Ian Allan
During the draft, I don’t think the Patriots were discussed enough. Specifically, did they make the right decision in trading down rather than selecting Dez Bryant (not once, but twice).
They had the 22nd pick, but decided to trade down. Then they were on the clock again at No. 24. They dealt away that pick to the Cowboys (who promptly selected Bryant).
For their trouble, the Patriots picked up extra choices in the third and fourth rounds. But what are those picks actually worth? So many of those choices fizzle, that there’s a good chance the Patriots will look back and ask themselves, “why didn’t we just take Dez Bryant there?”
The Patriots could use a good young receiver. Wes Welker is hurt, and Randy Moss could be starting to slow down – he’s 33 and in a contract year. And they’re counting on another old fogey, Torry Holt, to be their No. 3 guy. Can Holt still play? Bryant might have looked awfully good in that No. 3 spot, then been ready to transition into the No. 1 if the Patriots don’t bring back Moss.
And what is the value of an extra third-round pick anyway? Not much, in most cases. Note that Bill Belichick, while heralded as the best of the league’s coaches, actually doesn’t have a great record purely in terms of picking players. He’s been there for 10 years, and his record looks pretty ordinary.
Belichick, recall, is the guy who selected Laurence Maroney when conventional wisdom indicated DeAngelo Williams was better. The two running backs Belichick has drafted in the third and fourth rounds have both washed out – J.R. Redmond and Cedric Cobbs.
Belichick’s record selecting wide receivers in the second and third rounds is medicore: Deion Branch, Bethel Johnson, Chad Jackson, Brandon Tate and Taylor Price (they got Price with one of their reward picks for not taking Bryant).
Belichick has taken two quarterbacks with third- and fourth-rounders, and both missed: Kevin O’Connell and Rohan Davey.
And his record with tight ends looks just OK. Dan Graham and Benjamin Watson did some good things, but both were first-round picks – they weren’t home-run selections. Tight ends selected in the third and fourth rounds: Dave Thomas and Garrett Mills. (And New England drafted two tight ends this year).
New England’s best selecting has been at offensive line, where Belichick has hit on four of the seven guys he’s drafted in the first four rounds: Logan Mankins, Nick Kaczur, Sebastian Vollmer and Matt Light.
Overall, however, I think the Patriots are taking an awfully big risk with Bryant. If he’s a big star, they really could regret letting him go.
NEW ENGLAND’S DRAFT PICKS, 2000-2010
(First four rounds only)
Year Rd PK Pos
2000 2 46 OT Adrian Klemm (Hawaii)
2000 3 76 RB J.R. Redmond (Arizona State)
2000 4 127 OT Greg Robinson-Randall (Michigan State)
2001 1 6 DT Richard Seymour (Georgia)
2001 2 48 OT Matt Light (Purdue)
2001 3 86 DB Brock Williams (Notre Dame)
2001 4 96 OT Kenyatta Jones (South Florida)
2002 1 21 TE Dan Graham (Colorado)
2002 2 65 WR Deion Branch (Louisville)
2002 4 117 QB Rohan Davey (Louisiana State)
2002 4 126 DE Jarvis Green (Louisiana State)
2003 1 13 DT Ty Warren (Texas A&M)
2003 2 36 DB Eugene Wilson (Illinois)
2003 2 45 WR Bethel Johnson (Texas A&M)
2003 4 117 DT Dan Klecko (Temple)
2003 4 120 DB Asante Samuel (Central Florida)
2004 1 21 DT Vince Wilfork (Miami Fla.)
2004 1 32 TE Ben Watson (Georgia)
2004 2 63 DE Marquise Hill (Louisiana State)
2004 3 95 DB Guss Scott (Florida)
2004 4 113 DB Dexter Reid (North Carolina)
2004 4 128 RB Cedric Cobbs (Arkansas)
2005 1 32 OG Logan Mankins (Fresno State)
2005 3 84 DB Ellis Hobbs (Iowa State)
2005 3 100 OG Nick Kaczur (Toledo)
2005 4 133 DB James Sanders (Fresno State)
2006 1 21 RB Laurence Maroney (Minnesota)
2006 2 36 WR Chad Jackson (Florida)
2006 3 86 TE Dave Thomas (Texas)
2006 4 106 TE Garrett Mills (Tulsa)
2006 4 118 PK Stephen Gostkowski (Memphis)
2007 1 24 FS Brandon Meriweather (Miami Fla.)
2007 4 127 DT Kareem Brown (Miami Fla.)
2008 1 10 LB Jerod Mayo (Tennessee)
2008 2 62 CB Terrence Wheatley (Colorado)
2008 3 78 LB Shawn Crable (Michigan)
2008 3 94 QB Kevin O'Connell (San Diego State)
2008 4 129 CB Jonathan Wilhite (Auburn)
2009 2 34 SS Patrick Chung (Oregon)
2009 2 40 DT Ron Brace (Boston College)
2009 2 41 CB Darius Butler (Connecticut)
2009 2 58 OL Sebastian Vollmer (Houston)
2009 3 83 WR Brandon Tate (North Carolina)
2009 3 97 LB Tyrone McKenzie (South Florida)
2010 1 27 CB Devin McCourty (Rutgers)
2010 2 42 TE Rob Gronkowski (Arizona)
2010 2 51 DE Jermaine Cunningham (Florida)
2010 2 62 LB Brandon Spikes (Florida)
2010 3 90 WR Taylor Price (Ohio)
2010 4 113 TE Aaron Hernandez (Florida)
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Posted by ANDY RICHARDSON | May. 03 at 09:06 PM
I was also surprised they didn't take Bryant. I can only surmise they didn't like him for some reason. I think Bryant's going to be a star, but Jerry Jones has made poor judgment before (Roy Williams). One postscript to New England's Chad Jackson pick...if memory serves they traded up with Green Bay in order to take Jackson. After the trade down, Green Bay drafted Greg Jennings.
Posted by DAVID DIGREGORIO | May. 04 at 12:15 AM
Lynch would look good in NE. They could probably get him cheap, and they as usual have plenty of draft picks. Westbrook is out there too, although he might not have much left in the tank.
Posted by IAN ALLAN | May. 04 at 03:24 AM
Westbrook is too young and inexperienced for the Patriots. He will be only 31 on opening day. Bill Belichick likes older, smarter running backs. Maybe he'll consider Westbrook in about 2012.