DRAFT DAY DISCUSSION A tale of a draft SQUANDERED....

[Ring 6]

If so many people are unhappy with the draft overall and the lack of OLB's drafted, how about you just stop rooting for the Patriots and band together to purchase another team. That way you can decide what the team's needs are since you all know so much about every prospect by watching college football games on your couch and youtube videos on your computers.

Be prepared to be accused of lacking the ability to think because you are a blind homer. Around here, only complaints and gripes are considered your own thoughts, anything else is selling out because you are intelligent enough to form a negative opinion.
Best of luck.

 

[Deus Irae]

Did you just make Millen and BB equivalent simply because they have draft experience.....while just a few posts previous say that the Rodgers/GB scenario and our newly drafted QB/Patriots scenario is an absurd comparison?
Sports entertainment certainly can take on many forms....

No, I noted that every "GM" fell into the category being carved out by the poster, by pointing to one considered among the very best and one considered to have been a disaster. The fact that you find the so-called equation absurd is really the point.

 

[Ring 6]

No, I noted that every "GM" fell into the category being carved out by the poster, by pointing to one considered among the very best and one considered to have been a disaster. The fact that you find the so-called equation absurd is really the point.

But there is a tremendous difference in disageeing with someone who has proven to have good judgment or with someone who has proven to have poor judgment.
In either case, though, a poster pretending that they are better equipped to assess the player is folly. Questioning the decision and putting forth a conflicting opinion is also very different than declaring the decision wrong because you disagree with it, which implies you are equally or more qualified to make the assessment.

 

[Joker]

If so many people are unhappy with the draft overall and the lack of OLB's drafted, how about you just stop rooting for the Patriots and band together to purchase another team. That way you can decide what the team's needs are since you all know so much about every prospect by watching college football games on your couch and youtube videos on your computers.

it's Jet envy...I've read incredibly stupid posts screaming that "Sanchez tore us apart!!!!!!" in the playoff game...he threw for 196 yards...yes, he had a 120+ Qb rating but threw only 26 passes...the game before that he had a 27 QB rating in a 45-3 loss...yet somehow that means nothing, the inference being Sanchez will always "tear the Pats apart!!!!"...it's just pure bull. I was at the game and up close...in a playoff game, any mistake is magnified...Crumpler dropped a sure TD in his hands...an easy catch..and the game turned. It had ZERO to do with anything Mark Sanchez was or was not doing. I read that the Jets secondary locked down all our receivers when I came back here post game...pure bull...Brady had a BAD game, made BAD decisions and looked unsure in the pocket, play after play with wide open receivers either from the TE position or WR. Is it a sin now to say that Brady can have a bad game in the playoffs? Is it fair to exclaim that Sanchez "tore us apart!!!!" when the game before he couldn't tear a tab off a can of coke? Sanchez made the plays that got the Jets a lead, Brady didn't answer...and THIS is an indictment of the LB's???? Lunacy.If anything, one side of the secondary made enough mistakes for Sanchez to capitalize in the second half.

Would I welcome a pre-psychopathic Lawrence Taylor on the Pats??...sure...if one of these ADD crippled Jet lust Patriot fans can point him out, I'd be much obliged.

 

[BKBroiler]

Be prepared to be accused of lacking the ability to think because you are a blind homer. Around here, only complaints and gripes are considered your own thoughts, anything else is selling out because you are intelligent enough to form a negative opinion.
Best of luck.

That's completely fine with me. I've spent a good amount of time researching the draft, and even though some of the prospects I really liked didn't end up on the team, I understand the value each of the players drafted will bring to the team despite not looking like the best available option at the time.

Seriously though, none of use know how the Patriots board was set up this year or in any previous year. Some of these picks were most likely the number one player available on their big board at the time (e.g., Solder) while others were taken because of a material drop off between them and the next prospect on their board at a given position (e.g., Dowling).

Oh and I think the Mallett pick is genius. How many times do you have the opportunity to draft a QB who has prototypical size and the ability to make every throw in the 3rd round? Yeah, he has some demons, but now he has a structured program around him to help him mature as a player and as a person. At some point someone needed to be brought in behind Brady to potentially be the successor. Yes I think Hoyer is a really good player and key as a backup this coming year, but this now opens the opportunity for Hoyer to be dealt next year or the year after if Mallett works out.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Well, let's look at what we've got, though.

We can both agree that 1 RB this early made sense, but not 2, right?

No there were three RB, 1 CB, and 1 QB, and an O lineman openings...

 

[AzPatsFan]

When we look back on this draft in a few years it will probably be looked at as the point in history that marked the beginning of the end of the Patriots run of excellence. Yes it might take a few years, but THIS was the point where it started to go down hill.

There is NOTHING I can think of that explains what happened tonight. Forget about all the missed opportunities we had in the first round. We DID end up with a good player, even if it wasn't at the position of our perceived need. But how can you explain the following.

1. Ras I Dowling at #33 OK you can rationalize the picking ANOTHER CB - He's big, he's versatile, he's got great straight line speed. However he has a LONG history of injuries, a lack of quickness, and reportedly is just an average tackler. Still I could have lived with the pick.

What I can't live with is the squandering of the draft position. I find it impossible to believe that we couldn't find a trade partner willing to take the spot. Bill admitted that the Pats had gotten offered on Thursday for the pick. Yet somehow BB felt it was THAT urgent to pick a guy in a position of great depth with a pick that had premium value as trade bait....for a guy many thought was a 3rd round pick.

But then it gets worse.....

Vereen was one of the RB's I'd come like...but in the 3rd or 4th round, NOT as the 2nd RB to come off the board. He's a nice addition, but he's not a guy that will move the chains with tough 3rd and short runs. That was Daniel Thomas, or Mike Leshure. But OK, BB has surprised us with guys who we thought were picked too early, but turned out great like Volmer. At this point I'm not happy, but I'm still accepting.

But then it gets worse....

We pick up ANOTHER RB - Its as if BB is admitting I spent a premium pick on a guy who I know is 3rd down player, so I have go get ANOTHER RB who CAN pick up those "move the chains" tough runs

But then it gets worse.....much worse.

So instead of picking up someone who can help our Defensive front 7, or compete for the open spot at G, or be the guy who can stretch a defense; he picks up a VERY questionable character guy who in his best usage will be to be traded in 3 or 4 years for a high draft pick. While, if I were Ryan Mallet, I'd be THRILLED to be going to a team where I can spend the next 3 years maturing as a person, and learning the game from the best, it does NOTHING to make this a better team for the foreseeable future....NOTHING GREAT pick for Ryan Mallet, HORRIBLE pick for the Pats

BTW - the more I think about Mallet the LESS I understand it. If you want to think of a QB who most resembles him in style and physical skills, isn't it Drew Bledsoe. He's not the guy who will step back and throw bubble screens. He's not mobile in the pocket. He's not athletic. He's a tall guy with a big arm who throws the ball down the field. In other words he's DREW.....at best. Didn't we already decide that is NOT the kind of QB we like.

And haven't we tried this experiment before with the kid who was the MVP in Europe, and Kevin O'Connor......and haven't they BOTH failed. The more I think about it the LESS I can understand or justify it.

I don't even care who the damned 3rd pick in the round is. It will probably end up being the best FG holder available. Doesn't matter. All I know is that THIS great and rare opportunity to add significant IMPACT players to an already very good team has been lost.

NO impact at OLB

NO impact at on the DL

NO impact at WR

NO ONE to replace Steven Neal at G

But we do now have the most physically talented #3 QB in the NFL

The Pass rush isn't any better

The TEAM its self isn't any better. 6 picks in the first 100 and the team isn't materially better than the one that started the damned draft.

All we got is a LT for the future, and more depth at RB and the DB. BUT NO ONE who makes the team better for next year.

Just one potential starter and he probably would benefit if he didn't have to start. He may have all pro potential, but NEXT YEAR, he isn't going to be better than the All pro he replaces......And as for the rest....totally unexplainable.

Bill might recover some in FA. Maybe that was the plan all along to address the rush. But it STILL wouldn't explain the squandering to so many picks at so premium a position. WHAT A WASTE.

A draft that was SQUANDERED.....perhaps the beginning of the end?

Cripes, Not you too Ken. Get a grip...

I expect the self appointed draft guru know nothings to B1tch, b1tch, b1tch moan, piss, and cry. But You?!?

 

[BKBroiler]

it's Jet envy...I've read incredibly stupid posts screaming that "Sanchez tore us apart!!!!!!" in the playoff game...he threw for 196 yards...yes, he had a 120+ Qb rating but threw only 26 passes...the game before that he had a 27 QB rating in a 45-3 loss...yet somehow that means nothing, the inference being Sanchez will always "tear the Pats apart!!!!"...it's just pure bull. I was at the game and up close...in a playoff game, any mistake is magnified...Crumpler dropped a sure TD in his hands...an easy catch..and the game turned. It had ZERO to do with anything Mark Sanchez was or was not doing. I read that the Jets secondary locked down all our receivers when I came back here post game...pure bull...Brady had a BAD game, made BAD decisions and looked unsure in the pocket, play after play with wide open receivers either from the TE position or WR. Is it a sin now to say that Brady can have a bad game in the playoffs? Is it fair to exclaim that Sanchez "tore us apart!!!!" when the game before he couldn't tear a tab off a can of coke? Sanchez made the plays that got the Jets a lead, Brady didn't answer...and THIS is an indictment of the LB's???? Lunacy.If anything, one side of the secondary made enough mistakes for Sanchez to capitalize in the second half.

Would I welcome a pre-psychopathic Lawrence Taylor on the Pats??...sure...if one of these ADD crippled Jet lust Patriot fans can point him out, I'd be much obliged.

I just can't understand the Jets envy. Maybe I've been lucky to have had season tickets with my dad since I was five allowing me to see the Bobby Grier era of truly horrible drafts at a young age, but this draft isn't even close to representing one of those drafts. Yes Ridley seemed to be picked a little early, but the other four all either fill a need or offer the team greater flexibility/talent. What's the worst that can happen with Ridley and Mallett? Oh yeah they get cut, which has happened before with 3rd round picks. The best is that they become starters or key contributors at some point.

Also, I was at the last playoff game too and I completely agree with a few missed opportunities changing the entire flow of the game. In all honesty, this team only needed a few tweaks with Bodden and Ty Warren coming back from injuries and players like Tate maturing further to be able to fix those mistakes. The only positions that may need addressing are guard and OLB, but that can be done in free agency if the coaches/scouts didn't like anyone in the draft (and OLB isn't in that bad of shape even though some people don't like TBC and Ninkovich).

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

We sign a vet Pass Rusher and a solid DE in FA as I expect and then maybe everybody can STFU about the draft and smile again

Some of you are pathetic over reacting fools.

 

[andrewgarrr]

it's Jet envy...I've read incredibly stupid posts screaming that "Sanchez tore us apart!!!!!!" in the playoff game...he threw for 196 yards...yes, he had a 120+ Qb rating but threw only 26 passes...the game before that he had a 27 QB rating in a 45-3 loss...yet somehow that means nothing, the inference being Sanchez will always "tear the Pats apart!!!!"...it's just pure bull. I was at the game and up close...in a playoff game, any mistake is magnified...Crumpler dropped a sure TD in his hands...an easy catch..and the game turned. It had ZERO to do with anything Mark Sanchez was or was not doing. I read that the Jets secondary locked down all our receivers when I came back here post game...pure bull...Brady had a BAD game, made BAD decisions and looked unsure in the pocket, play after play with wide open receivers either from the TE position or WR. Is it a sin now to say that Brady can have a bad game in the playoffs? Is it fair to exclaim that Sanchez "tore us apart!!!!" when the game before he couldn't tear a tab off a can of coke? Sanchez made the plays that got the Jets a lead, Brady didn't answer...and THIS is an indictment of the LB's???? Lunacy.If anything, one side of the secondary made enough mistakes for Sanchez to capitalize in the second half.

Would I welcome a pre-psychopathic Lawrence Taylor on the Pats??...sure...if one of these ADD crippled Jet lust Patriot fans can point him out, I'd be much obliged.

Yep. Brady had a bad game. 100% agree. Thank you. <3

 

[randomk1]

it's Jet envy...I've read incredibly stupid posts screaming that "Sanchez tore us apart!!!!!!" in the playoff game...he threw for 196 yards...yes, he had a 120+ Qb rating but threw only 26 passes...the game before that he had a 27 QB rating in a 45-3 loss...yet somehow that means nothing, the inference being Sanchez will always "tear the Pats apart!!!!"...it's just pure bull. I was at the game and up close...in a playoff game, any mistake is magnified...Crumpler dropped a sure TD in his hands...an easy catch..and the game turned. It had ZERO to do with anything Mark Sanchez was or was not doing. I read that the Jets secondary locked down all our receivers when I came back here post game...pure bull...Brady had a BAD game, made BAD decisions and looked unsure in the pocket, play after play with wide open receivers either from the TE position or WR. Is it a sin now to say that Brady can have a bad game in the playoffs? Is it fair to exclaim that Sanchez "tore us apart!!!!" when the game before he couldn't tear a tab off a can of coke? Sanchez made the plays that got the Jets a lead, Brady didn't answer...and THIS is an indictment of the LB's???? Lunacy.If anything, one side of the secondary made enough mistakes for Sanchez to capitalize in the second half.

Would I welcome a pre-psychopathic Lawrence Taylor on the Pats??...sure...if one of these ADD crippled Jet lust Patriot fans can point him out, I'd be much obliged.

He threw 3 TD's and made big plays when his team needed them..Tom Brady had 300 yards and looked pathetic at times. We got torched by elite QB's and unknown QB's last year. If you think that the pass rush isn't a problem then you're an idiot and i blame BB for not investing in any talent that could improve the situation.He'll probably work something out but i'm guessing we're gonna see the same inability to get off the field as in 2010.

 

[ATippett56]

But Ridley (after Vereen) plus punting on the rest of the draft's middle I don't like at all. An interior lineman like Boling or Moffitt or Fusco, maybe?

The Stevan Ridley pick was a serious reach since he was rated no higher than a low fifth round draft pick. As a matter of fact, Stevan Ridley was rated a sixth round draft pick by Mike Mayock.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots have a huge hole at right guard with the retirement of Stephen Neal and Clint Boling, OG from Georgia offered much better value in the third round than Stevan Ridley.

 

[Observer]

As has been pointed out, this has been pretty strange... consensus seems to be that it wasn't the slam dunk that people were hoping for due to the 6 picks we had in the first 3 rounds but it seems not too shabby either. I think we should compare with last year's draft which most will agree was a good one:

2010 1st Round (27th Overall) – Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers -
2011 1st Round (17 overall) - Nate Solder, OL : complements Vollmer, big plus to OL. But OL still incomplete. Center remains a big problem. Guard could be leaving soon. Makes a position of strength (passing) stronger. A good addition.

2011 1st Round (28th Overall) - Traded out of for a 2012 first rounder with NO and 56th pick. Questionable trade. A player of McCourty's caliber was obtained with this pick in 2010. The 1st round pick may be higher/lower next year... time will tell. Two DL were taken in the draft immediately following but it seems DL was not considered as an area to be improved in the draft which is what has caused great grief among fans.

2010 2nd Round (42nd Overall) – Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
2011 2nd Round (33 Overall) - Ras-I Dowling, CB - This pick was taken 10 positions higher than Gronkowski but there are serious issues about the durability of the player which has caused a lot of concern and understandably so. Furthermore, Gronkowski was a very solid pick so Dowling has a lot to live up to. But if this pick works out, it genuinely makes our cornerback position complete with McCourty, Bodden and Dowling. I would say it was a decent choice, only other DBs picked higher were Amukamara and Jimmy Smith. Still... Dowling better be good. This pick should count as a first round choice.

2010 2nd Round (53rd Overall) – Jermaine Cunningham, OLB, Florida -
2011 2nd Round (56 Overall) - Shane Vereen, RB - Required to maintain RB by committee approach (it is to be debated if that is the best approach) Taylor, Faulk, and Morris are seemingly done. One hopes he is as much a player as Cunningham.


2010 2nd Round (62nd Overall) – Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
2011 2nd Round (60 Overall) - Traded to the texans for 73rd overall - No pick. Brandon Spikes wins this slot.

3rd Round (90th Overall) – Taylor Price, WR, Ohio
3rd Round (73 Overall) - Stevan Ridley RB. Adds one more RB to the group. Could make the position complete... time will tell.

3rd Round (74 Overall) - Ryan Mallet QB. Clearly a great value if one were in dire need of a quarterback but does not help the team in any way in the foreseeable future; unless Hoyer is to be jettisoned immediately.

4th Round (113th Overall) – Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
5th Round (150th Overall) – Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan
6th Round (205th Overall) – Ted Larsen, C, NC State
7th Round (208th Overall) – Thomas Welch, OT, Vanderbilt
7th Round (247th Overall) – Brandon Deaderick, DL, Alabama
7th Round (248th Overall) – Kade Weston, DL, Georgia
7th Round (250th OVerall) – Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State

Of the later rounds, Hernandez and Mesko were huge and we will have to wait and see if this draft can match up to that. For the most part, the draft is not terrible compared to last year's unless Solder doesn't pan out. Dowling will be KEY because that has question marks. The main problem is in the 2nd and 3rd rounds where we used picks at similar or higher positions than last year and yet did not pick up players that anybody considers very good or very useful to the team. Of course there will be more picks in the later rounds but there is good reason to be underwhelmed.

Also the trends for this team are a little worrysome. In any sport it takes individual champions to make a champion team because when the time comes, you still have to beat the other guy mano-a-mano because you can bet that if you got to the final, the opponents will be good at every spot. We have been losing our champions at rapid rate - Vrabel, Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour, Moss, and now potentially Mankins and Light and only have a few left now - Wilfork, Brady,... take your pick. Some youngsters such as McCourty, and the tight ends are showing promise but it seems we are not adding match-winning talent at the rate we are losing it and that is certainly bothersome when despite stockpiling draft picks, we don't draft a sure-fire contributor. Of course the draft is a lottery but the odds of the higher picks working out are better than the odds of the lower ones working out - they are ranked higher for a reason.

We should be looking to sign some very solid veterans to the team to stay dominant.

 

[Grizzafted]

This was a completely ****ty draft, people.

Remember the excitement last year? I kind of knew that guys like Hernandez and Gronk were going to be good, and I was excited about Spikes and Cunningham.

This year? MEH.

I mean come on. ****. NOBODY FROM THE FRONT SEVEN?? **** YOU BELICHICK **** YOU

 

[BKBroiler]

No there were three RB, 1 CB, and 1 QB, and an O lineman openings...

Exactly. I don't understand how people don't realize that all of these positions were either open or could be improved upon. Yes OLB seems like a need, but Nink, Cunningham, TBC, and Moore could all be contributors and all fill a potential roll. Same goes for DE as Warren, Brace, and Wright are coming back from injury and Stroud was just signed, which all should help a bunch to solidify that position.

Look at the guys drafted and the positions they'll fill. The team was missing a safety that could cover and take good angles to tackle, so they draft Dowling who can also play at CB. There were also 3 rb spots open with Faulk, Morris, and Taylor aging, so Vereen and Ridley were drafted (don't be surprised if a 3rd is drafted at some point or a priority UDFA is signed). Mallett was drafted because he was a huge value and the team needs a potential heir to Brady as Hoyer will either be too old or traded before Brady decides to hang them up. Plus don't forget Solder. He'll either be the starting LT if Light isn't resigned, or he'll be the main backup tackle for the next year or two to really learn the position.

 

[andrewgarrr]

The Stevan Ridley pick was a serious reach since he was rated no higher than a low fifth round draft pick. As a matter of fact, Stevan Ridley was rated a sixth round draft pick by Mike Mayock.

Meanwhile, the New England Patriots have a huge hole at right guard with the retirement of Stephen Neal and Clint Boling, OG from Georgia offered much better value in the third round than Stevan Ridley.

Yeah I was hoping for Boling as well. I'm still a little unsettled about the Mankins situation, Kaczur is displeased (I believe), Connolly is below average to average, and Koppen is getting up there in age. We need some serious youth injection at that position.

 

[andrewgarrr]

If Vereen and Ridley can have the kind of impact at RB that Gronkowski and Hernandez had, we will all look like fools once again.

 

[Joker]

He threw 3 TD's and made big plays when his team needed them..Tom Brady had 300 yards and looked pathetic at times. We got torched by elite QB's and unknown QB's last year. If you think that the pass rush isn't a problem then you're an idiot and i blame BB for not investing in any talent that could improve the situation.He'll probably work something out but i'm guessing we're gonna see the same inability to get off the field as in 2010.

I'm an idiot? How in the entire universe does a team go 14-2 and "they're torched by everybody because of the linebackers!!!"....how the hell is a 27 QB rating and a 42 point loss a "torching!!@!!!!!"???

If anyone is an idiot it is YOU and your intergalactically idiotic narrow mindset. Linebacker sacks are not the PRIMARY objective of BB's defense.

I never said that the "pass rush isn't a problem!!!!"

 

[ATippett56]

If Vereen and Ridley can have the kind of impact at RB that Gronkowski and Hernandez had, we will all look like fools once again.

I don't question the Shane Vereen pick whatsoever since he is a three down back. Meanwhile Stevan Ridley is a poor man's BJGE and does not warrant a draft pick higher than the fifth round. Also Stevan Ridley will be no higher than fourth on the running back depth chart during the 2011 NFL Season.

 

[BKBroiler]

As has been pointed out, this has been pretty strange... consensus seems to be that it wasn't the slam dunk that people were hoping for due to the 6 picks we had in the first 3 rounds but it seems not too shabby either. I think we should compare with last year's draft which most will agree was a good one:

2010 1st Round (27th Overall) – Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers -
2011 1st Round (17 overall) - Nate Solder, OL : complements Vollmer, big plus to OL. But OL still incomplete. Center remains a big problem. Guard could be leaving soon. Makes a position of strength (passing) stronger. A good addition.

2011 1st Round (28th Overall) - Traded out of for a 2012 first rounder with NO and 56th pick. Questionable trade. A player of McCourty's caliber was obtained with this pick in 2010. The 1st round pick may be higher/lower next year... time will tell. Two DL were taken in the draft immediately following but it seems DL was not considered as an area to be improved in the draft which is what has caused great grief among fans.

2010 2nd Round (42nd Overall) – Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
2011 2nd Round (33 Overall) - Ras-I Dowling, CB - This pick was taken 10 positions higher than Gronkowski but there are serious issues about the durability of the player which has caused a lot of concern and understandably so. Furthermore, Gronkowski was a very solid pick so Dowling has a lot to live up to. But if this pick works out, it genuinely makes our cornerback position complete with McCourty, Bodden and Dowling. I would say it was a decent choice, only other DBs picked higher were Amukamara and Jimmy Smith. Still... Dowling better be good. This pick should count as a first round choice.

2010 2nd Round (53rd Overall) – Jermaine Cunningham, OLB, Florida -
2011 2nd Round (56 Overall) - Shane Vereen, RB - Required to maintain RB by committee approach (it is to be debated if that is the best approach) Taylor, Faulk, and Morris are seemingly done. One hopes he is as much a player as Cunningham.


2010 2nd Round (62nd Overall) – Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida
2011 2nd Round (60 Overall) - Traded to the texans for 73rd overall - No pick. Brandon Spikes wins this slot.

3rd Round (90th Overall) – Taylor Price, WR, Ohio
3rd Round (73 Overall) - Stevan Ridley RB. Adds one more RB to the group. Could make the position complete... time will tell.

3rd Round (74 Overall) - Ryan Mallet QB. Clearly a great value if one were in dire need of a quarterback but does not help the team in any way in the foreseeable future; unless Hoyer is to be jettisoned immediately.

4th Round (113th Overall) – Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
5th Round (150th Overall) – Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan
6th Round (205th Overall) – Ted Larsen, C, NC State
7th Round (208th Overall) – Thomas Welch, OT, Vanderbilt
7th Round (247th Overall) – Brandon Deaderick, DL, Alabama
7th Round (248th Overall) – Kade Weston, DL, Georgia
7th Round (250th OVerall) – Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State

Of the later rounds, Hernandez and Mesko were huge and we will have to wait and see if this draft can match up to that. For the most part, the draft is not terrible compared to last year's unless Solder doesn't pan out. Dowling will be KEY because that has question marks. The main problem is in the 2nd and 3rd rounds where we used picks at similar or higher positions than last year and yet did not pick up players that anybody considers very good or very useful to the team. Of course there will be more picks in the later rounds but there is good reason to be underwhelmed.

Also the trends for this team are a little worrysome. In any sport it takes individual champions to make a champion team because when the time comes, you still have to beat the other guy mano-a-mano because you can bet that if you got to the final, the opponents will be good at every spot. We have been losing our champions at rapid rate - Vrabel, Bruschi, Harrison, Seymour, Moss, and now potentially Mankins and Light and only have a few left now - Wilfork, Brady,... take your pick. Some youngsters such as McCourty, and the tight ends are showing promise but it seems we are not adding match-winning talent at the rate we are losing it and that is certainly bothersome when despite stockpiling draft picks, we don't draft a sure-fire contributor. Of course the draft is a lottery but the odds of the higher picks working out are better than the odds of the lower ones working out - they are ranked higher for a reason.

We should be looking to sign some very solid veterans to the team to stay dominant.

I don't understand how a comparison to last year's draft is even relevant. Last year's draft was considered by most to be the one of the strongest in recent memory, while this year's appeared to be on the weaker side. Basically any comparison would be the cliche saying of comparing apples to oranges. Plus who really cares if a player drafted last year at 27, would be as good as a player drafted this year at 27. There are way too many factors to make this comparison relevant (position, # of underclassmen, # of blue chippers, order of teams and their needs, etc.). You're basically making a comparison of Peyton Manning to Tim Couch. Yeah both were 1st picks, but one year had an absolute home run #1 pick, while the next was much more of a crapshoot (even though McNabb went #2).

Oh and its surprising how everyone forgets that Gronkowski had serious health questions coming out last year with his back, yet everyone is condemning Dowling for having a few injuries during college.