Patriots - Inside Slant

DRAFT STRATEGY

Thanks to a trade last year on draft day, the Patriots have San Francisco’s first-round selection, the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft. The Patriots will be looking to add an impact player with their top 10 pick but if history is any indicator, the team will also find talented contributors throughout the draft.

Many believe the Patriots will look to trade down from the seventh spot and with the money New England would have to pay a player selected in the top 10, move down is a distinct possibility. But if they do stay at seven, there are a lot of talented options the Patriots will have to choose from.

The two areas of greatest need for the Patriots are linebacker and cornerback. There is one player in particular, Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston (6-4, 266), who will be hard to pass up if he’s available when New England is on the clock.

Gholston, who played defensive end at Ohio State, would be making the switch to outside linebacker in New England’s 3-4 defensive scheme. A lightning-quick pass rusher off the edge, the physically imposing Gholston dazzled scouts with an impressive performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. That showing has Gholston shooting up draft boards to the point where he could now be long gone when the Patriots select.

Gholston recorded 22.5 sacks during his two years as a starter for the Buckeyes. Even more impressive were the four sacks he racked up against Michigan’s Jake Long, the potential top pick in this year’s draft. Gholston terrorized Long in their two meetings, constantly beating him off the ball with his explosive speed. An athlete like Gholston with tremendous upside would be a big boost to the Patriots’ defense.

Another possibility at linebacker is versatile Southern California product Keith Rivers (6-2, 240). While he played primarily on the outside for the Trojans, Rivers possesses the size and athleticism to make the move to inside linebacker with the Patriots. Rivers has the speed New England currently lacks at inside linebacker. Another positive with Rivers is he played in Pete Carroll’s multiple-front defense at USC, which is a rare commodity among college linebackers these days.

It’s debatable whether a cornerback warrants being selected with the seventh selection. However, if New England does trade down, there are a lot of first-round caliber options at that position. The team has shown interest in Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (6-1, 184), Troy’s Leodis McKelvin (5-10, 190) and Arizona’s Antoine Cason (6-0, 190).

Rodgers-Cromartie was one of the stars at the Scouting Combine after blazing a 4.33 40-yard dash. An amazing athlete with a long frame and great ball skills, Rodgers-Cromartie has all the physical tools teams look for in a cornerback. The main concern is Rodgers-Cromartie played against a lower level of competition in college and didn’t always dominate. “DRC” is still raw and needs to add some strength to his lanky frame but there’s no doubt that he offers a lot of upside.

McKelvin is not only one of the premium corners in this draft, he’s also a dynamic return man, which adds to his overall value. McKelvin averaged 13.1 yards on kickoff returns and 23.7 yards on punt returns with eight touchdowns over his college career. Like Rodgers-Cromartie, McKelvin is a tremendous athlete but still needs to work on his technique and footwork if he’s going to be an elite NFL corner.

The most NFL-ready of the corners could be Cason. A four-year starter at Arizona, Cason was one of college football’s premier corners over that span. A smart player with tremendous instincts, Cason had 32 pass breakups and 15 interceptions in college. His combination of intelligence, toughness and production makes Cason a definite possibility to become a Patriot on draft day if they trade down in the first round.

Another option at seven is defensive tackle. While it’s not a position of need for the Patriots with Pro Bowler Vince Wilfork manning the nose, there are two blue-chip prospects at tackle in this draft, USC’s Sedrick Ellis (6-0, 309) and LSU’s Glenn Dorsey (6-1, 297). Both players would have to be considered by the Patriots at seven if they are still on the board because getting either Ellis or Dorsey at seven would represent great value. Plus, with Wilfork’s contract up in 2009, he’ll be looking for a lucrative long-term deal so adding some quality depth at the position may not be a bad idea.

Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashard Mendenhall could also be available when the Patriots are on the clock but it’s unlikely that New England will go in that direction. With Laurence Maroney coming on late last year and Sammy Morris playing well before he was injured, it seems unlikely that the Patriots would invest that kind of money into the running back position. More than likely, McFadden and Mendenhall could be used by New England to help trade down with a team looking to grab an elite running back.

The second round of the draft offers a lot of possibilities, especially at inside linebacker and tight end. One player to keep a close eye on is Notre Dame’s John Carlson (6-4, 255). Carlson was considered a possible first-round selection before running poorly at the combine. He’s been slipping down draft boards but would represent solid value at the end of the second round. Plus, with Benjamin Watson coming back from ankle surgery and Kyle Brady being released, tight end is once again a position of need.

Carlson is a smart player with soft hands. He’s also an above-average blocker, which could attract him to the Patriots. Plus, Belichick’s relationship with Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis will allow the Patriots to get an accurate scouting report on Carlson.

There will be a number of inside linebackers available for the Patriots when they select in the second round. Oklahoma’s Curtis Lofton (6-0, 246) would be a player of interest. He started the first 10 games of his senior season at strong-side outside linebacker before moving inside for the Sooners’ final four contests, so Lofton certainly possesses the flexibility Belichick looks for in a linebacker.

From the third round to the end of the draft, the Patriots are searching for depth at virtually every position, including backup quarterback, the one area at which New England needs a major upgrade.

A quarterback to keep an eye on is Hawaii’s Colt Brennan. The Patriots are said to really like the all-time leading passer in Division I history and he should be around in the late rounds due to a poor performance at the Senior Bowl. Brennan also has the stigma of playing in a pass-happy, shotgun offense in college but he’s known for his intelligence and accuracy. With proper coaching, Brennan could be groomed to be a solid NFL backup, something New England sorely lacks at the moment.

Other positions the Patriots could be looking to address on the second day of the draft include linebacker, offensive line, running back, tight end and defensive tackle. If New England is looking for a linebacker in the middle rounds, two players who might fit are UNLV’s Beau Bell (6-1, 244) and Vanderbilt’s Jonathan Goff (6-2, 245).

Bell could be intriguing to New England because UNLV is currently one of only three teams that run the 3-4 as its base defense at the collegiate level. Not only does Bell have experience in the 3-4, he’s also played both inside and outside linebacker, something that’s sure to draw the Patriots’ interest.

Goff will probably slip to the middle rounds of the draft because his lack of straight-line speed may relegate Goff to a two-down linebacker role in the NFL. But since Belichick likes to use a lot of different personnel groupings on defense, a player like Goff has more value to New England as a two-down run-stuffer than he would to other teams that employ different defensive schemes.

At running back, California’s Justin Forsett (5-8, 194) and Southern California’s Chauncey Washington (5-11, 212) were two productive college runners who bring versatility and toughness to the table.

Forsett is projected to go somewhere in the fifth-round area and, while he may not have the size to be an every-down back at the NFL level, Forsett is a great blocker and receiver out of the backfield in the Kevin Faulk mold. With Faulk getting up there in age, Forsett can be groomed to be his replacement as the Patriots’ third-down back.

Washington is a tough inside runner who breaks a lot of tackles. He’s particularly effective near the goal line, having scored 19 touchdowns for the Trojans over the last two seasons. Washington was talented enough to start at USC and is the type of player the Patriots usually target later in the draft.

While the Patriots will probably pass on one of the blue-chip defensive tackles early on in the draft because of the money they already have invested in the defensive line, they could target one later to add more depth behind Wilfork. Texas’ Frank Okam (6-4, 347) and Fresno State’s Jason Shirley (6-5, 330) are two prospects that have the size and flexibility to play inside on New England’s defensive front.

Notes, Quotes

• The Patriots visited with free-agent punter Mitch Berger. The 35-year-old Berger entered the league in 1994. He punted in five games for the Cardinals last season.

• WR Randy Moss has signed on to become a top pitchman for Pony, which will unveil a new line of Moss branded gear in August.

“I get approached to endorse a ton of stuff each year that really doesn’t mesh with who I am or what is important in my life; this agreement with Pony lets me help to give back and help the next wave of young players coming up,” Moss said. “I really appreciated the way Pony presented their concepts for my signature brand and wanted to make a great performance line of clothes and shoes for the serious competitor to the weekend warrior.”

• Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi hosted runners from “Tedy’s Team” today at Gillette Stadium. The runners, who are set to conquer the Boston Marathon course later this month, are helping raise awareness and funds for the American Stroke Association.

Quote To Note: “The two main reasons for bringing a player in are: No. 1, for a physical examination and No. 2 just to spend more time with the player and that’s sometimes based on … We’ve had a number of players in from the west coast. We usually always do that. It’s hard to get to all the players on the west coast for us, between myself and Scott Pioli and Nick (Caserio) and the scouts that scout out there. It’s easier to do that.”—Bill Belichick on bringing in players for a pre-draft visit.

Strategy And Personnel

Franchise Player: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

• WR Troy Brown played just one game in his 15th season after starting the year on PUP. He may retire, but if he doesn’t the team told him that he’s not in its plans moving forward.

• S Mel Mitchell played in 10 games and is a core special teams-type guy. He might choose to go elsewhere as New England only has room for so many one-dimensional special teamers.

• CB Chad Scott didn’t make it through training camp and has been hurt often. He’s a solid veteran backup and could be back with the team in the market for corner depth.

• LB Junior Seau was expected to get his first Super Bowl ring and retire. The Giants messed that little story up. He was healthy all year and made plays. If he doesn’t retire after his 18th season, the only place he’ll be playing is in New England.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

• LB Eric Alexander is a decent though injury prone special teamer although he’s yet to show anything on defense, other than of course his still inexplicable start in the 2006 AFC title loss in Indianapolis.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

• WR Sam Aiken: UFA Bills; $1.555M/2 yrs, $225,000 SB/$40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $757,500.

• CB Fernando Bryant: FA Lions; $776,000/1 yr, $20,000 SB/$20,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• LB Victor Hobson: UFA Jets; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $485,000.

• CB Lewis Sanders: FA Falcons; $770,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• LB T.J. Slaughter: FA; $730,000/1 yr.

• CB Jason Webster: UFA Bills; $800,000/1 yr, $130,000 guaranteed/$70,000 WO.

• S Tank Williams: UFA Vikings; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

• T Wesley Britt: ERFA; terms unknown.

• LB Tedy Bruschi: Potential UFA; $4.1M/2 yrs, $1.2M SB; 2008 cap: $1.6M.

• WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA; $1.281M/1 yr, $500,000 SB/$75,000 WO.

• LB Larry Izzo: Potential UFA; $870,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: 485,000.

• WR Randy Moss: UFA; $27M/3 yrs, $12M SB/$3M base guarantee; 2008 cap: $6M.

• LS Lonie Paxton: UFA; $880,000/1 yr, $150,000 SB.

• S Ray Ventrone: ERFA; $370,000/1 yr.

• WR Kelley Washington: UFA; $1.855M/2 yrs, $450,000 SB; 2008: $830,000.

• LB Pierre Woods: ERFA; terms unknown.

• DL Mike Wright: RFA; terms unknown (tendered at $1.47M).

PLAYERS LOST

• TE Kyle Brady (released/failed physical).

• LB Rosevelt Colvin (released/failed physical).

• CB Randall Gay: UFA Saints; $12M/4 yrs, $3.75M SB.

• DL Rashad Moore: Not tendered as RFA/Falcons; terms unknown.

• CB Asante Samuel: UFA Eagles; $59.475M/6 yrs, $6M SB/$7M RB 08-09.

• WR Donte Stallworth: UFA Browns; $35M/7 yrs, $10M guaranteed.

• DB Eugene Wilson: UFA Buccaneers; $1.8M/1 yr, $500,000 guaranteed.