April 27 in Pats Draft History: Tavon Wilson, followed by Jake Bequette

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
A Day of Head-Scratching Draft Picks​

April 27, 2012 was not the greatest of draft days in Patriot history.

- In the second round with the 48th overall pick, the Patriots draft Illinois safety Tavon Wilson.

Tavon Wilson was projected to be a 6th or 7th round draft pick, or possibly go undrafted; he had not even been invited to the NFL draft combine. Wilson started some as a rookie and got a decent amount of playing time (464 defensive snaps, 42%) in 2012, but he wasn't particularly impressive. He was better on special teams, but why draft a ST player so early? If the team wanted a safety they should have traded up (for Harrison Smith or Mark Barron), waited (George Iloka was available in the fifth round; he was a solid starter for five seasons at safety) - or simply selected Wilson later if he was still available in the fifth, sixth or seventh?

The Patriots are known for drafting down or into the following year. If Tavon Wilson was the best available player at that point, then why not trade down here, rather than settling for a special teams ace?



- Patriots traded their second (62nd overall) to Green Bay for a third (90th overall) and a fifth (163rd overall).

In the 3rd round with the 90th overall pick, the Patriots drafted Arkansas DE Jake Bequette.

In his rookie season Bequette was on the field for 29 snaps over three games, primarily in garbage time. The next year Bequette was on the field for 11 defensive snaps in a blowout versus the Bucs, plus three more snaps a couple weeks later. He also appeared in 36 special team snaps, with about half coming in the game against the Saints.

In 2014 Bequette was a training camp cut. He was re-signed to the practice squad and managed to remain there for the entire season - thus receiving a Super Bowl ring despite never being on the 53-man roster. Somehow Bequette was still not shown the door, as the Pats attempted to convert him to tight end in the 2015 off season. He was mercifully released before the start of the 2015 season, becoming a free agent. None of the 31 other teams ever brought Bequette in for even a workout, ending his pro football career.


Meanwhile the Packers selected Vanderbilt corner Casey Hayward with the draft pick they received from New England. Hayward had immediate impact with six interceptions his rookie season. Since then he has gone to two pro bowls, once led the NFL in interceptions, and is still to this day a solid starting CB. If the Patriots wanted a linebacker then they could have stayed at #60 and selected either Olivier Vernon or Demario Davis, both of whom have been starters for eight seasons. WR T.Y. Hilton was drafted two spots after Bequette, and as for a linebacker there was 7-year starter Nigel Bradham, selected 15 spots after Bequette.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

Dear god

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots Draft History
Day One of the 1982 Draft​

April 27, 1982: Day One (rounds 1-3) of the NFL Draft, from the New York Sheraton Hotel

• DE Kenneth Sims, Texas (1st overall pick)
• Pats trade retired TE Russ Francis to San Francisco for a 1st (#27) and 4th (#111) round draft pick
• NT Lester Williams, Miami (1st round, #27 overall) [from SF trade above]
• Pats trade down, sending their 2nd (#29) to the 49ers for two seconds (#41, #55)
• Pats trade S Tim Fox to San Diego for a 1982 2nd (#40) and 1983 3rd (#80)
• RB Robert Weathers, Arizona State (2nd round, #40) [from SD trade above]
• LB Andre Tippett, Iowa (2nd round, #41) [from SF trade above]
• OT Darryl Haley, Utah (2nd round, #55) [from SF trade above]
• WR Cedric Jones, Duke (3rd round, #56)
• LB Clayton Weishuhn, Angelo State (3rd round, #60) [from Horace Ivory trade to Seattle, 9/25/81]

On Day Two the Pats added Fred Marion and three backups in rounds 4-12. He 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 and Fox for multiple early picks. Weishuhn was on the verge of becoming a major impact player, but back-to-back preseasons with a blown out knee prematurely ended his promising career.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots Draft History
Day Two of the 1983 Draft​

April 27, 1983: Day Two (rounds 4-12) of the NFL Draft

• 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 Bill Matthews to 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

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 more 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. Rembert, Lippett and James combined to play in 300 games for the Patriots, with 216 starts over 23 seasons while being named to three Pro Bowls, and Toby Williams was a solid lineman for six more seasons with New England.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots Draft History
Day Two of the 2003 Draft​

April 27, 2003: Day Two (rounds 4-7) of the NFL Draft

• 4.117 - LB Dan Klecko, Temple
• Pats trade up, sending 4.128 and 5.157 to Denver for 4.120
• 4.120 - CB Asante Samuel, Central Florida
• Pats trade Greg Randall to Houston for 5.154
• Pats trade down, sending 5.154 and 7.225 to Tennessee for 5.164, 6.201 and 7.243
• 5.164 - C Dan Koppen, Boston College
• 6.201 - QB Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech
• 7.234 - FB Spencer Nead, Brigham Young
• 7.239 - LB Tully Banta-Cain, Cal
• 7.243 - DT Ethan Kelley, Baylor

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

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots Draft History
Day Two of the 2008 Draft​

April 27, 2008: Day Two (rounds 3-7) of the NFL Draft

• Pats trade down, sending 3.69 to San Diego for 5.160 and a 2009 2nd
• Pats trade down, sending 3.91 to Oakland for 7.211 and a 2008 3rd
• 3.78 -- LB Shawn Crable, Michigan
• 3.94 -- QB Kevin O'Connell, San Diego State
• 4.129 - CB Jonathan Wilhite, Auburn
• Pats trade up, sending 5.160 and 7.238 to Tampa for 5.153
• 5.153 - WR Matthew Slater, UCLA
• 6.197 - LB Bo Ruud, Nebraska

The use of a third round pick at quarterback at this point in Tom Brady's career never made sense to me. One look at Crable's legs at it is no surprise that he was constantly injured and never made it in the NFL. Wilhite started out fine, but then he too kept getting injured. Not a good day when the only thing you have to show for it is a special teams ace, even if he is a Pro Bowler at that task.




April 27, 2009: New England signs three undrafted rookie free agents
The Patriots signed LB Antonio Appleby of Virginia, S Marcus McClinton from Kentucky, and QB Brian Hoyer from Michigan State. The first two were training camp cuts, never getting to play in a single NFL game. Hoyer had been invited to the NFL Combine and was projected to be a late round draft pick. He managed to last for twelve years in the NFL, throwing 52 touchdowns, and had three stints with the Pats.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots Draft History
Day Two of the 2012 Draft​

April 27, 2012: Day Two (rounds 2-3) of the NFL Draft

• In 2011 the Pats traded up, sending 3.92 and 4.125 to Oakland for 2.48 and a 2012 2nd (2.48)
• 2.48 -- S Tavon Wilson, Illinois
• (The previous day the Pats had traded down, sending their 2.62 to Green Bay for 3.90 and 5.163)
• 3.90 -- DE Jake Bequette, Arkansas
• (The Pats own pick, 3.93, had been used in the trade for Chandler Jones the previous day)

Putrid. All the good from Day One (Chandler Jones, Dont'a Hightower) was undone by the travesty of Day Two.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots Draft History
Day Three of the 2013 Draft​

April 27, 2013: Day Three (rounds 4-7) of the NFL Draft

• 4.102 - WR Josh Boyce, Texas Christian
• (Pats own pick, 4.126, had been traded in 2012 for Aqib Talib)
• (Pats own pick, 5.162, had been traded in 2011 for Albert Haynesworth)
• (Pats own pick, 6.197, had been traded in 2012 for Chad Johnson)
• 7.226 - DE Michael Buchanan, Illinois
• Pats trade 7.229 and Jeff Demps to Tampa for LeGarrette Blount
• 7.235 - LB Steve Beauharnais, Rutgers
• UDFA: P Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech

Expectations for day three draft picks deserve to be minimal, so when you factor in what the Patriots received from Tampa Bay in those trades, the net result wasn't as awful as it first appears to be at first glance.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots Draft History
Day One of the 2017 Draft, Two of 2018 and Three of 2019​

April 27, 2017: Day One (round one) of the NFL Draft

• Pats trade 1.32 and 3.103 to New Orleans for Brandin Cooks and 4.118.
• That fourth round pick would be stolen by the science deniers at 345 Park Avenue that refuse to accept the logic of the Ideal Gas Law.

April 27, 2018: Day Two (rounds 2-3) of the NFL Draft

• Pats trade down, sending 2.43 (from Jimmy G trade) to Detroit for 2.51 and 4.117
• Pats trade down, sending 2.51 to Chicago for 4.105 and a 2019 2nd
• Pats trade up, sending 2.63 and 4.117 to Tampa for 2.56
• 2.56 -- CB Duke Dawson, Florida
• (Pats own pick, 2.63, was used to trade up for Dawson)
• Pats trade 3.95 for Trent Brown and 5.143

April 27, 2019: Day Three (rounds 4-7) of the NFL Draft

• 4.118 - G Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
• 4.133 - QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
• Pats trade down, sending 4.134 and 7.243 to Rams for 5.162 and 5.167
• Pats trade up, sending 5.162 and 7.239 to Minnesota for 5.159
• 5.159 - DT Byron Cowart, Maryland
• Pats trade up, sending 5.167 and 7.246 to Philadelphia for 5.163
• 5.163 - P Jake Bailey, Stanford
• (Pats own pick, 5.170, was used in 2018 trade for Josh Gordon)
• (Pats own pick, 6.204, was used in 2017 trade for Johnson Bademosi)
• 7.252 - CB Ken Webster, Mississippi
• Among the UDFAs: WR Jakobi Myers, PR Gunner Olszewski, LB Terez Hall

Duke Dawson for Jimmy Garoppolo, sounds about right to me.

 

[captain stone]

Today in Patriots History
A Day of Head-Scratching Draft Picks​

April 27, 2012 was not the greatest of draft days in Patriot history.

- In the second round with the 48th overall pick, the Patriots draft Illinois safety Tavon Wilson.

Tavon Wilson was projected to be a 6th or 7th round draft pick, or possibly go undrafted; he had not even been invited to the NFL draft combine. Wilson started some as a rookie and got a decent amount of playing time (464 defensive snaps, 42%) in 2012, but he wasn't particularly impressive. He was better on special teams, but why draft a ST player so early? If the team wanted a safety they should have traded up (for Harrison Smith or Mark Barron), waited (George Iloka was available in the fifth round; he was a solid starter for five seasons at safety) - or simply selected Wilson later if he was still available in the fifth, sixth or seventh?

The Patriots are known for drafting down or into the following year. If Tavon Wilson was the best available player at that point, then why not trade down here, rather than settling for a special teams ace?



- Patriots traded their second (62nd overall) to Green Bay for a third (90th overall) and a fifth (163rd overall).

In the 3rd round with the 90th overall pick, the Patriots drafted Arkansas DE Jake Bequette.

In his rookie season Bequette was on the field for 29 snaps over three games, primarily in garbage time. The next year Bequette was on the field for 11 defensive snaps in a blowout versus the Bucs, plus three more snaps a couple weeks later. He also appeared in 36 special team snaps, with about half coming in the game against the Saints.

In 2014 Bequette was a training camp cut. He was re-signed to the practice squad and managed to remain there for the entire season - thus receiving a Super Bowl ring despite never being on the 53-man roster. Somehow Bequette was still not shown the door, as the Pats attempted to convert him to tight end in the 2015 off season. He was mercifully released before the start of the 2015 season, becoming a free agent. None of the 31 other teams ever brought Bequette in for even a workout, ending his pro football career.


Meanwhile the Packers selected Vanderbilt corner Casey Hayward with the draft pick they received from New England. Hayward had immediate impact with six interceptions his rookie season. Since then he has gone to two pro bowls, once led the NFL in interceptions, and is still to this day a solid starting CB. If the Patriots wanted a linebacker then they could have stayed at #60 and selected either Olivier Vernon or Demario Davis, both of whom have been starters for eight seasons. WR T.Y. Hilton was drafted two spots after Bequette, and as for a linebacker there was 7-year starter Nigel Bradham, selected 15 spots after Bequette.

And then the same genius comes back a mere 3 years later with Glitch Richards & GeeNo Gruesome on 2015's day 2...

The GM of the NEP cost the HC of the NEP championships.

 

[captain stone]

Today in Patriots Draft History
Day One of the 2017 Draft, Two of 2018 and Three of 2019​

April 27, 2017: Day One (round one) of the NFL Draft

• Pats trade 1.32 and 3.103 to New Orleans for Brandin Cooks and 4.118.
• That fourth round pick would be stolen by the science deniers at 345 Park Avenue that refuse to accept the logic of the Ideal Gas Law.

April 27, 2018: Day Two (rounds 2-3) of the NFL Draft

• Pats trade down, sending 2.43 (from Jimmy G trade) to Detroit for 2.51 and 4.117
• Pats trade down, sending 2.51 to Chicago for 4.105 and a 2019 2nd
• Pats trade up, sending 2.63 and 4.117 to Tampa for 2.56
• 2.56 -- CB Duke Dawson, Florida
• (Pats own pick, 2.63, was used to trade up for Dawson)
• Pats trade 3.95 for Trent Brown and 5.143

April 27, 2019: Day Three (rounds 4-7) of the NFL Draft

• 4.118 - G Hjalte Froholdt, Arkansas
• 4.133 - QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
• Pats trade down, sending 4.134 and 7.243 to Rams for 5.162 and 5.167
• Pats trade up, sending 5.162 and 7.239 to Minnesota for 5.159
• 5.159 - DT Byron Cowart, Maryland
• Pats trade up, sending 5.167 and 7.246 to Philadelphia for 5.163
• 5.163 - P Jake Bailey, Stanford
• (Pats own pick, 5.170, was used in 2018 trade for Josh Gordon)
• (Pats own pick, 6.204, was used in 2017 trade for Johnson Bademosi)
• 7.252 - CB Ken Webster, Mississippi
• Among the UDFAs: WR Jakobi Myers, PR Gunner Olszewski, LB Terez Hall

Duke Dawson for Jimmy Garoppolo, sounds about right to me.

There's your GM!

April 27th on the calendar might possibly be the worst day for Billy to turn in draft cards...