Both are unknown quantities at this point, with Springs having started only half the games on the Washington Redskins' schedule in 2008 and Bodden claiming the dubious honor of having contributed to the Detroit Lions' record-breaking 0-15 season last year.
The Pats also currently have Ellis Hobbs, not even close to the top corner in the league but familiar with the system and able to make plays from time to time.
Further down the depth chart, on special teams, Mike Richardson, drafted by the Patriots in 2007, has been slowly making his way to the active roster from the practice squad, and lead special teams in tackles last year. Antwain Spann has been a similar story since the Patriots signed him as a free agent in January 2006.
It would be easy to overlook the biggest wild card the Patriots currently have at cornerback: Terrence Wheatley, one of the many Patriots DBs bit by the injury bug after the Patriots drafted him in the second round last year. He showed promising signs in his first NFL start against the Colts last November, standing between Peyton Manning and deep completions to Marvin Harrison before leaving with a wrist injury that had him on IR two weeks later.
While a standout has yet to emerge among Patriots cornerbacks, I believe the team will save their draft picks for linebackers, defensive ends or safeties rather than looking to strike gold at the corner position. As a fan, I'm also hoping for a breakout year from Wheatley.
It would still be great if the Pats land Vontae Davis in the first or Darius Butler in the beginning of the second round.
Richardson and Spann are weak in rotation and we need to achieve some real possibilities this year with the amount of picks the Pats have as well as the depth at CB in the draft.
Overall, I see them taking one CB on the first day.
IN BILL WE TRUST!!
Posted by: Brent | April 21, 2009 at 11:18
Davis is smallish but Butler shows lots of everything. Mickens, Victor Harris or Sean Smith, 6'3" would be good also.
Posted by: John Connors | April 21, 2009 at 19:35