2011 NFL Draft: Five Questions for the New England Patriots after the Draft

With the 2011 NFL draft in the rear-view mirror, NFL fans can now look forward to...a long, uncertain 2011 NFL offseason. Let's hope that's not the case, but as we close the window on the draft, there are still some questions left to be answered.

No draft will answer all the questions surrounding a team, but every draft will certainly raise some questions.

Here are five of the biggest questions New England Patriots fans will surely be asking after an interesting weekend in the draft.

Follow Erik Frenz on Twitter @erikfrenz.

Who's Going To Rush the Passer?

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 12: Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears runs under pressure by Tully Banta Cain #95 of the New England Patriots at Soldier Field on December 12, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Patriots defeated the Bears 36-7. (Photo by Scott Boehm/G

Yeah, let's just get this one out of the way.

I have railed against those who think this draft was a failure because the Patriots didn't get a top-rated pass-rusher. It was No. 1 on everyone's Christmas wish list, but Santa didn't come this year, guys.

It could be pretty hard (even for me) to convince fans that there's reason to have faith in the current lineup of linebackers, but Belichick clearly believes his guys will improve, or at least be better this year than any rookies they could have drafted.

He said himself, "We have some young players on our roster, and I think that those players...will still continue to develop." He is probably expecting more out of Jermaine Cunningham, and probably also out of either Rob Ninkovich or Eric Moore. Possibly both.

One can't help but wonder what could have been, and if Adrian Clayborn, Jabaal Sheard, Brooks Reed or Cameron Jordan have double-digit sack totals this year, the words "value" and "draft" may only be used in New England to describe talls for smalls at your local bar.

In reality, though, the Patriots have gotten it done for a while with a gang of linebackers contributing a few sacks, rather than one linebacker doing all the sacking. It hasn't worked as well over the past couple of years, but the fact that last year's sacks were more evenly spread out than the year before is cause for hope.

What Are the Patriots Going To Get out of Ryan Mallett?

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew

It may be a little early to begin preparing for life after Tom Brady, but nobody wants to be the Miami Dolphins, who have been searching for life after Dan Marino for over a decade.

This pick came as a shock to me at first. I was never disappointed, just very surprised. The more I think about it, the more I come around on it, and the more I understand why Belichick would do this.

There are so many ways this pick could pan out, at least four off the top of my head:

1.) Ryan Mallett could be an insurance policy against Tom Brady perhaps getting injured. Although I wish nothing but to see Brady suit up in a Patriots uniform every game until he retires, it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to quarterbacks.

2.) Let him develop behind Brady, sitting on the bench and reading the playbook like Aaron Rodgers and Steve Young behind Brett Favre and Joe Montana, respectively. There's four years left on Brady's contract, which takes him to 37 years old. Who knows where he'll be in his career by then.

3.) Teams are always desperate for talent at the quarterback position, and Mallett has first-round talent, but character issues drove him into the third round. He'll be in a safety bubble of sorts in New England, where he'll be walking the straight and narrow, and everyone in the locker room will only have nice things to say about him.

Showcasing his talent in the preseason and late in blowouts would be a great way to drive his stock up for a potential trade. Let him rip it, throw it 80-some yards down field, drive the stock up and flip him for a first-round pick.

4.) He's the second coming of Kevin O'Connell.

The chances of the last option are pretty slim, especially since he's a pocket passer with a rocket arm and not a gimmicky run-first quarterback.

Low risk, high reward. Just the way Belichick loves it in the mid-rounds.

When Will Nate Solder Start at Left Tackle?

When drafting a player in the first round, the fans want to see that player contribute early. Clearly, that's not always the case. Some players require a bit more time to develop, and Solder could be one of those guys.

Belichick said so himself. "[T]here are a lot of things that he’ll have to improve on. But he’s a smart guy, hard-working kid, he’s already graduated, he’s a good worker, so hopefully he’ll take the coaching that he gets from our staff and Dante (Scarnecchia) and be able to improve and develop at a position that he has some experience at."

With some work on his technique and a little more muscle in his upper body, Solder carries the promise of being one of the premier left tackles in the league in the not-too-distant future. This is especially true when paired with the teaching of Scarnecchia, one of the best offensive line coaches in football, as well as the mentoring of Matt Light, one of the best left tackles in football.

For fans hungry for a pass-rusher to put the Patriots one step closer to a Super Bowl, and for those expecting instant gratification in the first round, you may be disappointed. This is a sound pick that, if it pans out, will set the Patriots up for the next decade or more at left tackle.

Who Is Markell Carter?

Patriots fans will cling to the hopes of the future of their pass rush to Markell Carter, the sixth-round pick out of Central Arkansas.

Wait, what? Weren't they supposed to take an elite pass-rusher? It was their biggest need, and they addressed it in the sixth round?

Would you feel any better about the pick if I told you that Tennessee Titans defensive end Jacob Ford also attended Central Arkansas? Ironically, he was also taken in the sixth round back in 2008.

But let's not get carried away. We can't expect him to be the next double-digit sack monster in the NFL, but Bill Belichick must have some level of confidence in Carter to have spent a draft pick on him. The uncertainty around undrafted free agency as it pertains to the collective bargaining agreement was enough for Belichick to spend a pick on Carter. He wanted to make sure he got his guy.

And why not? Just look at the video on this kid. He is absolutely beasting the competition on every play in this video. Yes, he's a step late on most of these plays. Yes, it's against lower competition—although that hasn't stopped Danny Woodhead from being a threat in the NFL.

But first round, second round or sixth round, the Patriots addressed a need by grabbing a physical guy off the edge who can rush the passer. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes an impact in the pass rush.

What's in Store for 2012?

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at the podium during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Two first-round picks. Two second-round picks. Haven't we heard this song before?

Yeah, we heard it this year coming into the draft, and the Patriots only made one first-round pick and two second-round picks.

But it's all about staying ahead for Bill Belichick.

Of course, adding those picks does nothing to satiate the dying-of-hunger-for-a-pass-rusher types, but the Patriots are on top of the competition in the NFL draft once again next year. And they haven't even started scouting yet. Isn't that a lovely position to be in?