25 years of drafting WRs tells me I like trading em better than drafting

[jeffbiologist]

No one can argue we now use WRs more than at any time in the last 25 years. With our 3 WR sets we need at least 5 viable options not counting STer Washington. There is always one of these divas nursing some injury, but take a long look at our selections over the last 25 years and see if you come to the same conclusion...(Name, round, pick#,year)

jackson 2-36 06 sam-5-164 04 Johnson 2-45 03 branch 2-65 02 givens 7-253-02 morey 7-241 99 simmons 2-52-98 gaiter 6-192-97 glenn 1-7-96 Lee 2-35-94 brisby 2-56-93 brown 8-198-93
mcmurtry 3-80-90 dykes 1-16-89 Timpson 4-100-89
Martin 4-97-88 usher-7-181-88 taylor 6-163-87
fryar 1-1-84 williams 7-192-84 wilson 2-47-83 starring 2-74-83

In 25 years we have drafted 23 WRs.
3 in rd 1
8 in rd 2
1 in rd 3
2 in rd 4,etc....
Only 6 of these ever became starters, 2 1sts, 2 2nds and 2 late rounders. A guy is just as likely to start from the 6th rd as rd 2! I know the numbers dont say everything..... Now I can do the math and I am not comfortable with Washington or Aiken ever making it on the field. That would say that either we like Bam Childress enough or we draft a new guy. If you look at the history, it would HAVE to include return ability first and reciever as a backup. Further, it would infer that drafting for a KR in rds 5-7 is almost certain. I just hope we dont reach for a WR before the 5th round.
Only 4/11 WRs in rounds 1 and 2 became starters!! Please dont fall in love with a wr,lol.

 

[DaBruinz]

There is a flaw in your theory, though your overall premise is intact. That flaw is that over the 25 years you mention, there have been at least 4 different GM/Coach combinations (i think its closer to 6 but didn't have time to fully run everything).

Going over the last 25 years (1983-2007), the Patriots actually drafted 31 WRs.

1. 2006 - 2nd round - Chad Jackson
2. 2004 - 5th round - P.K. Sam
3. 2003 - 2nd round - Bethel Johnson
4. 2002 - 2nd round - Deion Branch
5. 2002 - 7th round - David Givens
6. 1999 - 8th round - Sean Morey - became a special teams maven
7. 1998 - 2nd round - Tony Simmons
8. 1997 - 6th round - Tony Gaiter
9. 1996 - 1st round - Terry Glenn
10. 1994 - 2nd round - Kevin Lee
11. 1994 - 6th round - Darrell Mitchell
12. 1993 - 2nd round - Vincent Brisby
13. 1993 - 8th round - Troy Brown
14. 1992 - 7th round - Wayne Hawkins
15. 1992 - 12th round - Freeman Baysinger
16. 1991 - 11th round - Vince Moore
17. 1990 - 3rd round - Greg McMurtry
18. 1989 - 1st round - Hart Lee Dykes
19. 1989 - 4th round - Michael Timpson
20. 1988 - 4th round - Sammy Martin
21. 1988 - 7th round - Darryl Usher
22. 1987 - 6th round - Gene Taylor
23. 1986 - 7th round - Ray McDonald
24. 1986 - 11th round - Gene Thomas
25. 1985 - 4th round - Gerald Phelan
26. 1984u - Ricky Sanders
27. 1984 - 1st round - Irving Fryar
28. 1984 - 7th round - Derwin Williams
29. 1983 - 2nd round - Darryal Wilson
30. 1983 - 2nd round - Steve Staring
31. 1983 - 11th round - Steve Parker

One could also make an argument for Greg McMurtry who was a starter opposite Fryar in 1991 and 1992. One could also make a case for Michael Timpson who was a starter in 1993 and 1994. But, as I said at the top, your premise remains the same.

 

[dryheat44]

Hart Lee Dykes looked like a great player until he went blind.
Sammy Martin played in the NFL for a good number of years as a returner.
Ricky Sanders had a nice career for Washington.
Stephan Starring was always among the league leaders in kickoff returns.
Morey's still in the league nine years later.

I don't disagree with anything, I just wanted to reminisce about some of the older players. Belichick always says WR is the hardest position to project. That being said, I wouldn't even count any WR drafted in rounds 8-12 as a failure. They're the longest of long shots any way.

 

[patchick]

I'm pretty much with you, jb. In January of last year I officially swore off even looking at high-round receivers...
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=49963
...and it appeared that the Patriots did the same, giving up a 2nd and 4th for guys VASTLY MORE PRODUCTIVE than you would have expected with 2nd and 4th-round rookies. And how about Gaffney, a high draft pick who was out of a job only to finally become productive as a street free agent. It's all too unpredictable. I'll toss a 2nd-day pick at a guy like Keenan Burton, but that's as far as I go.

 

[Seneschal2]

I'll toss a 2nd-day pick at a guy like Keenan Burton...

Of course you would...

 

[patchick]

Of course you would...

I just can't help myself!

 

[jeffbiologist]

All this said, I fell in love with TERRY GLENN when Ohio St came to play BC the first game that year. I thought he would have made the next Gary Clark, the tough smaller reciever that would go over the middle. He made the acrobatic catch seem routine and was totally uncoverable AS A ROOKIE! New coach, broken ankle, broken collarbone, and he was gone all too quick. Diva!