Patriots Will Draft a Safety

I think we can all agree that the Patriots need a suitable strong safety that has good cover skills. Mel Kiper has released his list of the top five college safeties and number two on his list is someone that I wrote about a couple weeks ago right here.

With McCourty bringing stability to the free safety spot, a spot he’s much better suited for, the Patriots can now focus on trying to get a good strong safety prospect in this upcoming draft. Mel Kiper has listed his top five prospects and they are as follows: Texas' Kenny Vaccaro, Florida's Matt Elam, Oklahoma's Tony Jefferson, LSU's Eric Reid and Fresno State's Phillip Thomas. Personally, I am fond of Matt Elam because I watched him play some and he has an attitude that the Patriots defense lacks without Talib in there. Another reason I like Elam is because it’s the more likely of the top two you will get seeing as how Kenny Vaccaro will most likely be snatched before the Patriots ever have a chance sitting there with the 28th pick.

There has been a lot of talk about Ed Reed possibly becoming a New England Patriot; I see this as very unlikely. However, if it were to happen Reed is not a long term solution because he’s not young anymore and the mileage has started to pile up. I say, if you can, grab them both and here’s why; 1. With Reed you will have a defense that is instantly better and able to compete for a championship within the time frame you have left with Tom Brady. 2. With proper teaching from Reed, Elam could gain priceless knowledge from a veteran that’s seen it all. All the while you are setting yourself up for prolonged success drafting someone young and talented. Also while he’s learning, Elam will be making a rookies salary; win-win.

Florida's Matt Elam

Between the last two drafts only three safeties have gone in the first round symbolizing a lack of appreciation for this position similar to that of the running back position nowadays. This will give New England the opportunity to pick up a good cover safety at basically the cost a second round pick. They have desperately needed a safety these past two Super Bowl runs and I’ll go so far as to say that with two capable safeties, the Patriots win last year’s Super Bowl as well as this year’s AFC Championship. Now they are in a prime position to get one and I believe whether they get Ed Reed or not, you will see a safety drafted in the first, second or third round.

Josh Brown
@TitleTownTalkSB