Is it possible that the Patriots see no value in this draft?

[midwestpatsfan]

Because of the CBA mess, these rookies will probably have no mini camps, no rookie camps and probably an abbreviated pre-season. We know that this can be a tough playbook to learn under normal circumstances and now that everything is accelerated it is going to be hard for any rookie to make an impact this year, so could the Patriots be looking to move a lot of picks to later years because this crop of rookies may be a non factor.

I can just imagine BB thinking that he does not want to spend money on guys that will basically be punting their rookie years and a year on their rookie contract, making them much less valuable to this team and BB.

Also, grabbing a conversion project becomes more unlikely as well because of the reasons I stated above, only it is magnified because the learning curve needed for a conversion project.

Has anyone else thought about this? Am I way off base here?

 

[MaineMan]

Because of the CBA mess, these rookies will probably have no mini camps, no rookie camps and probably an abbreviated pre-season. We know that this can be a tough playbook to learn under normal circumstances and now that everything is accelerated it is going to be hard for any rookie to make an impact this year, so could the Patriots be looking to move a lot of picks to later years because this crop of rookies may be a non factor.

I can just imagine BB thinking that he does not want to spend money on guys that will basically be punting their rookie years and a year on their rookie contract, making them much less valuable to this team and BB.

Also, grabbing a conversion project becomes more unlikely as well because of the reasons I stated above, only it is magnified because the learning curve needed for a conversion project.

Has anyone else thought about this? Am I way off base here?

BB seems to me like a guy who thinks ahead. A lot. Kraft seems like a very good businessman who has a pretty good handle on what's on the horizon. Between the two of them, they must have had a pretty good idea as much as a couple years ago that this current CBA mess was a very real possibility. And yet, BB has chosen to make moves INTO this very draft. My guess would be that both see very good value here or they'd have made other choices.

 

[patchick]

Because of the CBA mess, these rookies will probably have no mini camps, no rookie camps and probably an abbreviated pre-season. We know that this can be a tough playbook to learn under normal circumstances and now that everything is accelerated it is going to be hard for any rookie to make an impact this year, so could the Patriots be looking to move a lot of picks to later years because this crop of rookies may be a non factor.

The problem with this theory is that it's also a much more difficult year to add veteran players. FAs coming from different systems will be at the same disadvantage as rookies, plus trades of draft picks for vets (usually much more common than player-for-player trades) are off the table. And there's not even certainty that franchise tags and RFA tenders will be enforceable, so retaining your own FAs isn't a slam dunk either. Players have to come from somewhere. :confused2:

It may well be, though, that the lockout changes the risk equation for certain kinds of draft picks. QBs and other playbook-intense positions could be more risky than usual. Character/immaturity risks may be higher too, with no rookie seminars, offseason structure, etc. On the flip side, players recovering from injury who won't be ready for rookie camp would be at less of a disadvantage than usual.

 

[DW Toys]

Because of the CBA mess, these rookies will probably have no mini camps, no rookie camps and probably an abbreviated pre-season. We know that this can be a tough playbook to learn under normal circumstances and now that everything is accelerated it is going to be hard for any rookie to make an impact this year, so could the Patriots be looking to move a lot of picks to later years because this crop of rookies may be a non factor.

I can just imagine BB thinking that he does not want to spend money on guys that will basically be punting their rookie years and a year on their rookie contract, making them much less valuable to this team and BB.

Also, grabbing a conversion project becomes more unlikely as well because of the reasons I stated above, only it is magnified because the learning curve needed for a conversion project.

Has anyone else thought about this? Am I way off base here?

Reasonable thought.
DW Toys

 

[Spiral]

You make a valid point. There's also another reason for trading into next year's first round. Whoever holds the winning ticket in the Oliver Luck sweepstakes is going to auction it off for a kng's ransom in players and/or picks. I bet BB is going to buy a ticket for that lottery.

 

[Irish Hooligan]

You make a valid point. There's also another reason for trading into next year's first round. Whoever holds the winning ticket in the Oliver Luck sweepstakes is going to auction it off for a kng's ransom in players and/or picks. I bet BB is going to buy a ticket for that lottery.

This is an interesting point that I had not thought of. Well done, mate.