2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Pick 47
by Dan Kadar on Apr 9, 2010 9:00 PM EDT
in SB Nation Writers Mock Draft
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PrintThe second round of the 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft rolls along. We're having each SB Nation blogger make selections for their respective teams. MaPatsFan, lead blogger at SB Nation's New England Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit, checks in to make the No. 47 overall selection in this year's mock. Take it away, sir!
With the No. 47 overall pick in the 2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the New England Patriots have selected Damian Williams, WR, USC.
MaPatsFan says: Damian Williams is a crisp receiver with #2 potential. He runs the best routes out of any receiver in the draft and fills a position of need for the Patriots. With the Giants and Broncos not choosing any player left on my draft board, I was able to toss up a pick between three positions that I thought needed to be filled at this point in the draft- WR, CB or OT. The Patriots have been historically fantastic with their tackle picks, so Rodger Saffold could have been a fantastic pick, but with Matt Light still playing, as well as Nick Kaczur, Sebastian Vollmer has the capability to swing over to the other side of the line if one gets injured or has a terrible drop in performance. I was also thinking of Kareem Jackson, but with Leigh Bodden back on board, as well as having Shawn Springs and Darius Butler fighting for the #2 spot, and with Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite still having one last shot to step up and perform, I think we might wait until next year to address CB depth.
So enter Damian Williams. Wes Welker is out with an injury and Brandon Tate is coming back from one. Randy Moss was playing at half tank last year due to his injuries from the beginning of the season and Julian Edelman is still an unknown- although he has shown great promise. Williams has the skill, intelligence, hands and attributes to step in immediately and start, or at least provide tremendous depth. Our team was at its finest when our offense was run by the "throw to the open player" motto. Since Welker was usually the open player, his injury puts a slow on our offensive scheme. Williams should be able to get open and catch Brady's passes. He's a leader and a learner and would be the perfect fit for our scheme. He may not ever be a #1 receiver, but he'll provide great talent for our offense.
Mocking Dan reacts: This was a pick I had to make after New England didn't get in on time. So, obviously I'm fond of this choice. Williams might be the most NFL-ready wide receiver in the draft, which makes him a good fit for New England. His upside may not be high, but in New England's offense, it doesn't have to be.
Mocking the Draft's Top 5 remaining prospects: 1 - Rob Gronkowski/TE/Arizona, 3 - Brandon Spikes/LB/Florida, 4 - Chad Jones, S, LSU, 5 - Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida, 5 - Arrelious Benn, CB, Illinois
Sound off, SB Nation! What say you of the Patriots' selection of Williams? Please be sure to check out Pats Pulpit for all of your Patriots needs.
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Honestly
As a Pats fan, this was the pick I was hoping our guys would make in this mock after our first two addressed the biggest needs, so I was happy to see it, surprised to see it was the ‘auto pick’, and glad nonetheless. I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve seen in this mock, hope it works out like that on draft day.
"It is what it is." - Bill Belichick
Solid pick
Williams is an excellent route runner, like Steve Smith was at USC. Williams is more of a dynamic player with the football too.
Penetrating and Devastating!
i'm not fully seeing why the patriots even need another WR
even with injuries, their backups did quite well… defense seems more pressing
Who would you have us grab?
We snagged Odrick and Sapp.
With Moss getting older, Edelman and Tate unproven and Welker injured, we DO need a WR. Williams was the next player on my draft list so I didn’t mind when Dan delegated Williams to us. I was going to select him anyways, except I was busy and couldn’t get on in time to make the pick!
by Richard Hill on Apr 10, 2010 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree.
This IS definitely a need. The offense was able to put up great passing numbers, even with the absence of Welker, but in key situations, both when Welker was injured (first Jets game, playoff game), and when both him and Moss were locked down (Saints), Brady needed a third target who could beat single coverage. While it is an elite receiver core at the top, last season the depth was average if not below it, and with injuries and age, and a failure to connect on free agent signings (Galloway…), a low-risk receiver who can contribute now and maybe start in the future is a necessity to push this offense over the top.
As for OTHER needs, a good Tight End can be picked up later, there are loads of good prospects deep into the draft that will fit the scheme, the front seven was infused with the first two picks, and the secondary has been targeted with early picks in the last three drafts. I want to see what all our young DBs can do with a little more experience and a better pass rush before I give up on them. More depth can be added at corner later in the draft, but these first three picks have really connected with our top needs.
"It is what it is." - Bill Belichick
i guess there really is no one better to choose in this spot
maybe its just me being bitter since the three players i was hoping for just got picked (demaryius thomas, brian price, and damian williams)….
if price drops that low in real life, I’d really want to trade up to get him before NY gets around to him
I could live with this.
Would’ve preferred grabbing Hernandez or reaching for Pitta at TE. However, it’s not a bad decision, even if Gilyard was still on the board at that point.
The 2010 New York Mets: Maybe it's the Phillies' turn to have 95% of its roster on the DL
The 2009 New England Patriots: At least we got our division title back
The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils: Let's hope they get past the first round this time, eh?
I don't think Hernandez is the right fit for the Patriots...
…because if we grab a TE who can catch, we’ll want one with the body size to learn how to be a blocker. Hernandez doesn’t have that size and will end up being more of a Greg Olsen- which isn’t a bad thing, but it’s not a Patriots things.
Pitta would be a definite reach, especially with another pick to go in this round. Pitta is more of a 3rd round pick so I think we could get better value with our pick and Williams is the best value while fitting a need.
by Richard Hill on Apr 10, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
Hernandez doesnt fit the Patriots. I think Pitta would be a good pick for the Pats in the third.
We already got our DE and OLB
At this point, the pick has to be some combination of BPA and need at WR, TE, RB, CB, and OL. I don’t know that Williams is the best choice but he’s definitely in the conversation, so it’s a good pick.
Well I made a draft board...
…and there were three players left with a “top 45 pick” ranking- Damian Williams, Rodger Saffold and Kareem Jackson. So, while Dan made the choice, I would have gone with Williams anyways. The players next in line for the OT and CB positions (Jared Veldheer and Brandon Ghee, respectively) I had ranked higher than the next highest WR (Brandon LaFell) so I thought that with Carolina picking up a WR next, there was no chance that we’d get an immediate impact player at WR in the 2nd round if we passed on Williams.
by Richard Hill on Apr 10, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Love the reasoning
Because until I read this I was thinking this should have been Saffold, but now I agree with your pick.
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