My quick initial take on the draft: it's about what I expected from BB, which is to say, there was a lot that was unexpected. Not what I would have done, but I never expect that to actually happen. By now I pretty much shrug it off, and wait to see how it all unfolds. No doubt some of the picks will turn out to be strokes of genius, and others will be duds. Only time will tell. BB will maximize the former, and move on from the latter, as usual: "The strong will survive. The other ones will fall off, and we’ll keep going.”
A few things seem clear:
1. This was a draft focused on the lines, which is what we all wanted prior to FA, and pretty much ignored the momentous hole at CB created 8 weeks ago. 4 of the 1st 5 players taken were OL or DL. Either BB didn't like the CB prospects available within reach, or he was happier than we've been with what the Pats have, or both.
2. There was a strong defensive emphasis on versatile front 7 players. It's interesting to consider some of the guys who BB passed up: Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Danielle Hunter, Marcus Hardison, Davis Tull, Anthony Chikillo, and many other guys who could have just as easily been considered fits.
3. Dave DeGuglielmo likes bigger road graders than Scar did.
4. BB was relatively happy with what he has at WR and RB, given that he ignored both positions in an incredibly deep and talented draft.
Most of the guys who I liked and who were available were bypassed. Some went off the board sooner than I wanted (Ali Marpet, DeAndre Smelter, Tray Walker); some lasted longer, and were ignored anyway (Marcus Hardison, TJ Clemmings, Jay Ajayi - medical may have played a major role with the latter 2).
Looking at the post-draft team and comparing it to 2014, I would say that OL, DL, LB and TE are stronger than a year ago; QB, WR and S are relatively unchanged; RB is slightly weaker, though deep; and CB is vastly weaker. Overall, there's no reason to assume that this team won't be reasonably competitive even though the division has gotten much tougher, or that BB is done yet.
