NFL Draft: Over and Under

Look around mainstream media, the blogosphere, and the nfl websites and you will see a wide array of appraisals of a player's current talent level, NFL upside, and mock draft position. Through this process, some players fly under the radar like Logan Mankins in 2005, and some players have their expectations sent into the stratosphere, a la Reggie Bush in 2006.

Let's take a look at some players whose stock is being misjudged by the market:

Matt Ryan: Quarteback, Boston College

Stock: Overrated

If this was 2007, Ryan might not be going until pick #49 and the Jets, who originally selected Kellen Clemens, or #64 to the Vikings, who selected Tarvaris Jackson. However, in one of the poorest QB classes since 1996, when Tony Banks and Bobby Hoying were the first two signal-callers selected, Matt Ryan shines. By no means is Ryan a poor QB prospect, he just isn't worthy of being drafted in the first round, let alone #1. Needs are needs though, and expect him to be gone before Roger Goodell has walked up to the podium eight or nine times.

Grades:

Mayock - #1 Overall

Kiper - Top 5

NE Pats Draft - Top 10

Mario Manningham: Wide Receiver, Michigan

Stock: Underrated

We live in a 40 yard dash society, everything is boiled down into a quantifiable amount and we make our choice. Ask teams that drafted Bethel Johnson (Patriots), Taylor Jacobs (Redskins), and Bryant Johnson (Cardinals), if they would take their 40 times over Anquan Boldin's 4.71 sprint time agin. Manningham's 4.59 time looks great compared to that. Super Mario's separation and route-running ability will take him far in the NFL.

Grades:

Mayock: 1st - 2nd Round

Kiper: 2nd Round

NE Pats Draft - 1st Round

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: Cornerback, Tennessee St.

Stock: Overrated

After not appearing in the 1st round in mock drafts during January and the start of February, DRC started appearing higher and higher on draft boards throughout March. Much of this was due to his exceptional combine workouts and to a lesser extent his great play at the Senior Bowl.

While the Senior Bowl is nice, Rodgers-Cromartie didn't dominate the lesser talents that he played against as much some of the other top corners did against greater talents. Take a look:

DRC - 4.4 yards per attempt, 3 TD's, 37& success rate

Cason - 3.5 yards per attempt, 2 TD's, 32% success rate

Flowers - 2.6 yards per attempt, 0 TD's 26% success rate

Rodgers-Cromartie may turn out to be a star just like his cousin, although it may take him a little longer to get there.

Grades:

Mayock: Top 15

Kiper: Top 10

NE Pats Draft: Top 10

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Why Belichick Won't Draft a LB on Day One

For the past three to four years Patriots fans and draft guru's alike have been prognosticating early selections being used to address the dearth of youth at the inside linebacker position. Each year they have been proven wrong, with a 5th round pick, Ryan Claridge in 2005, being the highest spent on the position.

This year, pundits have the Patriots looking at Curtis Lofton, Jerod Mayo, Dan Connor, and Keith Rivers (a true OLB) to help the aging, but still productive Tedy Bruschi and as of yet unsigned Junior Seau. Here are three reasons why none of these will be donning the Flying Elvii in 2008:

• With the exception of Rivers, the top LB prospects all have a tough time shedding blocks. In New England's 3-4, they are going to be taking on guards, and an ILB for Bill Belichick needs to shed the guard and still have enough strength to finish the tackle. While Lofton has shown better skills at this than Mayo and Connor, who really need to be protected to do their best, a la Ray Lewis, his lack of ideal size may inhibit him from doing so on Sundays.

• While it isn't their fault, nobody that is going to be picked in the 2008 NFL Draft has any experience in the NFL. The Patriots brass has shown time and time again that they prefer linebackers with experience. The linebackers make the majority of the pre-snap adjustments and their football IQ has to be off the chart -- something very tough for a rookie to do in the Patriots intricate system.

• If Belichick loves anything, it is value, and if the Patriots are drafting an ILB on day one, the value just isn't there. They have four accomplished linebackers that can play inside in Bruschi, Seau, Vrabel, and Thomas. Granted, each of them are on the wrong side of thirty and Vrabel and Thomas are better suited to play outside. Why pick the best LB in a poor class when there are two better prospects next year in Laurinaitis and Maualuga?

Don't be disappointed when your dreams for a fresh face lining up behind Vince Wilfork are dashed. Coach Belichick knows what he needs, and he doesn't need to reach for an ILB this year.

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Saturday Linkfest

• Does it seem like Raiders Fans are taking over the world? This guy thinks so. Found on Bleacher Report



• Here's a link for you Hawkeye fans: the Iowa Sports Guy takes a look at the Kinnick Stadium experience. Found on Ballhype

• Think I'm full of crap? See what all the other Mock Draft's are saying at HailRedskins. Found on this Website
  

• Stephen Curry is good. Read just how good in this Trib piece. Found on the Chicago Tribune

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NFL Draft: Mock Draft 2033

2033 NFL Mock Draft -
Picks 1-5

By Sir Mel Kiper III

1. Toronto Bills - Bill Brady-Bundchen - QB - Michigan

Bill follows his father's footsteps into the AFC East and will try and bring a championship to the Canadian people who have waited patiently for the last 21 years. Senator Brady is exptected to be on hand for the NFL Draft Ceremony.

2. Chicago Bears-- Virgil Highsmith - QB - UCLA

This highly-touted QB will finally be the savior the Bears have seen searching for after six-time MVP and five-time Superbowl champ Rex Grossman retired.

3. Denver Broncos - John, Bobby, Calvin, JoJo and Derek Henry - RB's - Tennessee

A combo pick, the Henry boys really produce like their father, but they all have different running styles due to their different mothers. Mike Shanahan will continue to frustrate fantasy owners by splitting their time equally.

4. New England Patriots -Kareem-Abdul Simmons - WR - Holy Cross

Not since the days of Randy Moss have the Patriots been so excited about a wideout. The trash-talking Simmons, son of Milwaukee Bucks GM Bill Simmons, left Patriot league foes in his dust during his three years at the Cross.

5. Dallas Cowboys - Reggie McFlash - RB - Arkansas

Owner Jerry Jones got a special waiver from Commissioner Vick to trade away his whole draft and nine starters to get McFlash. Jones' dream is now complete to have a roster made up entirely of former Razorbacks.

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Pre-Season TV Commentator Rankings

This is not an all-inclusive list, merely some of the more interesting and polarizing figures in the NFL commentary business, and the official NE Patriots Draft take on the them.

The Great

Dick Vermeil - Coach Vermeil brings a certain gravitas to any game he graces. Like a fine wine, he just gets better with age. Please come back Dick. Please. I'll tend the grapes for you, just come back.

Cris Collinsworth - Collinswoth can come off as arrogant at times, but his analysis is the best in the game. Pointing out coverages and correctly explaining who made the mistake are right in his wheelhouse. He would be #1 if he wasn't paired with such a dolt.

The Good

Gus Johnson - Gus instantly brings a game to the next level. His analysis and calls are middle of the road, but if the game gets close, and Gus' voice gets higher, I start getting goose bumps.

Ron Jaworksi - When paired with the right people, Ron can take it to the next level. Paired with who he is now, being placed here is kind.

Tony Boselli - It's rare to get a guy from the trenches that can talk so well about all aspects of the game.

Phil Simms - I think I might be the only one, but I really like his PhilOsophy comments and analysis of the game. His game has dropped a bit in the last few season, but he is still a solid commodity for CBS.

The Bad

Jim Nantz – His voice annoys the heck out of me. End of story.

Troy Aikman – Troy gets downgraded for his partner here. He offers some good analysis and insight, but he just doesn’t have enough panache to overpower the machine that is Joe Buck.

Joe Buck - Joe Buck. Joe Buck. Buck, Joe. That is all I hear when I'm watching a game done by this baseball announcer. He just doesn't get our sport yet, and overpowers Troy Aikman.

MNF Team - PTI was old a couple of years ago, but Tony Kornheiser still thinks he's hilarious. Mike Tirico seems lost, trying to muddle between the good but misplaced analysis of Jaworski and the incoherent analogies and pop culture references of Tony Kornheiser. See ya later knuckleheads.

John Madden – Boom! Tough actin’ Tinactin! Captain Obvious is still heading up the booth on Sunday Night Football for NBC. His mastery of the mundane and misuse of the telestrator is legendary. What happened here, is that NE Patriots Draft didn’t like John Madden, and they put him under the Bad header. Boom!

The Bryant Gumbel

Bryant Gumbel - Not only did Al Gore invent the internet, he also plays for the San Francisco 49'ers. I don't have the space to list all the gaffes and mistakes that drag Cris Collinsworth down on the NFL network in this off-season, let alone this article.

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Pats Re-sign Pierre Woods

Pierre Woods, originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan, was re-signed by the Patriots today. Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, one can assume it was for close to the minimum salary.

Pierre has been a special-teams standout the last two years, leading the team with 21 tackles. Woods' big 6'5", 25o lb. frame is ideal for the Patriots 3-4 system. While Pierre has only played sparingly on defense, recording four tackles, Bill Belichick hopes Woods can follow in the footsteps of former Patriot Tully Banta-Cain, who played sparingly in his first couple of years after being a 7th round pick in 2003. He later became a pass-rush OLB, totaling 5.5 sacks in 2006, and signed a FA contract with the 49'ers last season.

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Survery Says...

It's time to play the Feud! The good people over at 199overall.com have an excellent database of all the mock drafts happening. They have compiled a list of who the pundits, http://www.nepatriosdraft.com included, think the Patriots will be drafting this spring. Here are the results:

Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy ------------------------------- 42 votes

Mike Jenkins , CB, South Florida ------------------------- 21 votes

Vernon Gholston, OLB, Ohio State ----------------------- 19 votes

Keith Rivers, LB, USC ----------------------------------- 11 votes

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State ----- 11 votes

It's not surprising to see two corners at top and another one at number five, although I am still unconvinced that any of these defensive backs warrant a Top-10 pick. My hunch is that Belichick and Pioli feel the same way and will either take Gholston, Dorsey, Ellis, or trade down and target one of the CB's on this list. There are also some great options for corner help that could be available in the 2nd round and for both of our 3rd round picks, including Patrick Lee, Charles Godfrey and Justin King. Antoine Cason and Brandon Flowers may still be available in round 2, but we would probaly have to trade up from #62 to get them.

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Patriots Needs Assessment

William Glasser, creator of Control Theory, defines the four human needs as Survival, Love, Power, and Freedom. The Patriots have similar needs a month before the NFL Draft and a month after the onset of Free Agency.

Survival

As we saw in Superbowl XLII, the offensive line is key to Tom Brady and ultimately the Patriots' survival. While there were some holes exposed in that game, the o-line had a great year. An upgrade would be possible at RT where Nick Kazcur had a tough time with some of the quicker DE's in the league. Expect an OT prospect to be taken with one of our two third-round picks.

Love

The Patriots fans love the skill players for the Patriots. We are obviously set with starters at QB, RB, WR, and TE, however, each position could use an infusion of quality depth. Chris Johnson, a tailback from East Carolina, could be in the Patriot's plans late in the first day.

Power

The front seven of the New England, especially the defensive line, are the power behind the Patriot's defense. The difference between the line and the linebackers is that the former sports five guys on the upside of their career, while the latter sports no starters on the good side of 30. That is taking nothing away from Bruschi, Thomas, Vrabel, and Seau, who played their guts out last year. Look for multiple LB's to show up on the draft board in Foxborough.

Freedom

Asante Samuel and Randall Gay gained theirs this off-season, signing nice contracts in the NFC. Cornerback is still a concern, despite bringing in free agent help in Fernando Bryant. Expect Pioli and Co. to target some versatile CB/S hybrids in this years draft, perhaps even with the #7 pick.

With approximately $10 million dollars in cap room, the Patriots still control their destiny for the 2008 season. The NFL draft should help flesh out what that destiny will look like.

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Salary Cap: Got Savvy?

Randy Moss and Tom Brady get all the headlines, but do they get all the money? Let's see if the heralded Patriots Front Office staff lives up to the billing in looking at the distribution of how they spend their cap dollars. Let's start with the offensive numbers:

Offense

• Line - 14 %
• QB - 12.4%
• WR - 11.9%
• RB - 6.9%
• TE - 2.1%

You can see how the Patriots have leveraged well constructed rookie contracts with their offensive linemen and running backs to keep their cap numbers. Tom Brady eats up 12% of the cap number himself, but it is still a good deal. Moss and Welker both have cap-friendly deals that spread the hits pretty evenly.

Defense

• Line - 15.8%
• LB - 11.1%
• DB - 8.3% (Fernando Bryant not included)

Bill Belichick likes big guys. There are less linemen on the roster, but they make substantially more on average than their defensive counterparts. Three first-rounders manning the trenches contributes to this, but even two of the backups, Mike Wright and Jarvis Green, either make more or as much as guys like Tedy Bruschi. With Asante gone, the DB number has gone substantially.

Others

• K/P - 1%
• Dead Money - 7.4%
• Cap Room - 9%

Corey Dillon's generous contract contributed 3.85 million to the "dead money" amount, while Roosevelt Colvin and Kyle Brady contributed 1.8 and 1.0 million respectively. The 10+ million dollars of cap room should be enough to sign our rookies, but look for a creative deal if we end up picking at #7.

Tom and Randy got theirs, but you can see that the Patriots' priority lies within inches of the ball on the offensive and defensive line. Mr. Pioli and company have lived up to their reputation.

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Charles Godfrey: Just Waiting to Get Hazed

Charles Godfrey just wanted to show how much of a fan he was. That prompted him to take the plunge and get a nice Texans tattoo on his right hand. If he would get drafted by the Texans, no problem. If he gets drafted by the Patriots, however, Rodney Harrison and Co. might have a thing or two to say about it. Let's see what Godfrey brings to the table.

I had the joy of watching Godfrey in person for the last four years in the friendly confines of Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. He showcased his versatility at Iowa, playing well at both safety and corner. His ball skills are great, and his coverage skills are exceptional. He gave up zero TD passes in 2007. Coming from the safety position, he can also hit with the best of them, although his technique stays sound even when he "lays the wood".

At the scouting combine, he ran a 4.43, while putting up a respectable 14 reps along with solid times in the cone drills. His older brother, Ell Roberson -- former QB for Kansas St. -- showed the same type of quicknes during his days for the Wildcats.

Look for the Patriots to target Godfrey with their first of two 3rd Round picks -- his signing bonus might even pay for the tattoo removal.

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Revisiting the 2003 Draft

In many front offices, a draft can only be graded 5 years after the selections take place. Let's take a look at how the Patriots did in 2003.

Ty Warren - 1st Rd - #13

Ty has been an increasingly important part of the defensive line, highlighted by his Pro Bowl calibre play these last two years. He isn't asked to get lots of numbers, but he makes it easier for Vrabel and company to get to the QB and RB. As he locked into a multi-year deal in 2007, Ty will be a vital cog in the Patriots machine for years to come.

Grade: A

Eugene Wilson - 2nd Rd - #36

The CB from Illinois played a huge role in the '03 and '04 Championship runs as a Free Safety opposite Rodney Harrison. His big hits punctuated games against Indy and Philadelphia. His play softened thereafter, perhaps due to multiple ankle and arm injuries. Wilson will suit up as a Buc this year after playing a diminished role this year.

Grade: C+

Bethel Johnson - 2nd Rd - #45

Best remembered for his kickoff return TD against Indy, Johnson never lived up to expectations as a wideout. He showed off his speed on fly routes, but never became more than an occasional deep threat. He later played for the Vikings and had brief stints for the Eagles and Texans where he never saw the field.

Grade: D-

Dan Klecko - 4th Rd - #117

After showing lots of promise, the jack-of-all-trades Klecko never found a home for the Patriots. He was tried at NT, LB, FB and TE. He caught a TD pass against the Patriots while playing for the Colts, and was recently signed by the Eagles to play fullback.

Grade: D-

Asante Samuel - 4th Rd - #120

The Central Florida prospect had two great Superbowl seasons as a nickelback before assuming a starting role in 2005. He responded with Pro Bowl years in 2006 and 2007, leading the league in INT's over that span. Asante has moved on to greener pastures in Philadelphia.

Grade: A+

Dan Koppen - 5th Rd - #164

This BC graduate has manned the o-line increasingly well for the last 5 years, culminating in last year's virtuoso performance that led to Koppen's first visit to Hawaii. His solid line-calls and sneaky good technique have helped keep Tom Brady healthy. He (and the rest of the line) are going to be around for a while.

Grade: A

Kliff Kingsbury - 6th Rd - #201

The strong-armed Texas Tech graduate never developed into a dependable backup at the NFL level. After 2 years with the Patriots, he played with Saints, Jets, and Bills before heading up north. He was last traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from the Montreal Alouettes for fellow college standout, Iowa QB Brad Banks.

Grade: D-

Spencer Nead - 7th Rd - #234

A TE Prospect from BYU, Nead ended up playing for the Rams in 2003. That was his last year in the NFL.

Grade: F

Tully Banta-Cain - 7th Rd - #239

For such a low pick, TBC developed into a dependable backup OLB and situational pass-rusher. He signed a FA contract with the 49ers after the 2006 season.

Grade: B+

Ethan Kelley - 7th Rd - #243

This Baylor defensive lineman recorded 1 tackle for the Patriots in 2004, but has proven to be an adequate backup for the Browns, where he has accumulated 62 tackles and 2 sacks over the last 3 years.

Grade: D

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4-3 vs 3-4

When the Patriots are on the clock, there should be some pretty good options available to them. One of those could be the massive DT Glenn Dorsey from LSU. Bil Belichick and VP Pioli have always expressed the desire to pick the best player available, and Glenn could fit that description.

How Dorsey would mesh with our 3-4 defense is another question. Dorsey is more suited to playing in the 4-3. Let's take a look at our options if Dorsey is selected.

Stay with 3-4

Big Vince Wilfork tires out over the season, and even though Dorsey wouldn't be a natural fit at NT for the Patriots, he and Vince would make a heck of a platoon.

Switch to 4-3

Imagine being an AFC East QB or RB and seeing these four faces in front of you: Seymour, Wilfork, Dorsey, Warren. Nobody would rush on us, and our LB's would be fresher as the rotation would be down to three. Jarvis Green could sub in for Dorsey and then bring Seymour inside and move Green outside on passing downs.

Hybrid System

Bill was way ahead of the fad for Hybrids. He played 0-7, 1-6, 2-5, 3-4 and more against the Eagles in their Superbowl Victory. Imagine this lineup on running downs:

• Defensive Line: Seymour, Dorsey, Wilfork, Warren


• Linebackers: Thomas, Bruschi, Vrabel

And this lineup on passing downs:

• Defensive Line: Warren, Seymour, Green


• Vrabel, Bruschi, Seau/Nickelback, Thomas

Sounds fun and confusing to me! No matter who Belichick and Pioli decide on, look for some innovations with their new toy.

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New CB Impact

It isn't getting a whole lot of press, but the Fernando Bryant signing has a huge impact on the draft and season as a whole. Bryant is a solid corner who while he isn't known for making big plays, doesn't give them up either. He will struggle in the Red Zone against bigger, stronger receivers, but few corners don't.

Off the field, what Bryant brings is flexibility for the Patriots on draft day. Before Bryant, we only had one option for starting CB opposite Ellis Hobbs, and that was talented, but unproven, Brandon Merriweather. We no longer have to reach for a CB, and we can take a project like Cromartie without hurting our present. At this point, I think picking a CB at #7 would be out of the question.

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Top 8 Draft-Day Steals of the 21st Century

8. Adalius Thomas - LB - New England

The 6th round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2000, A.D. has made a name for himself with his athleticism and play-making.

7. Robert Mathis - DE - Indianapolis

A 5th round pick out of Alabama A&M, the slender Mathis has been a force for the Indy front seven, taking pressure off of Freeney and Co. on passing downs.

6. Dan Koppen - C - New England

The Patriots 5th round pick in 2003 has blossomed into a Pro-Bowl center. His line calls kept Tom Brady clean for 18/19 games last year.

5. Steve Smith - WR - Carolina

A 3rd round pick of the Panthers, when healthy, Smith has been a player that commands a double team on every down.

4. Asante Samuel - CB - New England

The 120th pick by the Patriots in the fourth round of 2003, Samuel broke out in 2006 with a league high 10 picks, and followed it up with a Pro-Bowl season in 2007.

3. Jared Allen - DE - Kansas City

The Chiefs second 4th round pick in 2004 has been terrorizing QB's ever since. After resolving off the field issues last season, the Pro-Bowl DE became a franchise player in 2007.

2. Antonio Gates - TE - San Diego

No football? No problem. The Chargers didn't even waste a pick to get Gates, who played basketball in college. Now that is efficiency for an elite tight end.

1. Tom Brady - QB - New England

198 players were better than this guy? I thank Mo Lewis every night for knocking Drew Bledsoe out of the game, and onto the bench.

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Top 10 Draft Busts of the 21st Century

Hopefully the Patriots don't join this list with their #7 Pick this year.

10. Peter Warrick - WR - Cincinatti Bengals

The #4 pick of the 2000 draft, Warrick currently owns an Applebees. End of story.

9. David Carr - QB - Houston Texans

The #1 pick in 2002 for the expansion Texans really didn't have a chance. He does hold some records about getting sacked alot though. Thats pretty cool.

8. Charles Rogers - WR - Detroit Lions

The #2 pick that started Matt Millens ill-fated obsession with WR's had a promising start derailed by injury and later by drug use.

7. Mike Williams - WR - Detroit Lions

The #10 pick was perhaps the biggest bust for the Lions ever. After not playing football for a while, lets say that his body grew while his game didn't. Big Mike is just big now.

6. Ahmad Carroll - CB - Green Bay

Although talented physically, Carroll couldn't understand the defense, let alone cover anyone. He is currently getting burned in the Arena League.

5. Alex Smith - QB - San Francisco

Lots of hype + Tom Condon + Mega Money + Bad Team = Big Bust.

4. Joey Harrington - QB - Detroit

I'm starting to think I should have just made a list of dumb things that Matt Millen has done.

3. Robert Gallery - OT - Iowa

The #2 pick for the Raiders never recaptured the dominant form he had for the Hawkeyes.

2. Maurice Clarett - RB - Denver Broncos

The only non-first round pick on this list, he is also the only pick to get cut for "getting his Goose on". Mike Shanahan can't turn every RB into a pro-bowler.

1. Pacman Jones - CB - Tennessee

As the 6th pick of the draft, may never play again for the Titans. He had more arrests than picks. End of story.

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Vernon Gholston is a bad man.

If you watched the video, you can plainly see that Vernon Gholston is a bad man. With the impressive numbers he put up at the combine, and the even better numbers he put up at his pro day, scouts and fans have been drooling all over the big 5-0. Explosive, fast, and strong, he really has all the tools. His versatility and nastiness would also translate well to the Patriots system and locker room.

Whats being lost here, is that he is an absolute terror on the field. The consensus #1 OT in the draft, Jake Long, got abused by Gholston whenever they were matched up. Gholston got into his pads all day Long, and Gholston got under Long's shoulder off the edge on more than one occassion. Projecting to a rush 4-3 end or a 3-4 OLB in the NFL, Gholston would be a steal for the Patriots at #7 and could easily go as high as #4.

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Tom Brady's Cap Number

As of March 6th, the Patriots were 10.8 million dollars under the cap. After signing rookies, there won't be much room for flexibility. Many pundits have stated that to free up some cash for flexibility, the easiest way would be to extend or modify Tom Brady's deal. Let's check to see if that is feasible at this time.

In 2008 and 2009, Brady is due 5 million in base salary, 6.6 million in pro-rated signing bonuses, and a 3 million dollar roster bonus. This makes for a staggering cap number of 14.6 million dollars. An extension (to create cap space anyway) at this point is out of the question, unless it would be extremely creative. The Patriots can't do anything about the 6.6 million dollars that will be on Tom's cap number the next two years. If they added another pro-rated bonus, plus even a minimum salary, we're right back where we started.

Modifying the existing deal is a little more interesting. The Patriots could convert approximately 4 million dollars of Brady's 2008 salary into a signing bonus, which would be prorated over the next 3 years. This would save 2.7 million dollars for this year, but add a little over a million dollars to the next two years.

If we're in a jam near the end of Week 12, look for Pioli and Brady to come together on a modification to free up some room.

Check out who the Patriots will Draft in 2009!

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Updated Mock Draft

Check out the Patriots Draft Mock Draft. Updated 3/16

Mock Draft 1.2

• Little Changing at the Top


• OT love?


• Brohm out, Cason in

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PacMan the Patriot?

According to the Nashville Tennessean the New England Patriots are interested in acquiring the oft-arrested Pacman Jones to fill the void created by Asante Samuels' departure to the city of brotherly love.

1. Corey Dillon - Check


2. Randy Moss - Check


3. Pacman Jones - Bring him on!

With Bruschi, Harrison, Thomas, Brady, and Moss around, Mr. Make-it-rain might toe the line. We definitely could use his on the field talent at the CB position. This should be interesting as it unfolds.

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Pats v Colts - Cap Style

1. Tom Brady - 14.6 million


2. Richard Seymour - 6.8 million


3. Randy Moss - 6.0 million


4. Adalius Thomas - 5.4 million


5. Matt Light - 5.0 million


6. Ty Warren - 4.3 million


7. Mike Vrabel - 3.8 million


8. Wes Welker - 3.7 million


9. Kevin Faulk - 3.5 million


10. Jarvis Green - 3.3 million

As you can see the Patriots have commited just over $56 million dollars in cap room to their top 10 players. Leaving around $63 million in adjusted cap room to fill out the remainin pieces of our roster. Now take a look at the Colts:

1. Peyton Manning - 17.8 million


2. Marvin Harrison - 12.0 million


3. Bob Sanders - 8.2 million


4. Reggie Wayne - 6.7 million


5. Robert Mathis - 6.6 million


6. Ryan Diem - 6.3 million


7. Dwight Freeney - 5.8 million


8. Jeff Saturday - 5.2 million


9. Raheem Brock - 4.7 million


10. Dallas Clark - 3.0 million

They have committed over $76 million in cap room, leaving them $47 million dollars in adjusted cap room. (the Colts have $123 million compared to the $119 million for the Pats)

This really shows how the Patriots strive to have the best guys in the 30-53 man positions on their team, while teams like the Colts go more top-heavy with starting talent. Which way works better? We shall see in about 8 or 9 months.

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We'll Miss You.

Troy Brown is going elsewhere next year, and the man is still such a Patriot that he won't sign with a team that is scheduled to play against his former team. Troy, as Randy Moss himself said, "Randy Moss is the 2nd best WR from Marshall." Good luck in the future Troy, you were a true Patriot, on and off the field.

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Possible Trade Partners

New England has never loved committing tons of money to unproven talent. Don't expect this year to be any different.

-

The Patriots have a lot of holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball and may be looking to trade down to increase their depth and playmaking ability at such key positions as ILB and CB.

Who might some teams be that would logical to swap with?

Dallas Cowboys (#22, #28, #59, #92)

The Cowboys covet Darren McFadden, Jerry Jones had made no secret about that. If he makes it to #7, expect the Cowboys to come calling. An offer of the 22nd, 59th, and 92nd picks would fall short on the points scale, but the Patriots are hardly beholden unto that. The #22 and #28 picks, along with the #92 would get it done in my opinion.

Cincinatti Bengals (#9, #46)

Provided that the Jets and Patriots pass on cornerbacks, the Bengals may choose to jump ahead of the Ravens and snag the #1 CB on their board. A swap of 1st (#7 for #9) and 2nd rounders (#62 for #46) would probably do it.

Carolina Panthers (#13, #43)

The Panthers may be looking for a franchise QB. So are the Ravens. If Matt Ryan is on the board at #7, the Panthers might give up their 2nd rounder to go get him before Baltimore can.

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2nd Round Options for the Patriots

The first round gets all the hype, but champions are built in the 2nd - 7th round. The Patriots have had amazing skill in 1st round picks, having no busts (injuries exlcuded) since 1992 and Eugene Chung.

We haven't had the best track record with 2nd round picks lately, as Eugene Wilson (one great season notwithstanding) , Chad Jackson, Bethel Johnson, and others come to mind. Of course Matt Light and Deion Branch were right before them, so maybe we just hit a tough stretch.

Due to this year's depth, we will have some impressive talent available to us when we use the 62nd pick in draft.

Chris Johnson - RB - East Carolina

This guy can burn. As we saw last year, having a healthy RB is essential to opening up the passing game on a consistent basis. Our line can block and the speedy Johnson should be able to be a great change of pace in the future.

Curtis Lofton - ILB - Oklahoma

Lofton may not fit the perfect mold of a Patriots linebacker, but he is a good tackler that would bring solid depth to a thin position.

Andre Caldwell - WR - Florida

His eyes aren't as big as brother Reche's, but his game may be bigger already. He put up some nice numbers in the swamp, and Urban Meyer and Bill have a mutual admiration society going on.

Brandon Flowers - CB - Virginia Tech

With Asante Samuel and Randall Gay bolting for GREENer pastures, the Patriots will be looking for help in the secondary. Flowers is a guy who could blossom in the right system.

Charles Godfrey - CB - Iowa

This guy is a player. Having watched him in person over the last 4 years, I can say that he reminds me of a young Asante Samuel. He breaks on the ball really well and shows good tackling instincts. Coach Kirk Ferentz and Bill Belichick go way back.

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WR Situation - Are we set?

There has been a lot of talk about the Patriots receiving corps over the last 12 months. The addition of Welker, Moss, and Stallworth took Brady & Co. to new heights.

Now with Stallworth gone, and Jabar Gaffney, Kelley Washington, and Chad Jackson fighting for the #2 receiver position, I'm a might bit nervous. Jabar has had two good seasons for the Patriots now, but I'm just not sure he can open up space for thee Wes Welker like the speedy Stallworth once did.

I think it would be wise to spend one of our two 3rd Round picks (#69 and #94) on a wideout like VTech WR Eddie Royal or Ex-Patriot Reche Caldwell's brother Andre Caldwell from Florida.

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Uncapped Season Good for Pats?

The possibility of an uncapped season in 2010 has been steadily growing over the last few weeks. According to ESPN's Lester Munson the owners feel like they gave up too much in the 2006 bargain and wish to get back some of the revenue they are spending. If the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is allowed to expire, the last year of the deal will be uncapped -- the first uncapped season since 1993.

The Patriots--as well as the Giants, Redskins, and Cowboys--seem to be in a great position to take advantage of the situation. Our pockets are much deeper than the Jaguars, Bills, Titans, and Vikings. High dollar 1-year deals would be the norm in a time when only the present matters, and similar to baseball, the best teams would only get better. The owners and players wouldn't know what the next CBA would bring, so nobody would want to get locked into a bad deal.

Here's to labor peace preserving the competitive balance in the NFL.

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Patriots Cap Strategy

With the Gaffney, Williams, and Webster signings, the Pats Free Agency moves may have come to a a close.

According to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, the Pats are approximately 10.8 million dollars under the Salary Cap, with 58 players signed. With the rookie cap projected for us at around 6-7 million dollars, it doesn't seem like we'll be major players the rest of the way in Free Agency. If we can get out of the #7 Pick however, that could free up some cash to get another role player or ILB.

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Updated Mock Draft

Check out the Patrios Draft Mock Draft - Updated 3/11


Mock Draft 1.1

• Gholston to the Pats?
  

• Impact of the Julius Jones Signing

• Changes at the Top

• Is Al Davis nuts?

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Possible Pats Pickups?

A few Free Agents that someone NEEDS to pick up.

Roosevelt Colvin - OLB
After his devestating hip injury a few years back, Colvin never regained his dynamic form for the Patriots. He is still a good OLB, just not the force he once was for the Bears and Pats. Rosie would be a fine stop-gap until next year if he will re-sign for less.

DJ Hackett - WR
How is Berrian sitting with $ and my man DJ sitting unsigned. I had Randy Moss as the only WR ranked higher than Mr. Hackett. When healthy, he is a great WR. Would be a good fit outside with Welker inside.

Bryant Johnson - WR
Having played behind Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, Johnson hasn't had time to shine. If he doesn't mind playing 3rd fiddle again, the Pats would take him

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NFL Team-By-Team Salary Cap

This is how much each NFL team can spend in 2008.

Due to credits/charges from LBTE and NLTBE incentives, each team has a different Salary Cap for 2008.

Minnesota $135,161,577
Philadelphia $130,816,449
Tampa Bay $130,035,634
Buffalo $129,442,009
Cleveland $129,362,503
Jacksonville $128,649,898
Kansas City $128,387,373
Green Bay $126,159,581
Carolina $125,655,802
New Orleans $124,746,003
Seattle $124,115,108
Indianapolis $123,230,115
Tennessee $122,220,147
N.Y. Jets $121,781,789
Oakland $121,069,722
Miami $120,673,997
New England $119,325,078
Baltimore $119,261,265
San Francisco $119,039,787
Washington $118,550,260
Dallas $117,727,443
Chicago $117,455,231
Denver $117,389,000
St. Louis $117,361,320
Arizona $116,729,000
Cincinnati $116,729,000
Atlanta $116,378,426
San Diego $116,131,353
Pittsburgh $114,818,226
Houston $114,521,131
N.Y. Giants $113,632,488
Detroit $111,380,935

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