Reyes makes a ton of sense and I don't see anyone taking him prior to the Pats picking at #48 today.
DB also makes sense with the other pick. I see Fleming as an outside CB, Boykin as a slot guy or Trumaine Johnson as a combo DB. If they trade down, I could see one of the Josh's (Robinson or Norman) or even Asa Jackson if they drop way down. If they are looking pure safety, I really like Antonio Allen since he seemed to be a guy falling down draft boards for no apparent reason. Just don't know what they are looking for based on the plan for McCourty/Dowling/Allen/Arrington/Moore.
It still does the day after.
But it looks as if the Patriots did more than reach for Tavon Wilson at 48--with Reyes being drafted right after--they panicked, thinking another team was going to pull the trigger on Wilson.
What is with us drafting Wilsons from Illinois?
Wasn't going to happen. Can't prove it of course. But it just. wasn't. going. to. happen.
The opportunity cost in not drafting an interior lineman at 48 like Reyes when the probability was very great that Tavon Wilson would have been available at 62--or likely well beyond--could come back to haunt people.
What keeps me awake at nights as a Patriots fan is seeing either Tom Brady or Vince Wolfork go down.
Ron Brace, who looks like a second-round bust, is likely not the answer he was intended to be.
If we lost, G-d forbid, Vince, we could have definitely used a Kendell Reyes or Jerel Worthy to rotate in the 4-3 defense we would likely run.
So it's not how well Wilson plays, people, it's also how well the other guys play who we could have had at 48 but passed on
All because panic set in inside the Patriots draft room.
And trading down at 62 for the value we received in return--or, I should say, the lack of value--shouldn't be discounted either.
The Patriots had a great first round and a poor second.
BTW, what is it with Illinois? They continually send high draft picks to the NFL but can't perform well as a team. FOUR picks in the top 48 this year and they finished 2-6 in the Big Ten.
Ron Zook can recruit 'em but I guess he can't coach 'em.