DRAFT Cole Strange-Welcome to the Pats

[PatsFan2]

Damn at least get his name right. He's probably the nice lad giving you coffee at the Dunkin' drive through. It's Jordan Richards, not Jefferson.

The pick Stunned him.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Whelp, here we go. Onto day 2. A lot of talent is left on the board and the Pats are stocked up with picks in the golden ticket zone.

• Round 2: No. 54
• Round 3: No. 85
• Round 3: No. 94 (via Kansas City Chiefs)
• Round 4: No. 121 (via Kansas City Chiefs)
• Round 4: No. 127
• Round 5: No. 158 (via Miami Dolphins)
• Round 6: No. 183 (via Houston Texans)
• Round 6: No. 200
• Round 6: No. 210 (via Los Angeles Rams)
• Round 7: No. 245 (via Houston Texans from Dallas Cowboys)

Draft isn’t over yet ladies and gentlemen!

I see 7 more opportunities for Bill to reach a couple of rounds early and 3 trades for future draft picks into 2023.

 

[ralmat55]

Literally a Strange pick. But, offensive line is a position they’ve shown an aptitude for drafting good players. I don’t care about his age or whether he was selected too early based on the opinions of “draft experts”. I remember when Deion Branch was selected with the last pick of the #2nd round in 2002. The Kiperites were babbling about Branch’s 5th round grade, but Deion turned into a darn good WR whose teams won a lot of games with him as one of their receivers. He might have been “a reach” when drafted, but he turned out to be well worth his draft position.

Strange is not replacing Mason. Mason was traded for a draft pick, cap space
To sign a RT (they bid on La’el Collins but settled for resigning Brown), and to settle Mike Onwenu at RG - his best position. Strange was selected to replace Joe Thuney, and, if Strange comes close to being another Thuney he’ll have earned his draft position. Yes, I know Thuney was a 3rd rounder. But it’s not every draft you can find a linemen that good in the 3rd round.

Agreed, the Patriots have other areas of need to fill. But, at this point, we must think the Pats had a high grade on Strange- a higher grade than our binkys at other positions. The 1st round of this draft was not its strength. This is a draft where the value and depth is in the middle rounds. Now, they have 5 picks in the 2nd to 4th rounds to strengthen the defense and, perhaps, draft a receiver able to step in in 2023 when Agholor and Meyers might both be gone.

I wanted a CB in the first round, but, when I looked at the CBs after Gardner and Stingley, none of them stood out to me. I would not be surprised if multiple corners taken in the 2nd or 3 rd rounds will have careers as good or better than McDuffie, Elam and Hill.

Remember when Bill and Matt both sought Frank Ragnow a few years back. If Strange can become their Patriot version of Ragnow, we won’t be disappointed in this pick this time next year.

 

[State]

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

 

[mgteich]

It’s not meaningless. Unless he is gonna be one of those late bloomers (which he could be) then you’re limited by how much he can grow. Coach him up? Sure, but an older guy is going to be more of what you see is what you get.

We have him for 5 years.

The idea that a 24-26 year old can't learn well enough is just plain ignorant, at least IMO.

 

[Guts]

 

[holyredeemer]

Thinking there were better players is not relevant to his age. Being 29 or 28 or 27 by the time your no longer locked in is not relevant. Players, especially OL do not decline or expire at 28.

I already explained why his age is something to consider. A second contract for a 26 year old ascending player makes his age very relevant. You disagree. That’s fine. There were other players interested he board that could’ve helped the team more in the future imo. Bill disagrees as well, that’s fine. There’s a reason he is being paid millions for his football analysis and I ain’t getting paid ****. I stand by how I feel about the player, and the spot he was picked in. Hope Bill was right, and he’s a day 1 starter that has a positive impact on the team.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

 

[holyredeemer]

We have him for 5 years.

The idea that a 24-26 year old can't learn well enough is just plain ignorant, at least IMO.

“Coach him up? Sure.” That’s the learning part, isn’t it? Nowhere did I say a 24-26 yr old player can’t learn well enough.

 

[mgteich]

My bet is on Picking up 3 kickers and 2 more TEs and maybe even a RB within those selections

We might pick a punter or two in the 6th, and a RB in the 5th. What is your point?

We have FIVE picks in the 2nd through the 4th who will definitely be part of the 53 man roster, if they are healthy. Let's see what needs are filled by those players. (and yes, we might trade a pick or two).

 

[billdog3484]

We’re just going to have to wait and see how he turns out. For all we know this oline is going to be much better with the departure of Karras and Mason. OnWenu and Strange might be better for the team. We’ll see.

It doesn’t matter how he turns out. Bill always talks about value and how important it is, and I agree. But this isn’t value. Value isn’t taking a guard in the first round who you could’ve safely taken at least 20-30 picks later. It’s a safe pick. I’m sure he will be good. But it’s not
Value . Bill is fill of crap and -/or
Clueless

 

[mgteich]

“Coach him up? Sure.” That’s the learning part, isn’t it? Nowhere did I say a 24-26 yr old player can’t learn well enough.

"It’s not meaningless. Unless he is gonna be one of those late bloomers (which he could be) then you’re limited by how much he can grow. Coach him up? Sure, but an older guy is going to be more of what you see is what you get." is what you posted.

I will be more clear. Strange is in absolutely no way limited because he is 24 years old, rather than the 22 of many players.

 

[Kasmir]

Why do you care that he is 24. It is meaningless.

I'm not freaking out about this pick, it's typical BB, but being 24 means that he's finished growing so won't get a physical bump from that...

 

[Ring 6]

I already explained why his age is something to consider. A second contract for a 26 year old ascending player makes his age very relevant. You disagree. That’s fine. There were other players interested he board that could’ve helped the team more in the future imo. Bill disagrees as well, that’s fine. There’s a reason he is being paid millions for his football analysis and I ain’t getting paid ****. I stand by how I feel about the player, and the spot he was picked in. Hope Bill was right, and he’s a day 1 starter that has a positive impact on the team.

Your argument about age just isn’t right. Why would being 26 or 28 at the time your contract is up matter? OL play well into their 30s. Why is it better to have your player become a free agent at 26 vs 28? Both will see the end of the second contract if they are worthy of it.

And yes, I understand you disagree with Belichick. I will choose to believe that he
a) did more evaluation of the player than you
b) did more evaluation of the other potential choices that you
c) is more capable of making a good evaluation even with only the same amount of work as you
d) employs a staff of professionals who also did a,b and c

So I will expect that he is more likely to be correct than you, unless you wish to frame it as Strange vs whoever turns out to be the best of all of the players who were on the board ending up being your pick.

 

[DaBruinz]

No issue with the player but the pick is just gross. I don't mind even if you reach slightly for him at 54 but you have to be cognisant of league wide value and ratings. No one was selecting him in the top 50 surely. Awful pick.

I remember the same BS being said about Logan Mankins. And then it came out that the 49ers were going to take Mankins at 33. So, this idea that no one was picking Strange in the top 50 doesn't hold water.

There is no LEAGUE WIDE VALUE and RATINGS. What are you smoking? This isn't the 1980s where half the teams don't have a college scouting department and they rely our Ourlads or whatever the Scouting Bureaus names were. ALL 32 teams have their own scouting departments now. ALL 32 teams grade players differently. There have been numerous posts about how the Patriots grade prospects, not just on their talent, but against the talent currently on the roster. They take the player that is highest on their draft board unless they feel the need is no longer there.

If you're going by the Draft Guides when claiming that something is a particular way, then that's on you. Everyone knows that the draft guides are basic. That they get just as much right as they get wrong. Want proof. Take the last 5 years top 30 picks from your favor 5 sites. Now, review them an tell me how many of them are full-time starters? Now look at how many are just out of the league. This is something that none of the guides do. Do you know why? If they did, people wouldn't buy them anymore. People would realize just how much of a crap shoot the draft really is.

 

[Kasmir]

Dominique Easley​

Nah Easley was actually quite talented, was extremely quick off the snap. They lost out on an injury gamble.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Strange is N'Keal Harry 2.0. BB has lost too much trust with his draft reaches over the past decade. It feels like the gem of the Mac Jones 2021 draft is sandwiched by the turds of N'Keal Harry and now Cole Strange in 2022.

 

[DaBruinz]

Traded Mason for a dumb 5th, than picked Strange in the 1st when you could have had him in the 3rd.....and passed on Karlaftis who's a wrecking crew...or Dean..or Daxton...it just doesn't make make any sense. F- grade

Yes. Your evaluation is an F- grade. Thank you for sharing.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]