2008 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots

1) NFL-Miami_Dolphins-2008_NFL_Draft_Strategy_The_Miami_Dolphins-230108">Miami Dolphins: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
2) Rams-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_St_Louis_Rams-250108">St. Louis Rams: Jake Long, OT, Michigan
3) Falcons-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Atlanta_Falcons-290108">Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College
4) Raiders-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Oakland_Raiders-040208">Oakland Raiders: DeSean Jackson, WR, California
5) Chiefs-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_Kansas_City_Chiefs-050208">Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Long, DE, Virginia
6) Jets-2008_NFL_Mock_Draft_New_York_Jets-060208">New York Jets: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas 

The Longest Mock Draft in NFL History Continues...

I kept putting off writing about this pick.

Originally, I was going to write it on Friday.  Then Saturday.  Then early Sunday. 

I kept finding reasons not to write it.  I had to make dinner, had to clean the dishes, had to walk to cat…anything I could come up with to avoid looking back at the Patriots’ season.

You see, I’m still not ready to accept what happened in the Super Bowl. 

Eli Manning winning MVP because he kept recklessly throwing the ball up for grabs throughout game.  Lucky for him, his wide recievers made some great plays and the Patriots’ cornerbacks dropped some easy interceptions.

The Giants’ defensive line absolutely abusing the Patriots offensive line—the primary reason why the Giants won the game.  The fact that Eli Manning got the MVP over these guys is a travesty.

The Patriots stubbornly stuck to five and seven-step drops and refused to play Tom Brady out of the shotgun until the last meaningful drive of the game (and they marched right down the field and scored).

Brady, unleashing a 75-yard bomb with 20 seconds left, had every Giants fan nearly die of a heart attack as it went right off Moss’ fingertips (JUMP, damn it!).

It’s a tough pill to swallow—but let’s try not to overreact.

The Patriots were a pretty good team, maybe one of the best ever.  They just happened to run into a Giants team that forgot how to lose in the playoffs. 

But they’re not exactly loaded with holes. 

The Patriots having the seventh overall selection in the 2008 draft amounts to the "Rich getting Richer."

The Patriots certainly need linebackers. 

Their starting middle linebackers in the playoffs were both a year or two away from collecting social security.

Outside linebacker Rosevelt Colvin is coming off an injury and has a pretty significant cap number next season. 

The only two guys that are definitely going to be on the team next season are Adalius Thomas and Mike Vrabel.

Cornerback is a problem. 

Asante Samuel is probably gone, no matter what he’s saying right now.  I just can’t see the Patriots making him the highest paid cornerback in football.

Frankly, the highest paid cornerback in football is expected to catch balls that Eli Manning puts right in his hands late in the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl…

But I digress.

The entire right side of the offense line is a problem. 

Stephen Neal can’t stay healthy, and Nick Kaczur is a disaster that will someday get Tom Brady killed. 

I’m hoping those positions are addressed at some point this offseason. 

The Pick: Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State

Vernon Gholston is the perfect fit for the Patriots’ system.  While they have a more pressing need at middle linebacker, Gholston will fit in nicely as a part of a deadly outside linebacker rotation. 

Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin (assuming he’s back), and Gholston will make up the best group of outside linebackers in the NFL.  They will be able to get to the quarterback at will, and they’re all pretty good against the run as well. 

If you put a gun to my head right now, I’d guess Seau is coming back and Bruschi is retiring.  They’ll need someone to rotate with Seau next season.  I just don’t think that player is available in this year’s draft.

I expect them to address the middle linebacker situation in free agency.

Second Choice:  Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas

Admittedly, seven might be too high for Talib, but I’m not sold on the other two corners that project high in this draft (Leodis McKelvin and Mike Jenkins) and the Patriots would LOVE a cornerback with size. 

Talib is 6'2", 180 pounds, which is almost bigger than both of last season’s starting cornerbacks combined. 

The Patriots have to be sick of game-planning around vertically challenged cornerbacks, and Talib would be their chance to address that situation.

Talib is extremely athletic and has the ability to become a shutdown corner in the NFL—something the Patriots will need desperately should Samuel sign somewhere else.

Sleeper Pick: Ryan Clady, OT, Boise State

Like I said earlier, Nick Kaczur is going to get Tom Brady killed someday.  Drafting Ryan Clady and moving him to right tackle is not outside the realm of possibility. 

He played right tackle as a freshman, so it wouldn’t be something he’s never done before. 

At 6'6", 317 pounds, Clady is the perfect size for an NFL tackle.  He’s athletic and is a tremendous pass blocker. 

Not sure how he’ll translate as a run blocker in the NFL, but with the right coaching he could be a star. 

One thing the Patriots have is great coaching, especially at the offensive line.  Dante Scarnecchia is among the best in the business.

In Closing...

Regardless of how the season ended, the Patriots were a pretty good team last year.  Whomever they select, he’s going to be coming to a sure-thing playoff team with a chance to win it all next season. 

When talking smack (and I’m looking at those of you who posted in the comments sections of the last few mock draft columns), remember to keep that in mind. 

While the rest of the teams picking in the top ten are probably going to be picking there next season as well, the Patriots are looking at another AFC East championship—and they’ll be the odds on favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl once again.

It almost makes what happened last weekend a little less painful.

Almost.

I’m SeanMC.

SeanMC is a Columnist at Bleacher Report. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.