Ja'Lynn Polk versus Adonai Mitchell

[rochrist]

We should take all this in context, any of these guys in the 2d round only have a 1 of 3 chance of becoming a solid NFL starter. To declare we took the wrong guy without playing any NFL regular season games is a bit premature.

Edelman had 7 catches in his THIRD season. Give them some time to see how quickly they learn or not.

1st round - about 50% of players drafted in the 1st round developed into solid NFL starters.

2nd round - about 33% of players drafted in the 2nd round developed into solid NFL starter. From here, it dropped by 50% per round.

3rd round - about 16%.

4th round - about 8%.

5th round - about 4-5%.

6th round - about 2%.

7th round - about 1-2%.

Using JE is such a weak argument. He also had 37 catches his rookie year in 11 games, including 10 in the last game of the season when he was pressed into service after Welker was injured. He followed that up by leading the team with 6 catches against the Ravens in their playoff game. The reason JE had limited time early in his career was that he was behind Wes Welker, not that he had to learn how to play.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Baker has lost shine because he dropped a long bomb by Maye, but we should keep in mind he was open on that deep play and has made some really tough catches in camp. There’s some recency bias with him. He can improve a lot, we’ll see.

Everyone is roasting Baker on this play, but seriously that was a really hard ball to catch. I think we are being a little unfair. If the balls had been a few inches closer to Baker, he would have had it and we would all be raving about Baker.

 

[PatsFan2]

Everyone is roasting Baker on this play, but seriously that was a really hard ball to catch. I think we are being a little unfair. If the balls had been a few inches closer to Baker, he would have had it and we would all be raving about Baker.

It was still a drop Baker have very good Catch Radius he should have came down with it.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

It was still a drop Baker have very good Catch Radius he should have came down with it.

That is the hardest catch in football to make and you get body slammed on the turf as you are trying to pull it in. I cannot blame Baker for this; it is encouraging that he was able to get open.

 

[Jim Beankie]

The Patriots admitted they took Polk too early, but that they tried to trade down and there were no takers, so they took the best remaining WR on their board.

The Colts had big success last year with Josh Downs. I watched that kid's UNC highlights and thought he had incredible body control and hands. Couldn't figure out why he went so late.

This isn't the first time the Patriots were forced to take a guy earlier than he was rated. They said the same thing about Cole Strange and Marte Mapu. You cal around and the only thing someone wants to give you for a trade down in the 2nd is a 5th or a 6th. It's not worth it. Especially in a weak draft. If there's a 10% chance that someone takes Polk in the next 10 picks, it's not worth the risk for a 5th or a 6th.

At the Combine, JDowns was measured at 5'8.6" 171lbs and missed games in the beginning of his last college season due to a knee injury. Similar build guy Tank Dell also got picked up in the 3rd.

 

[Jim Beankie]

Everyone is roasting Baker on this play, but seriously that was a really hard ball to catch. I think we are being a little unfair. If the balls had been a few inches closer to Baker, he would have had it and we would all be raving about Baker.

I agree. He had to launch himself to get to the ball.



Ja'Marr had a horrible preseason with drops. He did drop a fair number of balls in the regular season including this beauty.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

This is Chad Jackson's breakout* season. Book it.

*yeah breakin outta the nursin home

 

[Triumph]

I forgot about Worthy; this takes a bit of the shine off Mitchell since he probably faced the number two CBs.

He still might be the steal of the draft. The Colts do a decent job of drafting. I will watch him more closely now.

And Worthy is now on the Chiefs; the rich get richer; why do I feel that we are playing checkers and the rest of the league is playing chess? It used to be the other way around.

This team is almost starting over on offense.

Chiefs are the new Pats. Its all there QB, HC, GM and Owner. Plug and play with new guys on offense every season.

I also agree that LT was more of a need, but a bit of a reach at where they were in round 2. I trust that they tried to move down again and failed. But wow, Polk instead of Mitchell? Seems shaky, but we will see.

The Packers drafted some WRs that were nobody's and they have looked good. I believe that Wolf and Groh were in the GB front office.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Everyone is roasting Baker on this play, but seriously that was a really hard ball to catch. I think we are being a little unfair. If the balls had been a few inches closer to Baker, he would have had it and we would all be raving about Baker.

There was the ball down the side line that he misplayed. He also was manhandled on multiple plays. Baker had a bad night, not one bad play.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

All I'm saying is that they thought Polk was rated to be taken later, but they knowingly took him earlier because they didn't want to risk it.

I agree they could've taken Mitchell at any time.

Yes I think Polk was highest on their board at that point, just as Wallace was a round later, and in both cases they didn’t want to get greedy and risk losing them.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Everyone is roasting Baker on this play, but seriously that was a really hard ball to catch. I think we are being a little unfair. If the balls had been a few inches closer to Baker, he would have had it and we would all be raving about Baker.

I think the db also got a hand in there and dislodged the ball - it was moving as he hit the ground.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Point being is we have a logjam of “good” not great receivers. When Douglas, Thornton and Osborn/Baler are your likely starters the Polk pick at 2 looks redundant and a bad decision since they don’t have one good starting tackle yet.

That is why AD Mitchell would have been a good gamble. He is the type of big, fast deep threat that they do not have, unless Thornton can improve his durability. Wolf did not seem to shy away from guys with character issues so this is a little surprising. Even at pick number 34, Mitchell would have felt slighted and highly motivated to prove himself, as he does now with the Colts. He might excel this season, but watch out in the long term...sort of like Jack Jones [as I said least year at training camp, Jones was the best db on the field at that time]. The Patriots would have had a basket load of head cases, which can be trouble for a team that may lose a lot of games this year....

 

[Wozzy]

That is why AD Mitchell would have been a good gamble. He is the type of big, fast deep threat that they do not have, unless Thornton can improve his durability. Wolf did not seem to shy away from guys with character issues so this is a little surprising. Even at pick number 34, Mitchell would have felt slighted and highly motivated to prove himself, as he does now with the Colts. He might excel this season, but watch out in the long term...sort of like Jack Jones [as I said least year at training camp, Jones was the best db on the field at that time]. The Patriots would have had a basket load of head cases, which can be trouble for a team that may lose a lot of games this year....

I would have preferred Mitchell over Polk, even with his character concerns. But I would have taken an offensive tackle 10 out of 10 times. We have lots of WR's at this point... not a single tackle on the team worth a damn.

 

[Kdo5]

Honestly I’ll just be pleased if Polk turns into a legit #2, given how awful our early receiver picks have been for going on three decades.

 

[Kdo5]

Everyone is roasting Baker on this play, but seriously that was a really hard ball to catch. I think we are being a little unfair. If the balls had been a few inches closer to Baker, he would have had it and we would all be raving about Baker.

The problem to me isn’t the drop it’s that he leapt in the air in the first place. If he just kept running he might’ve caught the ball in stride.

He made it harder on himself.

 

[Jim Beankie]

The problem to me isn’t the drop it’s that he leapt in the air in the first place. If he just kept running he might’ve caught the ball in stride.

He made it harder on himself.

He had to leap. Imho, it's not even close.

 

[Grogan14]

Everyone is roasting Baker on this play, but seriously that was a really hard ball to catch. I think we are being a little unfair. If the balls had been a few inches closer to Baker, he would have had it and we would all be raving about Baker.

He has had several drops in 2 preseason games. He talked a big game post draft now he needs to back it up

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

The Pats already have T -111 Thornton to take the top off defenses. W

Maybe, but I don't see that opposing defenses are scared of him. Does he get double coverage? Do the safeties hang way back? I sort of think not, but the Patriots QBs probably will not have the time to throw deep this season....but then there was that beautiful long bomb that Maye lofted to Baker....if only it was a few inches shorter

 

[moosekill]

Maybe, but I don't see that opposing defenses are scared of him. Does he get double coverage? Do the safeties hang way back? I sort of think not, but the Patriots QBs probably will not have the time to throw deep this season....but then there was that beautiful long bomb that Maye lofted to Baker....if only it was a few inches shorter

It is preseason, it doesn't matter. Lets see if he makes the team, which he probably will, and if he does, how he does this year. People losing sleep over a missed pass in a meaningless preseason game is silly.

 

[captain stone]

The Patriots admitted they took Polk too early, but that they tried to trade down and there were no takers, so they took the best remaining WR on their board.

Then they should’ve taken Atlanta’s offer instead of that from the LAC.

The Colts had big success last year with Josh Downs. I watched that kid's UNC highlights and thought he had incredible body control and hands. Couldn't figure out why he went so late.

Agreed.

This isn't the first time the Patriots were forced to take a guy earlier than he was rated. They said the same thing about Cole Strange and Marte Mapu…lol

Yeah bringing up those two inexcusably, unforgivably over-drafted stiffs doesn’t really help the argument.