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Searching for something else, I stumbled on a thread I barely remember posting on March 7, 2007. It argued that past FA/draft patterns pointed toward the Pats trading aggressively out of the 2007 draft. They proceeded to trade away a 1st, 3rd and 4th. So first, let me shamelessly say: nice job, me! (Hey, I'm wrong so often I have to celebrate the moments of rightness.) More interestingly, the same analysis seems to point toward the Pats not trading out of 2008. See what you think:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=52173
Maybe I'm overthinking this, but...
The 2006 draft was widely regarded as one of the deepest ever.
Heading into the 2006 draft the Patriots let a ton of veterans go, and by my count 10 rookies ended the year on the roster or IR. 10!
The 2007 draft is regarded as weak in comparison. Just look at a guy like David Thomas, who was considered just barely good value at the bottom of the 3rd. This year he'd quite likely be the #2 TE off the board in the 2nd round.
Heading into the 2007 draft, the Patriots have gone on a free agent signing spree, including trading picks for vets.
The trick is, last year's vet purge leaves the team with a bunch of (untradeable) comp picks in this weak draft. Next year, we have to assume 0 comp picks. So what does the 2008 draft look like? If 2008 projects to be another banner crop, that has to affect the team's draft strategy. I'd expect some aggressive trading away of picks toward next year.
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=52173
Maybe I'm overthinking this, but...
The 2006 draft was widely regarded as one of the deepest ever.
Heading into the 2006 draft the Patriots let a ton of veterans go, and by my count 10 rookies ended the year on the roster or IR. 10!
The 2007 draft is regarded as weak in comparison. Just look at a guy like David Thomas, who was considered just barely good value at the bottom of the 3rd. This year he'd quite likely be the #2 TE off the board in the 2nd round.
Heading into the 2007 draft, the Patriots have gone on a free agent signing spree, including trading picks for vets.
The trick is, last year's vet purge leaves the team with a bunch of (untradeable) comp picks in this weak draft. Next year, we have to assume 0 comp picks. So what does the 2008 draft look like? If 2008 projects to be another banner crop, that has to affect the team's draft strategy. I'd expect some aggressive trading away of picks toward next year.