2010 and 2011 Drafts

[BelizePats]

There is no denying that the 2010 draft is a very deep draft. Our trade for Burgess really hurts right now because not only did he not produce but we paid a very steep price for him. Particularly the 2010 3rd round pick, which would look awfully good right now, given how deep the draft is. What about trading our second in 2011 for a 3rd this year. We should be able to find a willing partner. Then we trade down one of our 2011 first for a later first and a second or some combination thereof that would get us the second we traded away for this years third.

I really want to get a 3rd back because of how many good players will be available in the 3rd round this year and I'm just thinking out loud!

 

[mayoclinic]

There is no denying that the 2010 draft is a very deep draft. Our trade for Burgess really hurts right now because not only did he not produce but we paid a very steep price for him. Particularly the 2010 3rd round pick, which would look awfully good right now, given how deep the draft is. What about trading our second in 2011 for a 3rd this year. We should be able to find a willing partner. Then we trade down one of our 2011 first for a later first and a second or some combination thereof that would get us the second we traded away for this years third.

I really want to get a 3rd back because of how many good players will be available in the 3rd round this year and I'm just thinking out loud!

I'm with you all the way on this one. The price for Burgess was very steep given the talent in this draft, and I want to get 3rd round picks.

Every draft that I've seen so far I start with the 3rd round and look to see who is available. There are always 2nd and even borderline 1st round talents available. There's just too many good prospects in this draft - the number per round is fixed, so some are going to spill over. I want to somehow get at least one and preferably 2 picks in the 3rd round. We could get an Austen Lane, an Eric Norwood, or a similar caliber player there.

Frankly, the 5th round pick looks like it could hurt, too. Guys like WR Freddie Barnes, TE Jim Dray, and DE Clifton Geathers could easily fall to the 5th round. There's a lot of potential quality depth to be picked up there.

I'm not sure about your trade idea, though. I'd explore other options first before I'd give that up. And I don't think that's BB's style.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I'm still not sold that Burgess was a complete bust. Maybe with the Pats and their schemes and personal this season? But I do think he could play a role on this team with some personal changes along the defense. Look at Banta Cain when he left for the 49ers. I'm sure their fans were proclaiming him a bust, but when he came back to the Patriots they had a role for him and he filled it well. Actually if we could get just one guy who could get consistent pressure I'm sure Banta Cain and Burgess would do pretty well for themselves in situational downs.

But I hear you, That 3rd rounder would of been nice this season but having the 22nd and 3 2nds is nothing to cry about either.

 

[ayjackson]

I generally agree, but I think that our own 2011 first rounder could be usefull in targeting an RFA or franchised UFA in trade. If uncapped, the free agent market could be very competitive, so being able to trade that pick might be helpfull.

Having said that, I don't have anybody on my radar.

 

[Badluck]

i wouldnt mind using our 2010 and 2011 1st round picks(and keeping the raiders pick) to trade up for someone BB really liked but the thought of BB trading up should probably be erased from my head

 

[DocE]

I could go either way on the 3rd round issue. On one hand, I see the potential value in round 3 of this draft. On the other, I see a team that kept a ton of rookies in 2009 and will add 4 players in the first two rounds to that mix. Now, if that Patriots were to trade up using one of those 2nd round picks, then I'd certainly wish they had a 3rd. There is no denying the Burgess trade didn't work out, but I liked it at the time. The Patriots badly needed a pass rusher to be competitive this year and Burgess had some great years in the past. Unfortunately, he was either a bad scheme fit or age/injuries caught up to him. I was surprised that the price (3rd and 5th round picks) was so high with Burgess in the last year of his contract. That said, remember that the Patriots were the favorites to win the Super Bowl this year and, at the point of the trade, it was a real possiblity that the trade was for the last regular pick of the 3rd and 5th rounds.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

I love the fact that we have two picks in the 1st round of 2011. I really want Patrick Peterson with that Raiders pick and would like to see us trade up from our pick to grab one of the stud WR's that will be coming out (Green, Baldwin, Jones, Floyd) to replace Moss.

I cant imagine Bill giving up a 1st rounder in 2011 (when there could be a rookie cap) AND paying the big money for an UFA that is tagged or a RFA. It's nice to get proven talent but it's just not economical. Why would he give up a 1st rounder and pay big money to a guy like Marshall or VJax when he could draft a game-changing WR next year for a much lower cost?

I hope we use our 2nd rounders this year to possibly move up into the teens or trade one for a proven guy that will be able to come in and have an immediate impact. If Boldin or Merriman could be had for a 2nd rounder, I'd have trouble turning it down. I think Boldin is a perfect fit here with his ability to work the intermediate part of the field and go over the middle. He also would bring a lot of passion and toughness to the team.

I know there are a lot of nay-sayers regarding Merriman but I like him for us even though Holley said we aren't interested. He's one of the best pass rushers I've ever seen in my lifetime when healthy, and his passion, desire, land emotion are something this defense could greatly use. He's got experience in the 3-4 unlike a Peppers. People have questions about his knee, but I'm confident he will bounce back. Brady struggled coming off knee surgery this year as well as Osi Umenyoria. Palmer did too a few years ago. I think it takes a year of being on the field to get the demons out of your mind and also get back to full strength, especially at a position that demands explosiveness. Merriman's value is probably the lowest it will ever be. Conflicts with management, concerns about health, some off field stuff, etc. I think he'd be a great "buy low" candidate.

Doubt any of this will ever happen, but it's nice to dream.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

There is no denying that the 2010 draft is a very deep draft. Our trade for Burgess really hurts right now because not only did he not produce but we paid a very steep price for him. Particularly the 2010 3rd round pick, which would look awfully good right now, given how deep the draft is. What about trading our second in 2011 for a 3rd this year. We should be able to find a willing partner. Then we trade down one of our 2011 first for a later first and a second or some combination thereof that would get us the second we traded away for this years third.

I really want to get a 3rd back because of how many good players will be available in the 3rd round this year and I'm just thinking out loud!

A lot depends on where BB projects that second round pick to fall in 2011.

A further consideration to make: 2010 saw an influx of underclassmen, how does this affect the 2011 draft class? Will there be depth issues in that class which actually increase the value of having a 2nd round pick?

 

[stevedogc]

not only can they trade a 2011 pick for a 2010 3rd, but they can use a couple 2010 2nd rounders and move up closer to the 1st or even to the late first rounnd maybe pick up a 3rd as well. By all accounts the 2010 is a very deep draft and I think trading the Pats 2011 1st rounder or 2nd rounder for 2010 pick would pay off for them. Having that pick from the Raiders is huge, gives them alot of flexibilty. There are a couple of LB's I would love to see the Pats get that can be had somewhere in the 3rd. Micah Johnson, ILB, Kentucky and Austin Lane, OLB/DE, Murray State.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I generally agree, but I think that our own 2011 first rounder could be usefull in targeting an RFA or franchised UFA in trade. If uncapped, the free agent market could be very competitive, so being able to trade that pick might be helpfull.

Having said that, I don't have anybody on my radar.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this; the only thing the Pats could do with that 2011 first in terms of UFAs/RFAs is include it in the two-first price for a UFA. [The rule is, you must use either your own pick or a higher pick you've acquired in the same draft.]

 

[mgteich]

How does a weaker draft increase the value of a second rounder. We will get 3rd round talent.

A lot depends on where BB projects that second round pick to fall in 2011.

A further consideration to make: 2010 saw an influx of underclassmen, how does this affect the 2011 draft class? Will there be depth issues in that class which actually increase the value of having a 2nd round pick?

 

[upstater1]

I agree with the first two posts.

My eyes are going gaga over this draft.

Can't believe that we can land a kid like Eric Norwood late in the 2nd.

 

[WhiZa]

Does anyone think that a 3rd rounder would be able to perform as well as Burgess did this year? Maybe in 2 or 3 years, but what else were the Pats going to do? Start Ninkovich all year? Fans would be out for BBs head

 

[upstater1]

Does anyone think that a 3rd rounder would be able to perform as well as Burgess did this year? Maybe in 2 or 3 years, but what else were the Pats going to do? Start Ninkovich all year? Fans would be out for BBs head

Maybe yes.

Clay Matthews performed as well or better than Burgess, and an early second might be able to as well.

I really don't think it's a stretch.

 

[mayoclinic]

Does anyone think that a 3rd rounder would be able to perform as well as Burgess did this year? Maybe in 2 or 3 years, but what else were the Pats going to do? Start Ninkovich all year? Fans would be out for BBs head

Connor Barwin put up 4.5 sacks for Houston as a sub. He defended 4 passes, to Burgess' 0. And his 18 tackles were over half of Burgess' 35, with much less playing time.

I think if we had taken Barwin at 40 we could have gotten at least Burgess kind of productivity.

 

[WhiZa]

Matthews was a 1st round pick so he doesn't really relate to Burgess's 3rd round pick.

Barwin, stat-wise, would have been a better choice. But this year the Pats could have busted just as easy on the other OLBs like Cody Brown, Paul Kruger, or [my favorite] Clint Sintim. These guys may do great in another year or two, but we all saw a need yesterday at OLB and getting Burgess was the best we were going to do this year.

It goes along the line of thought that you use the draft to sustain success and not use it as a quick fix or else you'll end up like the Lions.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

How does a weaker draft increase the value of a second rounder. We will get 3rd round talent.

Perhaps, but trying to project 2011's depth it looks like the first two rounds will still have equivalent talent, the question that arises is 'how deep does it go beyond that?' There are plenty of folks here talking about kids projected into the third round as worthy acquisitions to the roster, this draft has depth that looks to be as strong as last years, at the moment I'm not sure where 2011 will be in comparison.

 

[ayjackson]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this; the only thing the Pats could do with that 2011 first in terms of UFAs/RFAs is include it in the two-first price for a UFA. [The rule is, you must use either your own pick or a higher pick you've acquired in the same draft.]

The 2011 first (our own) could be used this year on the potentially huge crop of RFA's (or a franchised UFA). I'm thinking of it as a trade chip in this offseason.

 

[Seneschal2]

Our trade for Burgess really hurts right now because not only did he not produce but we paid a very steep price for him.

He's done one thing well his entire career -- and that's rush the passer. So BB takes a gamble on a veteran player who may have had enough skills remaining to upgrade a position of need (even if it's for just one season). And IF, he had provided consistent pressure (and more sacks) for the entire season, who's to say how much deeper we would've gone into the playoffs. It's not like BB traded the picks for someone who had potential only, as Burgess was a proven player on the NFL level.

BB had three basic options to upgrade:

- Draft one of the high ranked pass rushers, KNOWING there's no sure thing in the draft, and KNOWING that some rookies do not make a difference their first year

-Sign ($$$) a top tier FA pass rusher

-Trade for a proven veteran (Burgess)

Parting with a third round pick was not a real gamble considering the upgrade options, BB's history parting with third-rounders, and the possible reward if Burgess had been more consistent.

I really want to get a 3rd back because of how many good players will be available in the 3rd round this year and I'm just thinking out loud!

The Pats may somehow acquire a third-rounder but still -- let's not be greedy here. When most teams have the standard one pick each in rounds two and three, Belichick may be sitting there w/ three second-rounders in this deep draft class. Forget the missing third-rounder, and hope that BB selects 4 difference makers early -- and possibly a late round gem. THAT would be a tremendous draft, although some cluck would be heard saying, "We could've had so-and-so in round three. " I prefer to remain positive and hope we get the right players -- wherever we pick.

 

[chevss454]

The 2011 first (our own) could be used this year on the potentially huge crop of RFA's (or a franchised UFA). I'm thinking of it as a trade chip in this offseason.

You and me both. Btw, this is a pretty good site that spells out the Pats needs.

http://nfldraftdog.com/nfl-team-columns/new-england-patriots.html