Pats select QB Kevin O'Connell with 94th overall pick

[ClevTrev]

Strong, accurate NFL arm, played with weak OL and WRs, good size, runs like a deer and is extremely mobile.

This guy came on and was considered by many to be a top 5 QB. The good news is that the Pats knew when to pull the trigger. The bad news for their opponents is that it solidifies the QB position with a legitimate future starter who can develop and be ready should the unmentionable happen to Brady.

As for trade bait, the only player potentially being moved would be the survivor of the training camp battle between Cassel and Gutierrez. Don't get too excited, neither one will bring anything resembling eye-opening compensation. Frankly, there's room for only one QB named Matt on the team anyway.

 

[patsox23]

There is a reason why the Giants are SB champs, and we are not, and possibly heading in the opposite direction, as the Giants may be building a Dynasty. Pats pick a QB that will not help this team this year or the next (I don't buy us getting a #2 pick or certainly not a #1 for this guy, people were saying the same thing with Cassel, who not only will get us ZERO draft choices, but will probably get cut). If we are going to go offense, why not pick the guy the Giants picked, Mario Manningham ? The Giants understand Day 2, that's why they are the champs (Look at last years draft, and the start of this years). We can't seem to buy a clue on day 2, since 2002 (David Givens). Terrible pick with good CB's STILL on the board ! And don't give me that "We got Moss on day 2" crap ! We could have made a killing in round 3, that would have helped our team THIS yeear !! We could have have a third round of Dan Connor, Justing King & Tyvon Branch, instead we have a 2nd round pick NEXT YEAR (Brady will be a year OLDER by then), Crable (who I like) and a QB who may never play an NFL game. You can not tell me Conner, King & Branch isn't better than what we wound up with. Case closed !! So far, if I had to rate this draft, I give it a C-.

Total insanity. "Fantasy football fan" type of post.

 

[CheekyDave]

Strong, accurate arm, fantastic vision, 4-year Captain, played well in an adverse conditions (terrible team, terrible OL, mediocre WR), several coaches had him with a 1st round grade.

Cool works for me

 

[patsox23]

Very good running ability and athleticism.

 

[ATippett56]

Cassel is a year away from being a FA (hopefully, we get someone to trade for him), O'Connell is an upgrade.

Anyone is an upgrade over Cassel. Linebacker and cornerback is a higher priority than quarterback since rookie quarterbacks struggle in the NFL.

 

[JoePats]

Very good running ability and athleticism.

Plus, you just have to spend more to backup your biggest assets.

And there's no question who that is on this team.

If Brady misses two weeks God forbid, those games could mean homefield or something. You can't let the whole thing fall apart if one player gets hurt, and that would have happened.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

There is a reason why the Giants are SB champs, and we are not, and possibly heading in the opposite direction, as the Giants may be building a Dynasty.

Prediction for you Scott. The Giants will NOT make the playoffs next year. They caught lightning in a bottle this past season and props to them for it but they're not that good. They're not even the best team in their division.
Dynasty????

 

[Watson's IQ]

THERE IS NO WAY O'CONNELL WAS GOING TO BE THERE IN THE 4th. Some coaches had him with a 1st round grade. Seriously, people, please read up on the draft before coming in here with wild, baseless kneejerk speculation.

Prove it.

Honestly, we get that you like the guy, and I understand fully the benefits of drafting a real back-up QB in this draft, but you are stating your opinions as if they are fact, and then criticizing others for expressing theirs.

 

[tobias funke]

Anyone is an upgrade over Cassel. Linebacker and cornerback is a higher priority than quarterback since rookie quarterbacks struggle in the NFL.

Except we have much more reliable/intelligent rotational depth at LB and CB right now than we do at QB.

And MOST rookies at ANY position struggle in the NFL. That's the way the NFL works. QBs are not the only ones.

 

[ClevTrev]

Prove it.

Honestly, we get that you like the guy, and I understand fully the benefits of drafting a real back-up QB in this draft, but you are stating your opinions as if they are fact, and then criticizing others for expressing theirs.

The Jets, by not taking a QB earlier, had him on their radar but thought he'd be a real VALUE pick. Snooze and you lose. Makes the acquisition that much sweeter, but this guy is the real deal and will be on the team for the long term. He's smart, very coachable, is a leader, and is the heir apparent. I was wondering when the team would move to secure Brady's successor. This is brilliant.

 

[ATippett56]

Except we have much more reliable/intelligent rotational depth at LB and CB right now than we do at QB.

And MOST rookies at ANY position struggle in the NFL. That's the way the NFL works. QBs are not the only ones.

Rookie quarterbacks struggle more than any other position in the NFL.

 

[JackBauer]

There is a reason why the Giants are SB champs, and we are not, and possibly heading in the opposite direction, as the Giants may be building a Dynasty. Pats pick a QB that will not help this team this year or the next (I don't buy us getting a #2 pick or certainly not a #1 for this guy, people were saying the same thing with Cassel, who not only will get us ZERO draft choices, but will probably get cut). If we are going to go offense, why not pick the guy the Giants picked, Mario Manningham ? The Giants understand Day 2, that's why they are the champs (Look at last years draft, and the start of this years). We can't seem to buy a clue on day 2, since 2002 (David Givens). Terrible pick with good CB's STILL on the board ! And don't give me that "We got Moss on day 2" crap ! We could have made a killing in round 3, that would have helped our team THIS yeear !! We could have have a third round of Dan Connor, Justing King & Tyvon Branch, instead we have a 2nd round pick NEXT YEAR (Brady will be a year OLDER by then), Crable (who I like) and a QB who may never play an NFL game. You can not tell me Conner, King & Branch isn't better than what we wound up with. Case closed !! So far, if I had to rate this draft, I give it a C-.

Uhh...

WE ALREADY PICKED A CB IN THE SECOND ROUND.

 

[patsox23]

Prove it.

Honestly, we get that you like the guy, and I understand fully the benefits of drafting a real back-up QB in this draft, but you are stating your opinions as if they are fact, and then criticizing others for expressing theirs.

I am posting in the context of what we've READ for weeks and what I'm hearing and reading in the aftermath - scouting reports, Patriots-related reports on PFW and from other sources.

IOW, my opinions are actually BASED on something. People who don't know that the Patriots were lasered in on O'Connell have less reason to be assertive with their opinions. It's ridiculous. They expose themselves as not having paid attention for the last few months.

 

[fozziewazzi]

Prediction for you Scott. The Giants will NOT make the playoffs next year. They caught lightning in a bottle this past season and props to them for it but they're not that good. They're not even the best team in their division.
Dynasty????

I second that. They're going to be one of those one-and-done SB champs, memorable only because of who they defeated. They don't have the talent for a dynasty.

 

[Triumph]

I called this yesterday, the Pats would go early on QB. The Patriots are using the Walsh-Montana 49ers as their franchise model, and Steve Young did a 5-yr apprenticeship before he came in and led the 49ers to one more SB win. I think Cassel was done after that pick he threw at Miami, and Gutierrez should stay as #3.

The trade issue is also a neat idea, but I think that's what the Patriots will do with either O'Connell or some other QB down the line.

Bob G

Good info Bob

NE still didnt have the Heir Apparent to Brady with Cassel and Giuterez. Maybe, this is the guy?

IMO, Cassel has looked horrible and is basically worthless in a trade.

 

[Zeke_Mowatt]

OK, the sickness is starting to pass, reading some of the better informed posters is helping me at least feel un-ill (yeah, I made it up, so what) about the pick. But with that said, for all those comparing it to SF of years past, the Montana-Young comparisons, etc, doesn't the shorter rookie contract kind of kill that theory unless Brady suffers a major injury in the next 3-4 years? How long do you have a kid in the 3rd to groom him before he starts thinking about cashing in and being a starter instead of being Brady's perennial backup? Therein lies my biggest insecurity with the pick. I understand where his upside can be, Cassell was never, imo, a quality backup who could come in and even manage the team and be a caretaker, maybe this guy can, but in the 3rd round, isn't this still a weird one since he could/would likely be gone by the time Brady decides its time to hang 'em up? That would, it would seem, be a good reason to draft a guy with upside, but only if you see the end of the tunnel for Brady, which I truly hope we don't, and otherwise, isn't it a bit early to grab a backup at any position?

 

[Watson's IQ]

I am posting in the context of what we've READ for weeks and what I'm hearing and reading in the aftermath - scouting reports, Patriots-related reports on PFW and from other sources.

IOW, my opinions are actually BASED on something. People who don't know that the Patriots were lasered in on O'Connell have less reason to be assertive with their opinions. It's ridiculous. They expose themselves as not having paid attention for the last few months.

I was well aware that they had interest, and the pick doesn't surprise me at all.

But honestly, some of you post as if you're sitting in the Patriots' (or other teams) draft room. I agree with you that informed opinions have more validity that baseless reactionary drivel, but you have to be aware that 9 times out of 10 those who hold themselves up as draft gurus and then say "I saw this coming" after the fact look equally ridiculous to the objective eye.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Uhh...

WE ALREADY PICKED A CB IN THE SECOND ROUND.

Uhhh.....there is a law against taking another one ?? Especially with CB being a HUGE weakness ?....BTW...We picked a return man, who will be at best a nickle back in the NFL.The guys available in the third round at CB will probably (I'm willing to bet anything, or anyone) wind up way better than Terrence Wheatley. I would have taken all of the 3rd round CB's over Wheatley. Hated that choice also.

 

[SoCal Pmen]

I live here in San Diego and saw this kid interviewed this week on the news.

He scored the highest on the Wonderlic test. Could be this draft's version of Tom Brady who also scored very high on the test when he came out.

 

[patsox23]

Who's saying "I saw this coming?" I'm merely pointing out that a total lack of awareness of how football teams are responsibly constructed, long-term, and a complete cluelessness about a guy like O'Connell removes a degree of credibility, in my view, on the part of those who are currently throwing hissies about this pick.

Anyone who thinks this pick is somehow out of left field exposes himself as fairly ignorant when it comes to the draft class and the player, not to mention the needs, moving forward, of this organization.