Reloading the Musket - Part 3: Patriots' offensive balance dependent on three-down back

So, what can we take from the fact that for the second year in a row, the New England Patriots have let a productive running back escape their system in free agency - and for very affordable money.

It raises questions for sure, not the least important of which is why Gillette Stadium seems to be turning into a clearing house for quality running backs - and also taking into account how the experts regard the position to be devalued in the modern NFL.

Last offseason, It was Danny Woodhead, whom the Patriots let walk to San Diego under what would have been an easy to absorb two-year, $3.5 million deal for what was essentially the same role that he played in Foxborough - that of a quick-twitch, jitterbug third-down back...

Towson's Terrance West could be a mid-round gem

...while hammer back LeGarrette Blount, whom the Patriots picked up in a draft weekend trade with Tampa Bay last offseason was allowed to bolt for Pittsburgh under a similar deal for a backup role with the Steelers.

The backlash for the Woodhead debacle was muted somewhat due to the outrage over first the Wes Welker defection to the Broncos, then the news that Rob Gronkowski needed back surgery and wouldn't be ready for the start of the season and then the sobering reality that Aaron Hernandez was a murderous thug...

...but then came to the forefront when third down back Shane Vereen broke his wrist in the first game of the season in the role that he took over in the place of Woodhead - coupled with the lack of familiar receiving targets for quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots' offense suffered and sputtered like it never had in the Bill Belichick era.

And now, Blount has bolted to Pittsburgh, leaving the Patriots "power" ground game in the sometimes slippery mitts of Stevan Ridley, seldom used Brandon Bolden and Vereen - and what's worse, is that all three are in a contract year, making it very difficult to keep the group together beyond this season.

Fortunately, the Patriots didn't bite on the contract demands of any aging veterans on the market - so with no viable options beyond the backs currently on the roster entering their big payday audition season, it would appear that the draft is where the Patriots will be seeking to add to the depth chart.

And they need to, because if they learned nothing else from the Woodhead error, it's that fortune favors the prepared, and in this case, being prepared is having a solid backup plan.

But what is a solid backup plan to Belichick?

Belichick had a backup plan in Shane Vereen when he let Woodhead test the market, but the Blount one year rental is where things become murky.  When Belichick traded for Blount, the thought was that the team was going to become more balanced offensively, with Ridley and Blount serving as power backs with Vereen and Bolden in a more all-purpose role.

And we saw snippets of the balance throughout the first dozen games, but it wasn't until the already shaky receiving corps suffered so many injuries that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels had no choice but to feature a run-heavy attack that Patriots' fans truly witnessed what that running game was capable of - and so dominating was it that the feeling was that the team would ensure Blount remained to pick up where the group left off.

But he's gone - which leaves one to wonder exactly what the offense is going to look like.  It truly is a make-or-break year for all of the runners on the roster and we've probably seen the best of what the team is going to get from them.  They are all capable, so Belichick could elect to go into the season with his 2012 version of the running game...

...or he could try to build on last season's success through the draft by going after a big featured back that the team hasn't had since Corey Dillon left as part of the failed and wrong Laurence Maroney experiment, and because Brady hasn't had a three-down guy that he could turn and give the ball to 20 times and throw it to four or more times a game since Antowain Smith left a dozen years ago.

And that's what is needed.  The Denver Broncos were able to shut down New England's offense in the AFC Title Game because Brady's receiving options were limited, and because his two lead backs were runners only and didn't offer much in the passing game, the Broncos' front seven were able to tee off on Brady because they knew what was coming depending on who was on the field.

Ridley is a strong runner but has stone for hands, and all three backs are borderline as far as size to physically handle the beating that at bell cow receives, and all have had limiting injuries in their tenure - leaving the door open for a less expensive option for the next four years through the draft.

The only question is, what kind of draft capital is Belichick willing to invest in the running game?  If he wants one of the top runners in the class, a kid that he can leave on the field for three downs without rendering the offense predictable, he's probably going to have to cough up a second rounder, at minimum.

Carlos Hyde is powerfully built at 6' 0" and 230 pounds, and the Ohio State product is the bell cow type back that seems to get stronger and nastier as the game progresses, and he completes the picture with solid in pass protection skill and shows soft hands in the pattern.

Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey is perhaps the most gifted runner in the class, with similar size and skill to Hyde and could find his way into being someone's franchise back with his combination of speed, power and receiving ability - but some teams have reportedly dropped him from their big boards due to lingering off-field issues...

...which also rings true for LSU running back Jeremy Hill, who 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.

Auburn's Tre Mason rounds out the top of the class, and there's little not to like.  A squatty back but lightning quick through the hole, Mason is an impact receiver and dependable in pass protection. Explosive one-cut style - when he sees a hole he gains it more quickly than any other back in the class.  Has additional value as an experienced kick returner.

It seems unlikely that New England will again settle for backs with limited skill set, but there are some backs that can be had in the middle rounds that could develop into the triple-threat back that that could make the offense a little more unpredictable.

Though smallish, Florida State's Devonta Freeman could be a late second day gem as he has the ability of any of the top backs, but back issues hurt his stock while having the luxury of running behind one of the better offensive lines in the college ranks inflates his value somewhat, but is an explosive runner with a slippery side that could become a three-down back

There are other smaller backs that project for the mid rounds, and speedsters such as Oregon game-breaker De'Anthony Thomas and Kent State's Dri Archer could fit into a third down back type of role, but the best of the smaller backs could be Towson's Terrance West.

While standing just 5' 9" tall, West is impressive physically at 225 pounds, is uniquely built to handle the rigors of running between the tackles, lower his pads to initiate contact with the defender and has an extra gear once he breaks free - and his receiving skill are top notch.  He does have room to improve in pass protection and he has a lot of carries to his credit already, but has enough tread left to contribute through a rookie contract.

Adding to the intrigue,  New England Patriots assistant to the coaching staff Mike Lombardi was in attendance at West's pro day and had a private meeting with him afterwards.

Boston College's Heisman Trophy finalist Andre Williams is a taller prospect in the same mold, but his lack of production in the passing game makes him a bit of a wildcard.In years past, Williams would have been the type of back taken in the first round with his bruising running style and decent speed - but in today's NFL that features a rotation of backs that can pass block and wheel out into the pattern, Williams is an anomoly.

Washington's Bishop Sankey is speedy and instinctive, but there really doesn't seem to be a need for a back like Sankey in the Patriots' offense. While a good receiver, his pass protection skills are far from elite and generally only gets what's blocked for him in the running game - the same going for West Virginia's Charles Sims but with the explosiveness that Sankey does not possess.

Sims doesn't project as an every down back, which isn't a concern in New England's rotational philosophy, but could be very productive in a Shane Vereen-type role as much of his damage in College came after the catch.  Durability is his biggest concern, which is why he's not more highly rated.

A list of potential late-round developmental types is led by three bigger backs, starting with Florida State's  James Wilder, Jr.  - at 6' 3" and 235 pounds, Wilder relies on brute strength to make up for his limited foot speed, but is a hammer up the middle and an effective cutter on the edge.  He has good hands and is decent in pass protection, which makes this plodding but powerful and explosive runner a good fit for New England's stable of rotational backs, but maybe not a feature back...

...while Idaho's James Baker may be the best back that no one's ever heard of - an  excellent smaller school prospect with terrific size and tremendous speed and soft hands.  At 6' 1" and 240 pounds, Baker ran a 4.55 and blew the doors off his pro day with his receiving and run after the catch ability, but the small school competition couple with ball security lapses make him a late-round or priority free agent project.

LSU's Alfred Blue is a tall back with room to get bigger if need be, with a sliding running style like the departed Blount but with more speed and decent hands but is an absolutely atrocious blocker - which is something that can be coached, but still places him in the priority free agent level.

Reloading the Musket - Part 2: Middle rounds plentiful in hybrid tight ends for Patriots

One of the most fascinating parts of the NFL offseason team building process is watching the ebbs and flows of the various positions in regard to strength of class.

A perfect example of this for Patriots' fans has to be the tight end position, which started out the process viewed by many as the undisputed top need for the team, but has disintegrated into a second or third priority, mostly due to the hype surrounding the prospects leveling off and - in some cases - going into a free fall.

Colorado State's Crockett Gillmore is an interesting hybrid tight end

There is also the fact that the decisions Bill Belichick has made in free agency suggests that perhaps the idea of trying to maintain a tight end-centric attack is too limiting for the offense and that he's going a different direction with the team.

Of course, the idea of the modern two tight end attack - though not his original idea - was innovative and caused the other teams in the AFC East to build their defenses accordingly, but neither Rob Gronkowski nor Aaron Hernandez could stay healthy and it was rare to have them in the lineup together...

...so the idea last season was to sign a hybrid tight end that had the bulk to line up aligned with the tackle to support the running game, and also had the athleticism to around the lineup to create mismatches in the passing game - but it never materialized.

Instead, Gronkowski ended up on the operating table multiple times, and Hernandez changed his address to the Iron Bar Motel just before training camp, leaving the tight end cupboard relatively bare - and since the draft had already passed and all the good players in free agency were long gone, the Patriots started the season with an offense in flux and scrambling.

Gronkowski is still around but probably not going to be ready to start the season on the gameday roster, leaving Michael Hoomanawanui and D. J. Williams on the depth chart - and, with no offense to those players intended, they are just going to make the nut.

Belichick didn't target reinforcements in free agency, slim as the pickings were, so it appears imperative that something be done in the draft - perhaps not a big name like an Eric Ebron or a Jace Amaro, and maybe not even a "second tier" selection, because while this draft class may be devoid of a Gronkowski or a Hernandez, it is full of players who are a little bit of both.

At the beginning of the process, Texas Tech's Jace Amaro was the trendy pick for the Patriots amongst the national and local media and, subsequently, the fan base - his combination of size and speed having both entities drooling over the prospect of watching the athletic Amaro stretching the seam.

But once his limitations - light blocker and stiff in his routes - emerged, he began to be viewed as a one dimensional slot target who could be easily chipped by pro defensive ends and offered little after the catch, essentially a one-year wonder in college after his first two seasons were marred by off field issues and a string of minor injuries.

That is not to say that Amaro wouldn't be a fantastic pick up who could take a bit of heat off of Rob Gronkowski - except for the fact that what Amaro does best, stretch the seam, is also one of Gronkowski's top attributes, and that he offers very little as a blocker in-line makes his skill set a mid-round value to the Patriots, and they may not being willing to spend top draft currency on a limited talent.

North Carolina's Ebron will not be around when the Patriots' pick at 29, if they pick there at all, so he can be taken off the Patriots' big board all together.  Some will argue that his pro day performance brought his draft stock down a bit - what with a plethora of dropped passes and still nursing a hamstring injury suffered at the combine, but some tight end-needy team will see enough to ensure he's taken in the top 20.

Washington's Austin Seferian-Jenkins is a more balanced product than either Ebron or Amaro, and his so-called "Character issues" are way overblown, but the concern is how the better defenses in the Pac-12 were able to neutralize him for periods in games last season and is a bit of a project as an in-line blocker, but could still present the appropriate value at the end of the second round.

Troy Niklas emerged as a legitimate tight end prospect in the past couple of years after converting from defensive end and outside linebacker - a value coveted by deep-thinking position coaches, due to the ingrained defensive mind-set which presents a quick twitch advantage as he is fundamentally familiar with how defensive coordinators work to build game plans to contain athletic tight ends.

Conversions are not without growing pains, however, so Niklas is still a work in progress.  Coming out of high school, Niklas was ranked in the top 25 of high school recruits at offensive tackle, and his bloodlines suggest such - Hall of Fame tackle Bruce Matthews an uncle and mentor, so the inline blocking genetics are at work in his favor.  Of the prospects in the top two rounds, Niklas has the greatest upside.

A more polished prospect, however, could be Iowa's C. J. Fiedorowicz , already a better blocker than any of the talent ahead of him on the big board, he is also a reliable receiver - though his work ethic is in question as he routinely relied on his size alone to manhandle Big 10 defenses, he is still the most balanced of the prospects in the class and could be taken higher than his third round grade.

These four athletes represent the upper tier of tight end prospects in the draft, but by no means are they only players that present value to the Patriots.

While many are clamoring for the Patriots to take a flyer on troubled Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla as a mid to late round gem, the baggage that come with him has "locker room cancer" written all over it. 

Tales abound of his frequent outbursts when presented with authoritative figures and their tasking.  Many are blaming this on his dysfunctional childhood, but that doesn't matter.  The problems exist no matter where they came from and he apparently has a narcissistic streak that rivals that of Kellen Winslow, Jr., whom the Patriots cut after one game two seasons ago rather than deal with his behavior.

That issue aside, the middle rounds of the draft are probably where the Patriots will be focused when seeking a tight end, and there are many intriguing prospects - both developmental and NFL-ready - awaiting their names to be called, particularly for those teams looking for a prospect with a more balanced game.

Colorado State's Crockett Gillmore is pretty much exactly what the present-day Patriots should be looking for in a tight end - a willing, chippy blocker with tremendous size and a nasty streak in dealing with blocking defensive ends and outside linebackers, regularly playing through the whistle and taking pride in knocking the opposing player on his can.

Combine that with his soft hands and football intelligence, perhaps the best hand/eye coordination in the class on top of timing and release to create separation, he could - at least on paper - handle all of the inline responsibilities as well as line up in multiple locations in the formation, making him a true "move" tight end in New England's system.

Fresno State's Marcel Jensen is a virtual clone of Gillmore in terms of skill set, yet this skill set was woefully

Fresno State's Marcel Jensen

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 - at least, that's what he showed in limited reps in college.

The rest of the prospects are of the developmental variety and should be available on the third day of the draft - led by Florida's Trey Burton, who is small for the position and is more of an H-back, logging snaps at Florida as a "wildcat" type quarterback, fullback, half back, wide receiver and, of course, tight end.  His smallish frame may render him to that of a slot receiver, but otherwise he is a man without a true position...

...and the same goes for Missouri Western product Reggie Jordan.  At 6' 3" and 240 pounds and running a 4.77, Jordan easily managed to dominate his small school opposition, but at the big school and pro levels, he is a developmental H-Back with tremendous upside if he ever refines his route running and blocking techniques.

Local product Rob Blanchflower may get a look-see from the Patriots but it's hard to imagine that he could be much more than an inline blocker and occasional red zone threat, as he has reliable hands and is a willing pass catcher, but with limited athleticism - same with Dixie State's Joe Don Duncan.

But for those who think far outside the box, a name to remember could be Bloomsburg College defensive end Larry Webster.  At 6' 5", 260 pounds, Webster has 4.58 speed and an offensive mindset, which saw him as a red zone target in High School and College.  Though he prefers to play on defense (solely due to familiarity with that side of the ball), his slight frame and little room to add bulk may dictate a switch to Tight End - very much like a former Patriots player named Mike Vrabel - A very intriguing prospect.

Alfonzo Dennard out of the poke, Now must confront moves made by Patriots

Alfonzo Dennard was released from a Nebraska jail this afternoon, but when he looks at the moves the Patriots have made in free agency he's going to wonder if he just came out of a time capsule instead.

It's not as if the 3rd year cornerback didn't know what was going on with his employer while he was rubbing elbows with Bubba, but now he must confront the reality of life on the outside - and one of the first things he's going to want to do is to get hold of Bill Belichick and get a synopsis and a game plan for his future.

photo courtesy David Silverman/NEP

Friday eclipsed the predetermined "Good Behavior" date for Dennard's release from the Lancaster County Adult Detention Center, where he was serving a 60 day sentence for violating the terms of his probation stemming from a 2012 felony conviction for slugging a plain-clothed police officer in the face outside of a Lincoln nightclub.

Dennard received probation and community service for a transgression that could have cost him five years of his life in the Iron Bar Motel, something that didn't seem to settle well with the local police, as they diligently prosecuted Dennard last summer after he was pulled over and arrested on suspicion of Driving under the influence when he reportedly straddled a lane line...

"The New England Patriots have decided not to release cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who was arrested by Lincoln, Nebraska police officers under suspicion of DUI last week - the same officers who would have loved to see him serve the maximum five year sentence for striking a police officer last April, yet saw him walk out of the county courthouse and right into the Patriots' defensive huddle.

It's a brand of justice that no one wants to be subjected to, but Dennard walked right into it, leaving a nightclub in downtown Lincoln, getting behind the wheel of a car - knowing that the cops had it out for him - and managing to straddle a lane line.

Whether he was intoxicated or not is a matter of much conjecture, as are the phantom breathalyzer tests and Dennard's refusal to submit to a blood test, and the Patriots' decision has to make one wonder if Dennard is guilty of anything but poor judgment." Foxborough Free Press, July 19, 2013

Regardless of motivation, the jail time is behind Dennard and his entire football career is ahead of him - all he has to do now is to stay out of Lincoln and return to Foxborough, where he is set to start the 2014 NFL season under the mentoring presence of Darrelle Revis, starting the season opposite the best corner in the business - barring some sort of punishment from the NFL for the DUI.

The Patriots have also signed press corner Brandon Browner, but Browner will serve a four-game suspension to start the season, giving Dennard the opportunity to showcase his wares in hopes that the job will still be his once Browner is eligible to play...

...but even if Browner steps into the spot across from Revis and renders the University of Nebraska product a nickle option, Dennard will know that being on the sidelines is the easiest stretch of time he's done lately.

Patriots bid adieu to Adrian Wilson

He didn't play even one snap for the New England Patriots, but just his presence was enough to spark heated debates on social media platforms.

Whoops!  No, we're not talking about Tim Tebow - rather, the subject you've chosen is "Aging and injured strong safeties who were released by the Patriots on Friday" and the answer is "Who is Adrian Wilson.".

Wilson was released by New England on Friday afternoon, much to the chagrin of a small minority of media and fans who thought that the elder Wilson would challenge second year man Duron Harmon for the starting strong safety position - and Wilson's announcement on Twitter waxed of what others already knew, that he wouldn't ever play a down for the Patriots:

Can't make the club in the tub
— Adrian Wilson (@adrian_wilson24) April 4, 2014

The Patriots save two-third of a million bones against the cap in releasing the 34 year old who spent all of last season on the Patriots' Injured Reserved List after shredding his Achilles Tendon in the final preseason game- coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft doing the veteran a solid in allowing him to collect his salary rather than releasing the 12-year veteran.

It is unclear whether Wilson will garner much interest on the open market, given the severity of last season's injury while factoring in his age, but Arizona Cardinals' fans who had hoped that Wilson - whom the team drafted in the 3rd round of the 2001 NFL draft - would play his entire career with them are probably going to get their wish...

...and the release also means that the folks who make replica jerseys can go ahead and stitch the name "Revis" above the number 24 from this point forward...

Reloading the Musket - New England Patriots 2014 Draft Big Board

For many who follow professional football, the team building process during the offseason is just as scintillating as the last two minutes of a tight game - except that in the offseason, your team is competing against the other 31 teams in the NFL rather than just one opponent...


...and not just that alone, as the common fan is being constantly bombarded with opinion on team needs, player ranking and how dumb the coaches and general managers are by media and fan alike for not throwing caution to the wind and selecting the players in free agency and the draft that the opined know will be a great fit.

That said, it seems that very little actual thought goes into what most journalists throw onto their websites or into the pages of their newspapers, rather, just an "averaging out" of the opinions of a handful of experts - not taking into account that most of these national experts haven't the slightest clue the nuances that go into an individual team's collective mindset.

And it's not really a fault on their part, as they are tasked with the deadlines and constant badgering of slave-driving editors - relying on the information that they collect and derive from the individual team's beat writers, who get their intelligence from sources who may or not be insane/imaginary.

Regardless of where the disconnect originates, the fan is left with generalizations, rumor and innuendo.

The key in making an informed guess in these matters is in knowing your team on a criterion level that doesn't have to be intimate, or even from a "source" - rather, information that is known to be factual, and building upon that solid and fundamental base.

So...what do we know to be true?

Well, when it comes to roster building, a good place to start is knowing who the players are on the team, what the current Salary Cap level is, the number of draft choices the suits have to work with, the on-field philosophies and the habits and trends of the people making the decisions on all levels...

...which is what screws everything up and makes trying to foretell which college players the team is going to select in May's draft an inexact science at the most, and pure guess work at the least - which is all any prognosticator is able to do.

The best thing that any of us can do is to make sure that which ever direction New England Patriots' defacto General Manager and resident prankster Bill Belichick decides to go in the draft, that we are educated in what the choices are and how they fit the team concept - silently cursing Belichick for being so cryptic and weird while at the same time lauding him for putting together a team with 53 strips of bacon...and for being so cryptic and weird.

And with that, we begin a ten-part positional preview of the college prospects leading up to May's draft - and what you will find is not necessarily the positional rankings found on traditional all-encompassing boards, rather, a top 100 listing of players that would best fit in the Patriots' offensive and defensive schemes with our projections for the actual selections in bold...

...and always with the mindset that Belichick is going to pull a rabbit out of his hoodie at some point.


1st round 

Round 1: Ryan Shazier

Aaron Donald, DT/DE, Pittsburgh

Zack Martin, OT/OG, Notre Dame

Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina

Xavier Su'a-Filo, G, UCLA

Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State

Ryan Shazier, OLB/SS, Ohio State

C. J. Mosely, ILB, Alabama

Louis Nix, NT, Notre Dame

Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri

Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota

Round 2: DaQuan Jones (91)

2nd round

David Yankey, G, Stanford

Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State

Stephon Truitt, DT, Notre Dame

Carl Bradford, OLB, Arizona

Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech 

Carlos Hyde, RB, Ohio State

Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

Jimmie Ward, SS, Northern Illinois

Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise State 

Antone Exum, CB, Virginia Tech

Deone Bucannon, SS, Washington State

Dee Ford, DE, Auburn

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington 

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois

Lamarcus Joyner, CB/SS, Florida State

A. J. McCarron, QB, Alabama

Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State

Jason Verrett, CB, TCU

DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State 

Telvin Smith, ILB, Florida State

Kyle Van Noy, OLB, Brigham Young

Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State

Rashaad Reynolds, CB, Oregon State

Troy Niklas, TE, Notre Dame 

Round 3: Clarke

3rd round

C. J. Fiedorowicz , TE, Iowa

Marcus Smith, DE, Louisville

Kareem Martin, DE, North Carolina

Will Clarke, DE, West Virginia

Christian Jones, ILB, Florida State

Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington

Ed Stinson, DE, Alabama

Max Bullough, ILB, Michigan State

Dominique Easley, DT, Florida

Keith McGill, CB, Utah

Jeremy Hill, RB, LSU

Chris Borland, ILB, Wisconsin

Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State

Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State

Round 4: Dixon

Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin

Shayne Skov, ILB, Stanford +

Bryan Stork, C, Florida State

Adrian Hubbard, OLB, Alabama*

4th round

Craig Loston, SS, LSU

Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, T/G, McGill College

Brandon Thomas, G, Clemson

Round 4: Gillmore

Ahmad Dixon, SS, Baylor 

Marcel Jensen, TE, Fresno State

John Urschel, G/C, Penn State

Khairi Fortt, ILB, California

Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia

Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana

Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB, Nebraska

Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee

Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor

Tyler Larsen, C, Utah State

Preston Brown, ILB, Louisville

Josh Mauro, DE, Stanford

Jordan Zumwalt, ILB, UCLA

Caraun Reid, DT, Princeton

5th round

Joe Don Duncan, TE, Dixie State

Tenny Palepoi, DT, Utah

Andre Williams, RB, Boston College

Round 6: Savage

Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh

Pierre Desir, CB, Linwood College

Justin Ellis, DT, Louisiana Tech

Crockett Gillmore, TE, Colorado State

Prince Shembo, ILB, Notre Dame

Shaquil Barrett, OLB, Colorado State

Larry Webster, DE/TE, Bloomsburg College

Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas

Round 6: Long

Brent Urban  DE/DT

6th round

Kevin Pierre-Louis, OLB, Boston College

Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty College

David Fales, QB, San Jose State

James Wilder, Jr., RB, Florida State

Spencer Long, OG, Nebraska

Dion Bailey, SS/OLB, USC

Michael Sam, DE, Missouri


7th round

Round 7: Wilder

Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech

Aaron Lynch, DE, South Florida

Trey Burton, TE, Florida

Shaquille Richardson, CB, Arizona

Vinnie Sunseri, SS, Alabama

Rob Blanchflower, TE, Massachusetts

Dezmen Southward, SS, Wisconsin

Brock Vereen, FS, Minnesota

Reggie Jordan, TE, Missouri Western

Patrick Chung re-signs with Patriots

Patrick Chung is once again a member of the New England Patriots, but no one knows quite what to make of it.

On the surface, it looks as if Bill Belichick is replacing one expensive safety that doesn't wrap up when "tackling" in Steve Gregory with an inexpensive safety that doesn't wrap up either - both undersized and both looking to deliver the big hit...

...but while Gregory may be just about ready for the old-safety's home with years of wear on his legs, Chung may be worth a look in camp to see if his experience of being unwanted in New England and tossed out on his ass in Philadelphia was enough to break him of his lone-stallion ways and made him ready to be a part of the team.

The Patriots signed Chung on Thursday to probably a fraction of what he made playing for the Eagles last season, most likely in hopes that the 5' 11", 215 pound hard-hitting safety and former core special teamer can provide some competition in OTA's and in camp, perhaps using him as the equivalent of baseball's Mendoza Line to provide a bare minimum performance level in the safety corps, much the same as they did with Michael Jenkins and the receivers last preseason.

Though details of his contract have not been released, if can be reasonably assumed that the six-year veteran out of Oregon took a hefty pay cut to return to Foxborough.

The veteran minimum salary for a player with at least six years accrued is $685,000 according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and represents the low water mark for what the team might have offered Chung, with the seven year veteran minimum of $810,000 the top of the scale - the actual dollar amount landing somewhere between the two in all probability.

Regardless of the dollar amounts involved, Chung will not be guaranteed a roster spot, as second year man Duron Harmon has the inside track to the starting strong safety position opposite 2nd team All Pro Free Safety Devin McCourty, barring a major move at the position in the draft.

All told, the Patriots now have seven seven safeties - Chung, McCourty, Harmon, Adrian Wilson, Nate Ebner and Tavon Wilson - but that Patriots may not keep any more than four or five on the roster.

A Call To Arms - Projected 2014 New England Patriots' Draft Selections

In an era where instant gratification is key and virtually everything is disposable, it just goes to figure that professional football follows the social pattern.

Will Clarke is a virtual Chandler Jones clone

The current rookie salary structure in the National Football League emphasizes and dictates that it is far more economical for a franchise to draft and develop rather than go carte blanche in free agency. As a result, the most successful of teams in the long-term will turn over the majority of their roster in a five year cycle, which the Patriots have through the draft and with minimal, inexpensive free agent signings rather than go for the huge splash with top shelf veterans.

Why?  Well, the Patriots are projected to need only slightly less than $5 million against the cap in 2014 to sign their eight draft picks, and spent two and a half times that on one cornerback - granted, the best corner in the NFL, but it illustrates the point.

That said, the Patriots moves in free agency this offseason have been significant but, despite what the national press and Ravens' coach John Harbaugh are lamenting as an "Arms Race" between the Patriots and Denver, they have been minimal in number.

New England's free agency shopping spree consists of three signings, and while the Revis contract is out of character for the Patriots in their philosophy, the fact remains that it can be absorbed due to the incremental shift in the salary cap over the next three years.

The contracts for Brandon Browner and Brandon LaFell come in easily within the standard free agency money for their position, so the Patriots' spending is not so over the top as many wrongly assume.  These signings have altered the way that we need to look at the Big Board as it pertains to the team's needs, however.

With Revis and Browner, cornerback has gone from an area of potential need to a position of incredible strength and depth - and though it's possible that Darrelle Revis is essentially a one-year rental, the depth behind he and Browner are starting quality in Logan Ryan and Alfonzo Dennard, both young enough to be able to afford the mentoring of one of the greatest corner to ever play the game for a year or even two.

Receiver was pretty much set to begin with, but a huge question mark lies at the tight end position, where man/child/beast Rob Gronkowski is coming off more injuries and surgeries this offseason and something needs to be done to limit him being targeted for the big shot by defenders down the field - and the only true tight end signing has been for more of a blocking type in re-signing Michael Hoomanawanui...

...so many believe that New England will go for a tight end early in this draft - but in bringing in LaFell, the Patriots have a bigger body that works well both inside and outside, and played some tight end at Carolina and is noted for both his downfield and in line blocking.  The same goes for Mark Harrison, a big (6' 3", 235 pound) receiver who spent the entire 2013 season on the Patriots' non-football injury list, he could be the answer to fill the "move" tight end void created by Aaron Hernadez' transgressions - so we look for a tight end a bit later in the draft.

New England let LeGarrette Blount escape in free agency, and with the contracts of Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and Brandon Bolden all coming up for renewal after the 2014 season, prudence dictates that the Patriots need to get a running back to bring along behind those three, as it may be doubtful that New England is able to keep all three after this season.

Along the defensive line, the starting positions are fully stocked, and if there are needs among them it is for a developmental-type nose tackle and a designated nickle pass rusher.  Vince Wilfork is essentially on a one year contract and with only Sealver Siliga behind him on the depth chart, one could not blame the Patriots for looking to shore the position up before it becomes an issue...

...while the need for a nickle rusher on the defensive end has been ever present for many seasons now, and should be addressed with this deep draft class.

And one can not look to the future without accounting for Tom Brady's pending retirement, and the fact that current backup Ryan Mallett probably wouldn't want to hold a clipboard for another three years or so, the Patriots would do well to lock up their quarterback of the future in this draft - and while there is no clear-cut immediate franchise-type signal caller in the offing, there are a few that could be with time and professional coaching.

The offensive line needs work as well, but the re-signing of Ryan Wendell at center and the fact that the team hasn't approached guard Dan Connolly about restructuring his contract probably means that the Patriots enter camp with the same cast of characters that dominated in 2012, but seemed to take a step back in 2013.  There is great depth if all are healthy, however, but finding a mauler at guard to possibly replace left guard Logan Mankins in a year or two would make sense.

What does all of this mean?  Well, judge for yourself:

1. Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State - Identified before the combine as the best fit of all potential first rounders within reach of the Patriots at number 29, Shazier is what an evil scientist might piece together in a lab as the prototypical Big Nickle.

Shazier is lightning quick and his violent intent in the pass rush and run support, and has the kind of instincts and big hitting ability that makes receivers account for his whereabouts on the field before they go venturing over the middle.  He is projected as either a weak-side linebacker or a strong safety in the pros, but is it too much to ask for both?


2.  DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State - The signing of Vince Wilfork to a contract that carries team options for the next two seasons virtually assures that he won't be back in 2015 unless he absolutely kills it in 2014 due to the large roster bonus and cap hit the team will take, so it makes a ton of sense to bring in a player with a similar skill set - and similar bad rap - coming out of college.

Jones is a classic one-technique nose tackle with the bulk to collapse the pocket in the passing game and the girth to clog gaps and take on double teams in the running game.  The rap is that he takes plays off and loafs when the play doesn't come his way, which was exactly the report on Wilfork coming out of Miami 10 years ago. (6' 4", 322lbs)


3. Will Clarke, DE West Virginia - Every team would love to have a Chandler Jones, and if the Patriots select Clarke, they would have their own little Jones clone shop happening.

Excellent size and length (6' 6", 275 pounds) for the position, Clarke has a variety of pass rush moves that can take him both out into the flat to set the edge or to stunt inside where he can use his quickness to beat guards.


4. Ahmad Dixon,  SS, Baylor - the top true strong safety in the draft, Dixon is as physical as you could want, is an excellent blitzer, tremendous in run support and capable in covering running backs and tight ends underneath.  So versatile that he lined up in Baylor's "Bear" position, the hybrid Big Nickle SS/OLB position for his first two years in the program before concentrating mostly on the nuances of the safety position in 2013.


4. Crockett Gillmore, TE, Colorado State - A nasty inline and down field blocker who also has soft hands and catches everything thrown his way.  Excellent size (6' 6", 260 pounds) for the position and has the aptitude and experience to be a hidden gem as a "move" tight end.



6. Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh  - Played only one year at Pitt after transferring twice, Savage has a limited body of work but appears to have everything that the Patriots desire in a signal caller.  Tremendous football IQ, a sixth sense of where the rush is coming from and makes every NFL throw with ease.

Why is he so poorly rated and why does he drop to the sixth round?  He's not the flashiest of quarterbacks and isn't elite in anything except arm strength - and the knock on him is his limited experience and is raw in technique - a perfect candidate to be mentored by Tom Brady.


6. Spencer Long, G, Nebraska - tore his MCL and missed the second half of the 2013 season, but when healthy is a mauling road grader in the running game and a solid pass protector.  It remains to be seen how the injury affects his athleticism, but this is the kind of find that the Patriots develop and do well with.


7. James Wilder Jr., RB, Florida State - The son of former Tampa Bay running back James Wilder, Junior has the talent to become a better professional than he was a collegian, but he is a kid that could use some mentoring and some professional coaching.

He is very tall for a running back so it is viewed that he runs too high, but lowers his pad level and initiates contact with the defender instead of the other way around.  Violent striker and a one cut sledgehammer, he had some off field issues that are holding him back from a higher grade - that and he's not a home run hitter despite the highlight video.  With all three Patriots backs on the roster due a significant pay day after the season, it makes sense for New England to draft a project with tremendous upside.