Patriots Look To Improve With 32nd Pick
Thursday, April 30, 2015
The 2015 NFL Draft starts tonight in Chicago. The New England Patriots hold the final selection of the first round, the 32nd overall selection. As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Patriots have a good core of talent on the existing team. They do have some glaring needs, however, and will look to fill them in the draft.
The departures of Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Vince Wilfork and Dan Connolly (who still remains unsigned) leave holes in three major areas — cornerback, guard and defensive tackle.
Cornerback Options At 32:
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTMarcus Peters - Washington
Peters is a player with the talent to go in the top half of the first round, but off-field issues have severely affected his stock. Peters has good size, good speed and is an explosive athlete.
Peters is best fit to play man-to-man defense, using his size and physicality to disrupt routes at the line of scrimmage. Reports indicate that he will need to be in a structured environment to thrive in the NFL, making New England an ideal landing place.
Jalen Collins - LSU
Collins is another cornerback with prototypical size to play cornerback in the NFL. He also has great length, and uses that to disrupt plays at the line. While Collins is more athlete than he is a polished cornerback, he could fit in well as the Patriots top cornerback.
Collins also has a nose for the ball, making great breaks on short passes and deflecting long attempts. He has the skills to play zone or man, and could bring an attitude back to the Patriots defensive backfield.
Byron Jones - UConn
Jones is most well-known for his super-human display at the NFL Scouting Combine. That display showed how explosive Jones can be, but he has the skill set to match.
Jones plays with great instincts and understanding of receiver routes. He uses this tot break on balls, disrupting many of the passes thrown in front of him. Jones is a natural leader and a former captain, fitting right into the Bill Belichick mold.
Guard Options At 32:
Cameron Erving - Florida State
Erving did not play guard at Florida State. He did play both tackle and center, excelling at both. His wide array of skills project well when talking about a potential move to guard.
He has a solid frame with good strength and quickness off the ball. He drives well in the run game and sets a solid base in pass protection. He has also worked with Patriots center Bryan Stork when they were teammates at Florida State, making the transition to guard even easier.
Laken Tomlinson - Duke
Tomlinson is an extremely smart player who has seen it all as a four-year starter in the ACC. He has a great build and a strong lower body, making him a very good run blocker. He also has long arms for a guard, helping him in pass protection.
The best stat to display how good Tomlinson has been and can be is that he did not allow a sack in his final two years as a starting guard. That is the type of protection Patriots fans want for Tom Brady.
A.J. Cann - South Carolina
Cann is one of the most experienced players in the entire draft with 51 career starts. He is also a mauler in the run game. He has great strength and a nasty demeanor, making him a feared run blocker.
While he has some work to do in pass protection, his upside makes him a great plug-and-play option in New England.
Defensive Tackle Options At 32:
Eddie Goldman - Florida State
The Patriots need a big, run-stuffing nose tackle to replace Vince Wilfork — Goldman is just that. He has a massive frame and terrific strength, making him very hard to move off his spot.
He has shown the ability to two-gap, and has a body and game that is ready for the NFL. He also brings a good pass rush ability, an added bonus.
Jordan Phillips - Oklahoma
Phillips is another massive body that can be a plug-and-play option for the Patriots. He has great quickness and eats up double teams and creates lanes for linebackers to roam free.
Another two-gapping nose tackle, Phillips has a good set of pass rush moves. He combines this with surprising athleticism and a relentless motor to win at the line of scrimmage.
Carl Davis - Iowa
Davis does not jump off the screen when many watch him, but is one of the most effective run stuffers in the draft. He has long arms and an extremely think lower body, making him a nightmare to try and move.
He plays with great instincts and knowledge of what is going on around him. Davis is also a very good interior pass rusher, making him a true dual threat. He is ready for the NFL and could make an immediate impact.
The Patriots are also likely to make a trade. Whether it is moving up or moving back, Bill Belichick is known for his draft day moves. It would not be surprising to see the Patriots not make a selection in the first round this year, as the draft talent pool is extremely deep.
Related Slideshow: The New England Patriots - Greatest Team Ever
The New England Patriots have won their fourth Super Bowl in the Brady/Belichick Era by defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28 - 24 in Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona. With that win, the Patriots have now put themselves in the conversation as being the greatest team ever in NFL history.
Here are ten reasons why they are in fact the greatest team.
Related Articles
- NEW: Belichick Discusses Patriots Internal Investigation Into Deflategate
- Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft Statement
- What to Watch For: Super Bowl XLIX - Patriots vs. Seahawks
- NEW: Patriots Victory Parade Set for Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 11am
- Patriots Win Super Bowl XLIX 28-24 In An Instant Classic
- Patriots Send-Off Rally Set For Monday At Boston City Hall Plaza
- The 21 Biggest New England Patriots Controversies
- Taking a Look at the Patriots Top Receivers
- What to Watch For: AFC Championship - Patriots vs. Colts
- INTERACTIVE: Patriots Season by the Numbers
- Patriots Roll Colts 45-7, Advance to Super Bowl
- The New England Patriots - Greatest Team Ever
- Patriots Victory Parade Moved to Wednesday Due to Snow, Cold
- Houston Antwine Elected into Patriots Hall of Fame
- NEW: Revis Leaves Patriots To Sign With Jets
- Patriots 2015 Preseason Opponents Announced
- Patriots Headed to White House on April 23
- NEW: Patriots 2015-16 Schedule Released
- Patriots’ Gronkowski Takes Over the Staples Center
- McCourty Re-Signs With The Patriots Before Free Agency Hits
- Patriots Super Bowl Parade in Vines
- 10 Moves the Patriots Need to Make This Off Season
- Patriots Place Franchise Tag On Gostkowski
- NEW: Vince Wilfork Releases Statement As Patriots Decline His Option
- President Obama Welcomes Patriots, Cracks Deflategate Joke
