Another pick at No. 7

Mike,

I think your getting closer to a good pick at #7, but I don't think Harvey is fast enough to play OLB. He's better in run support which at OLB you need someone who is fast and could get to the QB. If anything he would transition to ILB.

I like the pick being a DE, but if you want someone to play OLB look at Gholston or Quentin Groves.

What do you think of Keith Rivers? In this scenario, with the top LB, DT and CB all gone, I go Rivers.

McFadden and Ryan fell right in your lap and you couldn't make a case for either.

Ryan could be a leverage play to force one of the teams hoping he would fall to them like Carolina or Baltimore to step up and make a trade while they are on the clock.

McFadden is a rare talent and even though Maroney came on later in the year, more and more teams are going with a running back by committee approach and protecting themselves. If I were 100% certain that Sammy Morris would be healthy and just as good as last year... but then again McFadden is in another league probably even better than Maroney.

Don't reach with the #7 pick, you have to pay the slot not the player and this is a case where even though we are all screaming for help on defense, we may have to wait until the 2nd round and two picks in the 3rd to get that help.

Mike knows better than I do -- and if this unfolded the Pats are certainly going to trade for either McFadden (Dallas) or Ryan --but how could they not take McFadden here, given this scenerio ?

Hi Andy M. Gholston was not available in this scenario. Acknowledging that I know very little about these prospects, I'd probably still stick with Harvey over Groves. At that outside linebacker spot in the 3-4, I don't think it's as much about speed as it is strength/power to take on offensive tackles and tight ends and Harvey seems to fit that profile a bit better. Steve, on Rivers, that would make sense. I guess the question is if he runs well enough. I remember one knock on last year's linebacker class -- specifically the middle/inside guys -- was that it didn't run particularly well. Rivers ran a reported 4.63 at the combine, which probably gave some teams pause. That's not a great number. But in this scenario, I could see them going that way. Michael, if I could trade the pick, I surely would but that is not an option in these formats. As for McFadden, I feel fairly certain he won't even be a consideration.
--Mike

Mike, with all due respect, don't give up your journalism career just yet. Draft pics, particularly in this high in the draft are about picking the best value. It would be foolish to take anything less than a coveted difference maker at this position in the draft.

If the Patriots selected McFadden, they could likely trade for two picks in this draft, say a first and second round in 2008. Or they could trade him outside of the draft for a decent LB/CB plus a pick or two in 2009.

So I would take McFadden here since the Longs, Ghoulston etc. are off the Board. Ryan would be a choice except that anyone with half a brain is going to know that he has no value to the patriots behind the league's arguably best quarterback. So unless the patriots get offers for the #7 pick before they select, I would not take him. Besides, Herm Edwards may take him off the boards in any event.

I think it is getting obvious that if they get the chance they will draft Veron Gholston, and he has been going up the draft boards since the combind. But who knows everyone said it was impossible for the Pats to get Richard Seymore and look what happend. I just really hope we get him though. Becuase he really looks like something

Our only shot at Ghoulston appears to be if both McFadden and Ryan, both Longs, plus Dorsey and Ellis (or another cornerback) are selected 1-6. I think Dorsey's injuries will cause him to drop, and anyone that overlooks Gholston for a player with injuries or a decent but not outstanding cornerback will have a fan rebellion on their hands...... So while I'd love to see him at #7, it looks unlikely.

But yes, the draft is unpredictable. Who saw Randy Moss coming to NE at a bargain price and a 4th round pick. Maybe this year we'll trade to Cinci and put Chad Johnson opposite Randy Moss. Because of Bellicheck and Brady, we are still the best place for rehabilitating playoff hungry athletes wanting more than just money.

if the draft went as you have for picks 1-6, the PATs 100% would trade their pick to any number of teams looking to draft Matt Ryan. would be a dream scenario for the Pats.