How would you rate the 2018 draft for Pats?!

Is it ok if I say I love this draft for the offense and hate it for the defense? Cool we improved our strongest unit and are putting our hopes on late round linebackers to help out front 7. It could work, it probably won't. I really hope Hightower does not get injured. We do still have Rivers coming up basically as an "advanced rookie" and Langi I guess

I think they did well enough ... plugged some holes and increased competition.

Factoring in Brown and Shelton and the 2 added picks next year and our assets improved.

robertweathers said:

Based on priorities, B+

They needed a LT. Check

They needed a playmaker at RB. Check

They needed LBs. Check.

They needed a QB to play in 3 years so it was not a priority.

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I can only confidently say that they hit on #23 and #31. They may not have taken a defensive player or traded up for a stud QB but those two guys will be difference makers. Offensively the Pats are maybe more stacked than last season.

The rest of the draftees? No idea. I'll give them a safe 'B'. If either one or two of the other guys becomes a legit contributor the grade goes up.

BlueThunder said:

I'll let you know in a couple of years

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BINGO!

Wait 2-3 years.

What I liked: the first rounders, the future capital for next year (I'm sure at least one gets traded for a veteran).

What I disliked: taking Elandon Roberts twice in a row when we arguably don't even need the one who was already here, skipping the 3rd/4th rounds.

Unsure about: Wynn's position, Michel's early impact, Dawson in general, the ability of any of the day 3 picks to make the 53.

Writing up some thoughts as we speak for nepatriotsdraft.com but we got 2-4 starters w/our picks. A few really nice players towards the end that have a chance to make an big impact. And we got more picks next year ( We now have 5 picks in That's an A draft in my book.

Wynn & Sony are instant impact starters & I suspect Duke will be as well considering we're in sub 80% of the time.

Sam, Berrios & Crossen are all really great fits for us.

Berrios can absolutely step in day 1 in the slot for us. There might not be a more a P-TP.

This is a great draft.

I'm really ecstatic about the first two picks. Disappointed they didn't get Evans, Landry, or Jefferson on D. Really wanted Ian Thomas here.

If I hadn't figures out that BB knows more about these prospects than what I think I know from playing fanspeak, I'd be very upset. But they sound like a solid group.

Judging by who they didn't draft, I am fully expecting the Johnny Manziel signing soon and would not be surprised Kenny Vaccaro as well.

I grade "B" that draft strategy including our trades and next year picks. The draft was not exactly what I expected but all in all I am satisfied. First two picks are no brainers to me. Wynn's versatility will bring us comfort in O-line. I do not care either he will play as a guard or OT, I like the idea of using him in the most appropriate way by BB.
Sony Michel is another story. I think RB is not the priority.However he is a rare talent,almost complete RB who is going to give more flexibility to our offence and lighten TB12. His stats from the college are just incredible.
Addressing two DBs makes a rivalry between our CBs more attractive. What I like the most is Dawson's belligerence and tackling skill. Yeah, tackling - one of the most frustrating thing among our DBs last season. Crossen's speed sounds promising as well.
Bolstering LB corp was a definitely a need and it happened. Both of our choices seem to be good run stoppers although Bentley looks a bit "slow". More probably than not we will get some vets reinforcements. BB has got a lot of assets to bring for instance Bowman.
I cannot say a word about our "future" QB because I have never heard his name before. For now he looks....hmmm, a bit "raw".
Braxton Barrios on the other hand is a steal to me and could be a really developmental prospect.
The only missing piece is a Safety position. I believed BB would take someone as a complement to our "trio".

For me, it's hard to say. Based on how it looks right NOW, I don't like it. They needed to get a hard pass rusher and to keep bolstering our front seven.

Everything I read about Dawson gives me the not so warm and fuzzies.

As for our Day 3 guys...I have two draft previews and none of them exist, so....yeah, not exactly a banner day.

I mean, most of the time Bill knows things we don't as fans and draft people, etc. And we look stupid for questioning him.

But there are other times where it's like, "C'mon, Bill, these guys are the same mistakes you always make. I know other GMs make dumb draft decisions, but you're not other guys, you're Bill F***ing Belichick."

IcyPatriot said:

I think they did well enough ... plugged some holes and increased competition.

Factoring in Brown and Shelton and the 2 added picks next year and our assets improved.

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That sums it up pretty well for me, too.

It certainly wasn’t exciting, but there should be about 5 guys who make the roster, and it will be nice to have 6 picks in the top 100, next spring.

All day for several days I’ve been complaining to anyone who would listen but, I’ll say an A- for overall grade. One problem I have is waiting for months to see what we pick and after that wait, there’s one anticlimactic trade down after another. Meanwhile, I’m watching other teams pick what I perceived to be the best available players. That gets me all stupid acting. After it’s over with, I’m able to see it in a different light. I do not understand B.B. and never will but I will say this. The guy knows what he’s doing. Honestly, I don’t think B.B. even sees the draft like anyone else does

Many people think Wynn cant play tackle because of his Height.

Height is very often confused with overall "length". What people forget to look at is, the most important factor in a tackles length is not their height, but their arm length and ability to keep defenders disengaged and their hands on. Although Wynn is only 6'2/6'3, he has fairly long arms for some one of his height. (Arm length 33.5)

Yes, some of the best tackles who also have height in this league have arm lengths in the 33-35 (very rarely 36) inch range, I would say the average is about 34.5 inches.

Some examples of the best LT's in the league with similar arm length are.

David Bakhtiari GB 34'
Jason Peters PHI 33 1/8'
Taylor Lewmen TEN 33 1/8'
Jake Matthews ATL 33 3/8'
Taylor Decket DET 33 3/4'
Donald Penn OAK 33 1/2'

These players are among the 10 best LT's in the league and all have similar arm length. You take that into consideration along with the rest of his athletic abilities, I think he can be a great LT.

TennisBallHead said:

F

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F(antastic)?

stcjones said:

I would give it about a C- . I don’t feel like we addressed all the areas we needed to address. The QB we selected.....don’t even know what to say mostly because he wasn’t anywhere on any of the draft mocks that I read. Most likely will be gone before start of season. Hope Tom stays healthy but realistically he has about 2 years left at most .....44 years old....he will b ready to retire ....and that’s what his wife wants too.....Maybe next year B.B. will draft a QB

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I don't know. As lots of NFL people have said, judging the success of any draft until 2 seasons have passed is a fool's errand. God knows, I've run a lot of those over the years so I'll try and avoid that one.

I'll give it a B+. Bill obviously thought it was an underwhelming draft yet he still came away with 3 day 1 starters and a future 2nd and 3rd. If one of the LBs becomes a solid contributor then it's a really good draft.

A Defiant Goose said:

Is it ok if I say I love this draft for the offense and hate it for the defense? Cool we improved our strongest unit and are putting our hopes on late round linebackers to help out front 7. It could work, it probably won't. I really hope Hightower does not get injured. We do still have Rivers coming up basically as an "advanced rookie" and Langi I guess

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The position I wanted the Pats to address the most was off the line LB. I wanted the team to get faster there, but besides that and maybe safety, I felt this should have been a draft more focused on the offensive side of the ball.

We’ve always invested a lot of resources and trades through the years on defense. Fact is our grade A top level playmakers on offense are all getting up there in age (Brady obviously, Gronk, and Edelman) I think Sony Michel is gonna be a star in this system. And Wynn has a mean streak that you want to see in your linemen. Whether it’s has a Tackle or Guard remains to be seen.

I have zero issues with the Pats punting in this years draft class. Tells me they weren’t high on the group. Their recent success in drafting Qbs (Jimmy G and Brisset) tells me they know what they are doing.

Ask us in three years.

robertweathers said:

Based on priorities, B+

They needed a LT. Check

They needed a playmaker at RB. Check

They needed LBs. Check.

They needed a QB to play in 3 years so it was not a priority.

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But Patriots does not draft for need

Wynn = win. With Brown the OL will be much improved.

Btw, they selected four D players - two cbs and two lbs.

reamer said:

Lots of solid players at positions of need (OL, RB, slot, backup LB, blocking TE, etc). It was a very solid, workman-like draft that should allow us to continue to compete at a high level. We didn't go out and get a superstar or an elite athlete pass rusher, but we did pick up smart, tough, dedicated football players who can step in and compete. At the end of the day, that's the best you can ask for in this phase of roster building.

We still have some holes on this team, but fewer than we did three days ago. I'm happy.

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Didn't fill any holes that were present on the last play of the Super Bowl. Belichick simply swapped out veterans (Solder, Lewis, Butler) with rookies (Wynn, Michel, Dawson). Didn't upgrade pass rush, did not trade up to acquire athletic LB's or address the future at QB.
Give Belichick a C- to D for this draft.