2004 was a very special year for so many reasons. You think one thing when you hear “2004” as a Red Sox fan. We all know what happened that year. It was an emotional, crazy, fun ride that led a team full of idiots past the big bad New York Yankees and to their first World Series title since 1918. But something else historical also happened that year.
In the summer of 2004, a man by the name of Dustin Pedroia out of Arizona State was drafted by the Red Sox with the 65th overall pick. Nobody had an idea what the future would hold. At the time there was a #15 on the Red Sox that everyone loved (and still does)- Kevin Millar. Skip ahead two years to 2006 and you have this kid Pedroia securing #15 for himself.
Pedoria had a tough time during his first year playing in the majors, with a .191/.258/.303 slash line in 32 games. People were down on him. This guy was no good, right? He had no future with this team, right? This little guy. What did he have to offer? Nothing, I’m sure. Ha.
Have you ever heard of someone who had an awful season but an awesome one the next? If not, now you do. That’s because Dustin Pedroia did just that. His struggles in ’06 were a small sample size, anyway. He didn’t even play enough games for it to qualify as his rookie year. In Spring Training of 2007, Pedroia was competing for a job at second base with Alex Cora, who is coincidentally now the manager of the current Boston squad. Pedey won the job and started on the Opening Day roster in 2007. He struggled once again to begin the year, slashing .182/.308/.236/.544. So what would he do now? I’ll tell you what he did.
Rising up the Ranks
He posted a .415/.472/.600/1.072 line in May, remained hot for the rest of his rookie season and never looked back. He finished the year hitting .317/.380/.442, helped lead his team to a World Series championship, and was named Rookie of the Year. I’m pretty sure Pedroia has only flipped his bat on a home run once in his career, and it’s one of the best home runs in Red Sox history. It was Game 7 of the ALCS against Cleveland, a series that the Red Sox came back from a 3-1 deficit. It was the 7th inning and the Sox were up 3-2 at that point. Pedroia came up with a man on and hammered a ball into the Monster seats and finished with a sweet bat flip. That made the game 5-2, and Boston eventually won it 11-2 on their way to the World Series title.
After a great 2007 season Pedroia had an even better one in ’08, hitting .326/.376/.493 and winning MVP. Boston came up short that year, losing to Tampa in seven games. However, Boston got their revenge in 2013, when they would beat the Rays in the ALDS in four games on the way to their third World Series championship win in the last nine years. Pedroia got his second ring.
O’ Captain My Captain
Pedey is the heart and soul of this Red Sox team no matter you believe it or not. He is the captain of the team and a leader. He leads by example of how you should play the game and how you can be a winning ballplayer. Pedroia is the kind of guy where when he starts talking, everyone shuts up and listens.
Pedroia eats, sleeps, and breathes baseball. He would take a line shot in the face for this team. He’ll scoop any ground ball that comes his way and fire it over to first or flip it to second for a smooth double play. He’ll hit consistently every single year even as he gets older.
One of the problems with Pedroia throughout his whole career have been injuries. Do you want to know why he tends to get injured? Because he plays his ass off. He’ll do risky things for the sake of the team. For the sake of winning. Those things can cost you. But Pedey’s a tough guy.
Nowadays every player just wants money. They don’t care about being loyal like the old players used to. Players will go anywhere if they are offered big bucks. Guys will go from the Red Sox to the Yankees to get more money. They don’t care. But Pedroia? He’s the definition of loyal. In 2013, he took less money so he could stay with Boston, signing an 8 year, $110 million deal. This guy is a leader. He’s a winning player. Someone you can look up to.
Pedroia once said “People always ask me if I wish I were bigger. I tell them no. I always wanted to be a miniature badass.” He definitely is a miniature badass. A miniature badass for the Boston Red Sox, that is. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Bruins look to make a playoff push with the NHL trade deadline quickly approaching
Early Sunday morning, Don Sweeney made his move- a somewhat aggressive one. The Boston Bruins signed Rangers Rick Nash in exchange for Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, Ryan Lindgren, a 1st round draft pick and a 7th round pick in 2019.
For some fans, this move is either great or terrible and judging from comments online, fans are split. I want to hate this trade, but in truth, I think it’s smart. Believe me, I’ve haven’t always been a Sweeney fan, but you have to give him credit. After all, he’s a big reason why the Bruins have so many young prospects. And in the NHL, that’s what you need in order to be competitive. The big thing for me is that he found a team willing to take on Belesky’s contract and letting Spooner go means that the Bruins will have some wiggle room in their salary cap, which is good news for Boston.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
(AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
It’s no secret that the Boston Bruins look like serious contenders for the Stanley Cup (even though a recent road trip is leaving a sour taste in their mouths). As we’re nearing the end of the NHL regular season, Sweeney and Co. had to add some missing pieces to help bolster their defense and give David Krejci what he needs: a big forward. The Bruins needed a power forward player and they now have that with Nash (along with David Backes). And in a post season run, Boston will absolutely need to be physical. At 6’4, 211 lbs, Nash can certainly make a big impact on the Krejci line. Coach Cassidy had this to say:
“Very dynamic. He’s hard to stop, contain one-on-one,” Cassidy said. “He’s got good speed. Protects the puck well. Gets to the net. Knows how to get to the net. Good hands around the net.”
BY THE NUMBERS
In addition, the Bruins would only have to retain 50% of Belesky’s contract. And yes, there are many fans who think trading Spooner and giving up a top prospect like Lindgren was too high of a price to pay. But think of it this way: realistically, Ryan Spooner didn’t have much time left on his contract and the Bruins more than likely wouldn’t resign him after he becomes a free agent. In all fairness, Spooner had started to play really well this season and put up some good numbers.
But let’s face some tough truths here- his career wasn’t really going anywhere in Boston. For the past few seasons, Matt Beleskey hasn’t exactly been stellar. However, finding a team to absorb his contract was a challenge. Luckily, the Rangers answered that call, which leads back to my original point of the Bruins now having some good wiggle room in their salary cap.
RETAINING THE YOUTH
Throughout this season, the message was clear. This Boston Bruins team is exceeding all expectations, despite some recent tough losses. In order to rebuild your team, you need to get some young players along with a coach that’s going to lead them to the playoffs. The Bruins have a good amount of young prospects that are playing their first year in the NHL and plenty that are being developed in the AHL and college level.
Players like Jake Debrusk, Danton Heinen, Sean Kuraly, Matt Grzelcyk, and Charlie McAvoy. They’re good. Like really good. And if you want them to continue to wear the spoked B, you need to pay the price. So for those thinking these recent trades are not going to work to the Bruins advantage, you have to look at the big picture. As a fan, I would rather see someone like McAvoy here in Boston for many seasons, even if it means losing someone like Spooner.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Don Sweeney was able to do something amazing in these recent trades. He was able to make good moves without giving up a lot. And yes, there was some early worry that Jake Debrusk would be traded for Ryan McDonough. I do have to admit again that I was a bit relieved when reports indicated that Sweeney wasn’t too interested in changing up the chemistry that this team has built. Even President Cam Neeley had some thoughts on the dynamic of this team:
“It’s a great group of guys, it really is,” said Neely. “They’re all pulling on the same rope. The chemistry seems to be really strong right now. It’s another thing we talk about is the chemistry of this group. Historically, you’ve seen things happen at the deadline where, maybe teams after the fact, say ‘We made too many moves and it disrupted the chemistry’. So that’s something we’re cautious about.”
The Rangers also got a pretty good deal that will help rebuild their team and the Bruins got a proven veteran player that can score. A perfect mixture of veteran and flourishing youth is what the Bruins have now. And they wouldn’t want it any other way.
J.D. Martinez is a Red Sox and everyone that has been following this team is aware of it. Granted, he hasn’t been officially introduced yet, but Sox Nation shouldn’t be worried. Martinez was seen on Wednesday the 21st reporting to camp in Fort Myers. So now that Dave Dombrowski has finished his 2017/2018 offseason campaign, it’s time to take a peek into what we are in store for once the season gets rolling.
It seems Alex Cora is going to take a less analytical approach when constructing his lineup, as opposed to a lineup that favors a lefty or righty starting pitcher. Cora was quoted as saying “if you can hit, you can hit.” When asked about how he will construct the lineup, he gave a very uncomplicated answer.
“You put the best lineup out there. I hate reiterating last year because I want to turn the page, but you saw what happened at the end. We had five righties. And it didn’t matter.”
Given, nobody really knows if that success will translate over to the Red Sox lineup. However, if it has worked before, maybe Cora can replicate those winning ways by building the lineup that will hit and get on base regardless of who is on the mound.
Batting Order
A probable lineup for opening day could look something like this:
Mookie Betts
Andrew Benintendi
Hanley Ramirez
J.D. Martinez
Xander Bogaerts
Rafael Devers
Eduardo Nunez
Jackie Bradley Jr.
Christian Vazquez
Eagle eye viewers of this article will notice something strange. Hanley is hitting in the third spot of the lineup. Alex Cora has confirmed this move and believes that the former slugging shortstop can be a flash in the pan that this team has been missing since David Ortiz retired. In 2016 when he batted fifth behind Ortiz, he produced a .290/.363/.506 slash line. In 2017 when he batted in the same slot, he scraped up a very bland looking .264/.344/.429 slash line. Thus, Ramirez seems to produce better numbers when there is a power bat in the same lineup.
If Hanley does not get to a flying start when the season begins, don’t think that Cora will hesitate to move Hanley from 3 to 5 before totally giving up on him. Hanley will need to begin the season like his hair is on fire. Otherwise his playing time could be about as minimal as it has ever been.
Other notes on this lineup include the speed towards the tail end of the lineup (Nunez batting 7th, JBJ batting 8th). This gives the lineup a unique element since speedy baserunners tend to usually bat first (however we are seeing the birth of a reborn leadoff stigma. See: Charlie Blackmon, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, George Springer among others). The lineup this way is front heavy but not necessarily lacking talent at the end. All in all, it is a very well balanced lineup for many reasons and could possibly stay similar for the entire season. For that to happen though, the players need to show the baseball world what they are really capable of putting together as the young, talented, athletic bunch they are.
After trading Jimmy Garoppolo, it seems the Patriots might try to find their quarterback of the future. A potential prospect could be Kyle Lauletta, who is a 6’3” 215-pound quarterback out of Richmond. Lauletta was relatively unheard of until he threw for 198 yards and three touchdowns to be the MVP of the Senior Bowl. He received a 76.6 overall grade for his performance by Pro Football focus, second only to projected Top-10 pick Josh Allen.
Many NFL experts believe that he can be Tom Brady’s next heir. “Lauletta starred in the Senior Bowl last week, and I’m not the only draft analyst who came away from the game thinking he’d be a fine fit for New England,” NFL.com draft analyst, Chad Reuter writes. An article published by CBS sports says that Lauletta checks the boxes for things that Belichick loves and could be his perfect quarterback.
Stats
In 2017, he had 3,737 yards, 28 touchdowns, and completed 64.9 percent of his passes. Lauletta ranked 5th in total yards and 3rd in yards per game in the NCAA. He also ended up being Richmond’s all-time leading passer with 10,465 yards.
Strengths
Great accuracy (had improved every day in Senior Bowl practices in Mobile)
Quick release and great mechanics (always has one smooth motion, no matter how far downfield the throw is)
Able to go through his reads quickly and find the open man
Great pocket presence and footwork (looks like an NFL veteran out there…)
Can throw accurate passes on the run and under pressure
Has decent athleticism
Has toughness required to take NFL hits (former lacrosse player)
Shown ability to make clutch red zone throws (example in Senior Bowl where he was able to make tight window passes after escaping pressure)
Ability to extend plays
Ability to adapt to new playbooks (played under 4 offensive coordinators in his 4 years at Richmond)
Great leader (double majors in business and leadership) and competitor
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Weaknesses
A bit of concern for his ACL tear
Arm strength (needs to put a lot of air under the ball to hit downfield targets)
May get panicked by pass rush and look for a way out too quickly
Can throw balls with a high trajectory that allows safeties or corners to catch up with receiver
Decision making not perfect
Comparison
Lauletta is like a more athletic Jared Goff. They both have similar builds and playing style, although Lauletta uses his feet a bit more. Goff, the first pick in 2016, made a sophomore leap due to new coaching. I feel that Lauletta is a lot like Goff coming into the NFL- promising but with a few downfalls that can lead to bad play. With the right coaching, Lauletta would be able to excel by taking advantage of his strengths to make plays… just like Goff did.
Photo Credit: Richmond.com
Conclusion
Kyle Lauletta has all the tools he needs to be an NFL caliber quarterback. He can be a great pick for the Patriots and can develop under Tom Brady to become a superstar in the next few years.
Red Sox President and CEO, Sam Kennedy, is blaming the drop in Red Sox viewership over the past couple of seasons on the MLB’s pace of play issues.
“People don’t want to get home at 11:30 or midnight. They have to work the next day. We understand that. We’d like a crisp, faster game. We’d like every game to be started by Chris Sale. You get an amazing product.” –Sam Kennedy in a WEEI interview
First of all Sam, way to throw the majority of your starting rotation under the bus. Second of all, pace of play is not the reason behind people turning off the Red Sox. Under the current ownership, Red Sox fans continue to be fed spoonful’s of garbage. Overpaying for Pablo Sandoval and then telling us he is only 17% body fat is going to make fans angry. Especially Boston fans, lies make us furious. Firing Don Orsillo, a beloved color commentator because ownership thought he was to blame for the dip in views, is going to upset fans. Back to back last place finishes, then mustering out only one playoff win does not make fans happy. Lowballing Jon Lester, trading him away, and then getting angry because he did not resign is not pace of play’s fault.
Constantly changing the team strategy does not make fans feel confident in their team. Trading in clubhouse guys for big money players who do not want to play here upsets fans. Being concerned primarily with making the most money instead of assembling the best baseball team hurts fans. I am not saying the Red Sox need to win the World Series every year or we will not watch. Instead, I am saying when you see fans are mad, address the problem instead of finding the nearest scapegoat.
Fans who go to see a 7:00 PM night game plan on staying until 11:30 or midnight. That is what fans go to see. They want to see the Red Sox play, it does not matter how long the game takes. MLB trying to lure new fans in by changing the pace of play rules does nothing but hurt the game. It only alienates the fans who are loyal to the sport. People who do not like baseball will not suddenly turn around and watch like a diehard just because the game gets shortened by twenty minutes.
Red Sox ownership continues to do an incredible job during their time here. If they continue to alienate fans however, things may change.
The Patriots fell just short of their sixth Super Bowl trophy against the Eagles. They have a stacked team, but they could definitely use some upgrades. Here are four positions or groups of positions that the Patriots need to evaluate over the offseason.
Tight End
Rob Gronkowski has been the best tight end in the NFL since 2011, but retirement rumors have been swirling due to injuries. Gronk was extremely valuable to the Patriots this season. The offense averaged 19.5 points per game in the two games he did not play. In the other 14 games he played in, the Patriots averaged 30 points per game. If the Patriots lose Gronkowski, then the offense will take a big fall. Backup tight end Martellus Bennett could also retire, and Dwane Allen and Jacob Hollister were ineffective in the passing game. The free agent tight end pool is weak and the tight end draft class is similiar, so Bill Belichick needs to have a plan.
Left Tackle
All of the positions on the offensive line have been very good since Dante Scarnecchia came out of retirement. He has been able to get the best out of players such as LaAdrian Waddle and Marcus Cannon. However, Nate Solder’s contract is up and it is rumored that he might leave. Belichick could move Waddle over to left tackle, but that would leave Cam Flemming and Cole Croston as the backup lineman. Croston did not play in his rookie season and Flemming has not been good lately. Belichick could explore the free agent market or draft class to find a replacement. The list of free agent left tackles includes Greg Robinson, Chris Clark, and Donald Stephenson.
Front Seven
The Patriots’ defense was the reason why they did not win the Super Bowl. Almost all of the positions on defense struggled throughout the season. They did not get pressure with their front four, which allowed opposing quarterbacks to have field days against the Patriots. New England ranked 31st in rush yards per attempt because they gave up 4.7 yards per run. They were poor with and without Hightower, so it is hard to rely on him to come back and change everything immediately. The Patriots have slow linebackers who cannot cover running backs or cause pressure. Belichick needs to draft or sign a fast linebacker that can get to the quarterback and keep up with running backs. He also needs to draft or sign a lineman who can get pressure and help with the running game.
Cornerback
With Malcolm Butler set to leave, the Patriots need to find a replacement for him. Jonathan Jones, Cyrus Jones, and Eric Rowe are not good replacement options. Aqib Talib, Richard Sherman, and Marcus Peters have all been rumored to be cut or traded in the offseason. The Patriots will be spending a lot of money at corner if they sign one of them, considering how much they are paying Gilmore. However, the Patriots have not had dominate corners since Revis and Browner in 2014. They won the Super Bowl with Butler and Logan Ryan two years ago. Stephon Gilmore is great, but they can not win with one dominant corner. Super Bowl 52 is a perfect example of that because Gilmore was great, but Rowe, Bademosi, and Jones did not step up in Malcolm Butler’s “absence”. Belichick must recognize that and spend money and/or picks to get another shutdown corner.
This offseason has been tedious and uneventful. As far as being a Red Sox fan goes, this offseason has just been about waiting to see any rumors for J.D. Martinez. Him and Scott Boras have been trying all offseason to get as much cash as they can. The Red Sox were always the favorites to land J.D., but there were rumors of him potentially going back to Arizona. But the wait is now over. Dombrowski and Boras were able to come to an agreement. J.D. Martinez is now on the Red Sox.
The deal is for five years and $110 million with an opt out after the second year. I absolutely love it. It’s not the $210 million Boras was asking for at the start of the offseason.
This is a huge move for the Red Sox. This is the bat they’ve needed ever since the moment Ortiz retired. That’s why the offense hasn’t been as strong as they were in 2016. Lots of the players having down years didn’t help either. That’s another reason why this deal is great. Getting J.D. Martinez to be in the center of a lineup of guys who are due for a bounce-back year is exciting. The Red Sox are slated to make another deep postseason run. With this huge addition to the team, one can only assume that Boston will squash the underdog label they have been given. Analysts and top places for US gamblers to bet are underestimating this year’s squad very early. However, Boston is embracing their role as the dark horse.
Thank the Man Behind the Curtain
Everyone (including myself) freaked out when the Yankees traded for Stanton. But do you know who kept his composure? A man by the name of David Dombrowski. When everyone else panicked as soon as the Yankees got their guy, Dombrowski stayed smart through the whole process. He remained stoic until Boras agreed with the contract he wanted and got J.D. Martinez. You can make an argument that Martinez is in fact better than Stanton, and there are numbers to back that up.
You have to give Dombrowski all the credit in the world for this one. He was willing to be patient and not give in to what Boras wanted, knowing that the market was incredibly small for Martinez. And look where we are now. It’s hilarious because all offseason fans have been upset that the Red Sox haven’t done anything. Well let me tell you something- it’s been that way for every single team. But now the dominoes are starting to fall.
Overall this is a huge deal for the Red Sox. It should not only get fans excited, but will get people to not take this team lightly anymore. This is a deal that will make us a true threat to the Yankees.
We got him! Finally, after TEN MILLION YEARS of waiting we landed a deal with J.D. Martinez. I have to be honest, I wish I was more excited about this. The guy took FOREVER to sign. So at this point, instead of being hyped up about this signing, I’m just like “Oh, okay. I expected to hear that eventually.” It’s almost like being a kid finding presents your parents got you somewhere in the attic just before Christmas. So the next morning you act all surprised and excited when deep down inside you’re just like “Yeah, that’s cool. I knew I was getting that present anyway.” Kind of sucks to be honest, but hey we finally got him. Life is good. The Red Sox are good. Everything’s great!
J.D. Martinez has agreed to a contract with #RedSox, sources confirm @pedrogomezESPN report. @JonHeyman was first to report deal was close. @MLBNetwork@MLB
J.D. comes to Beantown signing a deal worth 5 years and $110 million with an opt-out after two seasons. Last season with both Detroit and Arizona, J.D. hit a .303 average, with 45 homers, and 104 runs knocked in. Adding to that with a .690 slugging and .376 on base percentages.
Boston needed to get this deal done. Dave Dombrowski has now delivered on his promises every season he’s been here. Price in 2016, Sale in 2017, and now J.D. in 2018. Martinez was projected to sign with Boston the moment the World Series ended, and there was no doubt the deal eventually would’ve been done. Now that Martinez signed the Red Sox can potentially contend against the Yankees and other dominant teams around the league.
The Possibilities Are Endless
With J.D. in Boston there are now so many different possibilities for the team. He wants to be an outfielder in Boston, which could leave to a possible move in JBJ if it comes to it. Then they could move either Benintendi or Mookie to center with J.D. in right. If he is willing to DH it could move Hanley to first, thus benching Moreland. There could even be a possible Hanley deal. Only time will really tell, but this is a huge move for Boston and could really open up a potential World Series bid.
To sum up my thoughts really, it’s hard for me to be excited about this because of how long it took for this guy to sign. Don’t get me wrong though, I’m excited! This is just the piece we needed to contend for the World Series. Not like I don’t think we’re going to win the World Series every year, but this really makes us look like a legitimate threat to the American League. I’m excited. Everyone’s excited. World Series 2018.
As the season nears every day, memories from the Fall come to my mind. Thinking about the series against Houston may hit a weak spot in the guts of Red Sox Nation. But there is one moment that I look back to that makes me excited for 2018. Rafael Devers did something in the last game of that series that no one saw coming. Something not always expected from a stocky power-hitting third baseman. That moment will bring together the excitement.
Inside the Park Home Run:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7eE9PrKOB4
Why Devers In 2018 Is Excited:
Baseball Reference is the usual spot for baseball statistics, but I think they should be called out. Raffy Big Stick put up an impressive line in 2017, all within the span of 58 games.
Not bad for a 20-year-old. Devers was able to become a stable source of power throughout his call-up in Boston. A reliable source for a team that was in the spotlight for a team in one of the hardest divisions in baseball. Each at-bat it seemed like Devers could bring everyone around, no matter who was on the bump. Ask Aroldis Chapman. To me with a full season, one would think his 2018 year will be just as productive. Baseball Reference seems to not think the same. In fact, they believe the difference of 80 games that Raffy will only grab 3 more home runs.
In the time that Devers joined the Red Sox major league roster, the 20-year-old had a WAR of 1.3. It is hard to believe that Devers will only be able to get 11 more RBI’s than the previous season. Rafael Devers also has made adjustments at the plate and expanded his range of swing. In a way that makes him look like a younger Vladamier Guerrero against the Indians last season.
Back to Aroldis Chapman again. This moment took over the baseball world in one swing. The facts and statistics that came out after the home run regarding the difficulty of what he did were shocking.
Conclusion:
Devers defied the odds of a situation that since the use of Stat Cast, had not been accomplished. Chapman giving up a home run to a lefty? Never happened. The pitch he hit is the fastest pitch to ever be sent out. How many people expected this sort of impact from a 20 year old fresh out of the minors? So as the season begins, print out the projected stats from Baseball Reference. I’m sure you could cross off each statistic he surpasses by the All-Star break. Red Sox fans craving power in the lineup- look no further than Raffy’s hot corner.
The 2017-2018 season came and went in a blink of an eye. Even though Super Bowl 52 was only two weeks ago, we’re already suffering football withdrawals. Taking things day by day at the start of the NFL offseason is too tedious, so analysts and reporters enjoy looking toward the future. There are 164 grueling days between us and August. The 2018 NFL Draft and today are separated by 67 days. The start of free agency, our saving grace to get us through the waning moments of winter, is only 24 days away. On top of that, we are just a whopping nine days away until the NFL Combine. The only thing to do until then is to dream of what teams will look like in September. What will transpire in free agency? Better yet, who will each team draft?
The Patriots are at an important crossroads entering the offseason. There will be very little panic going into the 2018 season, but the team needs to set themselves up for the future. Tom Brady won’t get any younger, even though we’ve all been convinced that he can play forever. But pliability can only help for so long, and both Brady and New England’s defense can only bend for so long without breaking. The Patriots’ pass rush cannot go on in its current state without bringing in new talent. Also with defensive starters like Malcolm Butler presumably leaving us for new homes, the Patriots need to act quickly. Free agency can only dictate the state of the 2018 squad.
This year’s draft class boasts the most defensive talent we have seen in a long time. The Patriots have a chance to draft prospects that could make a difference down the road with their early picks. These mock drafts might be premature, but it will be updated as April rolls around the corner. It’s impossible to get into the heads of every front office in the league, especially right now. Some teams will look to address problems in free agency, and the rest will utilize the draft. The big board won’t come together until the Combine finishes up in early March. However, it’s great to have a baseline prediction on prospects. The following mock draft is updated from the one I made back in December. Fellow BSE writer Andrew Lykins will also give his insight on potential prospects in his three round draft after mine.
Pass rush is arguably the Patriots’ biggest problem going into the offseason. Part of the reason that New England possessed the 29th ranked defense in the league was because of their lack of pressuring opposing quarterbacks. The defense looked lost against mobile quarterbacks to say the least. Ever since Rob Ninkovich’s retirement last year the team has not found someone to line up parallel to Trey Flowers on the defensive line. Deatrich Wise Jr. and Eric Lee were formidable defensive ends this season, but they were not perfect.
After Dont’a Hightower’s season-ending injury, the linebacker corp did not look any better. Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, and Marquis Flowers held down the center of the defense, but also struggled on pressure. Roberts seemed to primarily play coverage and Van Noy rushed the gap a few times. Flowers, who will be a free agent, shined when pressuring the quarterback. James Harrison’s stint in New England was instrumental as well. The only problem is that he is nearing the end of his great career. Pass rush is a group effort. It isn’t one position’s responsibility.
In comes Marcus Davenport. Listed at a 4-3 outside linebacker, Davenport made his presence felt in 2017 against opposing quarterbacks. He finished four years at UTSA with 185 tackles and 21.5 sacks. The Conference USA might not be the most rigorous conference in college football, but Davenport was able to steamroll his way through offensive lines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTyTQtQotzc
Davenport saw adversity at the Senior Bowl. He struggled a bit against the talent of other NFL prospects. However, he showed enough flashes of dominance to scouts to boost his draft stock. One of his highlights from the Senior Bowl was returning a fumble 19 yards for a score. The Combine will be his next test as he attempts to push into the NFL.
Round 2 (Pick 41): Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
Mike Hughes remains on my draft list. He’s been doubted by scouts due to his lack of consistency and experience in college. However, his speed helped him be a dominant number one cornerback for UCF during their perfect season. He can jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and has ball skills to pick passes off in man coverage. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein places Hughes as New England’s first pick in the draft surprisingly. In his first mock draft Zierlein writes, “Hughes isn’t the biggest cornerback, but he has tremendous speed and twitch. He’s also an outstanding kick returner.” Hughes’s speed makes up for his size to be a tough cornerback.
I believe that Mike Hughes could drop to the early second round for New England to take him. There are about five or so higher ranked corners, but Hughes could help the Patriots’ foreseeable problems at corner.
Round 2 (Pick 63): Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa
New England’s running back corps have fared well thus far. Josh McDaniels set up an offense last season that incorporated Dion Lewis as a primary runner and had Rex Burkhead and James White go wide for passes. Lewis had a career season in 2017, only making him more valuable as he enters the free agent market. Burkhead will be a free agent as well. Dion Lewis is more likely going to leave New England, meanwhile Burkhead might stay after having an under par year due to injury.
Akrum Wadley is the best of both worlds. At Iowa, he has exhibited his ability to excel in a passing offense. He also has the strength to push up the middle. What is most admirable about Wadley is his footwork and athletic ability.
Round 3 (Pick 95): Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond
Can Kyle Lauletta be the heir to Tom Brady’s throne? Possibly. Lauletta has been under the radar in Richmond, but has some great intangibles. In 2017, Lauletta racked up 3,737 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He only started in his sophomore and junior years after switching over from lacrosse. Most scouts will disregard Lauletta as just another backup, but he has a lot of potential for Bill Belichick. Belichick loves lacrosse and will likely scavenge Lauletta’s film from high school.
Lauletta put on a show at the Senior Bowl. He threw three second-half touchdowns and was named Most Outstanding Player. He might not have the best arm but his production has risen in the past few years as he becomes more accustomed to football. His leadership and his passing on the move makes him an admirable target in the third round. If any team were to take him it would be the Patriots. He will do wonders working under Tom Brady for a year or two.
The top four Patriots draft needs are: starting CB, tackle (either depth or starter depending upon Solder resigning), edge rush, and running back. The order of these needs will change depending upon the moves they will make in free agency. This pre-FA mock reflects on a few moves that I think will happen.
Round 1 (Pick 31) Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
I’m shooting for the stars with my first pick. The pass rush sorely needs to be upgraded. Derek Rivers, Trey Flowers and hopefully a veteran addition will be joined by the raw but talented small school product. I would also consider Sam Hubbard with this pick as well. I fully expect the Patriots to resign Solder for left tackle. If that doesn’t happen, this pick immediately changes to the best OT available. I would also consider cornerback, but the position is slightly deeper, so I opted for Davenport with this pick.
Credit to USA Today.
Round 2 (Pick 41 from 49ers) J.C. Jackson, CB, Maryland
Many people will think that this is a knee jerk reaction to losing Butler. I think we would be able to weather his loss with Cyrus Jones return as well as J.Jones returning. I want an upgrade though. If Eric Rowe and Gilmore are the presumptive #1-2 for 2018, I want a young talent to push them and provide depth for a strict outside press-man scheme. Would also consider a top flight RB if available (Guice, R.Jones, or Michel).
Credit to USA Today.
Round 2 (Pick 63) Luke Falk, QB, Washington State
Spending a day two pick on a quarterback has worked out well for us, and I see no reason to break this trend. The Patriots will continue to stock the talent at this position until Tom Brady makes it clear as to when he is hanging them up. I understand if you are not thrilled with this particular prospect, but the need is undeniable and I would rather get a good prospect sooner rather than later. I would go with best player available if he doesn’t test well and look to pick up a quarterback on day three.
Credit to The Seattle Times.
Round 3 (Pick 95) Ronald Jones, RB, USC
There are tons of high level running back prospects in this draft class, and that means that there will be some sliding of starting level talent. Free agency and the Combine will really serve to slot the prospects into their respective rankings. Ronald Jones is my favorite of the 1-2 tier that could slide. I would also consider Nick Chubbs, Kerryon Johnson, and Jaylen Samuels here as well.
