Vijay Gentyala
Connector Contributor
As the period of NFL free agency winds down, teams are preparing themselves for the NFL Draft.
The New England Patriots made many key free agency moves to set themselves up for the draft. The addition of shut-down corner Darelle Revis, hard-hitting corner Brandon Browner, and the oft-injured ex-Patriot Patrick Chung solidifies the Patriots secondary.
The Patriots also added wide receiver Brandon Lafell to their youthful group of wide-outs. The retention of the nose-tackle, Vince Wilfork, and wide out Julian Edelman were crucial. Wilfork is the heart and soul of not only the defense, but the entire team.
On the other side of the football, Edelman is the most experienced and trusted out of the entire group of wide receivers.
Now with a clearer picture of where the team is heading, the Patriots can try to meet the rest of their needs through the Draft. The Patriots hold the 29th, 62nd, 93rd, 130th, 140th, 198th, 206th and 244th picks. The most glaring needs are at tight-end, defensive-end, strong safety, linebacker and maybe even at quarterback.
With the 29th pick, the Patriots can address many positions. However, the Patriots should trade down. This draft is deep with talent and the Patriots do not have as many picks as they are used to. If they do pick a player at the 29th spot, then it would most likely be defensive tackle Louis Nix III or defensive end Ra’shede Hageman.
The Patriots need a pure nose tackle, like Nix, to back up Wilfork. As fans saw last season, the Patriots were atrocious at defending the run without Wilfork, ranking 30th in the league at run defense. Many fans are clamoring for a wide receiver or tight-end to replace Aaron Hernandez and back up Rob Gronkowski.
Yet the Patriots may not value any of the top tight-ends that high, because they are not as versatile. North Carolina’s TE Eric Ebron and Texas Tech’s TE Jace Amaro comprise characteristics of a wide out, but lack the ability to consistently block. Notre Dame’s TE Troy Niklas and Iowa’s TE C.J. Feidorowicz are great blockers, but are liable in the passing game.
Moreover, the Patriots can select one of these TEs if any of them slide down into later rounds. Wide-receiver Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce and Kenbrell Thompkins may improve with one year under their belt. So, drafting a wide-receiver seems excessive.
Overall, head coach Bill Belichick might take the best player available with disregard to need or he will just trade down. But as hall of fame quarterback Tom Brady nears the end of his career, the Patriots should be in the win-now mode.
