Best and Worst draft picks of the Bill Belichick era

Christopher Price lists his top-20 BB era draft picks.

Keep in mind these are based on value (relative to draft position), rather than solely on production.

It Is What It Is >> Best Draft Picks of Bill Belichick Era

A few rankings that may create some debate:

• Matthew Slater cracks the top twenty (take that Pro Football Reference, with your zero Career AV!)
• Jamie Collins ranks ahead of Richard Seymour
• Devin McCourty ranks ahead of Vince Wilfork
• 4-5-6 go to Julian Edelman, David Givens and Asante Samuel

Richard Seymour and Matt Light should be way higher. Both of them were cornerstones of the team for a decade. You can't win without a great LT and a game-changer like Seymour.

I'm glad Slater's on the list. Definitely belongs there. Stepped in and took over from Izzo as the special teams leader. Amazing locker-room influence too.

Christopher Price's follow-up appeared Wednesday:

It Is What It Is >> Worst Draft Picks of Bill Belichick Era

Personally I rank Kevin O'Connell much worse than the #12 slot Chris gives him on his list, but that's just my opinion.

Here are Price's rankings:

• • • 12. Kevin O'Connell (3.94 in 2008)
    • 11. Laurence Maroney (1.26 in 2006)
    • 10. Ron Brace (2.40 in 2009)
    • 9. Taylor Price (3.90 in 2010)
    • 8. David Thomas (3.86 in 2006)
    • 7. Jermaine Cunningham (2.53 in 2010)
    • 6a. Terrence Wheatley (2.62 in 2008)
    • 6b. Jonathan Wilhite (4.129 in 2008)
    • 5. Bethel Johnson (2.45 in 2003)
    • 4. Ras-I Dowling (2.33 in 2011)
    • 3. Shawn Crable (3.78 in 2008)
    • 2. Brandon Meriweather (1.24 in 2007)
    • 1. Chad Jackson (2.36 in 2006)

Surprised there's no "love" for Ben Watson on the worst draft picks list.

For those with an aversion to clicks, here is the listing of the highest valued draft picks.

Looking at this list a second time, I can't understand why Vollmer is ahead of Light or why McCourty is in front of Wilfork. I would also tap the brakes on Stork and Collins, considering they have combined for only three years in the NFL at this point in time.

Steven Ridley ahead of Shane Vereen?

Not sure I agree with some of these. Partly because a few are a little premature (Stork, Collins, McCourty)

Having Ridley on there, not Vereen, makes no sense. Branch should be a bit further ahead too.

And wow, the picture of Chad Jackson on the 'Worst Draft Picks' article, looked exactly like Dominique Easley. They both went to Florida as well. Weird... Let's hope they turn out way different.

jmt57 said:

For those with an aversion to clicks, here is the listing of the highest valued draft picks.

• 20. Matthew Slater (5.153 in 2008)
• 19. Matt Cassel (7.230 in 2005)
• 18. Stevan Ridley (3.73 in 2011)
• 17. Deion Branch (2.65 in 2002)
• 16. Matt Light (2.48 in 2001)
• 15. Sebastian Vollmer (2.58 in 2009)
• 14. Stephen Gostkowski (4.118 in 2006)
• 13. Bryan Stork (4.105 in 2014)
• 12. Jerod Mayo (1.10 in 2008)
• 11. Richard Seymour (1.06 in 2001)
• 10. Jamie Collins (2.52 in 2013)
• 9. Dan Koppen (5.164 in 2003)
• 8. Vince Wilfork (1.21 in 2004)
• 7. Devin McCourty (1.27 in 2010)
• 6. Asante Samuel (4.120 in 2003)
• 5. David Givens (7.253 in 2002)
• 4. Julian Edelman (7.232 in 2009)
• 3. Logan Mankins (1.32 in 2005)
• 2. Rob Gronkowski (2.42 in 2010)
• 1. Tom Brady (6.199 in 2000)

Looking at this list a second time, I can't understand why Vollmer is ahead of Light or why McCourty is in front of Wilfork. I would also tap the brakes on Stork and Collins, considering they have combined for only three years in the NFL at this point in time.

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What a weird list.

Light is far too low, Samuel < McCourty, Givens was nice but incredibly overrated on this list. Wilfork is a borderline HOF NT, Stork has played in like 14 games total...

I don't mind the players but the order is god awful for many of them.

Gotta say, I know Bethel underachieved but even though he didn't have many, he had some really important big plays. His kick returns in the Indy game got us home field that year, and I think he had the only Touchdown in the freezing Titans playoff game. Don't think he should be on worst list nor should Meriweather, these guys at least saw the field. How many picks never saw the field? I mean someone said Ben Watson? We must have drafted 5 more tight ends that didn't play a down! How many corners? Darius Butler, Wilhite, Weatleigh etc.

The Gr8est said:

Steven Ridley ahead of Shane Vereen?

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TBR said:

Having Ridley on there, not Vereen, makes no sense. Branch should be a bit further ahead too.

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Games played - Ridley 52, Vereen 42
Starts - Ridley 25, Vereen 8
Rushing - Ridley 2817 yards 22TDs, Vereen 907 yards 7 TDs
Overall - Ridley 2963 yards 22 TDs, Vereen 1930 yards 14 TDs
Ridley - 3rd round pick, Vereen 2nd round pick

Armchair Quarterback said:

Games played - Ridley 52, Vereen 42
Starts - Ridley 25, Vereen 8
Rushing - Ridley 2817 yards 22TDs, Vereen 907 yards 7 TDs
Overall - Ridley 2963 yards 22 TDs, Vereen 1930 yards 14 TDs
Ridley - 3rd round pick, Vereen 2nd round pick

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Deceiving stats

Jake Bequette? How can Dave Thomas (86th overall) be on here but not Jake (90th overall)? Thomas at least had the talent to make the 53 man roster and contribute as a role player. Bequette might be their worst top 100 pick of the era. No injuries, attitude problems, etc. Just a guy who shouldn't have been drafted at all, in hindsight.

Best pick has to be the 1 rounder to Jets to get BB in the first place..... Rest comes second.

TBR said:

Deceiving stats

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How so? Please explain.

sb1 said:

Surprised there's no "love" for Ben Watson on the worst draft picks list.

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Why would there be?

Oswlek said:

Why would there be?

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He wasn't a disaster but certainly didn't live up to the bar of a first round pick.

sb1 said:

He wasn't a disaster but certainly didn't live up to the bar of a first round pick.

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Watson is probably above average for late first round guys taken, league-wide. He's still in the league a decade later and has been a productive TE for three teams. Not only is he not on the worst pick list, I feel confident I could come up with 10 names who I'd tack onto the current list before considering naming Ben.

jmt57 said:

Christopher Price's follow-up appeared Wednesday:

It Is What It Is >> Worst Draft Picks of Bill Belichick Era

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Make room for another one.

Ridley and Vereen were both listed together with the 18th pick in the article.

Went through the rounds and years of those picks. With the exception of 2010 (McCourtney, Gronk and Hernandez, who wasn't on the list) and 2009 (Volmer, Edelman) not any year where multiple players became/is a star. A little perception regarding the rant going on in the other thread.