Top 7 Safest Draft Prospects
Written by Andy Hart on April 21, 2009 – 3:09 pm -As we inch closer to the draft and try to put all our months of research to use, I thought I’d muster a up a few lists to summarize some of my thoughts on the various prospects. Plenty of people have Top-5 lists, some go for 10. Only the truly brave finalize a list of seven. Hey, there are seven days in a week. Seven sins that are deadly. Seven dwarfs. Seven-up soda. Why not a new trend of Top-7 lists?
Anyway, in the final few days leading up to the draft I’ll unveil a new list. Read ’em. Dispute ’em. Spit on ’em. Praise ’em. Do with them what you may, but keep coming back for your latest Patriots-related draft info heading toward arguably the most interesting draft in team history.
Enough babbling, here we go…the Top 7 Safest Prospects in this year’s draft. These are the guys you take if you want to ensure you get a productive pro. They may not end up in the Hall of Fame or even become game-changing, playmaking NFL stars, but they won’t be embarrassing busts either.
1 – Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. Curry has all the tools to do it all at the NFL level. But he’s not going to be an elite pass rusher who can change games off the edge. I liken him to K.C.’s Derrick Johnson. Good player. Not great. I want great with a Top-5 pick. But I also want to avoid Top-5 busts. Curry will do that latter for some team.
2 – Donald Brown, RB, UConn. Brown led the world in rushing last fall, is a high character guy and has all the physical tools to succeed at the next level. He may not end up a franchise back, but he’ll have a long NFL career doing whatever his team asks of him. I dare someone to find something bad to say about Brown.
3 – James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State. He’s the son of a wrestler, how could you go wrong? Combine that with three very productive seasons for the Buckeyes, endless award recognition, impressive film study/football IQ and a passion for the game and you have guy destined to be a solid linebacker for a decade in the NFL. He won’t make a ton of “wow” plays but he’ll find his way to the ball carrier as a solid rock in the middle of a good defense.
4 – Eugene Monroe, T, Virginia. I think Monroe is both the best and safest tackle prospect in the draft. He’s the guy who kept Branden Albert at guard for the Cavaliers. He’s a very good athlete and good pass blocker. That’s a good start for a left tackle in the NFL. He comes from a pro system, under a pro coach and has played with pro-caliber offensive linemen. He’s the next real deal.
5 – Everette Brown, DE/OLB, Florida State. Brown is a proven pass rusher. Getting to the QB is natural to him; it’s in his DNA. His position may be a question in the NFL, but as long as his team asks him to rush the QB he’ll be fine. He’s a high character guy, too. Draft him. Pencil him in for 10 sacks. And don’t worry about anything else.
6 – Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC. The man has cool hair, a perfect ILB build, comes from a great tradition of linebackers and plays with a mean streak. He looks, talks, walks and acts like an NFL linebacker should. He’ll make more plays than Laurinaitis will and could very well end up an elite, game-changing playmaker. Even if he doesn’t as long as he stays healthy he can total 100 tackles in his sleep.
7 – Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama. Let’s see, he’s a hard working former walk-on at Alabama who played in Nick Saban’s pro style defense as a two-time captain for the Tide. I’ll take him. He has the smarts, instincts and study habits of a pro. That tells me he’ll be a great pro. Or at the very least a good pro. He’s great value even if he doesn’t end up an elite NFL defender. He’s the kind of guy you love having on your team and can trust to do his job. Trust me, draft Johnson and you won’t be disappointed.
Comments? Criticisms? Questions about my sobriety? Hit me with your best shot!
Posted in Draft (2009) |
April 21st, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Of the players listed, which is/are most likely to end up here in NE?
April 21st, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Here’s hoping we can pick up Maualuga (rd 1) and Johnson late rd two or a steal in rd 3 or Brown Rd 1 and Johnson in rds 2 or 3.
ANdy, do you think we would trade up to snag Maualuga or Brown if they fall into the late teens? Which 2nd rd pick do you think we trade into next season’s 1st rd? 34, 47 or 58?
April 21st, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Pretty good list overall Andy but I’m honestly not very high on Laurinaitis. Thats not to say I think hes bad, but I just think hes incredibly overhyped. After watching video of him and then watching video of Maualuga, there is a vast difference in abilities. I like the way Maualuga attacks the line more, Laurinaitis seems to hang back a bit more and wait for some plays to come to him, hes fairly consistent but as has been said on PFW, he isn’t a game changer. Personally if hes still on the board at 23 I would love to see the Pats take Maualuga. I also like Clay Matthews, but I see him as more of a 2nd round pick. And I love Donald Brown, absolutely love the way he plays, he has increadible vision, he hits the hole with authority and when he makes moves he does so while still going forward at full speed…which is something our Mr. Maroney can’t seem to do. If we could grab Brown in the 2nd round I think it would be a huge pickup, even if he just becomes a situational player like Kevin Faulk I think he would be worth it.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:37 am
This is a good article Andy, thanks. I love what PFW offers. But of course I can never forget that you guys missed both Wheatley and Wilhite last year, in spite of listing 10 DBs! Just giving you a hard time.
MW
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:57 am
I want people to argue with me. That’s the point of these types of lists. But how can you say in one breath that Laurinaitis is “incredibly overhyped” and then say you like Matthews? Come on, that’s complete hypocrisy! Matthews didn’t start until last season. Laurinaitis may not be a game-changing playmaker but he’s played for three seasons at a very high level of football and has been very productive. It’s fine to like one over the other, but Matthews may be the most overhyped prospect in the draft! As I said in the post, I like Maualuga more than Laurinaitis and he will certainly make more plays at the NFL level. But I think both are pretty safe picks which is what this first list was all about. Thanks for reading.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:01 am
Reiss thinks that NE will pass on Maualuga if he is available. I see the concerns about investing a consecutive 1st rounder on another ILB but I don’t think they will pass on him, if available. What do you think? And who will be a better pro, Mayo or Maualuga?
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:33 am
Hey Andy. One nitpick about your list: Donald Brown actually wasn’t the “world leader” in rushing this past season. Jerry Seymour of D-2 Glenville State rushed for 2,282 yards, while Nate Kmic of Mt. Union had 2,702 yards. (For your enjoyment, Kmic’s mark beat out last year’s record-holder Justin Beaver. Do with that what you will.)
Not trying to annoy you: it’s just a FUN FACT.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 am
I figured someone would call me on that line. Sorry, I didn’t bother to check the stats at Jerry Glenville State. But you get my point about Brown rolling out of bed and rushing for 200 yards last year.
And good for Kmic, I always like to see a Beaver go down.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
its interesting andy that you have donald brown, cause a running back wouldnt suprise me. They easy way of taking pressure off brady is to run the ball every now and then, and not for just 4-5 yards like last year, but an explosive fresh yong runner, who could tear it up. which the committee approach doesnt really have. I just think reverting to the 07 way is bad long term, it to me decreases toms longevity. By the palyoffs in 07, despite the records and the 16-0 reg. season, to me he looked very tired and not 100%. Now he is 2 years older and has a surgerically repaired knee. I dont think its good for him to be dropping back to pass 600 times in a season. We need a back that can seriously take the load. That way tom cant put points on the board early and have his backs close the game out. Toms has the brains and ability still and for the forseeable future but not if its a one man show.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:30 am
i mean’t tom can put the points up early
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I’ll admit Matthews is overhyped, but thats why I said I would rather see him as a 2nd round pick. He has a lot of upside, and I was going based on some of the film I’ve watched of him. I like his pass rushing abilities, and I feel like if given some more time to develop that he could be a solid starting Outside Linebacker. After watching some film of Laurinaitis I just wasn’t that impressed, he really isn’t very strong in run defense, he is a weakside linebacker only, I don’t think he could ever start long term as the strongside backer, he just doesn’t have the aggressive style of play or the upper body strength to do it.
April 22nd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Hey Andy. Rashad Johnson is my favourite player in the draft. Seems like a Patriot to me. All the guy did at Alabama is makeplays at key times. What do you think the chances are we draft him? Obviously the Saban connection might help, but is he too similar to Meriweather i.e. not in the box. Some have pegged him as a bit too weak. Is Bill after a new Rodney? He is supposedly very bright and a hard worker who could become the signal caller of the secondary (I know we still have your man crush Jimmy Sanders back there) Your thoughts?
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I’m not as high on Donald Brown as you are, Andy. He runs too high, doesn’t have top end speed, or elite power. He does have good vision and some moves. But that’s not enough in today’s league. NE investing a high pick on him is wasteful, in my opinion. We already have Maroney, Morris, Taylor, and Faulk. Not to mention the pressing needs we have elsewhere. My prediction is that Belichick picks Larry English at 23 (1), Louis Delmas/Andre Smith (2a), Connor Barwin (2b), and hopefully Alphonso Smith/D.J. Moore (2c). Please, no TEs.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I see the Patriots trading up to get Everette Brown. It seems like the perfect pick. Then I see the Pats taking Johnson at some time in the second round with the Nick Saban connection. Then they’ll probably get some other guy with their other second round picks on other players or use them in a trade(which could be used to move up in the first round).
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 am
Andy you hit on 2 of my draft hopefuls. I’m a huge fan of Laurinaitis. He’s not the biggest, and he’s not the fastest, but he’s one of the most consistent LBs I’ve seen in a while, and always seems to have a nose for the football. I’m hoping the Pats avoid the USC combo of Matthews and Cushing, but wouldn’t mind seeing Rey at Gillete. Either of those ILBs would be great and safe picks.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I disagree an Lauronitis. I think he’s overrrated. Curry is probably the safest pick in the draft.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Joey, out of curiosity, what about Laurinaitis concerns you? Size? Speed?
April 24th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Good call ! Specialy on Mr Maualuga , i have high hopes we snag him up (PERFECT addition next to mayo) so like allways in bill we trust and leave it up to you guys to keep us informed and hyped up till saturday a comes !
Keep up the good work guys and thanx again for having us in ur shop last april !! Get some Qdoba for me !!! lawlz
April 24th, 2009 at 8:29 am
my god i want the pats to draft hawaiian punch!!!! (rey maualuga)
April 24th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Again, I’d love to see the Pats draft Rey Maualuga. I agree with most people prior to this post.