FanPost

The case for or against Stephen Hill



I have started to see a lot of mock drafts have Stephen Hill to us with either the 27th or 31 st pick. I tend to shy away from falling in love with prospects based solely on athletic ability but I can't deny this kid is intriguing.

After having a spectacular Pro Day workout Hill is gaining even more steam if it's possible. Mike Mayock says there's no way he falls out of the first-round.

However, the Patriots have far more pressing needs right?

Yes, indeed but we all know that

A) BB doesn't draft based on need as a major decisive factor. He takes the players he likes.

B) Players that we, on the surface, should be interested in like Whitney Mercilus, Nick Perry, Andre Branch and Vinny Curry are hard to separate if using objective measurements. While everyone seem to have their personal view "player X is the next great thing while player Y stinks big-time", if we're fine with any of them we could decide to pass on a pass-rusher early (something BB tend to do anyway) and gamble that one of them is there for round 2 consideration or we simply look at a guy like Shea McClellin later on.

I can see a situation where our top targets are off the board. Let's assume Fletcher Cox, Courtney Upshaw, Whitney Mercilus, Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins and Mark Barron are all gone. Not entirely an extreme scenario right?

In that case it might make sense to make a pick that could be one for the ages, or could end up being a waste of a pick?

If I were the GM and Hill were sitting there at 27th I would be very much tempted to pull the trigger. Potentially he offers us something we have lacked at the wide receiver position - extreme athletic ability and certainly the ability to go deep. Given that he's been VERY polished in workouts I'm starting to like this kid more and more.

The downside on Hill is that he's got limited experience and comes from an offense that is the opposite of what we do, thus there will be a steep learning curve. However, I'm starting to believe this kid has the tools to succeed with proper coaching.

So Pulpiteers, are you for or against picking Stephen Hill? (I would be thankful if you would address the question with something less obvious than the "no freakin' way we need pass-rush argument")

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