Blue Chips in the 2011 draft

[Ochmed Jones]

Kind of a weird draft, no big meaty blue chip lineman (offense or defense) in this draft.

I see only three elite players, all under classmen.

QB Luck of Stanford, red shirt sophomore.
WR Green of Georgia Junior.
CB Peterson of LSU Junior.

Considering the status of the CBA, the potential rookie wage scale, no pro football possibly in 2011. What are the agents telling the underclassmen to do when it comes to declaring early? Without a boatload of juniors in this draft, our multiple picks might not get maximized.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Kind of a weird draft, no big meaty blue chip lineman (offense or defense) in this draft.

I see only three elite players, all under classmen.

QB Luck of Stanford, red shirt sophomore.
WR Green of Georgia Junior.
CB Peterson of LSU Junior.

Considering the status of the CBA, the potential rookie wage scale, no pro football possibly in 2011. What are the agents telling the underclassmen to do when it comes to declaring early? Without a boatload of juniors in this draft, our multiple picks might not get maximized.

I've also read that the rookie wage scale won't go into effect until the next draft. Because, the 2011 draft is the last event of the current cba so should be governed by current rules. If that's the case, then there will be a flood of underclassmen.

 

[cstjohn17]

no pro football possibly in 2011.

Waah, I want my mommy.

Please let there be football next year, please, please, please. I will be good all year, promise.

 

[Peachhead]

I think DL Nick Fairley, Auburn is blue chip.

I bet many would argue DE Da'quan Bowers, Clemson is, although personally I don't think he's a fit for the 3-4.

I'm sure plenty will disagree with me. But I think DE JJ Watt, Wisconsin is, and he's a perfect fit for us. IMO his size and skills mirror Richard Seymour in college. I'm pretty surprised he's not ranked higher by Mayock, Kiper and that crew. Although I'm glad he isn't.

 

[mgteich]

Folks have different definitions of "blue chip" and red chip" players. I have always thought of the draft having about a dozen blue chip players and 32 (one round's worth) of red chip players. Some years (like last year), red chip players were available though the entire 2nd round.

IMHO, red chip players has almost always been where the value is. There is an occasionally a QB or DL who is worth blue chip money, but Belichick seems to focus on red chip players. Seymour and Mayo were the obvious exceptions (I would add Wilfork), defensive linemen who were worth the money. However, many highly drafted DL's just don't pan out.

IMHO, the patriots ended up with one blue chipper in 2010 and four red-chippers. As a huge bonus, all are strong contributers in their rookie years.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Folks have different definitions of "blue chip" and red chip" players. I have always thought of the draft having about a dozen blue chip players and 32 (one round's worth) of red chip players. Some years (like last year), red chip players were available though the entire 2nd round.

IMHO, red chip players has almost always been where the value is. There is an occasionally a QB or DL who is worth blue chip money, but Belichick seems to focus on red chip players. Seymour and Mayo were the obvious exceptions (I would add Wilfork), defensive linemen who were worth the money. However, many highly drafted DL's just don't pan out.

IMHO, the patriots ended up with one blue chipper in 2010 and four red-chippers. As a huge bonus, all are strong contributers in their rookie years.

I have always considered blue chip players to be can't miss guys that can change a game from the first day they step on the field. Very rare to see a half dozen in any one draft.

I do agree that BB tends to prefer the red chip players that project very well into his system. Unless there is a massive declaration by the juniors, I think think draft might be a bit weaker than last year's when it comes to red chip prospects.

The only red chip DL I see in this draft that projects well in our defense is Dareus. Very unlikely he is still on the board when we come up to pick with the Raiders first round pick. I like Crick as well, but don't see him as a red chip prospect yet, I think he needs to stay in school for his senior season. I have watched three Wisconsin games this year, but can not recall Watts making a play in any of those games.

Fortunately I see at least a half dozen red chip DE/OLB types that could be projected well in our system. My favorite is Kerrigan of Purdue. And depending on how he runs,should be available when we pick at the end of round one.

Jordan of Cal is another red chip prospect and I see a lot of upside to his game, but I still have trouble projecting him as strong enough to set an NFL edge.

In this draft I see BB drafting four solid red chip prospects that will be able to contribute to some degree next season; but the quality of those red chips players could be greatly enhanced by a lot of underclassmen coming out.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Being a able to decipher a blue chip and red chip is the tricky thing. Everyone knew Suh was a blue chip. Who knew that McCourty, who many considered a red was actually a blue?

I don't put too much stock into the blue red thing. It's easier for the average fan to speculate, but for personal from the Pats,Steelers,Colts etc it's far more in depth and complicated than red and blue.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Being a able to decipher a blue chip and red chip is the tricky thing. Everyone knew Suh was a blue chip. Who knew that McCourty, who many considered a red was actually a blue?

I don't put too much stock into the blue red thing. It's easier for the average fan to speculate, but for personal from the Pats,Steelers,Colts etc it's far more in depth and complicated than red and blue.

Was McCourty even considered a red chip when the draft started last year?

Based on what he did in college, that might be hard to justify.

What McCourty is, is a guy that fits our defense extremely well in part because he studies harder than Butler and Merriweather combined and has the amazing ability to do his job better than any rookie CB I have seen since Ty Law.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

Was McCourty even considered a red chip when the draft started last year?

Based on what he did in college, that might be hard to justify.

What McCourty is, is a guy that fits our defense extremely well in part because he studies harder than Butler and Merriweather combined and has the amazing ability to do his job better than any rookie CB I have seen since Ty Law.

It's hard to believe Mccourty wouldn't fit in anyone's defense. He's a stud, and a beast in the film room by all accounts I've heard. We really got a steal if he continues to develop.