Today In Patriots History April 27, 1982: NE drafts Ken Sims, Andre Tippet, Clayton Weishuhn

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day One of the 1982 Draft​

April 27, 1982:
The 47th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1982 NFL Draft
New York Sheraton Hotel, New York City
Day One, Rounds 1-3


Despite Kenneth "Game Day" Sims never living up to the status of a number one overall pick, that was fortunately offset by the selection of Hall of Famer Andre Tippett. The forgotten man in all of this was Clayton Weishuhn, an absolute force on the field who had hall of fame potential himself, had it not been for bad knee injuries (and 1980's sports medicine/surgeries not being nearly as advanced as they are now).

1st round, 1st overall -- DE Kenneth Sims, Texas
eight seasons, 74 games (64 starts); 17 sacks


Pats trade rights of retired TE Russ Francis to San Francisco for a 1st (#27) and 4th (#111) round draft pick


1st round, 27th overall -- NT Lester Williams, Miami
four seasons, 40 games (13 starts); 5½ sacks, two fumble recoveries


Pats trade S Tim Fox to San Diego for a 1982 2nd (#40) and 1983 3rd (#80)


2nd round, 40th overall -- RB Robert Weathers, Arizona State
five seasons, 44 games (six starts); 1,001 yards from scrimmage, four touchdowns


Pats trade down, sending their 2nd round pick (#29) to the 49ers for two seconds (#41, #55)


2nd round, 41st overall -- LB Andre Tippett, Iowa
11 season, 151 games (139 starts); franchise career record 100 sacks; top three team single-season records for sacks (18½ in '84)
2x All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl; NFL All-1980s Team; 1985 Defensive Player of the Year; Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2008
Pats All 1980s Team, All 1990s Team, 35th and 50th Anniversary Teams; Pats Hall of Fame, 1999
University of iowa Hall of Fame, 2007; Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 2009; Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, 2012


2nd round, 55th overall -- TT Darryl Haley, Utah
four seasons, 57 games (24 starts)


3rd round, 56th overall -- WR Cedric Jones, Duke
nine seasons, 120 games (38 starts); 191 receptions for 2,703 yards (14.2 ypc); 16 touchdowns


(Patriots had received a third round pick from Seattle in exchange for RB Horace Ivory on Sept 25, 1981)
3rd round, 60th overall -- LB Clayton Weishuhn, Angelo State
four seasons, 30 games (26 starts)
single-season franchise record 229 tackles (1983)



On Day Two the Patriots added Fred Marion and three backups in rounds 4-12. Marion and Hall of Famer Andre Tippett were the only players that kept this draft from being a complete disaster - made worse when taking into consideration the trades of Francis, Fox and Ivory added four early picks. Sims may have lasted for eight years, but he has to be considered a bust. He certainly didn't live up to his draft status; nor did Williams, Weathers or Haley. Weishuhn was on the verge of becoming a major impact player - he still holds the franchise record for most tackles in a single season - but back-to-back preseasons with a blown out knee prematurely ended his very promising career.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day One of the 2023 Draft​

April 27, 2023:
The 88th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 2023 NFL Draft
Outside of Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri
Day One, Round One


The Patriots grabbed a player that many did not expect to be available at #17, Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez. Coming on the heels of the 2022 draft (Cole Strange in the 1st, Tyquan Thornton in the 2nd), the choice brought a sigh of relief to Pats fans.

Patriots Trade Back, Grab CB Gonzalez with the 17th Overall Pick | PatsFans.com

The Patriots traded out of the 14th overall spot, which didn't surprise anyone on Thursday night during the league's Round 1 coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft.

www.patsfans.com

As expected, the Patriots did a little maneuvering as they traded out of the 14th overall spot on Thursday night during the league’s Round 1 coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft.​

New England made a deal with Pittsburgh to move back to 17 while picking up a 4th round selection (120th overall pick) in the trade.​

With that selection they took Oregon defensive back Christian Gonzalez, with the rookie having been one of the highest-rated cornerbacks in the draft.​

Looking at the film, Gonzalez is impressive. He’s a big player, coming in at 6’1″ 197lbs and he’s both athletic and not afraid of contact, showing little fear when it comes to having to come up and make a tackle in the ground game.​

He’s got terrific speed and athleticism, with really good instincts and great change of direction. Among his highlights in college, one thing that also stands out is how well he swivels and moves, as well as his impressive ability to go up and attack the football. He’s also really physical and has great vision, making a fair amount of plays where he instinctively jumped the route and made the turnover.​

He’s also incredibly fast, running a 4.38 40 in the combine and posted a 41.5″ vertical.​

Overall, it gives the Patriots a solid, big corner for 2023 and hopefully another foundational player as they continue building their defense. The former Oregon standout joins a secondary that now has second-year players Jack Jones and Marcus Jones, as well as veteran Jonathan Jones, with the rookie giving the club a terrific perimeter player. The Patriots now have a formidable secondary to round out a defense that was already among the best in the NFL last season.​

As a result, adding a prospect of his caliber at a premium position certainly feels like a home run. It definitely fills a massive need and the Patriots will head into Day 2 and 3 with 11 more selections, giving them plenty of currency to work with as they continue hopefully adding even more talent in the coming days.​

DRAFT DAY DISCUSSION Thread 'OFFICIAL 2023 Patriots Draft Day Discussion: Round 1'

Apr 27, 2023

Opening this up for tonight's first round.

• Ian
• Replies: 1,156
• Forum: PatsFans.com - Patriots Fan Forum

Content Post Thread '23 PTP Board/Draft thoughts'

Apr 27, 2023

Offense

Tackle is pretty thin up top but especially in the middle round imo, late isn't great either. This is definitely a group you need to do your homework on bc the talent just isn't there you need to coach up most of this class from day 1. Which isn't something you'd normally expect from a top 30-40 prospect.

Wright is the most NFL ready imo. Powerful, athletic, plays with attitude and supposedly has a little bit off the field too. Still he's a PTP that would plug and play with Onwenu. Those two would be destroying people on down blocks and in our power scheme.

Skoronski is a...

• BaconGrundleCandy
• Replies: 144
• Forum: PatsFans.com - Patriots Fan Forum

DRAFT Thread 'Christian Gonzalez'

Apr 27, 2023

• JMC00
• Replies: 403
• Forum: PatsFans.com - Patriots Fan Forum

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/36309866/2023-nfl-draft-first-round-patriots-christian-gonzalez-suit

NFL Draft 2023: Full breakdown of each Patriots pick, including Christian Gonzalez and a former LSU receiver

Every pick New England made at the 2023 NFL Draft

www.cbssports.com

​

 

[upstater1]

Sims was the right pick.

One of the most dominant DLs the college game has ever seen.

I still say his broken leg is what robbed him from becoming a force in the NFL.

He actually did have one GREAT year for the Patriots when he showed that he could demolish offensive lines. It didn't last though. People still feel the pick was a bust.

But anyone who faults the scouting for what happened with Sims is missing the big picture. He absolutely deserved to be the top pick in the draft.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day Two of the 1983 Draft​

April 27, 1983:
The 48th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 1983 NFL Draft
New York Sheraton Hotel, New York City
Day Two, Rounds 4-12


On Day One the Patriots selected QB Tony Eason, WR Darryal Wilson, WR Stephen Starring and G Steve Moore. Eason was just a three-year starter before flaming out, Wilson lasted a mere one season in the NFL, and Starring and Moore were starters for only three years combined. Not exactly the productivity a team is looking for from four players selected in the first three rounds.

Day Two was far superior. LB Johnny Rembert, CB Ronnie Lippett and RB Craig James combined to play in 300 games for the Patriots, with 216 starts over 23 seasons while being named to three Pro Bowls; Toby Williams was also a solid lineman for six seasons with New England. Tom Ramsey also spent six seasons with the Patriots as a backup QB, going 2-2 as an emergency starter due to injuries.

• 4.101 -- LB Johnny Rembert, Clemson
  
  
• (previous year Pats traded Rod Shoate to Chicago for 5.118)
• 5.118 -- DE Smiley Cresswell, Michigan State
  
  
• 5.128 -- TE Darryl Lewis, Texas-Arlington
  
  
• 6.155 -- K Mike Bass, Illinois
  
  
• 7.187 -- RB Craig James, Southern Methodist
  
  
• 8.214 -- CB Ronnie Lippett, Miami
  
  
• Pats trade a 1984 4th to Saints for 9.233, 10.265, 11.292 and 12.319
• 9.233 -- RB Ricky Williams, Langston
  
  
• 9.240 -- TE Mark Keel, Arizona
  
  
• (previous year Pats traded LB Bill Matthews to the Giants for 10.264)
• 10.264 -- TE James Williams, Wyoming
  
  
• 10.265 -- DE Toby Williams, Nebraska
  
  
• 10.267 -- QB Tom Ramsey, UCLA
  
  
• 11.292 -- WR Steve Parker, Abilene Christian
  
  
• 11.294 -- DE Calvin Eason, Houston
  
  
• 12.319 -- RB Waddell Kelly, Arkansas State
  
  
• 12.326 -- OT Andy Ekern, Missouri

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Day Two of the 2003 Draft​

April 27, 2003:
The 68th Annual Player Selection Meeting, better known as the 2003 NFL Draft
The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City
Day Two, Rounds 4-7

4th round, 117th overall -- LB Dan Klecko, Temple

Pats trade up, sending a 4th (#128) and 5th (#157) to Denver for their 4th (#120)
4th round, 120th overall -- CB Asante Samuel, Central Florida

Pats trade Greg Randall to Houston for a 5th (#154)

Pats trade down, sending that same 5th (154) and a 7th (225) to Tennessee for a 5th (164), 6th (201) and 7th (243)

5th round, 164th overall -- C Dan Koppen, Boston College

6th round, 201st overall -- QB Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech

7th round, 234th overall -- FB Spencer Nead, Brigham Young

7th round, 239th overall -- OLB Tully Banta-Cain, Cal

7th round, 243rd overall -- DT Ethan Kelley, Baylor


Samuel, TBC, and Koppen were great values relative to their draft positions, making for an excellent Day Two.

 

[borisman]

Wow, I didn't realize Ken Sims passed away last year. RIP.

 

[borisman]

Sims was the right pick.

One of the most dominant DLs the college game has ever seen.

I still say his broken leg is what robbed him from becoming a force in the NFL.

He actually did have one GREAT year for the Patriots when he showed that he could demolish offensive lines. It didn't last though. People still feel the pick was a bust.

But anyone who faults the scouting for what happened with Sims is missing the big picture. He absolutely deserved to be the top pick in the draft.

I know they ran the ball a ton in the BIG 8 SWC at the time but did he really record 131 tackles his junior season?