New England Patriots 2009 Mock Draft

Obviously our most pressing need is on the defensive side of the ball, but the offense needs some youth also with aging offensive lineman and wide receivers. I think the Patriots should select and outside linebacker with the 23rd pick in the NFL draft.

At the 23rd pick all the top players will be gone. I think that Clint Sintim the OLB from Virginia would be a steal with the 23rd pick. He is a very good pass rusher off the edge and is currently rated as the No. 3 OLB in the draft.

His draft stock will rise after the Senior Bowl this Saturday so if that happens he could be gone by the time we are up to draft because a lot of teams need linebackers. Sintim has good size at 6'3 and 249lbs, he is also a sure tackler.

Another outside linebacker I like is Larry English the DL from Northern Illinois, he is 6'2 and 254lbs. He will convert to OLB in the NFL and is another sure tackler we could get in the second round.

Cornerback is another obvious concern, but i believe that will be addressed through free agency. Nnamdi Asomugha, Deangelo Hall, and Dunta Robinson will all be free agents and we could attain at least one of them.

Personally I'd like the Pats to get Hall who is the youngest of the group. The only corner worth drafting in the first round would be Malcolm Jenkins from Ohio State, but he will be drafted in the top ten picks.

The Wide Receiver position could use some added youth and depth. My favorite wide receiver in the draft is underrated Brian Robiskie form Ohio State. Robiskie is 6'3 and around 210lbs, he could be our No. 3 receiver much like Jabar Gaffney. Robiskie is bigger than Gaffney and also has better hands. Robiskie is also not afraid to block.

Shawn Nelson the TE from Southern Mississippi has also shown some big play making ability.

As of right now this is my mock draft for the Patriots in 2009:

23rd pick: Alphonso Smith DB, Wake Forest

48th pick: Phillip Loadhalt OL, Oklahoma

55th pick: Brian Robiskie WR, Ohio State

89th pick: Shawn Nelson, TE Southern Mississippi