TEAM SHOTS

• John Cockrell's Friday Out-Takes Mocks the Patriots.
• Patriots re-sign DL Kenny Smith.
• Draft Prospect Report: Tight Ends.
• Top 7 Safest Draft prospects.
• Top 7 Riskiest Draft prospects.
• Top 7 Boom or Bust Draft prospects.

LOCAL SHOTS

• Mike Reiss presents a position-by-position look at the team's needs in this weekend's Draft.
• Chris Gasper notes Corey Dillon, Vince Wilfork, Randy Moss, and Jerod Mayo were acquired from deals in which the Patriots flipped picks forward into future years, and they'll most likely do it again on Saturday.
• Mark Farinella previews this year's cornerback crop saying while it's not overly talented, it is deep with prospects that should be there for the Patriots' consideration in the second and third rounds.
• Glen Farley notes the two previous picks for the Patriots at number 23 were Ty Law and Bruce Armstrong.  Belichick has never selected at number 23 in New England.
• Shalise Manza Young chooses her top Belichick's Best and Worst Draft trades.
• Globe 10.0 - Bob Ryan and Mike Reiss debate the Best and Worst picks of the Belichick era and which direction the Patriots will go in the Draft.
• Karen Guregian speculates on who will be Mike Vrabel's replacement.
• Patriots Chairman/CEO Robert Kraft co-hosted "The Squawk Box" yesterday morning on CNBC, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was an in-studio guest.
• Jeff Howe notes last year’s Draft class had a definitive top player at several key positions, but there seems to be plenty of debate circling around this year’s most high-profile prospects.
• Christopher Price says for the potential draftees this weekend is their final frantic stretch.  Waiting, worrying, wondering where they'll go.
• Chris Gasper says separating the college receivers who can play in the NFL from those who can't is an angst-ridden decision for teams using an early pick on a WR.
• Ron Borges informs waiting Pats fans there won't be any trade for Peppers this weekend.
• Shalise Manza Young scouts Draft prospect Tennessee's Robert Ayers and offers a YouTube clip of his highlights.
• Mike Reiss presents the jersey numbers for the newest Patriots.
• Dan Guttenplan doesn't see the NFL Draft as must-see TV and advises everyone to watch the playoff games and get the Draft updates on the internet.

LONG SHOTS

• Tim Graham (ESPN) On all-time Draft list, Brady ranks 8th - for now.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Brady best buy in AFC East, but Bills lead the way.
• Peter King (SI) Sifting through the Draft rumors and Five Things I Think.
• Jason Whitlock (Fox Sports) What the NFL Draft really offers - Hope.
• Peter Schrager (Fox Sports) Predicting the Draft from start to finish.
• Charles Robinson (Yahoo! Sports) Due dilligence blurs line of ethical behavior.
• Jim Corbett (USA Today) Wanted in the NFL Draft: The hybrid player who can do it all.
• Matt Feminis (Pro Football Weekly) Identifying each club's top five needs plus key additions, subtractions.
• Shutdown Corner (Yahoo! Sports) My six favorite Draft busts and where they are now.
• Vinny Iyer (Sporting News) NFL Draft: AFC East team needs.
• Tim Graham (ESPN) Another AFC East mockwave.