Back from Chicago and wanted to get some thoughts down before I lose them. I will post more when I have a little more time.
Quick Thoughts On The Patriots Draft | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2014 NFL Draft
I am in complete, 100% agreement with your assessment of Bill's (non-)performance in this draft.
The False Genius royally, royally fecked-up yet another draft, thereby greatly diminishing Brady's chances of winning one for the thumb which he so richly deserves.
Here's my do-over from a post on the main board:
2 of our biggest needs - LT & RB - were completely ignored. Inexcusable.
This is what the Naked Emperor should have done:
60) OT LeRaven Clark - He would've filled the biggest hole on this team: providing an athletic backup
for the annual Solder & Vollmer injuries, while being groomed to become the Starting LT by 2018.
What happened to Brady in the AFCC was a national embarrassment, and should have been off-season Priority #1. Instead, Bill has completely ignored this most-glaring need, to our inevitable downfall.
78) WR Braxton Miller - The next Anquan Bolden, lighter but more athletic, and just as tough.
91) CB Cyrus Jones - If he were 2-3" taller, then taking him at 60 would be justified…but he's not.
96) I would have traded this to Oakland for 114 & 154, which is what they gave Cleveland for 100.
112) I would have traded this to Chicago for 117 & 206, which is what they gave LA for 113.
114) DT Hassan Ridgeway - Malcom Brown's linemate at Texas, and the 3-Tech to replace predicted
bust Dom Easily. Willie Henry would also have been an acceptable answer.
Slow, weak, lazy Fat Vinnie Valentine at 96? Bill's worst 3rd-rounder ever, and that's saying a lot.
117) RBs Devontae Booker, Kenneth Dixon, Jordan Howard or Jonathan Williams - take your pick.
147 from Miami) LG/T Joe Dahl - Our Starting LG, who can play LT in a pinch better than anybody
else on this damn OL, including Vollmer.
I would have then traded 154 to Seattle instead of 147. Betcha they would've taken it too.
206 from Chicago) DE Stephen Weatherly - Best DE available, and would automatically become a far
superior upgrade to the execrable GeeNo Grissom.
208) TE Beau Sandland - Finally, a worthy replacement for The Prisoner; a Move TE who can really, really move. Devon Cajuste, Thomas Duarte & Stephen Anderson were also still available here.
214) OLB Travis Feeney - Most athletic LB available, would've been a top-125 pick were it not for his
shoulder injuries. The healthier but less experienced Aaron Wallace would also have been an acceptable answer.
221) WR Mitch Mathews, this year's version of Jeff Janis. Charone Peake, Kenny Lawler & Keyarris Garrett were also still available here.
225) CB Kalan Reed - the next Asante Samuel? - or CB/FS Jalen Mills, who would've been a top-100 pick
were it not for his injury/legal issues.
In summary:
2 Left-side OLmen? Check.
2 WRs with both size and speed? Check.
Powerful young legs at RB? Check.
An athletic, true Move TE? Check.
A strong and athletic 3-Tech? Check.
An athletic DE? Check.
An athletic LB? Check.
2 athletic DBs? Check.
Almost every, single hole on this team filled? Check.