MHR Community Mock Draft Pick #23

by Jeremy Bolander on Apr 6, 2009 10:02 PM MDT in 2009 Denver Broncos Off-Season

With the #23 pick in the 2009 MHR Community Mock Draft, the New England Patriots select....

LB, JAMES LAURINAITIS, OSU

New England Patriots

Round 1, Pick #23 overall

GM bronco-Maine-iac

Details of the pick after the jump...

Linebacker nobility

From GM bronco-Maine-iac: With the Patriots getting old at the linebacker position, (Bruschi, Seau, and Vrabel(before he was traded)) this pick makes alot of sense. Teaming Laurinaitis up with last year's DROY, Jerrod Mayo, will give the Patriots a young linebacking corp for years to come.
(Trying to read Belichick's mind is next to impossible!)

Commish's Thoughts: I think this is darn close to where Laurinaitis is going to go in the drat, and ultimately, the Pats make a lot of sense. He is smart, has an intense work ethic, and is a great tackler who doesn't make many mistakes. Is he better suited for a 4-3? Yes. Maybe. I don't think it matters that much. That might be the deciding factor between two guys that are equal talents, but James is far and away the best backer on the board at this point, and the Patriots will be able to get him int he right spot at the right time to make plays and help. I worry a little about James' "bustability" in terms of what I don't see as a hardcore desire to be nothing but a football player, but I don't put a lot of stock in my worry. James will probably be fine,a nd the Pats will be fine choosing him.

*****

ON THE CLOCK

Atlanta Falcons are up next.

The deadline for this pick is MIDNIGHT MST, April 7th.. As long as I receive the pick by that time it will be valid. To send me the pick, just email me at the address shown in my profile.

Atlanta Falcons

Round 1, Pick #24 Overall

GM Stovie47

*****

Round One

Detroit Lions: McDah OLB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
St.Louis Rams: 53guys OT Jason Smith, Baylor
Kansas City Chiefs: Papisan DE/OLB Brian Orakpo, Texas
Seattle Seahawks: Denver_Native OT, Eugene Monroe, Virginia
Cleveland Browns: Zappa WR, Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
Cincinnati Bengals: DukeTC OT, Michael Oher, Ole Miss
Oakland Raiders: V. Money DT/NT, BJ Raji, Boston College
Jacksonville Jaguars: gunnermc QB, Matt Stafford, Georgia
Green Bay Packers: Broncosorbust OLB, Clay Matthews, USC
San Francisco 49ers: Elway's Ghost DE/OLB, Everette Brown, Florida St.
Buffalo Bills: Rep56 TE, Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma St.
Denver Broncos: broncofan91 OLB, Brian Cushing, USC
Washington Redskins: Chawkins06 DE Aaron Maybin, Penn St.
New Orleans Saints: gnarlybroncodude DB, Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio St.
Houston Texans: PredominantlyOrange WR, Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
San Diego Chargers: Sadaraine ILB, Rey Maualuga, USC
New York Jets: danelama QB, Mark Sanchez, USC
Denver Broncos (from Chicago): Combat Chuk RB, Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OrangeCrush4082 QB, Josh Freeman, Kansas St.
(Dallas Cowboys) Lions: BDAWKisaBRONC OT, Andre Smith, Alabama
Philadelphia Eagles: ejruiz WR, Hakeem Nicks, UNC
Minnesota Vikings: War Eagle Aubie WR, Percy Harvin, Florida
New England Patriots bronco-Maine-iac LB, James Laurinaitis, OSU
Atlanta Falcons: Stovie47 ON THE CLOCK
Miami Dolphins: adamriggs ON DECK
Baltimore Ravens mla2131
Indianapolis Colts: chikndnnr
(Carolina Panthers) Eagles: bcfunk
New York Giants: Russ
Tennessee Titans: Broncoman
Arizona Cardinals: Calibroncoboy
Pittsburgh Steelers: PABroncofan

Poll

What do you think of "The Animal II" going to Boston?

James will do fine in New england, good pick.

220 votes

Bad fit, the pick could have been better.

69 votes

Its ok.

64 votes

353 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

If he is selected by NE

his bust-ability drops tremendously

http://www.davusx.net/assets/db/la_la_land.gif

"We should have kept Seattle and dumped San Diego from the Division"

Davis and Sharpe to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 6, 2009 10:06 PM MDT reply actions

Is there a more Belechickesque player in the draft this year??

I know some aren’t sold on him in the 3-4, but my instincts are telling me there’s a chance that this man will be a Bronco.

"I’m gonna take the lead of the guys who have the rings...It means nothing to throw for 4500 yards, 25 touchdowns, and you don’t win." -- Brandon Marshall
KO: LWLLWWWWWWWWLWWLLLWWWLLWWLWWLLWLWWWL
JC: LLWWLWWLLLWLLWWLLWLLWWWWLWLLLWWLWWLLL

by broncosmontana on Apr 6, 2009 10:13 PM MDT reply actions

Y'know

there’s a team picking a few spots above the Patriots who need an Inside Linebacker and would love to ruin the Patriots Draft plans. They are also looking for Belechickesque players. I also think there’s a good chance he could be a Bronco. If he’s more suited to 4-3 than 3-4 then there’s that versatility you’re always hearing about and he’s a pro football player and one of the best LB prospects this year, he can learn a new position.

by mikebirty on Apr 7, 2009 1:45 AM MDT up reply actions

exactly

since when are we becoming a strictly 3-4, d, without a nt to boot. perfect for the 4-3 looks, better than good for the 3-4. what’s the problem? bring him in

taste my blintzkrieg!
2009-year of the defense.

by davecheffy on Apr 7, 2009 3:04 PM MDT up reply actions

+1 on him being a Bronco after the draft

by lolcopter on Apr 7, 2009 9:53 AM MDT up reply actions

James AKA Animal's tackling seed

has performed! I don’t know how really but he always played well. You have to give him credit…the kid produced. With that said I think if the Draft were to fall this way I think A. Maybin is the pick. His speed off the edge is just one reason that NE will pick him rather than a ILB.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast

by Steve O' on Apr 6, 2009 10:33 PM MDT reply actions

I have them picking Daruis Butler here

and taking Larry English in the 2nd round

http://www.49ersboard.blogspot.com

by supraman on Apr 7, 2009 12:55 AM MDT reply actions

draft

There’s no way the Pats take Laurinaitis. He’s not a fit, strictly a Tampa-2 type guy. Doesn’t even deserve to go in the first round. The Pats are stacked, don’t have to draft for need. They’ll either take Darius Butler or Ziggy Hood.

by salemw3aol on Apr 7, 2009 2:28 AM MDT reply actions

draft

I like Maybin(won’t be there) and Larry English too.

by salemw3aol on Apr 7, 2009 2:30 AM MDT reply actions

I really don't think he fits a 3-4 mold LB

I agree he is smart and a good player, but he is built for a 4-3 scheme where he is not forced to take on o lineman, the one problem he has is when a o-lineman gets on him, he can’t disenage and gets washed out of the play.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the one with the gun, A-hole" - Ash from Army of Darkness

by Broncoman on Apr 7, 2009 11:26 AM MDT reply actions

as a NE fan...

…I could foresee the Pats taking Laurinitis. Just not at #23 overall. While he is smart and tough and has a lot of the intagibles that the Patriots love, I don’t think he has the physical tools that the Patriots would consider adequate for a first-round pick in the low 20’s. If the Pats were drafting where they are more customarily picking (LATE in the first round… #30+) it might be different. Given that they drafted an ILB last year (Mayo) who was defensive rookie of the year, ILB is not as high a priority need for the Pats this year as it was last year.

All that being said…if there’s one thing the Pats love more than anything else, it’s value. While I couldn’t see them picking Laurinitis at #23, I could very much see them picking him if he is still on the board at #34—the slot they acquired in the Matt Cassel trade.

by JohnPaul on Apr 7, 2009 11:51 AM MDT reply actions