PonyExpress

The three best, and most accurate current NFL draft analysts (IMO) are Gosselin, Nawrocki and Mayock.

In their pre draft top 100 rankings, Mayock had Mayo at #8, Nawricki at #15 and Gosselin at #19. That averages out to #14. Mayo was a "fast riser" as the draft approached. The Pats took him at #10, which is where they had to take him to ensure they could get him ahead of Denver at #12, which was looking for an Al Wilson clone, and Detroit at #15.

As for Wheatley, in their predraft rankings Mayock had him at #64, Nawrocki at #80 and Gosselin at #96. That averages out to #80. He was also a fast riser as the draft approached. The Pats took him at #62, ahead of several teams who likely coveted him.

Mayo and Wheatley are not only quality players, but IMO represented solid value for their draft slots.

letekro

I would add that Mayock is the only one of the three analysts to play DB in the NFL (or probably at any level), and played under BB to boot.

PATRIOT64

I think Mayo was a decent choice but can't agree that Wheately is not a reach,IMO there are several better athletes than Wheately still on the board and Wheately should have been no earlier than mid/late 3rd but it was a typical BB wild pick so we will see how it pans out.

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letekro

Not to say your opinion in this matter is meaningless, but it's meaningless. I mean how much game film of college cornerbacks have you watched this year? Mayock's comments and the write-up of him at NFL.com has everything that you would want in a corner except height: elite speed, change of direction, ball skills, confidence, and smarts.

patchick

The Pats pretty clearly viewed Mayo as a rare player, and he legitimately could have gone as early as 11.

As for Wheatley, who knows? He was one of those players who I would read about and wonder "where's the catch"? Why ranked so low? The writeups on his skills are drool-worthy, and his measurables are tremendous. Yes he's small, but so were higher-rated CBs like Flowers and Porter. So I concluded that the injury was the problem, and likely a serious one. If his health really isn't an issue, he's a fine pick at 62 -- especially taking into account that he was probably the single best KR left in the draft.

Seels

I think both were very slight reaches, but here's the thing:

With Mayo, before and after he was picked, hell the general theme of the first round, was Oline and front seven on D. Mayo was the best person defensive player left on the board after Cinci took Rivers, so while it MAY have been a slight reach, the Pats couldn't exactly afford to find out if Denver, Detroit, or one of the other teams right past them that has trouble on D would have taken him.

For Wheatley, the end of the first round and 2nd round were loaded with CB's coming off the board. Maybe the Pats could have waited another 7 picks. Maybe not. The apparently wanted him for a reason though, and got him.

The only dissapointment I have right now is that they didn't get Groves before the Jags did, but I'm guessing if they didn't it's because Bill didn't think he was worth it (same reason we didn't take Connor).

The amount of people dissapointed or crying about this draft is pretty hysterical. It's the same thing EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

ALP

they were both slight reaches....but they filled team needs, which makes those reaches disappear

when u get a guy u like at a position u like, and that guy pans out, they u havnt reached

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Last time I lived in New England the Pats became a Dynasty

Then I moved away and they haven't won since

...now I'm moving back, and a Lombardi I predict

MosiT

KR in the NFL is very different. We already have Hobbs as a KR and this kid is no different than Hobbs.

I will continue to suggest that it is a wasted pick and lsee what happens in camp.

ALP

if he becomes a Starting corner for us either opposite hobbs or in the slot, it was a GREAT pick

not often u get a rookie be starting on an 18-1 team

__________________
Last time I lived in New England the Pats became a Dynasty

Then I moved away and they haven't won since

...now I'm moving back, and a Lombardi I predict

jeffbiologist

I dont like the fact that we got LESS than a 3rd rd pick to move back to 10. It seems to me we wanted to give Ellis to NO, and I think we should have had cincy bid against them to up the ante. I mean 2 picks earlier they were offering their first and second in todays draft AND their first next year....I cant believe we got LESS than a 3rd from this same team for the 2nd best DT.