Early thoughts on the 2015 Patriots class

The Patriots drafted 11 players this year.

Brown, Richards, Grissom, Flowers, Jackson Mason, Cardona, Wells, Derby, Roberts, ****son.

I know it is early but honestly I feel that 90% of the time you can tell fairly early on about if a player is likely to have it or not.

Honestly I can not remember the last time at this point I have been so excited about a draft class.

I was not particularly happy with it at the time right after. I thought it had interesting potential but most drafts do. Usually you pick 7-10 players and hope 2 turn into good starters and you get a little depth from the rest. That is a pretty decent draft.

This to me looks like it has the makings of a signature draft that will frankly make us not miss our 1st round pick next year as much as we would have otherwise.

IMO from what I have read and what I have seen we have hit on 7 players. Some teams don't even get to draft 7 players a year. I think Brown, Richards, Grissom Flowers, Jackson Mason & Roberts all have shot to really make something happen and it is nice to have a long term solution at LS.

This is a class me may look back at in 3-4 years and see it as the corner stone of our team for the next decade.

Agreed - although I think Malcom Brown needs to be a quality starter to make it a potentially great class. But if we get two starting OGs out of this class, then that alone would make it a good draft class. Add in a starting DT, a starting safety (maybe) and a quality backup, or potential starting DE, in Tre Flowers, then yes, it will be one of the best draft classes for the Patriots in recent years.

I would like to see them doing a bit more in drafting quality skill position players though. Next year?

manxman2601 said:

Agreed - although I think Malcom Brown needs to be a quality starter to make it a potentially great class. But if we get two starting OGs out of this class, then that alone would make it a good draft class. Add in a starting DT, a starting safety (maybe) and a quality backup, or potential starting DE, in Tre Flowers, then yes, it will be one of the best draft classes for the Patriots in recent years.

I would like to see them doing a bit more in drafting quality skill position players though. Next year?

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If this plans out as we hope AND early looks of it, do Patriots need other stuff then skill guys in 2016? RB, OT, WR and CB + a camp arm thing with 1 of the 3 comp picks on day 3.

And OT is there do to Solder, but I would tag him and then go from there...

Luxusdk said:

If this plans out as we hope AND early looks of it, do Patriots need other stuff then skill guys in 2016? RB, OT, WR and CB + a camp arm thing with 1 of the 3 comp picks on day 3.

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WR probably depends on how Dobson plays this year but we may need one anyway if Amendola leaves. I think you're mainly right but I'd probably add linebacker to replace Mayo and maybe a move TE.

I have yet to see anything whatsoever to change my mind about how I feel about this particular draft.

Luxusdk said:

If this plans out as we hope AND early looks of it, do Patriots need other stuff then skill guys in 2016? RB, OT, WR and CB + a camp arm thing with 1 of the 3 comp picks on day 3.

And OT is there do to Solder, but I would tag him and then go from there...

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Assuming they keep Solder which i think they will the OL should be pretty set the next few years. We have some WR issues upcoming and might need to address that (Dobson health and Amendola contract). RB will be good enough but always an option. TE is fine and QB should be too.

On Defense DL should be set but that is always an option. LB is set. Safety you have invested enough in and CB really depends. I think Butler is an answer to one side and the other we will find out about. If we can find a guy good enough to move Butler to #2 that be great but Butler seems to have the makings of a #1 that while maybe not shut down is competitive.

So next year maybe WR, RB and maybe CB. But really if things fall right we might not really have a top spot that needs to be filled.

captain stone said:

I have yet to see anything whatsoever to change my mind about how I feel about this particular draft.

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Elaborate please.

These guys have played various parts of a Grand Total of…One pre-season game.
Why in the world should I change my opinion at such an early stage?

captain stone said:

These guys have played various parts of a Grand Total of…One pre-season game.
Why in the world should I change my opinion at such an early stage?

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You misunderstand. I was asking what your opinion was.

BobDigital said:

The Patriots drafted 11 players this year.

Brown, Richards, Grissom, Flowers, Jackson Mason, Cardona, Wells, Derby, Roberts, ****son.

I know it is early but honestly I feel that 90% of the time you can tell fairly early on about if a player is likely to have it or not.

Honestly I can not remember the last time at this point I have been so excited about a draft class.

I was not particularly happy with it at the time right after. I thought it had interesting potential but most drafts do. Usually you pick 7-10 players and hope 2 turn into good starters and you get a little depth from the rest. That is a pretty decent draft.

This to me looks like it has the makings of a signature draft that will frankly make us not miss our 1st round pick next year as much as we would have otherwise.

IMO from what I have read and what I have seen we have hit on 7 players. Some teams don't even get to draft 7 players a year. I think Brown, Richards, Grissom Flowers, Jackson Mason & Roberts all have shot to really make something happen and it is nice to have a long term solution at LS.

This is a class me may look back at in 3-4 years and see it as the corner stone of our team for the next decade.

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You have ignored the First draftee to make the team already, the Navy man Joe Cardona LS...

I would have preferred that they spent a 3 on another Offensive lineman instead of the OLB/DE Geneo Grissom, but I think the depth he brings is also wanted. This looks like a very successful Draft.

Let us also look back at the 2014 Draft.

Easley, Garrapolo Stork and Malcom Butler, FA, look like keepers/future starters. Halapio was a failure, but Ryan Gory rated behind Jon Halapio, seems like a good reserve even if he was obtained by trade.

captain stone said:

I have yet to see anything whatsoever to change my mind about how I feel about this particular draft.

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As I recall you were COMPLETELY WRONG about Bryan Stork. And you don't seem to be correct about Jordan Richards now.

I think that this was an pretty good draft class! A great DT in the first and a couple of huge monsters at guard; Tre' Jackson might be a steal. Also a lot of pass-rush help. It was a weak draft for the Patriots at their biggest area of need, cornerback and the Tavon Wilson, err, Jordan Richards was a typical BB second-round throw-away pick, but overall it was a good draft.

Following a Week 3, here's how I see the progress of the class so far

1) Brown
Is getting playing time, but hasn't really flashed much so far. Easley showed up against Jacksonville, but to my eye Brown is getting moved off the line without double teams. Too soon to call it, but hopefully he grows into his role over the course of the season.

2) Richards
Got some legit snaps against Jags and made plays. Strong tackler in the box, made a nice play reading a fake reverse and being there for the screen pass, made a nice play forcing Allen Robinson out of bounds. Looked physical and decisive.

3) Grissom
Has made a few tackles on ST and played a few snaps on the regular D. But seems deep on the depth chart with very talented veterans ahead of him. Promising.

4) Flowers
Showed up in preseason, but likely to be inactive much of the year.

4b) Jackson
Rookie starter and looking strong

4c) Mason
Rotational guy and getting snaps as the next man up for Develin at FB

5) Cardona
So far so good. His kicker has a PAT streak going and Joe has a hand in that

6) Wells
Was traded to the Bears for a G that didn't make the roster. End of story I guess.

6b) Derby
Was always a long shot and a futures project. Placed on IR for what is probably a sore hangnail and will have a season to study, rework his body and prep for TC next year

7) Roberts
Looked good in preseason and given the play of Brandon Fletcher might have played meaningful snaps in Week 3 ahead of Coleman, except he went to IR.

7b) ****son
Cut. Jon Freeney, Dekota Watson and now Jon Bostic as new options at LB

So, three weeks in,
- the biggest returns so far from the much maligned SS in the 2nd and the two interior Olinemen-- making an impact.
- too soon to give up on the defensive linemen and still plenty of room for optimism there
- we may have our LS for the next decade
- as for the rest, some red shirts and some camp trash

Disappointed in Malcolm Brown; looks like he's being pushed-around way too often. Hope his final
season at UT wasn't a one-year wonder. I was in favor of the pick, so I'll wait to see how he looks at Dallas before becoming worried.

Richards & Grissom were terrible picks, 2 of the worst in the draft, and nothing they've done so far has caused me to change my mind in the slightest.

Flowers - flashed in pre-season, probably being nursed slowly from his injury. No need to rush him
while the DE rotation remains productive.

Jackson, Mason, Cardona - so far so good.

Wells - didn't even know, or had quickly forgotten, that he was legally blind in one eye. Thought he could've been available one round later anyway.

Derby - didn't like the pick; he wasn't even the best player available at his own position. Highly doubt that he'll ever make it here or anywhere else.

Roberts - too bad about his injury. It shouldn't ****** his progress, so he will certainly be in the mix
next year. Still an unknown until then.

****son - didn't like that pick at all, either. He would've been a possibility if Bill still used his more traditional 3-4 base, but now neither he nor Grissom really ever fit here.

Way too early to make any judgments. I remember people calling Collins a bust during his Ronnie year because he wasn't playing a lot, I think he turned out alright.

Malcolm Brown is a young kid. I loved the pick. Not expecting a lot this year. Needs an off-season in S&C program before he can be evaluated. Same with the de's. Look at the difference in James White from his rookie year to 2nd. Different person.

patsfaninpa said:

Malcolm Brown is a young kid. I loved the pick. Not expecting a lot this year. Needs an off-season in S&C program before he can be evaluated. Same with the de's. Look at the difference in James White from his rookie year to 2nd. Different person.

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Wilfork played most of his rookie season on skates and shared playing time with Traylor. I expect it to take Brown two years to get it.

The guy that has really impressed me is Andrews, the center. Wow! what a find.

Ochmed Jones said:

Wilfork played most of his rookie season on skates and shared playing time with Traylor. I expect it to take Brown two years to get it.

The guy that has really impressed me is Andrews, the center. Wow! what a find.

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Agreed. I think towards the end of the season we'll see him start making some better plays.

And I was so worried about the center position in the beginning of the season. He filled in very well. I wonder if stork takes the center spit back once he's healthy and if he does i hope Andrews can move out to guard or something.

Gabriel_p94 said:

Agreed. I think towards the end of the season we'll see him start making some better plays.

And I was so worried about the center position in the beginning of the season. He filled in very well. I wonder if stork takes the center spit back once he's healthy and if he does i hope Andrews can move out to guard or something.

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Apparently Andrews is a pure center.