Grade the Patriots Draft: Instant Reaction

[patchick]

True, but they didn't just climb a hill, they scaled Everest.

I've seldom seen such a dramatic overhaul of a roster in a single year. This is going to be fascinating to watch.

 

[patchick]

It's pretty clear Vrabel is all about coaching the character of the player. Telling Woodson to get more excited, always telling the draftees to thank those around him.

It's also pretty clear from that video who's really in charge of the draft room!

 

[TheRainMaker]

I also wanted to point out something important which are the names. Pats did a great job getting guys with good names.

Will Campbell
TreVeyon Henderson
Kyle Williams
Craig Woodson
Jared Wilson
Marcus Bryant

 

[jimnance]

It's also pretty clear from that video who's really in charge of the draft room!

There's no doubt Vrabel is everybody's boss.
Except Kraft. And the Krafts will defer to Vrabel on anything football-related, so in a sense Mike is also Kraft's boss

 

[TommyD4207]

I also wanted to point out something important which are the names. Pats did a great job getting guys with good names.

Will Campbell
TreVeyon Henderson
Kyle Williams
Craig Woodson
Jared Wilson
Marcus Bryant

I hope I get to hear "Touchdown! TreVeyon Henderson!" Many times over many many years.

 

[jimnance]

I also wanted to point out something important which are the names. Pats did a great job getting guys with good names.

Will Campbell
TreVeyon Henderson
Kyle Williams
Craig Woodson
Jared Wilson
Marcus Bryant

Lotta W's: Will, Williams, Woodson. Wilson.
It's all about the W's

 

[Urgent]

After years of having to look up the stupid reach in the second round it was delightful to see them stay on script.
No “I’m smarter than all the other GM’s.”
One of the common analyses of the Philadelphia draft approach is that their drafts are very predictable - they take the best player based on the consensus.
It seemed like each round there were a handful of players the fans here wanted and then the Patriots took them.
No mean GM’s laughing at us this year, which was my hope going in.

I’m not at the stage of “guaranteeing 11 wins next year” and I sorta don’t care whether it’s seven or 10 or what.
This still isn’t a Super Bowl team. But if it’s the approach for the next three years we may be seeing the building blocks for the next championship team.

 

[scott99]

Not proclaiming him to be a game changer.. bit he's a guy you want to keep around.. as mentioned he's a developing young player that has upside. He's a solid 3 here. He really showed me something last season... go back and look each time Drake made a big play for a TD last season.. who was on the receiving end..

I like Boutte, he is an underrated receiver. Hopefully his jump from year one to year 2, will proceed to be an even bigger jump from year 2 to year 3 (if they keep him).

 

[Real fan 02]

I like Boutte, he is an underrated receiver. Hopefully his jump from year one to year 2, will proceed to be an even bigger jump from year 2 to year 3 (if they keep him).

Agreed. He and pop both have been young late round guys who actually worked out under terrible circumstances last 2 seasons. They are projected to be contributing players under Josh. We finally have some speed with Williams on the outside so that helps guys like pop and Boutte.

 

[Dragda]

As the title says, what is your gut reaction to the Patriots draft? Give it your grade now!

I know they say judge a draft 2 years later, but who has time to wait? It's more fun to give your grade now and see if it holds up in the future.

For the first time in a long time, I had a satisfying draft experience. When you look at the whole picture it really feels like the Patriots had a cohesive gameplan going into this draft and stuck to it.

They focused on fixing the offense early and often on Days 1 and 2. Then they addressed adding additional defensive depth on day 3 and even picked up a kicker, another OT, and a couple of lottery scratch tickets at the end of round 7.

There might be some slight disagreements on the individuals picked, but the overall shape of the draft, positions selected, and where they were picked. It all felt like the value was there and they didn't make any huge reaches for coach binkies. It feels a lot more satisfying, when you don't have to ask "who the hell is that" every other pick and have to watch the media roasting what are obvious reaches that are making your team worse.

Personally I gave this draft a solid A. The Patriots as a group improved in much needed areas in the offense and also stockpiled some young talent on defense to add to the depth chart.

As many others have said, we didn’t try to get cute. We drafted value without obscure picks. I would have preferred we picked up a blocking TE in a supposedly deep TE class, but it wasn’t a need.

We shored up the offense first then got a couple defensive picks that look like they will provide good camp competition and probably make the roster. Then we added more offensive depth. I also like our UDFA picks.

 

[Toofy]

I’m thinning Rhamondre could be moved prior to the 53 or prior to the trade deadline.

No way.. he is a bell cow.. need someone to do hard yards... He is not here next season though ...

 

[Toofy]

Well not to do any accounting early.... But let's do some on the 2026 cap which they are up against. Assuming guys work out. If Bourne is cut that saves 7M. Bradbury being replace by Wilson saves 3M. With Henderson do we REALLY need Gibson? 2.5M off the cap. Hollins may or may not be gone depending on how much they value his special teams. So with just those 3 we have some breathing room with 12.5M we save above replacement players. Of course this is all before the giant Elephants in the room of Onwenu and Dugger. Not to mention if we think Henry is worth paying again... maybe and maybe not.

So the way i see it next draft the focus is on Guard in case Onwenu can't be worked out... he's good when he's on, but we need help there anyway. Another WR cause Diggs isn't the long term option. TE cause Hopper will be gone and we need a solution there anyway long term no matter what. After that pretty much all 3 levels on D.

Henry , dugger and onwenu will be cut or restructured. No way they make that kind of bank especially onwenu . Moses could also be a trade or cut if Wallace steps up.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I've seldom seen such a dramatic overhaul of a roster in a single year. This is going to be fascinating to watch.

And a dramatic overall of the coaching staff at the same time. Reminds me of Parcells, he would come in and change the whole roster.

 

[The Gr8est]

They dumped Milton when people thought they would keep him. The Boutte rumors might be true too.

And now, before checking out who we got with the Dallas pick or the locker room dynamics that have been alluded to,

I sure wish we still had Milton, on pure talent alone.

 

[The Gr8est]

As much as I loved the players we drafted, and I really do, the process impressed me just as much:

1. They clearly stuck to their board. No reaches, by and large, they let the draft come to them. No panic trading up, particularly from 69 where we all thought a trade up to get either Williams or Noel was necessary. In the end both ended up being there at 69.

2. BPA. - Aside from possibly the Will Campbell pick, and let's face it LT was such a huge need it needed to be addressed, they did appear to go BPA. They didn't need to go RB at 38, Farmer and Swinson were arguably the best players on their board when they were picked and Kyle Williams was considered by some a second round pick.

3. The trades. - They traded back and still got Jared Wilson, They traded up to the top of a mini DT run and got the highest graded DT at the time. They turned one 7th rounder into two. They picked up a decent 2026 pick.

4. The UDFAs. - Even at this early stage I think Lan Larison and CJ Dippre are near certainties to make the final roster. Efton Chism may end up a PS squad player but he has the talent to challenge Pop Douglas for the slot receiver role. Then there's the QB, who gets the first shot to end up as QB3 and the FB who could win a position which makes 5 UDFAs who could conceivably make the final roster.

Sure you can nitpick here or there. Kyle Williams vs Jaylin Noel will be an interesting comparison to make in future years. Not drafting Tory Horton was an opportunity missed for me. Did we do enough at backup OT? But overall, I thought it was an almost flawless draft process. As someone who loves draft scouting, under BB, it almost felt like a waste of time. After the last three days, it feels like a worthwhile exercise.

Horton would have added to the WR logjam, but I agree on getting another OT.

There seemed to have been a couple of good ones.

Brown was a type 1 diabetic, but he excelled in college, so why not?

 

[The Gr8est]

I reported the numbers, not accolades or emotions. I posted NFL.com reliable combine testing that says Woodson is taller, stronger, and faster.

I’m hoping we have the reincarnation of Duron Harmon, a safety no one was thrilled with at the time, but more than justified his draft position.

 

[ViperGTS]

This team should be a playoff team imo. They have seriously closed the gap, and with better coaching the future is very very bright. Now, if they can keep replicating such events over the next couple years..who knows what might happen.

 

[ViperGTS]

I like Boutte, he is an underrated receiver. Hopefully his jump from year one to year 2, will proceed to be an even bigger jump from year 2 to year 3 (if they keep him).

Boutte isn't going anywhere imo. Maye LOVES him and he has a big place in this offense as a possession type receiver. I think Bourne and Baker aren't close to locks on this team.

 

[jimnance]

Boutte isn't going anywhere imo. Maye LOVES him and he has a big place in this offense as a possession type receiver. I think Bourne and Baker aren't close to locks on this team.

Diggs,Williams,Pop,Hollins are locks.
I agree Boutte is very close to a lock.
That's 5. Right now Polk is likely 6 which means Bourne and Baker are out.
But Diggs is still recovering so all these guys will get many chances to make their case for staying. So likely Polk,Bourne ,Baker battling for one spot. Bring it on!

 

[Real fan 02]

Lotta W's: Will, Williams, Woodson. Wilson.
It's all about the W's

Hope we the Ws in the win columns!