Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft (merged)

[solman]

I just mentioned on another thread that the Jets have as many of our

2007 draft choices on their 53 man roster as we do (grand total of one).

Three out of nine is pretty lousy no matter how good the drafting team is.

If the Pats were going to blow away the 2007 draft, why didn't they

trade away all their choices except for the four complementary picks?

The Patriots came into the draft with six trade-able picks:

24,28,91,127,180,202

As of right now, those draft picks have yielded the following:

Brandon Meriwether
Randy Moss
Mike Richardson
Oscar Lua
Possible 4th overall pick in the 2008 draft
Possible 69th overall pick in the 2008 draft

If we pretend that the draft pick value chart makes any sense, then the 2008 picks alone are currently worth 2045 DPVC points

So, in exchange for six picks worth 1613 DPVC points in the 2007 draft we got:

2045 DPVC points in the 2008 draft
Randy Moss
Brandon Meriwether
Mike Richardson and
Oscar Lua

Which part of this is the bad part?

Kareem Brown (127th pick) and Justin Rogers (180th pick) couldn't hold onto roster spots on what may be the greatest team ever to play the game (total of 65.4 DPVC points down the drain). Boo effing Hoo.

 

[ALP]

Re: Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft

i agree, i would attribute the less holding of rookies to the fact that his is already a very well stocked and dominant team...rather then bad drafting by pioli

 

[Ishdul]

Re: Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft

You also have to add in Wes Welker, too. I mean, he was our 2nd round pick, basically.

 

[Metaphors]

Re: Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft

I've never seen a team run screaming from a draft like the Pats did in 2007. I half expected to hear from the podium:

"With the 127th pick, the Patriots pick Harry Zass, Tight End, Eff U."

 

[ayjackson]

Re: Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft

I've never seen a team run screaming from a draft like the Pats did in 2007. I half expected to hear from the podium:

"With the 127th pick, the Patriots pick Harry Zass, Tight End, Eff U."

Quite frankly, the draft class looked a dud and the Pats were right to turn the picks into 2008 picks or players at each opportunity. They spent most of day 2 drafting lineman they could get onto their PS, if they felt them worthy.

 

[patchick]

Re: Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft

For fairness/completeness, the 2nd & 7th for Welker are a must. They traded a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th right out of the draft. Some kind of record?

It's worth remembering that we saw this coming beforehand. Here's something I posted after the draft that's still a useful reality check:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=55360

 

[onegr8om]

Re: Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft

Also, doesn't it usually take a year or two for Rookies to break into the Patriots starting lineup?? I know Ty Warren didn't get much attention his rookie year and i'd say he's doing FINE now.

Give Meriweather the same time that Warren got and THEN start declaring him a Hit/Bust.

 

[stinkypete]

Please: enough knocking the 2007 draft

Think, how many rookies have made any kind of impact on their teams this year? The 2007 draft was crap for the entire NFL, maybe as bad as 1997. Stop bashing the Pats because Brandon Meriweather hasn't cracked the rotation yet and Kareem rown's been released.

Has it hit anyone that the Pats spend a 2nd round pick on Wes Welker? What about that trade that sent the 28th pick to San Francisco at way undervalue. That deal produced Randy Moss and a top 5 pick in a stronger, deeper draft.

Are you seriously going to continue to bash the team's 2007 draft? When it is said and done, there will probably be at least 4 impact Players aquired through that draft (Moss, Welker, Meriweather and McFadden/Long/Laurenitis/Phillips, etc). Possily more if we deal the pick.

In the scheme of the Patriots dynasty, from 2001 - whenever it ends, the 2007 draft may have had a greater impact than any other with the exception of 2003.

 

[stinkypete]

Re: Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft

Just posted about the same thing. Didn't see your post.

You have it exactly right, the 2007 may wind up adding more to this team in any draft has since 2003.

 

[patchick]

Re: Please: enough knocking the 2007 draft

In the scheme of the Patriots dynasty, from 2001 - whenever it ends, the 2007 draft may have had a greater impact than any other with the exception of 2003.

There's a lot left to be determined, but the whole discussion reminds me of that Jimmy Johnson comment on draft picks. Can't find the exact quote, but the gist is that draft picks are capital that you can spend in a variety of ways: draft a player, trade up, down or into the future, or trade for veterans. Regardless of approach, it's about making good use of the available capital. Welker, Moss and the highest pick the Patriots have had in the BB era adds up to a nice investment portfolio--despite taking a beating on the day-2 "junk bonds."

 

[ALP]

Re: Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft

For fairness/completeness, the 2nd & 7th for Welker are a must. They traded a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th right out of the draft. Some kind of record?

It's worth remembering that we saw this coming beforehand. Here's something I posted after the draft that's still a useful reality check:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=55360

didnt we also lose the 5th round pick cuz of doug gabriel? which means we only kept our 6th round pick...

btw, wut did we do with the 3rd one? i dont remember

 

[ClevTrev]

Re: Please: enough knocking the 2007 draft

There's a lot left to be determined, but the whole discussion reminds me of that Jimmy Johnson comment on draft picks. Can't find the exact quote, but the gist is that draft picks are capital that you can spend in a variety of ways: draft a player, trade up, down or into the future, or trade for veterans. Regardless of approach, it's about making good use of the available capital. Welker, Moss and the highest pick the Patriots have had in the BB era adds up to a nice investment portfolio--despite taking a beating on the day-2 "junk bonds."

Capital is a good way of defining how a team can fill its needs despite the fact the draft doesn't always provide the college players that match those needs. Welker, Moss and the remainder of the collegiate draft class made the Pats into the team they are today. Good info and well stated.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Stop criticizing the Patriots' 2007 draft

didnt we also lose the 5th round pick cuz of doug gabriel? which means we only kept our 6th round pick...

btw, wut did we do with the 3rd one? i dont remember

Traded for Oaklands third this year (and another trash pick, I guess)

 

[DarrylS]

Re: Please: enough knocking the 2007 draft

There's a lot left to be determined, but the whole discussion reminds me of that Jimmy Johnson comment on draft picks. Can't find the exact quote, but the gist is that draft picks are capital that you can spend in a variety of ways: draft a player, trade up, down or into the future, or trade for veterans. Regardless of approach, it's about making good use of the available capital. Welker, Moss and the highest pick the Patriots have had in the BB era adds up to a nice investment portfolio--despite taking a beating on the day-2 "junk bonds."

Nicely done, it seems that for the Pats the draft is sometimes a necessary side show that may help, but there is more than one way reload.

 

[oldskool138]

Well, Kareem Brown just got picked up by the Jets...He was drafted in '07 right?

 

[rookBoston]

The fact that Kareem Brown was claimed off waivers by THREE teams (Jets, Ravens, Niners) is a pretty good indication that he wasn't a bad pick... there's simply no roster space for all the talent we have on the team.

I thought the same for Justin Rogers and Garrett Mills and Corey Mays... these are players that looked promising for us over the long haul, but BB was forced to offer them up to other teams and Dallas, Minnesota and Cinci (respectively) did so. Those guys are all playing in the NFL.

So, it's not poor talent evaluation. It's just that the roster turnover has not been there.

What the Pats did in 2007, basically trading out of the draft, is precisely what they need to do more of. Instead of wasting the pick on a good player who's eventually going to play for the Jets or Cowboys, let some other team draft him, and bundle the pick for future considerations so when the next Lawrence Taylor DOES come into the draft, the Pats are positioned to take him.

It's a concern, because we're losing our young blood. BB/SP can backfill with players like Thomas, Welker and Stallworth, and that's great... but it's not sustainable over the long haul. Eventually, you'll need those rookie contracts on the roster to fit against the cap.

 

[ATippett56]

Re: Please: enough knocking the 2007 draft

despite taking a beating on the day-2 "junk bonds."

Day-2 "junk bonds" huh?

2000 Tom Brady 6th Round
2002 Jarvis Green 4th Round
2002 David Givens 7th Round
2003 Asante Samuel 4th Round
2003 Dan Koppen 5th Round
2005 James Sanders 4th Round

 

[patchick]

The fact that Kareem Brown was claimed off waivers by THREE teams (Jets, Ravens, Niners) is a pretty good indication that he wasn't a bad pick... there's simply no roster space for all the talent we have on the team.

It's also a nice sign for 2006 pick Le Kevin Smith.

 

[patchick]

Re: Please: enough knocking the 2007 draft

Day-2 "junk bonds" huh?

2000 Tom Brady 6th Round
2002 Jarvis Green 4th Round
2002 David Givens 7th Round
2003 Asante Samuel 4th Round
2003 Dan Koppen 5th Round
2005 James Sanders 4th Round

Yep, 6 starting-caliber players in 8 years! Given an average of 5 day-2 picks a year (including comp picks) that yields less than a 1-in-6 chance of hitting on each day-2 pick. Now add in the strongest, deepest roster in the league and an unusually weak draft, and you're in very low odds territory.

I do respect the value of late round picks (and I still hold out a lot of hope for Mike Richardson!) but a low yield in this situation isn't a surprise.

 

[ATippett56]

Re: Please: enough knocking the 2007 draft

Now add in the strongest, deepest roster in the league and an unusually weak draft, and you're in very low odds territory.

Deepest roster? I beg to differ since the New England Patriots are extremely thin at cornerback and linebacker while now down to six defensive lineman on the 53 man roster.

As for Chad Brown, he's a complete joke.