Jim Nagy, Tedy Bruschi on how Patriots draft

[SammyBlueCat]

I wonder if the pats have potential undrafted players on their board? To call after the draft is over, or would they just be on the original list? After all, they always seem to have one make the team, and contribute.

No disrespect intended but that would require being able to see the future before it happens.

 

[MrTibbs]

The draft board can’t be that small in New England if they have the likes of Tavon Wilson on it.

Pffff.....Jordan Richards!

 

[manxman2601]

he forgot to mention the 2nd round pick on a special team role player

Which one?

 

[luuked]

Im still wierded out by the Gronk pick at a conspiracy theory level

There was a video of Gronk BEFORE the draft where he said something along the lines of "its going to be awesome playing with Tom Brady, its going to be great!"

He basically said matter of factly that he was going to enjoy playing on the Patriots with Brady... and this was BEFORE the draft

my 5% belief in conspiracy theories kicked on with that video.. I'll try to find it

I also remember a certain poster on this board (forgot who) flipped out on me for even mentioning that I thought it was strange... which I also thought was very strange lol... he was like over the top defensive about it, ALMOST LIKE HE KNEW!

Most probably because Stoops told Gronk about the phone call he got from BB before the draft.

There was a nugget about that in a Simmons Ringer podcast several weeks ago right after Gronk retired. BB called Stoops before the draft and literally asked "Whats the deal with this Gronkowski guy ? Is he an ******* ?". Ryan Russilo was the guest on the podcast and he said he heard this anecdote years ago and didnt tell it until now.

 

[luuked]

It's a 90-second clip. Yes, it's BSPN, but it's worth it.

Pretty cool segment but too bad that it looks like we are at a point where most of the minutiae of how BB / Caserio approach the draft have already been known for a while and everything is a rehash. I wish there was still more insight..

The roles thing is pretty much just another way to describe how people often say that BB is one of the few that asks the scouts not to emphasize what a player cant do but what he can. Too many GMs and decisions are made based on things players cant do.

 

[mosslost]

Gronk will be missed.

i think he will see the field this season

 

[RobertWeathers]

I would say that all fits together though.

They determine the 75 players on their list based on system fit, cultural fit, upside and physical attributes.

When it comes to ranking them though, they project what role(s) they would play year 1 and year 2, and compare that to what they already have on the roster. The more roles you project to play, at a high enough level, and compared to the marginal increase you get on the roster, the higher you’re ranked. I’d expect having multiple roles has a huge value to the team because it frees up a roster spot to use somewhere else. I think this is easier to see in their free agency salary structure - they’re willing to pay top money for the best at their position (Brady, Gilmore, Gronk, Mason) or for very good players who fill multiple roles that save roster spots (DMac, Hightower).

I agree. I think they use the projection of roles in calculating draft value but clearly have no issue recalibrating their thinking if once here the player starts to ascend.

They must get a woody and a 1/2 when guys like Andrews,JJ, Malcolm and JC come here for pennies on the dollar or low in draft capital and become starters.

 

[supafly]

I wonder if the pats have potential undrafted players on their board? To call after the draft is over, or would they just be on the original list? After all, they always seem to have one make the team, and contribute.

For what it’s worth, current center David Andrews said that Belichick called him two times during the draft in preparation for UDFA signings, so the answer to your question would seem to be “yes.”

I’m sure they’re plenty prepared for UDFA signings just as they are for rounds 1-7.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Not sure I 100% agree with Bru and Nagy.

As a general rule i think the Pats draft on system fit, cultural fit, upside and physical attributes.

Maybe at the back end of the draft they go for roles but in the top 3 rounds they are looking to maximize the impact the player can have.

Those attributes are not unrelated...

 

[RobertWeathers]

Those attributes are not unrelated...

Sure but they area measured independently and part of an overall assessment of the player

 

[PittPatriot]

We won a SB with Jermaine Wiggins. BB creates a system that is built to the strength of our players. He finds the key cogs and builds a system and finds the right players to support that system. I would not be surprised if we build a top 3 Defense and run game allowing Brady to win with 24 points/game.

We almost did that last year

 

[SBLIII]

It won't be easy to replace Flowers either.

This is true.

But defensive linemen are much easier to replace than an elite defensive back. If we lost Gilmore to FA we would have issues, big issues.

As long as we have several DBs who are GREAT in coverage our defense will be very good. In 2017 this was not the case and we struggled.

We get a great coverage LB, Bentley, back from injury as well.

Given that we return ALL of our DBs and LBs and acquired Bennett I think our defense will be one of the best in the league. Draft 1-2 DL early and this defense could carry the team.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

No disrespect intended but that would require being able to see the future before it happens.

C'mon Sammy . You could have someone graded as a udfa.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

C'mon Sammy . You could have someone graded as a udfa.

In theory he would be graded as a late round pick. No?

 

[1960Pats]

This is true.

But defensive linemen are much easier to replace than an elite defensive back. If we lost Gilmore to FA we would have issues, big issues.

As long as we have several DBs who are GREAT in coverage our defense will be very good. In 2017 this was not the case and we struggled.

We get a great coverage LB, Bentley, back from injury as well.

Given that we return ALL of our DBs and LBs and acquired Bennett I think our defense will be one of the best in the league. Draft 1-2 DL early and this defense could carry the team.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you're correct.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

It's a 90-second clip. Yes, it's BSPN, but it's worth it.

So it’s not the size of the board that matters?

 

[patfanken]

The draft board can’t be that small in New England if they have the likes of Tavon Wilson on it.

Sorry PP, but you just hit on a sore point. Tavon Wilson was NOT a bad pick. He didn't do more for the Pats NOT because he wasn't any good, but because of who was ahead of him on the depth chart. He has proven in Detroit that, while not a standout, he was a solid starting S in the league.

In NE he had Chung, Harmon, McCourty, etc that he was competing with for snaps. Being the #4 S in a group that was rarely hurt is not going to get you noticed. Too many fans never forgave him for biting on a play action pass against Seattle as a injury replacement ROOKIE that proved to be the winning score.

Christ, Brady beat Troy Polomaluu on play action passes multiple times a game for a DECADE, and yet Wilson been crucified for having it happen once in his rookie year. If the goal of the draft is to bring in players who are good enough to play in the NFL, Wilson was a success....just not here

Again sorry for the pet peeve reaction.

 

[patfanken]

This is true.

But defensive linemen are much easier to replace than an elite defensive back. If we lost Gilmore to FA we would have issues, big issues.

As long as we have several DBs who are GREAT in coverage our defense will be very good. In 2017 this was not the case and we struggled.

We get a great coverage LB, Bentley, back from injury as well.

Given that we return ALL of our DBs and LBs and acquired Bennett I think our defense will be one of the best in the league. Draft 1-2 DL early and this defense could carry the team.

Couldn't disagree with you more on your first comment. It is MUCH harder to find QUALITY big men than DB's, simply because there so many more of the latter. Simple math.

Not saying that losing Gilmore wouldn't hurt. He's been one of Bills best FA signings, but numbers don't lie.

 

[patfanken]

BTW- I've caught Nagy a couple of times during this run up to the draft and he has yet to fail to offer at least one insight per viewing that made me smarter about some part of the process.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Sorry PP, but you just hit on a sore point. Tavon Wilson was NOT a bad pick. He didn't do more for the Pats NOT because he wasn't any good, but because of who was ahead of him on the depth chart. He has proven in Detroit that, while not a standout, he was a solid starting S in the league.

In NE he had Chung, Harmon, McCourty, etc that he was competing with for snaps. Being the #4 S in a group that was rarely hurt is not going to get you noticed. Too many fans never forgave him for biting on a play action pass against Seattle as a injury replacement ROOKIE that proved to be the winning score.

For the record:

I dunno, but it seems really, really weird if the conclusion to be drawn here is that "Safety #4" is a role that's worth almost as high a draft pick as any WR role is.