Yahoo - Zappe expected to go undrafted

[Family]

I wonder if there's something in the process behind these "out of left" field picks that works better for some positions like OL (Mankins, Vollmer, Strange) than others like DB (Tavon, Richards).

Yet the team has had plenty of good DB's who were UFA which is more "out of left field" than a reach pick.

 

[TomPatriot]

Im reading some very positive remarks about Zap.

1 He is an anticipatory passer- Crucial in the NFL because by the time that you see a player come open and throw the ball, the window can close.
2 Zap alters the trajectory of long throws to fit coverages.
3 On his Pro Day, Zap threw in 30 degree weather completing 55 of 56 with 20 mph winds.
4 Russell Wilson and Drew Brees are basically the same size as Zap.

Yet the Pats develop UDFAs at CB pretty well - Butler, JC, JJ and so on.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

I don't really buy that. The dude threw an insane number of TD's in college. Sure at a small school but the stats are what they are. Someone would have kicked the tires on him if the Pats didn't.

Did you ever hear of Colt Brennan?
He was amazing in college, but not the pro’s.

There have been a few Heisman winners or finalist, who just didn’t have a pro game.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I'm not 100% sure of this, but I believe BB has drafted more QBs than any other team since coming to NE.

For over a decade, all of Brady's backups were on rookie deals. That was of necessity, because they would've had to overpay for a veteran who had no chance to start save for injuries.

On the grounds that he could easily save the team $5M a year the next few years, Zappe was more than worth the pick, even if he never takes another meaningful snap, and even if he just walks into FA in a few years.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Did you ever hear of Colt Brennan?
He was amazing in college, but not the pro’s.

There have been a few Heisman winners or finalist, who just didn’t have a pro game.

RIP.

That said, if we still have draft forum posts from then, I imagine you'll find some calling for him.

 

[RIpats88]

last two years actually have been pretty good drafts so far. this year, Jones, Zappe, cole strange already good. Tyquan thornton is still a question mark but he looked comfortable out there last week.

obviously last year had Mac Jones, barmore, Stevenson...

 

[moosekill]

It is much easier to draft when you have all your draft picks, you aren't picking last in every round, and your team has lots of holes. When you have a team that goes to the superbowl every year you don't have a lot of slots open for developmental players, so you end up taking flyers on players with warts that cause other teams to overlook them. Also, when you transition from a win it now mentality to a rebuilding mind set you can afford to keep more younger players with higher upsides.