The Draft: What We Learned From Vrabel & Co

[manxman2601]

With the obvious caveat that one draft does not a pattern make, there were themes that revealed themselves in the draft.

1. BPA - So the Will Campbell pick is debatable for some as to whether Will Campbell was BPA, he was for me, but the need was so great, it was an inevitable pick. Beyond Campbell's pick however, I think the team clearly went BPA throughout the rest of the draft except, perhaps the last two rounds.

2. Character, character - I think this was one of the clearest themes to emerge from the draft. Campbell, Henderson, Wilson and Woodson all scored highly in terms of their character. The question is, will this be an underlying theme of future drafts or are they so focused on character now to provide the culture change, but less obsessed about it in the future once new leadership is in place on the roster.

3. Visits - Cambell, Farmer, Woodson, Minor and Bryant were all team visits, although we didn't know about the last three.

4. Speed and Athleticism - Campbell, Henderson, Williams and Wilson all score highly when it comes to speed and/or athleticism, however,I don't think they're perusing the RAS files to find the athletic marvels. I still think ability will count for more than athletic freakishness, although it's nice when they mesh.

5. No Big Risks - A little tied into the previous section, they're were no swings on athletic freaks unlike, say, Detroit who traded up for Teslaa in the 3rd. It appears film is key.

6. Let The Draft Come To Them - The Williams, Swinson, Wilson and Farmer picks all fit here. We were clamouring for them to trade up for Williams or Noel in the gameday thread, but the team were patient and respected their board. With Wilson they were able to do the same including a trade back.


It's only one data point for sure and it will be interesting to see which of these themes continue into year 2.

 

[mayoclinic]

Great summary.

I don't think anyone would consider Campbell the #4 BPA available, but in this case need and character were huge factors. The biggest "mistake" the FO made this off-season was putting themselves in position of having to fill LT in a draft with no clear "value meets need" candidate.

 

[manxman2601]

We were the fourth highest in drafting traits and third highest in drafting production. That seems like a damn fine place to be.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Great thread. Wolf told the story of collaboration where the Pats were debating an OG and RB in R2 (Henderson) to find the BPA. That is a great sign.

I am not a Wolf fan, and believe he tells collaboration stories because he is sucking up to Kraft (like calling him Thunder), but it is great the franchise is emphasizing BPA.

Some posters asked why 2025 seemed like a better draft. The answer is because the Pats were emphasizing BPA which also correlates with the more highly publicized draft profiles (everyone knows the best candidates). When a team picks the strongest football guys, college production plus athleticism, those guys have already been touted like in Jeremiah's Top 150.

 

[mayoclinic]

So if you're not drafting based on either traits or production (Miami), what are you basing your drafting on?

That sounds a lot like using 2nd round picks on Ron Brace and Jordan Richards to me.

 

[patchick]

2. Character, character - I think this was one of the clearest themes to emerge from the draft. Campbell, Henderson, Wilson and Woodson all scored highly in terms of their character. The question is, will this be an underlying theme of future drafts or are they so focused on character now to provide the culture change, but less obsessed about it in the future once new leadership is in place on the roster.

It's really dramatic -- not just crossing off "character risks," but focusing on selfless, high-effort locker room leaders. If they can set the tone, this should be a likeable team.

 

[manxman2601]

It's really dramatic -- not just crossing off "character risks," but focusing on selfless, high-effort locker room leaders. If they can set the tone, this should be a likeable team.

Do you think they’ll continue it or does it enable them to take more risks once they’ve got the leadership in place?

 

[patchick]

Do you think they’ll continue it or does it enable them to take more risks once they’ve got the leadership in place?

It'll be interesting to watch. I'd be surprised at genuine character risks who could undermine what they're doing, but the draft (like life) has plenty of followers--the kind of people who rise or fall to the level of behavior around them.

Ironically, the one place I don't see an obvious tone-setter is at LB, the position I usually associate most with it. Do you see a Bruschi-type leader on this roster?

 

[mayoclinic]

Little bit of both. I think they have a "type", but as the culture and leadership become more established they will have more freedom to take an occasional risk. Not very often, though.

Despite the undeniable talent, I don't see guys like James Pearce, Mike Green, or Luther Burden being fits for the Vrabel culture.

Taking a risk on an injured player (Simmons) or a tweener (Walker) is a different story.

 

[manxman2601]

It'll be interesting to watch. I'd be surprised at genuine character risks who could undermine what they're doing, but the draft (like life) has plenty of followers--the kind of people who rise or fall to the level of behavior around them.

Ironically, the one place I don't see an obvious tone-setter is at LB, the position I usually associate most with it. Do you see a Bruschi-type leader on this roster?

Spillane is someone Vrabel knows well and he's a high effort guy which I think counts - leadership from the front.

 

[Pape]

With the obvious caveat that one draft does not a pattern make, there were themes that revealed themselves in the draft.

1. BPA - So the Will Campbell pick is debatable for some as to whether Will Campbell was BPA, he was for me, but the need was so great, it was an inevitable pick. Beyond Campbell's pick however, I think the team clearly went BPA throughout the rest of the draft except, perhaps the last two rounds.

Clearly established that they will draft for need. Campbell was not the BPA in the four hole on anyones big board, but the need was so large, the hole could not be ignored.

2. Character, character - I think this was one of the clearest themes to emerge from the draft. Campbell, Henderson, Wilson and Woodson all scored highly in terms of their character. The question is, will this be an underlying theme of future drafts or are they so focused on character now to provide the culture change, but less obsessed about it in the future once new leadership is in place on the roster.

generally speaking, winning equates to character. lets get to winning and character won't be an issue.

3. Visits - Cambell, Farmer, Woodson, Minor and Bryant were all team visits, although we didn't know about the last three.

Per Kyle Williams he did visit with the Pats on a top 30 visit.

Transcript: Kyle Williams Press Conference 4/25

4. Speed and Athleticism - Campbell, Henderson, Williams and Wilson all score highly when it comes to speed and/or athleticism, however,I don't think they're perusing the RAS files to find the athletic marvels. I still think ability will count for more than athletic freakishness, although it's nice when they mesh.

5. No Big Risks - A little tied into the previous section, they're were no swings on athletic freaks unlike, say, Detroit who traded up for Teslaa in the 3rd. It appears film is key.

6. Let The Draft Come To Them - The Williams, Swinson, Wilson and Farmer picks all fit here. We were clamouring for them to trade up for Williams or Noel in the gameday thread, but the team were patient and respected their board. With Wilson they were able to do the same including a trade back.


It's only one data point for sure and it will be interesting to see which of these themes continue into year 2.

Nice post.

 

[AQPE]

Great summary.

I don't think anyone would consider Campbell the #4 BPA available, but in this case need and character were huge factors. The biggest "mistake" the FO made this off-season was putting themselves in position of having to fill LT in a draft with no clear "value meets need" candidate.

I think it is sort of hard to fault them for the hole at LT1 this offseason, especially once Stanley and Jackson went off the board. This problem goes back to whatever the hell was going on with Isaiah Wynn that led to them not retaining him for that position (or switching him to LG and not reaching for Cole Strange) and having someone in the pipeline. Of course, sticking with Wynn wouldn't have been all that great either, considering his attitude and injury issues, and there is no reason I can think of for believing they could develop anyone under Matt Patricia, Billy Yates, Adrian Klemm, James Ferentz (sort of kidding, sort of not), and Scott Peters.

I honestly believe that if the Pats would have been in a lot worse position today if they had waited until #38 to address LT1 with whomever they would have picked at #4 instead of Campbell, or alternatively if they had taken that other guy at #4 and tried to trade up to get Simmons or Conerly at the cost of losing Henderson and Kyle Williams. My caveat here is that if they went with Membou instead of Campbell I probably would feel just as good about it, but I don't see Membou as BPA any more than I see Campbell as BPA for the #4 pick. This draft was bereft of elite talent, arguably only two guys and since they were off the board at #4 anyone else was going to be someone with evident concerns, not big ones, but they were there for all of them.

 

[Headcase]

Little bit of both. I think they have a "type", but as the culture and leadership become more established they will have more freedom to take an occasional risk. Not very often, though.

Despite the undeniable talent, I don't see guys like James Pearce, Mike Green, or Luther Burden being fits for the Vrabel culture.

Taking a risk on an injured player (Simmons) or a tweener (Walker) is a different story.

Vrabel has said they took alot of chances on guys with injuries while in Tenn, and they didn't go their way. It wouldn't surprise me if they stay away from serious injuries in the draft.

He has also said that you can't win with only "good guys", you have to have the talent as well.....I think this offseason has been about level setting character in the locker room, and once it is established more boarderline guys will become possibilities. But I don't think Green or Bond would have been on their board.....Burden maybe next year may have been.

 

[PatsFan2]

With the obvious caveat that one draft does not a pattern make, there were themes that revealed themselves in the draft.

1. BPA - So the Will Campbell pick is debatable for some as to whether Will Campbell was BPA, he was for me, but the need was so great, it was an inevitable pick. Beyond Campbell's pick however, I think the team clearly went BPA throughout the rest of the draft except, perhaps the last two rounds.

2. Character, character - I think this was one of the clearest themes to emerge from the draft. Campbell, Henderson, Wilson and Woodson all scored highly in terms of their character. The question is, will this be an underlying theme of future drafts or are they so focused on character now to provide the culture change, but less obsessed about it in the future once new leadership is in place on the roster.

3. Visits - Cambell, Farmer, Woodson, Minor and Bryant were all team visits, although we didn't know about the last three.

4. Speed and Athleticism - Campbell, Henderson, Williams and Wilson all score highly when it comes to speed and/or athleticism, however,I don't think they're perusing the RAS files to find the athletic marvels. I still think ability will count for more than athletic freakishness, although it's nice when they mesh.

5. No Big Risks - A little tied into the previous section, they're were no swings on athletic freaks unlike, say, Detroit who traded up for Teslaa in the 3rd. It appears film is key.

6. Let The Draft Come To Them - The Williams, Swinson, Wilson and Farmer picks all fit here. We were clamouring for them to trade up for Williams or Noel in the gameday thread, but the team were patient and respected their board. With Wilson they were able to do the same including a trade back.


It's only one data point for sure and it will be interesting to see which of these themes continue into year 2.

What I find interesting is that some Prospects we liked went way earlier than expected...ie TeSlaa - Pat Bryant and Fannin Jr also my Binky Tai Felton was the last pick in the Third. So glad we didn't take a 6th or 7th Rounder in the Second.