2000-2009: Pats 5 best/worst draft picks

[captain stone]

Worst: All 2008 draft beside MAyo

If he continues to have "performances" the next 3 weeks that he's had the last 3 weeks, then he might garner consideration for the latter category, too.

Having watched Monday's game btwn. SF & Arizona, I've come to the conclusion that Mayo isn't fit to wash Patrick Willis' jockstrap.

 

[farn]

I'd have Koppen and Klemm higher on their respective lists. Bethel didn't become what we hoped - but I remember him being a bigtime contributor in several games. Klemm - not so much.

 

[TeamPats]

Now, I am not saying he is in the top 5, but I believe a 7th round pick of Tully Banta-Cain deserves an Honorable Mention at the very least. He was a worthy player before he left and he returns as a formidable players till.

 

[DaBruinz]

Everyone will have their own opinions but here is my 2 cents:

Best
1)Tom Brady QB Michigan (2000 draft - 199 overall)
No explaination needed on this one.
2) Richard Seymour DT Georgia (2001 draft - 6 overall)
Seymour played in five Pro Bowls, has been named to four All-Pro teams, and has been a member of four Super Bowl Patriots teams (3 time winner).
3) Matt Light T Purdue (2001 draft - 48 overall)
Light is a 3× Super Bowl champion, 2× Pro Bowl selection and one time All-Pro selection.
4) Asante Samuel DB Central Florida (2003 draft - 120 overall)
2× Super Bowl champion, 2× Pro Bowl selection and one All-Pro selection. Started career in NE slow (6 picks in first 3 yrs) but exploded in 2006 (10 ints) and 2007 (6 ints). Would be 3 on my list if he was still a Pat.
5) Vince Wilfork DT Miami (FL) (2004 draft - 21 overall)
Immovable rock in the center of the Pats D-line. He has 1 Super Bowl champion, 1 Pro Bowl selection and 1 Second-team All-Pro selection

Honarbale mention:
David Givens WR Notre Dame (2002 draft - 244 overall)
Deion Branch WR Louisville (2002 draft - 65 overall)
Ty Warren DT Texas A&M (2003 draft - 13 overall)
Dan Koppen C Boston College (2003 draft - 164 overall)
Logan Mankins G Fresno State (2005 draft - 32 overall)
Matt Cassel QB USC (2005 draft - 230 overall)

Worst
1) Chad Jackson WR Florida (2006 draft - 34 overall)
Pats moved up to draft Jackson early in the second round. Proved to be too injury prone and immature for the NFL. Pats cut him before the start of the 2008 season. Patriot career totals: 13 rec -152 yards - 3 Tds
2) Bethel Johnson WR Texas A&M (2003 draft - 45 overall)
Like Jackson this speedy WR never developed for a 2nd round pick. While he had some nice Kick Off Returns he was awful as a WR. In his 3 years in NE he averaged 10 rec - 150 yards - 1.33 TDs. This with TB throwing him the ball. To add insult to injury. the next WR taken in the draft was Anquan Boldin.
3) Marquise Hill DE Louisiana State (2004 draft - 63 overall)
Hill tragically died in May of 2007 so it was possible he was going to develop but during his 3 years with the Pats he played in 13 out of a possible 48 games and totaled 3 tackles. 1 tackle a year for a second round pick? Brutal! Very next pick - Pro Bowl DL Darnell Dockett
4) Kevin O'Connell QB San Diego State (2008 draft - 94 overall)
3rd round pick lasted 1 season in NE before being cut. Total waste of a pick. When you consider how bad the Pats need a 3rd WR right now it has to hurt knowing WR Mario Manningham was draft by the NYG with the next pick in the draft
5) Dave Thomas TE Texas (2006 draft - 86 overall)
BB loves to draft TEs (Graham, Watson, Mills etc) but none of them have ever been great. Thomas only lasted 3 years in NE totaling 21 rec - 261 yards - 1 TD)

Dishonorable mention
Laurence Maroney RB Minnesota (2006 draft - 21 overall)
Adrian Klemm T Hawaii (2000 draft - 46 overall)
Guss Scott DB Florida (2004 draft - 95 overall)
Garrett Mills TE Tulsa (2006 draft - 106 overall)

What about Guss Scott and Brock Williams? How is it that you think that Thomas was worse than those two?

 

[Brono]

Regarding Mayo, he and Brandon Meriweather are the only Pats players to have played all defensive snaps in the past two games, according to PFF. I assume this means BB has total confidence in them.

 

[IcyPatriot]

this is where you lost all credibility

Yes ... and I would put Samuel 2nd on that list. The other best besides Brady were 1st round picks. Samuel was predicted to maybe be decent nickle back. He couldn't tackle my grandmother when he was a rookie.

So ... is best the best or best value?

Gus Scott surprised me ... he was supposed to be a decent tackler ... he had nothing.

 

[jbb9s]

Kevin O'connel has to be on the bust list. I mean, it is very rare that you cut a second year player who was drafted that high. Since we never saw him play, I would have to assume he was a complete clown in practice.

Chad Jackson was a terrible bust considering we drafted up to get him plus he was the 2nd overall wide out taken.

 

[captain stone]

Best (as in Best Value) Picks:
Brady
Branch
Givens
Koppen (but we need a bigger, more physical center now)
TBC
Wilfork
Cassel (got #34 overall for him)
Butler (still holding out hope);

Worst Picks:
the entire 2007 draft
the 2004 draft (excl. Wilfork)
the 2008 draft (excl. Mayo, for now)
rounds 4-7 of the 2000 draft (excl. Brady)
rounds 3-7 of the 2001 draft
Rohan Davey
Bethel Johnson
Dan Klecko
Lil' Jimmy Sanders
rounds 5-7 of the 2006 draft (I was on board with the CJack trade-up, so I can't in good conscience include him)
Ron Brace
Brandon Tate
Lil' Richie Ohrnburger
George Bustey
Darryl Richard

 

[TruthSeeker]

Going back to my list. Maroney has shown signs of life but everytime he runs into Neal or Mankins @ss it drives me nuts.

Exactly. You need to slow up a little before running into your teammates. And keep your feet moving.

 

[pats1]

What about Guss Scott and Brock Williams? How is it that you think that Thomas was worse than those two?

Wasn't Brock Williams hurt?

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

The 10 best draft picks of the Bill Belichick era | New England Patriots | projo.com | The Providence Journal

According to a story posted on the Forbes magazine web site last week, the New England Patriots are the team with the worst draft record in the NFL over the last three years, as only 50 percent of the players they’ve selected in that time are still with the team.

The methodology may have been flawed – for one, the Patriots are a veteran-laden team that doesn’t have the room for a lot of young players every season like the Texans, the club with the best record according to the article. New England also retains a higher percentage of undrafted players than other teams.

Nice way to back track on cold hard evidence. The excuse that they have veterans so they don't take rookies is lame at best. Please, the Pats can improve at almost every position just like every team in the NFL. Hardly any rosters are stacked at any one position. When a team finds a good rookie, they find a way to keep them. You don't see many draft picks (if any) New England threw away that they regret. Forbes says it best, the Pats have had the worst draft record in the past three years.

 

[Seymour93]

Brock Williams was the worst. Even when he wasn't injured he didn't play but a few garbage downs. He ended up selling his SB XXXVI ring to a pawn shop (just like Leonard Myers) :bricks: