The New England Patriots' Round 1 Big Board Before Combine

The No. 32 pick is a blessing. Not only does it mean that the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl, it also means that they have a great bargaining chip for teams trying to trade back into the first round for the added value of the fifth-year option on the rookie contract.

That being said, the Patriots must be prepared to make a selection in that slot if no teams are interested in making a trade.

The offseason has yet to begin, and as the events unfold, we'll get a better picture of the Patriots' needs. With big-name free agents like Devin McCourty, Darrelle Revis (potentially) and big contracts due to Vince Wilfork ($8.9 million cap hit, according to Spotrac) and Jerod Mayo ($10.6 million cap hit), the Patriots may have much different needs now than they will in May.

The Patriots, however, have never been ones to draft for need, with Bill Belichick hitching his draft wagon to the all-encompassing V word: Value. 

Here's a look at some of the players that may be on the Patriots' radar with the 32nd pick in the first round.

5. A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina

USA TODAY Sports

One characteristic the Patriots love in their first-round picks is leadership. What better way to show one's leadership than by being voted a team captain? South Carolina guard A.J. Cann was not just voted a team captain, but a permanent one starting in the 2013 season, according to Rob Rang of CBS Sports. 

Rang also has some questions about Cann's ability to block on the move in a zone scheme, which may present a problem for the Patriots, with a multidimensional offense that runs the ball out of both zone and man schemes. That being said, drafting Cann would infuse the offensive line with the dominant physical nature and run-blocking ability that it currently lacks.

The Patriots struggled with inside stunts at times in 2014, so Patriots scouts will love his ability to recognize twists and stunts in the defensive line, and to properly identify his blocking assignment on a consistent basis.

4. Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

At some point, the Patriots will have to move on from veteran nose tackle Vince Wilfork, whether it's by their own choice or it's a decision ultimately made by Father Time. When that time comes, the Patriots will need to have a gap-stuffing nose tackle ready to step in. 

Enter Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, whose 6'6", 334-pound frame is suited for a similar role to the one Wilfork has occupied as a versatile interior lineman who can line up at both nose tackle in a 3-4 and defensive tackle in a 4-3.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projected Phillips as the Patriots' pick in his latest mock draft, highlighting Phillips' athleticism:

"

At 6'6" and 334 pounds, Jordan Phillips is both huge and hugely athletic. He does backflips, runs down ball-carriers and destroys offensive linemen. There are injury concerns as Phillips missed the 2013 season with a back injury, but in 2014 he was dominant. That question mark could push him down to the end of Round 1, and if so, the New England Patriots would be wise to jump all over him.

"

Even if Wilfork ends up remaining with the team in 2015 at a different salary-cap number, the defensive tackle spot should be a priority for the Patriots for their long-term plans on the defensive line.

3. Alvin 'Bud' Dupree, OLB, Kentucky

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

It's not an NFL season lately unless pass-rushers Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich are emptying their tanks by playing as many snaps as humanly possible, and then some. Once again, the Patriots lacked depth behind their top two defensive end/outside linebackers, and need to draft edge defenders who can help give those guys a rest while building for the future.

Kentucky outside linebacker Alvin "Bud" Dupree is a 6'4", 264-pound monster that has the athleticism, size and power to fit perfectly into the Patriots' hybrid scheme. He could play rush end in a 4-3, or outside linebacker in a 3-4. Most importantly, he can come in on passing downs to get after the quarterback and allow Jones to kick inside as a rusher.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein thinks the scouting combine will really boost Dupree's draft stock, and offers a fitting comparison to a Patriots linebacker, Jamie Collins:

"

Collins tested off the charts at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2013, and Dupree is going to do the same this year. He's going to jump high, run fast and have the same kind of explosive numbers that Collins did. Both have freakish closing burst and didn't totally play to their talent in college. Collins unlocked it in the pros. We'll see if Dupree can do the same.

"

Also like Collins, Dupree is perceived as a raw prospect and will require some work, but if Belichick feels as passionately about Dupree as he did about Collins in 2013, there may be no stopping the Patriots from drafting him with the No. 32 pick.

2. Landon Collins, SS, Alabama

USA TODAY Sports

For the past three years, the Patriots have added at least one strong safety to the roster. In 2012, it was free agent Steve Gregory and Tavon Wilson in the draft; in 2013, it was Duron Harmon in the third round of the draft; in 2014, it was a reunion with free agent Patrick Chung.

The Patriots appeared very pleased with Chung's play in 2014, and the two sides agreed to a three-year contract extension before the season came to a close. That being said, the Patriots are always looking to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to their own needs. Harmon played sparingly in 2014, but he appears to have lost his footing on the depth chart. 

Collins is a core special teams player, giving him extra value for his ability to play on all four downs. He was also coached by Belichick's good friend Nick Saban down at Alabama, meaning he comes ready for an NFL program. 

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler and Rob Rang compared Collins to Denver Broncos safety T.J. Ward for his aggressive style of play, and his ability to deliver jarring hits when closing on a pass. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared him to Jacksonville Jaguars safety Johnathan Cyprien for the same reasons, adding that Collins "is at his best when he can attack rather than sit back in coverage and process." 

Collins is projected to be drafted anywhere from the middle to the end of the first round, and if he's on the board at No. 32, the Patriots would be foolish not to consider him as a strong candidate.

1. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

With receivers like Aaron Dobson, Kenbrell Thompkins and Brandon LaFell passing through Gillette Stadium in the past few years, the Patriots have proved that it's not necessarily about having record-breaking speed when it comes to playing the X receiver position. A receiver with size and physicality can be just as effective out wide as a burner. 

That's exactly how some scouts would describe Arizona State's Jaelen Strong.

"He's big, physical and competitive with great hands," a scout told Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans of Sports Illustrated. "He's not a burner. He's probably 4.53 in the 40, but Marques Colston and all these guys get in the league and do really well. He's one of those. He'll be a really good player."

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared him to Dwayne Bowe because "his strength, size and ability to catch contested throws will be coveted by some, but his issues with separation quickness can only be solved if he becomes much better in his route-running." The Patriots have LaFell on the roster for at least two more years, but they are still in need of more depth and big bodies at wide receiver.