Patriots' Draft Needs

1. Outside Linebacker/Defensive End         

Every year the Patriots go into the draft with everyone clamoring for them to take a pass rusher and this year should be no different. The Patriots found some quick solutions to the problem last season with afterthought free agents Mark Anderson and Andre Carter. However, Anderson has since signed with the Bills, and Carter is a free agent coming off a torn quad who will be 33 before the season. The Patriots need to find an edge presence that is more than a one-year player.

2. Safety

Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory are a solid set of safeties but neither are complete players. Chung is a player who can come up and make plays in the box, but coverage is not his specialty. Gregory is a versatile player who has better coverage ability and can play back deep, but he is by no means a star. The Patriots needs to draft another safety that can come in and be an all around player, something the team has been missing since Rodney Harrison’s early days with the team.

3. Offensive Tackle

All indications are that left tackle Matt Light is hanging up his cleats after 12 seasons in the league. Luckily the team did draft Nate Solder to take that role in last year’s draft. Assuming Solder is penciled in as the starter at left tackle that still leaves a question mark at right tackle. If Sebastian Vollmer is able to remain healthy the job is obviously his, but with his history of back problems and a foot injury that bothered him last year, his status is up in the air. That leaves Marcus Cannon as the only other option at tackle unless recently signed Robert Gallery moves back there from guard, but he has struggled at tackle in the past. The team should add a rookie at the position with one of their mid-round picks.

4. Wide Receiver

People probably assume the Patriots will not draft a receiver after the slew of free agent signing at the position, but they really need to look at the players they have signed. Donte’ Stallworth, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch are all in their 30’s. The Patriots still lack a young receiver to develop at the position long-term unless they feel Tiquan Underwood or Britt Davis is that player, but there is no reason to believe the team feels that way.

I will soon post my 2012 Patriots Mock Draft with all of the Patriots’ picks from 27-126.