Pats' last 3 freshman classes

[ivanvamp]

The rookie poll got me thinking about the last 3 "freshman" classes (drafts and UDFAs) for the Pats.

2010:
McCourty (B+)
Gronk (A+)
Cunningham (C+, but improved his grade this year)
Spikes (B+)
Price (F)
Hernandez (A-)
Mesko (A-)
Larsen (??)
Welch (F)
Deaderick (B-)
Weston (F)
Robinson (F)
Fletcher
Love

2011:
Solder (A)
Dowling (D so far, but who knows)
Vereen (B-, but with A- potential)
Ridley (A-)
Mallett (C...what do you expect, he was drafted to be a backup)
Cannon (B-)
Smith (F)
Carter (F)
Williams (D-)
Silvestro
Tarpinian

2012:
Jones (A)
Hightower (A-)
Wilson (C)
Bequette (D)
Ebner (C)
Dennard (A)
Ebert (B)
Boldin (B)
Forston (C)
Francis (B-)
Demps (INC)

There are a TON of very good players the Pats have picked up through the draft or UDFA process the past three seasons. It's helped them rebuild the foundation for the next great Patriots' teams.

EDIT: Yeah, Ebert is not a B. Whoops. Also, forgot to add Demps and Francis. Corrected above.

 

[TyronePoole]

Love B/B+ imo and it looks like Francis is right there too.

I don't know what holds Mesko back from being an A unless you are incorporating value/position into the draft pick grades

otherwise i pretty much agree on everything, except Solder to me is closer to an A-/B+

i think we can safely say that either it was Pioli's negative influence or the Pats just ran bad in the draft for a few years

 

[jah]

How has Ebert earned a B?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Gronk (A+)

GRONK only gets an A+?

 

[patsfaninpa]

Forgot Jeff Demps and Justin Francis from this year's UDFA group. Francis looks like a player. If we can keep Demps healthy, he's a weapon. Was real good with Tebow at Florida. When Tebow left, not so much. We're building a helluva young team.

 

[ivanvamp]

How has Ebert earned a B?

I didn't spend a lot of time dwelling on my "grades"...it was just off the top of my head. I probably confused him and Ebner in my mind.

 

[ivanvamp]

Forgot Jeff Demps and Justin Francis from this year's UDFA group. Francis looks like a player. If we can keep Demps healthy, he's a weapon. Was real good with Tebow at Florida. When Tebow left, not so much. We're building a helluva young team.

Yep, very true. It's amazing to me that next year we should have this incredibly dynamic weapon in Demps available. And I agree on Francis...he looks like he can really help.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I think you graded Vereen way too high at this point in time. He hasn't really done anything but get injured, and already has a key fumble in the 49ers game as well. He has a lot of potential, but he hasn't really produced all that much other than that 1 big play he had for a huge TD.

 

[Claremonster]

BB>Pioli for drafting players.

 

[Claremonster]

BB>Pioli for drafting players.

Well, and pretty much every other avenue too.

 

[DarrylS]

This team has been rebuilt on the fly, and the Pats have not missed a beat... Kudos to BB and staff...

Where are the naysayers who criticize this team and their draft(s)????

At best the draft is a crapshoot...

 

[TFB*]

I think you graded Vereen way too high at this point in time. He hasn't really done anything but get injured, and already has a key fumble in the 49ers game as well. He has a lot of potential, but he hasn't really produced all that much other than that 1 big play he had for a huge TD.

500 yards from scrimmage is pretty darn good for a back who didnt get too many touches. A lot of teams dont even get this from a #2.

We have 4 running backs who average over 4 YPC all who have more than 50 carries. Thats pretty unheard of.

 

[BlueThunder]

I don't have the figures in front of me but, I'd like to see a comparison of the production out of the top 4 RB's on NFL teams.

I'll bet that the Pats have one of the top, if not the #1, production from their backs ( running game and passing game) of any other NFL team. :rocker:

 

[JMC00]

This team has been rebuilt on the fly, and the Pats have not missed a beat... Kudos to BB and staff...

Where are the naysayers who criticize this team and their draft(s)????

At best the draft is a crapshoot...

Remember Felger's rant about drafting Gronk and Hernandez? Wish I could listen to that again.

 

[jsull87]

McCourty B+? PB in his rookie year and 3rd year? Plays CB and FS at a very high level.

 

[fnordcircle]

McCourty B+? PB in his rookie year and 3rd year? Plays CB and FS at a very high level.

B+ is fine given his struggles last year.

 

[patsfan13]

Fletcher deserves a grade perhaps a B-, contributed last year especially for a UDFA.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Remember Felger's rant about drafting Gronk and Hernandez? Wish I could listen to that again.

Yeah, all the Patriots did is turn the worst TE unit in the league into the best TE unit in NFL history. . . . in one year.

 

[wizwor]

GRONK only gets an A+?

'cause he's made of glass

 

[AzPatsFan]

How would you rate the veteran FA signings?