Previous Picks 1) Miami Dolphins: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
2) St. Louis Rams: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
3) Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
4) Oakland Raiders: DeSean Jackson, WR, California
5) Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Long, DE, Virginia
6) New York Jets: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas
The Longest Mock Draft in NFL History Continues...
I kept putting off writing about this pick.
Originally, I was going to write it on Friday. Then Saturday. Then early Sunday.
I kept finding reasons not to write it. I had to make dinner, had to clean the dishes, had to walk to cat…anything I could come up with to avoid looking back at the Patriots’ season.
You see, I’m still not ready to accept what happened in the Super Bowl.
Eli Manning winning MVP because he kept recklessly throwing the ball up for grabs throughout game. Lucky for him, his wide recievers made some great plays and the Patriots’ cornerbacks dropped some easy interceptions.
The Giants’ defensive line absolutely abusing the Patriots offensive line—the primary reason why the Giants won the game. The fact that Eli Manning got the MVP over these guys is a travesty.
The Patriots stubbornly stuck to five and seven-step drops and refused to play Tom Brady out of the shotgun until the last meaningful drive of the game (and they marched right down the field and scored).
Brady, unleashing a 75-yard bomb with 20 seconds left, had every Giants fan nearly die of a heart attack as it went right off Moss’ fingertips (JUMP, damn it!).
It’s a tough pill to swallow—but let’s try not to overreact.
The Patriots were a pretty good team, maybe one of the best ever. They just happened to run into a Giants team that forgot how to lose in the playoffs.
But they’re not exactly loaded with holes.
The Patriots having the seventh overall selection in the 2008 draft amounts to the "Rich getting Richer."
The Patriots certainly need linebackers.
Their starting middle linebackers in the playoffs were both a year or two away from collecting social security.
Outside linebacker Rosevelt Colvin is coming off an injury and has a pretty significant cap number next season.
The only two guys that are definitely going to be on the team next season are Adalius Thomas and Mike Vrabel.
Cornerback is a problem.
Asante Samuel is probably gone, no matter what he’s saying right now. I just can’t see the Patriots making him the highest paid cornerback in football.
Frankly, the highest paid cornerback in football is expected to catch balls that Eli Manning puts right in his hands late in the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl…
But I digress.
The entire right side of the offense line is a problem.
Stephen Neal can’t stay healthy, and Nick Kaczur is a disaster that will someday get Tom Brady killed.
I’m hoping those positions are addressed at some point this offseason.
The Pick: Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State
Vernon Gholston is the perfect fit for the Patriots’ system. While they have a more pressing need at middle linebacker, Gholston will fit in nicely as a part of a deadly outside linebacker rotation.
Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin (assuming he’s back), and Gholston will make up the best group of outside linebackers in the NFL. They will be able to get to the quarterback at will, and they’re all pretty good against the run as well.
If you put a gun to my head right now, I’d guess Seau is coming back and Bruschi is retiring. They’ll need someone to rotate with Seau next season. I just don’t think that player is available in this year’s draft.
I expect them to address the middle linebacker situation in free agency.
Second Choice: Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas
Admittedly, seven might be too high for Talib, but I’m not sold on the other two corners that project high in this draft (Leodis McKelvin and Mike Jenkins) and the Patriots would LOVE a cornerback with size.
Talib is 6'2", 180 pounds, which is almost bigger than both of last season’s starting cornerbacks combined.
The Patriots have to be sick of game-planning around vertically challenged cornerbacks, and Talib would be their chance to address that situation.
Talib is extremely athletic and has the ability to become a shutdown corner in the NFL—something the Patriots will need desperately should Samuel sign somewhere else.
Sleeper Pick: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State
Like I said earlier, Nick Kaczur is going to get Tom Brady killed someday. Drafting Ryan Clady and moving him to right tackle is not outside the realm of possibility.
He played right tackle as a freshman, so it wouldn’t be something he’s never done before.
At 6'6", 317 pounds, Clady is the perfect size for an NFL tackle. He’s athletic and is a tremendous pass blocker.
Not sure how he’ll translate as a run blocker in the NFL, but with the right coaching he could be a star.
One thing the Patriots have is great coaching, especially at the offensive line. Dante Scarnecchia is among the best in the business.
In Closing...
Regardless of how the season ended, the Patriots were a pretty good team last year. Whomever they select, he’s going to be coming to a sure-thing playoff team with a chance to win it all next season.
When talking smack (and I’m looking at those of you who posted in the comments sections of the last few mock draft columns), remember to keep that in mind.
While the rest of the teams picking in the top ten are probably going to be picking there next season as well, the Patriots are looking at another AFC East championship—and they’ll be the odds on favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl once again.
It almost makes what happened last weekend a little less painful.
Almost.
I’m SeanMC.
SeanMC is a Columnist at Bleacher Report. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.
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8 months ago
Well damn, I don't what else they need besides a LB. The Pats will go 14-2 next season and win it all. You heard it here first.
from 8 months ago
I agree both with the prediction and that they will go with a LB of some sort, probably Gholston.
8 months ago
Chris Long would be a nice addition here. If only to make up for his pops missing out on a New England experience. But you're right, I doubt he'll be around at #7 for the taking. What about the Pats possibly trading down here? It could happen.
When it comes to the Pats draft day it's easy for me to stand by the "if he good enough for Belichick, he's good enough for me" position.
8 months ago
what did the 49ers get in this trade anyways?
from 8 months ago
Videotaping equipment
from 8 months ago
HAHAHA
8 months ago
idk. i heard junior and rodney harrison are retiring. samuals is gone and maybe donte stallworth. moss is back.
from 8 months ago
Harrison announced today that he is coming back.
8 months ago
I expect the Patriots to take the best player available, if they don't trade down first.
If by some chance McFadden lasts that long because Long, Ryan, Dorsey and another of the top tier QB's disappear, he'll go there, and it will be the last we'll ever see of Laurence Maroney - a player drafted 7 picks higher than Addai, with nothing to show for it.
Granted, on the pass friendly Pats he doesn't get many carries... but I think there is a reason he wasn't getting much time early in the season, and in the game that Belichek yanked him, even though he was healthy.
Something like a work ethic problem during practice or tape viewing...
8 months ago
I think they should go for a QB. That guy they have now isn't really cutting it.
Just kidding
Best bet - trade down. Why not? Is there anyone in this draft that is going to dramatically change their fortunes?
If they trade down, they can fill in more blanks for less money.
from 8 months ago
I'm hoping they trade down, try to stockpile picks, and grab a cornerback. I think they can survive one more year with the linebackers they have, plus a free agent or two.
from 8 months ago
Yeah I agree John here.
from 8 months ago
Sean: if you want them to stockpile picks, what more can they do? They are already stockpiling whatever picks come there way with Mr. Genius Kraft leading their ship.
But I can see the logic in trading down for a cornerback, even though it would be incredibly fun to possibly see McFadden in the same backfield as Gopher alum Maroney.
8 months ago
Screw who the Pats are going to take...what I wanna know is if Sean really "walks his cat"? I'm not a cat owner, but I had no idea that they needed to be taken for a leisurely stroll around the block. Dogs, yes...but walking a cat seems a little odd to me right now. Sean, please explain?! hah.
from 8 months ago
Lol, I was thinking the same thing about the cat when I read this earlier.
from 8 months ago
You've never walked a cat?
It's like walking a dog, except there's no leash, no actual walking, and only the cat has to go outside.
8 months ago
How are you gonna talk shit about Eli Manning? He outplayed that pussy tom Brady last Sunday and your gonna write an article about him recklessly throwing the ball up for grabs. The only Qb throwing the ball up for grabs was Tom Brady himself. He was throwing prayers up in the air all game and if it wasn't for the chad pennington dump passes to welker (which by the way is the only reason his numbers looked respectable) he would of looked like complete shit instead of a little shittty. This guy was scared out of his pretty boy faced mind and Eli on the other side was making accurate and crisp throws the whole game. He deserved the MVP for what he accomplished the entire playoffs and in the superbowl. As far as who the Pats should draft I heard there's a excellent camera man coming out of Boston College this year maybe you guys should grab him before someone else does. The scouting report states that he's known for cheating on exams and likes it up the cheeks while drinking a sam adams. ( This guys right up your alley fellas) Does anyone know where to purchase the book by the Boston Globe 19-0 which was on sale before the superbowl cause I can't seem to find it anymore. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Your a sore ass loser Sean your just like all the other Boston Fans, u gotta try and bring down the team u lost to because you can't deal with defeat. Go complain about your own team on how you got outcoached, outplayed, and STOMPED THE FUCK OUT! Do you guys really think it's just a coincidence that the one year we know you can't cheat in the Superbowl u lose by three points instead of winning by three points cause I don't P*A*T*R*I*O*T*S*
from 8 months ago
Eli wasn't AMAZING in the Super Bowl, but you're right, he did outplay Brady. But, seriously—how can you sit there and harass Sean for being an apparent "sore loser" when you are the one acting with little class and your team won!? Sean's probably still somewhat bitter about the loss, and that's understandable. But he's not the one on here cursing and raising hell over something that happened ten days ago.
He made one statement about how he felt that the Giants' defensive line shouldve gotten more credit than Manning. Let it go.
from 8 months ago
It's funny, because I don't remember making the argument that Brady deserved the MVP.
I'm rooting hard for the Giants to give Eli a Peyton-like contract. Good luck with your $100,000,000 - 20 interception-a-year quarterback.
Revisionist history says he was great. The reality of the situation is he Ben Roethlisberger-ed his way through the Super Bowl. Lucky to be along for the ride with a team good enough to carry him.
That last drive was surreal. Aside from escaping a sure sack (which I do give him credit for) he spent two minutes trying to blow the game and was probably the most surprised person in Arizona when he didn't....
from 8 months ago
Sean, would you please stop telling it like it is?
Us New Yorkers would like to enjoy this SB win.
We know we had some plays go our way in the game, but to be fair - the Pats had that kind of luck all year.
What comes around goes around.
After watching the game nine times, I know exactly what you are saying. Eli came thisclose several times to blowing the game. But He didn't, for once.
Eli may revert back to being his old self next season, but for one month he did what he was brought here to do - win a championship.
Hopefully for us he's turned the corner.
PS
You should have known the Pats were in trouble when they lost the coin toss!
See you next year in Tampa
from 8 months ago
I will say, the Giants defensive line might have been the best I've ever seen.
I just wish THEY were getting the credit and not the QB. The QB always gets way too much credit...
8 months ago
I agree that a defensive lineman should have won the MVP. The only reason Manning had a chance at beating the Patriots is because of the Giants defense only allowing the #1 offense in NFL history 14 points. They sacked Brady FIVE times. I thought for sure Strahan would win the MVP. Manning wasn't GREAT during the Super Bowl the Giants D-Line was. They won that game. If Brady didn't spend the entire game on his back it would have been a bloodbath.
from 8 months ago
No doubt. I had the Giants scoring 17 points. Nobody had the Patriots scoring 14.
Even Plaxico had them scoring 17....
8 months ago
you guys make me laugh and whoever the giants fan that wrote in also should be ashamed of yourself. First off if you were gonna give it to one person from the d-line it had to be justin tuck with no questions asked. I'm still trying to figure out where manning almost lost this game cause i don't remember it. If your talking about the asante samuel drop int. then your wrong because tyree ran the wrong route so you can't blame that on eli all you want, although eli would have taken full criticism if it was picked off. Perfect example of that would is steve smith's bobbled pass which was int. by hobbs in the first half but eli gets credited with the pick not steve smith. How are you gonna tell me Sean that he was carried through the playoffs what the hell are you talking about? Did you watch all of their playoff games? this guy didn't make one mistake in the whole playoffs and not even in the superbowl. Hey Brady looked great guys against the chargers what did he have 3 int. Eli got carried, i forgot he didn't lead his team down the field with the go ahead TD pass to toomer to seal the win in Tampa. I forgot he didn't lead his team back with 47 sec. left on the clock to even the score in dallas which took the life out of them. I forgot he didn't outplay brett favre in Lambeu field to make it to the superbowl. And oh it must have been someone else that drove down the field with the go ahead TD pass to tyree and then answer Brady's drive with one for the ages with a GAME WINNING PASS TO PLAXICO. Your write Sean Eli was carried here he didn't deserve it. Go watch what he accomplished this postseason before you write your articles and comments. This guy could win the superbowl next year and you guys would probably bring him down. And BiG Ben got carried into the superbowl by that defense and won the superbowl with a 33. something QB rating. Eli won the superbowl and the MVP because he deserved it and outplayed MR. Brady.
from 8 months ago
Again, Sean never said anything about Brady playing amazing. However, I don't exactly see how Eli "carried" them through that game in Green Bay. The only way Eli outplayed Favre was NOT throwing picks. But he also didn't throw a touchdown pass that game, and he also failed to get a first down when it mattered most—in overtime. I would really like to hear from every single Giants fan who was confident in Lawrence Tynes kicking that 47 yard field goal. I think if Tynes misses that and the Giants lose, Tynes is gone for good (which he could have been if he had never gotten another FG opportunity and the Giants had lost), and Eli takes heat for not getting that first down. Granted his yardage was the highest of the playoffs for him, but he also had two running backs run for over 60 yards each in that game—something Favre didn't have. If anything, the Giants played more as a team during that game, and that's why they won in Green Bay—not on the arm, or poise of Eli. If the Packers had gotten ANYTHING going on the ground then the Giants would have been in trouble. I'm not entirely sure why people are getting worked up over this—the Pats fans are giving credit where credit is due: the Giants defense. Throughout the season it was widely known that no team was going to score 50 points on the Pats to win a game, but it was going to be a defense to slow them down—the Giants D did that and they're getting credit. (Ps. Anyone who credits Tyree's catch to Eli is insane. There was a large amount of luck and concentration on that play coming from Tyree. Eli took a chance and Tyree saved his ass.)
8 months ago
What does Tynes have to do with anything? The guy sucks period I've said it from the preseason and the in regular season when this guy ws shanking extra points. You won't find a giants fan that actually likes him or wants him on their team next season. With that being said if the Pats fans wanna give credit to the giants then give credit where credit is due. Yes our defense showed a dominant performance and much of the credit has to go to them but Eli Manning Won this team the game during the 4th Quarter when he threw for 140yds and 2TD how are you gonna take that away from this guy? Boston fans just don't like Eli cause this makes two years in row a Manning ended your season. Your in denial along with most of these other Pats fans writing the junk they write but it's time to show a little respect to Eli Bryan.
7 months ago
Don't forget Adaulius Thomas, along with Colvin, Vrabel, and Gholsten. That's one deadly quartet to play up against. Even though I'm a Ravens fan and hated it when Thomas left, at least he was on a team that broke records and got to a superbowl. I'm happy for him.
7 months ago
I give the giants credit for winning the Super Bowl but the thing that really got me mad was the way they won the game. Talk about being lucky
7 months ago
14-2 and super bowl?? how about 19-0. bet on that. i bet the giants taped the patriots walkthrough the day before the game. no way they hold the pats below 30 points otherwise.
from 7 months ago
lol not a chance Jason, I wish though, that would be sweet... I'm a pats fan but also I'm a realist... they will be very good next year and have a great shot at the lombardi trophy if Moss is back... but they have a gaping hole at corner that will not be filled anytime soon (unless the Lito Sheppard rumors are true then 15-1 may not be so far fetched.) and btw anonymous New York fan... We're not saying that the Giants did not deserve to win that game... they outplayed us fair and square... but Eli was not an MVP. I agree wit u on Justin Tuck, but you cannot say Asante's missed pick was tyree's fault (hell I could go so far as to say that Tyree saved the Giants' asses with that miracle helmet catch) Eli should have recognized Tyree's mistake and thrown the ball away. And FYI the Chargers D had been making QBs look silly all year long so that isn't the best example. As for next year, I hope 2 16-0 teams go into the super bowl because I am sick and tired of hearing about the 72 dolphins, is it just me or is it about time these guys rode off into the sunset and were never heard from again.
7 months ago
gotta agree with max, those cocky ass 72 dolphins just keep running their fat mouths and dont know when to shut the hell up. yeah their the only team that went undefeated, but they will be getting some company soon, and they sure as hell wont be popping the champian for that
7 months ago
i sure hope that they keep their pick at seven and dont trade down, they need someone that is a playmaker on defence and you dont get one by tradeing your pick away, Pats get Gholston and hopefully they can sign Colvin and be a dominate team for years to come
7 months ago
I dunno if they take Gholston. Belichick seems to hate the concept of taking linebackers in the draft. He's never taken one in the first round. I'm thinking he prefers to train 'em up in-house.
I'm betting on a stud corner. And I have no idea which one - everyone's draft boards disagree on this.
from 7 months ago
Gholston is a different type of linebacker though. He played with his hand on and off the ground, he can rush the QB from the 4-3 end position and he can drop back into coverage. Usually the linebackers coming out in the draft lack something.
He seems to have everything the Patriots want in an outside linebacker.
That said, I think they trade down and take a corner.
7 months ago
I hope that the Pats take Gholston with their 7th overall pick, and that will help out their linebacker problems. Also since they have two thrid round picks i think that they should trade up in the second round and get a corner to address the problems that they have at corner with Samuel and Gay gone.
6 months ago
I am an avid patriots fan, but realisticly guys as the years are going the rest of the teams in the NFL are getting stronger. I think the more times that the Patriots loose a season the next is going to be that much tougher. I do not think that they will accomplish the feat they did again very soon. I think the patriots offensive line just got tired as they are old and probably needed to rest. They were the only team the whole season to have statistically played the full 60 minutes every game, now that would tire anyone out.
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