Patriots Looking to Trade Up?

With the 2009 NFL Draft looming just days away, the New England Patriots find themselves in a favorable situations. After a year of stockpiling draft picks, the Patriots hold eleven picks the seven-round draft, including six in the first 97 selections.

The Patriots are known for patience in the Draft, trading down and making suave maneuvers to aid them for years to come. Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli's theory always seemed to be "Wait until next year". But now with Pioli running the Kansas City Chiefs, Belichick is left to handle the draft alongside Nick Caserio and Floyd Reese.

Reese is known for his share of draft booms and busts while operating the Tennessee Titans. While with Tennessee, Reese drafted three NFL Rookie of the Year winners: Eddie George (1996), Jevon Kearse (1999) and Vince Young (2006). Reese also took a chance on a little-known quarterback named Steve McNair, who would lead the Titans to within one yard of a Super Bowl championship. However, Reese was also responsible for drafting Adam 'Pac-Man' Jones, who, despite success as a return specialist in Tennessee, couldn't avoid off-field troubles and is now out of the league.

With the Patriots holding so many picks, it is obvious that they will not use each picks. Belichick's mantra has always been "quality, not quantity", so if the Patriots covet a player, the Brain Trust know that they can swing some deals to get such a player.

However, the question needs to be asked; that with so many picks, are the Patriots willing to move up into the top ten on Saturday evening? Past logic says no, as the Patriots often refuse to give a high-priced, guaranteed deal to a player who has never stepped foot onto an NFL field. However, there seem to be a handful of can't-miss players that the Patriots may be looking to trade up for.

Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas: Nearly every mock draft has Orakpo going in the top ten, some as high as sixth overall to the Cincinnati Bengals. Orapko is a genetic freak, a 6-foot-3, 298 lb. defensive nightmare. The Longhorn was a first-team All-American and Nagurski Award recipient in 2008 with 11.5 sacks and 40 tackles. At the Combine, Orakpo wowed everyone, benching 225 lbs. 31 times and running a 4.63 40-yard dash. With Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green's contracts expiring following the 2009 season, a young defensive end like Orakpo would fit seamlessly into the Patriots defensive line.

Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest: Most draft analysts have Curry as a can't-miss prospect, a player who would make an immediate impact with any team, much like Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers. Curry ran a 4.56 40 at the Combine and has exceptional strength and a burst of speed that would make any NFL quarterback cower in fear. Curry's intelligence and leadership makes him a player that the Patriots would love to welcome into their organization, and into the 'Backerhood, alongside Tedy Bruschi, Adalius Thomas and Jerod Mayo. In trading Mike Vrabel, the Patriots made it clear that linebacker was a position of need, and acquiring a player like Curry would allow for the Patriots to have a deep and frightening linebacking corps.

Andre Smith, OT, Alabama: There may be no bigger quagmire in the NFL Draft than Smith. A consensus top three pick, Smith showed up grotesquely out of shape at the Combine, leaving before the event concluded. Prior to that, Smith missed Alabama's appearance in the 2009 Sugar Bowl after being suspended following allegations regarding communication with an agent. Smith may forever be remembered for his awful 5.28 40-yard dash, ran without a shirt, as Smith jiggled down the sidelines at Lucas Oil Stadium. Smith has been called a classic boom-or-bust lineman, but many feel that with good coaching and a strong locker room, Smith could keep his head on straight and become a tremendous presence on the offensive line. The Patriots aren't unfamiliar with offensive line busts, as Bill Belichick will forever rue the day he drafted Kenyatta Walker.

Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech: You're probably thinking "A receiver? Why? The Patriots have Moss, Welker, Galloway and Greg Lewis!" Let's be honest; Randy Moss and Joey Galloway aren't getting any younger, and one day teams will cover Wes Welker appropriately. Tom Brady can make any receiver look sensational, as seen by Jermaine Wiggins in 2001, David Givens from 2002 through 2005 or Reche Caldwell in 2006. Crabtree is currently dealing with a leg injury that will cause him to miss some of the 2009 season, and this is causing Crabtree to drop down some draft boards, behind Missouri's Jeremy Maclin. I cannot say this enough; MICHAEL CRABTREE IS A SURE THING. He may have played in an offense revolving solely around passing at Texas Tech, but Crabtree is as good as they get. He has amazing speed, is freakishly strong for his size, and can out-leap any defensive back. Adding Crabtree would make Tom Brady salivate and would strike fear in the secondaries of the Patriots 2009 opponents.

Obviously to swing trades for players of this caliber, the Pats would need to let go of one or two of their second round picks. Also, Bill Belichick would have to go against everything he stands for and give guaranteed money to a player that is anything but a guarantee. But the Patriots are known for taking risks and reaping the benefits. Remember the 2000 NFL Draft, when the Patriots threw a sixth-round pick at a relatively untalented quarterback out of Michigan. Nine years later, Tom Brady has already found a space in Canton and is arguably the best quarterback of his generation.

Does the 2009 NFL Draft have a Brady in it? Only time will tell.