Kiper and Mayock identified wide receiver, cornerback and tackle as the Patriots' most significant needs, but were split on the biggest need. Kiper believes the Patriots should focus on wide receiver when it's their turn to pick in the second round.
Although this draft isn’t thought to be as stocked at the receiver position as some previous drafts, there should be several intriguing possibilities for the 60th pick.
“They need a true 6-foot-1, 6-foot-2 wide receiver,” Kiper said. “I think if you look at this year, the depth at that position is OK, not great. The first round is not good at all, but there are some guys that aren’t going to go in the first round that are going to be interesting.”
Kiper identified Braxton Miller (Ohio State), Michael Thomas (Ohio State), Leonte Carroo (Rutgers) and Pharoh Cooper (South Carolina) as day-two possibilities.
“I think there’s going to be some really nice options from a true wide receiver standpoint available for the New England Patriots,” he said. “I think that is what they have to go after. They have other needs obviously, but I think a true wide receiver is important.”
Mayock identified offensive tackle as the Patriots biggest need.
“They probably have to be looking at some offensive linemen, and obviously they got beat up this year badly up front,” Mayock said. “They started or played -- they had three rookies play significant time in that interior offensive line, one of whom didn't even get invited to the Combine last year, Shaq Mason. So they could be looking at a tackle in that spot.”
http://www.providencejournal.com/sp...ds-if-not-on-number-one-priority?rssfeed=true
But these are the players/positions the Pats are targeting at the Combine.
Running backs
Alex Collins, Arkansas: Round 2.
Jordan Howard, Indiana: Round 2.
Kelvin Taylor, Florida: Round 4.
Glenn Gronkowski, Kansas State: Late-round pick.
Dan Vitale, Northwestern: Late round pick.
Wide Receivers
Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina: Round 4.
Jalin Marshall, Ohio State: Late round pick.
Offensive Linemen
Brandon Shell, South Carolina: Round 4.
Jerald Hawkins, LSU: Round 3.
Linebackers
Su’a Cravens, USC: Round 2.
Jordan Jenkins, Georgia: Round 3.
Kamalei Correa, Boise State: Round 3.
C.J. Johnson, Ole Miss: Late round pick/Undrafted.
Defensive Ends
Jonathan Bullard, Florida: Round 2.
Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland: Round 2.
Dadi Nicolas, Virginia Tech: Round 4.
Alex McCallister, Florida: Late round pick.
Defensive tackles
Austin Johnson, Penn State: Round 1-2.
Jihad Ward, Illinois: Round 3.
Hassan Ridgeway, Texas: Late round pick.
Cornerbacks
Will Redmond, Mississippi State: Round 3.
Xavien Howard, Baylor: Round 4
D.J. White, Georgia Tech: Round 4
James Bradberry, Samford: Late round pick.
Safeties
Deon Bush, Miami: Round 4.
Bill Belichick’s best Patriots draft picks
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<figcaption class="content-media__caption content-media__caption--embed"> No. 20: Ty Warren, Defensive Lineman, 1st round, 2003The Boston Globe/John Tlumacki
http://www.boston.com/sports/footba...nfl-combine/z3LxLm1dyelbOWqG6UIlZN/story.html
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