New England Patriots on Paper - With Shazier now unlikey, Belichick should take familiar route in draft

Do we need to give up on any hope that our Ryan Shazier prediction for the Patriots at pick number 29 would ever happen, given his rising popularity?

Our original pick for the Patriots with their late first round selection was a then-third round graded out Shazier, simply because his scheme versatility and stupid-fast playing speed made him look like an excellent choice both for a hard-hitting Big Nickle and as talented depth on the weak side of the linebacking corps...

...but he has steadily climbed the board in the weeks since the combine and now could be a low 20's pick to Green Bay or Arizona - and unless someone like Eric Ebron, Aaron Donald, C. J. Mosely or Joel Bitonio dropped into Bill Belichick's wheelhouse where he would feel comfortable moving up a couple of spots to grab them, this looks like another trade down year.

If the Patriots keep their first rounder:

1.Joel Bitonio - OT/OG, Nevada - Shazier is the pick if he is here, but word is he won't get past Green Bay at 21, so the Patriots start their reload on the offensive line with a can't-miss, clean prospect with a mean streak a mile wide.  Played tackle at Nevada but will most likely need to move inside to guard in the pros.  Exceptionally strong and takes pride in devouring defensive lineman.

2.Jeremy Hill - RB, LSU - at 6' 1" and 235 pounds, is a unique threat as he can play it anyway you want - he will power through the line or slash through a hole to daylight and has good hands, both in protecting the ball and for snagging passes curling out of the backfield and is instinctive in pass protection.  Most commonly compared to Corey Dillon, and the kind of kid the Patriots can build a power running game around.

3.Marqueston Huff - SS/CB, Wyoming - Belichick's annual surprise defensive back, though Huff is a legitimate second day talent.  Smart, fast and tough with terrific range as a safety with rare closing speed in support and has the straight-line speed to stick vertically.  Perhaps smaller that many teams would prefer from their defensive backs given the current trends, but an incredible talent buried in an average program.

4.Russell Bodine - C, North Carolina - Mean and nasty interior load that delivers his best shot snap after snap - real lunch pail type and also has some swing versatility. Excellent in pass protection and looks to level linebackers in the run game.

4.Marcel Jensen - TE, Fresno State - skill set was woefully under-used in Fresno's spread offense, making him a bit of a wildcard.  His history as a basketball player fits him in with the growing trend in tight ends toward the athletic pass catching type, but is also a load in the running game as an inline blocker.

6.Jeff Mathews - QB, Cornell - sloth-footed with very limited athleticism, Mathews is nevertheless exactly what the Patriots should be looking for to back up Brady for the next three seasons - has every leadership and intellectual trait necessary with big hands and a big accurate arm. Mathews could be developed into a fine replacement.

6.Kevin Pierre-Louis, OLB, Boston College -  A workout warrior, Pierre-Louis could very well be the most versatile linebacker in the class this side of Shazier, as he played the weakside for half of his college career, strong side the latter half, while playing the equivalent of nickle safety when the situation dictated - and he ran a 4.51 at the combine, plus finished in the top three in just about every agility drill there.

7.Ryan Carrethers - NT, Arkansas State - What Carrethers brings to the field can't be taught short and stout but strong as a house, was built to be a rotational two-gap run stuffer - and is NFL ready in that capacity.

Priority Free Agents: Blake Annen, TE, Cincinnati; Will Clarke, DE, West Virginia; Devin Street, WR, Pittsburgh; James Wilder, Jr., RB, Florida State; Jay Prosch, FB, Auburn; Larry Webster, DE/TE, Bloomburg College; James Baker, RB, Idaho; Richard Rodgers, TE, California; Jeff Janis, WR, Saginaw Valley State.

If the Patriots trade down for a second, fourth and seventh rounder:

2.Jeremy Hill - RB, LSU - at 6' 1" and 235 pounds, is a unique threat as he can play it anyway you want - he will power through the line or slash through a hole to daylight and has good hands, both in protecting the ball and for snagging passes curling out of the backfield and is instinctive in pass protection - most commonly compared to Corey Dillon.

2..Laurent Duvernay-Tardif - OT/OG, McGill University - plays both tackle and guard positions for McGill College and is expected to be the top pick in the Canadian Football League draft.  Is a nasty street fighter in the trenches and would project at one of the guard positions with the natural ability to slide out to tackle is needed.

3.Marqueston Huff - SS/CB, Wyoming - Belichick's annual surprise defensive back, though Huff is a legitimate second day talent.  Smart, fast and tough with terrific range as a safety with rare closing speed in support - arriving with a big pop -  and has the straight-line speed to stick vertically.  Perhaps smaller that many teams would prefer from their defensive backs given the current trends, but an incredible talent buried in an average program.


4.Ed Stinson - DE, Alabama - 6' 3" and a stout 290 pounds, and just might be the ticket in Foxborough - country strong, he doesn't worry about fancy moves, he just drives the tackle back into the pocket and may be the best 4-3 defensive end against the run in the class.  Similar in build to former teammate Dont'a Hightower and has a similar upside in versatility as he can move inside, all the way if needed.  Terrific value in the fourth round.

4.Marcel Jensen - TE, Fresno State - skill set was woefully under-used in Fresno's spread offense, making him a bit of a wildcard.  His history as a basketball player fits him in with the growing trend in tight ends toward the athletic pass catching type, but is also a load in the running game as an inline blocker.

4.Russell Bodine - C, North Carolina - Mean and nasty interior load that delivers his best shot snap after snap - real lunch pail type and also has some swing versatility. Excellent in pass protection and looks to level linebackers in the run game.

6.Jeff Mathews - QB, Cornell - sloth-footed with very limited athleticism, Mathews is nevertheless exactly what the Patriots should be looking for to back up Brady for the next three seasons - has every leadership and intellectual trait necessary with big hands and a big accurate arm. Mathews could be developed into a fine replacement.


6.Kevin Pierre-Louis, OLB, Boston College -  A workout warrior, Pierre-Louis could very well be the most versatile linebacker in the class this side of Shazier, as he played the weakside for half of his college career, strong side the latter half, while playing the equivalent of nickle safety when the situation dictated - and he ran a 4.51 at the combine, plus finished in the top three in just about every agility drill there.

7..Blake Annen  - TE, Cincinnati - Produced exceptional results at his pro day, blazing a 40-time (4.41) faster than many receivers. Scrappy in-line blocker, who sustains the block and always tries to drive the defender to the ground

7.Ryan Carrethers - NT, Arkansas State - What Carrethers brings to the field can't be taught short and stout but strong as a house, was built to be a rotational two-gap run stuffer - and is NFL ready in that capacity.

Priority Free Agents: Will Clarke, DE, West Virginia; Devin Street, WR, Pittsburgh; James Wilder, Jr., RB, Florida State; Jay Prosch, FB, Auburn; Larry Webster, DE/TE, Bloomburg College; James Baker, RB, Idaho; Richard Rodgers, TE, California; Jeff Janis, WR, Saginaw Valley State.