No. 17 Pick in 2011 Reader Mock: Patriots on the Clock

[Walter]

Voting for the No. 17 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Who will be the pick?

Results and some comments will be posted here.


http://walterfootball.com/draft2011reader.php


1. Panthers - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri
2. Broncos - Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama
3. Bills - Cam Newton, QB, Bengals
4. Bengals - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
5. Cardinals - Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M
6. Browns - Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
7. 49ers - Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska
8. Titans - Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
9. Cowboys - Tyron Smith, OT, USC
10. Redskins - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
11. Texans - Robert Quinn, DE/OLB, North Carolina
12. Vikings - Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
13. Lions - Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
14. Rams - Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri
15. Dolphins - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
16. Jaguars - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue



Akeem Ayers
Anthony Castonzo
Gabe Carimi
Justin Houston
Cameron Jordan
Mike Pouncey
Brooks Reed
Nate Solder
J.J. Watt
Muhammad Wilkerson

[trisoman]

This must be one of the deepest Defensive Line classes ever, with JJ Watt and Cameron Jordan still being available at this spot - and let's not even talk about the folks who are rising up the board at this point.

Going purely by the consensus rankings and cbssport's rankings, I've gone with Cameron Jordan here but I'd expect a really close fight with JJ Watt in this reader mock. New England needs to upgrade their D-line and even if they trade out of this spot, a needy team would jump for one of these 2 elite prospects - who I don't think will last this long in the real draft.

[vikingfan173]

The patriots get even better right here, they add an elite 3-4 DE to bolster their run defense, they could add an edge-rusher but the value at end is too great. And lucky them they get to choose between JJ Watt and Cameron Jordan. Too bad that JJ Watt has the same agent as Mankins IIRC. So the pick is Jordan, a complete steal.

[KyleCleric]

Justin Houston is the best pick. He is far better than the next best OLB fit for the Patriots. Houston combines the next best combination of athleticism, pass rushing skills, size, and length to Aldon Smith and Ryan Kerrigan and is the Pats 3rd best option of the OLBs that the Pats will likely get to consider at 17.

You guys will choose JJ Watt or Cameron Jordan. Both are mistakes. Neither have the size the Pats like for the DL position. DLs have dropped in this draft making them likely available for where the Pats pick next in this draft, 28 or even 33. The best DL fits are Cam Heyward and Muhammed Wilkerson. BB would likely take Heyward over Watt, Jordan, or Wilkerson. Phil Taylor is also available and has the movement skills and length to be an excellent end as well as nose. If he falls to 28 or 33, he would be under consideration for the same spot. With 5 players under consideration for the DL spot, they will wait until 28 or 33 to fill the position.

Gabe Carimi is also a possibility here. He is the best OT fit for the Patriots in this draft. He would be my second choice to Houston.

Pouncey will be an excellent NFL player but OG is one of the strongest positions in this draft. The Pats could add Benjamin Ijalana, Danny Watkins, Rodney Hudson, or Stefen Wisniewski at 60.

Reed doesn't carry a first round grade for the Pats. He is one sub-rusher in our system.

[vikingfan173]

Justin Houston is the best pick. He is far better than the next best OLB fit for the Patriots. Houston combines the next best combination of athleticism, pass rushing skills, size, and length to Aldon Smith and Ryan Kerrigan and is the Pats 3rd best option of the OLBs that the Pats will likely get to consider at 17.

You guys will choose JJ Watt or Cameron Jordan. Both are mistakes. Neither have the size the Pats like for the DL position. DLs have dropped in this draft making them likely available for where the Pats pick next in this draft, 28 or even 33. The best DL fits are Cam Heyward and Muhammed Wilkerson. BB would likely take Heyward over Watt, Jordan, or Wilkerson. Phil Taylor is also available and has the movement skills and length to be an excellent end as well as nose. If he falls to 28 or 33, he would be under consideration for the same spot. With 5 players under consideration for the DL spot, they will wait until 28 or 33 to fill the position.

Gabe Carimi is also a possibility here. He is the best OT fit for the Patriots in this draft. He would be my second choice to Houston.

Pouncey will be an excellent NFL player but OG is one of the strongest positions in this draft. The Pats could add Benjamin Ijalana, Danny Watkins, Rodney Hudson, or Stefen Wisniewski at 60.

Reed doesn't carry a first round grade for the Pats. He is one sub-rusher in our system.

ok good to know what exact size/measurables do the pats look for in a 3-4 DE?

[KyleCleric]

ok good to know what exact size/measurables do the pats look for in a 3-4 DE?

6-4, 295, minimum, the idea though is for that player to end up at least 305, preferably 310 or 315, before the beginning of the season.

Ideally, 6-5, 305+. Cam Heyward is the the low end of what's acceptable. Muhammed Wilkerson is perfect. Also length is important, long arms.

[RazorStar]

Wow, the Patriots cannot go wrong with virtually any of the players on the board right now. Between the Offensive Line and Defensive Front seven, I think they'll target the defense first.. and form here I was stumped. I went towards Justin Houston, since you can't go wrong with a pure pass rusher, but there are just too many good options out there. Watt, Jordan, even Carimi or Pouncey might fit in.

Also, you have Anthony Castonzo in the poll but he's been slotted to the Lions at 13.

[SanchoPanza]

Justin Houston is the best pick. He is far better than the next best OLB fit for the Patriots. Houston combines the next best combination of athleticism, pass rushing skills, size, and length to Aldon Smith and Ryan Kerrigan and is the Pats 3rd best option of the OLBs that the Pats will likely get to consider at 17.

You guys will choose JJ Watt or Cameron Jordan. Both are mistakes. Neither have the size the Pats like for the DL position. DLs have dropped in this draft making them likely available for where the Pats pick next in this draft, 28 or even 33. The best DL fits are Cam Heyward and Muhammed Wilkerson. BB would likely take Heyward over Watt, Jordan, or Wilkerson. Phil Taylor is also available and has the movement skills and length to be an excellent end as well as nose. If he falls to 28 or 33, he would be under consideration for the same spot. With 5 players under consideration for the DL spot, they will wait until 28 or 33 to fill the position.

Gabe Carimi is also a possibility here. He is the best OT fit for the Patriots in this draft. He would be my second choice to Houston.

Pouncey will be an excellent NFL player but OG is one of the strongest positions in this draft. The Pats could add Benjamin Ijalana, Danny Watkins, Rodney Hudson, or Stefen Wisniewski at 60.

Reed doesn't carry a first round grade for the Pats. He is one sub-rusher in our system.

Love to know where you get this all from

[SanchoPanza]

As for the pick i think BB takes his second chance to Pouncey



EDIT
and then i click Wilkerson by mistake. **** it

[Classic Silver and Black]

Everybody thinks that Belichik and co will trade down from this spot.
But if there's a scenario in which they might actually keep the pick it's this one. After they traded Seymour and Ty Warren got seriously injured, 3-4 DE is the single position of biggest need in the Patriots roster. And what happens here? All the best 3-4 DEs in this draft fall in New England's lap!
There may be some discussion about which name they would call, but none about the position, surely at least one of those DE talents is high on BB's wishlist. Having to guess between Jordan, Watt, Wilkerson and Heyward, I say Cameron Jordan.

[aaah]

I voted for Akeem Ayers, DE/OLB, UCLA. Hoody likes LB.

[Manu Ginobli's Bald Spot]

I'll go with Castonzo. Of course, we all know that this pick is getting moved, so this may be Jordan in this spot.

In terms of why the Pats would want Castonzo, they may decide not to re-sign Matt Light because of his age. Sebastian Vollmer could fill in, but he'll likely be the right tackle and Castonzo would step in and become the new left tackle. Brady needs better protection.

[Finnegans Wake]

6-4, 295, minimum, the idea though is for that player to end up at least 305, preferably 310 or 315, before the beginning of the season.

Ideally, 6-5, 305+. Cam Heyward is the the low end of what's acceptable. Muhammed Wilkerson is perfect. Also length is important, long arms.

Watt's 6'5" 290#, so you have him as DND because he's 5# too light? Much as I like Wilkerson, he's going to face a tougher curve than Watt.

Gerard Warren is a free agent, and while he's serviceable he's not dominant. Marcus Stroud was signed, but he's long in the tooth and more likely to be part of a sub-rotation. The DL is fundamental to the 3-4, and Cameron Jordan and JJ Watt are clearly the best values at a position of need for the Patriots. I like that Jordan has experience in the 3-4, and at 6'4" 287# he's just a shade smaller than Watt. They both look good on film and can come in and contribute right away. One thing that stands out is Watt's workout numbers, which combined with his collegiate productivity make him the selection for me: 34 lifts, 37" vertical, 10' broad, 81 total KEI, which is really noteworthy. Looks like he could be not just a stalwart end, but perhaps in the mold of a Seymour.

[whatdoyouwant711]

Why isn't "trade down" an option?

[Phatal]

I picked Mike Pouncey here. He is a versatile offensive lineman who could start who could start from day one in the NFL. The Patriots were rumored to be interested in Pouncey's twin brother last year and Mike Pouncey may be a similar bargin. The development that Pouncey needs to suceed in the NFL is low. If the Patriots trade Logan Mankins, Pouncey will be able to fill the role without the Patriots missing a beat. While the defensive line is also an option, the draft class has some good depth at the position while the offenensive lineman have a bigger gap with more raw prospects than starters.

[pheltzbahr]

Watt?! Cam the Patriots resist trading down and Pounce on their choice of 3-4 DEs or OLineman. This just demonstrates Belichicks' A-keem eye for matching deep positions in the draft and the Patriot's needs. So many right choices and Bill will likely surprise anyway, so I'm going with Pouncey.

[mdb17]

I like Pouncey here. I think the talent in the middle of the 1st round is very similar to the guys late in the 1st round.The positions that are currently deep in talent that match the Patriots needs are OT and DE. This means there is currently a large supply of guys that they can get later for those two positions because they have a lot of choice. Pouncey is clearly the best prospect at this position and is a Day 1 starter which is important in the Patriots organisation for a 1st round pick.

[mdb17]

I should have voted for Watt. He's made for the Patriots 3-4 scheme. He has the size, motor, pass rush skills and run defensive qualities to be a stud in there. When Mayock says you're the best 5-tech he's ever seen you're definitely doing something right.

[stevenlourie]

Watt would make sense, but I believe Walt's sources when he says they refuse to deal with Watt's agent. In that case, this pick is Cameron Jordan. They have nice stopgaps on the line in Gerard Warren and Marcus Stroud, but Jordan can become their richard seymour, which is interesting because that's who they got this pick for. and of course, ty warren's health is still a question after missing all of 2010.

[vikingsteve26]

Voted Mike Pouncey. A guarantee Logan Mankins won't be a Patriot past 2011. I'm pretty high on Pouncey too...


Man, **** the Patriots. So many good choices right here. How the hell does Belichick always get the best deal?

[7o62x39]

Cameron Jordan - One curious aspect of most mocks is the exceptional value of these DEs (Kerrigan, Jordan, Watt, Reed, Wilkerson) in the mid-first. As DEs, Reed and Kerrigan are 4-3 only. Jordan and Watt can play either scheme at DE and Wilkerson is a 3-4DE only. As Walter has noted, Watt is off the board due to his agent. Kerrigan just went at 16 to the Jags. Jordan is rated better than Reed and Wilkerson. With Jordan available, the Pats, for once, stay put.

[Blazedestin]

Cameron Jordan, and the Patriots will be tripping all over themselves to hand in their draft card.

Good explosion, elite athleticism, AND experience in the 3-4 defense with solid production there? He might be an inch short and ten pounds too light to be the perfect 5-tech, but considering this guy is a top 10 talent, the Patriots get an absolute STEAL here. There's going to be other talented offensive line prospects available at #28 and #33. There will not be a player like Cameron Jordan there at all; they can wait to address the interior of their OL.

[Ckane138]

Walt, Castanzo was already drafted by the Lions.

[Eagles247]

The reason the Patriots haven't been as dominating as they were from 2001-2005 is because they haven't been able to use cameras to videotape walkthroughs due to Spygate. Therefore, I picked the Panasonic AG-HMC80PJ camcorder (http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=452201&catGroupId=112502&surfModel=AG-HMC80) for the Patriots at No. 17. The camcorder can be a huge player for the Patriots, who will undoubtedly return to the glory days after making the pick.

(In all seriousness, I picked DE Cameron Jordan here.)

[SwAg Dynasty]

Roger Goodell: "The 17th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft has been traded, the [Insert Team Name Here] are now on the clock"

Hahahahaha, Seriously though.

Cameron Jordan, California Golden Bears.

One may scoff at this selection and say, "He doesn't fit the Bill Belichick mold!", and while this may be true, I think he could be the exception to the rule. Look at him, Cameron Jordan looks like he is chiseled of stone, he hardly has an ounce of fat on him. His athleticism and physicality is ridiculous for a man of his size. Now, while Cameron Jordan doesn't fit the BB mold, he offers something that is highly coveted by Belichick...Versatility. He could play DT in a 4-3, DE in a 4-3, or a 3-4 DE. In college he played in a 3-4, which is the same defense that Bill Belichick runs. Basically Cameron Jordan is a terror against the run and can rush the passer. Also, while 3-4 DE isn't the biggest need for the Patriots, it's definitely near the top of the list - with OT and Rush Linebacker. However, I feel like it is too early for an OT not named Tyron Smith and the only guys I like to play Rush Linebacker (that wouldn't be a reach at this point) are Aldon Smith and Robert Quinn, unfortunately both are gone.

I voted for Cameron Jordan, but I am hoping for Aldon Smith here. ...Who am I kidding? This pick is probably going to be traded along with 28 and 33.

[SwAg Dynasty]

The reason the Patriots haven't been as dominating as they were from 2001-2005 is because they haven't been able to use cameras to videotape walkthroughs due to Spygate. Therefore, I picked the Panasonic AG-HMC80PJ camcorder (http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=452201&catGroupId=112502&surfModel=AG-HMC80) for the Patriots at No. 17. The camcorder can be a huge player for the Patriots, who will undoubtedly return to the glory days after making the pick.

(In all seriousness, I picked DE Cameron Jordan here.)

As a Patriots fan: ,,l,,

As a football fan: lol