BradyManny
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2006
- Messages
- 11,103
- Reaction score
- 1,520
I want to raise the issue of the Patriots incredibly talented and deep roster, and the challenge that creates for developing young talent drafted in rounds 4 and on.
Looking at the roster, here is roughly the list players I believe I would put in the "definite to more than likely to make the squad barring something unforeseen" category:
Tom Brady
Matt Cassel
Matt Gutierrez
Randy Moss
Jabar Gaffney
Wes Welker
Chad Jackson
Kelley Washington
Sam Aiken
Laurence Maroney
Kevin Faulk
Sammy Morris
Heath Evans
Ben Watson
Dave Thomas
Matt Light
Logan Mankins
Dan Koppen
Stephen Neal
Nick Kaczur
Ryan O’Callaghan
Russ Hochstein
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Richard Seymour
Jarvis Green
Mike Wright
Mike Vrabel
Adalius Thomas
Tedy Bruschi
Larry Izzo
Pierre Woods
Ellis Hobbs
Jason Webster
Brandon Meriweather
James Sanders
Rodney Harrison
Tank Williams
Stephen Gostowski
Lonnie Paxton
Chris Hanson
Notice some names not on the list:
Ray Ventrone
Antwain Spann
Mike Richardson
Willie Andrews
Eric Alexander
TJ Slaughter
Le Kevin Smith
Santonio Thomas
Billy Yates
Wesley Britt
Kyle Eckel
What's my point? A lot of these players (and potentially more I've left of) are KEY special teams members and key members of depth.
What's the problem? We have 8 picks in the upcoming draft, we have - as I see it - 3 holes (1CB and 2LBs) we're likely to fill via free agency or the draft along with an area or two with room for upgrade (OL & depth at TE)...
Sooo....this makes for an interesting scenario. When it comes draft time, what's the strategy? Is the aim to draft guys who can develop into full time players - yet do BB/Pioli have to be cognizant of ST and ensure that they are good enough on ST to knock off these fringe guys like Andrews, Alexander, Eckel, etc? Even then, how many roster spots do we really have for our draftees? Isn't it time to start fresh with some nice middle round picks and have them developing?
Bottom line - as I see it, our team has the "problem" of being so good, and having such a ripe window for competing for championships consistently for the next 3-6 years, that draft picks in the 4-7 rounds might turn out to be a waste each year, which, in time, could be an issue when we want to fill out the roster with the likes of Woods, Alexanders, Andrews, etc...
It's going to make for some interesting decisions come draft time and then cut time.
Looking at the roster, here is roughly the list players I believe I would put in the "definite to more than likely to make the squad barring something unforeseen" category:
Tom Brady
Matt Cassel
Matt Gutierrez
Randy Moss
Jabar Gaffney
Wes Welker
Chad Jackson
Kelley Washington
Sam Aiken
Laurence Maroney
Kevin Faulk
Sammy Morris
Heath Evans
Ben Watson
Dave Thomas
Matt Light
Logan Mankins
Dan Koppen
Stephen Neal
Nick Kaczur
Ryan O’Callaghan
Russ Hochstein
Ty Warren
Vince Wilfork
Richard Seymour
Jarvis Green
Mike Wright
Mike Vrabel
Adalius Thomas
Tedy Bruschi
Larry Izzo
Pierre Woods
Ellis Hobbs
Jason Webster
Brandon Meriweather
James Sanders
Rodney Harrison
Tank Williams
Stephen Gostowski
Lonnie Paxton
Chris Hanson
Notice some names not on the list:
Ray Ventrone
Antwain Spann
Mike Richardson
Willie Andrews
Eric Alexander
TJ Slaughter
Le Kevin Smith
Santonio Thomas
Billy Yates
Wesley Britt
Kyle Eckel
What's my point? A lot of these players (and potentially more I've left of) are KEY special teams members and key members of depth.
What's the problem? We have 8 picks in the upcoming draft, we have - as I see it - 3 holes (1CB and 2LBs) we're likely to fill via free agency or the draft along with an area or two with room for upgrade (OL & depth at TE)...
Sooo....this makes for an interesting scenario. When it comes draft time, what's the strategy? Is the aim to draft guys who can develop into full time players - yet do BB/Pioli have to be cognizant of ST and ensure that they are good enough on ST to knock off these fringe guys like Andrews, Alexander, Eckel, etc? Even then, how many roster spots do we really have for our draftees? Isn't it time to start fresh with some nice middle round picks and have them developing?
Bottom line - as I see it, our team has the "problem" of being so good, and having such a ripe window for competing for championships consistently for the next 3-6 years, that draft picks in the 4-7 rounds might turn out to be a waste each year, which, in time, could be an issue when we want to fill out the roster with the likes of Woods, Alexanders, Andrews, etc...
It's going to make for some interesting decisions come draft time and then cut time.
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