We've heard it all a thousand times: the Pats have an old linebackingcore, the secondary is thin, I'm not exactly breaking new ground here.
While both of the preceding statements may be true, I sincerely doubt that either need will be rectified with the 7th overall pick in tomorrow's draft.
This year's cornerback class is quite deep and the jury is still out as to who the top corner really is in this year's class. Leodis McKelvin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Mike Jenkins, and even Aqib Talib have been mentioned as possible choices at number 7.
However, none of these prospects are top 10 material despite their potential. Furthermore, if the Patriots were willing to give a corner 18 million bucks in guaranteed cash, why wouldn't they just pony up the extra 4 million for Asante Samuel, who is already a proven pro bowler.
With that said, there are a couple of linebackers who have caught the Patriots' eye, OSU's Vernon Gholston, andUSC's Keith Rivers. Gholston, a former defensive end, has shown the size and explosiveness to excell as a rush linebacker in a 3-4 set similar to the one employed in New England.
Unfortunately for the Patriots however, Gholston will likely be taken before they pick, either by the Oakland Raiders or by the rival New York Jets.
Unlike Gholston, Rivers will almost certainly be available at the Patriots' 7th pick, in large part due to the fact that Rivers, while he will probably be a solid NFL performer, lacks the combination of size and strength that makes Gholston so appealing.
Rivers projects as a middle linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4, which is a very good thing since last year's incumbent starter, Junior Seau, is contemplating retirement.
While Rivers may be an enticing prospect at number 7, he doesn't seem to be worth the $18 million in guarantees that the 7th pick demands. The Patriots have entertained the option of trading down and New Orleans, Carolina, and Chicago have all shown interest in acquiring New England's 7th overall pick.
Barring a trade down, Bill Belichick will likely draft the best player available, regardless of need. The Patriots have shown interest in USC defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, who, although he lacks the size to play his natural position in a 3-4 set, could slide over to DE to replace the aging and injury prone pro bowler Richard Seymour, whose contract expires in 2009.
Some analysts have also mentioned Brandon Albert as a possibility, and while he doesn't play left tackle, his coach at West Virginia, Al Groh, was a Belichick assistant in Cleveland during the 1992 season.
There is a precedent for Belichick passing on a superior O-line prospect in favor of a guy coached by a protege of his. This occurred during the '05 draft when Belichick passed on left tackle prospect Khalif Barnes to select current pro bowl guard Logan Mankins, who played under Belichick disciple Pat Hill at Fresno State.
If the Patriots do indeed decide to trade down, then the available cornerbacks and linebackers will be of better value then whoever they could get at #7. The most likely suitor in a potential trade down would be New Orleans, due to their great interest in Sedrick Ellis.
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