Patriots sign 7th round choice OT Thomas Welch

[patsinthesnow]

Making it to the practice squad doesn't matter. As a league average, 90% of the players taken in the 7th round end up not having an NFL career. Period.

Yes, the Pats have been ABOVE AVERAGE with their 7th round picks. But they have still had more misses than hits with them. Of the 17 draft picks used in the 7th round from 2000 through 2009, they had 7 clear misses. They had 4 players who had minor contributions (Pochman and Morton for other teams, Andrews and Kelley for the Pats), 5 hits in Cassel, Pass, Edelman, Givens, and TBC, and 1 who is undetermined (Richard).

So 30% chance the pats can get a solid player out of the7ths.

I guess the glass is half empty for you.

 

[patsox23]

Bowl!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mike the Brit]

Making it to the practice squad doesn't matter. As a league average, 90% of the players taken in the 7th round end up not having an NFL career. Period.

Yes, the Pats have been ABOVE AVERAGE with their 7th round picks. But they have still had more misses than hits with them. Of the 17 draft picks used in the 7th round from 2000 through 2009, they had 7 clear misses. They had 4 players who had minor contributions (Pochman and Morton for other teams, Andrews and Kelley for the Pats), 5 hits in Cassel, Pass, Edelman, Givens, and TBC, and 1 who is undetermined (Richard).

If that's true, then the Pats' record is pretty incredible -- 30% success (and those 5 are good players, not borderline by any means). Now if only they were as good in rounds 2 and 3.

(By the way, in your earlier post there were 8 clear misses.)

 

[PATSNUTme]

This is the 1st thread regarding Welch ...

The next will be when he's cut.

I picked up Lindy's NFL 2010 preview magazine last night. They said that Welch could be a quality starter in a year.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Making it to the practice squad doesn't matter. As a league average, 90% of the players taken in the 7th round end up not having an NFL career. Period.

Yes, the Pats have been ABOVE AVERAGE with their 7th round picks. But they have still had more misses than hits with them. Of the 17 draft picks used in the 7th round from 2000 through 2009, they had 7 clear misses. They had 4 players who had minor contributions (Pochman and Morton for other teams, Andrews and Kelley for the Pats), 5 hits in Cassel, Pass, Edelman, Givens, and TBC, and 1 who is undetermined (Richard).

By my math 4 +5 +1 = 10. 10 of 17 is more hits than misses for 7th rounders.

The real question is UDFAs. The Pats have Hoyer, Law firm, McGowan, Woods, Alexander, Wright not counting others on the fringes. Those are the ones I remember and I'm sure there were others, in the past decade like Izzo.

 

[efin98]

Making it to the practice squad doesn't matter. As a league average, 90% of the players taken in the 7th round end up not having an NFL career. Period.

Yes, the Pats have been ABOVE AVERAGE with their 7th round picks. But they have still had more misses than hits with them. Of the 17 draft picks used in the 7th round from 2000 through 2009, they had 7 clear misses. They had 4 players who had minor contributions (Pochman and Morton for other teams, Andrews and Kelley for the Pats), 5 hits in Cassel, Pass, Edelman, Givens, and TBC, and 1 who is undetermined (Richard).

It doesn't matter? They are still part of the team and are an injury away from getting outright on the team- it sure as hell matters.

By your claim about them alone that is a 53% success rate with 7th rounders. The fact that those nine players contributed in the league breaks your argument about the 10% success rate. Contributing is success for them no matter how you crap coat it.

 

[jah]

By my math 4 +5 +1 = 10. 10 of 17 is more hits than misses for 7th rounders.

The real question is UDFAs. The Pats have Hoyer, Law firm, McGowan, Woods, Alexander, Wright not counting others on the fringes. Those are the ones I remember and I'm sure there were others, in the past decade like Izzo.

Law Firm, Woods, and Alexander aren't on the fringes?

 

[RayClay]

By my math 4 +5 +1 = 10. 10 of 17 is more hits than misses for 7th rounders.

The real question is UDFAs. The Pats have Hoyer, Law firm, McGowan, Woods, Alexander, Wright not counting others on the fringes. Those are the ones I remember and I'm sure there were others, in the past decade like Izzo.

I wouldn't count making other teams or getting 1/2 career tackle as successful for us. I would count Willie Andrews as he was a good special teamer derailed by legal problems, if I recall.

We still have an extraordinary record in 7, probably in 6 (anybody and Brady) and a damn tough time in 2 and 3 for some reason.

 

[RayClay]

Law Firm, Woods, and Alexander aren't on the fringes?

No, they're on the team. By the standards we're using for sevens, players on the team as Sts, backups or occasional starters between 2-6 years are solid free agents.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Antoine Womack, Oscar Lua, Mike Elgin, Owen Pochman, TJ Turner, Casey Tisdale, Spencer Nead, Andy Stokes all wave "HI" to you as players who the Pats drafted in the 7th round who didn't make it.

As a league average, it's only like 10% of the 7th round picks actually make rosters and accomplish something.

TJ Turner was a heck of a player but was cut for a different reason....I can only speculate.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Did we miss David Givens? Nothing wrong with drafting well in the low rounds, but it's still almost a FA, of which we've hit on a few also.

Actaully yes! He was an incredibly clutch third-down receiver.

 

[mgteich]

6 hits out of 17 is a fantastic record for drafting in the 7th round. I include Andrews who was a top Ster for us. The hits are over 50% if Pochman and Morton are included (they were clearly good draftees).

With regard to Welch, he is as good as 4th or 5th round OL prospects in other drafts. I expect to make the Practice Squad, but I would not be surprised to see him make the squad over LeVoir (or as a 4th OT if Light is traded).

Making it to the practice squad doesn't matter. As a league average, 90% of the players taken in the 7th round end up not having an NFL career. Period.

Yes, the Pats have been ABOVE AVERAGE with their 7th round picks. But they have still had more misses than hits with them. Of the 17 draft picks used in the 7th round from 2000 through 2009, they had 7 clear misses. They had 4 players who had minor contributions (Pochman and Morton for other teams, Andrews and Kelley for the Pats), 5 hits in Cassel, Pass, Edelman, Givens, and TBC, and 1 who is undetermined (Richard).

 

[pats1]

Pats still have room to sign six more of their nine remaining picks.

Which means there will have to be three cuts by the time all the rookies are signed, which will probably be the last week of July, which is seven weeks away.

My top candidates: Bryan Anderson, Darnell Jenkins, Amon Gordon

 

[smg93]

A bit off topic but besides 7th rounders, don't most NFL teams have a good portion of their roster come from the undrafted ranks? I could have sworn reiss mentioned something like 50% but I could be wrong.

 

[captain stone]

This is the 1st thread regarding Welch ...

The next will be when he's cut.

Cold-blooded, but likely true.

Don't spend all your money in one place, Tom; it might be the last NFL check you'll cash.

 

[captain stone]

Which means there will have to be three cuts by the time all the rookies are signed, which will probably be the last week of July, which is seven weeks away.

My top candidates: Bryan Anderson, Darnell Jenkins, Amon Gordon

I hope that Bill doesn't give up on Anderson so quickly, after just signing him as a UDFA. He has 3rd-down/RZ size, and decent enough speed.

 

[captain stone]

A bit off topic but besides 7th rounders, don't most NFL teams have a good portion of their roster come from the undrafted ranks? I could have sworn reiss mentioned something like 50% but I could be wrong.

I think I read about that in Pro Football Weekly. It is indeed a very high % considering their lowly status. And for that reason alone, I believe that every draft pick is precious and every UDFA signing important.

 

[DaBruinz]

It doesn't matter? They are still part of the team and are an injury away from getting outright on the team- it sure as hell matters.

By your claim about them alone that is a 53% success rate with 7th rounders. The fact that those nine players contributed in the league breaks your argument about the 10% success rate. Contributing is success for them no matter how you crap coat it.

Minor contributions are not hits..

It's amazing what people will do to claim they are right..

 

[DaBruinz]

A bit off topic but besides 7th rounders, don't most NFL teams have a good portion of their roster come from the undrafted ranks? I could have sworn reiss mentioned something like 50% but I could be wrong.

50%?? I don't think so.. probably more like 15%..