2008 NFL Draft: A Changing of the Guard for the Patriots

It's no secret—in the confines of Gillette Stadium—that the Patriots' four linebackers are getting older.

The older age has been showing since 2001, and they have only added aging stars.

Many fans would like to see Darren McFadden in Patriot blue, but true fans want a young linebacker who can learn from what is possibly the best group of linebackers in the game.

I would love to see either Chris Long or Gholston holding up a Patriots jersey in April, from the stage of the NFL draft.

Coach Bill Belichick loves a defensive end that can step up and play linebacker when the need arises. Both, Long and Gholston could do that, especially if they were learning the ropes from Bruschi, Seau, Vrabel, and Thomas.

This way, when Bruschi and Seau leave, there will still be a smart, talented DE/LB, who can keep the system going.

If the Patriots can grab, either Long or Gholston early, and the other later on, they should be in good shape.

The defensive backfield could use some work as well, although they seem to have fixed it for now. Maybe a late rounder would be helpful.

Overall, the smart move is a LB. Long, a DE at Virginia worked out with the Patriots’ defense ends at the combine, but ran LB drills at his pro day.

Gholston is an Ohio State LB, and that is great for Belichick, as he's seen that system with Vrabel.

I like both of these guys to join the future Hall of Famers in the linebacking core.

Imagine, a talented, young, linebacker, who has been taught the ways of the league from the best?

Sounds good to me.