Here is the latest revision of my Patriot's 7-round mock based on the following:

1. Our inability to get more than a 2nd round pick for Cassel and Vrable makes the idea of bringing in a luxury pick like Percy Harvin impossible, even though Belichick was reportedly raving about him and saying he would be a possibility for pick #23.

2. Richard Seymour's declining skills and looming contract expiration I think will force us to look for a young 3-4 DE candidate to groom in behind him sooner rather than later.

3. We let FB Heath Evans go to New Orleans, and have not addressed FB in free agency.

As a result of those factors, and working in the loss of another pick in the Greg Lewis trade (our 5th), here is the most up-to-date Patriots mock:

Rd---Pick---Position----Player
1-----23----CB Sean Smith: I am not in love with this guy's movement and change of direction, but the Pats simply MUST find a big corner that can match up against the T.O.s of the division, and Smith is the best BIG corner in the draft.

2-----34----LB James Laurinaitis: We've been burnt by Ohio State LB's who didn't pan out before, but this guy is more likely to be Chris Spielman than Andy Katzenmoyer. His 4.87 unofficial 40 during his first heat at the Combine allows him to slip to where he is good value at #34. Teamed with last year's rookie DPOTY inside, the LB youth infusion is finished.

2-----49---DE Jarron Gilbert: 6'6", 290-pound DEs who are as athletic as this kid don't come around often. He may go even higher than this, but if he is still on the board, they've got to grab Seymour's understudy here.

2-----55---WR Brian Robiskie: Robiskie is a coach's son who understands the game--the kind of football guy that Belichick absolutely loves. Gives us a solid #2 until Moss retires, then a potential #1.

3-----87---FB Quinn Johnson: Heath Evans's replacement. An even better blocker and all-around athlete than Evans was.

3---Comp---OT Raphael Nguti: May never be a LOT, but the overlooked IAA prospect has the feet to at least be the new starting ROT we've struggled to find for years. We need the revolving door on the right side to stop. Wished we could've taken one of the top 5 LOT's available, but simply had more pressing needs while those guys were being grabbed. Gotta get Matt Light's replacement in 2010 FOR SURE though.

4 OG Kraig Urbik: OL depth. Our guards can't seem to stay healthy.

6 QB Rudy Carpenter: Like his moxie and intangibles. A solid #3.

7 CB Ryan Mouton: A smurfish guy, but he can play.

I'm a Sean Smith fan but i feel like after signing Springs we have Hobbs,Wilhite,Wheatley,Springs,and Richardson. That's not great unless Richardson Wilhite and Wheatley continue to improve. Doesn't that make picking a CB more of a luxury? I feel we have more pressing needs at LB and OLINE.

I still believe getting a young shutdown corner remains our #1 priority, regardless of whether or not Springs gives a solid year or two. At 34, and with his injury history, he is nothing but a short-term stopgap measure at best.

I have nothing to base this gut feeling on except.... well, my gut. (which never steers me wrong, at least when it comes to food)

With Piolli leaving and NE not making the playoffs last year (JOKE, by the way!) I actually see NE doing the opposite of normal drafts for them and trading a couple picks to move back up into the first for another first round pick. Those are more affordable cap friendly picks than top ten picks and I just see them being aggressive in the draft.

I don't think they will do that. The second round is where the comparative talent/salary-range ratios this year are the most value-laden, certainly v.v. Round one. They SHOULD stay there and pick, unless they can get some dumb team to trade a first next year for one of those seconds.

For the second time in a week, the Pats have gone big at CB in free agency. this time, signing former Detroit starter, Leigh Bodden to a one-year deal.

The Patriots have signed their new starting CB in 6'1", 193 Leigh Bodden of Detroit. Bodden, originally drafted out of Duquesne is 27 years old, and was signed to a 4-year deal worth $27 million from Cleveland by the Lions not all that long ago. He was cut after intercepting only one pass last season (the only int. by a Lion's DB last year) and compiling 61 tackles, and 12 assists. Bodden picked off 6 passes in '06 with the Browns.

Bodden was likely a good player on a bad team, and should compete for a starting job opposite Ellis Hobbs with the Patriots.

This move will force me to totally start over with my 7-round mock.

I love it! Our #1 need now is BPA!

More and more depth making it easier to trade multiple picks and get higher ones in the draft

I hope they don't do that. There is almost the same quality (and better value) from 23-55 than there is from 12-22.

Agreed I'd rather them stick with the picks they have. If anything trade down or trade one of there seconds for a pick next year. Now that they have Bodden I'm very excited for the draft because i really have no idea what they are going to pick. They have needs like OT,OG,DE,LB,S,WR but none of them are pressing enough so you can say this is what they will pick with the 23rd pick. They could go anyway now.

I don't know that I quite agree with the assessment that the Pats can just go BPA now, PoM.

Yes, this year' signings of Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden and last year's drafting of Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite would appear to soldify the CB corps.

However, while James Sanders and Brandon Merriweather give you a good FS duo, what about SS? Rodney Harrison is old, injury-prone, and a free agent, so I'd call that position a need.

Even with last year's drafting of Jerod Mayo, Shawn Crable, and Bo Ruud and the acquisition of Gary Guyton, I'd still saying getting some youth, speed, and athleticism into that LB group ranks pretty high on the priority list.

Other than Jarvis Green, there's no proven depth behind your starting DL, and Richard Seymour's starting to get up there and Vince Wilfork is in the last year of his contract.

Finally, I think the OL could use some youth, too, and, if possible, a RT to legitimately challenge for a starting job.

Just my two cents...

could be a signing to justify taking harvin over a young CB, though (provided harvin is still there at, what, 23?). you can go tackle/safety with one of the other 19 picks they have in the first 100.

ok, so the 19 *might* be an exaggeration......

The Patriots have now signed their 3rd TE in as many weeks:

http://www.nfl.com/players/nathanhodel/profile?id=HOD104287

Could this be a ploy to send the rest of the NFL off the scent? Are they targeting Brandon Pettigrew with the 23rd pick?

I thought Hodel was a LS?

I was really refering more to their freedom to go BPA with the first pick now. If William Moore completely resurrects himself at the Missouri Pro Day, I could see him solving the first problem you raised. We also have Redd from Liberty on the practice squad, so we really only need one more ILB for the youth transfusion at LB to be complete. I agree we can use depth on the DL and OL, but, as I said, we can do it when and where we want to now.

That could be why they are bringing him in then. Didn't know that was his primary job. He's listed as a TE by the NFL. Thanks for the info. See if you can get it confirmed, OK?

TIA...

I just looked at Patriots.com and they have him listed at LS but i wouldn't be surprised if he played both they do love versatility.

OK, thanks! Cool...

I honestly don't see Bill trading up. When you come right down to it, the sweet spot in the draft for the value/talent ratio, and the potential ROI on those picks, he'd be a fool, unless there was a player he was absolutely in love with...but I just don't see it happening. In fact, I could envision him trading down with his 1st for the right deal before trading up.

With two tall starting-caliber CBs now signed in FA, here is how I have to revise my draft:



Rd---Pick---Position----Player
1-----23----ROT/OG Andre Smith: A physical presence whose stock has slid enough through his immaturity right to where he can be a 10-year Pro Bowl ROT for New England. BB will make him a versatile presence up front for a decade.

2-----34----LB James Laurinaitis: We've been burnt by Ohio State LB's who didn't pan out before, but this guy is more likely to be Chris Spielman than Andy Katzenmoyer. His 4.87 unofficial 40 during his first heat at the Combine allows him to slip to where he is good value at #34. Teamed with last year's rookie DPOTY inside, the LB youth infusion is finished.

2-----49---DE Jarron Gilbert: 6'6", 290-pound DEs who are as athletic as this kid don't come around often. He may go even higher than this, but if he is still on the board, they've got to grab Seymour's understudy here.

2-----55---WR Brian Robiskie: Robiskie is a coach's son who understands the game--the kind of football guy that Belichick absolutely loves. Gives us a solid #2 until Moss retires, then a potential #1.

3-----87---FB/RB Kyle Bell: Can play FB as Heath Evans's replacement, and his Pro Day last week proves he is back. Great hands guy who runs low 4.5s at 230 pounds.

3---Comp---OT Andrew Gardner: Proved at the Georgia Tech Pro Day that he does have the feet and speed to be an elite LOT with some grooming. A perfect understury to push Matt Light.

4 DE Desmond Bryant: The freak from Harvard is another guy big enough, strong enough, fast enough an certainly smart enough to be looked at as a 3-4 DE.

6 QB Rudy Carpenter: Like his moxie and intangibles. A solid #3.

7 CB Ryan Mouton: A smurfish guy, but he can play.

I don't know about those first two picks. Both could turn out to be All Pro, or All Bust. I could see them perhaps gambling on one of them, but not both of them with their first two picks. Of the two, Smith probably has a huge upside talent wise, but Laurinaitis has the Belichick type of attitude and desire. I think Smith turns out to be similar to the talented kid the Chargers took a few years back, Fonuti, or whatever his name was...virtually ate himself out of the league. The major difference between the two that I personally observe, is at least Fonuti had a real desire to be good...just couldn't keep away from the dinner table...or the lunch, breakfast, and snack tables either. Smith does not impress me with his lack of desire, along with his lack of discipline concerning his diet. Although Belichick has a reputation for being able to bring out the best in a player, the player has to "want" to be great. That's why Moss has worked out. Love the third pick, but he might surprise and be gone by then too.

A week or so ago I saw a report somewhere about a trade that was being worked on between the Pats and Carolina for Julius Peppers. Now, within the past 48 hours I've seen a bunch of reports stating the reason the Pats made the deal with KC with Cassel, is apparently the asking price for Peppers is only a high 2nd round pick...apparently they are very willing to take less than market value because the Panthers don't want to pay 1st round money. There are many conflicting accounts as to how Peppers would work in the NE system, but I'm sure Bill could find a way to utilize his talents.

Fitting Peppers in with the amount of cap we have left (and assuming we must save some for draft picks) is going to be very problematic without some cuts elsewhere. As much as I'd love to have a happy and motivated Peppers playing in Foxboro, it can not come at the price of the rest of the balance we have on the roster at present. Peppers may simply wind up being a luxury we simply can not afford.

Here are some nice recent signings, in case anyone missed them:

S Raymond Ventrone resigned.
Al Johnson © signed as an unrestricted free agent.
S Tank Williams resigned.
OT Wesley Britt re-signed.

I am pleased to see Williams on this list. That must mean he is getting back to healthy? Maybe that is why we haven't gone after a SS in FA?

Of all their signings in the off season, the signing I think will make the biggest impact is Bodden. I think they only signed him for a year, but my guess is they'll find a way to keep him after the year. He's going to become a very valuable part of Bill's D, IMO.

Also Joey Galloway

Can you believe this?? Pats get 3 of the 32 compensatory picks awarded:

3-97
5-170
6-207

We now have the flexibility to do WHATEVER we darned well please in this draft, AND it will be just like '07 accept this time, we will be a much stronger team entering the draft (especially if the Julius Peppers deal gets done) than we were back then!

Ya, they got the highest comp pick... SO thats what 4 picks in top 2 rounds and 6 in the top 100? You can almost guarantee a trade that gets the Pats an early pick next year and a later one this year.

Here is my latest 7-round mock, assuming the Peppers deal for the 34th pick is done beforehand. Some of the later pick number may not be exact, but otherwise this is very close to where we will really be picking now with the three comp picks included. I agree with RR80 that there will be trades, but since those are impossible to project, here goes:

Rd---Pick---Player---College---Pos
1----23 Percy Harvin, WR/KR, Florida
2----47 Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State
2----58 Jasper Brinkley, ILB, South Carolina
3----89 Jonathan Luigs, C, Arkansas
3----97 Andrew Gardner, LOT, Georgia Tech
4---124 Kyle Bell, RB, Colorado State
5---170 Tom Brandstater, QB, Fresno State
6---199 Brandon Tate, WR/KR, UNC
6---207 DeWayne Lewis, CB, Southern Utah
7---234 Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincinnati

I like this draft a lot it's not particularly flashy other then the Harvin pick but it still would be a good draft for the Pats. But I doubt the Peppers trade goes down on the basis his salary will be huge. With several of there own free agents coming up i doubt they would want to commit that much money to someone whose never played in a 3-4 before.

I think the Peppers deal will go through, based on my sources, but if it doesn't slot Gilbert or Barwin there at #34.

I agree this isn't a flashy draft outside of Harvin, but bolstering the O-line with some real young talent in the middle rounds has got to be a priority.

Brandstater is another McConnell for the #3 QB opening, and Kyle Bell could be one of the true sleepers of this draft.

I really think the may trade up in round one now for whoever they really like. (Maualuga?)

Other than Koppen and Mankins I'm not really impressed with the Patriots line(I think Matt Light is better suited for ROT) so i agree with you on that.

The Brandstater pick would not surprise me mostly because he goes to Fresno State where Belichick has a connection with the coach. I also heard that they were bringing in Patrick Ramsey in for a visit.

Normally I prefer the trade down for more picks but with such an abundance of picks this year I will be somewhat disappointed if they don't trade up.

Koppen is on a bit of a hot seat and that is why they brought in Al Johnson. Luigs would push him for PT--maybe even for a roster spot. I've been one of the few people that has been calling for an upgrade at the LOT position for three years. Light's skills have diminished and I think he plays one more year while they groom his understudy.

I kind of agree that we should trade up this year, or at least trade up for higher picks next year if we can find anyone willing to still do that with us (doubtful, IMHO, but you never know what desperation might do...)

Could they be targeting Monroe?

I could see if someone slipped out of the first I could see a contending team trading there first next year for pick 34.

I would love to have Monroe as a Patriot I believe he's going to be the best LOT of the draft but with the Lions reportedly negotiating with Jason Smith you have to assume that the Rams will get Monroe. They could go after Oher. A surprise move would be if they went after Crabtree. With him sliding towards the end of the top 10 and the Patriots need for another impact WR I could see it happening.

I think the Peppers deal will get done as a draft day trade. Consider this.

1. Peppers is in the driver's seat. He will not sign the tag and could hold out indefinately.
2. The Patriots are the only AFC team where Peppers has agreed to accept a trade
3. The Panthers only have 5 picks in the draft the first at #59
4. The Panthers lost 4 offensive linesmen in the off season
5. The Panthers will want a lot back in a trade
6. The Patriots have a lot of picks and players that Panthers could use
7. The Patriots have 14 OL under contract but will only carry at most 10

What about a blockbuster deal like this.

The Patriots get Julius Peppers.

The Panthers get, Jarvis Green, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur and pick #58. Let's face it, Green and Neal were not going to be resigned anyway and Kaczur barely beat out O'Callaghan two years ago and O'Callaghan was hurt all of last season. All of these players will be F/A after 2009 but only carry combined cap of $5,888,000. Carolina would clear over $10MM from their cap by not having their franchise tender signed, pick up 2 starters and a solid back-up DE to replace Peppers plus a draft pick higher than any they have.

The Patriots get Peppers and clear $5.9MM of cap to go along with their $4.4MM they already have to sign Peppers to a long term deal and pay for all of their picks. With their remaining picks the Patriots can replace both Neal and Kaczur with cap friendly picks and Peppers more than replaces Green. He could also solve our problem at the other OLB spot saving a draft pick there.

Our draft could look like this.

#23 Ziggy Hood (replaces Seymour or Wilfork should we lose one of them after 2009) or we could go with Darius Butler to be our new shutdown CB or James Laurinaitis to solidify the middle next to Mayo
#34 Max Unger, to replace Stephen Neal at RG
#47 William Moore to take over at SS moving Meriweather to FS.
#58 Julius Peppers to take over for Vrabel/Green
#89 Cadogan to complete with O'Callaghan at RT
#97 Jason Williams to compete at ILB with Bruschi/Guyton

Makes a lot of sense. The trade scenario is better for the Pats than for Carolina, but I like it!

I like your picks except (of course) for Jason Williams. I'm not sure why they brought him in, but his legs are no thicker than Shawn's. I like Chip Vaughn as well as Moore, also.

However, bringing in Peppers would be IMMENSE and Unger at #34 and HOOD at #23 would be sweet!

I just read that the Pats are interested in Rashad Jennings too.

With Peppers you or I could play corner back there. 1-2-3 sack!! Seriously with Peppers, Green becomes very expendible. I'm not a big Kaczur fan and Neal is plain old. Whether we draft Ziggy or not we could upgrade Kaczur and after 2009 I'm pretty sure Neal would be too expensive to keep anyway. I'm not sure if Peppers can convert to OLB but if not he still gives us one heck of an edge rushing presence. We're in a 4-3 40% of the time and I'm sure more so with Peppers. Suddenly I feel better with Crable, Woods and TBC back there.

As for Carolina getting the short end of the stick, I don't see it that way. It would be similar to the deal Denver got with Cutler except we're paying with proven players mostly instead of draft picks.

Carolina gets:

Kuczur a versitile starting RT
Neal when healthy a very underrated RG
Green who could be a starting 4-3 DE for a lot of teams and would start for a Pepperless Panthers
Pick #58
$10MM in cleared cap.

That's not bad for one player.

Kazcur isn't much of a starter and would just be a backup on Carolina.
Neal is old and probably retiring next season the only plus for him is the cap relief for when he does.
Green is a good backup on the decline.
Pick 58 isn't much considering the Patriots have 3 higher picks.
This is nowhere close to the deal Denver got. We are trading 3 backups and a late second for a perennial pro bowler. Denver got 2 firsts a third and a starting QB.

I love when people make arguments without backing them up with facts. Are you telling me that the Patriots two starters and solid back-up who has started 31 of 94 games with the Patriots and plays about 40% of the defense snaps would all be back-ups with Carolina yet Orton who started one year for the pathetic Bears offense is a sure starter in Denver? Orton was a throw-in for the trade because McDaniels wanted to at least have some competition at QB with Chris Simms. If Denver is so sold on Orton nobody would be talking about them drafting a QB in the first round.

Let's set the record straight.

Carolina's starting RG from last year was Keydrick Vincent. He's entering his 9th season in the NFL. He turns 31 next week. In his previous 8 NFL seasons he's only managed to stay healthy and play in all 16 games once which he did back in 2004. Last year he started 14 games, his second best season. in 2007 he started 1 game, played in 8. He started and played in 12 games in 2006, 9 games in 2005 and 9 games in 2003. The Panthers are his fourth team in 8 years. There is no body behind him on the depth chart. He was an undrafted free agent of the Steelers in 2001.

Stephen Neal who was mostly healthy last year is also entering his 9th season also as an undrafted F/A. He is 32 but turns 33 during the season. He is only 18 months older than Vincent. Neal has started in 51 of the 64 games over the last four seasons this compares with 38 games started by Vincent over the same timeframe. I'm not even going to get into the offensive records and team records that Neal played a huge part of. Neal beats out Vincent easily.

At Right Tackle is last year's first round pick Jeff Otah. He missed 4 games last year and there is no body behind him on the depth chart. Kaczur started 44 of his 49 games where he was eligible with the Patriots and was also a huge part of the success since he joined the team in 2005. He was a third round pick in 2005. I'm not saying he beats out Otah but he would certainly be the best back-up Carolina has on their line.

Green turned 30 in January, Peppers turned 29 in January. They are 1 year and 6 days apart in age. Are you really going there with the Green is on the decline comment? Jarvis Green if he were on the Pepperless Panthers easily beats out the pair of 22 year old back-ups they have in Charles Johnson (3rd round pick) and Hilee Taylor (7th round pick). The starting DE on the other side opposite Peppers is Tyler Brayton, hardly a household name. He has compiled a whopping 10.5 sacks in his 6 year career. Green has 25 sacks in his 8 year career!!!! Brayton is so good that while he played in 16, he didn't start a single game for the horrible Raiders in 2007 before they let him go. Green would immediately be the Panthers best DE if Peppers was traded.

So, the Panthers would get two starters and a top OL back-up, not 3 back-ups. Yes, the Patriots have 3 higher picks but the one I suggest they offer would be the top pick Carolina would have. If they are forced to trade Peppers and they want him out of the NFC, getting a solid starter back for him plus upgrading a depleted OL plus getting a future starter by way of a 2nd round pick plus knocking $10MM off their cap allowing them to sign 2 more high profile guys is not a bad return.

Cutler is a franchise QB. You always get more for a fanchise QB than you do for a franchise DE. I was talking about the relative trade value for the positions. What is Tennessee going to get back for Hanesworth? A third round comp pick. If Peppers continues to hold out and not sign the tender and not play where is Carolina then? Cap hell with no starting DE on the right side, no quality back-ups on the OL and only 5 picks to fill their needs, the first of which is at #59. We were in the same position with Cassel. We got little in return because we had no leverage and everyone knew we had to deal him. Same thing here. When you have to do something, you don't get as much back in return.

Well actually the reason Cutler was traded to the Bears was because McDaniels likes Orton you can read about that anywhere.

Neal has been injured the last 3 seasons it doesn't matter if he slightly better then Vincent. Neal shouldn't be depended on as a starter anymore. He also struggled when he played this year and was taken out in games for Billy Yates. Stephen Neal was also undrafted so I don't know why you'd bother to mention Vincent was.

You're right about Nick Kazcur though he did start a lot last season. On a line that let up 48 sacks. A lot of which came from the right side. Hence why the Patriots need to draft lineman. Because Neal and Kazcur aren't good.

Green becomes the best defensive end on the Panthers because they just traded their best defensive end. So they are downgrading the DE's no matter how you see it. So he might be better Charles Johnson doesn't mean he's good. He's also expensive for someone he only got 2.5 sacks last season.

In the end Peppers who will eventually sign the tender if he's not traded would have more impact on there season then anyone Carolina would get in this deal.

I don't know why I can't resist arguing with people. I'll need to check with my therapist on that, lol.

1. Of course McDaniels is going to be talking up Orton now that he has him after dissing Cutler and losing his franchise QB. I think he learned his lesson. McDaniels is off to a great start in Denver. I love how everybody thinks BB assistants are head coaching material. It's worked great so far with Romeo, Manchini and now McDaniels. Charley Weiss went to Notre Dame so I'll let him off the hook but that program seems to be going nowhere since his first two seasons.

2. In 2008 Neal started the season on the PUP list and was activated on Oct 20. He wasn't replaced by Yates for bad play during the season and he didn't struggle when he came back. He played great when he came back. Did you ever consider who was the QB last season for the Pats? I'll give you a hint, it wasn't Brady. Maybe the QB hanging on to the football too long had something to do with the sack numbers allowed being up last season. If you go back and read what I said you'll note that I said both players were undrafted, I was using fair comparisons. If you want to look at last 3 seasons instead of last 4 seasons as I did Neal still comes up better starting 30 to Vincent's 27 which I might add for Vincent were for THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS!!! People must love Vincent to move him so often.

Neal Season Team G GS
2008 New England Patriots 11 9
2007 New England Patriots 8 8
2006 New England Patriots 13 13


Vincent Season Team G GS
2008 Carolina Panthers 14 14
2007 Arizona Cardinals 8 1
2006 Baltimore Ravens 12 12

Let's look at the previous seasons with both Neal and Kaczur being a big part of the line.

Over the last four previous seasons BEFORE Bradyless 2008 (2004-07), Neal has started 51 games as part of a Patriots offensive line that for the first time in franchise history has allowed fewer than 30 sacks in three straight years.
Neal contributed to a Patriots offense that set all-time NFL records with 589 points and 75 touchdowns in 2007.
In 2007, Neal was part of a Patriots offensive line that helped the team average 4.10 yards per carry, the team's highest total since 1985.
In 2006, Neal helped pave the way for the Patriots to record 1,969 rushing yards, the team's second highest total in the last 18 years.
Neal was a primary starter on an offensive line that anchored the NFL's seventh-ranked offense in both 2004 and 2005.
In 2004, Neal became a regular starter on an offensive line that paved the way for Corey Dillon to set the Patriots' single-season rushing record with 1,635 yards.
Neal was an important part of an offensive line that allowed the team to average more than four yards per carry in 2004, the first time the team had achieved that feat in 19 seasons.
In 2004, Neal was part of an offensive line that allowed just 26 sacks, the fewest by a Patriots squad in 10 years.

3. Nobody the Panthers would get back as DE will be better than Peppers. But getting Green who it's now been agreed would be their best DE as part of a bigger deal is not a bad thing. He's not really that expense when you consider all three players still cost $10MM less than they are willing to pay Peppers. Green had 14 sacks the previous two seasons which is still better than all the sacks Brayton has had in 6 years. Everyone's sack total was down for the Pats because they didn't have any corners and got no coverage sacks which before when Samuel was here was a big reason for the higher sack totals.

4. I'm not arguing that losing Peppers would be a big blow to the Panther defense. That's a given. Otherwise the Panthers wouldn't be willing to tie up over $16MM of their cap. Right now Peppers holds all the cards and he knows it. The draft is coming up and this is a big event for Peppers because this is usually when lots of trades are made. Once the draft occurs Carolina will have to wait until next draft to make a deal that involves draft picks. Once the draft is over teams start to shape their rosters and spend their caps making a deal much harder. If Peppers does what Branch did and continue to hold out into the pre-season the Panthers can either call his bluff and enter the season without him, release him or trade him. Most likely they won't want to keep this $16MM tied up for a player who won't sign so he's holding them hostage.

In the Branch case we traded him to Seattle for a future 1st. If Carolina does that they have to wait another year to get the picks wherever and how many they are and meanwhile there is no Peppers on the field. Or, they can do like we did with Samuel; agree if he signs to not tag him again allowing him to be a free agent after the season. So there are four choices. 1) trade him, 2) tell him to sign and they will not tag him again meaning they get one more season out of him then a future 3rd round comp pick, 3) he holds out the whole season and they can continue this uncertainty into next year or 4) Peppers blinks and signs the one year deal and we do this all over again next year. Of course once Pepper signs, he can be dealt but the new team would have to pick up the huge tag price of $16MM and hope they can renegotiate a longer more cap friendly deal.

Again, I'm not saying this is a great deal for Carolina but it isn't a bad deal and certain is a better deal than we got for Cassel. I haven't heard anyone else coming to the table with a better suggestion. I doubt Carolina wants to trade him to an NFC team so trading with NE makes the most sense. Also, I'm not arguing that Neal and Kaczur can't be upgraded on our roster. That's why I suggested trading them. They clear decent cap for us but they improve Carolina's team no matter how you slice it.

Faucet--The Carolina Panthers are totally at the mercy of that Franchise tag on Julius Peppers. In fact, they did not have enough money under the cap to give out the performance bonuses earned by their players in 2008 and had to rescind the offer to a free agent they had just negotiated with. They are totally cash strapped and have released some players recently in order to have enough in the kitty to sign their draft choices. With that said, I was curious about the alleged leak that the Patriots had offered the Panthers the 34th pick for Peppers. John Fox called the offer laughable and I also do not think that this is enough but their backs are against the wall and a veteran player (Jarvis Green) would be the icing on the cake and put this deal into a done deal category. This might help to explain the Mike Wright re-signing for multiple years at a fairly lucrative contract. He is familiar with both the de and dt position and it is easier to find a replacement for a situational third down pass rushing specialist like Jarvis Green. We know that the Patriots and Panthers are talking and I think the only sticking point is the compensation. This deal will go down on draft day because if the Panthers want to make a run at the NFC Championship they need 1) money, 2) money and a happy locker room (which will not be the case if Peppers stays) and 3) money and an early 2nd round draft choice so they can draft a player at a lower salary than a first round pick would cost. I would not put any of our offensive linemen in a trade scenario because the offensive line needs to have cohesion and unity and it takes some time to become accustomed to the Patriots blocking scheme. Replacements for Jarvis Green and the o-line can be handled through the draft and it will give them a year to prepare for the eventual decisions that the Pats will make with their free agents after next year. I think that the Jason Taylor situation has softened the Panthers to the extent that this is may only take pick #34 but it is my opinion that this deal will get done just before draft day in order for the Patriots to turn that Franchise number into a more workable cap number for this year.--thanks for listening--rich from newport

Faucet--My latest 7 round Patriots Mock is as follows 1) Pick #23 RON BRACE NT BOSTON COLLEGE 2A) Pick #34 LARRY ENGLISH de/olb NORTHERN ILLINOIS (DISCLAIMER-only if the Julius Peppers deal is not completed before the draft) 2B) Pick #47 PAT WHITE qb/rb/wr WEST VIRGINIA 2C) Pick #58 ANDRE BROWN rb NC STATE 3A) Pick #89 TROY KROPOG ot TULANE 3comp) Pick #97 MACHO HARRIS cb/fs VIRGINIA TECH 4) Pick #124 COURTNEY GREENE ss RUTGERS 5comp) Pick #170 ANDY KEMP og WISCONSIN 6A) Pick #199 BEAR PASCOE te FRESNO STATE 6comp) Pick #207 BRIAN TOAL fb/ilb BOSTON COLLEGE 7) Pick #234 SEAN GRIFFIN long snapper MICHIGAN--that is how I see it for now BUT I am waiting to hear more about visits and, of course, Peppers--thanks for listening--rich from newport

Faucet--One minor change to my 7 round mock replaces Troy Kropog in round three (3) with Jason Watkins ot FLORIDA. After reading about the struggles that Troy Kropog had at the Senior Bowl, I remember putting an asterisk next to his name but never removing him from third round consideration. Jason Watkins did not live up to his advanced billing in 2008 but can be coached up to a potential left tackle and at the very least a serviceable starting right tackle. --thanks for listening--rich from newport

I am extremely surprised that you all do not have Connor Barwin in your mock draft... or Pat White.

Barwin is that triple threat, a.. (yes you have heard this 1000000 times) Mike Vrabel Clone. Trust me, this is coming from a Cincinnati person.

My version of the Patriots Mock Draft is as follows

Round 1.
#23. Darius Butler CB UCONN (Lets face it, the secondary sucks, Darius Butler is a great player who will instantly upgrade the secondary)

Round 2.
#34. James Laurinaitis ILB Ohio State (Linebacking core is too old, Laurinaitis draft stock keeps falling and I expect the Pats to take advantage of that)

#47. Michael Johnson DE/OLB Georgia Tech (stretch probably wont fall to here but he is the next Julius Peppers and he will flourish under Bill Belichecks tutelage)

#58. Patrick Chung SS Oregon (the next Rodney Harrison, great leader and hard hitter who will be great in the Pats defense)

Round 3.
#89. Shawn Nelson TE Southern Miss (Another weapon for Brady to throw to, the Watson experiment has failed miserably because he just hs no hands, look for this guy to be a ste at this point)

(Comp) Javon Ringer RB Michgan State ( Once a first round talent who slips because of his size, he is a hard nose grinder who isnt afraid of being touched like a lil girl that Maroney is, wil;l be a tough great player who is the next Warrick Dunn)

Round 4.
#124. Mohammad Massaquoi WR Georgia *name might be spelled wrong* (big tall extremely underrated receiver who had a great senior season at Georgia who can be the 3rd wide receiver behind Moss and Welker)