Need or Best Player Available?

I just completed the second edition of my mock draft, and just like the first, I project the Patriots selecting Penn State DT Jared Odrick. It makes practical sense, considering the need along the defensive line. But this choice goes against what I’d hope the Pats do, which is select Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham.

New England’s personnel will argue what they should do with the pick from the beginning of the draft, especially when it is their turn to pick. What the decision might come down to is should they draft by need or take the best player available.

Going by my mock draft, Gresham is the better player than Odrick and Gresham fills a need. And based on my breakdown of the positions, the need for a tight end is greater than the need to turn over an aging defense. So why can’t I bring myself to say the Pats would take Gresham instead of Odrick?

First, Bill Belichick is a defensive-minded coach. If it’s 50/50, I think he would lean towards a good defender over an offensive prospect. Most coaches also strongly believe in the maxim of building a football team from the lines first and work their way out. That would decrease the importance of a TE.

Using first round picks for defensive linemen or tight ends is nothing new to Belichick. Remember the DL was stacked with first rounders Richard Seymour, Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork for a while, with second round pick Jarvis Green the first D-lineman off the bench as part of the rotation. And the Pats selected Daniel Graham and Ben Watson with late first round picks.

Last year I reached the conclusion that it’s not worth drafting a tight end any earlier than 20^th in the first round. With that approach, Gresham’s value is worth the 22^nd pick overall.

But the deciding factor could be the amount of quality left at the positions. I sense in this year’s first round teams will address the offensive and defensive lines first. If this theory proves true, then the top three or so defensive tackles will be gone by the time New England is on the clock. At the same time, no more than one TE will be off the board when it’s finally the Patriots’ turn.

The team would be better served to take a D-lineman from the dwindling stock over a fully stocked TE assortment, especially since they can pick a tight end up with one of their three second round picks.

And if history is an indicator, the year the Pats selected Watson, they had two first round picks. Wilfork was drafted first.