Lots of 1st-Round College Talent Declaring For This Year's Draft

[maverick4]

ESPN - Conversations: Commish: '09 draftees won't face wage-scale overhaul

The Patriots have a lot of, and can expect maybe even some more high draft picks this year, in a year where lots of 1st round non-senior talent may declare for the draft. The fear among college athletes is that Goodell wants to institute a scale/cap, like the NBA does, on what rookies make in their first contracts. The argument is that unproven rookies shouldn't get these huge contracts compared to what vets make.

In the article above Goodell basically admitted the draft scale/cap is going to happen, and then gives a weak assurance that it will be in 2011 and not earlier. The fact that he is going public with this is going to raise awareness about it and cause some really good non-senior 1st round talent to declare for the draft this year.

This is really similar to when a bunch of really good HS basketball players declared for the NBA draft several years ago, when they knew the NBA would create that age rule of being at least 20 before you could enter the league.

 

[Seneschal2]

Re: OT Lots of 1st-Round College Talent Declaring For This Year's Draft

Suppose to be a record breaking year for declarations. Maybe as many as 75-80 underclassmen. Sad for the colleges -- it really is. Ironically, it's an average Senior crop this draft.

 

[maverick4]

It may seriously hurt the quality of the college football games, similar to how March Madness was terrible in the early 2000 years when all the best basketball players didn't even go to college. In the next three years the bowl games may look ugly.

 

[jsull87]

i think this info is even more reason to try and get a first pick and hopefully more with a cassel tag due to the increased talent pool in this draft in comparison to others if there are many early declarations. maybe even trading picks like future 3rd or future 4th for picks this year

 

[Ochmed Jones]

It may seriously hurt the quality of the college football games, similar to how March Madness was terrible in the early 2000 years when all the best basketball players didn't even go to college. In the next three years the bowl games may look ugly.

This is so very true. More and more true freshman will be thrown into the fire and the quality of play will suffer. Miami is a perfect example. Look at how young their team was this season. Yes they made it to a bowl game, but there execution was average at best. It was not the Miami machine of old where a player sat for two years and excelled for two years and the quality of play never suffered when the new guys stepped in to replace departed starters.

I have heard that the agents are using a proposed rookie cap to scare a lot of kids and their parents.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

If this were to play out the way mav projects, I'd say high picks in the 2009 draft would be 'less' critical than equivalent picks in 2010 when the talent pool might be thinner. NE would be better served with their extra 2nd and a prospective 3rd round comp in 2009, where they may be able to choose amongst talented kids coming out early, and try to trade themselves into a Top 15 pick in 2010 when the "talent" is harder to find. Hopefully college coaches succeed in showing their kids the longer term advantages of staying in school and developing their skills.

 

[maverick4]

But using that logic in trying to pace your draft haul every year, doesn't explain why the Pats traded out of last year's draft (and others before it). Isn't it smarter to spend more picks in talent-rich drafts than in talent-poor drafts? The 'trade your 2nd rounder for next year's 1st' is a great strategy in general but isn't it even better when you are trading out of a weak draft into a strong one?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

But using that logic in trying to pace your draft haul every year, doesn't explain why the Pats traded out of last year's draft (and others before it). Isn't it smarter to spend more picks in talent-rich drafts than in talent-poor drafts? The 'trade your 2nd rounder for next year's 1st' is a great strategy in general but isn't it even better when you are trading out of a weak draft into a strong one?

The Pats used a 1st Rd pick in a talent 'poor' draft (2007) and traded another 1st into a talent rich draft (2008). I'm not advocating trading away the 1st Rd pick in 2009, or even trading away one of the two seconds, though someone offering a 2010 1st for a 2009 2nd would indeed tempt me. I am thinking about the various prognosticators anticipating a Franchise/Trade deal with Mattyice. If there was such a deal, I think I'd rather take a first in 2010 and a lower round pick in 2009, just to have the flexibility in a theoretically weak class - they could always trade it ahead again, but Ochmed reports Terence Cody is staying for his Senior year, it would be nice to have the ammo to make a play for him.

 

[JSn]

The first round is still only 32 picks long. An above average amount of first rounders projected would be fantastic for a team with multiple day two picks. Top talent at bargain prices.

Imagine if a rookie min comes in, though. It will make it easier to have a big year in the draft AND free agency.

 

[VJCPatriot]

What this does for the Pats is it pushes some 1st round talent into the 2nd round pick area. This is an ideal situation for them as they have at least 3 picks in the round 1-2 area thanks to having San Diego's pick as well. If they get a 1st or high 2nd for Cassel, that puts them in the position to possibly get 4 blue/red chip prospects on the 1st day!! 2009 is a crucial draft for the Pats and they might reap a real bonanza if they draft well.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

For the moment there are three Juniors who have "declared" if you count Myron Rolle who hasn't decided between the NFL and Oxford - for his sake I hope he takes the latter - mav and Ochmed are noting the pressure/chaos being created around the NFL's rookie cap plans. None of it is a 'done deal,' yet.

 

[WhiZa]

Even more of a benefit to franchise and trade Cassel

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: OT Lots of 1st-Round College Talent Declaring For This Year's Draft

Suppose to be a record breaking year for declarations. Maybe as many as 75-80 underclassmen. Sad for the colleges -- it really is. Ironically, it's an average Senior crop this draft.

They are talking there could be over 100 underclassmen..

Actually, this year's senior class is excellent for LBers, good for OTs, has good depth at safety (more mid range talent). Its medicre to poor for QBs, WRs, and TEs.

 

[Warren94]

I think TE is fairly strong with Pettigrew, Coffman, Pascoe and Davon Drew but we will never know until a few years down the road.

 

[patsfaninpa]

DJ Moore - CB - Vandy just interviewed on field after bowl game with BC.
Announced he's going pro. Have to think Andre Smith troubles at Bama lead
to him leaving too.

 

[PatDaPatriot]

DJ Moore - CB - Vandy just interviewed on field after bowl game with BC.
Announced he's going pro. Have to think Andre Smith troubles at Bama lead
to him leaving too.

Smith is as good as gone. He's expected to be a top-5 pick...

Also, I'd have to think that Moore may be on the Pats radar at 24...

 

[DaBruinz]

Smith is as good as gone. He's expected to be a top-5 pick...

Also, I'd have to think that Moore may be on the Pats radar at 24...

I don't believe that the Pats will take a CB that high. They may consider a safety but not a corner.

 

[Kontradiction]

Finally Goodell is doing something right. Because of this move, we really have an opportunity to clean up on the defensive side of the ball in the draft this year.

 

[yopats]

Finally Goodell is doing something right. Because of this move, we really have an opportunity to clean up on the defensive side of the ball in the draft this year.

agreed 100% .. I think BB is going to load up on S CB and LB in this draft and do it early.. w/ a pick coming for Cassell we have got a great chance a totally revamping our secondary and injecting more youth and speed into the LB' corps..

I would love 4 picks total in the first two rounds.. and then another 2 in the 3rd to make some moves to get the guys we want..

 

[DaBruinz]

agreed 100% .. I think BB is going to load up on S CB and LB in this draft and do it early.. w/ a pick coming for Cassell we have got a great chance a totally revamping our secondary and injecting more youth and speed into the LB' corps..

I would love 4 picks total in the first two rounds.. and then another 2 in the 3rd to make some moves to get the guys we want..

WHy would BB load up on CB? Safety and Linebacker I can understand. But he just draft 2 CBs last year and he drafted one the year before. And one the year before that. He may add ONE, but I'd look at him likely adding one via free agency more so than that draft.