NFL Draft 2015: New England Patriots Team Needs
By Zac Snyder
For a look at the New England Patriots’ team needs entering the 2015 NFL Draft, I got together with Musket Fire‘s Cyrus Geller. Below are my questions followed by his answers.
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1. How have the team’s draft needs changed since free agency opened?
"The biggest change has to be the state of the secondary. Before free agency began, the Pats were set to have the best defensive backfield in football with Brandon Browner, Darrelle Revis, and Devin McCourty leading the charge. But now that Browner and Revis are gone, the Pats will have to add some reinforcements in the back end."
2. What would you say are the top three needs remaining?
"Number one and two are really a coin flip, but addressing depth on the offensive and defensive lines should the top priority for New England. If they can shore up the left guard position, they will have the most lethal passing attack in the NFL next season. On the other side of the ball, they currently have a solid front seven, but they need some depth to help prevent a season collapse due to a few untimely injuries. Third would have to be the secondary. They can’t replace Darrelle Revis in the draft, but they can surely get some help."
3. Are there any prospects that have caught your eye so far?
"Looking specifically along the defensive line, Malcom Brown and Carl Davis have jumped out to me. I have watched Brown for his entire career because I am a Longhorns fan, and while he likely won’t drop to pick 32, his explosion off the line is something I would love to see in Foxboro."
4. What do you think would make for a successful draft for your team?
"You can never really make a draft prediction like this when Bill Belichick is the coach of your team, as he is so unpredictable come draft day. But after four championships in 14 years, I just sit back, and trust the process."
5. So much draft focus often goes to the first few rounds, but is there something you’d like to see your team do in the later rounds?
"I’d like to see the Pats take a stab at a development project at the receiver position in the later rounds. Someone that won’t start right away, but given some work, could contribute down the road. The Patriots’ receiving corps is top notch right now, so they don’t need a starter necessarily, but someone New England could groom for the future would be a nice pickup."
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Next: Post-Free Agency Frenzy 2015 NFL Mock Draft