Patriots' Draft Picture Transformed with Bodden, Peppers Deals

Only two weeks ago, Patriots fans thought they knew what the upcoming draft would look like.  There were serious holes in the team's defense.  If those holes were not patched

The Patriots had a horrendous problem at cornerback. Right corner Ellis Hobbs was only average and overwhelmed by big receivers. The left corner was no man's land.  Terrence Wheatley had looked decent on that corner, but was hurt, as he had been in college.  They also wanted depth at safety. 

They were aging at linebacker. Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel were both approaching the end of their useful lives as linebackers.  The younger linebackers on the roster were unlikely to prove as good as what those two old warriors had been in their championship years.  Pierre Woods and Eric Alexander were no Bruschi or Vrabel.

At wide receiver, they were top-heavy.  Randall Moss is a superstar receiver.  Wes Welker is an outstanding possession receiver.  Behind that, however, wasn't much.  Jabar Gaffney left.

So we all thought the pile of high choices the Patriots were amassing would be used to restock the linebacker corps and the defensive backfield.  A receiver would be somewhere in the mix.  All of that is now out the window.

The Patriots picked up Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden.  Springs is 34.  At that age, he was strictly a way for the Pats to buy time until a young defensive back could emerge. 

Bodden is another story.  He is 27, just entering his best years.  This is a No. 1 cornerback who could anchor the Patriots' pass defense for years.  He will not have to be replaced for many years.

Now it appears that the Patriots are about to acquire Julius Peppers from the Panthers. As the commercial says, "This changes everything." Peppers has been a defensive end his entire professional career. 

However, that was in a 4-3 defensive system.  The Patriots have very successfully converted defensive ends into linebackers.  Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Willie McGinest were all defensive ends until Bill Belichick got his defensive system in place.

The Patriots' great 2003 defense had by far the biggest outside linebackers in football, with 270-pound Willie McGinest and 261-pound Mike Vrabel. 

Now they propose to have even bigger outside linebackers, with 270-pound Adalius Thomas and 283-pound Julius Peppers.  Peppers has been a great pro, and he is still only 29.  If Bill Belichick thinks Peppers can be a strong-side linebacker, he probably can.

Then the Patriots went out and solidified their depth at wide receiver.  Long-time burner Joey Galloway and veteran No. 3 receiver Greg Lewis joined the Patriots, leaving their receiver corps quite as strong as it was in the record-setting 2007 season.

The Patriots now enter the draft with their cornerback situation solid.  Corner is no longer an issue.  Likewise, outside linebacker, with Thomas and Peppers backed up by Woods, Tully Banta-Cain, Shawn Crable, and Vince Redd, is no longer even in the picture unless someone is available as an absolute steal.

Inside linebacker is still a serious issue.  Only Jerod Mayo is a given in the middle.  Tedy Bruschi is at the end of the line.  If he plays this year, this is it.  The left inside linebacker position must be filled to keep the defense together.  The best inside linebacker at whom the Patriots are likely to have a shot is James Laurinaitis. 

Again, the Patriots' defensive scheme emphasizes big linebackers.  Laurinaitis, at 240 and unlikely to get any bigger, is barely big enough for their system.  Jasper Brinkley of South Carolina, though not having as complete a package of skills as Laurinaitis, may fit what the Patriots do better than Laurinaitis. 

Brinkley will probably be available late in the second round, so there is no particular pressure to take Laurinaitis with their No. 23 pick in the first round.  That being the case, it is now time to look at the Patriots' other needs and the prospects that are on the board. 

There is obviously no need to use a high draft choice for a quarterback, a defensive lineman, a center, left tackle or guard.  At all those positions, the Patriots' players are Pro Bowl caliber or nearly so. 

Outside linebacker and cornerback are now firm, and there is enough wide receiver depth to make that at most a second-day concern, looking for the future burner who succeeds Joey Galloway.

On the other hand, the Patriots are in a running back by committee situation.  Laurence Maroney has been inconsistent and brittle.  Sammy Morris has been great when he has played, but he, too, has been brittle.  Fred Taylor is a fine runner, but at his age, may be nearing the end of his career.  Kevin Faulk is best used as a third-down back, and he, too, is getting older.

All that does not make running back an area of need, but it does mean that it is an area for possible improvement and stabilization.  The most talented back in this draft is Chris Wells of Ohio State.  He is a big back of the same kind as most backs who have been effective in New England, from Sam Cunningham to Corey Dillon. 

The acquisition of niche backs can also receive more attention than it would have.  The departure of Heath Evans leaves the Patriots without a fullback unless Morris is shifted to fullback. 

Faulk's age means that his successor will be needed in another year or two. This writer has already mentioned behemoth fullback Jorvorskie Lane of Texas A&M; there are several possibilities for a third-down back.

The offensive line can also now become more of a priority.  There are several big road-grader types available to play right tackle, to upgrade that position.  The eventual successor at left tackle might also be found among a couple of tackles who have shown surprising athleticism.  More offensive line help might be worth getting in the lower rounds.

Some have suggested drafting tight end Brandon Pettigrew.  It is very questionable whether he would be any improvement over Benjamin Watson.  That suggestion is a nonstarter.