Grade our Draft

[mgteich]

Had we done the following, I think we might have drafted this draft a B. But we also gained a 3rd and upgraded our 4th to a 3rd, two definite pluses boosting us to an A.

23 Butler - the first round top CB that we wanted
34 Chung - our best last chance at a top saftey with Delmas gone
47 Brace - the #2 NT in the draft, a needed backup for Wilfork
58 Vollmer - a 1/2 round reach, but a relatively unknown talented swing OT

 

[Deus Irae]

I think it's awfully egotistical to look at the Pats picks and say "oh, we should've picked X instead of Y. What was Bill thinking?" Egotistical, preposterous, and dumb. BB's seen 100x the film on these players that we have, he knows 1000% which players fit into his system better than we do. He worked the trade-back, trade-up game masterfully, and came away with four second-round picks that provide great value at their draft slot.

I can't find any fault with this draft whatsoever.

1.) Belichick isn't perfect.

2.) This is a messageboard.

3.) The thread ASKS people to grade the draft.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Had we done the following, I think we might have drafted this draft a B. But we also gained a 3rd and upgraded our 4th to a 3rd, two definite pluses boosting us to an A.

23 Butler - the first round top CB that we wanted
34 Chung - our best last chance at a top saftey with Delmas gone
47 Brace - the #2 NT in the draft, a needed backup for Wilfork
58 Vollmer - a 1/2 round reach, but a relatively unknown talented swing OT

Hey, I think that's a very, very good perspective. Well said. I'm much happier with this draft now than I was an hour ago, and after watching some film of Vollmer and reading this post, I feel downright good about it.

 

[BradyManny]

If they can turn 2009 thirds into 2010 seconds, and do the same in the lower rounds, I'll start to feel better.

While I share your lust for a stud LT, the fact that they passed on Oher when they could've had him at perceived good value says something. If they believed he was going to be that stud LT, they would've pulled the trigger at #23. Who knows, Vollmer could be the better tackle in three years.

 

[dryheat44]

1.) Belichick isn't perfect.

2.) This is a messageboard.

3.) The thread ASKS people to grade the draft.

Understood on all counts. I just wonder who among us is qualified to grade this draft. I suppose the question is, "How upset are you that Belichick didn't draft your binkies?"

 

[D-Money]

I am happy with Butler and Chung but question the DT pick.I would say C because we didnt address the need for a pass rusher.Maybe they will but they where some quality kids out there.

 

[PatsChamp88]

The more research I do on these four the more I like! To put it simply a solid B+

 

[Deus Irae]

While I share your lust for a stud LT, the fact that they passed on Oher when they could've had him at perceived good value says something. If they believed he was going to be that stud LT, they would've pulled the trigger at #23. Who knows, Vollmer could be the better tackle in three years.

They passed on Clady last season. I can't give BB a pass on this. And, yes, Oher has been my binky since last year (although he obviously didn't declare). Brady won't get younger and Light will be slowing down. This was a perfect chance to get the LT and prepare for 2010-2011.

As I said, if they push some picks forward or bundle picks to pull off a larceny, I'll feel better. Right now, this draft sucks in my eyes, not because of who they picked on defense, but because they could have gotten them anyway.

 

[eagle eye]

So who do you guys think will be on the radar tomorrow?

I have a few guys I think are on the radar but as othes have said, you just don't know with Bill. Are we gonna use all four third round picks. I think thats highly unlikely.

I have a feeling that one of Scott McKillop, Danelle Ellerby and Gerald McRath will be coming to New England and my choice would be McRath. I like him and according to reports he is a guy who can develop further, but I think Ellerby will be coming our way as he again is a BB type of guy who can play in more than just the inside spot.

We have other areas to address, what do you guys think we need to draft at this stage?
Clearly a couple of Linebackers but we need a full back too and I think we could add a guard. After all protecting our top gun(Tom Brady) is someting that is very important. Its not something I ever worried about before but that line were responsible for a good number of Cassel's sacks last year and of course we certainly don't want to see what happened at the start of last season every happening agains.

 

[Deus Irae]

Understood on all counts. I just wonder who among us is qualified to grade this draft. I suppose the question is, "How upset are you that Belichick didn't draft your binkies?"

Well nobody, including BB, is qualified to grade this, or any, team's draft right now. It'll take years to sort out winners and losers.

 

[DocE]

I'll give Day 1 a B-, but I can be a difficult grader.

First trade down: Getting only a 5 to move from 23 to 26 was a little disappointing.

Second trade down: Getting two 3rd's to move from 26 to 41 was the best part of day one for me.

First pick no. 34 Patrick Chung- I didn't like it, and having him go just one pick after Delmas was a kick in the nuts. I had Chung as my 3rd safety, but I don't see any special qualities in him. I think Delmas and William Moore both have a chance to be special, though Moore comes with a high bust factor.

First trade up: I don't like giving up more to move from no.47 to no.40 than we got to move down from 23 to 26.

Second pick no.40 Ron Brace- My initial reaction was not a positive one because I was looking at other positions. That opinion changed quickly. I like the fact that the Patriots can now rotate between two huge NT's in Wilfork and Brace. I also like the idea of occasionally using a mammoth 4-3 with Wilfork and Brace inside and Seymour and Warren outside. Good player and true NT"s are tough to find. My only question mark about the pick is it does limit Mike Wright's value to the team as he doesn't figure to play much NT anymore.

Third pick no.41 Darius Butler- I like the pick a lot, especially because I though the Patriots might take him at no. 23. I like the closing burst Butler displays, but I worry about him only being 180lbs or so and not having an INT as a Senior. I'd rather have Butler than Davis (due to character concerns) and Davis went significantly higher.

Fourth pick no.58. Sebastian Vollmer- I think this was a reach to a lot of people and I was initially upset that we took this guy so high, but I did have him on my list as a 5th round possibility. He's one of the rare big guys who both runs well and is praised for being tough/physical. Most of the OT's in this draft had only one or the other going for them. My only downside to Vollmer is it seems like it will take a couple years before he can play and I'd like some immediate help on the Oline.

My biggest negative of the day: Carolina traded up after the Pats back to back second rounders to get Everette Brown. The Panthers gave up next years no.1 in exchange for that 2nd round pick and a 4th round pick. I think the Patriots should have jumped all over a deal like this, especially considering they drafted very little immediate help. That Carolina pick could be very valuable as I could see it being a top 15 pick next year.

Positives: Added speed to the secondary in Butler and added depth to the lines in Vollmer and Brace. Chung should be the best tackling safety on the team and be a core special teamer from day one. Adding 2 3rd rounder to the haul is excellent.

Negatives: I don't see a future star in the group. I wouldn't be surprised if all 4 players are backups in 2009. I would have liked to have seen the Pats move one of their 2nd rounder in to a 1 next year. The pass rush was atrocious last year and we didn't add anyone with potential to solve that problem (though that could come through a trade of FA ).

 

[Horace's Ivories]

I think it's awfully egotistical to look at the Pats picks and say "oh, we should've picked X instead of Y. What was Bill thinking?" Egotistical, preposterous, and dumb. BB's seen 100x the film on these players that we have, he knows 1000% which players fit into his system better than we do. He worked the trade-back, trade-up game masterfully, and came away with four second-round picks that provide great value at their draft slot.

I can't find any fault with this draft whatsoever.

I couldnt agree more.. thank you.

 

[mgteich]

I don't think we have that critical 4th anymore, just four 3rd, two comps and a 7th. We can draft two punters with our 5th and 6th round comp picks to compete with Hanson.

Coming into this weekend, I had settled on Chung as my #1 S. ?

Ron Brace was my #1 NT. ? It get's better, Brace allows Wilfork to slide out to DE if Sey or Ty get injured, AND...should either Sey or Vince not get re-signed for 2010 and beyond, Brace has just created depth at all three positions even with Vince, Sey, and Jarvis all UFA in 2010.

Darius Butler contributes on Special Teams as Gunner and KR, and develops behind three veterans with wildly different talent and experience. Butler is a little light, but Coach Woicik can put another 10 lbs on him and he'll be capable of developing at FS too. ?

Sebastian Vollmer was an intriguing OT whom I had trouble getting a firm handle on, if I'd known Dante had been sniffing around... :confused2: Suffice it to say I'm stoked that Dante will have time to develop him behind Light and Kaczur, and NE could have 6'8" Vollmer and 6'7" LeVoir as bookends in a year or two. If he develops as I hope, Light or Kaczur might even kick inside to G with the uncertainty around Mankins and Neal long term. ?

No letter grade, but a very promising first day and the big coup in my mind is two earlier Third round picks to target some very promising prospects (who will likely be guys I don't have on my list ) in the third round. Which leaves that critical Fourth round pick for a Punter.

 

[TriplecHamp]

I think with all of the possibilities in this draft with all of the picks we had it is easy to be disappointed. I think we could have gotten a star who could start come day one but I think we got a little conservative. Think about it this way, We could have easily gotten anybody we wanted in this draft but we traded down. Hopefully day two we can package some picks and get somebody like a Peppers or another pass rusher that Can play in the 3-4 if not hopefully we draft one. I think that our main need was at ILB or OLB and we pretty much said f'it for the first round and second rounds, im holding out hope that we can turn around this ILB/OLB sitiuation TM.

 

[PATRIOT64]

B- so far to me

We passed up on a lot of talent for a bigger gamble in the late rounds but we did pick up Chung who is a solid Safety for Rodneys replacement and Butler who may be on STs before challenging Hobbs next season for starter role.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think that our main need was at ILB or OLB and we pretty much said f'it for the first round and second rounds, im holding out hope that we can turn around this ILB/OLB sitiuation TM.

Need is an implicit part of BB's formula for determining value.

If he felt that one of the LBs he passed up represented good value, that player would be a Patriot right now.

 

[eagle eye]

My grades for the draft.

A+ to BB for completely fooling most of us.

On the selections I give him an A without the +, basically I like them all and I think Volmer is going to be huge in the NFL.

 

[PATRIOT64]

My grades for the draft.

A+ to BB for completely fooling most of us.

On the selections I give him an A without the +, basically I like them all and I think Volmer is going to be huge in the NFL.

UMMMM He is like 6'10 and 312 Lbs - He is already HUGE no matter what,Unless he tries the nutrasystem before TC

 

[Blizzzard]

They passed on Clady last season. I can't give BB a pass on this. And, yes, Oher has been my binky since last year (although he obviously didn't declare). Brady won't get younger and Light will be slowing down. This was a perfect chance to get the LT and prepare for 2010-2011.

As I said, if they push some picks forward or bundle picks to pull off a larceny, I'll feel better. Right now, this draft sucks in my eyes, not because of who they picked on defense, but because they could have gotten them anyway.

They passed on Clady and got Mayo instead.

Do you REALLY have a problem with that? :idontgetit:

 

[Blizzzard]

So who do you guys think will be on the radar tomorrow?

I have a few guys I think are on the radar but as othes have said, you just don't know with Bill. Are we gonna use all four third round picks. I think thats highly unlikely.

I have a feeling that one of Scott McKillop, Danelle Ellerby and Gerald McRath will be coming to New England and my choice would be McRath. I like him and according to reports he is a guy who can develop further, but I think Ellerby will be coming our way as he again is a BB type of guy who can play in more than just the inside spot.

We have other areas to address, what do you guys think we need to draft at this stage?
Clearly a couple of Linebackers but we need a full back too and I think we could add a guard. After all protecting our top gun(Tom Brady) is someting that is very important. Its not something I ever worried about before but that line were responsible for a good number of Cassel's sacks last year and of course we certainly don't want to see what happened at the start of last season every happening agains.

Or what happened at the end of the season before :ugh: