With The Seventeenth Pick Of The 2011 BRB Mock Draft, The New England Patriots Select...

by Tim on Apr 10, 2011 12:00 PM CDT in Events

Riott enlightens us after the jump. You want to be enlightened, don't you? Of course you do. Jump.

With the 17th pick of the NFL Draft, the New England Patriots trade down.

Well, not really, but I wish. With the premier prospects the Patriots desire off the board, the Patriots have to go BPA. With lots of warm bodies on the D-Line, but no "great" players other than Vince Wilfork, this could be addressed with a defensive line pick like Muhammad Wilkerson or J.J. Watt.

Pass rush is also a need, with role players on the roster but no clear-cut premier OLBs. Brooks Reed or Justin Houston could be the guy to address that.

Corner could definitely be addressed, as Leigh Bodden is fragile and they simply have no quality depth behind Devin McCourty.

A premier running back talent could be added to compete with the BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Finally, with Stephen Neal’s retirement and Matt Light a declining free agent, the Patriots need to address offensive line. Sebastian Vollmer’s development will allow them to avoid reaching for a left tackle, instead letting them draft for upside and let it play out.

J.J. Watt could be a great fit, but Belichick has not drafted a player represented by Tom Condon since the Ben Watson fiasco in '04. Muhammad Wilkerson has been flying up draft boards recently, but he's raw and beat up on small school talent. Brooks Reed and Justin Houston both look to be good pass rushers, but the Patriots already have some pass rushing talent and are looking for that great all-around player, which I don’t think Reed or Houston is. The Patriots had great success with a first round corner last year, but spending your first round pick on presumably your nickel corner is not the best move. Mark Ingram and Mikel Leshoure are arguably the top 2 running backs in the draft, but neither have the elite speed you covet in a first round back. In addition, one or both will probably be available at 28 or 33.

That leaves offensive line. Mike Pouncey could have been in consideration for this pick but is gone, so the Patriots will look to offensive tackle. It comes down to Anthony Castonzo and Gabe Carimi. The preseason favorite for first offensive tackle off the board was Carimi, but has looked sluggish in pass protection and did not have a stellar senior season.

So, with the 17th pick of the 2011 Draft, the New England Patriots select OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College. A more fluid pass protector than Carimi, Castonzo is intelligent, athletic, and has been a 4 year starter with experience on the left or right side. By the end of the 2011 season, he will probably be a starter on the right side, with Vollmer sliding to LT. The Patriots’ most important asset is Tom Brady, and supporting him will always be a good choice.

La Voz, continuing his representation of the AFC West, is now on the clock for the San Diego Chargers. Given that the Pats' pick is going up on the weekend, we'll give him a bit more leeway in terms of getting his pick in timely.

In the meantime, what are your thoughts about the Patriots selecting Castonzo here?

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Comments

smart pick maybe.

i just knew you was going linebacker.

by southpaw70 on Apr 10, 2011 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

Can you give us a list of those taken?

My pick is coming up soon, and it would be helpful knowledge.

"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir

Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: The magical method of getting the death rate from a cholera outbreak from >50% to <1%? Gatorade.

by Cassieper on Apr 10, 2011 2:51 PM CDT reply actions

From the Jags pick.

Quick recap:

1. Carolina—Cam Newton (QB—Auburn)
2. Denver—Patrick Peterson (CB—LSU)
3. Buffalo—Marcell Dareus (DT—Alabama)
4. Cincinnati—Von Miller (OLB/DE—Texas A&M)
5. Arizona—A.J. Green (WR—Georgia)
6. Cleveland—Da’Quan Bowers (DE—Clemson)
7. San Francisco—Robert Quinn (LB—North Carolina)
8. Tennessee—Nick Fairley (DT—Auburn)
9. Southern Oklahoma—Tyron Smith (OT—USC)
10. Washington—Jake Locker (QB—Washington)
11. Houston—Prince Amukamara (CB—Nebraska)
12. Minnesota—Blaine Gabbert (QB—Mizzou)
13. Detroit—Julio Jones (WR—Alabama)
14. St. Louis—Aldon Smith (DE/OLB—Mizzou)
15. Mike Pouncey (G/C—Florida)
16. Jacksonville—Cameron Jordan (DE—Cal)

Canal Street Chronicles-A place of great Saints news and information. Oh and the stuff I write!

by Jon Banks on Apr 10, 2011 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions

17. New England Anthony Castonzo

by southpaw70 on Apr 10, 2011 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Many thanks.

"I am in favor of censorship ‐ not against what is supposed to be sexy or dirty, but against what is idiotic." -Jean Renoir

Random fact of the week from the empty void that is my mind: The magical method of getting the death rate from a cholera outbreak from >50% to <1%? Gatorade.

by Cassieper on Apr 10, 2011 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I like it, it's a smart pick if New England stays in this spot

I could also see it being Carimi if it’s looking at the RT.

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Apr 10, 2011 7:30 PM CDT reply actions

I'm not sure what they'd be looking for, in all honesty

Sebastian Vollmer has been impressive at both LT and RT – seamlessly switching between them, at times. But LT is the premier spot and he’s got the ability, so they might be tempted to pick up the more physical Carimi and make it a Vollmer LT – Carimi RT pair.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Apr 12, 2011 6:10 AM CDT up reply actions

This is all quite possible.

Vollmer has been reliable and even impressive. He was a dynamite pickup in the 2nd round. And, to think, the Texans had him right under their noses and didn’t even sniff at him….

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 12, 2011 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

How do you know?

The last part of this comment is dumb as shit.

Bacon tastes good... Pork chops taste good.

by beefy on Apr 14, 2011 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

I think they would have wanted Cameron Jordan

But, this is a good pick for the Pats as they keep the machine going.

I definitely don’t see them drafting a RB as the writer suggests they might. They have enough guys doing their bit parts at RB. I just don’t ever see Bellyache looking for a feature back in the 1st round. He likes RB by committee. While I think OL is a good pick for the Pats, I think they will still be looking for a pass rusher and suggest, given the options as presented in the BRB mock draft, they would go for Watt.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 10, 2011 7:58 PM CDT reply actions

While JJ Watt is a great fit at DE for the Patriots

Bill Belichick has made a point of not drafting a single player represented by Tom Condon since 2004 with Ben Watson. He very well may make an exception for a player of Watt’s caliber, but he hasn’t yet. Watt is BPA, I agree, but after that exception I feel like Castonzo fills a need and offers high long term upside for an aging Patriots offensive line.

The strong do what they have to do; the weak accept what they have to accept

by Riott on Apr 10, 2011 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions

He does seem like the kind of guy to hold grudges....

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 10, 2011 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Have you ever read

“Management Secrets of the New England Patriots”?

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 10, 2011 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I have not

but will soon. I love management theory. I just read the entire preview for the book.

The strong do what they have to do; the weak accept what they have to accept

by Riott on Apr 10, 2011 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions

if Belichick gets Cameron Jordan

I will call for an investigation!

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 11, 2011 7:49 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

If he waits for 28 or 33...

He’ll have a shot at Heyward and/or Wilkerson (and maybe even Jordan, if something weird happens).

Not too many elite OTs will slip down there, but some good DEs will, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the Pats go OT first.

Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
Contributing Writer at PatsPulpit

by Comedic.Sans on Apr 12, 2011 6:12 AM CDT up reply actions

One thing that Pats do is prioritize their needs and find a guy to suit those needs

I posted a link up above to a book about their management secrets. I’m not sure how, but it appears to be the entire book. Read what you can. It’s fascinating and makes so much sense. The amazing thing is, it’s so simple what they do. They just do smart things and don’t do stupid things, if I were to summarize. But, anyone who wants to read something very interesting should read it. It should be required reading for anyone in the business.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Apr 12, 2011 8:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Cam Jordan is more of a 4-3 end. A pass rushing type that would fit a team like the Bucs/Bears/Colts. All the way back to his days in NY Bill prefers big linemen who can hold the point. That means at least 300+ pounds. He may even fit the new Texans scheme under Wade. Which is what I would think the Texans would be looking for right about now. But Jordan is not a Patriot in my mind.

by Patriots12 on Apr 12, 2011 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions