special teamers, but Wilson can help on defense. I don't see them drafting one unless the value is right.
Q)
A) Despite his size, he is more of a receiving TE than a blocking TE, but he will be an upgrade over Hooman all around, and will be an improvement over Tim Wright in run blocking. I think he will be asked to play the middle of the field, like Gronk, where his size gives Brady a large target to use at the goalline and in short yardage situation. I think Tim Wright is bulking up and working on his run blocking which could give three very athletic TEs capable of playing on all three downs. I would be fairly surprised if Hooman is on the team come September.
Q)
A) Tray Walker from Texas Southern. A 6'2" CB with good ball skills that can do work in press man. Not a speed CB, but has no fear about contributing against the run. Very raw with his technique, but coaching could turn him into a good player. Another example of a guy the Patriots find in the rough and coach up into a solid player.
Q)
A) I would not trade up for Peters, mostly because it may take too much to go up where he may be taken, but also because I don't thik he would be a fit in New England. Some people have used the words "uncoachable" when talking about him, which should immediately turn off Belichick to him. Getting kicked off a team when you're one of their best players takes a lot, and issues with coaches was on the list of reasons why it happened. He has all the talent in the world, but he isn't worth the headache he may cause.
Q)
A) At first glance I would see if Tampa or Jacksonville want to trade up and then take whichever one is left with that 2nd round pick. If I HAD to pick one, it would likely be Agholor. I love Byron Jones, but I feel like with the sheer number of CBs the Patriots have, they will find a way to make it a functional unit. At WR, only Edelman can do what Agholor can do on the field. By November, Edelman will be 29, Amendola will be 30, and LaFell will be 29. That isn't that young, and with Amendola, Dobson and Boyce all potentially gone next year, having a young WR who can develop in the system would be a smart move for the Patriots, who always like to address future needs ahead of time before they become a desperate need.
Q)
A) I am all for it. Him and Tomlinson are the reasonable 1a and 1b for the Patriots around 32. If they can nab him in the 2nd, move up, and have two more picks in the 2nd, they could possibly add two guards which could solidify the interior of the offensive line for years to come.
One last look at the Patriots Life 1st Round Mock Draft here.
And my Patriots 7 Round Mock Draft here.
Follow me on Twitter - @PatriotsInform
For more of my articles, click here.
With the draft upon us, it seemed like the right time to compile a number of questions and answer as many of them as we can. This week, Adam Bogdan (@PatriotsInform) will be answering those questions.
Q)
@PatriotsInform Mock draft / personal crushes aside, assuming they stay at 32, what are their 3-5 most realistic options?
— Matthew T. Murphy (@MTM558) April 29, 2015
A) The top names I would have their are Nelson Agholor, Byron Jones, Eddie Goldman, Laken Tomlinson, and AJ Cann. I would have no issues with any of those players being the pick. That said, I think three or more of them will be available in the mid 2nd round as well, making a trade down an enticing option.
Q)
@PatriotsInform which position should be addressed in the first round? DT or WR?
— Geo Galdamez (@omfGeoh) April 29, 2015
A) All depends on who is available. I could see up to five positions as possible targets, OG, WR, CB, DL, LB. Despite New England's history of picking a DB or DL in the 1st round, I could see them breaking from tradition and going WR if Nelson Agholor is there, or trading down into the early 2nd and grabbing either Laken Tomlinson or AJ Cann with that acquired pick.
Q)
@PatriotsInform after all you learnd about this year draft, if you're the Pats GM, would you rather be seeking trade up or down?
— Misha (@macpatmilcelcap) April 29, 2015
A) Trading down. Trading up in the first round is risky due to how much it typically takes to move up. That said, as I've been saying for weeks, my dream scenario is a trade down with the Jaguars or Buccaneers into the early 2nd and then using some of their 3rd and 4th round picks to move up again into the 2nd round to have a total of three picks between 33 and 64. With those picks they could add impact players at WR, OG, and DT.
Q)
@PatriotsInform what are your thoughts on the SS position Both Ebner and Wilson entering final year. U like who they have or or add in draft
— Jason Berry (@jojoboxer23) April 30, 2015
A) The Patriots have been talking to several safeties over the course of the offseason. Those names include Damarious Randall and Ibraheim Campbell. Personally, I think they are just fine with Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, and Patrick Chung as their main three safeties. Wilson and Ebner are special teamers, but Wilson can help on defense. I don't see them drafting one unless the value is right.
Q)
@PatriotsInform how do you invision the Pats using TE Chandler
— Jason Berry (@jojoboxer23) April 30, 2015
A) Despite his size, he is more of a receiving TE than a blocking TE, but he will be an upgrade over Hooman all around, and will be an improvement over Tim Wright in run blocking. I think he will be asked to play the middle of the field, like Gronk, where his size gives Brady a large target to use at the goalline and in short yardage situation. I think Tim Wright is bulking up and working on his run blocking which could give three very athletic TEs capable of playing on all three downs. I would be fairly surprised if Hooman is on the team come September.
Q)
@PatriotsInform I have a feeling CB run will come early meaning Pats will have to look later. Who are some of your favorite CB past round 1?
— Mike Gerken (@midwestpatsfan) April 30, 2015
A) Tray Walker from Texas Southern. A 6'2" CB with good ball skills that can do work in press man. Not a speed CB, but has no fear about contributing against the run. Very raw with his technique, but coaching could turn him into a good player. Another example of a guy the Patriots find in the rough and coach up into a solid player.
Q)
@PatriotsInform would you trade up for marcus peters? who is your favorite player in the entire draft? Mine is owamagbe odighizuwa.
— Mike Gerken (@midwestpatsfan) April 30, 2015
A) I would not trade up for Peters, mostly because it may take too much to go up where he may be taken, but also because I don't thik he would be a fit in New England. Some people have used the words "uncoachable" when talking about him, which should immediately turn off Belichick to him. Getting kicked off a team when you're one of their best players takes a lot, and issues with coaches was on the list of reasons why it happened. He has all the talent in the world, but he isn't worth the headache he may cause.
Q)
@PatriotsInform Byron Jones and Nelson Agholor are both on the board at pick 32, what do you do
— Blake (@BlakeW47) April 29, 2015
A) At first glance I would see if Tampa or Jacksonville want to trade up and then take whichever one is left with that 2nd round pick. If I HAD to pick one, it would likely be Agholor. I love Byron Jones, but I feel like with the sheer number of CBs the Patriots have, they will find a way to make it a functional unit. At WR, only Edelman can do what Agholor can do on the field. By November, Edelman will be 29, Amendola will be 30, and LaFell will be 29. That isn't that young, and with Amendola, Dobson and Boyce all potentially gone next year, having a young WR who can develop in the system would be a smart move for the Patriots, who always like to address future needs ahead of time before they become a desperate need.
Q)
@PatriotsInform What's your thoughts on trading out of round 1 to get Cann?
— Andrew Ludwig (@aludwig25) April 29, 2015
A) I am all for it. Him and Tomlinson are the reasonable 1a and 1b for the Patriots around 32. If they can nab him in the 2nd, move up, and have two more picks in the 2nd, they could possibly add two guards which could solidify the interior of the offensive line for years to come.
One last look at the Patriots Life 1st Round Mock Draft here.
And my Patriots 7 Round Mock Draft here.
Follow me on Twitter - @PatriotsInform
For more of my articles, click here.
