Lots of solids CBs could tempt Pats to trade down...

There's two pretty clear needs for the Patriots - Cornerback and Middle Linebacker. A lot of fans out there think that we need young OLB to rush the passer but the fact of the matter is that as long as Rosevelt Colvin comes back healthy next year our pass rush will be fine. They desperately need help in the middle. Vernon Gholston is not going to beat out Rosey or Vrabel next year and those guys still have at least a couple more solid years in them. 

At cornerback I'm convinced that someone is going give Asante Samuel a lot of money and he's going to take it. The Pats haven't even had negotiations with last years nickelback and soon-to-be free agent Randall "Blue" Gay. So as of now (of course before free agency and the draft) we got Ellis Hobbs, perhaps a converted Brandon Meriweather, vet Chad Scott who's coming off an IR-lost season, and Mike Richardson (a rookie who got hurt in training camp in 2007) at cornerback. There are going to be additions at the position and this years draft has as many as 4-5 first round studs who would fit the Pats nicely.

Mike Jenkins and Aqib Talib are the consensus top two. Either would be nice additions to the Pats. Jenkins is the future-coach type. Solid, confident, he's a player. Talib has been coming on as of late, now equal or above the early frontrunner Jenkins in many rankings. If Bill Belichick can have undrafted rookie Randall Gay starting at corner in the 2004 Super Bowl imagine what he could do with one of these two.

Chevis Jackson is another guy who's not going to wow anyone at the Combine this week but is a football player, plain and simple. Another coach-type he's the kind of guy the Patriots like to fill their locker room with, guys who just love the game of football. He would still be around late in the first round. As would Anton Cason of Arizona, another guy who could be Patriots material. Dominique Rogers-Cromartie lit up the Senior Bowl. There's a lot of talent just where the Pats need it entering the league this year.

All of these options could make it tempting for the Patriots to trade down and pick up more value for their picks. Interesting to note that the Cowboys (and rumored Darren McFadden fans) have two picks that add up on the Draft Value Chart to 1440 points. The value of the Pats 7th overall pick... 1500.