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2009 draft 2008 draft 2007 draft 2006 draft

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2009 DRAFT PICKS
links go to NFL.com website

Sel#

Player

Pos.

School

Jay's ranking

Jay's draft value

Patrick Chung

Oregon

#1 SS

Round 2

Senior Bowl practice comment

Showed good cover skills for a safety.

Senior Bowl Game

Outside of being pushed back by a Quinn Johnson block, Chung played a good game. He had a number of big hits. He did not have any memorable kick returns.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Chung is a rare strong safety worthy of first round consideration. He is strong and can play in the box to stop the run. However, he showed in the post-season that he has very good cover skills for a strong safety.

Ron Brace

Boston College

#4 DT

Round 2

Senior Bowl practice comment

While Brace did not do great in one-on-one's that was expected. He is a big, strong bull NT and did not disappoint in looking like a big run-stuffing tackle.
ONE ON ONE BLOCKING DRILLS SCORED BY JAY GOLDBERG
4 - 10	Shuman 1-7 Urbik 0-1 Unger 3-0 Mack 0-2

Darius Butler

Connecticut

#1 CB

Round 1

Senior Bowl practice comment

Overall looked pretty good. Did best in press coverage.

Senior Bowl Game

Butler had a couple of nice plays in coverage and had a good kick return. On one play where he gave too much cushion he was up on the receiver quickly and made a sure tackle.

Sebastian Vollmer

Houston

#11 OT

Round 3

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Vollmer is an explosive athlete with very quick feet. He has great size for a tackle and may be the first offensive lineman not invited to the Combine that gets drafted. Vollmer is a physical specimen who is a hard worker. His vertical was the same as receivers Percy Harvin and Brian Robiskie and would have placed in in the top third of running backs.

Brandon Tate

North Carolina

#28 WR

Round 5

Tyrone McKenzie

OLB

South Florida

#8 OLB

Round 3

Senior Bowl practice comment

McKenzie had very limited face time, but did not cover very well in the one-on-one drills.

Senior Bowl Game

McKenzie jumped out in a couple of instances during the game, including a good play in pass defense and blowing up a running play.

123

Rich Ohrnberger

Penn State

7th/FA

170

George Bussey

OT/OG

Louisville

Off My Board

198

Jake Ingram

Hawaii

#1 LS

Late Round Value

207

Myron Pryor

Kentucky

Late Round Value

East West Shrine Game

Prior looked good in spots against the run both on plays at him and in pursuit.

232

Julian Edelman

WR/QB

Kent State

Late Round Value

234

Darryl Richard

Georgia Tech

Late Round Value

----

Brian Hoyer

Michigan State

#10 QB

Round 5

East West Shrine Game

Came in with poor stats and little fanfare but was said to have looked surprising good in practices. He followed that up with a solid game. Hoyer showed quick feet, a quick release and good accuracy.

----

Jamar Love

Arkansas

Late Round Value

B+

2009 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

The Patriots did as usual. When they stay conventional, they hit home runs. When they try to get cute, they'll miss more often than they hit. Now, the Patriots can take a roll the dice philosophy more than most because of their continued success signing affordable, veteran free agents who make key contributions. This allows them the luxury of not worrying about whether later draft picks make their roster. In terms of the draft, I was (and still am) convinced that Barwin was an ideal fit as Vrabel's replacement both on defense and on offensive (he is a good tight end as well as pass rusher/athlete). However, I cannot find fault with the players they added in the three spots where Barwin was available to be drafted. In terms of college street free agents, I only have two listed. However, all three I listed last year are back this year and two (Guyton and Green-Ellis) played in the base defense/offense. In fact I predicted that Guyton would bypass Ruud who was a draft pick last year. This year's two players are more likely development squad bound.

DRAFT PICKS

Chung is a tough kid who showed he could cover as well as play in the box during Senior Bowl practices. He should eventually beat out Sanders and form a nice young safety tandem with Meriweather.

Brace was an excellent get. After his college teammate, Raji, he was the best 3-4 nose prospect in the draft. The key to Pats' defense is their line and Brace adds depth and a future solid starter. He is tough to move against the run and even can bull rush to collapse the pocket on pass plays.

While Chung was a good pick and Brace an excellent pick; Butler was a steal. He was my top rated cornerback in the draft. Butler has superb speed and athleticism. He is also a good receiver and I expect him to develop into a turnover-machine. Long term he will be as valuable to the Pats' defense as Samuel was. Great pick by the Pats.

The Patriots like the lighter (relatively speaking), more athletic offensive line over the bigger, stronger offensive lineman. With that in mid Vollmer was an excellent get because not only does he have the build, speed and athleticism that New England likes, but he is a strong kid as well. He will need some time to develop but is a future long-term NFL starter. However, while I like Vollmer, I had Beatty, a similarly physically gifted kid rated more highly and he was available here.

Tate is coming off a knee injury. He is a terrific return man who flashed some at receiver when Butch Davis took over at North Carolina. However there were better options at receiver here. Mike Thomas or Mike Wallace would have provided the Pats with an excellent return man with more upside at receiver. As for Mike Thomas, I describe him as a more athletic Wes Welker. As for Mike Wallace, he has the look of a young Joey Galloway. One reason for the Pats selecting Tate could be that with his injury he could start on the PUP. However, the either of the other two receivers could have added another tough player to defend now and in the future for New England.

With the pass rushing outside linebackers gone by this time in the draft, the Pats selected McKenzie, a good player who is probably a better fit inside in the 3-4 than outside. McKenzie is a strong kid who will be a contributor down the line on defense. However, with a couple of inside linebackers I like better than McKenzie on the board, I would have grabbed one of them here (in particular Jasper Brinkley) or rolled the dice that one be be available at pick #123 and grabbed center/guard Luigs at this spot.

While Ohrnberger fits the Patriots' mold for an offensive lineman, he was a reach at this spot. I look for him to be placed on New Englands' development squad. Personally, after drafting Luigs with the prior pick, I would have come back with Brinkley here. He is strong as an ox, quick and fast and would have been a future defensive star in the Pats' 3-4 defense. Even looking at the Patriots' scenario, I cannot fathom selecting Ohrnberger here over Seth Olsen.

The Pats had a vastly different board than I did regarding middle round offensive lineman. For me, Bussey was a bigger reach than Ohrnberger. Players I would have looked at here include Sulak, a defensive end who has a chance to be a good pass rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and running back Javon Ringer who, worst case, is Kevin Faulk's heir apparent. Another option keeping the same position-drafting strategy (but with, in my opinion, better results) would have been to draft defensive tackle Ra'Shon Harris here, and offensive tackle Lydon Murtha in round seven. Harris coulod have kicked out to end in New England's 3-4 defense.

Ingram was the best long snapper in the draft and the Pats needed one so he was a good pick at this spot.

I like Pryor who could be a versatile backup along the line. In my scenario, however, Harris would have been drafted instead of Bussey, making the very athletic offensive tackle Murtha my choice here.

Edelman, a college quarterback is a hit or miss prospect. He is too small to play quarterback in the NFL so will be looked at as a receiver/gimmick player (wildcat). He will either prove to be valuable as a gimmick player and special teams player, or will be cut. That is unless he also shows he can be an emergency fill in at quarterback allowing the team to carry on two on their active roster. He is certainly worth a look in camp.

Richard has good instincts and hustles but will need to get stronger to see the field. He is an ideal candidate for the development squad.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Hoyer will give Gutierrez a run for his money for the Patriots' third quarterback spot. I like Hoyer's upside more and expect him to be on their development squad if he doesn't win the Pats' third quarterback spot or if New England decides to carry only two active quarterbacks (with Edelman as the emergency fill in).

Love has a nice mix of size, speed and quickness for a cornerback. The Pats are very deep at the position so look for Love to be a priority signing to their development squad. Down the line he could be a good special teams player and backup cornerback.

For chart below: red indicates workout number in top range at position in draft
ARM-HAND relative to position, for ranges see ranking pages for 2009 draft

LAST NAME
at Combine

FIRST NAME

SCHOOL

HGT

WGT

ARM-
HAND

BENCH

SHORT

LONG

3 CONE

VERT

BROAD

Chung

Patrick

Oregon

5'11.6"

212

L-M

4.47

1.49

2.62

4.24

7.11

34"

9'11"

Brace

Ron

Boston College

6'3"

330

L-L

5.47

1.88

3.16

4.73

8.16

28"

8'3"

Butler

Darius

Connecticut

5'10.3"

183

L-L

4.38

1.46

2.56

4.18

6.92

43"

11'2"

Vollmer

Sebastian

Houston

6'7.2"

314

5.08

1.77

2.90

4.50

7.51

37.5"

9'3"

Tate

Brandon

North Carolina

5'11.7"

183

S-L

10'6"

McKenzie

Tyrone

South Florida

6'1.5"

243

XL-L

4.77

1.60

2.76

4.28

7.31

32.5"

9'4"

Ohrnberger

Rich

Penn State

6'2.2"

297

Bussey

George

Louisville

6'3.2"

306

Ingram

Jake

Hawaii

6'3"

232

Pryor

Myron

Kentucky

6'0.2"

319

S-L

5.01

1.67

2.93

4.75

8.16

30"

8'11"

Edelman

Julian

Kent State

5'10.3"

195

4.52

1.52

2.58

3.92

6.62

36.5"

10'3"

Richard

Darryl

Georgia

6'2.4"

303

M-M

4.97

8.14

26'

8'1"

Hoyer

Brian

Michigan State

6'2"

215

L-L

4.97

1.62

2.87

4.42

7.10

32"

9'1"

Love

Jamar

Arkansas

6'0.1"

191

4.35

1.47

2.53

4.07

6.88

34.5"

10'0"

2009 NEEDS PRIOR TO DRAFT AND FREE AGENCY
Major need Need Upgrade possible Depth/possible need Not a need

QB	Brady is coming off a serious injury and Cassell is an UFA. If Brady is healthy, O'Connell, a third round pick who made my list of underrated players in the draft, should be the next Cassell, a developing player to play behind Brady. However, when the Pats have to decide on Cassell, Brady's status will be unknown. Therefore, quarterback could be a need depending upon Brady's health and where Cassell ends up.
RB	I'm officially off Maroney as the Pats long term feature back. Think the Pats wish they would have gone DeAngelo Williams instead of Maroney. I had Williams clearly ahead of him on my draft board. Jordan is a free agent but will not be a major loss if he leaves. Morris is better than many think, but has gotten banged up too much recently. Faulk is a steady third down back. If the Pats can upgrade this position, it would be advisable.
WR	Moss and Welker are two of the best. Gaffney is okay but is an UFA, and should be their #4 not their #3. Washington is a good special teams player. The Pats like using three wide receiver sets so they definitely need to upgrade the bottom of their roster.
TE	Watson and Thomas are a good one-two, although Watson should be a more explosive weapon in the passing game than he has been. Depth is needed.
OL	Surprisingly, the Pats gave up the 5th most sacks in the league (and FYI were 12th in the league in pass attempts). A lot of that was due to injuries and Cassell adjusting to the starting role. Their line is a very good run-blocking line. Look for the Pats to add some offensive lineman in the draft, a challenger for Kaczur at RT is possible, as is a versatile inside lineman who can play multiple positions.
DL	This is a major strength with Seymour, Wilfork and Warren starting and Green, Wright and Smith rotating in. While this is not a need position, if the PAts find fit and value in the draft here, they will add to their strength.
LB	This position is starting to transition to a younger unit. Mayo was a great addition as a rookie, and Guyton showed promise. Thomas has not had the impact I expected after he was signed as a free agent and Vrabel still plays hard but his sacks were way down. The Pats need a playmaker at outside linebacker and possibly, another young inside backer.
DB	The Pats need a shut down corner. Hobbs is a solid starter. Wilhite, Wheatley and O'Neal are nickel and dime types. Both the injured Harrison and Sanders are UFAs. Meriweather played well and will get better. The Pats need to find a long term answer to pair with Meriweather.
ST	The Pats need an upgrade at punter. They also use a starting corner to return kicks (Hobbs) and a starting receiver (Welker) to return punts. If either got hurt in their special team roles the team would lose a valuable defensive/offensive player. Therefore, a full time returner should be added.

2008 DRAFT PICKS
links go to NFL.com website

Rd	Sel#	Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	School	Jay's ranking	Jay's draft value
1	10	Jerod Mayo	ILB	6.1.6"	242	Tennessee	#1 ILB	Round 1
2	62	Terrence Wheatley	CB/Ret	5'9.5"	187	Colorado	#16 CB	Round 4
3	78	Shawn Crable	DE/OLB	6'4"	245	Michigan	#17 DE	Round 4
3	94	Kevin O'Connell	QB	6'5"	223	S Diego St	#8 QB	Round 4

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

O'Connell is a tall, athletic kid who throws very well on the move. He will need time to develop but has too much upside to risk on a team's development squad (where he can be plucked off by another team). At 6'5", O'Connell ran for 408 yards his senior year. I believe he will be a Matt Hasselbeck-type of quarterback down the line.

5	153	Matt Slater	S/WR/Ret	5'11"	195	UCLA		Free Agent
6	197	Bo Ruud	OLB/ILB	6'3.3"	234	Nebraska		Late Round Value
FA		BenJarvis Green-Ellis	RB	5'10.5"	219	Mississippi		Late Round Value
FA		Gary Guyton	OLB/ILB	6'1.5"	245	Geo Tech	#9 OLB	Round 4
FA		Vince Redd	OLB/DE	6'4.4"	253	Liberty		Late Round Value

C+

2008 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

While the Pats addressed their biggest need areas, there were some corners and outside rush linebackers available at #62 and #78 that I liked slightly more than Wheatley and Crable. I also believe Slater would have been available in round 6 (and even free agency, but obviously the Pats didn't want to risk that given his fifth round selection), which would have resulted in the Pats getting a better player than Ruud, who I actually have a lower grade on than their college street free agent Guyton.

DRAFT PICKS

Mayo was a good and needed pick in round one. He is an active linebacker with good speed, quickness and athleticism. I thought he would fit best as a WILL in a 4-3 since he is at his best when the defensive line can engage blockers so he can roam free to make plays. However, he can take on blockers and fight them off to make tackles so he will be just fine in the Pats' 3-4 defense. Mayo will be a good player, but don't expect the next Patrick Willis.

Wheatley is a short corner with good speed, athleticism and change-of-direction skills. He is quick enough to play the slot and has a good nose for the ball. He is also a tough kid who plays injured and likes to hit. That said, I thought Charles Godfrey, another tough kid, displayed better cover skills during Senior Bowl practices, is two inches taller and therefore matches up better outside.

Crable was a defensive end in college and projects as an outside linebacker in the Pats' 4-3 defense. While Crable has the pass rush skills to transition to that position, he lacks the athleticism and quickness to be anything more than a pass rusher in that defense. He will have trouble dropping back in coverage. Personally, I think Cliff Avril would have been the ideal pick here.

O'Connell caught my eye in a good way during the college post-season. He is a tall, athletic kid, who throws well on the move and has the potential to be a starter in the NFL down the line (not that he'll get the chance with the Pats). He should develop into a quality backup and could even bring value down the line in a trade. I like his upside more than Cassell and Gutierrez.

Slater was on New England's radar, but I'm not sure if he was more than a minor blip with other teams. The Pats thinking is that he is the next Troy Brown. He has played both receiver and defensive back, is a good special teams player, and a very good return man. Was this high for him? Yes. Does that mean it was a bad pick? No. Personally, I would have waited a round to select Slater (assuming he was a priority like he was for the Pats) and grabbed the talented but risky offensive lineman Carl Nicks.

Ruud is a player who may have a hard time making the team. He projects inside and has good speed. If he makes the team he should be a staple on special teams.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Green-Ellis is a strong, powerful back who could just steal a roster spot as a goal-line and short-yardage runner.

I like Guyton's potential more than Ruud's and expect him to pass Ruud on the depth chart during training camp. Guyton is faster and a better athlete than Ruud.

Redd is ideal for the Pat's practice squad. He has the speed and athleticism to play outside in the 3-4, but will need time to develop, and will need to get stronger.

red indicates workout number in top range at position in draft
(blue college name indicates workout #'s include Pro Day numbers)

COMBINE
YES

FIRST NAME

SCHOOL

HEIGHT

WEIGHT

BENCH

SHORT

LONG

3 CONE

VERT

BROAD

Mayo

Jerod

TENNESSEE

6'1.6"

242

4.54

1.51

2.58

4.29

7.31

40.5"

9'6"

Wheatley

Terrence

COLORADO

5'9.5"

187

4.37

1.48

2.50

4.20

6.74

38.5"

10'8"

Crable

Shawn

MICHIGAN

6'4"

245

4.61

1.56

2.70

4.55

7.29

28"

9'3"

O'Connell

Kevin

SAN DIEGO ST

6'5"

223

4.57

1.60

2.71

4.38

7.01

31"

9'5"

Wilhite

Jonathan

AUBURN

5'9.4"

184

4.38

1.46

2.50

4.41

7.17

35"

10'0"

Slater

Matt

UCLA

5'11"

195

4.40

Ruud

NEBRASKA

6'3'3"

234

4.60

1.53

2.61

4.71

7.30

32.5"

9'10"

Green-Ellis

BenJarvus

MISSISSIPPI

5'10.5"

219

4.55

1.60

2.68

4.50

7.56

34"

9'8"

Guyton

Gary

GEORGIA TECH

6'1.5"

245

4.47

1.46

2.53

4.33

11.57

7.07

40"

10'6"

Redd

Vince

LIBERTY

6'4.4"

253

4.56

1.56

2.58

39"

9'10"

2008 NEEDS PRIOR TO DRAFT AND FREE AGENCY

NE Major Need Need Upgrade Depth Need Not a Need

QB	Brady is as good as it gets. The Pats seem happy with Cassel, at least most of the time. Gutierrez will get competition for his spot.
RB	Maroney is a good young back. Faulk, Morris and Evans provide quality depth. The Pats may bring in a player to fight for a backup role.
WR	Moss, Stallworth and Gaffney are all free agents. What the Pats need here will depend on who they bring back. I expect it will be Moss and Gaffney.
TE	Watson is a very good tight end. Brady is getting up in age. Depth is needed at this position, in particular, a blocking tight end.
OL	The Pats offensive line had three Pro Bowlers, but was manhandled by the Giants. If the Pats return the same line they will be fine. However, if they can upgrade with a mobile player with better size, they will jump at the chance.
DL	The Pats' starting defensive line is a strength. Green is a good sub, but the line suffers when he starts. Depth at nose tackle is also needed.
LB	Thomas and Vrabel are two excellent starters who will be back. Bruschi and Seau are free agents and getting up there in years. The Pats are thin behind these four, except for Colvin who is coming back from injury and has a big price tag. They need to add at least one new starter, even if Bruschi and Seau come back. The Pats are in a position to add the best linebacker who fits their system since Thomas can play inside or outside. They also need to add some young linebackers for depth.
DB	Samuel, Gay and Wilson are free agents. If Samuel and Gay leave, the team will need to add a corner who can start. Meriweather backs up both corner and safety, but long term should be more dominate at free safety. Even if just one of the two free agent corners leaves, the Pats will need to add a corner for depth (and one who could push Hobbs to start). At safety, Harrison keeps plugging away, Sanders made good progress, and Meriweather is a future star. A young backup safety could be added. Harrison is old and has a history of injury.
ST	The Pats are fine here, however, players to push the starters could be brought in for all.

2007 DRAFT PICKS
links go to NFL.com website

Rd	Sel#	Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	School	Jay's ranking	Jay's Draft Value
1	24	Meriweather, Brandon	FS	5-11	192	Miami (Fla.)	# 3 FS	Round 1
4	127	Brown, Kareem	DT	6-4	290	Miami (Fla.)	# 7 DT	Round 3
5	171	Oldenburg, Clint	OT	6-6	300	Colorado State		Late Round Value
6	180	Rogers, Justin	OLB	6-3	262	Southern Methodist		Off My Board
6	202	Richardson, Mike	CB	5-11	188	Notre Dame		Late Round Value
6	208	Hairston, Justise	RB	6-1	222	Central Connecticut		Off My Board
6	209	Hilliard, Corey	OT	6-5	318	Oklahoma State		Late Round Value
7	211	Lua, Oscar	ILB	6-1	245	Southern California		Off My Board
7	247	Elgin, Mike	G	6-3	291	Iowa		Late Round Value
FA		Nordin, Jake	TE	6-3	261	Northern Illinois		Late Round Value
FA		Anam, Larry	CB	5-11	190	Boston College		Late Round Value
FA		Gutierrez, Matt	QB	6-4	227	Idaho State		Off My Board

2007 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

The Patriots did most of their work in free agency and trades. The grade here represents the players drafted. If Randy Moss was included in this grade it would jump to A-. Moss will be great with the Pats. After their first two picks the Pats draft board differed greatly from mine.

Meriweather was a great pick by the Pats. He is a rare playmaking free safety who can step out and cover receivers like a corner when needed. Other corners can cover because of speed, but Meriweather covers with cornerback skills. Brown was another excellent get. He fits the mold of prior drafted Patriot lineman, a slightly undersized run-stuffing defensive tackle who will make a solid defensive end in their 3-4 defense. Brown should be a rotation player this year. Oldenburg is a smart former tight end who needs work but has enough skills to be a good development squad candidate. He could grow into a valuable reserve. There was no offensive tackle on the board who was clearly better, although I like the potential of Michael Otto more. Rogers is a defensive end who the Pats will try at inside linebacker. Most 3-4 teams look for defensive ends to be rush outside ends in their 3-4, but the Pats have been successful moving defensive ends to inside linebacker. He was off my board as an end and outside linebacker but I'll give the Pats a pass with him inside because of their successful track record. Richardson has the tools of of day one cornerback but got beat too often at Notre Dame. He is a project, but one that could pay dividends. Hairston was stud at Central Connecticut. He is more quick than fast and his college production made him deserving of getting a long look in some team's training camp. Personally, I liked Jackie Battle much better and feel he should have been the Pats' pick here. He would have definitely made the team and been a contributor in year one. Hairston will probably end up on their development squad. Hilliard is a strong kid who needs work on his technique but could develop into a solid right tackle down the line. Lua is a heady player who has not rebounded fully from his knee injury. In his senior year he lost his job. His best bet was with a 3-4 team and that is where he ended up. He may be placed on IR. Elgin is an athletic center who may be the best of the three offensive lineman drafted by New England. He needs to hit the weight room but could be a pleasant surprise in a couple of years.

The Pats have depth so they didn't get a lot of the top college street free agents. Jake Nordin is a tough kid who can block and has reliable hands. He lacks speed and quickness. He is an ideal backup blocking tight end who can also surprise with a touchdown catch in goal line offenses. Anam is a top athlete with good size and speed. He will be an excellent special teams player while learning his craft. He could stick on their roster or make their development squad. I expected more of Gutierrez in the post season all star games. He disappointed me (and obviously NFL teams as well). His performance dropped him off my board. He is probably just a camp arm but at one time he was an intriguing late round sleeper.

red indicates workout number in top range at position in draft

COMBINE
YES

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3
CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

MERIWEATHER

BRANDON

MIAMI-FL

FS/CB

5'10.5"

195

4.47

1.53

2.61

4.33

7.06

35"

9'3"

Meriweather had an excellent week of practice at the Senior Bowl and impressed me the most on defense in the game. He hit like a safety and covered like a corner. He will be a very valuable asset to the NFL team that drafts him.

COMBINE
YES

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3
CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

BROWN

KAREEM

MIAMI-FL

DT/DE

6'4"

290

5.38

1.81

3.08

4.71

7.49

28"

8'5"

PLAYER WHO COULD HAVE A BETTER NFL CAREER THAN PLAYERS SELECTED AHEAD OF HIM in the DRAFT

Brown has lots of ability. He will be best served as a 4-3 tackle because he lacks top end speed and size. However, he is very strong and can hold the line of scrimmage and get penetration against both the run and the pass. He should be a contributor while other tackles selected higher than him struggle to make a teams' tackle rotation. He looked very good stopping the run at the Senior Bowl.

COMBINE
NO

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

OLDENBURG

CLINT

COLORADO ST

OT/OG

6'5.1"

298

Oldenburg is a former tight end who is a heady player who needs work on technique and needs to bulk up. He could develop into a versatile backup.

COMBINE
NO

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

ROGERS

JUSTIN

SMU

DE/OLB

6'3.1"

252

4.76

1.58

2.69

4.28

7.32

9'9"

34"

Rogers is a defensive end who may have to move to outside linebacker to make a NFL roster. He has good quickness for both and end and linebacker, but his athleticism is better for an end than outside linebacker.

COMBINE
NO

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

RICHARDSON

MIKE

NOTRE DAME

5'10.3"

188

4.48

1.47

2.61

4.05

6.27

36"

10'7"

Richardson had a disappointing senior year. He got picked on and got beat often. However, he has excellent athleticism, and has the tools to be an excellent nickel corner covering slot receivers. He is quick and can can change directions very well and can cut on dime. He is worth a shot late on day two.

COMBINE
NO

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

HAIRSTON

JUSTISE

CENTRAL CONN ST

6'0.6"

202

4.58

1.56

2.65

4.15

6.94

39"

10'0"

Hairston led the nation in rushing. He has good quickness and athleticism and is worth a look in some team's camp.

COMBINE
YES

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3
CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

HILLIARD

COREY

OKLAHOMA ST

6'5.2"

308

5.29

1.83

3.09

4.65

7.45

27"

8'10"

Hilliard's best asset is his strength. He needs work on his technique but could develop into a serviceable right tackle.

COMBINE
NO

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

LUA

OSCAR

USC

ILB

6'0.6"

236

4.81

1.63

2.76

4.43

7.22

33"

9'6"

Lua is a smart player who has had knee injuries. If he gets healthy he has a chance but he will need to be in a 3-4 system because of his lack of speed and quickness.

COMBINE
NO

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

ELGIN

MIKE

COLORADO ST

C/OG

6'3.1"

291

5.16

1.69

2.94

4.39

7.10

27.5"

8'11"

Elgin is a quick center who could stick on a team that emphasizes small quick offensive linemen over big strong linemen. He is a project who has better measurables than on-field production.

COMBINE
NO

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

NORDIN

JAKE

NORTHERN ILL

6'3"

261

Nordin is a tough, good-blocking tight end with good hand. He lacks speed and athleticism.

COMBINE
NO

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

ANAM

LARRY

BOSTON COLLEGE

5'11.3"

190

4.37

1.48

2.53

4.19

6.89

39.5"

10'11"

Anam has a desired combination of excellent attitude, good work ethic, speed, and athleticism. He could make a roster as a special teams player and backup cornerback.

COMBINE
YES

COLLEGE

POS

HGHT

WGHT

BENCH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3
CONE

VERTICAL
JUMP

BROAD
JUMP

GUTIERREZ

MATT

IDAHO ST

6'4.1"

227

4.90

1.68

2.86

4.28

6.69

31.5"

9'0"

Gutierrez had a chance to shine in the post season college all star games, but didn't take advantage of the opportunity.

2007 TEAM NEEDS PRIOR TO THE DRAFT and FREE AGENCY
major need need depth/possible need not a significant need

QB	Brady is as good as it get. Cassel may eventually leave in free agency so a young #3 should be added.
RB	Maroney will overtake Dillon this year. If Dillon leaves a backup is needed.
WR	Does it matter? Gaffney and Caldwell start, and could be improved upon. Jackson has promise.
TE	Even if Graham leaves this is a deep and talented unit with Watson, Thomas and Mills.
OL	Very good unit. More depth never hurts.
DL	Excellent starters, maybe the best for a 3-4 team. Depth is ok but can be upgraded.
LB	Banta-Cain is an UFA. Bruschi is always a risk to retire. Vrabel is aging. Mays is a sleeper.
DB	There is always talent, always injuries, and always potential depth problems. But they get it done in the end.
ST	A nice mix of players.

2006 DRAFT PICKS
Links go to write-ups at NFL.com

New England
Rd	Sel#	Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	School	Jay's ranking	Jay's draft value
1	21	Maroney, Laurence	RB	6-0	216	Minnesota	# 3 RB	Round 1
2	36	Jackson, Chad	WR	6-1	212	Florida	# 1 WR	Round 1
3	86	Thomas, Dave	TE	6-3	239	Texas	# 8 TE	Round 3
4	106	Mills, Garrett	TE	6-1	227	Tulsa	# 10 TE	Round 4
4	118	Gostkowski, Stephen	K	6-2	210	Memphis	# 1 K	Round 6
5	136	O'Callaghan, Ryan	G	6-7	343	California	# 8 OT	Round 3
6	191	Mincey, Jeremy	DE	6-4	258	Florida	# 14 DE	Round 4
6	205	Stevenson, Dan	G	6-5	297	Notre Dame	Late Round Value	> Round 4
6	206	Smith, Le Kevin	DT	6-3	315	Nebraska	# 17 DT	Round 4
7	229	Andrews, Willie	CB	5-9	182	Baylor	Late Round Value	> Round 4
	FA	Bramlet, Corey	QB	6-4	222	Wyoming	Late Round Value	> Round 4
	FA	Roach, Freddie	ILB	6-2	257	Alabama	# 8 ILB	Round 4
	FA	Mays, Corey	ILB	6-1	234	Notre Dame	Late Round Value	> Round 4
	FA	Herring, Jarvis	SS	5-11	206	Florida	Late Round Value	> Round 4

A-

2006 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

The Patriots got excellent value with Jackson in round two, O'Callaghan in round five, Mincey in round six, and Smith in round six. What else is new? While Gostkowski was drafted higher than where I had him graded, he was my top rated kicker, was taken on day two which is fine, and fills a big need.

Dillon appears to be on his last legs, so drafting Maroney was an excellent move. While I like DeAngelo Williams more than Maroney, the Pats don't lose any points for selecting Maroney over Williams. They are different types of backs. Maroney is strong and fast and can run with power or find a seam, make a cut, and run decisively through the hole. He often shared in college and Kevin Faulk is a perfect compliment to Maroney. As Faulk ages, the short, quick, change-of-pace complimentary back is easy to find in the draft. Jackson was a steal in round two. He was far and away the best wide receiver in the draft, and will be a star. Forget the disappointing legacy of Florida receivers in the NFL, none had the combination of great hands, game-breaking speed, quickness, toughness and change-of-direction skills that Jackson possesses. He can catch the ball over the middle, and he can beat cornerbacks deep. Oh, did I mention he has great hands. Yeah, I guess I did, but it's worth mentioning again. Thomas is a good pass catching tight end with excellent quickness and hands. However, with Graham and Watson on board, I thought the Pats could have gone with ILB Wilkerson at this spot, especially since they grabbed Mills in round four, and, while shorter than Thomas, Mills is an even better receiver than Thomas. As it stands now, Mills will be tried at fullback. If he makes the transition, he should be a plus blocker at that position and a major weapon as a receiver. Gostkowski went higher than where I had him projected but he is a reliable kicker, with a big leg, and performed well on his biggest post season stages, which could project him as being a clutch kicker. He was my top rated kicker in the draft. O'Callaghan dropped because of injury concerns and workout numbers below expectations. However, he is a big man who is an effective pass blocker now, and if he gets stronger, can be a solid long-term starting right tackle. I had a late first day grade on O'Callaghan because he is a big man who plays effectively at 340 pounds using technique over strength (which can be improved), and has the potential to grow into a monster blocker. Mincey could be the steal of the draft for the Pats. I had a fourth round grade on him because he was thought to be a one-dimensional defensive end who could play the run but not rush the passer, then he showed terrific pass rushing skills at the Hula Bowl, and followed that performance with an exceptional workout. The Pats are moving Mincey to OLB and I predict they have their next stud at that position. Mincey has excellent speed, strength and quickness for that position, and will be able to both play the run and rush the passer. To make the transition, he will have to work on his pass coverage skills. Stevenson falls into a category I love. The word on the kid was that he was smart and tough but not very athletic. Then at his workout he showed quickness, change-of-direction, and athleticism. That is often the formula for a late round pick finding a home in the NFL. I had a fourth round grade on Smith but was not surprised to see him fall in the draft. He only has value to a team that plays a 3-4 defense. He is a true nose tackle who plays low to the ground, has good strength, can occupy blockers, and can play the run. He could develop into a nice backup. Andrews was another good get in round seven. He needs a lot of work in the weight room, but if he accomplishes that, he has the speed and play-making ability one desires in a free safety, and he has good return skills.

The Patriots signed a number of college street free agents who could push for jobs in camp. Bramlet is purely a developmental quarterback who could make the Patriots' practice squad. He has a live arm, but is mistake prone. However, he has potential and Urban Meyer (University of Florida head coach) was quoted as saying Bramlet, "might be the top quarterback we face this fall." Inside linebacker was the one position I thought the Pats would address in the draft that they did not. However, they signed two good college street free agents at that position. Roach can play inside or outside. Roach fell out of the draft because of a poor workout, and a horrendous Wonderlic score. I had a fourth round grade on him because he is a hard worker, has good football instincts, and is good fit (on the field) for a 3-4 inside linebacker. However, his Wonderlic does give cause for concern as to how effectively he will be able to learn complex defenses. Mays is another player made for inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Mays is a hard-hitting, tackling machine. He doesn't have the speed to play MIKE in a 4-3, but could be a terror in the Pat's 3-4. It would not surprise me if Mays sticks as a backup linebacker. However, he may have to beat out Roach for that spot. Herring is a strong safety who lacks speed but likes to hit and could earn a living in the NFL on special teams.

red indicates workout number in top range at position in draft

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Maroney

Minnesota

6'0.1", 215

4.47

35.5"

10'3"

RB
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - The Williams, Maroney, and White rankings will be fluid throughout the process as more information (primarily workout numbers) is obtained. Maroney needs good forty and short shuttle times to keep up with, and possibly pass Williams.
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - In his three years in college Maroney rushed for over 1,000 yards each year, and had double-digit touchdowns every year. While many project White of USC as the best power back in the draft, Maroney could end up the powerful runner in the NFL. Maroney also has good speed and is very athletic. He is a one cut and take off runner, not a shifty back with quick feet like DeAngelo Williams.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Jackson, C

Florida

6'0.7", 213

4.32

1.51

2.56

3.97

11.19

6.73

38.5"

10'2"

WR
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Jackson may be a couple of years away from producing big numbers, but Jackson has the tools with which to develop into at least a top number two receiver in the NFL.
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Chad Jackson WR FL looked very good running and catching (excellent hands) at the All Star Challenge. He appears to have a tremendous upside.
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Jackson has it all and, rethinking what I said earlier, can help a team immediately. Jackson has terrific speed, quickness, and change-of-direction skills. He also has great hands. At college he proved he could go over the middle, take a beating, and hold onto the ball. As a junior he caught 88 balls for 900 yards and 9 TDs. As a sophomore he showed his great deep speed catching 29 balls, for a 22 yard average and 6 TDs. Jackson is the best receiver in the draft.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Thomas

Texas

6'3.1", 252

4.67

1.61

2.78

4.15

7.07

37.5"

9'5"

TE/H-back/LS
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Thomas caught a TD pass at the East West Shrine Game.
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Thomas has more speed and quickness than advertised, to go with good college production. He caught 50 balls his senior year. Thomas is an underrated prospect and will help a team as a pass catching tight end or h-back.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Mills

Tulsa

6'1.1", 241

4.64

1.60

2.74

4.05

11.05

6.81

35.5"

9'3"

TE/H-back/FB/LS
Mike Mayock, NFL Network - Mills is a player I like. He was very productive in college.
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Mills caught 87 balls for 1235 yards and 9 TDs his senior year. Mills has excellent receiving skills, is very quick, fluid in his cuts, and is strong, but lacks the size to be effective as a blocker on the line of scrimmage. He projects as a H-back and could have a career like Frank Wycheck.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

POS

WORKOUT NUMBERS

Gostkowski

Memphis

NOT AT COMBINE
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Gostkowski won the long distance field goal kicking at All Star Challenge, making a kick easily from 51, and not missing up to that point. While this may seem trifle, it shows how well he kicked in a pressure event.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

O'Callaghan

Cal Berkley

6'6.4", 340

5.26

1.88

3.16

4.83

7.97

26"

8'0"

OT
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - O'Callaghan is a right tackle prospect who got some good reviews during Senior Bowl practices. His workout numbers were not as good as expected, but O'Callaghan has the potential to be a long time right tackle in the NFL. He is a big man who needs some work in the weight room, but plays with good technique, decent feet, and is at his best in pass blocking.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Mincey

Florida

6'3.2", 262

4.65

1.70

2.81

4.25

6.99

33.5"

10'1"

DE
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Mincy showed terrific pass rush skills at the Hula Bowl. He was the best defensive player in the game.
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Mincy was a solid player against the run at Florida, then showed pass rush skills at the Hula Bowl. He fast, quick, strong and athletic and could be a steal on day two of the draft.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Stevenson

Notre Dame

6'5.1", 300

5.34

1.85

3.15

4.55

7.53

24.5"

8'4"

OG
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Stevenson had the tag of a smart tough kid, and then showed excellent quickness, and change-of-direction skills at his workout. He could be a sleeper on day two of the draft.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Smith, L

Nebraska

6'2.7", 316

5.01

1.75

2.93

4.93

7.95

30.5"

9'1"

NT/DT
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - A true nose tackle for a 3-4 defense, Smith plays low to the ground, has good strength, plays the run much better than the pass, and can eat up blockers.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Andrews

Baylor

5'9", 193

4.39

1.63

2.65

4.31

7.00

36.5"

10'4"

SS/CB/RT
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Andrews is a true tweener. He lacks the size to play a cornerback on the outside, lacks the speed to play corner against slot receivers, lacks the strength to play safety. However, he has great speed, and a nose for the ball so could wind up at free safety. He is also a good return man.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Bramlet

Wyoming

6'4.2", 222

4.71

4.21

7.43

31"

9'8"

QB - NOT AT COMBINE
Gil Brandt, NFL.com - Bramlet looked good throwing the ball in drills at his Pro Day.
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Bramlet has a good arm, but needs to improve his decision-making. The past two years he threw more interceptions than touchdowns while completing passes at close to 60%. Bramlet has a fan in Florida coach Urban Meyer who was quoted as saying, Bramlet, "might be the top quarterback we face this fall."

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Roach

Alabama

6'1.7, 257

4.87

1.72

2.88

4.42

7.51

34"

9'3"

ILB/OLB
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Roach has the size and ability to play inside in a 3-4 defense. He works hard and has a good attitude, but is limited athletically. His poor Wonderlic score won't help him make his case to NFL teams either.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Mays

Notre Dame

ILB - NOT AT COMBINE
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - Mays showed good tackling ability, and had some hard hits at the Hula Bowl. He lacks top athletic ability so fits best inside in a 3-4 defense. He could be a good NFL backup at that position because of his tackling ability and ability to diagnose plays.

PLAYER

COLLEGE

HGT-WGHT

FORTY
DASH

10
DASH

20
DASH

SHORT
SHUTTLE

LONG
SHUTTLE

3 CONE

BENCH

VERTICAL
JUMP

LONG
JUMP

WONDER
LIC

Herring

Florida

5'11", 206

4.75

1.71

2.86

4.23

11.89

7.12

36.5"

9'11"

SS
Jay Goldberg, 900FootballLinks.NET - A tough in-the-box safety who could be a stud on special teams. He lacks speed, but has acceptable quickness.

2006 TEAM NEEDS
prior to free agency

QB	Brady is a top starter. Flutie is an UFA and is a year older. Cassel may not be ready to be the backup if Flutie leaves. Either Flutie needs to be brought back, or another veteran needs to be signed to serve as two or three.
RB	Dillon may be past his prime. Faulk is a change-of-pace, third-down back. It's time for the Pats to invest in their running back of the future.
WR	Givens, Brown, and Davis are UFAs. Johnson hasn't lived up to expectations. Branch is back, but the Pats will need to bring in two or three new receivers, with one being a starter if Givens walks.
TE	With Watson and Graham this is a strength. Fauria is an UFA and is too good to stay as number three tight end.
OL	This unit played well despite injuries and will be better for it next year. The only hiccup is that Neal is an UFA. Hochstein could replace him, but another guard woud have to be brought into the mix. Ashworth is also an UFA, but Kaczur could move there if Light comes back, and Gorin is there also.
DL	Deep and talented. Seymour, Warren, and Wilfork are as good as it gets for a 3-4 front. Green, Hill and Klecko offer quality depth. A nose tackle for the bench is all that may be needed.
LB	Scrap Beisel and Brown. They didn't pan out. Bruschi and Vrabel are terrific inside, but Bruschi is a risk with his past stroke, and Vrabel while good inside, was a monster outside. Speaking of outside, Colvin and McGinest are also a strong duo. The Pats should draft a young inside linebacker who can start, allowing Vrabel to start outside and form an excellent three player rotation there. A young outside linebacker could also be added.
DB	If they stay healthy they will be fine. Hawkins is the only significant UFA in the Pats' secondary. Samuel, Hobbs, and Gay are three solid corners. If Harrison comes back he teams with Wilson, otherwise Scott could start. Hawkins can play corner or safety and should be resigned. The Pats may bring in a corner and a safety for depth.
ST	Vinatieri is an UFA. That could spell trouble. Miller had a solid year. Johnson disappointment included kick returns. Dwight is a hit or miss punt returner. The Pats need to look at their return teams as well as field goal kicker.

2005 COLLEGE DRAFT

New England - links below go to NFL.com reports							Jaybird	Jaybird
Rd	Sel#	Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	School	Ranking	Value Board
1	32	Mankins, Logan	G	6-4	307	Fresno State	# 3 OG	Round 2
3	84	Hobbs, Ellis	CB	5-9	188	Iowa State	# 19 CB	Round 4
3	100	Kaczur, Nick	G	6-4	319	Toledo	# 7 OG, # 9 OT	Round 3
4	133	Sanders, James	SS	5-10	207	Fresno State	Late Round Value	> Round 4
5	170	Claridge, Ryan	OLB	6-2	259	Nevada-Las Vegas	# 12 OLB	Round 4
7	230	Cassel, Matt	QB	6-4	232	Southern California		> Round 4
7	255	Stokes, Andy	TE	6-4	257	William Penn	Late Round Value	> Round 4
FA		Birmingham, DeCori	RB	5-10	210	Arkansas	# 20 RB	Round 4

C+

2005 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

The Patriots play the game to their own tune, but with the results they get, it's hard to argue. Based on my board, the Patriots struggled to get value at their spots in the draft. That was not true last year when I gave the Patriots an A+, and said they made one of the best college street free agent signings in Randall Gay.

The Patriots reached slightly in round one selecting offensive guard Mankins, but guard is a potential weak spot for the Pats (Hochstein and Neal are their starters) so if they are very high on Mankins, they had to pull the trigger. Mankins has the agility and quickness for the running game now, but may need to add some strength to be consistently productive against the pass. I love Hobbs as a player. He will be a great, and I mean great, special teams player. He also will be a solid nickel corner down the line. While he is short, he can sky. Kaczur is further guard-insurnace. The fact that two of the Pats first three picks were guards, indicates that they are more worried about the position than many may think. Kazcur is not as NFL-ready as Mankins, but has good potential. I think Sanders was a reach in round four. I like Reid and Scott (both drafted by the Pats last year), and I like Nicholson, Maddox, and Sensabaugh (drafted after Sanders) better as safety prospects. Sanders is a good character guy, who likes to hit, but he will peak as a good special teams player and backup. Claridge is an interesting selection. He is another player who will excel on special teams, but he also could be a starter one day. He fell in the draft because he was injured during the pre-draft assessment period. He is a heady, tough guy, who makes plays. I thought Cassel was going to be a college street free agent. I guess the Pats wanted to be sure to get a look so they drafted him in round seven. He was the backup for Palmer and Leinart at USC. Stokes is a good seventh round pick. He is an athletic, confident, tight end. The problem is that the Pats have excellent depth at the position. Look for Stokes to be a practice squad member this year.

The Patriots signed only one college street free agent note. Last year I also only mentioned one for the Pats, and praised the Randall Gay signing big time. This year I love running back DeCori Birmingham. The problem, however, is that the Pats don't really have room for him on their roster with Dillon, Faulk, Cobbs, and now Chad Morton. However, if given a chance, Birmingham will force the Pats into a tough decision. My best guess - the Pats will cut him, hoping to sign him to their practice squad, but he will show enough in preseason games to be scooped up by another team.

RED NUMBERS BELOW - among best at position
Long shuttle numbers (where available) in blue, top performers to be determined later

PLAYER	POS	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP	WONDER- LIC
Mankins	OG	5.10	1.85	4.45		7.54	21	31.5"	7'11"	31

Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET: Mankins is a solid prospect. He is a steady player with the quickness and ability to be a very good pulling guard.
Colin Lindsay of GBNReport.com reports: Fresno State OG Logan Mankins, who had really struggled up to today, was very solid. Earlier in the week, Mankins was being beaten to the point of attack and pretty much forced to just hold on to survive, but today he was getting their first, kept his feet moving and used his strength to neutralize the attack.
InsideThe League.com reports: Fresno State OG Logan Mankins, who is seeing action inside this week but has the skills to play tackle as well, showed excellent technique, power and intensity and blocked at the line of scrimmage and in space very impressively during the South workout in Mobile, Ala., Wednesday, Jan. 26, for the Senior Bowl.
Colin Lindsay of GBNReport.com reports: Fresno State OG Logan Mankins, who came to Mobile as a player to be watched after a strong showing in the Shrine game, has struggled through the first two days of practice.

PLAYER	POS	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP	WONDER- LIC
Hobbs	CB	4.37	1.57	4.08	10.98	6.70	13	42"	11'1"	15

Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET reports: Hobbs has good speed, great quickness, and is a tremendous athlete. He will be a top special teams player in the NFL, both in coverage, and returning punts. while he is short, he has excellent leaping ability and will be a solid nickel corner covering slot receivers.
Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET reports: While Hobbs did not stand out at cornerback during the Gridiron Classic game, he did have a nice punt return and a good special teams tackle.

PLAYER	POS	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP	WONDER- LIC
Kaczur	OG/OT	5.27	1.85					31.5"		29

Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET reports: Kaczur is a player on the rise as the draft approaches. He played tackle in college, but may have to move inside in the NFL. He isn't ready yet, but has the tools with which to work.

PLAYER	POS	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP	WONDER- LIC
Sanders	SS	4.68		4.06		7.16	22	36"	9'4"

Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET reports: Sanders is a good character guy who likes to hit. He is a little small for a strong safety, but has good strength and decent quickness. He will be a good special teams player, but will not be more than a backup at safety.

PLAYER	POS	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP	WONDER- LIC
Claridge	OLB	4.79					25			18

Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET reports: Claridge will fall in the draft because of injuries during the evaluation process. He is a heady player who comes up with big plays. He does lack speed, but is strong. Could be a steal if he lasts until late on day two.
Steve Guiremand of lasvegassun.com reports: Claridge, who missed UNLV's final game against San Diego State after playing most of the season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, was timed at 4.79 and 4.80 in the 40 despite battling a strained left hamstring muscle and shin splints. He pulled up at the end of his second 40 after re-injuring the hamstring and didn't do any other running drills.

PLAYER	POS	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP	WONDER- LIC
Cassel	QB	4.90		4.08		7.21		34"	9'7"

Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET reports: Cassel has been a backup quarterback to both Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. He was also drafted in baseball by the A's. He is a good athlete who will get an invite to some teams' camp.

PLAYER	POS	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP	WONDER- LIC
Stokes	TE	4.72		4.20		7.00	20	35"	9'11"

Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET reports: Stokes had a good workout. He will need developing, but could become a solid #2, pass-catching, tight end.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com reports: Stokes talked his way into playing in the Las Vegas All-American Classic and that's where he made himself known.

PLAYER	POS	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP	WONDER- LIC
Birmingham	RB	4.52	1.64	4.14		7.14	15	34.5"	9'10"	17

Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET reports: Birmingham is a runner I would take a shot on late in the draft. He plays faster than he times, has confidence, and is a good running back. He could be a Rhodes (Ind), or a Goings (Car), a good backup, who could get the job done if a starter is injured, but not a runner to build a team around.
HawgsIllustrated.com reports: Birmingham said. "I'm ready to go out there and run because I like running. I'm going to set the mark for these guys. I'm going to try to get out there and run a (4.3-second 40) and just let them know this kid has speed." Birmingham believes a blazing run will boost his draft prospects in a talented running back's class that also includes Auburn's Carnell Williams, Florida's Ciatrick Fason and Wisconsin's Anthony Davis. Birmingham, who has proven his versatility after playing running back, receiver, punt returner and kick returner at Arkansas will get two attempts at the 40 this afternoon. Birmingham said he ran the 40 in 4.38 seconds as a freshman on the old artificial surface in the Walker Indoor Pavilion.. Birmingham, who is making his case as a player capable of being an every-down back in the NFL, bench pressed 225 pounds 15 times.

2005 TEAM NEEDS PRIOR TO FREE AGENCY AND THE DRAFT

Jay Goldberg of 90FootballLinks.NET reports:
major need need position possible need, depth needed no real need
Key UFA: Miller QB, Patten WR, Andruzzi G, Davis LB, Vinatieri K, Klemm OT
Key RFA: Givens WR (7th), Gorin OT (7th), Ashworth OT, Green DE (4th),
NOTE - RFA COMPENSATION AT MINIMUM TENDER

QB: Brady is as good as it gets. Davey is an untested backup. A third, more experienced option could help, especially if Miller leaves.
RB: Dillon and Faulk are a good one-two punch. Cobbs has potential.
WR: If Givens is resigned they're fine, even if Patten walks. Another body will need to be added, however, if Patten leaves.
TE: Graham is solid, but Watson will be better. He will add a new dimension to the Patriots offense next year. Fauria rounds out a solid unit.
OL: The Patriots line is effective, but there are a number of players who are free agents. If looking to upgrade any area on offense, this will be the one.
DL: A good mix of youth and experience. This unit has playmakers and will be even better next year.
LB: The Pats have a good six man rotation. However, age and Bruschi's mild stroke means this is an area the Patriots will address in the draft.
DB: If Law is cut for salary cap reasons, the Patriots will need to add a corner. Gay is a young player with a big upside and Samuel is solid. At safety, harrison is the best in the league, Wilson is good, but Reid could push him back to corner. All-in-all a deep unit when healthy. However, injuries last year means more players will be invited to camp in 2005.
ST: Vinatieri is an UFA. They need to address the kicking position this offseason. Miller is ok, but could be improved upon. Faulk and Johnson are fine in the return game, but if game-breaker is available in the draft, the Pats will jump.

2004 COLLEGE DRAFT

New England
Rd	Sel#	Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	School
1	21	Wilfork, Vince	DT	6-1	344	Miami (Fla.)
1	32	Watson, Ben	TE	6-3	253	Georgia
2	63	Hill, Marquise	DE	6-6	297	Louisiana State
3	95	Scott, Guss	SS	5-10	198	Florida
4	113	Reid, Dexter	FS	5-11	187	North Carolina
4	128	Cobbs, Cedric	RB	6-0	221	Arkansas
5	164	Sam, P.K.	WR	6-1	196	Florida State
7	233	Morton, Christian	CB	6-0	188	Illinois

A+

2004 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

Wow. After day one I agreed with the Patriots selection in round one and had a "couldn't argue but" with their other three picks. Now I take it all back. For example, regarding their selection of Scott I said "couldn't argue, but I like D Reid better"; then the Pats take D. Reid in round four. Wilfork was my top rated defensive tackle and a top ten pick on my board. Needless to say, a great selection for the Pats. Wilfork is an athletic run-stuffer. That is rare. Usually run-stuffers are one dimensional. Not Wilfork who is quick as well as strong. I had Ben Watson rated as a first round pick and my number two tight end (ahead of Troupe who I had a second round grade on). I was a little surprised the Pats went in this direction, but he can catch, block and has very good speed for a tight end. On second thought, this is the type of move that keeps teams on top. Graham was a prior number one pick, and will be looking for a big contract as he approaches free agency. While he has contributed some, he will probably be asking for more money that he's worth. With Watson around, he can be allowed to walk, or cut for salary cap savings. Hill is a goo 3-4 defensive end. He is big and can play the run and occupy blockers freeing linebackers to make tackles, and can get the occasional sack. While Scott was a solid pick, Dexter Reid was a great pick. Scott should be a good nickel safety and excellent special teams player. Reid, however, will eventually slide in next to Harrison and form an intimidating pair of safeties. Until the Pats selected Reid I was questioning why they didn't select a corner with all their "Law" problems. But the selection of Reid solves that issue. If Law leaves, Wilson can return to corner and Reid can start at safety. By the way, I had a late second round grade on Reid. Cedric Cobbs was another great pick. It wouldn't surprise me if he is this year's fourth-round running back breakout player. While Dillon will get first crack, Cobbs is a player that can pick up the slack should he falter or get injured. P. K. Sam will probably not contribute this year. He may only contribute minimally next year. However, Sam has size, speed and potential and could be a factor in a few years. To get there, however, he will have to show the ability to contribute on special teams to warrant a roster spot. Morton was worth a shot in round seven. Cornerbacks who are over six feet and run the forty in under 4.5 are hard to find. The only college street free agent signing I am mentioning here is the Pats' signing of cornerback Randall Gay. Gay is a player I have tabbed as a major sleeper. He was productive in college at a major program, has decent size, and had one of the best individual workouts of all cornerbacks in the draft. He has a reputation for giving his all and for liking to mix it up despite his slender build. Give Gay a couple of years and he could be solid solid cornerback. For the record, I had a fourth round grade on Gay.

PLAYER/ TEAM NEWS PRIOR TO DRAFT

PLAYER	POS	HGT-WGHT	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP
Wilfork	DT	6-1 1/8, 323	5.08	-	4.50	7.62	36	26½"	8-5

Wilfolk
Miami

#1 ranked DT by Jaybird

Pete Fiutak / CollegeFootballNews.com posted at foxsports.com reports: Projected: 1st round. Good or bad move to come out early? Big, strong and athletic, there's a solid chance he'll be the top tackle taken.
Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports: Observations from two college scouts, one from each conference, on Saturday "My guess is that Miami (Fla.) defensive tackle Vince Wilfork made himself a lot of money today. He weighed in at something like 323 pounds, and I know he was a whole lot heavier than that maybe as recently as a month ago. So that means he got himself into shape and took this process very seriously. Plus he did 36 'reps' on the bench (press) and his natural strength is very impressive. The other thing is, he looks the part of a defensive tackle, you know. Even dropping some weight, he's still wide, especially through the butt. He can clog things up but is a player who can also compress the pocket from inside once in a while. To tell the truth, I was skeptical about him, but he showed me something with the way he carried himself today. Definitely the top half of the first round, I'd say."

PLAYER	HGT-WGHT	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP
Watson	6-3 3/8, 255	4.41	1.56	4.11	-	7.38	34	35½"	10-3

Watson
Georgia

#2 ranked TE by Jaybird

D. J. Boyer of Football.com reports: New #2 tight end? – It is a known fact that the consensus #1 tight end on the board will be Kellen Winslow Jr. and it has been common knowledge that Ben Troupe of Florida was #2 and possibly a first rounder. With Troupe electing to not come to the Senior Bowl he left a few teams rather angry about the no-show. Ben Watson may now slide into #2 at the tight end spot on a few teams boards. His pass catching skills have been solid but unspectacular (at Senior Bowl practices). Watson has excelled at blocking, he probably has more “pancake” blocks than half of the lineman in Mobile this week. His blocking has been very solid and no matter where Troupe goes Watson has moved into the 2nd round.
D. J. Boyer of Football.com reports: Ben Watson was head and shoulders above everyone here (Senior Bowl practices), and the second best tight end overall was Ronnie Ghent of Louisville.
Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.NET reports: Watson followed up a great week of practice at the Senior Bowl with a solid game.
Nolan Nawrocki of ProFootballWeekly.com reports: Partially due to injuries, Watson did not play to his extraordinary natural talent this past season, but he is a workout warrior with outstanding upper-body strength and rare timed speed. Based on his workout numbers, by the end of the Combine some team could consider taking him in the first round.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com reports: Ben Watson, tight end, Georgia. This young man ran under 4.6 -- and he weighed in at 256 pounds. Not enough for you? He also added 34 strength reps.
Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports: TE Ben Watson (Georgia): He was the top-rated tight end prospect last spring, dropped back a bit after a senior season marred by injuries and inconsistency, but has started to really rehabilitate himself. At about 256 pounds, he torched the field in the 40, clocking an incredible time in the mid-4.5s. Watson, whom some felt would have been a high-round choice had he entered the 2003 draft, also demonstrated functional strength by doing 34 repetitions in the standard 225-pound bench press.
GBNReport.com reports: There is something of a similar story at TE - at least in terms of not being a popular draft-day position - but Georgia TE Ben Watson may be making a bit of a run at Florida's Ben Troupe to rate the #2 grade at the position after Miami's Kellen Winslow. Watson was held back somewhat by injuries at Georgia, but impressed at last month's combine, running in the low 4.5s at almost 260 pounds.
NFLFans.com reports: The only thing Watson did was run the 40, however, he was timed by scouts anywhere from several sub-4.40 to the highest of 4.44 WOW. He would probably be considered running the 40 in an average of 4.41 or 4.42 on his workout. That my friends, is impressive!!
Vic Ketchman of jaguars.com reports: Ben Watson, 6-3, 258, of Georgia has freakish athletic ability. He's the fastest and most athletic tight end in the draft. In scouting combine drills, Watson outran the ball. But he doesn't always play up to his abilities. He wasn't real involved in the passing game at Georgia, but some team will probably fall in love with Watson's measurables and make him a second-round pick.

PLAYER	POS	HGT-WGHT	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP
Hill	DE	6-6¾, 296	4.95	-	-	-	23	30½"	9-0

Hill
LSU

#5 ranked DE by Jaybird

Matt Gambill of AllProScouting reports: DE Marquise Hill will enter the 2004 NFL draft. The 6'7", 294-pound DE from New Orleans is one of the best young prospects at his position. Hill finished his junior campaign with 36 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 5 sacks, and 24 QB hurries. He's a very explosive player with great size, strength, quickness, and has improved tremendously on his fundamentals. Surely a player who will go in the top two rounds of the draft and has potential to be a dominating player once he develops more.
Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports: Observations from two college scouts, one from each conference, on Saturday "I've got to tell you, we didn't know much about the (Marquise) Hill kid from LSU when we came in here, but we're going to dig in on him. He was the player, right, who opted to enter the draft, changed his mind, then had to come in when he was declared academically ineligible by the school? Let me tell you, he looks like a football player. He's got that long, lean look you love at (defensive) end. A real live-looking body. I don't want to get too excited, because I haven't seen him do anything yet. But I want to meet him and I want to see him on tape."
Gil Brandt of NFL.com reports: Hill did not run any of the shuttles at pro day because of a pulled hamstring.
Colin Lindsay of GBNReport.com reports: DE Marquise Hill complained that he had tweaked a hamstring on his initial try (forty yard dash).
Colin Lindsay of GBNReport.com reports: The original report on LSU DE Marquise Hill second chance pro day results were that he ran the 40 in around 5.15 seconds. We've had a second report, however, that several teams had him timed in the low 5.0 range. Hill also reportedly timed in the 4.4-4.5 range for the short shuttle and 7.3 in the 3-cone drill; he also posted a 33-inch vertical leap. Hill, who weighed in at 297 pounds - he's a tad under 6-7 - at LSU's workout yesterday, was trying to improve on the rather disappointing 5.22 40 time he recorded at LSU's first pro day earlier in March when he reportedly was hampered by a tweaked hamstring. New England, Green Bay and Tennessee are all reportedly very interested in Hill, who could ultimately double as a first-second DE/third down pass rush DT at the pro level.
Brian DeLucia of foxsports.com reports: A number of teams are scared off by Louisiana State defensive end Marquise Hill due to a bipolar condition. Remember former Michigan State first-round disaster Dimitrius Underwood?

PLAYER	POS	HGT-WGHT	FORTY	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP
Scott	SS	5.10.4, 201	4.49	-	-	-	20	39½"	-

Scott
Florida

#4 ranked SS by Jaybird

NFLFans.com reports: SS Scott is the pure definition of a "sleeper pick" has the size speed and mentality to excel at SS in the NFL with the right coaching.

PLAYER	POS	HGT-WGHT	FORTY	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP
D Reid	FS	5-10 7/8, 205	4.43	4.11	11.50	6.87	-	39"	10-3

D Reid
North Carolina

#3 ranked FS by Jaybird

NFLFans.com reports: Reid has amassed an incredible number of tackles in his career at UNC. He wraps up anything that comes near him. He's spent some time in the opponents' backfield as well. A fire burns within this guy and is a natural leader. He likes the weight room and it shows. But with all his skills in the tackling and hitting departments, Reid lacks instinctive coverage skills. He can cover any tight end and can wrap them up. He has the speed to handle most running backs who find themselves running pass routes. But he'll have to improve to help out in WR coverage in the NFL.

PLAYER	HGT-WGHT	FORTY	10 DASH	20 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP
Cobbs	6-0 1/8, 232	4.50	1.63	2.61	4.30	7.06	24	40"	10-5

Cobbs
Arkansas

#11 ranked RB by Jaybird

Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports: Observations from two AFC personnel directors and an NFC college scout "If he proves he can hold up physically, I like (Arkansas tailback) Cedric Cobbs a lot. He has size, nice quickness, really good vision and he runs strong. The one asterisk on his resume is his durability. And, of course, that's a pretty big asterisk."
Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports: RB Cedric Cobbs (Arkansas): Certainly looks the part, a squarely-built runner with good college numbers who, on tape, appears to have all the tools. But he struggled to get under 4.7 seconds in the 40, didn't demonstrate sufficient change-of-direction skills and turned off more than a few teams in his individual interview sessions.
NFLFans.com reports: Cobbs complained his hamstring was sore and did not run his second forty so the times will, I am sure, be better at his Pro Day workout.
Vic Ketchman, of jaguars.com reports: Cedric Cobbs, 6-0, 223, of Arkansas, is this draft's boom-or-bust prospect. Cobbs was a star as a freshman, but the next two years were wiped out by injuries and legal problems. Cobbs pleaded guilty to DUI and marijuana charges, but has submitted himself to monthly drug-testing since January of 2002. Cobbs had a great senior season in '03. He looked great early in the week at the Senior Bowl, but finished the week nursing a hamstring pull. He developed a reputation in college for always be nicked up and got the rap for being a soft back. He ran slow, 4.73, at the scouting combine, but he plays faster than that. Cobbs is the perfect pick for a team wanting to swing for the fence.

PLAYER	HGT-WGHT	FORTY	10 DASH	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP
Sam	6-3¼, 204	4.46	1.53	4.38	-	7.03	-	36½"	10-5

Sam
Florida State

#13 ranked WR by Jaybird

Pete Fiutak / CollegeFootballNews.com posted at foxsports.com reports: Projected: 3rd to 4th round. Good or bad move to come out early? This is a bad move in a receiver-rich draft. Sam is a big receiver that can fly, coming into his own as the season went on. It's not that Sam isn't going to be a good pro, and could quickly become the draft riser Javon Walker was a few years ago, but he would've been a sure top 50 pick with another year in the Nole offense.
Matt Gambill of AllProScouting reports: PK Sam ran 4.53, 4.57 at the Combine.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com reports: Sam had an exceptional workout at his pro day.
Mel Kiper of ESPN.com reports: As the draft day countdown approaches three weeks, Kiper has identified Sam as a fast riser.

PLAYER	POS	HGT-WGHT	FORTY	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP
Morton	CB	6-0 3/8, 188	4.44	4.04	11.23	6.72	9	31"	10-1

Morton
Illinois

Jaybird: below 4th round

NFLFans.com reports: A star waiting to be born, lets hope that he is selected by a team that can afford him the attention and motivation needed for him to reach the potential he has shown. If they can get him to play the run as well as he does the pass, you will have one great CB. If not, you will have a great situational cover guy who might develop into an excellent special teamer on returns.

PLAYER	POS	HGT-WGHT	FORTY	SHORT SHUTTLE	LONG SHUTTLE	3 CONE	BENCH	VERTICAL JUMP	LONG JUMP
Gay	CB	5-10 7/8, 185	4.33	4.24	11.08	6.78	9	39"	10-6

Gay
LSU

#19 ranked CB by Jaybird

Jay Goldberg of 900FootballLinks.Net reports: Gay could be a real sleeper. He was a productive player in college who was tabbed a great effort or over-achiever type. Then he puts on one of the best workouts of all cornerbacks in the draft. And while he has a thin build and is not particularly strong, he has no hesitation mixing it up. Gay needs to get stronger and needs some work on his technique, but he has the potential to be a good starting cornerback in the league. Could be a real sleeper.

2003 COLLEGE DRAFT

New England
Rd	Sel#	Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	School
1	13	Warren, Ty	DT	6-5	307	Texas A&M
2	36	Wilson, Eugene	CB	5-10	192	Illinois
2	45	Johnson, Bethel	WR	5-11	201	Texas A&M
4	117	Klecko, Dan	DT	5-11	283	Temple
4	120	Samuel, Asante	CB	5-11	185	Central Florida
5	164	Koppen, Dan	C	6-3	297	Boston College
6	201	Kingsbury, Kliff	QB	6-4	213	Texas Tech
7	234	Nead, Spencer	TE	6-4	259	Brigham Young
7	239	Banta-Cain, Tully	DE	6-2	264	California
7	243	Kelley, Ethan	DT	6-2	304	Baylor

B-

2003 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

Warren may have been a slight reach, but tackle was an area of extreme need (Pats moving Seymour to end) and the only other first round possibility (Joseph) was not really suited to the 3-4 defense. Warren played tackle in the 3-4 in college. Wilson has good skills and will contribute this year in the nickel, and may eventually become a starter. Johnson has great speed but was under-utilized in college. He could be a steal, but is not the big receiver the Pats were initially looking for. Personally, I would have drafted Fargas at this spot, and come back with a big receiver with one of their fourth round selections. Klecko is an effort player who may play when the Pats want to go to a 4-3 alignment. He does not have the bulk to play tackle in the 3-4. Samuel is an intriguing prospect who may have more potential than Wilson, but will need time to develop. Good pick. Koppen was good value in round five. He should stick and could eventually push for a starting job. Kingsbury was very productive at Texas Tech but played in a system that limited his lack of arm strength. Ned has the skills to develop into a useful tight end, but he comes into the league as a twenty-five year old rookie. Banta-Cain, one of my 12-to-watch, may have been the bargain of the draft in round seven. He has skills similar to McGinest and could be a dominate pass-rushing end in the Pats 3-4 alignment. Kelley will compete for a back-up role behind Warren.

Warren

WORKOUT NUMBERS Gil Brandt of NFL.com reports, Warren didn't work out in Indianpolis but ran 5.03 and 5.08 at his individual workout. Measured 6-4 5/8, weighed 307 pounds and benched 24 times — three fewer than he did at the Combine.

Wilson

AllProScouting.com reports CB Eugene Wilson ran a 4.48 forty at the combine.

B Johnson

WORKOUT NUMBERS Gil Brandt of NFL.com reports, Bethel Johnson (Texas A&M) put on a show. He threw the bar up 17 times, ran 4.27 and 4.31, and long jumped 10-foot-9. Johnson looked really good in position drills.

Klecko

ProFootballWeekly.com reports Temple DT Dan Klecko, son of former Jets DL Joe Klecko, measured out smaller than most of the players at his position (5-11 ¾, 283), and a deep DL class will certainly drop his stock some.
Gil Brandt, for NFL.com, reports Temple DL Dan Klecko ran well at the NFL Combine. Despite his lack of height, he looks like he’s going to be a good player.
Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports: Temple defensive tackle Dan Klecko, didn't hurt himself with his Saturday workout (combine). Klecko moved well in drills, ran the 40-yard sprint in 4.93-4.97, and maybe moved himself up into the higher middle rounds of the draft. Some teams will still penalize Klecko because he is under 6 feet tall, but he is a competitor who comes hard on every snap, and who will find a way to get on someone's roster.
Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports: DT Dan Klecko (Temple) helped his draft status at the combine. Some team that prefers the smaller and quicker defensive linemen, like Indianapolis or Tampa Bay, will take him in the middle rounds and he will fit well into those types of schemes. The son of former Jets star Joe Klecko, his height will be a drawback, but he ran under five seconds and has a huge motor.
Gil Brandt of NFL.com reports, Klecko worked out but did not do any of the drills. He came in at 273, 10 pounds less than what he was at the Combine.

Kingsbury

John McClain reports for the Houston Chronicle that Texas Tech QB Kliff Kingsbury is currently working with former NFL assistant coach Jerry Rhome. Kingsbury's agents, Vann McElroy and Jeff Nalley, asked Rhome to help prepare the quarterback for the April NFL Combine. "The first time I watched Kliff, my jaw dropped," Rhome said. "I knew about the kid's records at Tech. I saw his statistics. I watched film with him and saw that he was like a field general. He called audibles. He knows reads, keys and protection schemes."
Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reports: Kliff Kingsbury of Texas Tech was average, didn't show a lot of arm, and looked like a "systems" guy.
WORKOUT NUMBERS Gil Brandt of NFL.com reports, Kingsbury ran only one 40-yard dash, with a time of 4.82 seconds. He ran on Turf. He also did the three-cone drill and threw the ball for about 45 minutes.

Banta-Cain

AllProScouting.com reports Cal DE Tully Banta-Cain did 25 reps of 225 and weighed 265-pounds at the combine.
AllProScouting.com reports Cal DE Tully Banta-Cain is a player on the rise among scouting circles. The 6'2", 265-pounder is one of the top pure pass rushing ends available and with the NFL putting a premium on pass rush specialists, I expect Banta-Cain to really sky rocket up boards should he have a solid pro day next week. He has racked up 26.5 career sacks while playing at Cal, as well as 7 forced fumbles, and 51.5 tackles for loss. He's a very impressive player who could sack his way into the top 50 picks in April.
WORKOUT NUMBERS Matt Gambill of AllProScouting.com reports, Banta-Cain ran a 4.62 and a 4.65 forty; a 4.22 and a 4.19 Short Shuttle; a 11.21 Long Shuttle; a 6.71 3 cone; had a 33" Vertical; a 9'6" Broad Jump; a 32 3/8" Arm and a 10 3'8" Hand. There were 18 teams in attendance. Houston worked him out as a LB and he looked very good. Indy, Sea, Dallas, Oakland, Green Bay, NE, Pittsburgh, Chicago, New Orleans, New York Giants, Philly, Houston among others were in attendance.

2002 COLLEGE DRAFT

GRADE : C+

Graham is an instant starter and helps the Pats offense immediately. Branch could be a good slot receiver but don't expect more (however that was once said for Troy Brown as well). I love the selection of Davey. In acouple of years it will be interesting to see the competition between Davey and Brady. Green was a good pick in round four. He could join the rotation at DE this season. womack has size and speed worth and was worth a shot late in the draft.

Links below take you to NFL.com's report on player, position or college team.

Rd	Sel#	Player	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	School
1	21	Graham, Daniel	TE	6-3	248	Colorado
2	65	Branch, Anthony 'Deion'	WR	5-9	191	Louisville
4	117	Davey, Rohan	QB	6-2	245	Louisiana State
4	126	Green, Jarvis	DE	6-3	272	Louisiana State
7	237	Womack, Antwoine	RB	5-11	214	Virginia
7	253	Givens, David	WR	6-0	217	Notre Dame

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