Should the Pats draft Tim Tebow?

If I was the player personnel guru for the New England Patriots (sadly I'm not), I would not draft Tim Tebow (unless of course he's available in round 4 - which he won't be). The Patriots are in a precarious position heading into the 2010 season. They need another influx of young talent on a team that has some glaring holes to fill. Last year's draft was productive and a great start to the retooling process. With their top 4 picks (all within the top 60), the Belichickians selected strong safety Pat Chung, cornerback Darius Butler, defensive lineman Ron Brace, and gigantor offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer. All 4 of these guys made an impact on last year's season. Another year like last and the Pats are back in business.

Now fast forward to the NFL draft in a few weeks, the Pats are again in prime position with 4 picks in the top 53 (1-1st round pick (No. 22) and 3-2nd round picks (No. 44, No. 47, No. 53). This draft is also considered by many experts to be deep. With the uncertainty of the NFL labor discussions (possibility of no football in 2011), a large number of underclassmen have entered the draft. The talent pool is deep -- most believe 2 rounds worth of first round talent. The Pats so happen to have a few high priority needs - defensive end, outside linebacker, wide receiver, running back, and tight end. The chance of restocking this team for future success is high. Again, putting on my imaginary Patriots player personnel hat, I do NOT take Tim Tebow with 1 of my top 4 picks. Use the picks wisely - draft for the need, not the potential of what could be 4-5 years down the road.

Tim Tebow is a great story. He's the epitome of what a student-athlete should be. He is hard working, dedicated, coachable, tough, and smart. Essentially to sum him up in 4 words: He is a winner. He is a 2-time national champion and won 35 games as a starter over a 3-year span in college. I think some team in the NFL will give him a shot at quarterback and most likely take him in the first round. However, I hope it is not the Patriots.