Pre-draft predictions about Butler going to the Pats

Here's a mention from early this month when Reiss noted it in his discussions with scouts

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/227849-darius-butler-23-a.html

Looks like we need to give a little credit to Don Banks' local ties on this one too:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...-say-belichick-will-select-darius-butler.html

Although there seems to be some differing opinions among Patsfans I guess everyone will be happy that he didn't go at #23!

People blasted Banks for supposably making up his sources because no one talks within the Patriots. This is the third time in about six years that information has been leaked about players they were targeting.

National Football Post and Rob Rang from CBS were predicting Butler as well, but at #23.

The National Football Post | NFP Three Round Mock Draft
The National Football Post | 2009 NFP Final Mock Draft
NFL Draft - CBSSports.com Football
Great Blue North Draft Report

And recent opinions from PatsFans:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/229152-4-13-nfp-3-round-mock.html
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/231498-3-round-mock-gbn.html
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/227849-darius-butler-23-a.html
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/226751-darius-butler-overrated.html

Rob0729 said:

People blasted Banks for supposably making up his sources because no one talks within the Patriots. This is the third time in about six years that information has been leaked about players they were targeting.

Click to expand...

He got Jerod Mayo exactly right last year too

JoeSixPat said:

Although there seems to be some differing opinions among Patsfans I guess everyone will be happy that he didn't go at #23!

Click to expand...

Happy indeed! Butler was one of the very few players who had almost no detractors on the draft board. There were plenty who thought #23 was too high, or that the CB wasn't an immediate need (as validated by the trade of a 2008 starter). But there was broad agreement that Butler looked like a classic Pats-style CB...I recall referring to him as a cross between Wheatley and Samuel myself, for what little it's worth. And those of us who watched the combine all felt that he was in a different league than the other corners in the position drills. Very, very impressive.

So aside from mourning our binkies at other positions, I think you'd have to consider Butler a rare crowd-pleasing pick. Why does that make me nervous?