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My worry on Pats draft proficiency is, not since the 2002 draft when Branch, Givens, and Graham were selected, have the Patriots developed on offensive threat that can put points on the board.
From 2003-2008
3 RBs....Cobbs, Maroney, Hairston
3 WRS...Johnson, Sam, Jackson (not counting Slater)
5 TEs...Nead, Watson, Stokes, Thomas, Mills
Sure, the Pats have spent a #2 on Dillon, #2 on Welker, #4 on Moss. But I argue that any team could trade for quality veterans at any time using future picks, if there was no cap to worry about. But there is and a 2nd rounder goes for a $1 mill/ year while Dillon had a $5 mill salary and Welker $2.7 mill. This cost for a 4th is $0.5 mill/ year while Moss made $5+ mill that year. Bsically we are talking about a double use of resources, pick plus cash, serious cash.
Conclusion: the Pats have failed miserably to develope playmakers on offense which has forced the organization to pay a double cost to fill the need. Yes, Welker and Moss have been outstanding, but the double cost has prevented them from using assets to bolster other areas (ILB, OLB)
This is revisionist history again.
Watson does put points on the board when he's used. I guess you need to be reminded that Watson had 5 TDs in the 1st 5 games in 2007 before going down to an injury that made him ineffective. And he's got 2 TDs through the 1st 2 games this year.
Welker's salary wasn't 2.7 million when the Pats traded a 2nd and 7th for him.
The Pats added Dillon BEFORE they added Maroney. You sitting there and saying that it cost them more to add Dillon is a crock. Same with Moss. Moss only cost them 3 million that 1st year. And he was 10 times better than any rookie from that same year.
As for this double cost garbage, you are looking at things in a vacuum. You are also assuming that a draft pick brings as much value to the table as an accomplished veteran like Moss or Welker. And that's just not true.