2011 NFL Draft: 10 Undrafted Free Agents the New England Patriots Must Target
The New England Patriots had a solid weekend in the 2011 NFL draft a few weeks back. Like almost every team, though, they didn't answer all of their needs.
This is where undrafted free agency comes in. The process is on hold, while the players and owners bicker over the big bucks, but when it is figured out, the Patriots will certainly target some undrafted free agents.
Here are just a few I had in mind.
Follow Erik Frenz on Twitter @erikfrenz.
Craig Marshall, DE South Florida
1 of 10
The Patriots had one opportunity after another to address their biggest need: a pass rusher. They waited until the sixth round and picked up the most obscure prospect from the most obscure school Bill Belichick could possibly find. Is Central Arkansas DE/OLB Markell Carter a diamond in the rough? Who knows.
Still, adding more bodies to a pass rush that was inept in 2010 could be a priority for Belichick. In terms of the best pass rushers available on the board, Craig Marshall could be up there. He has exactly the right size for the position, at 6'5" and 270 pounds. Even as just an edge rusher, Marshall could find his way into some playing time.
Armon Binns, WR Cincinnati
2 of 10
The tallest receiver on the Patriots roster is currently Brandon Tate at 6'1". Binns measures in at 6'3".
Binns had a breakout year as a junior, hauling in 75 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He's not the fastest receiver available, but he has that height going for him, and he's a sure-handed pass-catcher. That's something Belichick puts a lot of value on.
He also knows how to use his big frame to his advantage, as evidenced in the photo on the left, but will need to develop his ability to beat the press coverage.
Steven Friday, OLB Virginia Tech
3 of 10
What do you know, another pass rusher on the list.
Friday doesn't have the talent to be an every-down starter in the NFL. If he did, he would have been drafted. He might be able to give you something as a situational guy, plugged into sub packages to take advantage of his strengths.
He knows how to be a disruptive force in the backfield, though, having generated 14 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks last year with the Hokies.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Adrian Moten, ILB Maryland
4 of 10
I'm very surprised Adrien Moten went undrafted. There aren't very many linebackers with the same type of athleticism as him, and one had to figure there would be a team in the league ready to take a chance on him.
He is a smaller linebacker, but the Patriots were in the sub package 57 percent of the time in 2010. In those situations, a smaller linebacker can help cover tight ends and running backs.
He knows how to make plays, with 25 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks and six interceptions in his collegiate career.
On top of that, he knows how to make the right reads and has great instincts. Those traits will go a long way in helping him fight for playing time in New England.
Zach Hurd, OG Connecticut
5 of 10
The Patriots targeted a couple of offensive linemen in the draft, but there are still big question marks about the future of the interior offensive line. With Dan Koppen and Logan Mankins' contracts expiring after next year, the Patriots could use to shore up the inside.
Marcus Cannon figures to play inside, but there is still uncertainty around his ability to recover from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The consensus is he'll recover fully, but one can never be too sure about these things.
Hurd was highly regarded coming out of UConn, but went undrafted. He was a force when pulling, which is something the Patriots love to see in their guards. He'll be able to set up screen plays quite well, and will be called upon to do so quite frequently in New England. That is, if they take the plunge and sign him.
Terrence Toliver, WR LSU
6 of 10
Toliver had strong performances in his junior and senior years, combining for 94 catches for 1,314 yards and eight touchdowns. This all came in the competitive SEC, no less, where defenses are known for being stingy.
With that in mind, he could certainly bring some of that playmaking ability to the Patriots receiving corps. That, and some size. At 6'3" and 212 pounds, he would easily be the biggest receiver on the Patriots roster.
Even though he doesn't do his best work over the middle, he has deceiving speed to get behind the defense and "take the top off." He would provide some diversity to the Patriots offensive attack.
Aaron Lavarias, DE/OLB Idaho
7 of 10
What do you know, another pass rusher. There wasn't a lot of value for the position in the draft, but Belichick can find a cheap option in undrafted free agency, if only to add a body to the competition at outside linebacker.
With 16.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, it's clear he knows how to make an impact behind the line of scrimmage. The Patriots could use someone with that kind of ability.
Lavarias is far from the ideal size for a Patriots outside linebacker, at 6'1" and 252 pounds, but we've seen that type of player excel in other systems (see Woodley, LaMarr and Matthews, Clay).
Alexander Linnenkohl, C Oregon State
8 of 10
As mentioned previously, the Patriots still need to shore up the interior of the offensive line even after adding two linemen last year. That's the price you pay when you cut a sixth-round pick (Ted Larsen) that ends up starting for another team and performing quite well.
With Dan Koppen entering the last year of his contract, the Patriots need to start looking for the heir to the starting center spot. It wouldn't be the first time a starter has been found in such a manner; that's how the Patriots stumbled upon Steve Neal.
Mark Herzlich, OLB Boston College
9 of 10
Hometown hero. Cancer survivor. Need I say more?
In case I do, he's a true Patriot. He puts the team first, and it's clear that he's a very humble guy in interviews. He won't do anything that's not in the best interest of the team.
On the field, he knows where to be. 314 tackles and 11 interceptions on his career are evidence enough to that.
All in all, I think just about everyone in Patriot Nation wants to see Herzlich suit up for New England. At the price of an undrafted free agent, he's worth the risk.
Ian Williams, DT Notre Dame
10 of 10
Over the past couple of years, the Patriots defense has largely comprised a large group of role players or specialists. This plays right into Williams' hands, as one of his biggest knocks was his lack of endurance.
The Patriots have a laundry list of defensive linemen, but they could take a low-risk, medium-reward shot on Williams to bring some more competition on the line.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
