In the latest installment of their "First Draft" podcast, ESPN NFL draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay discuss picks 25-29 in the upcoming draft with ESPN Insider's Chris Sprow as the moderator.
The podcast can be heard in its entirety right here
, but below are a few highlights from Kiper and McShay related to the New England Patriots.
When asked whether he was more worried about the defense or the offense and what position he would address, Kiper offered:
"I'm going at safety, because Patrick Chung's back, that tells you how they feel about the safety position. Patrick Chung is back. To me, they tried and tried and tried to get these safeties that can play. A Tavon Wilson, reach for him in the second round, Duron Harmon, the list goes on and on and on. You add Darrelle Revis">[Darrelle] Revis, you add the veteran corner Browner, but, where are you at right now at safety? Where are you at right now at tight end? That's another area where you say, OK, there's not that many tight ends in this draft after the first group. I think A.C. Leonard from Tennessee State has a chance, certainly C.J. Fiedorowicz from Iowa's got a shot as a third-, fourth-round pick. Crockett Gillmore, Colorado State, is another kid late that some people may bring into the fold and has a chance -- but after the top group, and there's mixed opinion on Jace Amaro from Texas Tech, there's mixed opinion on Troy Niklas from Notre Dame, Austin Seferian-Jenkins is interesting as he's so talented, and then Eric Ebron, he's going to catch but he's not going to block."
McShay then offered some thoughts on an ideal draft scenario for the Patriots.
"I think in a perfect world if you're the Patriots you're able to address, whether it's safety or defensive tackle, getting a guy up front in the first round and then coming back in the second and maybe Jace Amaro falls to you. That would be ideal. See I think they need more of the F-tight end. They don't need a Y. They've got [Rob] Gronkowski; he's their guy that can block in-line. Now can he stay healthy?"
The two have plenty of expanded thoughts, and for those with a general interest in the draft, the full podcast series is a worthwhile list. It can also be found at ESPN.com/podcenter or downloaded on iTunes.