Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., who both work for ESPN and cover the draft, have made mock after mock draft and they both usually say the same thing. We are going to take some form of defensive lineman with our 17th pick and a running back, either '09 Heisman Winner Mark Ingram or Mikel LeShoure with our 28th pick. Now Mel Kiper has been doing draft coverage and mocks for my whole life and then some, and he has a reputation that certainly does not proceed him. He is an idiot and is almost always wrong. McShay on the other hand, I like the guy and trust what he has to say. I feel he has more inside information than Kiper although he hasnt been in the business nearly as long. So Im not sure what to believe. If I believe McShay that means Im believing Kiper and I definitely dont want to do that. So I am going to go out and say that Belichick will trade both of these picks and end up with no first rounders. I honestly have no idea.
If Belichick does go ahead and keep these picks, I have a suggestion or two for him. At the 17 pick, take a risk. Take your first risky pick since pick 199 in 2001 when you snagged Brady off the island of misfits. (Yup, Rudolph reference) Da'Quan Bowers' (Defensive End, Clemson) stock is falling according to McShay and Kiper, and he is projected to be taken late in the first round. Now, as unreliable as he is, Kiper has Bowers as number four on his big board. What does that mean? It means he is the fourth best player in the entire draft, and we could get him at pick 17. Yes, he is an injury risk because he has had two surgeries on the same knee. But other than that, he is a damn good football player and most likely at least a pro bowler someday. Taking Bowers at 17 is a risk that is well worth making.
At 28, I completely agree with Kiper and McShay. TAKE A RUNNING BACK. The last running back Belichick took in one of the first three rounds was Laurence Maroney in 2006, 21st overall. Maroney was basically always injured and only ran for about 1,600 yards total in three seasons. So yes, this pick will most likely effect Belichick's decision tomorrow because he may not want to pick a guy that is not guarenteed to excel at a skill position. Belichick has also always used running backs by commitee. If I could run a 4.4 40 yard dash and I snuck onto the Patriots sideline, he would probably put me in because he really doesnt care, or so it seems. Last year BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 1,008 yards, which was the first Patriot running back to eclipse the 1,000 mark since Corey Dillon in 2004. So you might think Belichick is done with his by commitee and would stick with Green-Ellis, but we also have fan favorite and honestly I believe the Patriots MVP (besides Brady who was NFL MVP) Danny Woodhead. Woodhead had 950 total yards and six total touchdowns in the regular season. So, tomorrow, if I was able to see Bill Belichick I would scream at him to take Mark Ingram at 28. Ingram can join "BenDannyJarvus GreenWoodEllisHead" in the backfield behind Tom Brady, and maybe start to mold a future star running back out of Ingram. Ingram is a big guy who will just run right over you, he is not too explosive or quick but he makes his cuts and lowers his shoulder. The only problem with taking Mark Ingram, either he would have to find a new number or some guy named Thomas Clayton, who I think should be knighted because Sir Thomas Clayton (although there already is one) is a sweet name, would have to give up his number. Im sure Clayton wouldnt mind.
One more rumor going on about this draft, we might take a quarterback. Yes, the one position everyone knows we really dont need to fix because we have that fat Michigan grad. But it makes so much sense. If we use our second second round pick, or one of our third rounders we could possibly grab someone like Andy Dalton or maybe Ryan Mallett. I say draft one, then make them watch Brady for two or three years. The Green Bay Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers and made him watch Brett Favre for three years (luckily Rodgers never recieved "adult" pictures of Favre). Three years into Rodgers' career, he won a Super Bowl.
There is so much we can accomplish in this years draft, Belichick just has to stop trading away everything AND the kitchen sink, and make push the right buttons. Please.
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