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Ten players the Patriots should look at drafting 02.07.12 at 11:59 pm ET
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The games have been played, and now it’s time for the real fun to begin. The NFL Scouting Combine is just two short weeks away, and the Patriots have four of the draft’s first 63 picks in this year’s draft (Nos. 27, 31, 48 and 63).

Is this the year the Pats finally go after a pass-rusher? Will the team spend another high pick on a defensive back (and shouldn’t they)? Will the Patriots add a big receiver? These are the questions that will likely be asked time and time again in the weeks leading up to April 26.

Jared Crick would improve the Patriots' pass rush. (AP)

So, with some apparent needs and a plethora of picks to address them early, here are 10 players the Pats might want to consider in this year’s draft. Of course, this is an incredibly early look and workouts have yet to be conducted, so projections as to where players might be selected are merely educated guesses at this point.

Quinton Coples, DE/DT, UNC

Where he might go in the draft: Top 10

When it comes to defensive prospects in this draft, this is the guy. Projected as an elite lineman as either a defensive end or defensive tackle, Coples would bring star power to a defensive line that doesn’t have much outside of Vince Wilfork. Bill Belichick would really need to change his ways in order to secure Coples’ services, as the last time the Pats traded up in the first round was in 2003, and it was just one spot.

Coples has very good size (6-foot-5 6/8, 281 pounds), is strong and has very good speed. The thing that might not make Coples worth trading up for is the fact that he is not an elite pass-rusher, which is something the Patriots need.

Jared Crick, DE, Nebraska

Where he might go in the draft: First or second round

Every year, it seems, we list all of the pass-rushers who seem perfect for the Patriots, but the Pats have largely ignored the need for years. With that being said, people won’t stop suggesting they add a legitimate pass-rusher until they do. Crick is a pass-rush specialist, is big (6-foot-4 2/8, 286) and could play on the line in the 4-3 and standing up in the 3-4.

Crick emerged as a sophomore, playing on the same line as Ndamukong Suh and racking up 9.5 sacks for the Huskers. When Suh left, Crick’s production didn’t drop off. He posted 9.5 sacks again as a junior, and seemed poised for a big senior year before it was cut short by injury. Crick was limited to only five games this season due to a torn pectoral muscle, which he suffered on Sept. 17 against Wyoming. He played two more games through pain, but the team shut the senior down for the season in October, so he finished his final year with just one sack.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Where he might go in the draft: Second round

The Patriots lack a big, tall receiving option, and it seems they’ve been shell-shocked when it comes to drafting receivers high. Given how bad their track record has been, perhaps their reluctance to draft at the position is justified. The last three receivers drafted in the the first three rounds (Chad Jackson, second round ’06; Brandon Tate, third round ’09; Taylor Price, third round ’10) have each lasted less than two seasons with the team before being released.

At 6-foot-4, Jeffery’s body is more filled out than Stephen Hill‘s (see below), as the South Carolina product weighs in at 232 pounds. Jeffery possesses good enough speed for such a big receiver and has very good hands. Jeffery’s best season came in 2010 as a sophomore, when he reeled in 88 catches for 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns. There also is no injury history with Jeffery, so for what the Patriots need at receiver, he seems to be a logical fit.

Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

Where he might go in the draft: Second round

The fact that Randle declared for the draft and is now in a rather crowded group of big receivers is only good news for teams in need, but another year at LSU may have made him a first-round prospect.

Route-running is Randle’s biggest weakness, but he is big and fast, and having both he and Rob Gronkowski on the field at the same time would create nightmares for defenses when the Pats get in the red zone. Randle had nine touchdowns as a junior.

Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Where he might go in the draft: Late second or third round

The 208-pound Hill stands at 6-foot-4 2/8, and, like Demaryius Thomas and other receivers to come from Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense, wasn’t a focal point of his team’s offense in college. That doesn’t mean that some coaching and improvement in route-running can’t make this Yellow Jacket into a legitimate NFL receiver. Just look at Thomas and Calvin Johnson, both of whom came from Georgia Tech and have established themselves as two of the best young receivers in the game. Unlike Johnson and Thomas, Hill probably won’t cost a team a first-round pick.

Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Where he might go in the draft: First round

Assuming Belichick plans on using Devin McCourty as a cornerback, the team will need more help at safety. That’s a position Belichick certainly hasn’t been afraid of early in the draft, as he drafted the likes of Brandon Meriweather and Patrick Chung in the first two rounds.

Barron might be a Belichick type of player simply because he’s good at everything. He’s got solid timed speed for his size (6-foot-1 4/8, 223-pounds and projects to run the 40-yard dash in the 4.5 range), is a strong tackler and plays well against both the pass and the run. Also, you can never discount the Nick Saban connection.

Barron does have a history with the law, as he was arrested last March on a second-degree charge of hindering the prosecution. Barron allegedly was unwilling to identify his cousin as the driver in a car accident in which the driver had fled the scene.

Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

Where he might go in the draft: Second round

At 6-foot-5 and 247 pounds, Jones has a similar body to Pats defensive end Mark Anderson. He was actually recruited as a tight end, but developed into a star defensive end in his time at Syracuse.

Jones is a good enough athlete, but he was by no means the feared pass-rusher that Crick was in college. Still, he has the size to potentially contribute at defensive end or outside linebacker for the Patriots. Belichick needs to grab at least one of these guys in the first two rounds, and both Crick and Jones fit the bill with their potential positional versatility. Jones missed time during his junior season with a lower body injury.

Cam Johnson, DE/OLB, Virginia

Where he might go in the draft: Second or third round

When looking at players who potentially could play both defensive end and outside linebacker, experience at both is something that not all prospects have. Johnson does have that experience. He was originally an outside linebacker in the 3-4, and he played defensive end when the team switched to 4-3. Given that the Pats go back and forth between the two schemes, having someone who could switch seamlessly would be advantageous.

Johnson isn’t as tall (6-foot-3 6/8) as Crick or Jones, but he has better bulk than Jones at 267 pounds. He also has good speed, which could potentially help his draft stock if he runs well at the combine.

Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia

Where he might go in the draft: Second round

The Patriots hope to see what a healthy Ras-I Dowling can do next season, but his history of injuries is significant enough that the Pats shouldn’t feel comfortable leaving the cornerback position unaddressed in the draft this year. Boykin isn’t the biggest guy in the world (5-foot-9 2/8, 183 pounds), but considering that McCourty, Kyle Arrington and Sterling Moore are 5-foot-10, height evidently is not a deal-breaker for New England. Despite his suboptimal size, Boykin should warrant selection early on Day 2 due to his athleticism.

Boykin can also contribute in the return game, and his contributions on offense both running and catching the ball earned him the 2011 Paul Hornung award for being the nation’s most versatile player. He figures to be a factor only at corner and as a return man in the NFL, but if there’s one thing Bill Belichick likes, it’s versatility.

George Iloka, S, Boise State

Where he might get drafted: Third round or later

Iloka is a giant in the secondary at 6-foot-3 5/8 and 222 pounds and is a good enough athlete to not be limited by his big frame. He isn’t nearly the complete safety prospect that Barron is, but he does have some experience playing cornerback. Given that Belichick is no stranger to moving guys around in his defensive backfield, that could be a good thing.

Read More: 2012 NFL Draft, alshon jeffery, brandon boykin, cam johnson Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • ne711

    Absolute no on Stephen Hill. Despite the phsical resemblance to Thomas and Johnson, Hill is not close to either one. He’s a drop machine.

  • gmoney

    oh no we’ll trade down and draft a bunch of projects,hey bill can u dumb it down a little its football not rocket science……

  • Kern

    The Patriots draft for now and for later, but Belichick is not stupid. Of course he knows Brady is another year older and his stockpile strategy was to get young players to be groomed in the system….He doesn’t have the same currency this year as he did in years past, so I believe (hope) the Patriots draft five solid contributors this year with an eye towards the now. I am interested in seeing a three tight-end set with the third end being a Crumpler type, with Welker in the slot and a Graham type wide-out (so yeah on Jeffery), also Hernandez can line up in the backfield on some downs to really give an opposing defence fits. We have the players to comprise a solid complimentary run game….converting third downs with explosive runs (Ridley), or power (healthy Benny), or screen (Woody), or slant (Vereen) or play action (respect the run game) would be too sweet.

    I think McCourty improves next year, Dowling plays the other side, Arrington stays with his strength in the slot, with Molden and Moore doing a great job on special teams and in dime packages. We nail down a safety via free agency because we need experience in the middle to complement Chung’s talent, but Barron in the second would be too good to pass on. Two play-makers on both levels of the front seven would be awesome, but I would take Cam Johnson with the versatility argument.

    Hold your heads up Patriots. I am proud of this season and I think the near future will be even more fulfilling. GO PATS!!!!!

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  • Bhdyer20

    Yes you are right because the drafts have been awful lately I mean they only got Solder, Gronkowski, Hernandez, Chung out of the draft recently and those guys have had no impact on the team.  Bill has no idea what he is doing right?  I mean getting the team to the Super Bowl (the team he built his way) what a joke.

  • Where’s the beef?

    There is a gunner on Rutgers that I bet Bill has his eye on.  Maybe a WR out of a running school that has never caught a pass, or an injury prone cornerback, something like that.  One thing is for sure – the Patriots will not use both first round picks, they’ll trade down and after the draft everyone will be scratching their head about why the needs in the secondary or WR weren’t addressed.

  • Billy

    not exactly on topic, but it seemed like they avoided drafting a pass rusher this season because they thought they had one in Albert Haynesworth and he was a complete bust. I completely agree that they need to find a reliable option in this regard. The Pats have had absolutely 0 pass rush since they nickle-and-dimed Richard Seymour.

  • EarlSweatshirt

    “Gmoney”, in an attempt to dumb it down, let me explain the strategy.  Since Bill has more autonomy and job security than any coach in the league, he can take the long term approach.  Other coaches have to “win now”, and make poor value plays on an attempt to get immediate returns.  The Patriots consistently pick at the end of rounds (due to their success), so it makes sense to continuously trade a first rounder for a future first and a current second.  It basically gives them a free second rounder every year, and they have a chance to upgrade their 1st rounder for the next year.  It’s actually a no brainer, and it’s too bad Patriots fans/media can’t appreciate it more.  People need to seperate the actual selections from the process…he does a great job of manipulating the board and gathering the picks, the trading of the picks isn’t the problem…at times you can criticize the actual selections though.  But don’t request a “dumb it down” approach, which I assume is to ignore their own evaluations in lieu of “big names” from the Kipers and McShay’s of the world at glamour positions.

  • Lipper

    Ive been saying this for a long time now! Bill needs to sit pretty & take DE Crick as our pass-rusher, then grab WR Jeffery as our big game changer wideout, and grab S Barron to shore up the backend? Im praying Bill for once doesn’t trade these picks away, and if anything trade up this year to assure us as fans that we get a pass rusher, big time wide out, and a game changing safety! Do it in Bill we trust.

  • EarlSweatshirt

    The Haynesworth deal happened way after the draft.  I assume they tampered during the lockout and had a good idea they’d land him, but they obviously didn’t know what type of shape he’d show up, and I can’t imagine Belichick relied on him.  I think the guys they liked just didn’t slip to them, it’s that simple.

  • Jimmy Freeze

    Whether thru Draft or free agency, they need to add 2 major impact defensive guys to Secondary, LB corps or D-line…plus, add at least 1 experienced outside/downfield threat on offense.

    There are several FA’s that fit the description, but will they pay market price?
    It’s hard getting the impact defensive players in the late 20′s…unless you are lucky, they are all usually gone before pick 15

    Other viable draft options are Donta Hightower
    and the DL guy from UConn that had a strong Senior Bowl

  • EarlSweatshirt

    The nickle and diming thing with Seymour is a joke.  You do realize that there have been rumors that Seymour is going to be cut this offseason right?  You do realize he wasn’t an elite pass rusher, right?  Why are Boston fans so ignorant about football?

  • Matt

    add to the list: Dont’A Hightower, DeQuan Menzie, Courtney Upshaw (if he slips, BIG If, but still).

  • B.

    i want a true young pass-rusher as well but i wouldnt say we had no pass rush. Andre Carter and Mark Anderson each had double digit sack totals. Know the last time that happened to this team? Never in the Belichick era.
    Anderson is purely a 3rd down player, but A healthy Andre Carter this year was just as good as Seymour. unfortunately with his age no idea how he returns from that injury.

  • Bhdyer20

    Or how bout a Tight End with questions about a back injury…that guy caught 90+ passes this year.  People want to act like the guy doesn’t draft well but look at the roster and look at which of those guys were drafted by Belichick.

  • B.

    its just reality , people love to point out only the negatives with the Pats. Like how everyone loves pointing out the busts of Haynesworth and Ocho Cinco. Valid, but lets not forget how HUGE and just less publicized the signigns of Andre Carter, Brian Waters, and Mark Anderson were

  • Rob

    I’m with you on that, PASS RUSHER DE or OLB, BIG GAME CHANGER WIDEOUT, and PLAYMAKING SAFETY !!! … Cant wait till the draft !!!!

  • Bigpapasmurth

    we’ll trade away all of high picks for bust outs in late rounds 

  • BIGDADDY2

    FIRE BILL BELICHECK !

  • http://twitter.com/SteveB7SFG Steve Balestrieri

    DJ, Did you just move to Boston from Mars? LOL Everyone knows that BB will rave about how great the edge rushers are in the draft and ………….pass them by. BB doesn’t draft those type guys, and prefers to bring in veterans (Anderson, Carter)

    I refuse to get excited about edge rushers any more in the draft. They will take a DB with one of their two 1st rd picks and trade down with the other to a 1st rd pick in 2013 and another 2nd or 3rd round pick.

    I do like Jeffery a lot, I watched quite a few SC games and he’s a big, physical WR who can make the big plays, and would be an intriguing option. He played in the very tough SEC where the competition is excellent every week. You think he lasts to Rd 2 though?

    I hope they don’t draft another smurf CB however, they’ve seen what happens too often with those

  • mikepatriot

    I’ll type it untill the cows come home; Corner(s), Corners, Corners. ELITE CORNERS. JOB ONE. EVERYTHING else after that diminishes in importance. Number two, a great wide out, number three a corey dillon clone, number 4, a rusher.

  • mikepatriot

    if Carter can come back, will be more than adequate for that task. Prioprity one of 4; Elite corner(s). number 4, a good pass rusher if available.

  • Anonymous

    WANTED: 2 WIDE RECEIVERS—STRONG SAFETY—DEFENSIVE END—CENTER

  • http://www.facebook.com/alex.quirk Alex Quirk

    Who ever did this mock draft is off, Alshon Jeffery is projected to be a 1st round pick. He’s too talented to be projected in the 2nd round. As someone whose personally followed Jeffery through his years in South Carolina, he’s a great threat, people think he’s going to Jax in the first

  • Rcipo77

    If history repeat itself,Belichick will pick none of the above players. Wes Walker and Assante Samusal have two things in common….can you guess what????

  • Anonymous

    Pats are due for a great draft

  • Guest

    BB should trade chad ochostinko for dwight howard

  • DP

    BIGDADDY2  I have been saying this for a while now.

  • Dano S

    Here is what I would do for Pats draft.1)Mark Barron S Alabama 1)Devon Still DL Penn St
    2)Coby Fleener TE Stanford 2)Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois 3)David Wilson RB Virginia Tech
    4)Harrison Smith S ND.Also sign Reggie Wayne and let Ocho take his new discipline back to Cincy
    with there new QB.

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