2023 Draft Fits

Auger34

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Rumors officially coming out about Darnell Wright and character concerns. I’ll just leave it as I’m not surprised.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he were off several teams boards too.
That really sucks.

I was literally coming here to talk about how you were the first person I saw that was really high on him and it seemed like Everyone else was coming around and he looked like a sure fire top 25 pick….he was also who I wanted the Bucs to take.

Disappointing but we will see how it all works out
 

SMU_Sox

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Love the detailed Pats fits, just curious why no mention of BJ Ojulari at all even as an HM? I was really impressed by his tape vs. Brod Jones and he seems to have the polish to start day 1. Is he just not a good fit for NE scheme wise?
Shit - I forgot him! Thank you! I have him on the board as a 4/5 I just skipped him over.
 

SMU_Sox

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Love the detailed Pats fits, just curious why no mention of BJ Ojulari at all even as an HM? I was really impressed by his tape vs. Brod Jones and he seems to have the polish to start day 1. Is he just not a good fit for NE scheme wise?
He is now added to the sheet.
 

j44thor

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Good stuff, thanks again for all the work you put into it.
Will make the draft that much more exciting.
 

BaseballJones

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I've heard on the radio (which is dumb of me) that the Pats may go crazy and draft Bijan Robinson in the first round. He's obviously electric, but if the Pats are interested in a running back, the guy I want is Sean Tucker from Syracuse. He's the 16th ranked RB in this draft according to cbssports.com. So he'd be a 4th or 5th rounder maybe. Sub 4.4 speed according to reports of his workouts (he was unable to run at the combine). You see his explosiveness in game tape. He's an ok pass catcher and an average blocker in pass pro (at best) so those areas would need to be shored up. But this guy is a home run hitter at the RB position and they can almost certainly add him later in the draft.
 

rodderick

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If the Patriots are going to draft for talent over need, they better do it with an edge rusher. Bijan in the first would be horrible, he's a very similar player to Rhamondre and those guys splitting snaps would be monumentally stupid. Wouldn't get the best out of either of them.
 

ehaz

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One day out. You can pick anyone at #14 except for the four QBs and the three obvious guys (Tyree Wilson, Will Anderson, Jalen Carter). Who do you take?

You could probably include Christian Gonzalez among the obvious non-QBs that will be off the board, but assuming he's available I think that's my pick. If not Gonzalez, I think I'm actually leaning Nolan Smith now? He seems to me the best combination of talent and premium position that could be available. Clearly an insane athlete, played at Georgia, you can never have enough pass rushing talent, and he is reportedly the polar opposite of Jalen Carter in terms of work-ethic/character concerns.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Just to revisit what I posted above, here's an ESPN article talking about reporters speculating about who the Pats could take (Robinson):

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2023/story/_/id/36279707/mock-draft-2023-nfl-nation-first-round-predictions

14. New England Patriots
Mike Reiss' pick: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

No need to overthink it. The Patriots need more blue-chip players, and Robinson, by all accounts, is one. There is no question if he played a more premium position, he wouldn't be available at this point. Having Rhamondre Stevenson and Robinson as a one-two backfield punch -- and even playing at the same time, given Robinson's standing as an elite pass-catcher (no drops in 2022) -- forms a foundation with which the offense can start to think about keeping up with the Bills, Bengals and Chiefs in the AFC.
 

P'tucket rhymes with...

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Just to revisit what I posted above, here's an ESPN article talking about reporters speculating about who the Pats could take (Robinson):

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2023/story/_/id/36279707/mock-draft-2023-nfl-nation-first-round-predictions

14. New England Patriots
Mike Reiss' pick: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

No need to overthink it. The Patriots need more blue-chip players, and Robinson, by all accounts, is one. There is no question if he played a more premium position, he wouldn't be available at this point. Having Rhamondre Stevenson and Robinson as a one-two backfield punch -- and even playing at the same time, given Robinson's standing as an elite pass-catcher (no drops in 2022) -- forms a foundation with which the offense can start to think about keeping up with the Bills, Bengals and Chiefs in the AFC.
I've seen Robinson to the Pats in at least four mocks over the past week or so, so they're definitely not taking him.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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I've seen Robinson to the Pats in at least four mocks over the past week or so, so they're definitely not taking him.
Ha... I hope you're right. But it may at least indicate that maybe the Pats are thinking about taking a RB in this draft somewhere, and that's why I mentioned I hope that if they do, they take Sean Tucker.
 

j44thor

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Vegas odds have Bijan going to ATL at #8 and it isn't close. Doubt he makes it to 14.
 

Ed Hillel

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Here's my...prediction. Will Leavis. He won't make it to 14. Nor will he make it to 3...

Also predict talk radio will be booming.
 

Garshaparra

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I think the Pats will draft for need and still get a tremendous player. The lure of cheap QB, EDGE and WR will leave at least one top pick at a position of need: OT, CB or S. My guess is the top safety will drop, and we'll hear Brian Branch's name, delivered to the podium by Devin McCourty.
 

jmanny24

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Here's my...prediction. Will Leavis. He won't make it to 14. Nor will he make it to 3...

Also predict talk radio will be booming.
Is that based on things you're hearing? I wouldn't mind Robinson, they need playmakers and he is one.
 

j44thor

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If we are making predictions I'll take NE trades back and takes either Zay Flowers or Dalton Kincaid and a defensive player rd 2.
 

Jimbodandy

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If we are making predictions I'll take NE trades back and takes either Zay Flowers or Dalton Kincaid and a defensive player rd 2.
I don't think that there's any way that Kincaid lasts that long, but would love either him or Flowers and a defensive back out of the first two rounds.
 

jmanny24

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I don't think that there's any way that Kincaid lasts that long, but would love either him or Flowers and a defensive back out of the first two rounds.
I agree if they went WR (or Kincaid) and grabbed someone like Brents in rd 2 I'd be happy
 

Dogman

Yukon Cornelius
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Here's my...prediction. Will Leavis. He won't make it to 14. Nor will he make it to 3...

Also predict talk radio will be booming.
I mean, I read Twitter too. This is laughable.

The rumor: Pats trade #14, a 4th, a 1st next year and Mac Jones to Houston for the #2 and take Levis.
 

Cellar-Door

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I don't think that there's any way that Kincaid lasts that long, but would love either him or Flowers and a defensive back out of the first two rounds.
Kincaid is tough to peg, he could go top 15, but I also would not be shocked if he's there in the late 20s. I think OT/CB are going to fly off the boards, with Kincaid you're then looking at who teams like in the group of: JSN, Flowers, Addison, Kincaid, Mayer, Johnston.

Figure 4 QBs are going top 10, the 3 DL that's 7 of the 10. Then the rest of the top 15 you're looking at 8 spots among the 3-4 OL, 2-3 CBs, 2-3 more Edge guys, maybe a S, maybe Hooker?, plus that group of passcatchers I noted. That's 18 guys, if Kincaid is towards the bottom of that you're mid-20s. And that doesn't even include suprises

Edit- and I forgot one of the best RB prospects in years and some DTs. This year is going to be wildly unpredictable outside the top 5 or so (and in that type 5 what teams will be interesting, but player-wise it's probably 3 QBs and Anderson.
 

j44thor

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I mean, I read Twitter too. This is laughable.

The rumor: Pats trade #14, a 4th, a 1st next year and Mac Jones to Houston for the #2 and take Levis.
I don't think there is a chance in hell this happens. That would be worth calling for Bill to be fired. Levis is the next Sam Darnold but coming out at an older age.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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What's funny is that I will be equally upset if either the Patriots or the Jets draft him.
Or the Bills. If they had this guy at RB…. Holy crap their offense would be absurd. But they’re probably too far back in the draft. But still….
 

MannyRam

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If we are making predictions I'll take NE trades back and takes either Zay Flowers or Dalton Kincaid and a defensive player rd 2.
Agree a trade down is happening. Please let it be Darnell Wright in the 20's, Jack Campbell in the early 2nd. There's a whole lot of needs on this team but this would be a great start. TE is deep enough to grab one later. IMO, the Levis and Bijan interest are smokescreens
 

Dogman

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Agree a trade down is happening. Please let it be Darnell Wright in the 20's, Jack Campbell in the early 2nd. There's a whole lot of needs on this team but this would be a great start. TE is deep enough to grab one later. IMO, the Levis and Bijan interest are smokescreens
This is largely where I am. Trade down to the 20s, pick up another 2nd and a 5th, take OT first. Then Campbell, then a WR/TE/Edge.
 

Justthetippett

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Aug 9, 2015
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This is largely where I am. Trade down to the 20s, pick up another 2nd and a 5th, take OT first. Then Campbell, then a WR/TE/Edge.
They could probably hit the second wave of OTs if they did this. Jones, Harrison, maybe Wright if he gets dinged on the work ethic reports. They'll need to go DB somewhere in the first few rounds I would think.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Not knowing shit from shinola about the potential any of these prospects, I think that I would like to trade down as I'm typically of the mindset "the more lottery tickets, the better". That said, I think we have to keep in mind that trading isn't a unilateral decision -- some other team has to be willing to trade (and at a cost that you find acceptable). I bet there have been lots of times that BB has wanted to trade down but couldn't.
 

j44thor

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Agree a trade down is happening. Please let it be Darnell Wright in the 20's, Jack Campbell in the early 2nd. There's a whole lot of needs on this team but this would be a great start. TE is deep enough to grab one later. IMO, the Levis and Bijan interest are smokescreens
I think they are out on Wright, they have been connected to every top OT except for Wright, they have had meetings with Paris Johnson, multiple meetings with Brod Jones, met with Anton Harrison, Mauch, and Steen for a later round pick. I agree with SMU that there is too much Wynn in Wright to risk where he is going to go. I don't think Levis is a smokescreen, I think they brought him in to do some advanced scouting assuming he goes to IND. He wasn't going to be there at 14 and probably isn't as good as Mac Jones regardless. I do think there is legit interest in Bijan as he is arguably the safest pick in this draft class and NE isn't going to win an arms race in the AFC regardless so switching to a ball control plus strong D type of team might be their best chance at competing.

Only player I hope they would consider trading up for is Richardson. He is the ultimate boom/bust prospect in this draft and arguably the only true difference maker on offense. If he doesn't work out at QB he might be the best move TE in the NFL in 3yrs, kidding but not really.
 

SMU_Sox

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I don’t think you can win with running and ball control. You would have to have such an elite defense and when they’ve faced the top offenses they were relatively average last year. They feasted on rookie and bad QBs. They have a good defense but you need to be able to throw the ball well to win period. Taking Bijan when you need so many critical positions next year and have Rham until 2024 to me would be mismanagement. You can get a really good RB this year later. If they had their OL and pass catchers and defense set for the next couple of years and had stars there I’d be fine with Bijan. They don’t have the roster right now to burn a top pick on an RB at the top.
 

SMU_Sox

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You have to at least try to upgrade your passing attack or pass protection. They have two pass catchers on the roster for 2024: Thornton and Juju. No TEs. No OTs either! Solve some of those holes before you go RB. And you never know. A really good WR2 would make a difference to this team!
 

ehaz

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I mean, I read Twitter too. This is laughable.

The rumor: Pats trade #14, a 4th, a 1st next year and Mac Jones to Houston for the #2 and take Levis.
The rumor is obviously bullshit but just out of curiousity--would anyone here pull the trigger on that same trade if they were instead taking Stroud or Richardson?

For reference, #1 just went for: #9, #61, 2024 1st, 2025 2nd, and DJ Moore.
 

Cellar-Door

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Not sure where the exact Levis trade
The rumor is obviously bullshit but just out of curiousity--would anyone here pull the trigger on that same trade if they were instead taking Stroud or Richardson?

For reference, #1 just went for: #9, #61, 2024 1st, 2025 2nd, and DJ Moore.
My general take is that whomever it is, if you think he has a reasonable chance to be a truly elite QB you make the move. I only really see that in Richardson, but I will freely admit the guys who are making that decision for the Patriots have a much better idea which of those QBs can do what and where they think they can develop. It's high risk in some ways, but also, the best way to consistently win (especially going forward in a stacked AFC) is to get an elite QB.
 

j44thor

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The rumor is obviously bullshit but just out of curiousity--would anyone here pull the trigger on that same trade if they were instead taking Stroud or Richardson?

For reference, #1 just went for: #9, #61, 2024 1st, 2025 2nd, and DJ Moore.
I would not trade a 24 #1 for anyone in this years draft. The top 2 QBs next year, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, would likely be 1/2 this year. Not to mention Marvin Harrison Jr. is probably the WR1 this draft class if he was eligible. The AFC East is too tough to risk a potentially high 24 draft pick.
 

OldeBeanTowne

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I don’t think you can win with running and ball control. You would have to have such an elite defense and when they’ve faced the top offenses they were relatively average last year. They feasted on rookie and bad QBs. They have a good defense but you need to be able to throw the ball well to win period. Taking Bijan when you need so many critical positions next year and have Rham until 2024 to me would be mismanagement. You can get a really good RB this year later. If they had their OL and pass catchers and defense set for the next couple of years and had stars there I’d be fine with Bijan. They don’t have the roster right now to burn a top pick on an RB at the top.
This is where I finally returned to after mock drafting Bijan several times in the first. I got taken in by the superlatives and he certainly will have a good chance to be one of the handful of true difference makers next year wherever he ends up, but the Pats' needs are too great in other areas to have the luxury. Hopefully, he's there when they are on the clock and someone overpays to move up.
 

j44thor

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I don’t think you can win with running and ball control. You would have to have such an elite defense and when they’ve faced the top offenses they were relatively average last year. They feasted on rookie and bad QBs. They have a good defense but you need to be able to throw the ball well to win period. Taking Bijan when you need so many critical positions next year and have Rham until 2024 to me would be mismanagement. You can get a really good RB this year later. If they had their OL and pass catchers and defense set for the next couple of years and had stars there I’d be fine with Bijan. They don’t have the roster right now to burn a top pick on an RB at the top.
I've heard Bijan considered a top 5 receiver this year though so the thought would be you could line up both Bijan and Rham in the backfield and have both multiple pass and run options out of that set. There is simply no way for NE to come close to the skill positions of BUF/MIA/NYJ even if they drafted perfectly this draft. That being the case I think they need to think outside the box if they want to compete this year. Draft a Bijan and a Mingo or Downs and you can play some keep away. Reduce the number of possessions and increase the importance of turn overs and flukiness. Mac should be a serviceable game manager at worst and Jimmy G at at best. If you can't land a Richardson then I think you need to focus on his strengths which is the short and intermediate quick passing game vs. trying to create a high powered offense which they simply don't have the horses for.
 

JM3

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I mean, I read Twitter too. This is laughable.

The rumor: Pats trade #14, a 4th, a 1st next year and Mac Jones to Houston for the #2 and take Levis.
Solak has been pushing this narrative on a couple Ringer podcasts, too.

Wonder if BB is doing Caserio a solid & helping him drum up interest in the pick since the Texans have no interest in Stroud.

I would like it if they monitored the ARich situation & be ready to trade up a bit to get him if necessary, but they didn't do that on Fields so I'm not optimistic.

Going to go with a Druckenmiller comp on Levis.