My Binky, one of our biggest draft screw-ups...

[patsox23]

During the BB/Pioli era - Garrett Mills.

I love this guy, but it really is starting to look like they completely BLEW this draft pick. No big deal, they all make mistakes, there are others (2nd rounders with great raw tools, who didn't make it, etc...) and the Patriots make, and will make, far fewer errors than most organizations. Having said that...

I always felt like the selection of Mills was a hugely great sign of his no-brainer talent because:

1) we had already, right before, taken a TE in Dave Thomas so this wasn't as much a "need" - it seemed very much a luxury pick

2) an early Day Two pick, the draft slot of which was EXTREMELY valuable and trade-able. The Pats chose NOT to trade the pick and stuck with the slot and waited to take Mills. They had all night to re-evaluate what the draft board had done, and they STILL didn't deal the pick. And they STILL took a TE after they had just taken one.

To me, these facts suggest that BB/Pioli felt VERY sure of Mills as a prospect. They saw a versatile player, with a ton of production, and football was important to him. A pretty big whiff, all things considered.

Again, no big deal - it's a 4th rounder, we'll be fine. But it does go to show just HOW inexact a science the NFL draft is, even for those whose evaluation skills are elite.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Mills has all the talent to make this team I think he doesn't make it because the talent above him is just too good.

I don't think they blew the pick i just think they log jammed it.

 

[patsox23]

Eh. I don't know. As I said, I love tihs guy, but I just feel like he hasn't shown much, even when he got his moments. What with the TE situation, this pre-season should have showcased him even more - and still may - but so far I'm not seeing much outside of him being FANTASTIC on my Madden team.

 

[unoriginal]

They've been cutting tight ends left and right, but not Mills. There's still room for optimism.

 

[pats1]

Eh. I don't know. As I said, I love tihs guy, but I just feel like he hasn't shown much, even when he got his moments. What with the TE situation, this pre-season should have showcased him even more - and still may - but so far I'm not seeing much outside of him being FANTASTIC on my Madden team.

Give him more time. No need to write him off yet. He hasn't done anything wrong.

 

[JackBauer]

I agree. Can't write him off until he's cut.

 

[patsox23]

Hope you guys are right. After all, he's got the Binky factor going on.

 

[mgteich]

We drafted two of the top two TE's in the league that year as Graham insurance. We have chosen to keep Thomas, who should be a contributer for years at TE. I am absolutely fine with that draft result. Using two draft choices for a critical need is fine by me.

The bonus has been that Mills could ALSO be winner. In the end, it seems not.

 

[kriskanos]

Mills is a better FB than Heath Evans I am tired of seeing him fall sideways.

 

[pats1]

Why are we so quick to judge Mills? Honestly, what are you guys (especially ps23) seeing that makes you so down on him? He's played in 3 or 4 preseason games in his career so far, and 0 regular season games? And we're already calling him a bust? And we're already acting like the Pats made a mistake?

Is this a joke or something that I'm missing?

 

[ClevTrev]

I'm right there with you, the door has not closed on Mills, and if he's as bad as some say, I doubt this team would be wasting time on a dead end.

I'm pulling for this guy, and it may be due to the rudimentary schemes they run in the preseason, they really don't have any plays for an h-back. If he sticks due to STs and other contributions, he'll have ample time to prove himself. I keep going back to a comment BB made a couple years ago observing that many players take 3 seasons to show their full capabilities. Therefore, he may get a chance as long as the TE logjam doesn't force the team into a choice earlier.

The other thing is that Mills is definitely not a fullback.

 

[cstjohn17]

it may be due to the rudimentary schemes they run in the preseason, they really don't have any plays for an h-back

I don't see a real spot for him on the roster but agree that they should try more creativity so he can create his own space when matched up 1:1 with LBs when he comes out of the backfield. Otherwise he is just another Dan Klecko feel good story but wasted roster spot.

 

[ClevTrev]

I don't see a real spot for him on the roster but agree that they should try more creativity so he can create his own space when matched up 1:1 with LBs when he comes out of the backfield. Otherwise he is just another Dan Klecko feel good story but wasted roster spot.

You may be right in that there is a lot of roster competition this season, but I'm hoping it gets worked out . . .

The best players at each position of need will be the 53.

 

[DaBruinz]

Just for the fact that Bethel Johnson was drafted in the 2nd round means that Mills can't be one of the "biggest draft screw-ups" of the BB/Pioli era.

Come on guys. Lets get serious and stop over-reacting.

On the Interception last night, Cassel was under pressure and the ball was tipped and never intended for Mills. Mills shouldn't have put his hand on it because Caldwell was behind him and probably would have had it.

But Mills actually played pretty decently other than that.

 

[loosebearing]

My Binky, one of our biggest draft screw-ups...

During the BB/Pioli era - Garrett Mills.

Not even close

2nd round - Bethel Johnson & Marquise Hill (RIP)
3rd round - Gus Scott & B Williams
4th round - Kenyatta Jones, Rohan Davey, Dan Klecko, & Reid

vs

4th round - Jarvis Green, Asante Samuel, & The Ghost
plus later rounds and udfa steals (including some 6th rounder)

If 1st rounders make an impact then the other rounds can be hit/miss to make a good team. (especially if you increase the percentages by having a lot of picks)

I thought Mills was going to be a great value by his press clippings, however his supposedly sure hands are worse than mine, plus he looks short out on the field ( a tight end should have size for the QB to pick him out fast when under pressure)

 

[patsox23]

Why are we so quick to judge Mills? Honestly, what are you guys (especially ps23) seeing that makes you so down on him? He's played in 3 or 4 preseason games in his career so far, and 0 regular season games? And we're already calling him a bust? And we're already acting like the Pats made a mistake?

Is this a joke or something that I'm missing?

I am basing this on him not doing much of anything with the admittedly limited chances he's had - really, he's done NOTHING - and also on the comments I've heard, consistently now, from the PFW guys, who have a unique combination of insight, information and access. They seem to think the guy's not long for the team.

Like I said before, I hope that ends up being inaccurate b/c I like the guy. Having said that, though, my main point still stands - IF he doesn't make the team, that is a pretty big miss, considering they clearly loved this kid coming out of Tulsa. They had all night to rearrange their draft board, they could easily have traded the pick, and they had already taken their TE.

 

[patsox23]

Just for the fact that Bethel Johnson was drafted in the 2nd round means that Mills can't be one of the "biggest draft screw-ups" of the BB/Pioli era.

Come on guys. Lets get serious and stop over-reacting.

I understand your point, but first of all, I did say "one of our biggest draft screw-ups," and I made it clear that it wasn't as simple as the draft slot. It was how oftentimes a team's first pick in the 4th round is especially well thought out, given the fact that you have all overnight to reconstruct the draft board and reassess needs, what you've done so far, what other teams have done so far, etc...

Also, FWIW, Bethel Johnson contributed a helluva lot compared to Garrett Mills. BJ made several HUGE plays. In the end he was a bust, but we got a lot out of him considering that he was a bust.

 

[DaBruinz]

I understand your point, but first of all, I did say "one of our biggest draft screw-ups," and I made it clear that it wasn't as simple as the draft slot. It was how oftentimes a team's first pick in the 4th round is especially well thought out, given the fact that you have all overnight to reconstruct the draft board and reassess needs, what you've done so far, what other teams have done so far, etc...

Also, FWIW, Bethel Johnson contributed a helluva lot compared to Garrett Mills. BJ made several HUGE plays. In the end he was a bust, but we got a lot out of him considering that he was a bust.

I don't believe we got that much out of Johnson honestly. And you are making a helluva lot out of a 4th round pick.. If you are complaining about him, are you also complaining about Dexter Reid, Guss Scott, Marquis Hill, etc, etc?

I think you are being way too critical and throwing the baby out with the bathwater, as the saying goes. You forget that Mills missed all of last year with an injury. And he's here still trying to learn a new position. One that he's never played before. Picking up assignments that he's not used to. That doesn't happen over-night. And it doesn't happen in a year when you can't practice.

 

[Vern]

I always felt like the selection of Mills was a hugely great sign of his no-brainer talent because:

1) we had already, right before, taken a TE in Dave Thomas so this wasn't as much a "need" - it seemed very much a luxury pick

2) an early Day Two pick, the draft slot of which was EXTREMELY valuable and trade-able. The Pats chose NOT to trade the pick and stuck with the slot and waited to take Mills. They had all night to re-evaluate what the draft board had done, and they STILL didn't deal the pick. And they STILL took a TE after they had just taken one.

To me, these facts suggest that BB/Pioli felt VERY sure of Mills as a prospect.

I don't get that conclusion at all. It says only that Mills was a better risk than the alternatives. By the same logic you would conclude the 4th they traded for Moss means they are VERY sure of Moss. If so, then why the one year only "prove it" deal? Instead that deal shows they use 4th round picks to take "calculated risks" on things with high upside. They do that a lot in the second too (Jackson, Johnson, etc.). You're not going to sign 10 guys a year, nor can you always get better trade value in return. So some times you're left with just using it the best you can.

I think the two points you make only apply to 1st round picks, where due to the salary involved to sign the guy, you really have to go safe and get a sure starter rather than take the risk required to get those higher upside steal types.

Given the throughput they've had at TE/H-back lately, it makes total sense to get more than one in a draft. Is there some rule against back-to-back where you can only do that if you're certain?

 

[Vern]

Not even close

2nd round - Bethel Johnson & Marquise Hill (RIP)
3rd round - Gus Scott & B Williams
4th round - Kenyatta Jones, Rohan Davey, Dan Klecko, & Reid

vs

4th round - Jarvis Green, Asante Samuel, & The Ghost
plus later rounds and udfa steals (including some 6th rounder)

Didn't we trade a 2nd rounder for Duane Starks? That would have to be the worst use of a pick ever. Hell, being forced to accept Starks in exchange for some other team's 1st round pick would still be the worst ever