2014 Patriots Draft - Not sexy, but necessary

I look at this draft class and it's probably the least exciting draft the Pats have had in a loooooong time.

But it was a necessary draft. OLine depth/youth was really needed. It's always hard to be excited with OLine picks, but it had to be done. The Pats have a history of turning mid-round OLinemen into starters and contributors. They used 3 picks on OLine. I think at least one of these guys will see significant playing time this year.

QB was necessary. Mallet won't be around after this year and IMO was never going to be the player to replace Brady. Garoppolo could truly be the 'heir to the throne' in a couple years. He needs to sit and learn for a year or two as he wasn't ready to start for any team in the league. It's a perfect situation for him. Some don't like the pick because he probably won't play for a few years, but he might be a real stud when he finally does play. Could end up being the best QB from this draft class learning behind Brady and having Belichick coach him up. It wasn't a pick that will pay off this year, but it could pay off big time in a few years. BB likes to stay one step ahead and this is an example of that.


Easley is boom or bust. I didn't think the Pats would draft him at all because his style is so different than all the DT's BB has drafted. But this pick has grown on me. He's exactly what we need on defense if he's healthy. I don't mind the team taking a risk here but the fear of him being another Ras-I Dowling(never healthy) is very real. it's hard to be excited about a player that might take a while to get back to 100%. He might not be ready to go in week 1 and nobody knows his exact timetable... but we might see a similar situation that we did with Collins last year where they slowly ease him into the lineup and by the time the playoffs come around he's running on fresh legs and being disruptive while everyone else is running on empty.

How dare you use logic sir? Please correct your attitude and immediately grab your ticket for the line of bridge jumpers forming in front of the Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge! Dress warm as I hear the Charles River is still cold this time of year.

Next time please read the memo first - BB has no clue as a GM and sit-ins to protest his incompetence are being organized as we speak!

As for the Patriots draft picks. They are either made of glass or we obviously could have drafted them in the 7th round or probably even picked them up as UDFAs! BB should read more Mel Kiper and listen less to his own scouts!!

...

J-K!

MrNathanDrake said:

I look at this draft class and it's probably the least exciting draft the Pats have had in a loooooong time.

But it was a necessary draft. OLine depth/youth was really needed. It's always hard to be excited with OLine picks, but it had to be done. The Pats have a history of turning mid-round OLinemen into starters and contributors. They used 3 picks on OLine. I think at least one of these guys will see significant playing time this year.

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Yeah, but that was under Dante Scarnecchia. He is gone now. Not sure we can count on that type of success to continue.

MrNathanDrake said:

I look at this draft class and it's probably the least exciting draft the Pats have had in a loooooong time.

But it was a necessary draft. OLine depth/youth was really needed. It's always hard to be excited with OLine picks, but it had to be done. The Pats have a history of turning mid-round OLinemen into starters and contributors. They used 3 picks on OLine. I think at least one of these guys will see significant playing time this year.

QB was necessary. Mallet won't be around after this year and IMO was never going to be the player to replace Brady. Garoppolo could truly be the 'heir to the throne' in a couple years. He needs to sit and learn for a year or two as he wasn't ready to start for any team in the league. It's a perfect situation for him. Some don't like the pick because he probably won't play for a few years, but he might be a real stud when he finally does play. Could end up being the best QB from this draft class learning behind Brady and having Belichick coach him up. It wasn't a pick that will pay off this year, but it could pay off big time in a few years. BB likes to stay one step ahead and this is an example of that.


Easley is boom or bust. I didn't think the Pats would draft him at all because his style is so different than all the DT's BB has drafted. But this pick has grown on me. He's exactly what we need on defense if he's healthy. I don't mind the team taking a risk here but the fear of him being another Ras-I Dowling(never healthy) is very real. it's hard to be excited about a player that might take a while to get back to 100%. He might not be ready to go in week 1 and nobody knows his exact timetable... but we might see a similar situation that we did with Collins last year where they slowly ease him into the lineup and by the time the playoffs come around he's running on fresh legs and being disruptive while everyone else is running on empty.

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Wow, caught me by surprise, but then again so did this draft which really proved one thing to me---I KNOW NOTHING!


D. EASELY DL-I really like the player but no way did i think Belichick would spend a first on a guy with two torn ACL's. What this demonstrates imo is that the Patriots flat out love this player and believed he was a top 10 player prior to getting hurt, and i am guessing they decided that if he checked out and fell to them they were taking him, period. I hope they are right, an All Pro caliber DT who puts interior pressure on QB's is as close to gold as there is in football.

J. Garrapolo-QB-I was shocked. Not surprised, I was shocked they made this pick. Despite the fact that a good number of poster's here were saying they would go QB and start looking for Brady's successor I wasn't buying it, and although I still think Brady has at least 3 really good years left, if not more, I think they were right and the Patriots were right to start working towards that end goal now, especially given that they obviously really like the player. As Belichick apparently alluded to the Patriots are not going to walk into an Andrew Luck situation so their challenge of replacing Brady is going to be a major one, and finding the right player for that is as big a task as they come.

*There is an interesting aspect to this that I really hadn't given much thought to prior to this pick taking place, largely because i have so much respect for Brady and all he has done for this franchise that I just didn't see it as necessary. For the first time since 2001 Tom Brady has a QB behind him who could be thought of as a true potential successor, something that none of his predecessors ever attained. And while i am not anointing Garrapolo as Brady's successor I do think that for the first time since Bledsoe was on the team Brady is looking at his back-up as a serious threat to someday replace him, and if his past is a predictor of how he will respond to this then it is going to light a bonfire under him and he is going to be out for blood from here on out.

Trading back-I can see it, they saw so many good prospects go off the board before their 3rd pick and they were able to add a pick .Good move.

Brian Stork C-Addressed a real need with a good prospect. He's not going to be confused with mangold any day soon but he should be able to win the job from Wendell and improve the position. Good pick, even though there were others i wanted more.

J. White RB-This reminds me of the Ridley pick a few drafts ago, not a sexy pick but a kid who can run well and contribute in a number of ways with more talent than you might suspect. They are set on that unit with real good camp competition for the last spots.

C. Fleming OL-Not a big fan of this pick, big and sluggish isn't really what I want in OL.

J. Halpio OG -Really like this pick. Big, nasty, quick feet, and always out there. I think he supplants Connolly by the end of September if not sooner. And if Stork and Halpio win the C and RG jobs then my take on this draft is really going to improve, as that means two major needs get two new starters

Z. Moore DE- I am a sucker for glowing reviews of player character and Moore's was as good as it gets. He has the drive and ethic but we will have to see if he has the talent to play for them. I sure hope so, adios Jake Bequette.

J. Thomas DB-Loved this pick, he gives them a poor man's Jimmy Ward and should knock out Tavon and then possibly Arrington in a year, which would save them some serious cash down the road

j. Gallon WR (slot)-I know nothing about him. Will have to look it up.


Overall this has the makings of a really good draft for them but for those of us hoping to use this draft to get major upgrades at need for 2014 it wasn't much fun. I wanted TE, LB, and a pass rusher much more than the shoring up on offense and depth, but this will make sense if the players work out, but they still have to find a way to get depth at LB and a good TE to pair with Gronk. If they sign Keller then they are pretty much down to LB depth, and overall that's a good position to be in.

Ivan said:

*There is an interesting aspect to this that I really hadn't given much thought to prior to this pick taking place, largely because i have so much respect for Brady and all he has done for this franchise that I just didn't see it as necessary. For the first time since 2001 Tom Brady has a QB behind him who could be thought of as a true potential successor, something that none of his predecessors ever attained. And while i am not anointing Garrapolo as Brady's successor I do think that for the first time since Bledsoe was on the team Brady is looking at his back-up as a serious threat to someday replace him, and if his past is a predictor of how he will respond to this then it is going to light a bonfire under him and he is going to be out for blood from here on out.

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i agree with you

naF staP said:

Yeah, but that was under Dante Scarnecchia. He is gone now. Not sure we can count on that type of success to continue.

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BB has a lot of faith in Scar's replacement.

I kept waiting for the "sexy picks", as I was lulled into that special place that Kiper et al want us to be at. As it unfolded, became more and more pleased with the utilitarian aspect of this draft.. they took some risks, but drafted some folks that will push our existing starters while creating some backups...

This was not a "glamour" draft, it was the "blue plate special" and a couple of days ago Caserio said something to the effect that we could field a team without the draft, so all of this has been done to create competition and depth.. which is not bad and a luxury that few NFL teams enjoy.

I think what frustrated most people about this draft was everyone hearing how deep this draft was at the sexy positions, and seeing the Pats go pretty much all in on the trenches. I'm in full agreement with NathanDrake, we needed a draft like this.

Also, I keep hearing the Easily comparisons with Ras I Dowling. I think that a wrong comparison. To me, if anything I see Easily being like Gronk. An often injured beast.

Gpolo should make the 1st few preseason a bit more interesting then usual . On the otherhand it seems Brady wants to be around at least 3 yrs.

Tunescribe said:

BB has a lot of faith in Scar's replacement.

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I think that's true and this would be one of BB's MO's. Give the new guy the tools he needs to work with. He resigned everyone back from last year and no one got cut or released and obviously he had lots of input on the selections. Plenty of competition to evaluate.

OhExaulted1 said:

I think that's true and this would be one of BB's MO's. Give the new guy the tools he needs to work with. He resigned everyone back from last year and no one got cut or released and obviously he had lots of input on the selections. Plenty of competition to evaluate.

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Well, they did cut Zuseviks and didn't re-sign Svitek now that I think of it.

Not sexy??


I respectfully disagree

In all seriousness though I completely agree, love this draft. I had been begging for a draft focusing on both lines and that looks to be the case. You look at our big playoff losses since '07 and I believe in most cases up front is where those games were lost. Easley is a major risk, at first I didn't like it. But I believe this team truly doesn't have any glaring issues, we can afford a risk. Just as we can afford to spend a 2nd on a potential heir apparent. IIRC, it's the highest pick BB has ever used on a QB here (maybe ever) so that says alot on how high he is on the kid.

If we found a new starting C and RG(or at least a RG to push Cannon to a starting role and provide quality depth) the draft is already a success IMO.

AzorianPats said:

I think what frustrated most people about this draft was everyone hearing how deep this draft was at the sexy positions, and seeing the Pats go pretty much all in on the trenches. I'm in full agreement with NathanDrake, we needed a draft like this.

Also, I keep hearing the Easily comparisons with Ras I Dowling. I think that a wrong comparison. To me, if anything I see Easily being like Gronk. An often injured beast.

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BB's drafts are always somewhat contrarian. Pick or trade up when you expect him to trade down or visa versa. Ignore the pundits and stick with your own plan. A Mel Kiper Grade of C is a badge of honor. What does he or the fans know? Don't be afraid to whiff on some picks as is inevitable.

3 trends are discernible. First, they want versatile impact athletes on defense (who doesn't?). Second, they now want large (even if not the best athletes) versatile OL players. Tom Brady's career will be prolonged as much by having a good running game as by having good pass protectors. Third (we already knew this), he wants smart, football smart, versatile and high character grinders who fit the system and embody the Patriots Way.

A diverse portfolio of risky and safe choices is probably the best approach. When he makes high risk picks, he is always set up to be patient. As someone else pointed out, Easly could be the 2014 fresh legs version of last season's Collins revelation. Garropalo is in the perfect place for a developmental QB for a team where, due to age and inevitable decline, any snap could be Tom Brady's last.

Looking at things this way, I can't complain particularly since I go all the way back to when Babe Parilli and Gino Cappiletti were our studs. The Patriots are the best football organization so far in this Century.

I don't like the White pick. He's nothing special and his strongest attribute appears to be his record of not fumbling. We let Blount walk and this guy couldn't carry his jock. I had posted a while back that I expected a trenches type draft, but I was hoping we'd add one or more of the super fast RB o r WR players. Based on the QB slides in the draft, it appears we reached badly to draft JG in the 2nd. I went 0 Fer the draft on my mock and 0 Fer my wish list too.

I totally agree with the OP.

I've convinced myself that the plan was to draft a TE at #62 but when all the worthy guys were gone we panicked in a sense.

Glad I worked yesterday. I was disappointed they didn't grab a few players I liked but that is to be expected. There were a couple of linebackers I was hoping they would take and they were available for the taking. They have depth at oline and dline but I thought they could of used another LB with the departure of Spikes. I was fine with the wr's and was not too high on the TEs this going to be one of those wait and see type of drafts. I think they are all that way but this one especially. In a draft many considered pretty deep there wasn't a lot of flash of recognizable names to entice the average fan.

Remember when the Pats have made 'sexy' picks in the past.... or players that everyone wanted them to choose.

Chad Jackson, Maroney, Meriweather, Shawn Crable (everyone mocked him to us).... they don't always pan out, while the under the radar picks do

Some people are crying for a WR in the thread about getting Brady help.

But look at our roster. A rookie WR wouldn't help this year and would most likely get redshirted.

Edelman - just signed
Amendola - recently signed and won't be cut
LaFell - just signed
Dobson - not being cut
Boyce - gotta give him a chance

None of those guys are getting cut this year.


So my point is, what would happen if we drafted another WR in the 1st or 2nd round? We would have a huge logjam at WR. We haven't known BB to use an abnormal amount of roster spots on WR's in the past.

I liked the value in Marqise Lee, but DLine was a way bigger need than WR.

White's strong attribute was his abilities in the passing game, an ability that few draftees had.

old 55 said:

I don't like the White pick. He's nothing special and his strongest attribute appears to be his record of not fumbling. We let Blount walk and this guy couldn't carry his jock. I had posted a while back that I expected a trenches type draft, but I was hoping we'd add one or more of the super fast RB o r WR players. Based on the QB slides in the draft, it appears we reached badly to draft JG in the 2nd. I went 0 Fer the draft on my mock and 0 Fer my wish list too.

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