Patriots' NFL Draft Day One review

The New England Patriots had a very successful Day One of the NFL Draft. All in all, the day yielded a linebacker, a cornerback, and an extra third round pick. The Patriots picked two players that should help fill their two biggest needs and could have a major impact on the team this coming season.
The Patriots started Saturday’s proceedings with the 7th overall pick. With Chris Long and Vernon Gholston being off the board, the Pats saw the best value in trading back with the Saints to the #10 overall spot. In doing so, they gained the Saints’ third round selection and gave up their own 5th round pick. With the #10 selection, the Patriots picked Tennessee LB Jerod Mayo, a player with the versatility and football smarts to play any LB position. USC LB Keith Rivers had been snatched up the previous pick by the Bengals, but even if Cinci had passed on Rivers, Belichick would have still likely taken Mayo. Adam Schefter reported during the Draft Day coverage that Mayo was the Patriots’ highest rated linebacker. Belichick had this to say about how long the Patriots were eyeing Mayo:

“Well really after all the juniors declared. He had a very good combine workout but he was the guy, I think that everyone that scouted the SEC, our scouts that scouted that conference knew about him. He was a very productive player down there for Tennessee and has been for a couple of years now. He had a good workout and he was a productive player in every game. He is a versatile guy; we brought him up visited with him. He’s very intelligent player, he’s a good football player. He’s smart, he understands schemes and concepts, he runs the defense, makes the calls, makes adjustments and all those things. I think that he has a lot to offer.”

Mayo likely will be moved around depending on how Belichick is scheming each particular week, granted that depends on Mayo’s ability to grasp the defense. However, I feel he will see the majority of his playing time at inside linebacker next to Tedy Bruschi or Victor Hobson (or Junior Seau if he returns). This allows Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas to remain outside where they are best suited. Here are Jerod Mayo highlights if you are unfamiliar with him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWLgYKi3JoA
In the second round, the Patriots selected Colorado CB Terrence Wheatley, a player with great speed who also has been a successful kick returner. Wheatley fits the Pats’ mold of smaller corners, standing only at 5’9″ and weighing 178 pounds. However, he clocked in at the Combine with a 4.37 40 time and has been given the coveted title of “shutdown corner.” How could such a talented prospect fall to the end of the second round? Wheatley had wrist surgery which kept him out of the 2005 season, but says he is 100%. This is NFL.com’s analysisof the Terrence Wheatley pick:

“With their linebacker need seemingly taken care of in the first round, the Patriots take a cornerback here. The Patriots may have found themselves a steal in Wheatley, considered a shutdown corner with speed. After sitting out the entire 2005 season following surgery to repair a broken wrist, Wheatley established himself as one of the most talented corners in his conference the last two years. He’s also a talented kickoff returner.”

Still not convinced of the Wheatley pick? Check out this highlight clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pA7Sau-3-U
Looking at Day Two, the Pats have 3 third round picks and one in each subsequent round with the exception of Round 5. Here are the Patriots remaining picks:

There are still many quality prospects remaining that the Pats could either hope falls to them or possibly move up to grab, such as Penn State’s Dan Connor. Connor slipped out of the first and second rounds due to a perceived lack of athleticism, but he is a playmaker. I liken him to Tedy Bruschi, and taking him in the third round would be an absolute steal considering at various points Connor was rated as high as a top 15 pick. The Patriots’ linebacking corps would instantly become a position of strength adding a player like Connor to the mix. Other players to watch on Day Two are S DuJuan Morgan, LBs Ali Highsmith, Beau Bell, and Erin Henderson, and CB/S Reggie Smith. One player I’m hoping the Patriots draft is S Jamie Silva from Boston College. Like Connor, he lacks some measurables but he’s done nothing but produce. In my opinion, he is a steal at any point near the end of Round 3. The Patriots have also been linked to Hawaii QB Colt Brennan, a productive QB who worked a spread offense in Hawaii but saw his stock slip after a poor bowl game. He could be the answer at backup QB. So far the draft has been very intriguing and exciting, and Day Two should serve up more of the same. Stay tuned to the Patriot Act for Pats’ draft updates throughout the day.