Gary Horton of ESPN's Scouts Inc. details needs for every team, and his view of the Patriots looks like this:
1. Defensive end
2. Safety
3. Cornerback
4. Outside linebacker
5. Offensive tackle
6. Running back
In the Insider piece (read here), Horton explains why he leaned so heavily toward defense.
"The glaring needs of edge pass-rushers and secondary help haven't been addressed," he writes. "This may be a defensive-oriented draft."
Last year, the Patriots had an offensive-oriented draft, with just one defender selected within the first five rounds.
YOUR TURN: Share your thoughts on the top Patriots needs in the comments section of this blog entry.