why you know that the Apocalypse is upon us.....

[Kdo5]

I didn't mind the RB pick in the 3rd. They got a player that I think is going to be really good with the potential to be their best all around back even with guys like Michel and White in the mix.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

..... ESPN thinks the Pats had the best draft in the league.

This has GOT to be one of the more baffling drafts in a LONG stretch of baffling drafts over the last 20 years.

1. If there was ONE thing we knew for certain, the Pats NEVER draft a WR in the first...and then we did. Go figure

2. If there was ONE thing we knew going into the draft was we didn't need to draft a CB or RB in the first 2 days....and then we did. Go figure

3. If there was one thing we knew for certain was that we desperately needed to draft a TE in the first 2 days.....and then we DIDN'T (or on the 3rd day for that matter). Go figure

4. We have one of the better C's in the league with 2 more years left on his contract, on the cheap, and yet we picked up TWO more on day 3. Go figure

5. This was one of the better DT drafts in a decade. We needed at least one and we didn't get one. It was one of the better TE drafts in a decade. We needed one and we didn't get one. Go figure

I can "rationalize" all the picks we DID make. "they are for depth". "They are for match ups". "They will be needed in later years" "we are zigging when everyone else is zagging". "We have many more months before the final roster is in"

I get it. I know the drill. I probably know the results, which will be to see the Pats once again playing meaningful games in January. BUT lets not pretend that no one finds the results of this particular draft mind numbing, not only for who we didn't draft, but for who we did.

So while we all chant our favorite proven mantra "In Bill we trust", it will be understandable because for the most part, Bill has EARNED that trust many time over in course of 2 decades running the ship. BUT certainly there are valid reasons to at least QUESTION some of the picks made. Where is the TE? Where is the outside speed? Why ANOTHER RB? Why so many OLmen and so few on the DL? 10 picks and holes still left to fill.

So (getting back to the OP) I'm watching NFL live and they doing an exercise of who won the draft. Spoiler Alert! We did!

The Kraft scandal not withstanding, we have WON. Superbowl #6 is in the books. Brady leads all merchandise sales. Christ, we could have drafted 10 kickers and and prevailing common wisdom would be that the Patriots are smarter than any other organization. Because this IS the prevailing common wisdom.

Other teams can draft elite athletes, and build more talented rosters, but put them up against Tom Brady, BB, and 21 JAG's and the Pats will be favored to win the game. ESPN believes it now. The NFL Network believes it now. And all the fans from the OTHER 31 teams, deep in their souls, believe it now. It no longer is a matter who who plays on this team it is just the way this team is currently PERCEIVED.

And although it's taken over a decade, and haters still exist, and the NFL is still out to get us, we have WON. That battle that began in 2007 and exacerbated in 2014 is OVER. This is now the team that cannot do anything wrong or stupid. Every move we make is brilliant, and every strategic choice is a winner.

I'm just going to sit back and enjoy it. We ALL should

Ken, regarding your comments that this was one of best DT and TE drafts in a decade, I wonder if this is a contrarian/economics view taken by the Patriots. If you consider they truly do rarely draft for immediate need, it could make sense.

That is, in basic supply and demand principles, the idea is to find players who are lower in supply (WR, RB, CB were considerably under hyped as a whole during this draft.). In particular, in rounds 1 and 2 we saw much less interest in those positions than in previous years.

Which brings us to the question: (a) were the DTs and TEs really considerably “better” than in typical years as a whole to a huge extent? Or is it that (b) teams/scouts/pundits were focusing more on these positions for strategic reasons (examples, many tight ends last season made a big impact, Donald/Suh and other interior DLs have drawn more perceived value for defensive strategy, etc.)?

Which of these is correct? Hard to know, but with a large distribution of players, drafts should be somewhat normalized in all years in terms of overall depth/quality at each position. Now, if you are referring to that sweet 16 or so players that Belichick often points out are the real elite players (while after that there’s a lot of similar grades for dozens and dozens of picks), then sure, there certainly appeared to be some top talent at TE and DT, but the Patriots have rarely if ever been known to trade up into that top end range to address a need, and they were picking from 32.

There’s also the notion that if these positions were indeed unusually loaded with depth, they saw the potential for some later round steals, to get, say, a round 2 rated TE or DT in round 3 or 4, but it just didn’t materialize. Another type of risk:reward that defines the Patriots. Didn’t work out, so they just go in another direction to maximize risk:reward rather than reaching just to fill a position “of need.”

Just my take/theory...that if a draft is supposedly “loaded” at certain positions, don’t be surprised if the Patriots go against the grain when assessing value opportunities.

 

[luuked]

Chase Winovich Edge Michigan They can’t replace Tre Flowers with one player, so they did it by getting Bennett for the inside and Winovich outside. He’s got the size, athleticism, and motor to be a contributor immediately.

I agree with a lot what you are writing but I think you are selling Bennett short. I think he actually is the prototype that BB went looking for when drafting Flowers. The way BB but also Ernie kept talking about Bennetts impact on the SB is difficult to forget.

Now if your point is that Bennett might be too old to do both of the things all the time and needs to be spelled now and then then I actually agree. But in the past he has shown that he can play on the inside as well as on the outside. If he doesn't melt down and goes crazy at some point I think he will have a pretty impressive season this year.

 

[luuked]

Last few years we had a lot of trouble covering the big TEs we faced - so a big corner has become a must-have.

On some level it even goes beyond TEs. What happens if Gilmore is out with a concussion for a few games or for other reasons even longer ? Without him and Rowe gone there are not many tall CBs on our roster which limits the flexibility to setup matchups by our coaching staff substantially.

 

[luuked]

1. If there was ONE thing we knew for certain, the Pats NEVER draft a WR in the first...and then we did. Go figure

I am not sure it is true that "we knew for certain that Pats never draft a WR in the first". What we knew is that so far under BB they didn't do it. And while some might think this is just semantics I disagree and think it is a big difference.

I said it before I don't think it is a coincidence that we were bargain shopping at WR while we had Gronk on the roster and the first season he is gone suddenly we are throwing first round picks at the same position. With him gone the value equation changed as the offense will undergo a revamping with a season with the lowest TE focus of the last decade is in front of us.

I think Sony last year is still a much more shocking choice than Harry this year given the context.

2. If there was ONE thing we knew going into the draft was we didn't need to draft a CB or RB in the first 2 days....and then we did. Go figure

BPA wins over needs unless you have multiple players with similar evaluation where one would fill a need. None of the TEs, LBs, DEs or DTs left had an evaluation that was anywhere close to what Williams or Harris scored in on the internal boards. Both of them also fill roles that will almost certainly guarantee them a solid number of snaps.

3. If there was one thing we knew for certain was that we desperately needed to draft a TE in the first 2 days.....and then we DIDN'T (or on the 3rd day for that matter). Go figure

Why draft a player you are not high on instead of taking someone with a better scouting evaluation.

There was nobody -- not even Hockensen -- in the draft who could have replaced Gronk. So instead of trying to fill that specific role just pivot your offense to something else entirely and lessen the importance of that role.

BUT certainly there are valid reasons to at least QUESTION some of the picks made. Where is the TE? Where is the outside speed? Why ANOTHER RB? Why so many OLmen and so few on the DL? 10 picks and holes still left to fill.

I get what you are saying but I don' really understand why having that TE is so important. If we still trade for one then great but if not what it ultimately comes down to is that you want your offense to score points. And you really don't care too much where the receptions and TDs are coming from.

If McDaniels and BB can work around that by using more spread concepts then great. Having a good TE is nice because he usually can force mismatches as most slot corners are not strong enough to win against him and LBs are too slow. But that is not the only way to win games.

Similar things are true for the "outside speed" guy. While he is a nice piece to have usually he comes at too much of a premium relative to the role he has in this offense. Add in that deeper shots are generally low percentage and it really is not worth the price. Whether that price is draft capital or cap money is besides the point.

I understand what you are saying Ken. I just feel like there are many more ways to win games than following the established recipes. That being said the pressure is on McDaniels this offseason to pull it all together and come up with a new variation on our offense. His biggest offseason since he returned to the Pats.

 

[supafly]

I didn't mind the RB pick in the 3rd. They got a player that I think is going to be really good with the potential to be their best all around back even with guys like Michel and White in the mix.

They could have simply signed a cheaper vet like Hill for another one year deal. Instead, they locked up a younger, more talented guy for similar money (AAV) over the course of the next 4 years.

The only real “drawback” is that they used one of their 3 third round picks to do so, but to me, using a third round pick to solidify an area rather than spend it on a higher priority shouldn’t necessarily be considered a fault. They’re set in the running game now, and that’s a pretty big deal.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I agree with a lot what you are writing but I think you are selling Bennett short. I think he actually is the prototype that BB went looking for when drafting Flowers. The way BB but also Ernie kept talking about Bennetts impact on the SB is difficult to forget.

Now if your point is that Bennett might be too old to do both of the things all the time and needs to be spelled now and then then I actually agree. But in the past he has shown that he can play on the inside as well as on the outside. If he doesn't melt down and goes crazy at some point I think he will have a pretty impressive season this year.

I don’t disagree on Bennett, that was as good a move to try and replace Flowers as they could have made, Winovich just helps out with the pressure off the edge. Overall I just don’t see how people could dislike this draft, I think they get too focused upon needs and reject the picks that don’t address need where they want it addressed. We all look at need going into the draft, but what matters coming out of it is the quality of the prospects they picked up, regardless of need.

 

[DarrylS]

What we are witnessing is the evolution of BB from the days of Tiquan and "two way Troy" to a really good defensive backfield, from a superstar TE to some different yet unseen hybrid combinaton, from one star RB to RB by committee, moving from a group of small receivers to a more diverse group who seem taller. We also see what seems to be a mover toward more and more versatile players who have can play several positions and fill in, mostly on ST's. The Pats are starting to move on from some of their stalwarts on ST's; Slater, Ebner and maybe Ryan..

From my perch I see BB building a different team than we have seen in the past as he begins a transition to a new era, one without a GOAT QB, of course then can only be one of them..

Is it successful?? Stay tuned..

 

[maust]

yeah?..well YOU only admitted you were wrong ONCE...I've been keeping track just waiting for you to open your big mouth...ONCE!...and I think this admission was just a red herring to throw everyone off...in reality, you think you're always right and even more...YOU WANT TO RULE THE WORLD!
you're not fooling THIS Joker...no sir. I'll be watching YOU...

I'm married to a redhead, I'm always wrong. I know who really rules the world.
And I've got no shot at the title, literally none at all

 

[italian pat patriot]

Thanks KEN and IVAN
Great posts

 

[borg]

..... ESPN thinks the Pats had the best draft in the league.

This has GOT to be one of the more baffling drafts in a LONG stretch of baffling drafts over the last 20 years.

1. If there was ONE thing we knew for certain, the Pats NEVER draft a WR in the first...and then we did. Go figure

2. If there was ONE thing we knew going into the draft was we didn't need to draft a CB or RB in the first 2 days....and then we did. Go figure

3. If there was one thing we knew for certain was that we desperately needed to draft a TE in the first 2 days.....and then we DIDN'T (or on the 3rd day for that matter). Go figure

4. We have one of the better C's in the league with 2 more years left on his contract, on the cheap, and yet we picked up TWO more on day 3. Go figure

5. This was one of the better DT drafts in a decade. We needed at least one and we didn't get one. It was one of the better TE drafts in a decade. We needed one and we didn't get one. Go figure

I can "rationalize" all the picks we DID make. "they are for depth". "They are for match ups". "They will be needed in later years" "we are zigging when everyone else is zagging". "We have many more months before the final roster is in"

I get it. I know the drill. I probably know the results, which will be to see the Pats once again playing meaningful games in January. BUT lets not pretend that no one finds the results of this particular draft mind numbing, not only for who we didn't draft, but for who we did.

So while we all chant our favorite proven mantra "In Bill we trust", it will be understandable because for the most part, Bill has EARNED that trust many time over in course of 2 decades running the ship. BUT certainly there are valid reasons to at least QUESTION some of the picks made. Where is the TE? Where is the outside speed? Why ANOTHER RB? Why so many OLmen and so few on the DL? 10 picks and holes still left to fill.

So (getting back to the OP) I'm watching NFL live and they doing an exercise of who won the draft. Spoiler Alert! We did!

The Kraft scandal not withstanding, we have WON. Superbowl #6 is in the books. Brady leads all merchandise sales. Christ, we could have drafted 10 kickers and and prevailing common wisdom would be that the Patriots are smarter than any other organization. Because this IS the prevailing common wisdom.

Other teams can draft elite athletes, and build more talented rosters, but put them up against Tom Brady, BB, and 21 JAG's and the Pats will be favored to win the game. ESPN believes it now. The NFL Network believes it now. And all the fans from the OTHER 31 teams, deep in their souls, believe it now. It no longer is a matter who who plays on this team it is just the way this team is currently PERCEIVED.

And although it's taken over a decade, and haters still exist, and the NFL is still out to get us, we have WON. That battle that began in 2007 and exacerbated in 2014 is OVER. This is now the team that cannot do anything wrong or stupid. Every move we make is brilliant, and every strategic choice is a winner.

I'm just going to sit back and enjoy it. We ALL should

PFK....I thought you were throttling back a bit? Glad I was mistaken.

As a connoisseur of Chateau de Belichick, allow me to defend his draft in my typical unorganized way.

Yes...lots of DT talent....but did any of this talent drop to 32....the same general slots BB once drafted Easley and Brown. "Fool me once, fool me twice......"
Lots of TE talent? Again...the authentic talent came off the board hours before NE drafted and it appears Bill was not impressed with the lot considering he passed a dozen times. Was Bill negligent? This is a clear "In Bill WE Trust" roster void similar to WR last year.

Your desire for "outside speed" at WR is so traditional. Has the NE offense valued outside speed in recent years? No. Does the Brady led passing attack prefer quick 2 second strikes to midget WRs and sure-handed RBs? Of course.
Then there's Brady accuracy considerations. For many reasons, Brady was unBrady-like in 2018...bouncing passes, missing passes, aborting on passes. WR flux/lack of talent/lack of TE outlets/ injury?/age? ...a multitude of explanations why the NE passing attack was less effective. Will deep/outside ROOKIE speed give Brady and the offense a better chance to succeed? I argue NO WAY. Deep/outside.......Brady's least accurate passing zones occupied by a rookie who is unlikely to earn the QB's trust.
I absolutely get the Harry pick: A physical presence who can fight off press coverage, who has a large catch radius, who wins 50/50 balls. Watching Harry's highlight reels, despite his apparent inability to create separation down field, I see a guy who was very open early in his routes.....which is exactly NE's game. Brady is not ASU's QB, a newbie who needs time to read and decide.
Outside speed is fun....and very low in %. BB the Economist has a plan to jack up completion %.

I loved the Bama RB pick.
The RB position is always a battle of attrition....a battle NE lost for a time last season when NE deployed a WR as their lead back. RB attrition crushed the Rams chances in the SB. RB attrition derailed the Jags early in the year. Etc, etc, etc...
Burkhead is injury prone.
Michel remains an injury concern.
We all should have seen this pick coming....and we all should love the quality of back BB secured.

Count me as thrilled NE addressed OL with multiple selections. Frankly, I wish Bill would use 2 picks every year. Two offseason losses, one LT in waiting, and now a development T and an interior addition. The NE starting OL was ridiculously healthy in '18 and yet still BB fortifies....

Hmmmmm....

Fortified OL, fortified RB corps, physical WR(s)....aging QB showing mild signs of decline.....with no viable replacement. Hmmmmm.....any chance this is simply a coincidence?
I see a continuation of a plan that began last year, a year NE deemphasized TE.
Fortification now to take pressure off Brady and the eventual transition offense when a new QB finally gets installed. (refer to 2001)

Edit: Forgot about the CB pick.
The McCourtys are aging
Pass defense takes priority in this league
Pass catching weapons are getting bigger
Williams ticks so many boxes...absolute no brainer.
Besides, no need to deploy a TE for NE's Hail Mary defense now.

Edit 2.0: Punter
This pick fascinates me and I can't wait to see how this position works itself. I'm thinking BB believes he can trade off one or the other prior to game 1 to a desperate team in need of a NFL caliber punter....getting back similar draft chip. All it takes is 2 needy teams to create a market. Time will tell

Edit 3.0: ESPN has Eddie Mushed the Patriots........doooooooooomed

 

[luuked]

We also see what seems to be a mover toward more and more versatile players who have can play several positions and fill in, mostly on ST's. The Pats are starting to move on from some of their stalwarts on ST's; Slater, Ebner and maybe Ryan..

What makes you think that ?

Slater just got his option picked up. If they cut Ebner (only 600k in guarantees) during camp I might be inclined to think that you might be onto something but until then I am not sure anything changed in terms of ST philosophy.

 

[long distance]

..... ESPN thinks the Pats had the best draft in the league.

This has GOT to be one of the more baffling drafts in a LONG stretch of baffling drafts over the last 20 years.

1. If there was ONE thing we knew for certain, the Pats NEVER draft a WR in the first...and then we did. Go figure

2. If there was ONE thing we knew going into the draft was we didn't need to draft a CB or RB in the first 2 days....and then we did. Go figure

3. If there was one thing we knew for certain was that we desperately needed to draft a TE in the first 2 days.....and then we DIDN'T (or on the 3rd day for that matter). Go figure

4. We have one of the better C's in the league with 2 more years left on his contract, on the cheap, and yet we picked up TWO more on day 3. Go figure

5. This was one of the better DT drafts in a decade. We needed at least one and we didn't get one. It was one of the better TE drafts in a decade. We needed one and we didn't get one. Go figure

I can "rationalize" all the picks we DID make. "they are for depth". "They are for match ups". "They will be needed in later years" "we are zigging when everyone else is zagging". "We have many more months before the final roster is in"

I get it. I know the drill. I probably know the results, which will be to see the Pats once again playing meaningful games in January. BUT lets not pretend that no one finds the results of this particular draft mind numbing, not only for who we didn't draft, but for who we did.

So while we all chant our favorite proven mantra "In Bill we trust", it will be understandable because for the most part, Bill has EARNED that trust many time over in course of 2 decades running the ship. BUT certainly there are valid reasons to at least QUESTION some of the picks made. Where is the TE? Where is the outside speed? Why ANOTHER RB? Why so many OLmen and so few on the DL? 10 picks and holes still left to fill.

So (getting back to the OP) I'm watching NFL live and they doing an exercise of who won the draft. Spoiler Alert! We did!

The Kraft scandal not withstanding, we have WON. Superbowl #6 is in the books. Brady leads all merchandise sales. Christ, we could have drafted 10 kickers and and prevailing common wisdom would be that the Patriots are smarter than any other organization. Because this IS the prevailing common wisdom.

Other teams can draft elite athletes, and build more talented rosters, but put them up against Tom Brady, BB, and 21 JAG's and the Pats will be favored to win the game. ESPN believes it now. The NFL Network believes it now. And all the fans from the OTHER 31 teams, deep in their souls, believe it now. It no longer is a matter who who plays on this team it is just the way this team is currently PERCEIVED.

And although it's taken over a decade, and haters still exist, and the NFL is still out to get us, we have WON. That battle that began in 2007 and exacerbated in 2014 is OVER. This is now the team that cannot do anything wrong or stupid. Every move we make is brilliant, and every strategic choice is a winner.

I'm just going to sit back and enjoy it. We ALL should

Just a light follow of this site's own draft board can help you being much less baffled .. (unless you enjoy being baffled . which i can perfectly understand..)

While i was not happy about possible missed opportunity at the top of the draft (although it would take significant trade up the way the board has fallen - if you discount Tillery for serious character issues) every pick has pretty clear rationale to anyone actually following the process (incl. Free Agency, Contract Structures etc).

So its not about blind trust in BB (although he certainly deserved it) but about being familiar with depth and nuances of the draft class and understanding the process as much as possible from the outside - which is extremely limited to everyone not currently working for Bill.

Most people agreed and still agree this draft had special value in deep elite DL & OL prospects. Unfortunately so did all the GMs and none of them fell even close to NE range (except the questionable Tillery).
___


@ DT - this is probably the least valuable position on D in the current NFL and certainly for BB over the last years. Rams invested heavily in interior DL (two of the highest paid D players in the league) yet BB (via Dante) easily neutralised the 35M/apy duo with a 3rd rounder, 4th rounder and an UDFA. Having Branch in top form and VW before that certainly made life on DL easier but deep, quality and matchup friendly secondary is so much more efficient for the D-line itself - as we could witness this playoffs. This secondary is very much up there in age and cap hits so investments there for the future should be very appreciated.

And take a look at FA: Of the top 15 FAs remaining on the market most of them are DT, LB and S (including Suh) - exactly the positions NE didn't draft (despite 10 picks). Coincidence? Or roster building economics? (DTs are also easy/economic to trade for..)

Remember Ricky Jean-Francois? They brought him from the street (actually from his other business) in the middle of the season when Brown was injured and DL didn't miss a beat.


@OL
I don't know which 2 C picks are you talking about in Day 3?? I know being more informed would take much of the pleasure out of this rant but still..

They took 1 IOL - a good prospect in Froholdt - who is predominantly a guard (LG) but has experience and capability of playing all 3 interior positions and can step in at T as well - just like Thuney. And guess what: Thuney's contract is up after this season and they were not able to extend it to this point (im sure they made an offer like they usually do) - so as much as i love Thuney - if Froholdt picks things up quickly i wouldn't be surprised if they trade Thuney at some point before October deadline. With Thuney up for 10M apy contract this could prove one of the most economical picks of the draft

Last but not least: Dante might be on his last season so loading up on young OLs makes that much more sense.


@ TE
There's enough youth on the roster even after Hollister trade so I always preferred a solid proven vet addition at this point. They were clearly targeting that in FA and i doubt ASJ is the final answer..


Such a long way till the end of October (trade deadline)..

 

[shmessy]

..... ........ Christ, we could have drafted 10 kickers and and prevailing common wisdom would be that the Patriots are smarter than any other organization. ....

Only if they can rush the Quarterback!

.

 

[Kontradiction]

I’m really not sure why there is anyone out there surprised by the Williams selection. RB was a need. It just wasn’t a day one need again. Burkhead hasn’t been able to stay healthy since he’s been here, Michel battled injuries last season, Bolden is what he is, and the team had Patterson taking handoffs last season.

 

[varjao]

I don't really get , this was a classic Belichickian draft, without the reaches on the 2nd round and injury red flags in the 1st, in other words, a good/safe draft, since he usually doesn't mess up on rounds 1, 3 and 4.

Also, BB doesn't draft by need, he drafts by value and value for BB probably means a complex equation in which need is one of the components, but not a major one.

He took players with an eye 2 years down the road.

He took players with good out of the field behavior and that love the game and love watch film.

The offensive players all fit the system they are running, transitioning a bit for a more talented back field.

I was a bit pissed when he took the CB in the 2nd round, but that lasted 5 minutes. It was a good player, that had 1st round grade in many mocks, a player that seems to be bust proof (you never know), good size, athleticism.

I don't get the love for all those 3rd and 4th rounds TE's, nothing different from any other year. After Hockenson and Fant there was a huge dropoff and even those players, you gotta ask if N'keal Harry wasn't the best choice for our offense even if all of them were to be available for the Patriots.

 

[IndianPat]

Just my take/theory...that if a draft is supposedly “loaded” at certain positions, don’t be surprised if the Patriots go against the grain when assessing value opportunities.

My take : If the draft is supposedly "loaded" at certain positions, don't be surprised if the Patriots ACQUIRE one or two of them for a 4th round pick two years down the road.

 

[DaBruinz]

4. We have one of the better C's in the league with 2 more years left on his contract, on the cheap, and yet we picked up TWO more on day 3. Go figure

5. This was one of the better DT drafts in a decade. We needed at least one and we didn't get one. It was one of the better TE drafts in a decade. We needed one and we didn't get one. Go figure

Ken - I love you man, but when you go off like this it's a real head scratcher. The Patriots didn't draft 2 Centers on day 3. In fact, they only drafted 2 O-linemen in total.

They drafted a C/G in Froholdt. That's it. Yodny is a Tackle. He's played both OT positions, though he feel most comfortable at LT.

And you're over-looking the fact that Karra, Thuney, Ferentz, and Schwenke are all free agents after this season. So, it makes sense that BB would bring in at least ONE guy who could make the roster as an interior back-up.

The Patriots DID sign a priority UDFA in Tyler Gauthier who is also a C/G, but he's going to need to have an outstanding camp to supplant Karras or Schwenke.

As for DT. Yes, the Patriots DID draft one. Byron Cowart. He's a DT out of Maryland.

Did you get Cowart's position confused somehow???

 

[SBLIII]

@patfranken

We need more depth on the OL. Karras and Froholdt is much better depth on the interior than Ferentz/Schwenke and Karras. Cajuste is an upgrade to Waddle imo and we will acquire a 4th OT imo.

 

[patchick]

Hopefully if Bill stays in charge of our drafts for another 18-19 years maybe close to the end people will figure out that the team does not draft based on need.

I'm surprised that's your takeaway from a year where they desperately needed a top WR, tried and failed to get pretty much every big-name veteran on the market, then broke with precedent to fill the glaring need with a first-round WR.

When the Patriots have a glaring need--which isn't often--they draft aggressively for need. The trick is, you have to do that at the top of the draft.

Aside from specialists you CAN'T draft for immediate need on day 3. Any player with an instant starter look to him is generally long gone, so the latter half of the draft turns to value and potential, and messes with need-based boards. Drafting a TE "for need" on day 3 this year would just give you more camp competition for Izzo and friends, not an immediate need filler.