Round 1, Pick 22: Brandon Graham

Brandon Graham had a terrific week of practices at the Senior Bowl, culminating with his five tackle, two sack, MVP performance on Saturday.  While Graham is undersized for a 3-4 outside linebacker, at just over 6′1″, he has the skill-set to be a great fit at the position.  At over 260 pounds, Graham has shown he can more than hold his own against the run, but he has also established himself as a prolific pass rusher.  While he doesn’t always uses a great variety of moves, he  has a good amount of moves that he uses on occasion, moves that could be developed in the pros.  He also is relentless in his rush, getting under lineman’s pads and using great leverage.  He has also flashed the fluidity to drop back into coverage.  Bottom line: Brandon Graham is one of the best pass rushers in this years draft, but his athleticism and ability to step up against the run make him a great fit as a Patriots 3-4 outside linebacker, even if he is shorter than they would like.

Round 2, Pick 42: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

Jermaine Gresham

Jermaine Gresham is without a doubt, the top tight end in this April’s draft.  He is in the mold of Brandon Pettigrew: a massive target who excels both as an inline blocker and as a receiver.  He has soft hands and is a lethal red zone target.  With Ben Watson likely on his way out of town, I would be really happy if the Patriots took Gresham in the 1st round.  However, because of a knee injury that cost him his senior season, Gresham might just be around in the second round.  If he is, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see the Patriots pounce on him.

Round 2, Pick 47: Jahvid Best, RB, California

If injuries and durability push Jahvid Best down to this spot, the Patriots will have found a steal.  One of the needs many people have said the Patriots have is that of a playmaker.  Well, Jahvid Best is just that: a home run hitter.  He’s fast, explosive, has excellent break away speed, has superior vision, and can make the quick cuts inside.  He also has good hands out of the backfield, but will need to work on his pass protection to become the next Kevin Faulk.

Round 2, Pick 47: Jahvid Best

Round 2, Pick 53: Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest

Brandon Ghee

If the Patriots secondary proved one thing this year, it is that it can succeed using a more physical brand of cornerbacks, and that’s what Brandon Ghee is.  While Brandon Ghee has some work to be done before he succeeds in advanced NFL coverage schemes, he certainly has what it takes to be a big time player.  He has excellent speed and athleticism, is great in run support, and has the fluidity to mirror receivers in coverage.  With some work, he could definitely become a Leigh Bodden type for the Patriots.

Round 4: Arthur Jones, DE/DT, Syracuse

If Arthur Jones has a great combine, you can forget about him at this spot.  But right now, he’s looking like he could land in the 3rd to 4th round.  That’s pretty remarkable for a guy who was at one time considered a 1st round talent.  When I look at Jones, I see a guy who is big, strong, and athletic.  While he played mostly inside at Syracuse, he certainly has the skill set to move to end in the 3-4.  He reminds me a lot of Jarvis Green, in that he can hold up two gaps, but at the same time, flash some pass rush ability.

Arthur Jones | Courtesy SU Athletics

Round 6: Freddie Barnes, WR, Bowling Green

Freddie Barnes

Freddie Barnes had a great week at the East-West Shrine Game.  He consistently showed an ability to catch the ball outside his frame, run really crisp routes to create separation, and make smart plays.  At 6′ and over 210 lbs, Barnes doesn’t have good speed.  Nonetheless, he has shown a consistent ability to separate and produce, and will almost definitely be drafted, even though he didn’t receive a combine invite.

Round 7: Marcus Easley, WR, Connecticut

Marcus Easley would be a very interesting prospect for the Patriots to develop at wide receiver for the future.  He is big (6-3, 215 lbs), fast (4.4), and strong.  He exploded onto the scene his senior season for UConn, displaying big hands and an ability to make the big play and score in the redzone.  With the addition of Easley and Barnes, the Patriots will have a nice duo of young receivers to join Brandon Tate and Julian Edelman.

Round 7: Cord Howard, OG, Georgia Tech

The Patriots need offensive guards, with Stephen Neal possibly on the verge of retirement.  Howard, at 6-4 and over 300 pounds, seems to be a good fit for the Patriots mold of lighter guards.  He could very well be around at this pick.

OLB Ricky Foley of CFL Set to Visit Pats

Foley was the CFL's Sack Leader in 2009

Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston reports:

Ricky Foley, who has totaled 20 sacks over the last three years in the Canadian Football League, is scheduled to visit the Patriots on Thursday, according to his agent Paul Sheehy of ProStar Sports Agency.

Foley, 27, is a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker. He visited with the Jets on Tuesday and is en route to St. Louis for a visit with the Rams. Over the last three years in the CFL, he has totaled 40 special teams tackles. In 2009, he had 12 sacks and 51 tackles for the British Columbia Lions.

“I’m not going to say he’ll be like Cameron Wake, who we took down [from the CFL to the Miami Dolphins] last year,” said Sheehy. “Guys like that are few and far between, but I think he can make a roster.”

Foley (6-3, 250) had signed with Baltimore Ravens in 2006 after playing at York University; after a brief stint in Baltimore he ultimately landed in the CFL.

I think it would be foolish to say that Foley could solve the Patriots pass rush issues, but he certainly seems like an intriguing option, and it wouldn’t hurt to give him a shot, especially considering Cameron Wake’s success with the Dolphins last year.

Corwin Brown to Coach Defensive Backs

According to multiple reports, the New England Patriots have hired former Notre Dame defensive co-coordinator and associate head coach as their defensive backs coach.  Interestingly, Brown has a background playing under coach Bill Belichick, as he played for the Patriots from 1993 to 1996, and with the Jets from 1997 to 1998.  A little background on Brown from Albert Breer of the Boston Globe:

Corwin Brown at Practice

When Bill Belichick arrived to coach the Patriots defensive backs in 1996, Brown was in his fourth NFL season and already knew that, after he was done playing, he wanted to coach. He made this clear to Belichick, and the coach found ways to help tutor him, staying late to watch extra film and such to show Brown how to see the game from a coach’s eyes. Brown followed Belichick, and Bill Parcells, to the Jets in 1997 and spent two seasons there, so those two are pretty tight.

Brown got his start in coaching with Al Groh — his defensive coordinator in his four seasons as a Patriot — at Virginia from 2001-03, and was one of the few held over from Herm Edwards’ Jets staff by Eric Mangini. He’s been at Notre Dame the last three years, where he was co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach.

From the looks of it, Corwin Brown is unique in mold of Pepper Johnson in that he has experience both playing and coaching in the Patriots’ system, having played under the likes of Parcells, Belichick, Groh, and Weis.  He also seems like a bright mind who wants to learn more about the game, and looks like he could develop even further down the road here in New England.

This seems like it will be a solid move for the Patriots.

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