NFL Analyst Projects Patriots' First-Round Pick After Spending Spree
Mike Vrabel surely would love to make this pick
The NFL’s two-day legal tampering period played out pretty
well for the Patriots, both internally and externally.
New England used the last two days to
address various needs and add
high-end talent to a roster that was bereft of it last season. But outside of Foxboro, Mass., moves made by other franchises created an
ideal first-round draft situation for Mike Vrabel and company.
The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants all failed to add a new starting quarterback Monday or Tuesday. That very well could change by late April, but if it doesn’t, all three teams could be in the market for a signal-caller in Round 1 of the draft.
Such a scenario would set the stage for New England to select one of the very best non-QBs in this year’s class at No. 4 overall. And in
a “mini mock” released Tuesday, ESPN’s Field Yates projected the Patriots to land talented pass-rusher Abdul Carter.
“No team should be rooting harder for two quarterbacks to go in the first three picks than the Patriots,” Yates wrote. “They could then just let the board fall to them and take either Carter or (Travis) Hunter — whichever of them is still available. Carter is the best pass rusher in the class and would instantly become one of the Patriots’ two best defensive cornerstones along with corner Christian Gonzalez. With his incredible first-step quickness, he’d fit nicely alongside new addition Milton Williams.
“Yes, the Patriots still must address the left tackle position, and they’ve made a flurry of defensive moves. But the opportunity to add Carter is too good to pass up, no matter what happens over the rest of free agency.”
Carter probably would be a dream selection
for Vrabel, a former Big Ten defender himself. The Patriots’ new head coach clearly is fixated on building a ferocious defense and the Penn State product would
help fulfill that objective. There’s also a very easy case to be made that there’s not a wide receiver nor offensive lineman in this class worthy of the No. 4 overall pick.
At that point in the draft, it probably would be best for New England to employ a “best player available” approach. And Carter might be the very best on the board.
