Reordering Patriots’ cornerback depth chart after E.J. Biggers signing

"Biggers, 28, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009-12), Washington Redskins (2013-14) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2015). The 6-foot, 185-pounder, originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick (217th overall) by Tampa Bay out of Western Michigan in 2009. He has played in 92 NFL games with 34 starts and has 279 total tackles, one sack, four interceptions, 41 passes defensed and two forced fumbles. Biggers signed with Washington as an unrestricted free agent in 2013 and with Philadelphia as an unrestricted free agent in 2015. Last season with Philadelphia, he played in all 16 games with three starts and finished the year with 44 total tackles and seven passes defensed."

Patriots Sign Biggers: http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/03/30/patriots-sign-db-ej-biggers

"The biggest New England Patriots news from Monday was the signing of veteran cornerback E.J. Biggers. In the wake of that development, we’re going to take a closer look at the Patriots’ cornerback position and reorder the depth chart." (Fulton)

"Biggers was on the field for 571 snaps in 2015 for the Philadelphia Eagles, and although he didn’t corral an interception, Biggers recorded 44 tackles and seven passes defended. Offering ability as both a slot corner and a safety as well as on special teams, Biggers is a typical low-cost, low-risk offseason Belichick signing."

Link: http://musketfire.com/2016/03/30/reordering-patriots-cornerback-depth-chart-after-e-j-biggers-signing/3/

Everything will depend on the play of our CB2 (Ryan), and any development that either Coleman (CB3) or even Roberts (IR last season) can make.

I realize that is a very wide open and general statement, but I think it's very difficult to project any reasonable idea of a depth chart at the moment, aside from a lock at CB1 (Butler) and maybe CB2 (Ryan). We'll have to see where guys like Coleman, Roberts, and Biggers fit in. For some of them it may not be at all.

Well we need a roster spot for our annual misfire of a round 2 defensive-back draft pick.

Another 50/50 guy.

Biffins said:

Well we need a roster spot for our annual misfire of a round 2 defensive-back draft pick.

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whose been a misfire in the second round other than Wilson?

meatface said:

whose been a misfire in the second round other than Wilson?

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Well there's Ras-I.

meatface said:

whose been a misfire in the second round other than Wilson?

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Seriously?

Terrence Wheatley
Darius Butler
Ras-I Dowling
Tavon Wilson

And the jury is out on Jordan Richards but nothing special so far.

And Eliss Hobbs, Pat Chung (first iteration) and Bradon Merriweather while not whiffs were merely serviceable.

ALL of these are 1st or 2nd round DBs drafted in last 8-10 years.

The ONLY DB we drafted in 1st or 2nd round that we re-signed at the end of his rookie contract was McCourty. That's a very poor outcome. We suck at drafting DBs. How is this even up for debate. These aren't low round draft picks that are hit-or-miss. Everyone on this forum knows that the two positions we suck at drafting are WR and DB. We should just stick to using high draft picks on linemen and try and get lucky on DBs and WRs on cheaper low round picks or UDFA, like we did with Butler and Edelman.

Biffins said:

Seriously?

Terrence Wheatley
Darius Butler
Ras-I Dowling
Tavon Wilson

And the jury is out on Jordan Richards but nothing special so far.

And Eliss Hobbs, Pat Chung (first iteration) and Bradon Merriweather while not whiffs were merely serviceable.

ALL of these are 1st or 2nd round DBs drafted in last 8-10 years.

The ONLY DB we drafted in 1st or 2nd round that we re-signed at the end of his rookie contract was McCourty. That's a very poor outcome. We suck at drafting DBs. How is this even up for debate. These aren't low round draft picks that are hit-or-miss. Everyone on this forum knows that the two positions we suck at drafting are WR and DB. We should just stick to using high draft picks on linemen and try and get lucky on DBs and WRs on cheaper low round picks or UDFA, like we did with Butler and Edelman.

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While not rock stars, Hobbs Chung and Big Bang Clock were more than serviceable. Harmon is good. Ryan is good. DMC is good.

He does exceptionally well with UFAs

robertweathers said:

While not rock stars, Hobbs Chung and Big Bang Clock were more than serviceable. Harmon is good. Ryan is good. DMC is good.

He does exceptionally well with UFAs

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Harmon and Ryan were not round 1 and 2 draft picks. I am specifically talking about all DBs drafted in round 1 and 2 over last 10 years and how DMC was the only one we re-signed past his rookie contract.

How can you call Hobbs "more than serviceable". I still have nightmares seeing Plaxico Burress beating this idiot by 3-4 yards and catching the game winning TD in SB XLII uncontested. Hobbs sucked.

Biffins said:

How can you call Hobbs "more than serviceable". I still have nightmares seeing Plaxico Burress beating this idiot by 3-4 yards and catching the game winning TD in SB XLII uncontested. Hobbs sucked.

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Depth at CB was an achillies heel of the '07 team. When Hobbs is your starter, you have a depth problem. Seriously, how does one expect Ellis Hobbs to cover Plaxico Burress, the dude's got 7 inches on him.

Biggers is a nice move. I have no idea if he sticks.

Biggers is a high-risk signing. The risk is that he may actually play football for the Patriots now.

Biffins said:

Seriously?

Terrence Wheatley
Darius Butler
Ras-I Dowling
Tavon Wilson

And the jury is out on Jordan Richards but nothing special so far.

And Eliss Hobbs, Pat Chung (first iteration) and Bradon Merriweather while not whiffs were merely serviceable.

ALL of these are 1st or 2nd round DBs drafted in last 8-10 years.

The ONLY DB we drafted in 1st or 2nd round that we re-signed at the end of his rookie contract was McCourty. That's a very poor outcome. We suck at drafting DBs. How is this even up for debate. These aren't low round draft picks that are hit-or-miss. Everyone on this forum knows that the two positions we suck at drafting are WR and DB. We should just stick to using high draft picks on linemen and try and get lucky on DBs and WRs on cheaper low round picks or UDFA, like we did with Butler and Edelman.

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Ellis Hobbs was a 3rd round pick (20th pick of the 3rd round, #84 overall 2005 draft), not a 2nd. Darius Butler was misused and has since gone on to have a decent career. Tavon Wilson was serviceable. He played on special teams as well as back-up.

Also, Hobbs was drafted in 2005, which was 11 years ago. And Hobbs was more than serviceable. He was good. Not only did he start at corner, he was the Pats kick-returner and he played through a sports hernia in the SB.

To say that the Pats "suck" at drafting CBs is basically choosing to ignore the successes they've had.

BTW, Richards was a rookie, learning one of the most complex defenses in the league. Did he have some bad plays? Yes. But he didn't look out of place most of the time..

Biffins said:

Harmon and Ryan were not round 1 and 2 draft picks. I am specifically talking about all DBs drafted in round 1 and 2 over last 10 years and how DMC was the only one we re-signed past his rookie contract.

How can you call Hobbs "more than serviceable". I still have nightmares seeing Plaxico Burress beating this idiot by 3-4 yards and catching the game winning TD in SB XLII uncontested. Hobbs sucked.

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LOL. You just lost any credibility you might have had, Biff. Hobbs had a sports Hernia during the SB and had no help over the top on that play. Furthermore, one play does not career make..

DaBruinz said:

Ellis Hobbs was a 3rd round pick (20th pick of the 3rd round, #84 overall 2005 draft), not a 2nd. Darius Butler was misused and has since gone on to have a decent career. Tavon Wilson was serviceable. He played on special teams as well as back-up.

Also, Hobbs was drafted in 2005, which was 11 years ago. And Hobbs was more than serviceable. He was good. Not only did he start at corner, he was the Pats kick-returner and he played through a sports hernia in the SB.

To say that the Pats "suck" at drafting CBs is basically choosing to ignore the successes they've had.

BTW, Richards was a rookie, learning one of the most complex defenses in the league. Did he have some bad plays? Yes. But he didn't look out of place most of the time..

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I agree with 99% of what you said, but :

Tavon Wilson was serviceable. He played on special teams as well as back-up.

When i imagine 2nd round picks i think about Vollmer and Chung, not ST guys...

patsbrasilpatriotas said:

I agree with 99% of what you said, but :

Tavon Wilson was serviceable. He played on special teams as well as back-up.

When i imagine 2nd round picks i think about Vollmer and Chung, not ST guys...

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What you think of and what reality is of players is 2 different things.. As Belichick has pointed out, where you get drafted doesn't matter. What you do on the field is what matters.. It is the fans erroneous expectations (fueled by the mediots) that leads to disappointment.

DaBruinz said:

What you think of and what reality is of players is 2 different things.. As Belichick has pointed out, where you get drafted doesn't matter. What you do on the field is what matters.. It is the fans erroneous expectations (fueled by the mediots) that leads to disappointment.

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So how can anyone be a bust?

Give me one example please ...

Brandon Meriweather is one of the few busts in the history of the NFL to have had 2 Pro Bowl selections while still on his rookie contract.

Not even Devin McCourty accomplished that.

Biffins said:

Seriously?

Terrence Wheatley
Darius Butler
Ras-I Dowling
Tavon Wilson

And the jury is out on Jordan Richards but nothing special so far.

And Eliss Hobbs, Pat Chung (first iteration) and Bradon Merriweather while not whiffs were merely serviceable.

ALL of these are 1st or 2nd round DBs drafted in last 8-10 years.

The ONLY DB we drafted in 1st or 2nd round that we re-signed at the end of his rookie contract was McCourty. That's a very poor outcome. We suck at drafting DBs. How is this even up for debate. These aren't low round draft picks that are hit-or-miss. Everyone on this forum knows that the two positions we suck at drafting are WR and DB. We should just stick to using high draft picks on linemen and try and get lucky on DBs and WRs on cheaper low round picks or UDFA, like we did with Butler and Edelman.

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as soon as I said it i did remeber dowling.

I would be surprised if we didn't address the cb position with one of our first picks come draft time.

Biffins said:

Harmon and Ryan were not round 1 and 2 draft picks. I am specifically talking about all DBs drafted in round 1 and 2 over last 10 years and how DMC was the only one we re-signed past his rookie contract.

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OK you didnt say that.

My issue with your post is that you are killing BB on DB draft picks in a general sense. Way too harsh. Hes blown picks and also has been highly successful- just like every other team

Biffins said:

How can you call Hobbs "more than serviceable". I still have nightmares seeing Plaxico Burress beating this idiot by 3-4 yards and catching the game winning TD in SB XLII uncontested. Hobbs sucked.

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Go look at his body of work. Nit-pick.