Covering the corners

Gosh...you think the Pats might draft a linebacker or cornerback?

new england going back to the super bowl yea

Is Derrick Harvey scheduled to visit with the Patriots? I believe that's who they will be targeting after they trade down.

Antoine Cason will be able to step right in and start in place of Hobbs.

Mike Allen, why would you get rid of your #1 cb for a rookie? I don't know if this is a gimmick of yours to crap on him, but there is logic in your post.

It is surprising that Secrick Ellis has not been invited to visit. It is also surpriisng that there are no offensive linemen on this list, after what happened in the Superbowl.

I'm getting really sick of Mike Allen around these parts...

We get it man, you don't like Hobbs!

hobbs is a nickel corner at best, i agree with phillip rivers quote "ellis hobbs is the worse corner in the league" and if you watched any games last year or this year, its easy to see why, hobbs sucks!!!

I don't care a whole lot for Hobbs either. He can't cover anyone. He was a big reason the Patriots defense couldn't get off the field on 3rd down. They need a lot of help on defense. Old LB's, probably the worst bunch of DB's in the league and no outside pass rush at all. Seymour is way overrated.They had a terrible draft last year.The kid from Miami might make a safety. One good thing about the Patriots,we should be able to score a bunch of points again this year. I think they can get some pretty good DB's in the 2nd and 3rd round. I believe I would draft someone who can put some pressure on the QB whether it be on the d-line or from the LB position.

Kevin, the worst bunch of DBs in the league? Rodney can still play, that much is clear. They have Sanders and Meriweather at safety. Hobbs is a better than average starting CB (have you looked around the league?). Bryant was a starter last year -- if anything, that indicates that the Lions have a worse group of corners considering they haven't really replaced him. And the Pats also have a good prospect in Richardson. While there's certainly room for improvement, it's far from the worst in the league.

And their outside pass rush is fine. They were second in the NFL in sacks last year. It would be nice if they added a new OLB in the draft, but they're not exactly imploding...

Hobbs is definitely one of the worst. Every week I seem to watch him, and every week he seems to disappoint me. To be truthfully honest with you, I never even saw any real good reason why Samuel was any good either! He was over hyped BIG time. Ya he made some good interceptions, but they were the kind that any corner could make (even Hobbs had he been there). Truthfully the cornerback position has been the worst part of the pats defense in the past couple years. We should have never gotten rid of Ty Law.

And everyone keeps sayin that our LB corpse is goin down. I still saw Bruschi and Seau make some really good plays out there. Bruschi will be back and I know he'll still be kickin @$$.

And as for Harrison. He is the man. Without him I'd feel really screwed on defense

i would consider myself a knowledgeable pats fan and you guys are all dumb... They def need help at corner, I agree that Hobbs is not the best but he has the quickness and make up speed he gets put out on an island by himself more times than not and his size does not help him there. Sanders and Harrison both have trouble in coverage but they can both bring it to anyone coming across the middle so merriweather def. has to step up this season. Once again we are slow at linebacker losing colvin hurts alot but there is still that potential he might come back. As for the D line still our strongest point on Def but we do need a pass rusher somewhere. We were 2nd in sacks last year but if you guys watched football you would know that you have to throw when your down by 20. Offense should be ok. all you maroney haters dont know whatyou are talking about (Konicki) hes not bad and he is a great back for our offense besides that ouyr o line is fine even tho thats where we struggled in the suiperbowl bad. Whne that happened to us in previous years we used daniel gramh and if you knew really knew your stuff you would know that ben watson isnt a blocking tight end and besides him we wernt very stronig at TE last year hopefully chad jackson can help fill the void that stallworth left. They are similar types of recievers but jackson obviosly doesnt have the body of work that donte has. Anyway the pats schedule is once again on the not so tough side of things and if the Def can hold we will make another run at 16 wins in the regular season hopefully we can close it out. It could happen. I bet the pats are still ranked at one or two on your fav to win it all.

maybe we can still land one of the two prospects for free agency: Lito Shepard or Adam Jones, both would fit in well with bills system. What we truly need is a outside linebacker, when Colvin went out last year it left us exposed for not having true depth.. Rivers from USC would be the perfect fit, he is similar to Colvin but younger, and quicker..

Does anyone here know anything about football I think Not. Only three positions on D are up for grabs ILB OLB and CB . A healthy E Hobs will be fine at corner they just need an other to play next to him. If the pick at 7 they should take a corner like McKelven or Rodgers-Cromartie. I don't think Rivers Is worth the seventh pick or is big enough to play inside so they can get a LB in the second round like Mayo Or Lofton to play inside and Avril or Quentin Groves in the early third to play outside. With the best corner in the draft, Hobbs, Harrison, Meriweather and James Sanders I think the secondary will be much improved. Now all they need is some young LBs that can make some tackles at the line not five yards down field like Tedy Brschi did all last year. Love the guy but he is done like burt chicken and would help this team more as a coach than a player. Who ever is on this list is who they will be draftin this year. Last years draft sucked because they got the players they needed via free agency. This year it will be in the draft. Colvin will not be a big loss and Bruschi can go with him. Tomas and Voctor Hobson should be good Inside. They still have Vrabel, so they need a rookie to play the other outside and I think they can find someone in the second round. With an injecetion of youth on D it should be much improved, and with the whole O comin back it should be better also. Watch for Ryan O"Callahan to play right takle next year for the turnstyle Nick Kazuar, he is the biggest guy on the team and I thought he played good as a rookie before he got hurt. This team should have me goin to my seventh Super Bowl, and this one they will win. In Bill I trust.

If Hobbs is such a bad corner then why has he been a starter on a championship team for the last two years? And why is Samuel (overrated piece of trash that he is) no longer with us. Look at the stats and pay more attention to the games. If you wanna rip someone try Chad Jackson and Scott Pioli because that pick was a waste.

Did you see the play closely when the Giants face masked and held Seymour and Thomas on the play when dancing Eli made the go ahead pass and then win the Super Bowl? Funny how the referee was just standing there watching the entire play and never threw the flag? Hmmm??
It is all ours this year and who knows, another phenomenal season ahead...!

antoine cason is not the fastest corner in tha draft but he is the smartest n he can return punts cant go wrong with cason

I see the Pats taking Vernon Gholston or Darren McFadden @ #7 anybody else see that too?

I don't see McFadden (no need)....and I doubt (unfortunately) that Gholston will still be available. That would leave them with players that aren't worth drafting at the number 7 slot so I still think they'll trade down but only slightly. Their biggest need now looks to be LB'er after pickups in the FA market. My guess is they target Rivers or Avril later in the first round to START at outside LBer in 2008.

If at all possible the Pats should trade down to the lower half of the first round. The only player worth the 7th pick is Vernon Gholston and I don't see him lasting that long. If Darren McFadden is there I'm sure the Cowboys will be calling with their two first rounders. With very little difference between all the CB's in this draft I would rather the Pats not waste a big signing bonus on a corner that would be available later in the draft. If a trade down is possible and Gholston is off the board then the Pats should jump on it. With extra picks from a trade the Pats would be able to manuever in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and target the LB, OL, and DB positions to go along with whomever they select in the 1st round. With the depth at DB and LB this year the Pats could reload for years to come. Bill and Scot have been masterful at getting veterans to work in their system but this should be the year they stock the roster with youth on defense while the offense can outscore every other team.

I agree with the last writer; I think that Mr. Bill and Scot should trade down and take the best value on defense. In the 2nd round take advantage of the trade down and get a CB or LB then they can build upon that. Every year, Mr. Bill have provide the team what they needed and in 2008 he'll do the same. An offense scores points but a defense wins Super Bowl!!!! Lets go Mr.Bill, Lets go Patriots!!! The players are there, please get them in the draft!

To whom this may concern: Without the draft, with out any additions to the team as of right now, 2:44AM 4/19/2008, where do you see this team finishing?

the pats are in serious need of a corner back! although i dont think we should take a corner as our #1 pick! i say the pats should take a linebacker. tedy bruschi is still awesome but kieth rivers seems the logical choice. a hard hitting tough running back. super bowl here we come

I think the prior two comments may be in line with what the Pats may do, and that is trade down if a certain few (top notch prospects) are gone, but I also believe that when they trade down they should concentrate on Inside line backers, perhaps someone like, Dan Connor from Penn State. The inside linebacker position in the Pat's system belongs to the not only physical, but requires the extremely intelligent signal caller, the field general, if you will. Bruschi and Seau have been doing that job, but with both getting to the nursing home stage in football, who will take over? If they don't get adequate replacements for for that job, the Pats whole system will be running around with blinders. Their 2nd and two 3rd round picks can supply the CB position, since there seem to be so many of almost equal talent.

how about this....the pats trade their first rounder an their early third round pick for kansas cities 1st rounder...they scoop mcfadden ahead of the jets and really lose nothing....kc adds an extra pick to build their sad team

...and this may be pushing it but they may be able to trade their seond rounder for lito shepard

I say you protect you best player "Brady" with Albert or Clady both very good OL men. Any injures in our OL next year and the whole super power offense could go south. I find it interesting that the OL position has not been addressed in free agency yet.
Another need is Tight End unless David Thomas can finally get on the field and do something.

Ok I have been reading everybody's comments and I agree with some of you. You guys that say the o-line needs help arwe dumb as heck! look at the second to last offensive drivwe in the super bowl for the pats. They still managed to get into the endzone and make it a 14-10 lead! All the D had to do was hold the Giants O, but did they NO know wy cause the LB corps is horrible! Even though he didn't make the pick, Asante still stopped the Giants from making some kind of play, by Hobbs DID allow 6'5'' Plaxico to score. I see why people would say CB THERE, but lket's get serious, how many times did the patriots pressure Eli that whole game? Not too often and that got him cozy in the pocket. Not to mention that the LB corps allowed an average of about 9.3yds/carry. When a team can run the ball against you, you are in more trouble than them being able to pass against you. Simply becuase there are less interceptions which leads to less opprotunities to get TD retruns on D, and less turnovers means a more tired defense. In my opinion they need Keith Rivers since Vernon will most likely be gone and Rosey left. I say move Vrabel inside, have Bruschi stay in and have Seau as a third string, then have the two speed backers Thomas and Rivers Blitz all the time to actually put some pressure on the QBs this time around and make it easier for the DBs to make plays.

I disagree that we need a lockdown #1 type corner. If you look at guys who have had success in our system at corner, Asante was a fourth round pick who Bill make into an all-star, which he is considering he had the most interceptions over the past two years in the NFL, thats consistency you can't argue with. Also, Gay was an undrafted free agent who will be a potential contender to start at corner for New Orleans next year. Regardless, being a good corner in our system doesn't require a lot, so I think that taking an athletic corner in the second or third round is more realistic. The players I like the best are of course Gholston or Long, but neither will be available at 7, so we'd have better value trading down and taking a guy like Keith Rivers or Jerod Mayo, both of whom are solid players. Also, don't forget that AD (Adalius Thomas), is a serious threat at outside linebacker, and his best game was in the superbowl at that position, where he had two sacks, so taking Mayo, or Rivers, who I believe can play both inside and outside, would be great value, provided its lower in the draft. Finally, everyone seems up at arms about what happened in the superbowl, which is fair, but remember that our O-Line played really well for the entire season up to that point. I think that rather than wasting a high pick for a talented Tackle, we should look at a solid second or third round blocking, Kyle Brady-esque tight end to support the line, because neither Thomas or Watson really have the ability to do that. We also have O'Callaghan, and Hochstein at depth on our O-Line, both of whom I think are good enough to fill in for injuries. Also, remember that when we did run the ball, we had the most success in multi-tight end sets where Maroney didn't have to break as many tackles, and could use his outstanding speed and agility to get up the field. Regardless, I'd say we trade down for an early second round pick and a first, and then take maybe both Rivers and Mayo, both stud athletes who would fit well in our 3-4, and instantly our linebacking corps for years, and then look at athletic corners and blocking tight ends later on. We could also look at Foxworth, the free agent from the Broncos, who's a nickel playmaker providing competition and depth if nothing else. Then, with next year'd draft, we can start to look at a premier tackle to replace Matt Light, who I think didn't showed that he has the talent to play against the best ends as he is supposed to this season, and then draft a stud at LT, and have Light at RT, and the depth of Kazcur and O'Callaghan. Fill positions of need now, and then build on depth in the future.

The patriots need a corner no lie. Dominique Rogers-Cromartie is the chioce with the seventh pick. Then you address the linebackers Curtis lofton is a choice Quentin Groves is a chiocein the early second round . You just need some fresh legs at linebacker I think that bruski and seau can still make plays

Is anybody thinking bout we need a nice RB out of this draft? We should go LB, LB, RB, or go LB, LB, DT and get a CB in late 3rd or 4th round and then u get a TE, another CB, and offensive lineman in the later round, and we could mabey get a WR but i dont really think we need r get 1 this year

No running-backs this year, maybe in the future. We've got pretty solid depth with Maroney, Faulk, Morris and Evans. Getting a young, tough, pass-catching, change of pace back like a Kevin Faulk, or a big bruiser would be helpful given that Maroney's more of an agility guy. Morris is like 30, and Faulk's even older. Both should be effective for the time being, but we may pick one up in future drafts. Also, given that Brady will turn 31 soon, we should also be looking at a second or third round guy to develop for a few years to take over after Brady. I know, its heresy. Regardless, we won't need one for a while, but getting a solid thrower engrained in the system would be nice, and Cassel is certainly not the answer. Not to mention that if Brady, heaven forbid, were to go down with an injury, our offense would be essentially dead, considering that our running game is effective only to an extent, really as a compliment to our passing game. Cassel doesn't even really have the talent to help the passing game compliment the running game in that situation. Regardless, a little injury insurance, a la Aaron Rodgers in the Packers Cowboys game last season, would be nice. Regardless, I think that Maroney has the talent, if he stays healthy, to be the base for our running game for years to come, but for the purposes of reducing his load to keep him healthy and being efficient in third-down situations, a big, tough back would be a nice compliment to be added in the future. Once we fill our needs this year, as long as we resign Wilfork, we should be in a position to draft the best player available for a couple years, which is nice because we probably won't have such an early pick again unless Belichick works some more of his magic and gets us another Top-Ten pick coming from the Superbowl. I do agree that added depth at D-Line is where we should be going with our picks once our Linebacker and Corner needs are filled though. Hopefully Chad Jackson will finally prove his worth as a second rounder this year, and provide us with a deep threat, replacing Stallworth, a playmaker making guys miss. He was my favorite to watch, although watching him next to Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow should also be entertaining next year. Regardless, with Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Faulk and Watson, even if Jackson doesn't perform, we should have plenty of aerial weapons for this season.

pats got sum making up to do, why in the hell would u not sign roosevelt colvin back he was the mvp on that defense un til he was injured. seymour needs to get off his butt and et to the qb he's not playing up to his hype. Hope bellicheck and his defensive staff took good notes during the super bowl. a shut down coner is the next best thing to having next to a stud qb or wr. but . AN ABOVE AVERAGE pass rush can make an average secondary look like pro bowlers. they need to address the the pass rush an agile o-lineman or another back wouldnt hurt either.

pats should trade down with dallas if mc fadden is still avail. at # 7 for dallas 2 # 1s , ( jerry jones loves mc fadden ) and draft connor or groves, and then use the other pick for cason. all these guys were great producers in college. stay away from combine climbers.use a 2nd or third round pick for lito shepard

The Pats are doing their thing as usual - noone knows who they're gonna go after, if they will move down, up - whatever.

I think they know what they're doing.

Why was Eli superbowl mvp? The giants defense won it, and our defense let down when it mattered most. Eli will never win another superbowl and matter of fact Peyton won't either. Tom Brady is and will be the best QB of this era.Go Patriots!!!!

The guy that mentioned the hold on the play that Manning made was right.Check out the cover of SI and you will see a blatant hold and referee standing right there doing nothing.That was one of the most one sided officiated games I have ever seen.

I have to agree with what G Sullivan is saying, but you can never predict what Bill will do in the draft. I didn't even think that he would draft Meriwether last year, but boy he was worth it. What I mean is that there were plays where he didn't exactly make the pick, but he did stop recievers from catching the ball. If his tackling improves he could be the replacement Rodney Harrison after he retires. To answer somebody's question about Rosey being released, this injury-proneness has always been with Rosey which is why the Bears got rid of him. This has also not been the first time that he has been injured with the Patriots either. Bill figured that he might as well draft a stud backer or something with that pick to replace Rosey and get a healthier playmaker. And for all of those people who still hate Ellis Hobbs, correct me if I am wrong , but doesn't he have an NFL RECORD! Yea remember he had a 108 kick return for a TD. That tells me he's still got something to contribute to this organization and didn't he get the only INT in the SUPER BOWL! If you ask me Ellis is good, but he's great when there's talent around him. Well with Bryant, Sanders(Lewis),and Webster back there helping him he should be fine next year. Not to mention the tackling Tank Williams and possibly putting Meriwether at CB as well and running a Dime formation for most games would help make the Passing D hard to play against. I see the Pats going 16-0 again this year, but I would also like to predict who their 2nd round pick will be...
Mike Hart RB from Michigan.

It seems to me that the pats through slippage or moving up are trying to find a way
to chris long.

Chris Long would be a great pickup, but we would have to trade up to get him, and seeing as most of the issues we have are with depth, I think it would be better to get a pick at 31 in the second round and then trade up with the first. Chris Long would be an absolute stud, and capable of playing any position except for maybe D Tackle for us, which would be nice, considering we could use him at linebacker for a few years, and then possibly have him bulk up to play at end later on once Seymour retires. If we do go for him, we have a better chance to get him with Jake Long having gone #1 though, because if Dorsey goes to the Rams, I see Atlanta going Ryan, and the Raiders going McFadden or Gholston just by the way they draft. That would leave us an opportunity to trade with the Chiefs possibly for a third rounder and our first, something they're certainly willing to do after trading Jared Allen for more draft picks. Nonetheless, I would prefer our first and a third for Dallas' two first rounders, but it would only be worthwhile if Mayo and Dan Connor are still available. There's no way Rivers will still be available at that point, and if he slips and is, thats great, but realistically, its these two. Mayo is a superb athlete and very coachable, and Connor I see as more of a Bruschi replacement, a coach on the field at MLB. Regardless, it would be risky, considering we would have to make the trade and then take the chance that either is not available. That would also leave the 31st pick of the second round open for a corner, which is great value considering the depth at that position. Another option is a trade with New Orleans, taking their first and second picks, and going Rivers and then hopefully Connor if he's still available, but if not, perhaps Curtis Lofton. This would also leave the 31 of the second for a corner. As a sidebar, I'd like to agree with mikey, and say that Ellis Hobbs does not deserve the hate he gets from many fans. First off, he did get the only pick in the Superbowl, but also played relatively well throughout the game. Don't forget that Meriweather, Asante, and Rodney all had possible interceptions that they dropped in that final drive. Not to mention the O-Line playing horribly except for the final drive. Another problem was the lack of a pass rush, and the lack of holding calls on that final drive. Regardless, Ellis is the least of the people to blame, not to mention the fact that he was playing with a TORN GROIN throughout the game, and got surgery after the season. If you think that Gay, or even Asante, would have done better with no safety help against 6'5" Plaxico Buress on a fade route, you're just wrong. Sorry, I just feel bad because the guy gets so much smack talked about him. Nonetheless, back to the draft, one nice thing is that most of the good 'backers in this draft have great character, so that really hasnt been an issue in complicating drafting them, which is nice, since we know that Belichick simply won't draft a guy that doesn't have outstanding character. Regardless, lots of people talk about needed to get everything in the draft and the lack of action in free agency, but do not discount the addition of Victor Hobson. He is a solid player, and the addition of other linebackers through the draft will allow a rotation at MLB to get Bruschi out on passing downs, and allow AD to move outside. With Seymour getting all of training camp, Warren constantly improving, and AD and Vrabel outside, our pass rush should be more potent than it has been in a long time. I see AD as a better rusher than Colvin when he gets settled in one position. He made it to the pro-bowl doing it. He's also very very good, much better than Colvin, in coverage, which is nice, because we'll be able to drop Vrabel and the middle guys less often, which should support the run and the pass rush more. Regarless, I think that either Rivers, Mayo, or even Connor, would make an instant upgrade inside playing a rotation with Hobson and Bruschi. Many people talk about our deficiencies at defense, but I really see them fixed for the time being with two draft picks. One solid middle linebacker, and a playmaking corner. With that, we're all set, even in terms of depth. Our real problem is age at linebacker, which is why I see Bill going LB with the first two picks, fixing it for the time being and the immediate future, and giving him time to find more guys who can play a 3-4 well through free agency, like he did Vrabel and AD. I also like Mike Hart at RB, he's a small, but very quick and powerful back, kind of like a Maurice Jones-Drew, but not as good of a pass-catcher. We do have the sixth pick in the third round, so we could go for a corner or him either there or at the 31st pick of the second round. Discounting what I said earlier, we were down to Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans for a couple games this season due to injuries, so drafting a RB with talent like Hart might not be such a bad idea, for injury insurance if nothing else. Sorry, I need to make these shorter...

I will be very surprised if the Pats don't draft down, unless either Long or Golston are still there. To me it makes no sense at all to pick a CB at #7. The money he would demand (especially with today's exhorbitant guarantees) would not be that far removed from what they lost Samuel for. Number 7's in a draft get a nice hunk of change. Why take a chance on paying an unproven rookie a few bucks less, if they could have kept a (still young) all pro for a few bucks more?
No, I believe they will trade down to some team with a pick somewhere in the low twenties, assuming they can find one, and pick up an additional two draft picks, perhaps a second round this year and a third the following year. They could then find someone intelligent and physical enough to fill the shoes of the Pats's defensive brainpower in the middle,Bruschi and or Seau. After that they could trade one of their 2 3rd round picks to move up in the 2nd round with a swap and
grab their desired CB. If the analysts have it correct, there are about 5 or 6 of them with nearly the same talent. We'll find out in two days, won't we?