With the NFL Draft about a month away, the NFL has turned to scouting college players, planning visits with prospects to try and determine what they want to do with their picks. With so much of the draft unknown, and the fact that they have a late-round pick at 29, the Patriots need to have multiple options to go to.
The team has filled many needs in free agency with signings that include cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, wide receiver Brandon LaFell, as well as retaining their own players in Julian Edelman and Vince Wilfork. The draft can be used by the Patriots to finish off their roster in hopes of attaining their fourth Lombardi Trophy.
One option that the Patriots are known to do is trade out of the first round all together. Head coach Bill Belichick ended up trading out of the first round last year, which helped the team acquire linebacker Jamie Collins, cornerback Logan Ryan and eventually get running back LeGarrette Blount.
This year’s draft has constantly been claimed as one of the deepest draft classes in recent history and it would not be unlikely for The Hoodie to trade down their first round pick for additional picks in the second, third and later rounds. With additional picks in these rounds, look for the Patriots to draft players like Florida University defensive tackle Dominique Easley and Notre Dame University tight end Troy Niklas. If the Patriots learned anything from last year, it’s that a team can never have too much depth.
Wide receiver is also a position where the Patriots could use their first round pick on. Although it does not seem like a large area of need, the Patriots have shown interest in multiple potential first round wide receivers. Texas A&M University’s Mike Evans, Oregon State University’s Brandin Cooks and Florida State University’s Kelvin Benjamin have all drawn interest from the Patriots.
The most intriguing of these prospects is Benjamin. At 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, he has a monstrous frame that would lead to matchup nightmares. His presence would instantly help the red zone offense as both Benjamin and tight end Rob Gronkowski could become a dangerous one-two punch near the endzone. Benjamin could very well be available at pick 29, and if he is, quarterback Tom Brady could have a new weapon in his arsenal for 2014.
If the Patriots decide to go defense with their first round selection, look for them to boost the defensive line. Auburn University’s Dee Ford, Notre Dame’s Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix III, and Minnesota University’s Ra’Shede Hageman are all potential players that will be available for New England to draft. While Ford and Hageman are known to get at the quarterback, Nix or Tuitt might be the two players the Patriots are targeting. Tuitt has already visited with the team, and multiple analysts have linked Nix to the Patriots as the potential successor to Vince Wilfork.
Another young body for the defensive line would only solidify a Patriots defense that is already much improved from last year.
Even with the visits with two of the top three quarterbacks, it is highly doubtful the Patriots would use that pick on a signal-caller. Look for the Patriots to use the pick as a trade piece to add depth, or go out and draft a player that they believe can be plugged in for immediate results. Like always, Belichick seems to have something up his sleeve, and I’m sure the 2014 NFL Draft will show at least a surprise or two involving the New England Patriots.