NBC Sports Boston

You'd think that with the No. 14 overall pick, this year's first-round selection for the Patriots would be easier to peg than in other years when they've picked late on Thursday night of NFL Draft weekend. Not so much. Given the dearth of blue-chip talent in this year's class, and given the uncertainty surrounding some of the top players at positions of need in New England -- offensive tackle, receiver, cornerback -- this has been as confounding a year as any to try to decipher their leanings.