Year: Senior Height: 5′10 Weight: 195 40 Time: 4.47 College Stats: NCAA

BSMW GAME DAY BOARD (as of 4/15/07)

Rank: 29th Median Draft Position: 28.0 (7 mocks)Lo: 22 Hi: 45 Most Frequent Mock Selection: N/A

BSMW SUMMARY (as of 4/15/07)

The most impressive thing about Meriweather, who the Patriots worked out in March, is his experience and versatility. He played all four secondary positions in as many seasons for Miami, including matching up at corner when the Hurricanes faced elite receivers. Is considered by all to have the instincts and range necessary to advance to the next level, most particularly in pass coverage. Doesn’t sound particularly big or strong. Meriweather will be dogged by character questions in the next several weeks, as NFL teams will no doubt take a look at his role in this season’s infamous brawl with Florida International (he was suspended), and whole “once pulled a gun and shot at someone who had just shot his roommate” thing doesn’t seem like it will help him any either. The average person doesn’t often find himself in those situations. But he was a captain at Miami and is considered a dedicated player. The Patriots don’t seem to have crossed him from their list, and he may be another candidate for the first round, where most mocks expect he’ll be taken.

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Year: Junior Height: 6’00 Weight: 237 40 Time: 4.72 College Stats: NCAA

BSMW GAME DAY BOARD (as of 4/15/07) Round: 1st Rank: 20 Median Draft Position: 20.0 (9 drafts)Lo: 14 Hi: 32 Most Frequent Mock Selection: 18 (Bengals - 2 mocks)

BSMW SUMMARY (as of 4/15/07)

First of all, I am unable to explain the inscription on the picture above, so let’s not dwell on it. Dwell instead on Beason, the prolific Hurricane. He is said to have the athleticism, speed, strength and instincts to be a long-term NFL starter; a player with the range to make plays all over the field, and the power to take on and defeat blocks at the point of attack – a potential three-down player. Called short but not small, he played in a 4-3 at Miami but some scouts claim that he projects equally well into the middle of a 3-4 defense like the Patriots. He’s called an intense, committed kid that was a natural leader among his teammates. Just a junior, he had the productivity and intangibles that the Pats look for – he led the Hurricanes in tackles despite missing one game and most of another. Those nagging injuries (shoulder, knee) are part of Beason’s downside, along with concerns that due to his height, he may get swallowed up inside. I’m ignoring that for the time being, reminding myself that they would have been saying the same thing about Tedy Bruschi not too long ago. If we can believe the profiles, Beason combines athleticism and tools with a productive track record – compared often to former Hurricane Jonathan Vilma (I’ll take that), he could infuse the Pats inside linebacker group with much needed youth and energy, as well as the versatility to play outside too. The Pats seemingly agree – they’ve been linked to Beason at the Combine as well as a personal workout (with head coach Bill Belichick) in March. They later invited him for a pre-draft visit to Foxboro. Two mocks (including guru Rick Gosselin) see him going to the Pats at pick 24, but several others think he could be picked in the teens. Overall, the mocks say there’s a 40% chance he’ll be there for the Pats. Given the team’s needs, and Beason’s skill set, it’s hard to believe he wouldn’t be a good first-round value for New England.

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Year: Senior Height: 5’11 Weight: 202 40 Time: 4.45 College Stats: NCAA

BSMW GAME DAY BOARD (as of 4/15/07) Round: 1st/2nd Rank: 32 Median Draft Position: 30.0 (9 drafts) Lo: 26 Hi: 62 Most Frequent Mock Selection: 26 (Eagles - 3 mocks)

BSMW SUMMARY (as of 4/15/07)

Griffin is currently on the fringes of the first round, according to the mocks, most of whom place him in the 25-40 range on draft day. He comes off a productive career against top competition, at a school known for producing defensive backs. The profiles say Griffin has switched between free and strong safety at Texas, but all agree he best projects as a free safety at the next level. The profilers like his intangibles (ultra-competitive, tough, aggressive player) and laud his coverage tools (always takes right angle to ball, can close, good ball skills), and agree that he’s a determined run supporter. He’s reportedly a blue chip special teamer (eight career blocked punts, 2nd best all-time NCAA) who will contribute right away. The downside is that he is of average size, speed and strength, which profilers fear may hurt him in the pros. Others point out he needs work in diagnosing plays, and his tackling may be a little sloppy and inconsistent, but all agree he’s eminently coachable in both areas. There have been no reports linking the Patriots and Griffin, though his toughness, versatilty as a safety, and special teams upside have to make him a candidate for one of those first round picks.

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Year: Junior Height: 5’09 Weight: 185 40 Time: 4.32 College Stats: NCAA

BSMW GAME DAY BOARD (as of 4/15/07)

Round: 1st Rank: 26 Median Draft Position: 25.5 (10 drafts) Lo: 20 Hi: 63 Most Frequent Mock Selection: 27 (New Orleans - 3 mocks)

OUR SUMMARY (as of 4/15/07)

Early entry Houston has moved up the boards on the strength of a great combine and a strong junior season, when he consistently performed well against top receivers. But the profiles sound the ominous ‘Mamula’ siren, suggesting late riser Houston could be another workout guy that won’t put it together on the field. Reports are that he registered exceptional speed and strength numbers in Indy, and displayed athleticism and aggressiveness as a pass defender in 27 starts for Arkansas. But the profiles all say he’s a reluctant run supporter, even content to watch his teammates wrap up a play. Despite his coverage skills, he’s not seen as a playmaker, and his aggressiveness (which is limited to coverage, apparently) led to a rash of pass interference penalties in 06. Despite his blazing 40 time, strength, and rep for playing his best against the best, the opinion is split. The mocks reflect that, placing him anywhere between top 20 and mid-second round. The BSMW Board is pegging Houston for the late 20’s. The Patriots have been looking at him closely; they worked him out privately and then scheduled him for a pre-draft visit to Foxboro.

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John Murphy rates Houston as the draft’s best corner
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Year: Junior Height: 6’01 Weight: 203 40 Time: 4.39 College Stats: NCAA

BSMW GAME DAY BOARD (as of 4/15/07)

Round: 1st/2nd Rank: 50 Median Draft Position: 38.0 (7 drafts) Lo: 26 Hi: 51 Most Frequent Mock Selection: 51 (Giants - 2 mocks)

OUR SUMMARY (as of 4/15/07)

One mock has selected McCauley as the Pats’ 28th pick, but most of the others saw him as a mid second-rounder, somewhat behind the first group of corners off the board. The BSMW Board says McCauley should land somewhere in the 30-40’s. The profiles say McCauley is the most naturally gifted corner in the draft. Prototypical size, blazing speed, and solid footwork and fundamentals. However, McCauley has not always delivered on that promise. He’s coming off what is called a disappointing 2006, where he struggled to maintain consistency from game to game. He’s considered a man-to-man defender more than a zone guy, and as always, there’s concern if he can adapt to the different responsibilities. Once again, a player with a Patriot connection; Fresno State’s Pat Hill is a trusted Belichick peer who steered both Logan Mankins and James Sanders to the Pats. Mike Reiss reported in February that the Pats spent time with McCauley at the Combine. Pro Football Weekly says McCauley could be an elite starting corner if surrounded by the right coaching staff and teammates. Since this is not considered a great crop of db’s, the Pats may have him rated right alongside Hall, Revis, Houston and Ross, which would put him in play for one of the first round picks.

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John Murphy rates McCauley as the draft’s fifth best corner
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Year: Junior Height: 5’11 Weight: 198 40 Time: 4.48 College Stats: NCAA

BSMW GAME DAY BOARD (as of 4/15/07)

Round: 1st Rank: 18 Median Draft Position: 17.0 (9 drafts) Lo: 10 Hi: 28 Most Frequent Mock Selection: 17 (Jacksonville – 3 mocks)

BSMW SUMMARY (as of 4/15/07)

The profiles on this consensus All-American say Nelson is an athletic centerfielder and playmaker who also has an aggressive, physical side. He had a great 2006, finishing as a finalist for both the defensive player and defensive back of the year award. He played only two seasons for the Gators because he had to go the JUCO route due to academics. Hasn’t been a good student, and there’s question as to whether he can pick up a complicated defense. On the field, the profiles seem to agree that he’s too much of a collider and not enough of a tackler. Two mocks picked Nelson for the Pats (at #28) but most feel he’ll go somewhere in the mid-to-late teens, perhaps to the Jaguars at 17. Bill Belichick personally worked Nelson out in March. A strong connection to Urban Meyer’s program led Belichick to select two Gators in 2006. The scuttlebutt is that some teams view Nelson as better suited to play corner on the next level; might that be where the Patriots are looking too?

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Year: Junior Height: 5’11 Weight: 204
40 Time: 4.54 Stats: NCAA

BSMW GAME DAY BOARD (as of 4/15/07) - Round: 1st Rank: 17 Median Draft Position: 16.5 (10 drafts) Lo: 13 Hi: 25 Most Frequent Mock Selection: 13 (St. Louis, 4 mocks)

BSMW SUMMARY (as of 4/15/07)

In the profiles below, early entry Revis comes off as a promising player, with good size, strength, athleticism and aggressiveness. He also earns high marks as a punt returner. The sense I get, though, is that he’s not the most disciplined player, and may be behind other corners in terms of on-field maturity and development. Off the field, sounds like a top kid, but even his biggest boosters acknowledge that unless he gains better command of his assignments, he may never reach his full potential. The mocks clearly see him as a top 20 pick. The Pats recently scheduled a Foxboro visit for the junior entry, and with corner being a possible target early in the draft, Revis could very well be in play for New England.

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