If you missed it today, Karen Guregian did a nice job explaining why Michael Sam would fit well with the Patriots.
After returning from a quick offseason vacation, I wanted to catch up by offering five football-related thoughts on Sam and any potential connection to the Pats in the draft.
1. Sam, the AP's SEC Defensive Player of the Year, led the conference with 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, so he knows how to get to the quarterback and make plays in the backfield. But at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, draft analysts have almost exclusively labeled Sam as a tweener -- a player too small as a 4-3 defensive end and too raw to drop into coverage as an outside linebacker. That's why you're seeing a player with his credentials being slotted as anywhere between the third and seventh rounds. But Rob Ninkovich is 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, so it's not like these measurables are an indicator of future performance. The question is how an undersized player translates from college to the NFL, where bigger tackles have superior technique and strength to handle younger, smaller players.
2. Some comparisons are pointless. For example, I stated Ninkovich's size as a way to show it can be done, but it's never as simple as, "Well, Player X did it, so Player Y can, too." Same thing for the Tedy Bruschi stuff that's been recklessly thrown out there. Bruschi was an undersized defensive end without a position, but he had character. If anyone, Bill Parcells included, believed Bruschi was going to become one of the greatest Patriots in history, he wouldn't have fallen to the third round. That's why draft comparisons should be used as a baseline and nothing more.
3. The Patriots need a defensive end or two to take some of the burden off Chandler Jones (led NFL defensive ends in snaps) and Ninkovich, but they've been searching for quality backups for years and Jones is the only one who has panned out. They whiffed on Jermaine Cunningham, didn't get anything out of Markell Carter and are still waiting for something from Jake Bequette and Michael Buchanan, who were both leapfrogged by Andre Carter last season. Rather than counting on Sam -- or any mid-to-late-round defensive end for that matter -- to quickly develop, the Patriots should actively pursue a starting type as a quality backup.
4. Depending on the talent available, the Patriots' first two picks should be devoted to a tight end and defensive tackle, in whichever order. That could be altered if a legitimate playmaking safety or pass-rushing force happens to fall in their laps. Expand that thought to cornerback or wide receiver if they lose Aqib Talib and/or Julian Edelman in free agency. Defensive end is an area that needs to be addressed this offseason through the draft or free agency, but the Patriots need a clear-cut No. 3 -- not another game-day inactive.
5. Bottom line: If the Pats believe Sam is an upgrade over Carter (who wants to return and would likely receive a minimum salary), Buchanan or Bequette, they should take him, so long as they aren't better-equipped to fill a bigger need elsewhere at that moment in the draft.
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