One NFC assistant's take on Tavon Wilson (inside info)

[captain stone]

OK, that's totally reasonable given that draft class, but it seems like a different issue. You're saying you didn't like the talent at QB in that particular draft and thought the available players were poor value in the middle rounds. If I understood jmt57 correctly, he was making a broader statement of draft philosophy: How much draft capital should you spend on a QB if you already have a franchise QB?

I would've been fine w/ KOC in the 5th round. After all, Cassel's contract expired after '08 and a replacement needed to be acquired. So in that regard, jmt & I may differ although we both agree that KOC at 94 was just awful. Before the pick was made, I had hoped for either NT/DT Red Bryant, FS Tyvon Branch (unlikely because of the Meriweather pick the year before), CB Justin King (unlikely because of the Wheatley pick), DE/DT Dre Moore, or maybe OLman Oniel Cousins.

 

[patchick]

I would've been fine w/ KOC in the 5th round. After all, Cassel's contract expired after '08 and a replacement needed to be acquired. So in that regard, jmt & I may differ although we both agree that KOC at 94 was just awful. Before the pick was made, I had hoped for either NT/DT Red Bryant, FS Tyvon Branch (unlikely because of the Meriweather pick the year before), CB Justin King (unlikely because of the Wheatley pick), DE/DT Dre Moore, or maybe OLman Oniel Cousins.

FWIW, I was all about Red Bryant at the time too. But...I have to say, I really don't get calling a pick you "would have been fine with" in the 5th round "just awful" at the very end of the 3rd. IMO the middle of the draft just isn't that exact a science.

 

[mayoclinic]

I would've been fine w/ KOC in the 5th round. After all, Cassel's contract expired after '08 and a replacement needed to be acquired. So in that regard, jmt & I may differ although we both agree that KOC at 94 was just awful. Before the pick was made, I had hoped for either NT/DT Red Bryant, FS Tyvon Branch (unlikely because of the Meriweather pick the year before), CB Justin King (unlikely because of the Wheatley pick), DE/DT Dre Moore, or maybe OLman Oniel Cousins.

My GOD I wish the Pats had taken Red Bryant with that pick. Ouch. That really hurts.

 

[captain stone]

FWIW, I was all about Red Bryant at the time too. But...I have to say, I really don't get calling a pick you "would have been fine with" in the 5th round "just awful" at the very end of the 3rd. IMO the middle of the draft just isn't that exact a science.

V.a.l.u.e.

There were better prospects available at 94 who were no longer available at 153.
The risk/reward on someone like KOC was therefore more palatable at 153 than it was at 94.

 

[mayoclinic]

FWIW, I was all about Red Bryant at the time too. QUOTE]

There's no doubt that BB has made some mistakes and missed out on some opportunities. He's not perfect. And 1-2 picks could have made an enormous difference. Bryant hurts, partly because BB really ignored the DL from 2005-2008. Jeremy Mincey was the only lineman taken during those 4 drafts. BB passed up on a bunch of guys who could have been anything from solid role players to impact players on defense:

- Justin Tuck (#74 in 2005). BB traded back from 64 and took Ellis Hobbs later in the 3rd round.
- LaMarr Woodley (#46 in 2007). BB took Meriweather at 24 and traded out of 28.
- Cliff Avril (#92 in 2008). BB took Shawn Crable instead at #78.
- Red Bryant in 2008. As discussed.
- Ahtyba Rubin (#190 in 2008). The Pats traded up to take STer Matt Slater, who obviously has been a very good STer. But Rubin as a developmental NT behind Vince Wilfork would been great, and not boxed the Pats into a corner in 2009.

Not to mention passing on Connor Barwin in 2009, which shall forever live in infamy.

I pesonally think that BB got too locked in to the 3-4 2-gap model and a bit complacent in the Seymour-Wilfork-Warren years about continuing to build a pipeline on the DL. Jeremy Mincey, Shawn Crable and Kareem Brown were the only picks I can recall being spent on linemen in those 3 years - not exactly a stellar group, though Mincey's done well in Jacksonville.