With The 17th Pick In The 2011 Stampede Blue Community Mock Draft, The New England Patriots Select...

Anthony Castonzo - OT, Boston College

Pick made by me:

As much as I wanted to punt this pick so he'd be around for the Colts, Anthony Castonzo won't have to go very far from his college home to play in the NFL. Castonzo looks to be your prototypical Left Tackle, with the ability to play the other side when asked.  He was a four year starter at Boston College, the last 3 on the left side.  I think he'd fit in really well protecting the valuable back-side of Tom Brady.  I'm sure Gisele would approve as well.

Long-time Left Tackle Matt Light is an Unrestricted Free Agent, and until there is a CBA, it is unknown whether Light will return, although Jeff Howe of NESN seems to think he'll be back. It's one of those areas the unknown CBA that makes the draft so much more interesting this season, as there's no guarantee somebody will swoop in and overpay for the 11 year vet.  Add in that LG Logan Mankins is also a free agent, and the value of someone like Castonzo, who could really play any of the non-Center positions on the line (which he did at the Senior Bowl), goes up.

The pick here was going to be J.J. Watt to play the 3-4 DE, but the Jaguars took him from right underneath my nose.  It's possible the Patriots could look at another of the DE still available, but with a pick at #28 and at #33, there are more players on the Defensive line to choose from that are about the same level than there is on the Offensive line, so Castonzo is the pick.

If Castonzo is taken 17th overall, it'll be the first time since 1992 the Patriots have taken an OT in the first round (Eugene Chung). Also, it'll be the second time in the past four years an OT from Boston College was taken in the first round, as Gosder Cherilus was taken 17th overall by the Lions in 2008.

Anthony Castonzo Scouting Report from Mocking the Draft

The Chargers, and ColtsFanFromHawaii, are on the clock...