With the draft in the rearview window, I am cleaning off the notepad with some thoughts about what happened to the Patriots and who they picked.
Everyone agrees the Patriots hit a home run with Christian Gonzalez in the 1st round. His selection was even better when Bill Belichick was able to trade back three spots and still get him. Why did a consensus Top 10 pick slide all the way down to #17? The Patriots gambled and won, trading back just 3 spots and still getting Gonzalez. Perhaps it’s his laid-back attitude. He is not an alpha dog on the field, but more of a finesse player. Compare his strut coming out of the Green room to that of Mac Jones. Gonzalez took his time as he sauntered up to the mirror to get his Patriots cap and took his time getting to the commissioner. Jones practically sprinted up to the stage. I think the scouts were looking for a reason to tear this kid down, rather than take what they see on the game video and his play on the field. Another popular knock on him was that he switched High Schools in Texas because he didn’t want to compete with the legacy of his sisters.
I like to do a re-draft of the recently completed draft to see if I would have done things differently. First, WR and OT were a higher priority to me than EDGE and LB. Matt Groh defended taking Defensive Players with the first three selections because they had concentrated on Offense in Free Agency. The Patriots are satisfied with the backup Tackles they signed (Reiff and Anderson) and re-signed (McDermott). I’m not satisfied with those players and thought right up to the start of the 4th round that the Patriots could have improved themselves in that position. I believe they were very short-sighted thinking that Reiff could last a full season or that Trent Brown would improve from his lackadaisical play of last season.
I like Mapu as a player but think we may have picked him a round too early. Looking at videos of him, he is going to be a Linebacker and not a box safety like Dugger. I don’t think we will ever see Mapu as a Safety. In the video from the Senior Bowl practice, Mapu was playing Inside Linebacker, and looking quite good. I would have passed on White and Mapu in favor of trades for Mingo and Steen.
It appeared to me that Bill Belichick was having trouble making trades. Perhaps they didn’t like the players that I did or prioritized the need as I would. The Patriots could have easily matched the deals that were made right in front of them. In the 2nd round, the Colts traded #35 (520) to Las Vegas for #44 (460) and #110 (74) for 534 points. The Patriots could have done #46 (460) and #107 (80) for 520 points. With this pick, they could have had WR Jonathan Mingo. Similarly, in the third round, the Broncos jumped ahead from pick #68 to #63 to take WR Marvin Mims. The trade was #68 (250) and #138 (36.6) for a total of 286.6 points from the Trade Value Chart. The Lions gave up #63 (276) and #183 (16.6) for a total of 292. Why couldn’t the Patriots of made that trade with picks #76(210), #117(60), and #187 (16) for 286 points? They could have taken Tyler Steen who played for Bill O’Brien at Alabama for one season and started 3 other seasons for Vanderbilt. A 4-year starter at Left Tackle in the SEC! The Patriots are still able to make the trade to get Chad Ryland at #112 and trade #135 to Las Vegas for #144 and #214.
Would Sidy Sow have lasted until pick #144? I doubt it, however, OG Andrew Vorhees lasted until the 7th round because of injury concerns. He tore his ACL at the combine and won’t be able to play this year. With all the picks they have, competition is going to be tough to make the team. They could have taken Vorhees as late as pick #214. I agreed they need a backup OC with David Andrews age and recent injury history. They have to get a better backup than James Ferentz. Jake Andrews might have still been there at #144. Andrews was a big reach. The Patriots could have taken OC Olusegum Oluwatimi, Michigan at pick #44. Oluwatimi was the Outland and Rimington Award (Best Lineman and Best Center awards) winners, 1st team All-American and 1st team All-Big Ten. Olu was one of two linemen to start all 12 games for the 6th-ranked rushing attack (243 yds per game).
Michigan was NCAAs #2 in rushing TDs with 38. The Graduate Transfer from Virginia (1st Team All-ACC in 2021) started 32 consecutive games for the Cavaliers. That’s 44 starts in Power 5 conferences. At 6204, 309lbs he is of similar size as Andrews. PFF had him rated as 83 for Run Blocking and 76.7 in Pass blocking. He gave up zero sacks and 9 hurries in 360 dropbacks for the Wolverines in 2022. The next pick wouldn’t be until #192 which is Bryce Baringer. At pick #210 Demario Douglas would be the same selection. Unfortunately, a previous trade would have eliminated pick #187 and the selection of Kayshon Boutte. You would have Jonathan Mingo instead. Ameer Speed, I think, would last until pick #245.
| RD | PICK (OVR) | PLAYER | RD | PICK (OVR) | PLAYER | |
| 1 | 17 (17) | Christian Gonzalez | 1 | 17 (17) | Christian Gonzalez | |
| 2 | 15 (46) | Keion White | 2 | 4 (35) | Jonathan Mingo WR Mississippi | |
| 3 | 13 (76) | Marte Mapu | 3 | 1 (63) | Tyler Steen OT Alabama | |
| 4 | 5 (107) | Jake Andrews | ||||
| 4 | 10 (112) | Chad Ryland | 4 | 10 (112) | Chad Ryland | |
| 4 | 15 (117) | Sidy Sow | ||||
| 5 | 9 (144) | Atonio Mafi | 5 | 9 (144) | Olusegum Oluwatimi OC Michigan | |
| 6 | 10 (187) | Kayshon Boutte | ||||
| 6 | 15 (192) | Bryce Baringer | 6 | 15 (192) | Bryce Baringer | |
| 6 | 33 (210) | Demario Douglas | 6 | 33 (210) | Demario Douglas | |
| 6 | 37 (214) | Ameer Speed | 6 | 37 (214) | Andrew Vorhees OG USC | |
| 7 | 28 (245) | Isaiah Bolden | 7 | 28 (245) | Ameer Speed |
Morse’s Morsels
Sidy Sow to work at LT
Albert Breer reported that Sidy Sow will work out at Left Tackle. I thought Cole Strange might be pushed out to LT. Sow does have some experience at LT.
Congrats to Mike Vrabel for his selection to the Patriots Hall of Fame
Well-deserved selection by the fans. Vrabel was selected as a Pro Bowl and All-Pro. The former Steelers backup, caught 2 TDs in Super Bowls, 1 of 17 players to catch 2 or more TDs in Super Bowls. He was targeted 14 times with 10 catches, all for TDs. Vrabel ended up playing 8 seasons with the Patriots. For his career, he started 110 of 125 games played. He tallied 606 combined tackles and 48 sacks.
Kayshon Boutte’s poor Combine and Pro Day workouts
One of the reasons that Boutte dropped in the draft is that he had poor workouts at the Combine and his Pro Day. One reason may be that he had a broken bone in his ankle. He had two surgeries on that ankle and is not sure if he needs another. Boutte is very motivated “I am motivated more than ever, it’s a blessing.” On being drafted by the Patriots. “It’s what every kid dreams of!”
Rhode Island WR accepts a Mini Camp invite
Ed Lee had a great 2022 season for the Rams. He caught 56 passes for 908 yards and 5 TDs. He stands 5083, 180 lbs, runs 4.5 40, 6.84 3-cone, 34 ½ Vertical, 9’11” Broad Jump, and 4.18 Short Shuttle. Lee was a 2nd Team All-CAA in 2022 and 3rd Team All-CCA in 2021.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
