2011 NFL Draft: 5 Positions the New England Patriots Won't Draft High

Every year, NFL draft analysts formulate mock drafts and try to predict who each team will draft. When they guess at the New England Patriots' selection, usually they're wrong.

Sometimes, it seems as though the Patriots wait until all the mock drafts are out and then draft someone that absolutely none of the pundits guessed they would draft.

The consensus this year is that the Patriots will focus on the front seven and maybe the offensive line, but that was the prevailing logic last year when the team took cornerback Devin McCourty with the 27th overall pick, and look how that turned out.

So it would seem that the Patriots are as unpredictable as a bipolar person who's off their Klonopin. But they know what they're doing.

Do I really want to step on a potential land mine? This may be some risky business, but here's some guesses at positions the Patriots won't consider for a high pick on.

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5. Running Back

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Running back Mark Ingram of Alabama runs with the ball during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Patriots fans began their love affair with Mark Ingram roughly 12 months ago. Ingram won the Heisman Trophy for his 2009 campaign and helped the Crimson Tide win the BCS National Championship that year.

With the Oakland Raiders' first-round pick, the Patriots seemed poised to pick up an impact player like Ingram with what projected to be a top-10 pick.

Fast forward to now, and although Ingram may fall to that 17th pick, the chances are slim. BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead both had breakout years, and the need for a "franchise running back" seems to have dwindled a bit.

4. Safety

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 1: Defensive back Rahim Moore #35 of UCLA works out during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Although both Prince Amukamara and Patrick Peterson could play safety in the NFL, both are more suited for cornerback and will probably be drafted as such.

Other than those two, there's just not a whole lot of talent in the first round of the draft at safety.

I wouldn't rule a second-round pick out of the equation, but for those thinking they'll target an elite safety to replace Brandon Meriweather after 2011, I'm not so sure.

3. Inside Linebacker

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Casey Matthews #55 of the Oregon Ducks looks on against the Auburn Tigers during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Get

The combination of Brandon Spikes and Jerod Mayo proved more than capable in 2010, and even though Spikes had a pair of transgressions this past season, there's yet time for him to set the ship right.

The Patriots also already have their "specialist" inside linebacker, Gary Guyton, who plays more in sub-packages. Even adding an interior linebacker for depth reasons seems to be out of the question.

Of course, Casey Matthews is available, but he is projected in a later round, and in terms of size, none of the prospects measure up with what the Patriots like to do on defense.

2. Tight End

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SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 03: Kyle Rudolph #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs after making a catch against the Washington Huskies on October 3, 2009 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Washington 37-30 in overtime. (Pho

Aaron Hernandez. Rob Gronkowski.

'Nuff said.

In all seriousness, the two rookie tight ends combined for a whopping 16 touchdowns in 2010, which is actually more than one Randy Moss averaged in his three full seasons with the team.

An offense that features two tight ends fully capable of both in-line blocking and running patterns in the receiving game might be a big threat, but not worthy of investing a first- or second-round pick.

1. Quarterback

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Cam Newton looks on during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Some of you might be thinking this is a no-brainer, but let me give you a brief history lesson.

In 2008, the Patriots drafted a respectable college quarterback named Kevin O'Connell in the third round. Twelve months later, he was no longer with the team.

In 2009, they drafted former Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman in the seventh round. He switched to wide receiver.

In 2010, Zac Robinson was the token late-round signal-caller taken in the draft. He didn't even make it through training camp.

The lone survivor of the backup quarterbacks has been Brian Hoyer, who incidentally was undrafted out of Michigan State.

Oh, and the only two starting quarterbacks for the Patriots in the past decade have been sixth- and seventh-round selections. One is named Tom Brady. The other is Matt Cassel.