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An overstuffed offseason 'bag

The Patriots always seem to keep it interesting, don't they?

Let's get right to the questions. …

Mike, in free agency the Patriots have addressed running back, tight end, cornerback, and wide receiver to name a few. And at the cornerback and wide receiver positions they have signed or traded for players that will be here for 3 years. So my question is do all these signings change the draft strategy? Is cornerback no longer a draft need? Should we expect the Pats to go after an offensive or defensive lineman instead? Of course, the assumption is they still draft an outside linebacker or inside linebacker with one of their day one picks, unless they can land Peppers.
Nick Marotta, Montreal, Quebec

A: Nick, I thought Mike Lombardi of the National Football Post said it best when he assessed the Patriots' offseason acquisitions. The Patriots have a team ready to compete right now, and thus are free to go in any direction in the draft that they feel gives them the best player. I thought Lombardi's comments were insightful:

"The Patriots have a complete team ready to compete in the NFL before the draft. I always felt that you had to attempt to cover your team needs before the draft so that you could enter the draft with the intention of taking the best player. Having the ability to be flexible in the draft allows you to just pick players and not have to worry about waiting for a certain player. The best drafts normally come from having the best offseasons. You enter the draft room with a sense of peace and know that if the chips don't fall your way, your team can still go out and compete. … Now, I know this sounds elementary and you're probably asking, 'Don't all NFL teams try to do this?' The answer is a big NO. …"

Hi Mike, many analysts covering this year's draft feel that WR is fairly deep. I found it interesting that the Patriots acquired two veterans, Joey Galloway & Greg Lewis. I wonder if they will look to draft a WR to develop for the long-term, or if the ghost of Chad Johnson still haunts the franchise. Another position that hasn't received a lot of attention is the third-down back; Faulk is getting older, and there is no long term replacement for him. Do you think that is a position they will draft to fill?
Chip, Wilton, Conn.

A: Chip, I wouldn't be surprised if the Patriots draft a receiver and a third-down type of running back, although my hunch is that those picks would come from the late second-round and later. I think both spots classify as longer-term needs. The whole receiver issue is really interesting to me. I have kept a lot of notes from conversations that I've had with Bill Belichick over the years, and his thoughts on scouting college receivers have stuck with me. Here is what he once told me about why receivers in college are tough to scout, which might explain why the Patriots have been more inclined to acquire veteran receivers than rely on the draft, where they've been burned a few times (e.g. Chad Jackson, Bethel Johnson):Continued...

LINK >> Ask Reiss: An overstuffed offseason 'bag - Boston.com

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