On the Clock: New England Patriots

For the next two weeks leading up to the draft, I am going to assume to roll of each NFL general manager and make draft picks based upon need, scheme, and in some cases wants.  I will not make any trades throughout this process but will chime in when I think one is needed.  Each day leading up to the draft I will make a pick and summarize my thought process of why certain teams will go a particular way.  So put this blog in your favorites section and check back daily to see who I will select for each team.  With the 17^th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select…

Mike Pouncey, G, Florida (6’5” 303 LBS)

The most underrated story across the NFL landscape is our offensive line situation.  Mankins is still ticked off and has shown he has no problem holding out. Matt Light is getting old at age 33 and is a free agent that may not come back. Stephen Neal has retired and Dan Koppen is going into the last year of his contract.  I have needs all along the line.  Acquiring Pouncey will give us some flexibility along the line.  He could play center or guard depending on what we get done with these contracts.

"Pouncey 2.0"

"Pouncey 2.0" is large and aggressive.  Great run blocker and very smart along the line. Not as good as his bro, but his brother is an All-Pro.  I know our defense is what everyone expects us to address but I see no reason to pass on a talent like Mike.

Great thing about this pick is that we don’t have to draft a lineman at this pick if we don’t want to.  We can wait until the 28^th pick to grad a lineman that falls.  Fact of the matter is that we probably won’t use both of our 1^st round picks.  We have been known to trade all over the place to acquiring more picks, especially if it is a pick that allows us to acquire a higher round pick the following year.  We are notorious for that.  Last year we traded our third round pick to Carolina for their 2^nd round pick this year.  That pick this year is now the 33^rd overall pick which is essentially a first round pick with the depth that this draft provides.

San Diego is on the clock…