New England Patriots 2007 NFL Draft Review

RD #

1 24 BRANDON MERIWEATHER S MIAMI{FLA}

4 127 KAREEM BROWN DT MIAMI{FLA}

5 171 CLINT OLDENBURG T COLORADO STATE

6 180 JUSTIN ROGERS DE/OLB SOUTHERN METHODIST

6 202 MIKE RICHARDSON CB NOTRE DAME

6 208 JUSTISE HAIRSTON RB CENTRAL CONNECTICUT ST

6 209 COREY HILLIARD T OKLAHOMA STATE

7 211 OSCAR LUA ILB USC

7 247 MIKE ELGIN G IOWA

SIGNED COLLEGE F/A's

Matt Gutierrez QB Michigan State/Idaho State

PICKS

S BRANDON MERIWEATHER's character concerns are overblown. He will prosper under Bill Belichick. He has the versatility and athleticism to slide over to CB and replace the disgruntled Asante Samual, who threatens to sit out the first ten games of the 2007 season. Likely will backup Rodney Harrison and Artrell Hawkins as a rookie. A good pick that is a potential steal.

DT KAREEM BROWN has the strength for the nose tackle position. Playing in a rotation, he was able to amass 101 tackles and and 13 sacks in his final two seasons at the U. Can be dominating at times. He can and is dominated at least as often. The big problem is motivation. Has a lot of technique work ahead of him. A steal if the light ever comes on. Until then, Brown has to be considered a mild reach.

T CLINT OLDENBURG is smart and experienced. He needs to get much stronger to win a spot. A project who I didn't think had a chance of being drafted. A New England reach, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

OLB JUSTIN ROGERS is a DE/OLB tweener who is projected at linebacker by the Pats. Lacks coverage skills for a backer, and size {250#} for a DE. Five career forced fumbles. 13^th in the nation in sacks last year. Potential special teams player. Another reach.

CB MIKE RICHARDSON is a zone corner who gets burned in space. Could turn out to be a productive nickel or dime back.

RB JUSTISE HAIRSTON is a small school sleeper who is the gem of the Pats 8 2^nd day picks. A protégé of sleeper agent Joe Linta, he displays the same vertical jump {38.5} and 10 yard sprint time as uber-rookie Adrian Peterson. Like Peterson, Hairston needs to lower his pads and not run so upright. Good pick.

T COREY HILLIARD may be a shade better than 5^th pick Oldenburg. A long shot project at right tackle.

ILB OSCAR LUA is a workhorse. History of injuries hurts. Pun intended. A decent 7^th round value.

C MIKE ELGIN has the versatility to backup at either center or guard. He is projected as a center by the Pats. Needs to gets stronger. Long shot.

PRIORITY COLLEGE FREE AGENTS

QB Matt Gutierrez Michigan/Idaho State is the only undrafted signee worth mentioning. Not surprising. Who would opt to sign with a depth team like the Pats if they had their druthers. Flashes some Tom Brady. He even played at Michigan. He is 3^rd on the depth chart. A good bet to make the team, though he will need time before he is ready to step onto the field for real

SUMMARY

Picking up Randy Moss for a 4^th round pick could bring another title to New England. The pick they used to acquire Moss came along with the 49ers 2008 1^st round pick in exchange for the Pats second pick {#28} in the 1^st round. With eight of their nine picks coming on the second day, the Patriots did well by picking up Meriweather, Moss and the 49ers top pick next year. A pick that will probably be in the middle of the 1^st round. Not a bad days work. It offsets a generally weak group of 2^nd day picks.

FINAL GRADE

C+