Draft thoughts ...

[BelizePats]

Depends how you define compete.
We were certainly competitive vs the chiefs last year and without the Edelman fumble and scoop and score we were competitive with bmore too. Losing one game to a weak team doesn’t doom a team a lot of good teams have a game like that.

Which game are you referring to?

 

[Zuma]

As far as WR, we might trade for Jeffries tomorrow.

I don't see how Thuney is not traded for WR

 

[ralmat55]

I liked the Patriots draft and UDFA signings because most of the real needs of the team both short and long term were addressed. However, there was one need unaddressed which was an anchor (Big Fatty) NT to better hold up to power run teams like the Titans, Bills and Ravens. All things aside, you could make a darn good argument that the Pats would have beaten the Titans if Derrick Henry didn’t control the game with his running. So, I was legitimately bummed this need was not addressed in the draft.

Then, I saw this nugget:

TheWolverine - Michigan Football: Michael Onwenu Will Continue To Play Both Ways

One of the roster rules with the new CBA is that of the 48 players who can now suit up for a game 8 must be offensive linemen where, in the past, the Patriots and most teams only dressed 7. Having an extra OLineman sitting on the bench all game just waiting for the 3rd OLine injury to come into the game is a terrible waste of manpower to someone like Bill Belichick. I thought he would likely increase his use of 6 man lines to make use of the 8th OLineman, and it’s likely we’ll see more of that especially seeing how successful it was for the Ravens.

But, wouldn’t it be even better to use the 8th OLineman as an extra game day DT to give them more size to play the power run? Onwenu’s selection was confusing because he really doesn’t fit the mold of most Patriot interior OLinemen, and they followed up is selection with the selection of 2 more interior lineman. Then, you consider they made a rather drastic move up 30 spots to take him . I think they might see Onwenu as more than just a guard. He’s mammoth with enough mobility to pull with extra long arms. If they did use him as a 2 way DLineman, Onwenu has all the attributes to be very good as a NT.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Mel Kiper worst day 2 picks

New England Patriots

The picks: Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA (No. 91); Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech (No. 101)


New England traded up to No. 91, and at that point there had been only one tight end drafted. One. This is not a great class to get one. Dayton's Adam Trautman was there, along with FAU's Harrison Bryant and Missouri's Albert Okwuegbunam. So the Patriots did take a tight end, but it was my seventh-ranked TE in Asiasi. He's not going to be the new Rob Gronkowski, and I would have looked elsewhere, but he did catch 44 passes and four touchdowns last season.

Then the Pats traded up again for a TE, this time Keene, whom I actually had ranked one spot after Asiasi. And all of those others are still on the board. Bill Belichick is obviously trying to fill a big-time need -- New England tight ends had only two receiving touchdowns, tied for fewest in the NFL (with the Bears) -- but there were better options available.

 

[Doctor DDS]

If a team always went with Kiper's best available when they picked he would give them an A. BB could save Kraft all sorts of scouting money and just keep a close eye on ESPN prior to making the pick.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

This is why I want some type of accuracy/rankings for pre-draft evaluations/grades et..

These guys (Kiper, Miller) have done a really good job at marketing and presenting their stuff and themselves. Kiper plays up his act as the antagonist and Miller as an alcoholic every-man. That's so much more important than being right. Most just except "the draft is a crapshoot" and don't care more than a month or two. Only weirdos like me what accountability for draft stuff haha.

I just think it would be nice though.

1)You actually have an idea of who's good.

2)Maybe someone is terrible at every position except QB? Just throwing out examples. Unlikely but possible, some are just better at other things.

3)General consensus of the 3-5 best would nice, no? You're looking at the best of the best to see where you stack up?

4)Would be a go to source for casual draft fans. Instead of what seems like a clusterfuxk of draft geeks coming out the woodwork you'd have a central place to go.

 

[Ring 6]

Which game are you referring to?

I said, chiefs and bmore.

 

[Ring 6]

Mel Kiper worst day 2 picks

New England Patriots

The picks: Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA (No. 91); Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech (No. 101)


New England traded up to No. 91, and at that point there had been only one tight end drafted. One. This is not a great class to get one. Dayton's Adam Trautman was there, along with FAU's Harrison Bryant and Missouri's Albert Okwuegbunam. So the Patriots did take a tight end, but it was my seventh-ranked TE in Asiasi. He's not going to be the new Rob Gronkowski, and I would have looked elsewhere, but he did catch 44 passes and four touchdowns last season.

Then the Pats traded up again for a TE, this time Keene, whom I actually had ranked one spot after Asiasi. And all of those others are still on the board. Bill Belichick is obviously trying to fill a big-time need -- New England tight ends had only two receiving touchdowns, tied for fewest in the NFL (with the Bears) -- but there were better options available.

It would be interesting to see if kiper assigns player grades, how close this group of TEs was in his grading because it seems like he is whining that he had a couple of other guys slightly higher.

 

[Racervx54]

Kiper is a twat who is never right with anything he says

 

[DarrylS]

Mel Kiper worst day 2 picks

New England Patriots

The picks: Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA (No. 91); Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech (No. 101)


New England traded up to No. 91, and at that point there had been only one tight end drafted. One. This is not a great class to get one. Dayton's Adam Trautman was there, along with FAU's Harrison Bryant and Missouri's Albert Okwuegbunam. So the Patriots did take a tight end, but it was my seventh-ranked TE in Asiasi. He's not going to be the new Rob Gronkowski, and I would have looked elsewhere, but he did catch 44 passes and four touchdowns last season.

Then the Pats traded up again for a TE, this time Keene, whom I actually had ranked one spot after Asiasi. And all of those others are still on the board. Bill Belichick is obviously trying to fill a big-time need -- New England tight ends had only two receiving touchdowns, tied for fewest in the NFL (with the Bears) -- but there were better options available.

IF Kyper says it, it must be the gospel.. that prognosticator is never wrong.

Did you ever notice the level of narcissism that Kyper expounds in how he writes??.

Everything Kyper writes should be qualified with "in my opinion" all these dudes are full of themselves.. this can be better evaluated in Dec. of 2021.

 

[Ring 6]

I liked the Patriots draft and UDFA signings because most of the real needs of the team both short and long term were addressed. However, there was one need unaddressed which was an anchor (Big Fatty) NT to better hold up to power run teams like the Titans, Bills and Ravens. All things aside, you could make a darn good argument that the Pats would have beaten the Titans if Derrick Henry didn’t control the game with his running. So, I was legitimately bummed this need was not addressed in the draft.

Then, I saw this nugget:

TheWolverine - Michigan Football: Michael Onwenu Will Continue To Play Both Ways

One of the roster rules with the new CBA is that of the 48 players who can now suit up for a game 8 must be offensive linemen where, in the past, the Patriots and most teams only dressed 7. Having an extra OLineman sitting on the bench all game just waiting for the 3rd OLine injury to come into the game is a terrible waste of manpower to someone like Bill Belichick. I thought he would likely increase his use of 6 man lines to make use of the 8th OLineman, and it’s likely we’ll see more of that especially seeing how successful it was for the Ravens.

But, wouldn’t it be even better to use the 8th OLineman as an extra game day DT to give them more size to play the power run? Onwenu’s selection was confusing because he really doesn’t fit the mold of most Patriot interior OLinemen, and they followed up is selection with the selection of 2 more interior lineman. Then, you consider they made a rather drastic move up 30 spots to take him . I think they might see Onwenu as more than just a guard. He’s mammoth with enough mobility to pull with extra long arms. If they did use him as a 2 way DLineman, Onwenu has all the attributes to be very good as a NT.

Very interesting. Sounds more like a future Ted Washington than a joe thuney.

 

[mgteich]

I don't see how Thuney is not traded for WR

I think of player for player trades as two trades. So, for me, it isn't really Thuney for Jeffries, with a draft pick or two, one way or the other. It is Thuney for draft picks, and then trading draft picks for Jeffries. That way, we recognize that there is no reason at all for the partner for the two trades to be the same team. In this case, PHI might work as being the team interested in both trades.

 

[Betterthanmost]

How many of our picks were team captains? I always find such tidbits interesting in what BB looks for. I think this will be a good question for Mike R.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

How many of our picks were team captains? I always find such tidbits interesting in what BB looks for. I think this will be a good question for Mike R.

Lewerke (twice), Herron

13th time Bill has drafted teammates (Uche, Onwenu)

 

[n6249c]

Not so sure those first two are good examples. At least when Dugger was announced the TV analysts were all very impressed by his athleticism. Being from a small school doesn’t disqualify him from BPA, it just says his market coming out of hs didn’t land him in a major football hype factory.

Yeah, this should finally put the “Patriots draft for BPA” bull to bed. Dugger is the Chung replacement, and a need for any team that is effectively using nickel as a base. Uche is the Collins replacement and should end up being used all over the field. They drafted two TEs when that was perhaps their biggest need. I’m not overly high on Jennings, but they needed someone who could set the edge against the run. Now we have to hope, for Stidham’s sake, that Edelman stays healthy this year (50/50 shot) and Harry has spent the offseason watching tape of Michael Thomas and how he uses his body, particularly at the top of his route, to get open.

 

[Kontradiction]

Not so sure those first two are good examples. At least when Dugger was announced the TV analysts were all very impressed by his athleticism. Being from a small school doesn’t disqualify him from BPA, it just says his market coming out of hs didn’t land him in a major football hype factory.

Chung is old, coming off of a year where he was pretty well banged up, and expensive. He can be cut post 6/1 and likely will for cap relief. Dugger was most definitely a need pick. We can argue whether he was BPA for the Pats, but that was a pick taken directly for need first and foremost. Same with Uche. Finally, BB has even admitted in the past that need is factored in.

 

[mgteich]

Lewerke (twice), Herron

13th time Bill has drafted teammates (Uche, Onwenu)

Uche was also Winovich's teammate.

 

[mgteich]

Chung is old, coming off of a year where he was pretty well banged up, and expensive. He can be cut post 6/1 and likely will for cap relief. Dugger was most definitely a need pick. We can argue whether he was BPA for the Pats, but that was a pick taken directly for need first and foremost. Same with Uche. Finally, BB has even admitted in the past that need is factored in.

Our top three safeties all played a lot last year. Dugger should get Harmon's reps. So, I don't see Chung leaving yet. Of course, Chung's playing time could be reduced.

 

[n6249c]

Chung is old, coming off of a year where he was pretty well banged up, and expensive. He can be cut post 6/1 and likely will for cap relief. Dugger was most definitely a need pick. We can argue whether he was BPA for the Pats, but that was a pick taken directly for need first and foremost. Same with Uche. Finally, BB has even admitted in the past that need is factored in.

Best case scenario is when you’re able to take BPA at a position of need. Outside of the first dozen or so the remaining BPA is either arguable or flawed, most likely both. So the choice between BPA and need isn’t binary. Still think Bill will choose the player that best fits his desired characteristics before he will pick at a position of need if the player isn’t a good fit for his desired characteristics.