If he can be had at #97, then you pick him at #97 that's why. It's called draft VALUE. A term that BB was heard repeating like a mantra in his pre-draft press conference.
It's like saying, well that punter can REALLY help our team because Hanson sucks. And I know we can draft him at pick #120, but this punter fills a position of need and can provide immediate help to our team so lets use pick #7 on him!!! :bricks: Your strong feelings on this issue are respectfully noted, as I understand that Cason is your binky... but try to keep your arguments somewhat reasonable.
This coming from the guy who was crying for Darren McFadden, and had a milk carton with Maroney as the featured missing person in his signature?
For anyone else wondering, I wouldn't take Antoine Cason with the 7th overall pick, but I do think he's a mid to late first round option for the Patriots, and I don't think he'll make it to the Patriots selection at 62nd overall.
Also, while Antoine didn't completely "wow them" at the Combine, he did put up good numbers, and performed better than DRC, McKelvin, Jenkins, and Talib in the following areas:
Bench press - 20 reps, Jenkins comes in second of the group with 18.
Short Shuttle - 4.08, McKelvin's was the second best of the group at 4.10.
His 36" (PD) vertical wasn't far off from DRC's 37.5" (PD) vertical, he has better size than either Jenkins or McKelvin, and he posted better broad jump numbers than either Jenkins or McKelvin, as well.