DALLAS -- Spent a few minutes with Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan, who host the "Movin' The Chains" program on Sirius NFL Radio. The discussion shined the spotlight on some of the top needs for the Patriots this offseason.
They both focused on edge rushers, pulling out their notes from the Senior Bowl to identify three prospects they feel could fit best in the Patriots' system:
Sam Acho (Texas) -- Four-year defensive end who also played defensive tackle, he totaled 23.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles over his career. At 6-foot-3 and around 260 pounds, he projects as an edge rusher/outside linebacker in the Patriots' scheme. Some scouting analysts project him as a third-round pick.
Ryan Kerrigan (Purdue) -- Projected as a first-round pick, he is second on the Boilermakers' all-time charts with 33.5 sacks. He is also fifth in Purdue history in tackles for a loss (57), which makes him one of the most disruptive players in the draft.
Brooks Reed (Arizona) -- Compared to Clay Matthews by Kirwan, some scouting analysts project him as a third-round pick. He totaled 17 sacks over his four seasons with the Wildcats.