Patriots/NFL 2024 Regular Season: Part II - If the NFL season ended today, the Patriots would have the No. 2 pick in the draft

[DKH]

Campbell will be a guard. Maye needs a left tackle

What about Banks

 

[BradPark22]

oh yeh he sat in the corner listening to Fleetwood Mac I forgot while Steve Belichick did it all

Silly me


I go OT

Rumors is a helluva album. Maybe that's where he got the Thunder nickname for Kraft.

 

[DKH]

Rumors is a helluva album. Maybe that's where he got the Thunder nickname for Kraft.

Or Mayo actually was significantly involved in entire defensive game plan

I like Steve a lot

It’s a shame Bill didn’t learn anything from his own 2 kids

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Darnold would net them a comp 3rd assuming they don't do anything to negate that. JJ, the benefit is the rookie deal, but you also don't want to take a step back.

If McCarthy is available via trade, I think teams would likely go get him. Add in other clubs like Jets, Saints, Seahawks as well to that mix.

I can’t see the Vikings moving on from McCarthy after one year. They used a Top 10 pick on him for a reason. Plus, if they were right, he’s cost controlled for another 4 years.

At the same time, are teams giving up a 1st for a QB that they haven’t seen for a year due to injury and who was a polarizing figure coming out of the draft to begin with? Doubtful.

A lot is going to depend on how Darnold looks in the playoffs. If he plays well, they have a decision to make. If he plays poorly, he’s probably out. There is also the Daniel Jones factor. If KOC revived Darnold, he may believe he can do the same thing with Jones, and he can compete with McCarthy for the job.

 

[Oates2Neely]

What about Banks

He’s okay. Probably top 15 pick. There isn’t a Joe Alt in this draft unfortunately. I’d rather take the BPA at 2 over trading back to draft a Banks.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

I’m torn on what I want the Pats to do with the pick. Obviously, a lot depends on what happens the next two weeks, where they are picking, and also what needs they can fill in free agency before the draft. If they were to sign a WR like Higgins, that would likely change their draft strategy.

For me, the most pressing need is tackle, particularly the left side. Maybe I was ruined by Brady, but I believe that a great QB can win with good (not great) WR’s, provided he has a good O-Line as well. KC has had success since Hill moved on because of Mahomes and a really solid line (both of those QB’s did have great TE’s).

The problem for NE is that this is not a great tackle class, so if you are picking in the Top 5, do you reach for one. Over his college career, Will Campbell has been the man at LT, but a lot of analysts are saying he could move to guard in the NFL. A lot of them said the same thing about Darrisaw (34” arms) and more so Rashawn Slater (33” arms). Both have been excellent at LT.

The next guy up is probably Banks, but he supposedly is not flexible at all and draft people are saying he will have an issue with speed rushers in the NFL. Are you spending a Top 5 pick on guys with warts?

I have been lukewarm about Travis Hunter, but if he is there when the Patriots pick, he will be the best player available. I’m not a huge Deion guy, but all reports indicate that Hunter is smart and loves football. The primary question is what is his best position and where are you playing him in the pros.

Is he a full time WR, full time CB, or a CB that lines up at WR 5-10 times a game. I tend to think that it will be impossible for him to play both ways in the NFL and will also make it less likely that he reaches his full potential at either position. The flip side of that is that if he concentrates on one position, he’s likely to improve and be elite at whichever one that is. A lot will come down to whether a team sees him as a CB or WR and which position he wants to play.

I think my preference would be having the 2nd pick, trading back with someone like the Raiders, adding a 2nd this year and a 2026 1st and taking the best player available at OT, WR, or Edge.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[Oates2Neely]

I’m torn on what I want the Pats to do with the pick. Obviously, a lot depends on what happens the next two weeks, where they are picking, and also what needs they can fill in free agency before the draft. If they were to sign a WR like Higgins, that would likely change their draft strategy.

For me, the most pressing need is tackle, particularly the left side. Maybe I was ruined by Brady, but I believe that a great QB can win with good (not great) WR’s, provided he has a good O-Line as well. KC has had success since Hill moved on because of Mahomes and a really solid line (both of those QB’s did have great TE’s).

The problem for NE is that this is not a great tackle class, so if you are picking in the Top 5, do you reach for one. Over his college career, Will Campbell has been the man at LT, but a lot of analysts are saying he could move to guard in the NFL. A lot of them said the same thing about Darrisaw (34” arms) and more so Rashawn Slater (33” arms). Both have been excellent at LT.

The next guy up is probably Banks, but he supposedly is not flexible at all and draft people are saying he will have an issue with speed rushers in the NFL. Are you spending a Top 5 pick on guys with warts?

I have been lukewarm about Travis Hunter, but if he is there when the Patriots pick, he will be the best player available. I’m not a huge Deion guy, but all reports indicate that Hunter is smart and loves football. The primary question is what is his best position and where are you playing him in the pros.

Is he a full time WR, full time CB, or a CB that lines up at WR 5-10 times a game. I tend to think that it will be impossible for him to play both ways in the NFL and will also make it less likely that he reaches his full potential at either position. The flip side of that is that if he concentrates on one position, he’s likely to improve and be elite at whichever one that is. A lot will come down to whether a team sees him as a CB or WR and which position he wants to play.

I think my preference would be having the 2nd pick, trading back with someone like the Raiders, adding a 2nd this year and a 2026 1st and taking the best player available at OT, WR, or Edge.

Decisions, decisions.

Great post. Regarding Hunter, most of what I’ve read suggests he’ll be a better corner than a WR. And that’s not taking into account his slender build. He’s also a very good kick returner.

Tet McMillan is an interesting kid. Big boy. He could be a solid pick at 5 or 6

 

[BigGoalBrad]

I hope Hunter dumps his trashy GF.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

I'm not on the Hunter hype train at all.

He is a weapon in college but the dual position gimmick won't work in the NFL. And he is very good to great at each individual spot, nowhere near a #1 talent as purely a WR or CB

 

[StreetHawk]

I can’t see the Vikings moving on from McCarthy after one year. They used a Top 10 pick on him for a reason. Plus, if they were right, he’s cost controlled for another 4 years.

At the same time, are teams giving up a 1st for a QB that they haven’t seen for a year due to injury and who was a polarizing figure coming out of the draft to begin with? Doubtful.

A lot is going to depend on how Darnold looks in the playoffs. If he plays well, they have a decision to make. If he plays poorly, he’s probably out. There is also the Daniel Jones factor. If KOC revived Darnold, he may believe he can do the same thing with Jones, and he can compete with McCarthy for the job.

Will come down to KOC. But, I would think he'd have the confidence to coach up JJ McCarthy. Think he now has the job security to hand the keys over to him.
Darnold, I'd be very careful both from other team and his POV. Do you have the coaching to get this type of production out of him? And for Darnold, if he is playing the long game, better to find the right match than the most money. As a #3 OA pick who had the 5th year option picked up, he made like $50 mill over his first 5 years. Add in SF and Min salaries, he's somewhere in the $65 mill range, which is way more than any other position player with his production level relative to the league.
So, he's better off finding the right fit which will keep in playing well into his 30's in the NFL.