They used 2006 picks to acquire both Welker and Moss on draft day. How can you discount how they got them? Obviously, they didn't draft them out of college.
You'll remember these names... Aaron Hernandez, Darius Butler, Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Spikes...
No one unless a rookie pay scale is included in the new CBA. Not gonna be Jake Locker (for obvious reasons), and Adrian Clayborn and Cameron Heyward would command too much money as DE's as the #2 or #3 pick. They'd trade down.
Not doubting skill on any of those players, but the contracts would be too big for a CB, DE, QB, OT for the Pats to take someone in the first five or so picks assuming the new CBA does not have a rookie pay scale. AJ Green, I agree could be an option but not at #1 or #2 though, as someone would be willing to trade down to win the Jake Locker sweepstakes, and it would artificially inflate his contract for Pats being a number 1 or 2, something the Patriots have historically avoided.
Hopefully a skill position. When was the last time the Pats drafted a stud that actually touches the ball?