DRAFT Cole Strange-Welcome to the Pats

[Lagaffe_07]

The league source and the one offensive line coach are probably both employed by the patriots

 

[Pats2000]

This is the sort of post that it typical of the jaded and uneducated Football fan.
The Pats didn't "LET" two perfectly fine guards go. Go back and actually watch the second half of the season. The entire O-line was inconsistent. Why do you think Mac had to make so many hot-reads to Meyers when there were others open? They clearly want Onwenu on the field with the Offense and it looks like RG is his best position. So they moved Mason. Karras got paid a 3yr/18M contract. If you have him, you don't get 2-3 others. Players like James White, Malcolm Butler, and/or Matthew Slater.

What your statement tells me is that you don't understand that NFL teams grade prospects different. The Patriots, under Belichick, have almost always ignored the "consensus". The Rams saying that they thought Strange might be there at 104 tells me one of two things. Either they low-balled Strange compared to the Pats or they thought they'd get a steal in Strange at 104. Either way, it doesn't make any difference because their opinions mean nothing to how the Patriots evaluate players.

Not too mention each team has their own set of needs. So they are grading players based on what they need to make their team better. If Rams were in need of a guard, they may have graded him much higher based on their internal team building priorities

 

[archstanton543]

I agree with you and your friend BCG. Don't allow people to bully you off a valid opinion derived from studying hundreds of prospects over the years. As far as I can tell you put a lot more hours into your scouting than any of the other forum posters.

The key to the gut reaction that this is a bad pick is the value is not there, it's as your friend put it, the opportunity cost. The Patriots had the opportunity to take the best remaining of premium positions and instead took a guard in the first, a position that is very fungible, and just how much difference will there be between the 2nd best guard of this class and the 4th or 6th best guard? Probably not a lot.

Meanwhile as the analyst and media reactions also point out, the Patriots could have taken a more premium position such as edge, corner, or even linebacker. Not only that despite what BB insisted in his press conference, to save face no doubt, many draft odds calculated that strange had a 93% chance of lasting until pick 54. If the Pats had gotten antsy on day 2 they could have easily moved up a few spots to ensure getting 'their guy' strange in round 2 while securing the premium asset in round 1.

The other thing we can't ignore is that the 'need for a guard' was a self-inflicted wound created by Belichick the GM. We had an all-pro guard locked up for the next 2 years for at least 2022/2023 and could have easily just held onto him and let him walk in free agency. Instead we flipped him for a 5th round pick, and then compounded the wound by fixing it with a 1st round selection of an interior lineman, passing over other more premium needs such as cornerback, edge, linebacker, etc.

Just look at who was taken immediately after the Strange pick - George Karliftis Edge, Daxton Hill DB, and Lewis Cine DB. Those 3 picks and all the players taken before the Patriots take their 2nd player on Day 2 will be compared to Strange as the cost of taking a guard in round 1. OOF.

The other problem is that 2021 draft aside, BB has pulled this crap before, and has lost the, oh we'll give him the benefit of a doubt. There have been too many 1st and 2nd round busts who were reaches that elicit a bad reaction from BB on draft day. It feels like oh, why was he the good GM in 2021, but the arrogant reacher every other draft? I suspect it might come down to the person stacking the draft board. In 2021, the Patriots employed, Dave Ziegler. He has since left to join McDaniels with the Raiders. Before 2021, it was Nick Caserio who was DOP. Was this the main difference in the 2021 draft and all the other BB drafts?

As for Day 2, the Patriots have plenty of picks to maneuver. And they might yet find a 'Barmore' level prospect who helps us forget that Strange was a bad reach. But it doesn't change the fact that round 1 was a wasted opportunity, and BB was properly roasted for overreaching by the media and the draft analysts.

I wish I could like this post more than once. These are my thoughts exactly.

I'm sure Strange will be a good player. I've got nothing against him. It's the "how" and the "why" of where he was drafted I have a problem with.

 

[JMC00]

I was told by my friend and boss from e2g sports that a titan scout he knows through Floyd Reese told him that the titans were trying to package #35 and other picks to trade back into round 1 to take Cole Strange.

People really think Belichick was lying when he said they didn't think he would be there for them in the 2nd. If someone you know through Floyd Reese (rip) is saying this, you know Belichick knew. Floyd Reese worked with Belichick for a few years, so Belichick knows the same circles.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Maybe.....just maybe...Wolf and Groh had Strange with a 1st or high 2nd round grade and BB went with his personnel guys' recommendation.

 

[kennyb]

I'm usually pretty negative. So much so that many have called me lousy and even a jets troll. However i don't think it's that bad of a pick. Early? Maybe. Strange? Well by definition.

I remember reading his profile and thinking he sounds like a pats type of guard. Like that guard we lost to KC, McThuney. AND I'm convinced he CAN play LT and do a credible job at it!

So there.

He's also a 100% dedicated hard core guy. Not like so many 1st round ol busts who just don't care! Lousy bums they are, some of them.

Just want to go on record with this! So when he's on the all rookie team or whatever, yeah i told you so!

 

[*ChungFu*]

Redemption pick for what exactly? LG being probably their biggest need and going with 1 of the 2 best G still on the board and getting 2 more picks in the top 121 out of it?

I'm fine with the position and player. I'm just talking about a salve for the wounded ; )

 

[cupofjoe1962]

EXACTLY what was said when he drafted Mankins.

If he turn out to be Logan Mankins it will
Be an OK pick, but when you have receivers like we have, people are disappointed with the pick.

I hope the kid becomes all pro and is better than Mankins.

Belichick has a history of severe reaches in the draft & the results are not pretty.

He picked 8 corner backs in the second round in a 12 year span & Tavon Wilson was the best of the bunch & he was projected to go in the 5th round.

I am hoping we skip the DB in round#2 tonight

 

[Triumph]

Given the weakness at D- line, speed at linebacker and the lack of quality cornerbacks. It’s concerning that was the number 1 priority especially at a position that is routinely filled in the middle rounds

Where did JC Jackson come from?

Undrafted thats where.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Maybe.....just maybe...Wolf and Groh had Strange with a 1st or high 2nd round grade and BB went with his personnel guys' recommendation.

I mean, I dropped in to see the edge-of-the-seat crowd needing the guards to take their shoelaces and belts late last night, I was like "It ain't worth it."

Bruins covered the obvious: If some draft website or ESPN or whoever says Strange will go late in the 3rd, that means precisely ****. He did go where he went, late in the first.

Whatever we thought, evidently the Pats thought he was a safe pick where we got him, had some upside, was somewhere we could use the fresh meat, and came with picks in their late-pick-production wheelhouse. They also evidently thought he wasn't lasting till our next picks, despite the opinions of a bunch of sportswriters with vested interests in perpetuating a "center" of sports commentariat opinion.

Now when I heard we planned to stand him up and have him play receiver I did get concerned for a minute...

 

[Triumph]

Hopefully dinner isn't at Mac's house, and if it is, it's takeout.

is the Kowloon still open?

 

[50-yard-line]

If he turn out to be Logan Mankins it will
Be an OK pick, but when you have receivers like we have, people are disappointed with the pick.

Parker/Agholor/Bourne/Meyers.

Six WRs were off the board. Was no one there who's breaking into that lineup.

 

[Nunchucks]

I'm usually pretty negative. So much so that many have called me lousy and even a jets troll. However i don't think it's that bad of a pick. Early? Maybe. Strange? Well by definition.

I remember reading his profile and thinking he sounds like a pats type of guard. Like that guard we lost to KC, McThuney. AND I'm convinced he CAN play LT and do a credible job at it!

So there.

He's also a 100% dedicated hard core guy. Not like so many 1st round ol busts who just don't care! Lousy bums they are, some of them.

Just want to go on record with this! So when he's on the all rookie team or whatever, yeah i told you so!

The player is fine, it's the massive gaping holes on the defense that are the problem. Guards are relatively easy to find. Corners, LBs, and DL are not

 

[PatsFanInVa]

EXACTLY what was said when he drafted Mankins.

Mankins also filled a need at Rodeo Clown.

 

[lancerman]

There's always a chance Strange will pan out better than N'Keal. So there's that.

He likely will be better than Harry. But the issue is Harry at that spot was a smart decision. He wasn’t going to last by our next pick. Strange would have been there in the third. Harry you need hindsight to criticize him because he busted. With the knowledge they had at the time it’s not egregious. Strange even if he’s amazing is still likely going to be a situation where several of the guys we passed on in the 20’s will be studs and we could have added them and Strange.

It also hurts even more that we traded down. We could have went lower if he was our target and got more OR there were a few stud receivers in our reach for a trade

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Parker/Agholor/Bourne/Meyers.

Six WRs were off the board. Was no one there who's breaking into that lineup.

there are times when I think they WANT more 5th and 6ths, especially for receivers. No home run pressure... just keep the machine running, have a decent pass attack, cope with the fact that there's no true no. 1 and move on. Can't blame them given that they're not good at high round receiver picks.

 

[50-yard-line]

there are times when I think they WANT more 5th and 6ths, especially for receivers. No home run pressure... just keep the machine running, have a decent pass attack, cope with the fact that there's no true no. 1 and move on. Can't blame them given that they're not good at high round receiver picks.

Oh, I agree. Thing is, their WR corps is BETTER this year, and not just because it's Mac's year 2. Parker is arguably the best WR on the team.

I hope they get someone like Shakir or Phillips or Melton pr V Jones...

I mean, I wouldn't cry if they took a flying on Watson or Pickens - both total wildcards, or grabbed Metchie...but I don't see it.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

You mean Jordan '8 year career in the NFL' and counting Richards? Somehow the Ravens liked him enough to have him on their team the last 3 years, but we all know what idiots they are.

So you saying Jordan Richards is a worthy pick in the 2nd round because he is a special teams player for 8 years?

101 tackles & zero interceptions over 8 years. What value for a 2nd round pick
Lol

I know the Eagles appreciated him during the Super Bowl but he was on our team.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

 

[cupofjoe1962]

Parker/Agholor/Bourne/Meyers.

Six WRs were off the board. Was no one there who's breaking into that lineup.

Wow….. lol …… I think any of these guys would start for us.

Christian Watson ?
George Pickens
David Bell
Alec Pierce
Justyn Ross
Skyy Moore
John Metchie
Khalil Shakir
Wan Dale Robinson

The Pats have also been sniffing around Romeo Doubs who looks ok.