The Return of Koppen - Draft Implications?
Dan Koppen has shopped the market around the NFL, but he will return to the Patriots for 2012. He signed a 2-year deal which is worth about $6 Mil if he completes his incentives. The Patriots are poised to have strong depth on the interior O-line. The unit would be especially strong if Brian Waters decides to return for another season.
I have gone on record saying that the Pats might draft C- Peter Konz in round 1, but I doubt that will be the case now that the team has Koppen and Connolly under contract. I imagine that Koppen will start at C, and Connolly will play RG if Waters retires. If Waters returns, I think that he would retain the starting role, and Connolly would be the first interior depth option with Logan Mankins at LG. The recent free agent signing Robert Gallery is a big question mark at the moment, but he has a strong upside if he can be healthy. He may actually need to compete for a roster spot with Ryan Wendell and Nick McDonald.
The status of Matt Light's retirement decision bears watching, but I do not think that T is a significant enough need to warrant a high draft pick. I tend to believe that Belichick will use the #27 pick to draft a pass rusher, and trade away #31. This year's draft has plenty of athletes in the front seven. There is likely to be some good value on the board at #27. The Patriot defense is in dire need of a speedy edge rusher that can play a 2-gap edge. This is a tough find, but the investment must be made in this year's draft because of the deep class of athletes.
If Belichick and his war room do not see the right guy on the board, he might be inclined to take a CB. There are a few teams ahead of #27 that must make a choice between a CB and a DE, and those decisions will certainly affect the draft day decision.
I have gone on record saying that the Pats might draft C- Peter Konz in round 1, but I doubt that will be the case now that the team has Koppen and Connolly under contract. I imagine that Koppen will start at C, and Connolly will play RG if Waters retires. If Waters returns, I think that he would retain the starting role, and Connolly would be the first interior depth option with Logan Mankins at LG. The recent free agent signing Robert Gallery is a big question mark at the moment, but he has a strong upside if he can be healthy. He may actually need to compete for a roster spot with Ryan Wendell and Nick McDonald.
The status of Matt Light's retirement decision bears watching, but I do not think that T is a significant enough need to warrant a high draft pick. I tend to believe that Belichick will use the #27 pick to draft a pass rusher, and trade away #31. This year's draft has plenty of athletes in the front seven. There is likely to be some good value on the board at #27. The Patriot defense is in dire need of a speedy edge rusher that can play a 2-gap edge. This is a tough find, but the investment must be made in this year's draft because of the deep class of athletes.
If Belichick and his war room do not see the right guy on the board, he might be inclined to take a CB. There are a few teams ahead of #27 that must make a choice between a CB and a DE, and those decisions will certainly affect the draft day decision.
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