Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Who-Should-It-Be-Wednesday: Defensive Draft Options for the Patriots - 4/15/2020

Episode Date: April 15, 2020

The New England Patriots will undoubtedly look to fill some voids on defense in the upcoming NFL Draft. To help prognosticate on who those selections should be, host Mike D’Abate welcomes fan-favorite Thomas Murphy. The duo dissect the Defensive prospects of the 2020 Draft class, and make their picks for the best fit in Foxboro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patriots fans, you are now locked in to the Locked On Patriots Podcast. I'm going to show you how to make a beautiful and beautiful flower. I'm going to use a small flower pot. I'm going to use a small pot Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful, and welcome to Who Should It Be Wednesday here on the Lockdown Patriots podcast, your daily home for news notes and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots.

My name is Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots podcast, which, of course, is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, because it's your team every day, that means your questions, comments, and feedback always welcomed and appreciated. And you can feel free to share that feedback by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter at MDABATEFPC. And while you're out there practicing your social distancing

and roaming around through that Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Patriots fans, offense may get the headlines, but defense is what wins championships. And coming off of the season that was for your New England Patriots in 2019, having boasted one of the best defenses in the league, employing a stout front seven, dynamic playmakers at the linebacker position,

and an elite shutdown secondary. But if we're being honest here, folks, the Patriots' defensive depth chart has taken a little bit of a hit at certain positions. And with the first wave of free agency and some of the initial trades that we've seen in the offseason starting to dry up a little bit, it is highly likely that your New England Patriots will look to the 2020 NFL Draft for upgrades on the defense. But which defensive prospects will they select? Who should it be?

Ah, see what I did there, folks? Yeah, I know, it's not all that impressive, but bear with me, I'm trying here. But that being said, I do have my opinions and insight on who the Patriots might target on the defensive side of the ball this time around. But as we inch closer to the NFL draft, I try to make it a point to surround myself with as much knowledge and insight as possible. You might even say a little wisdom and counsel. Maybe even a little bit of green wisdom and counsel.

That's right, folks. Your favorite and mine, Thomas Murphy, is back here on Locked On Patriots, making his weekly appearance. And Murph and I will be breaking down all things defense. Who will be the ideal fit in Patriot Blue when it comes to the interior defensive line, the edge rush, the linebacker position, and the defensive backfield? Murph and I will give our opinions on the subject and may even mention some names we haven't talked about a whole lot here

on Locked On Patriots in the past. So settle in, folks. I sincerely hope that you enjoy what I have planned for you today here on the Locked On Patriots podcast. And if your draft appetite is just a little more voracious, meaning you're looking for some nationwide insight on all 32 NFL teams, please be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts and follow on Spotify, the Locked on NFL podcast.

This week, as they have all week, my colleagues Brian Peacock and Matt Williamson have been joined by some of the leading draft analysts in the country, along with the hosts of all 32 NFL team podcasts here on the Locked on NFL channel. We have been conducting our 2020 NFL Mock Draft special, and today is April 15th, folks. And no, folks, I'm not talking about the tax deadline. We all know that has been pushed out. I'm talking about the day in which I don the general manager jacket for the New England Patriots and make the selection at number 23.

But who did I select? Who should it be? See, I did it again, folks. After all, it's Who Should It Be Wednesday. Work with me, people. But if the curiosity is a little too much for you to handle, be sure to stay locked in to the conclusion of today's podcast, where I will reveal that pick and give you a little insight into the expert

that will join me tomorrow here on Locked On, Patriots. And that expert will give you some great insight as to who I believed would be the perfect fit in Patriot Blue in Foxborough when the 2020 NFL season finally begins. But first, Thomas Murphy will join me here to take a deep dive into the defensive side of the ball when this Who Should It Be Wednesday episode of the Locked On Patriots podcast continues in just a moment. Patriots fans, if the Locked On Patriots podcast had a consigliere it would be this man and unlike Tom Hagen he is a wartime consigliere the only man that can guide the Patriots nation through

the uncertain times ahead with a new quarterback for the first time in 20 years who else brings the wisdom and counsel like my guest today my benefactor and brother in this business the legend thomas murphy back here for his weekly visit to the podcast don murph i come to you in friendship welcome back to locked on patriots hey bud thank you so much for asking me man it's the most wonderful time of the year we're all getting we're all getting ready to to be made uh to look foolish for doing all this background and all this film work and everything else but i keep coming back for more of it year after year after year just to see you know just to get bill to piss me off and say what the hell are you doing? What are you doing, young man?

I expect more out of a Westland grad. I really do. Kind of hard to expect more out of somebody than nine Super Bowls and six victories in 18 years. But, you know, here we are again. Time to complain about Bill Belichick, the GM. It's true, and it always happens. And it's already started and of course with the NFL draft being really the only live game in town right now there's a lot of that going around the

bill the GM is he going to you know screw over the other team like he always does but you mentioned the resume it's hard to argue that the man has screwed the team over when the type of success that the Patriots have had for the last 20 years has been sustained throughout this run. And, you know, Murph, our mutual friend, your cohort in crime, Steve Balistrieri, joined me here yesterday on Locked On Patriots, and we played a little Pat's GM and we took a walk through, as the late, great Rodney Dangerfield once said, we took a trip to fantasy land. And, you know, it's because we're doing some GM role paying here on the Locked On Podcast Network, really across the Locked On Podcast Network this week.

I could not resist to put you to the test a bit. And today, my friend, prepare to become Murph the Magnificent as we gaze into our Belichickian crystal ball. And the last time that you were here on Locked on Patriots last week, we talked quarterbacks. But today, bud, we're going to focus on the defense a little bit. And without further ado, let's get right into it. The Patriots seem to be pretty set at cornerback. I don't see them using a first or even third round capital on a corner.

So you know what that means. Bill's going to take a cornerback in the first round, preferably for Rutgers. No, I kid, folks. I kid. But for the purposes of today's exercise, I have identified the Pats' defensive needs in no particular order, folks, as linebacker, edge rush, interior defensive line, and safety in the defensive backfield. So let's start with the interior defensive line, which I'll admit, my friend, hasn't really been enough of a topic of discussion here on Locked On Patriots, but that's why we're here today. When you look at the prospects in this draft,

you being the GM today, who is your ideal fit for the Patriots when trying to identify their need here? All right. This draft is not as deep as a lot of people are, are, are, you know, making out on the defensive side of the ball, especially at the, the interior line. That's why you get so many guys being talked about in the top, say 25 or 30 picks, you know, the Derek Browns of the world, the kid from Auburn is going to be long gone. Javon Killough, long gone. We're going to move down the list

a little bit to somebody that I feel is really going to fit the bill here in pun intended. We'll give me a pun intended for that. We'll fit the bill here in New England. I like that. And that's, that's Roquan Davis, Raekwon Davis, the inside defensive lineman from Alabama. I love this kid. He's projected to go in, you know, say the second round, top of the third round. He's, he's got everything that you would want. He's got the power. He's got the length. He's got the smarts that you want from an interior defensive lineman. I love the way

he sheds off blocks and gets to the ball carrier. He's a true run stuffer. He is somebody that is going to really fill the bill here. Again, pun intended, you know, he's 6'2", which isn't, you know, as huge as, you know, lengthwise as maybe you would like, but he's got good length with his arms. He stacks up at 300 pounds. He comes from a big school i can't see anybody else that is that that could come in here and and do the kind of job right off the bat the way he does agreed uh i actually believe it or not uh and i know folks you're going to be surprised he was the guy that i'm sorry no no no he is six seven i i was i was looking at the wrong notes i'm's okay. No, that's fine.

6'7", 312 pounds. So size is definitely not an issue when it comes to this kid. He's got that, you mentioned the length, you mentioned the power, the heavy hands. To me, that makes his toolbox loaded when it comes to what he could bring to the Patriots, especially with the stout run defense, which, as you know, with the departure of Danny Shelton, might be a little bit more of a need than people, I think, are catering to. And to me, a guy like Raekwon Davis could come in and be able to, I guess, fill that bill, like you said.

But also, I think he also brings that run-stuffing ability. His pass-rushing skill set, I I think a little bit underdeveloped. I think he could become a little bit more consistent when compressing the pocket, more effectively deploying his pass rush plan. To me, that's the area that he would need to be a little bit more diligent. But I don't think that's why the Patriots would be bringing him in. You mentioned the big school. That big school that he's from is Alabama.

I mean, you know, you come in from a Nick Saban coach team to a Bill Belichick coach team. All of a sudden that learning curve becomes a little bit flattened according to, you know, a very common term that we hear a lot about flattening the curve. Well, we're going to put that into football terms for you today. I really do think that that would allow him the ability to be able to come in. I think that he could finally take that next step in a Patriots-type defense, and the physical traits that he brings to the table, I believe his best football is ahead of him, and I think he should factor into an NFL defensive line rotation early on,

and I think he even might be able to crack the starting lineup sooner rather than later. So, again, we are like-minded, my friend, but that's one of the big reasons why I have you on here, to bring the wisdom and counsel and help me feel better about myself for being right about something. Because when I measure it against yourself, my friend, that's when I know I've arrived. So we do agree on Raekwon Davis, and I like him as a potential fit for the Patriots if they choose to go interior defensive line in this draft. Staying on the line for a a moment the edge rush is always a hot topic for the fans we consistently hear the Patriots don't prioritize the position they can't

get after the quarterback they rely on linebackers far too much but I think that second year rusher Chase Winovich is I believe poised to have a stellar season. And he might even be able to bring the best out of Dietrich Wise Jr., who I've always been very high on. I actually wrote my first Patriots profile covering the team for Dietrich. So there's an affinity that I have for the player. I really want to see him do well. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that he's probably been more underwhelming than overwhelming when it comes to his production on the field.

Who in this draft class, as an edge rush, might look good on the opposite side of Chase to help put pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season at Foxborough? I'm going to go with somebody that has looked good on the opposite side of Chase Winovich already, and that's Joshua Uchi, the kid from Michigan. I really enjoy watching this guy's film. He hasn't played a lot of football, but this is a guy that is picking the game up really, really quickly. I love his getoff.

I love the fact that he can really get after the passer. He's a fantastic prospect that I think Bill will be looking at in the third round. I do believe he's going to drop that far because he's got to. Here's something that the Patriots like to do in the second, third round is take somebody who has some injury concerns that have dropped them down in the draft, and he does. He's got a meniscus problem. He's got a stress fracture in his foot that should be healed up and ready to go relatively soon. I like this kid a lot, man, the kid from Michigan. Interesting. Very, very interesting. And again, I think that it's very good that we take a look at these potential fits.

I like the fact that you're being realistic and not just going to the top of the draft board and picking out a guy and saying, oh, well, it's an edge rush. Definitely, you want Chase Young. There is virtually no chance that the Patriots will be able to get Chase Young. That's not what we're here for. I think we know that. Exactly. I think we know that. The Youngs, the Chasons, the Bronze, even Gross Maddox, the kid from Penn State,

they're not going to be there when Bill picks because that level of talent does not equate to where the Patriots are going to be picking. You've got to go into the later second and into the third rounds to find these guys that Bill is going to go after. He's not going to take that guy in the first round. And if he is, the people that you would expect that you've been hearing about out there, folks, aren't going to be there without the Patriots seriously trading up, and that's not going to happen. Yeah, I agree with you, and I think that those are definitely good pieces of information to share with our listeners, people that maybe have a peripheral interest in the draft and are hearing big names but are not really being, I think, realistic about some of the options

that the Patriots truly have and what they're going to be able to do. A guy that I've been taking a look at, Murph, is a guy, Darrell Taylor, out of the University of Tennessee. I know he's probably not someone that would go until about the third round. As a matter of fact, a lot of people are projecting him right around that 87 pick that the Patriots own in the third round. To me, he has the versatility of being able to be a pretty decent edge rush. I like the speed. I like the combination of him being able to get off the blocks quickly. Some of his decision-making, I think, needs to be

honed in. That tends to be a good, New England tends to be a good place to kind of get that done and to kind of be able to move forward when it comes to making better decisions and heightening your football IQ. So somebody with a raw talent like that I think is a good prospect. But I like your suggestion as well. Again, that Michigan synergy could be something that might work to the Patriots' advantage as well. So Murph, we've talked some defensive line, but what about the backs, meaning linebackers and defensive backs.

There is some depth in this draft at both positions, and when Locked On Patriots continues, Murph and I will discuss the ideal potential Patriot in the back of the New England defense. Folks, once again, my good friend Murph here has joined me on Locked On Patriots for his weekly visit to infuse the knowledge and, quite frankly, folks, to class up the joint a little bit. Again, to kind of give Bill something to think about here as we move toward Thursday, who's a better consigliere than El Mio Fratello right here? Starting at the linebacker position, buddy, who is the guy that you would draft for the Patriots given the chance to do so? All right. And this is somebody that not a lot of people are talking about yet, but I think they should be. And that's Kenneth Murray out of Oklahoma. I really like this kid's game. He's a fantastic prospect and somebody that I feel can come in

right now. And it is some, this is a position that the Patriots are going to need right away. They're going to need somebody to, to make an impact right off the bat with the losses that they've had. I mean, you just, you just think what happens if you have one injury to this linebacker class, and there's two or three guys that I believe are able to do that, and that's Kenneth Murray out of Oklahoma. He's at the top of my list, along with Patrick Queen, the kid from LSU, and Jordan Brooks out of Texas Tech, who I really like, but is kind of smallish and probably not in the Bill Belichick mode for a linebacker. Yeah, I think that Murray is definitely, in terms of the hand-and-glove fit,

I would agree with you. I think he's probably the guy that most Patriots fans are looking at right now and saying, God, wouldn't he look good in Patriot blue? I took a little bit of a different approach, not much of a different approach, but a guy that you actually turned me on to a couple of weeks ago when we talked here on Locked On Patriots, and that's Troy Dye out of Oregon. I've been watching a little bit more of his film. I've been doing a little bit more scouting on him, and he was a pretty good starter across

four seasons for Oregon. I really think he has some likable qualities when you project him to the NFL. His length, his athleticism, his energy, I think fits well into a pursuit style role in the NFL. I think he has the upside to thrive in coverage and in space. His processing skills, again, a little bit tardy if you're talking about a full scouting report on this kid. New England tends to be the place where you look to fix that. And what better, you know, consulieri, for lack of a better term, to be able to tutor him in that area than a guy like Gerard Mayo, who's played the position here and who knows exactly what types of progressions that a Bill Belichick type of defense would need. So I think he's going to benefit from playing in a role in a defense

where he can see the ball, get the ball, be the ball, Danny, and be kept clean to really go about and freely roam, especially if he doesn't grow in his ability to consistently read and react, which I have a hard time believing that if you're going to spend time in New England, you're not going to do that. I think he would. And I think they'll tutor him to do it. But I think one of the reasons why I like die so much is not even so much what he brings to the linebacker position. He can be a really standout four phase special teamer. Bill loves these types of guys. And I think the prowess that he can bring to the linebacker position and the contributions that he would be able to bring to the special teams unit, I think make him a pretty valuable pick here.

So he's a guy that I have my eye on, too. And I think maybe Patriots fans should maybe take a little bit closer look at a guy like Troy Dye, who might be the typical prototypical Patriot coming in for 2020. Fantastic. That's why I brought him up when I did. I was just with today's exercise, I was going for, and honestly, the more I look at the holes on the defensive side of the ball for the Patriots, I do believe that they're, I know folks early on, I was saying, let's go get another offensive lineman. let's go get another offensive lineman. Let's go get another offensive lineman.

But this team is going to have to thrive on its defense as it did last year. And it's – there are holes there that need to be filled. And linebacker is probably the biggest hole on that side of the ball. And that's why I said what I said today, because I think they are going to go earlier. But I can definitely see Dye being part of this equation in this draft in the third round or even maybe the fourth. He could drop to four. If he's there in four, the Patriots should scoop him up because they've got the Patriots. Yeah, without question. And it's very possible that he might be, I've seen him projected into the third,

which the Patriots have a little bit of third round draft capital. So you never know one of those picks might have Troy Dyson on it. We'll see. And again, you know, we're talking what we would do if we were the GM. It's interesting that you mentioned offensive line. We're keeping it defensive minded today, but it's interesting that you mentioned offensive line. We're keeping it defensive-minded today, but it's interesting that you mentioned offensive line because I might just have something to say about that tomorrow here on Locked On, Patriots. Stay tuned for that, folks. You definitely

don't want to miss that one. That is a teaser, and of course it is the Locked On NFL special mock draft here across the Locked On Podcast Network all week long, so if you're curious as to what all the other 31 other teams might be doing, definitely continue to check that out as well, folks. But lastly, my friend, even though the departures of Van Noy and Collins have received the majority

of the coverage, and it's understandable, they're big names, I think the departure of Daron Harmon could be a bigger loss than people have thought. And Evan Lazar of CLNS Media joined me here on Friday, and we talked a little bit about this. The Pats really could use that third safety that stays on the field, gives that type of all-encompassing coverage. But you might see a different need here. So when we talk about the Patriots' prowess or needs at the defensive backfield, who tops your draft board when it comes to this position? Who's at the top of my board? It's Grant Delpit. Everybody talks Xavier McKinney. I love Xavier McKinney. I think he's going to be gone within the first 10 picks, and there's no way that that's

going to, you know, entice. He's not the kind of thing. Bill isn't trading up to get a safety. He's just, he's not going to do do it i know he loves his defensive backfield loves his safety but i i don't see him trading up into the top 10 to grab this kid it's grant delpick the kid out of lsu yeah i agree with you uh that's the guy that i have targeted as well when it comes to uh to the patriots defensive backfield in the safety position look he was one of the sec's most dynamic defensive playmakers across his final two seasons at LSU. First-team All-SEC recognition in consecutive seasons,

unanimous All-American honors, claimed the Jim Thorpe Award in 2019 as the nation's best defensive back. I love Xavier McKinney, too. I think he brings a lot to the table. Antoine Winfield Jr. is a guy that I've been looking at for this team as well. But when you talk about that type of safety that that's just molded in the Patriots image. To me, I see Delpit every single time that you look at this. He's the guy that I keep coming back to. And if I'm the GM and I want to make a splash in the defensive backfield for the Patriots,

I think that he really is the guy to do it. I think he can come in, be that type of Daron Harmon type role early on, because let's face it. I mean, I know a lot of people are writing off Patrick Chung. I think that's a mistake. I think there's still a lot left in the table and in the tank when it comes to him. I think he'll still be very effective. Devin McCourty obviously is the signal caller back there. He is the quarterback of that defensive backfield. So you're not taking his position anytime soon, but Delpit reminds me so much of a young Eric Berry. I think that his type of game, the way this could fit in with the Patriots and the way he could grow with this team is really, you know, pretty, pretty amazing.

Wouldn't need to work on his tackling a bit. Yeah. That's something that can be fixed. That's something that you find a coach that is going to stress that. What's that? Absolutely. Absolutely, without question. You do.

You have to find a coach that is going to stress that, and I think that something he would find in new england right off the bat oh yeah murph what what can i say my friend uh you lend your wisdom and counsel like no other that's why you are familia here at the locked on patriots podcast i thank you for joining me today folks i know you are already you heard the wisdom and counsel today if you're not following him why are you not following him you should be please do so at twitter at teamer 207 the columns including the monster keys during the season his draft insight second to none you can find all of the great work that this man does proudly on diehardbostonsportsfans.com, must reads, and never miss an episode of One Patriot's Place with Murph and our great mutual friend that joined me yesterday here

on Locked on Patriots, Steve Balistrieri. Thanks again, my good man. Honored and grateful and humbled by your presence as always. Always fantastic to be here. Always a pleasure to be here. It's, you know, coming home, coming home. I appreciate it. Thanks for all the shout outs.

Every single time. And they're always, always coming from a place of sincerity and a place of admiration. I could not be more grateful to you that are always coming on and lending your wisdom and counsel. Stay safe. Stay well, my friend. And you know, we're going to have you back next week leading into the draft because you bring the wisdom and counsel like no one else can. So we look forward to that

and hopefully we'll have a little more insight that Bill can use on draft day coming up this Thursday. Thank you, bud. And with that, Patriots fans, more than half the week is in the books and we are that much closer to the start of the NFL draft on Thursday, April 23rd. I have no doubt that Murph's insight on the defensive side of the ball definitely gave each and every one of us here in Patriots Nation a little something extra to think about. And of course, as always, I added my two cents too. But even though Murph and I primarily talked about the defense today, you might have picked up on the fact that Murph did at one point mention the offensive line. And I chimed in a little bit with a teaser of my own. Well, folks, your struggle with the suspense is almost through, because as I've been saying

here on Locked On Patriots all week long, it is the 2020 Locked On NFL Mock Draft Special across the Locked On NFL channel. And several of my colleagues took some chances, made some trades, and maybe even an eye-opening pick or two, I maintained a pretty steady idea as to who I would target if I were the Patriots GM and was given the authority to select the next Patriot with the number 23 pick. And that, folks, is important to remember. All of the hosts that participated in this 2020 NFL mock draft for the Locked On Podcast Network are selecting who they believe will be the best fit for their team.

Not a prediction of who the team will select, and maybe not even who they think the team should select. In this exercise, the host became the GM. And without further ado, folks, with the number 23 pick, which I did not trade, by the way, in the Locked On NFL 2020 Mock Draft Special, your New England Patriots selected offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz out of the University of Michigan. And folks, this is probably not a huge surprise for a lot of you. I've been singing Cesar's praises for quite a while, but some of you may roll your eyes and even scoff at this

prediction, stating that they just franchised Joe Tooney. Where are they going to put him? David Andrews came out and said he's feeling great and he's coming back. Ruiz is a center or a guard, and both of those positions are stacked. Why would they waste a pick on an interior offensive lineman? Well, folks, there are a lot of good reasons. And Ruiz is the type of offensive line generational talent that the Patriots would have a hard time passing up. But don't just take my word for it. Listen carefully to the wisdom and counsel of an expert that has covered Ruiz throughout his time in Ann Arbor wearing the maize and blue. That's right, folks. The publisher of

the Wolverine Wire for USA Today Sports, the host of Locked On Wolverines, Isaiah Hull will be joining me tomorrow here on the Locked On Patriots podcast and we will discuss Cesar Ruiz and why he might just be the ideal fit in Foxborough if Bill Belichick happens to agree with me.

So again, folks, please be sure to subscribe via Apple Podcasts, follow on Spotify so you do not miss an episode of Locked On Patriots. And if you're curious as to what my national colleagues, Brian Peacock and Matt Williamson, had to say about my selection, please be sure to do the same for the Locked On NFL podcast so that you do not miss an episode of our Locked On NFL Mock Draft Special. And as always, if you've enjoyed today's episode, now tell your smart device to play

the latest episode of Draft Dudes. Once again, I'm Mike DeBate. I thank Thomas Murphy for his time, his insight, and his appearance today. But most of all, I thank you so much for listening and for staying locked in to Locked On Patriots. Stay safe, stay well, and have a great day, everyone.