This all goes back to the draft capital argument. If you’re fine wasting a second round pick on Cyrus Jones but then ending up with a solid, versatile UFA corner in Johnathan Jones then that’s fine. If you want to make that argument then I can see where you’re coming from. I just don’t like the wasted draft capital in the first few rounds that we had for a few years. From 2014-2017 we had 11 picks in the first 3 rounds. Out of them Joe Thuney is the only one who is a great pick as far as I’m concerned. Malcolm Brown was okay/underwhelming and Jimmy G I feel like we botched that whole situation. There have been a bunch of flat out busts in the first 3 rounds in that span. Cyrus Jones, Antonio Garcia, Jordan Richards, and Dominique Easley were all flat out wasted picks. In the end of the day I still think as a whole Bill is a good drafter/talent evaluator. Based on what he’s done the last 2 decades this is somewhat nitpicking but I would like to see more pro bowl caliber players drafted in the first few rounds.
How exactly did the Pats "botch" the JG situation. You aren't saying that the Pats should have KEPT Jimmy instead of Tom are you? You aren't saying the Pats should have used the franchise tag on Jimmy and tied up about $25MM in cap space for the 2nd best QB on the team? You aren't saying the Pats should have signed Jimmy to a VERY expensive long term contract to be Brady's back up, when Jimmy made it absolutely clear that he was NEVER going to sign an extension here because he wanted to start?
So HOW exactly did the Pats "botch" it....and why is it that some fans like yourself STILL think the Pats should have done something different?
BTW- as to your comments on the draft. Easley had an effective rookie year where he graded very well. However he was an odd guy that didn't fit and was quickly let go. But it wasn't liked he sucked. He's still in the league.
Garcia was just a guy who had bad luck with his health and couldn't play. The Pats couldn't have foreseen this issue. It wasn't like a bad knee or something.
CJones was unfortunate. But his issue was, in my opinion, his mental toughness. His return issue got into his head and effected his entire game. IIRC he's still with the Ravens. He might do well there as he gets older
Richards was the only pick you mentioned that was a complete bust IMHO. It was a head scratcher when they made the pick, and a head scratcher every time they let him on the field. It was truly an awful pick.
But in the end the job of the draft is to find football players good enough to play in the NFL On this basis most of BB picks HAVE worked out. Maybe not for the Pats, but they have proven that they were good enough to play.
The second job is to find players who can fit into THIS particular program. Players who can deal with the high pressure, high expectations, high accountability, hard coaching, and very hard work load. Players who will "fit in" to the culture. In THIS area the results are not as good as we like, but certainly no worse than any other program. Easley would be the poster child for this kind of mistake.
But in the end, the draft is a TOTAL crap shoot even if you are drafting high, let alone where the Pats draft. This year the Pats drafted 9 players. If they get 4 to still be with the team when their rookie contracts end in 4 years , this will be a good draft. Anything more than that would make it a great draft.
As for BB the GM with vet FA signings, I think BB excels even more. For every Alber Haynesworth, there are MANY more names of success stories. Some have stayed and made NE home. Others have used their time in NE to "get paid" elsewhere in FA
Same goes for his trades. They don't ALL work out. Kony Ealy was an example of a particularly bad result. But most end up being decent trades that end up helping the team. Fill in your own examples, this is too long already.
Richards
