Outlook for the 2014 draft class

Even on a super bowl contender, two rookies still had big roles down the stretch for us in Stork and Butler. Stork was great his rookie year and looks like a future pro bowl center with improvement and Butler looks like a #3/4 CB with upside.

Our first two picks in Easley and Garoppolo remain question marks with high upside. Garoppolo showed more than most of us expected in the preseason/regular season but hopefully won't be needed for a few more years. Easley didn't do much in his limited time.

Maybe one of White, Fleming, and Moore end up a contributor.

Will the draft come down to Easley's development? Even if he doesn't pan out, Stork/Butler are 1st/2nd round picks in a redraft.

Easley showed more than I expected. I expected them to carry him as a practicing inactive. Instead that was Moore's job.

Perhaps it was because Kelly walked out but Easley got quite a lot of playing time right off the bat, and did not look out of place to me.

I think Fleming is going to be a good one. He basically played somewhat of the same role Solder played his rookie year as the 6th lineman. That sort of in game action is vital.

He started that one game as a Guard and looked decent so maybe he has a future there.

patsinthesnow said:

Easley didn't do much in his limited time.

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I'd disagree with this. Easley looked very impressive against Chicago, the game in which he had the best combo of workload and health. He also demonstrated that he can play reasonably well at every position on the line. Other than ending up on IR, he had pretty much the same first year track as Warren and in the middle of the year it looked closer to Wilfork.

It's debatable whether he'll become elite or it he'll stay healthy, but he looks to be no worse than a viable rotational player.

Do not count Moore out. He was a low draft pick from a small school. He actually saw a lot of action and made some plays IE. fumble recovery in Buffalo and was in on a couple sacks. I think BB sees something in him and is bringing him along. Plus do you think Moore ever thought he would have a SB ring.

Show416 said:

I think Fleming is going to be a good one. He basically played somewhat of the same role Solder played his rookie year as the 6th lineman. That sort of in game action is vital.

He started that one game as a Guard and looked decent so maybe he has a future there.

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Solder started 13 games. Playoffs and Super Bowl. Not really same role.

I don't see Butler as being much more. Exceptional play in the SB. Love him for it.

JG : he might just be the same as the other second string QBs... Until he shows much much more, that is how I will view him, hoping he develops more than Mallett and Rohan Davey.

I do have high hopes for Easley and Flemming. I think Stork is already on his way. Why do teams under-value centers ?

I am very happy with the class but mostly because the Pats won. If they lost barely we could ask ourselves "what if they drafted more instant impact players in the 2014 year? maybe then....".

The fact that they won makes those first 2 picks look really smart. You were able to build for the future and win in the present.

We may well look at this class as a corner stone draft in 5 years.

Curious to see what Flemming and White contribute particularly cause i do expect Easley to be good in 2016.

If Flemming is a starter next year and White replaces Vereen and you lose nothing it will look like a monster draft.

farn said:

I don't see Butler as being much more. Exceptional play in the SB. Love him for it.

JG : he might just be the same as the other second string QBs... Until he shows much much more, that is how I will view him, hoping he develops more than Mallett and Rohan Davey.

I do have high hopes for Easley and Flemming. I think Stork is already on his way. Why do teams under-value centers ?

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I wouldn't downplay Mallett too much. He was the starting QB for thE Texans befor injury.

BobDigital said:

I am very happy with the class but mostly because the Pats won. If they lost barely we could ask ourselves "what if they drafted more instant impact players in the 2014 year? maybe then....".

The fact that they won makes those first 2 picks look really smart. You were able to build for the future and win in the present.

We may well look at this class as a corner stone draft in 5 years.

Curious to see what Flemming and White contribute particularly cause i do expect Easley to be good in 2016.

If Flemming is a starter next year and White replaces Vereen and you lose nothing it will look like a monster draft.

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This is it really. It all just depends on development. If Fleming takes over RG/LG, Easley starts at DE/DT and White comes in and contributes then you can't complain.

All If's until next season i am afraid. Easley is THE Key for me. If he starts for us and is an impact inside defender then it's big.

Watched Easley play live in the swamp and the best way to describe him is disruptive. He looks smaller than typical DTs but the guy is very strong and highly athletic. I remember a lot of UF fans talking about how he was going to be their best lineman until he had crippling knee injuries. I think we have to say the jury is still out on him. If, and it's a big if, he stays healthy the guy will be our #1 tackle but I don't know if I trust his knees to hold up. I hope he stays healthy this guy has all the tools.

jsull87 said:

I wouldn't downplay Mallett too much. He was the starting QB for thE Texans befor injury.

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I don't think anyone knows anything more about Ryan Mallett than they did before the season started.

He had two mediocre games, threw for 211 and 189 yds, had a completion percentage of 54.6% and an overall QBR of 67.6.

Certainly nothing the entire NFL hadn't already seen in his preseason opportunities here in N.England.

That's true. But he had no pre season or sparse reps with the 1's. He came in and played "OK" . Just saying that i wouldn't be downplaying him is all.

On another note how about pats backups in the league. Hoyer, Cassell and now Mallett all getting starts.

I'm in a great mood right now, so I don't want to dwell on the 2014 draft class; it just seems to me
that Stork, and maybe Fleming, will be the only ones really contributing in 2015 and beyond, as long
as Brady stays as healthy as he is now.

I thought last year, was a great "blue collar" draft, considering where we draft we did pretty good and am satisfied with the outcome.. for many of these players this year was a developmental year.

If healthy, Easley will be fine.. the jury is out, but hopeful, on Garapolo, Stork is a keeper, White on the shadow roster, Fleming's a keeper and too early to tell on Zach Moore..

Butler is an udfa, and it is too early to tell where he will fit in this grand scheme, but his stock has risen..

What is often forgotten is where we draft every year....

Butler won the Super Bowl for us, that in itself should qualify as a great draft for us

Butler UDFA he will get a pass for the next 20 yrs. or so. He is a prime example of how good the Pats Scouting is. He has gone from JAG to somebody who will never be forgotten by Patriots fans