Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl Game

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl Game

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

Senior Bowl practice comment

Senior Bowl Game

East West Shrine Game

East West Shrine Game

B+

2009 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

The Patriots did as usual.  When they stay conventional, they hit home runs.  When they try to get cute, they'll miss more often than they hit.  Now, the Patriots can take a roll the dice philosophy more than most because of their continued success signing affordable, veteran free agents who make key contributions.  This allows them the luxury of not worrying about whether later draft picks make their roster.  In terms of the draft, I was (and still am) convinced that Barwin was an ideal fit as Vrabel's replacement both on defense and on offensive (he is a good tight end as well as pass rusher/athlete).  However, I cannot find fault with the players they added in the three spots where Barwin was available to be drafted.  In terms of college street free agents, I only have two listed.  However, all three I listed last year are back this year and two (Guyton and Green-Ellis) played in the base defense/offense.  In fact I predicted that Guyton would bypass Ruud who was a draft pick last year.  This year's two players are more likely development squad bound.

DRAFT PICKS

Chung is a tough kid who showed he could cover as well as play in the box during Senior Bowl practices.  He should eventually beat out Sanders and form a nice young safety tandem with Meriweather.  

Brace was an excellent get.  After his college teammate, Raji, he was the best 3-4 nose prospect in the draft.  The key to Pats' defense is their line and Brace adds depth and a future solid starter.  He is tough to move against the run and even can bull rush to collapse the pocket on pass plays.

While Chung was a good pick and Brace an excellent pick; Butler was a steal.  He was my top rated cornerback in the draft.  Butler has superb speed and athleticism.    He is also a good receiver and I expect him to develop into a turnover-machine.   Long term he will be as valuable to the Pats' defense as Samuel was.  Great pick by the Pats.

The Patriots like the lighter (relatively speaking), more athletic offensive line over the bigger, stronger offensive lineman.  With that in mid Vollmer was an excellent get because not only does he have the build, speed and athleticism that New England likes, but he is a strong kid as well.  He will need some time to develop but is a future long-term NFL starter.  However, while I like Vollmer, I had Beatty, a similarly physically gifted kid rated more highly and he was available here.

Tate is coming off a knee injury.  He is a terrific return man who flashed some at receiver when Butch Davis took over at North Carolina.  However there were better options at receiver here.  Mike Thomas or Mike Wallace would have provided the Pats with an excellent return man with more upside at receiver.  As for Mike Thomas, I describe him as a more athletic Wes Welker.  As for Mike Wallace, he has the look of a young Joey Galloway.  One reason for the Pats selecting Tate could be that with his injury he could start on the PUP.  However, the either of the other two receivers could have added another tough player to defend now and in the future for New England.

With the pass rushing outside linebackers gone by this time in the draft, the Pats selected McKenzie, a good player who is probably a better fit inside in the 3-4 than outside.  McKenzie is a strong kid who will be a contributor down the line on defense.  However, with a couple of inside linebackers I like better than McKenzie on the board, I would have grabbed one of them here (in particular Jasper Brinkley) or rolled the dice that one be be available at pick #123 and grabbed center/guard Luigs at this spot.

While Ohrnberger fits the Patriots' mold for an offensive lineman, he was a reach at this spot.  I look for him to be placed on New Englands' development squad.  Personally, after drafting Luigs with the prior pick, I would have come back with Brinkley here.  He is strong as an ox, quick and fast and would have been a future defensive star in the Pats' 3-4 defense.  Even looking at the Patriots' scenario, I cannot fathom selecting Ohrnberger here over Seth Olsen.

The Pats had a vastly different board than I did regarding middle round offensive lineman.  For me, Bussey was a bigger reach than Ohrnberger.  Players I would have looked at here include Sulak, a defensive end who has a chance to be a good pass rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and running back Javon Ringer who, worst case, is Kevin Faulk's heir apparent.  Another option keeping the same position-drafting strategy (but with, in my opinion, better results) would have been to draft defensive tackle Ra'Shon Harris here, and offensive tackle Lydon Murtha in round seven.  Harris coulod have kicked out to end in New England's 3-4 defense.

Ingram was the best long snapper in the draft and the Pats needed one so he was a good pick at this spot.

I like Pryor who could be a versatile backup along the line.  In my scenario, however, Harris would have been drafted instead of Bussey, making the very athletic offensive tackle Murtha my choice here.

Edelman, a college quarterback is a hit or miss prospect.  He is too small to play quarterback in the NFL so will be looked at as a receiver/gimmick player (wildcat).  He will either prove to be valuable as a gimmick player and special teams player, or will be cut.  That is unless he also shows he can be an emergency fill in at quarterback allowing the team to carry on two on their active roster.  He is certainly worth a look in camp. 

Richard has good instincts and hustles but will need to get stronger to see the field.  He is an ideal candidate for the development squad.

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Hoyer will give Gutierrez a run for his money for the Patriots' third quarterback spot.  I like Hoyer's upside more and expect him to be on their development squad if he doesn't win the Pats' third quarterback spot or if New England decides to carry only two active quarterbacks (with Edelman as the emergency fill in).

Love has a nice mix of size, speed and quickness for a cornerback.  The Pats are very deep at the position so look for Love to be a priority signing to their development squad.  Down the line he could be a good special teams player and backup cornerback.

Player who will have a better NFL career than many drafted higher than him.

While the Pats addressed their biggest need areas, there were some corners and outside rush linebackers available at #62 and #78 that I liked slightly more than Wheatley and Crable.  I also believe Slater would have been available in round 6 (and even free agency, but obviously the Pats didn't want to risk that given his fifth round selection), which would have resulted in the Pats getting a better player than Ruud, who I actually have a lower grade on than their college street free agent Guyton.

DRAFT PICKS

Mayo was a good and needed pick in round one.  He is an active linebacker with good speed, quickness and athleticism.  I thought he would fit best as a WILL in a 4-3 since he is at his best when the defensive line can engage blockers so he can roam free to make plays.  However, he can take on blockers and fight them off to make tackles so he will be just fine in the Pats' 3-4 defense.  Mayo will be a good player, but don't expect the next Patrick Willis.

Wheatley is a short corner with good speed, athleticism and change-of-direction skills.  He is quick enough to play the slot and has a good nose for the ball.  He is also a tough kid who plays injured and likes to hit.  That said, I thought Charles Godfrey, another tough kid, displayed better cover skills during Senior Bowl practices, is two inches taller and therefore matches up better outside. 

Crable was a defensive end in college and projects as an outside linebacker in the Pats' 4-3 defense.  While Crable has the pass rush skills to transition to that position, he lacks the athleticism and quickness to be anything more than a pass rusher in that defense.  He will have trouble dropping back in coverage.  Personally, I think Cliff Avril would have been the ideal pick here.

O'Connell caught my eye in a good way during the college post-season.  He is a tall, athletic kid, who throws well on the move and has the potential to be a starter in the NFL down the line (not that he'll get the chance with the Pats).  He should develop into a quality backup and could even bring value down the line in a trade.  I like his upside more than Cassell and Gutierrez.

Slater was on New England's radar, but I'm not sure if he was more than a minor blip with other teams.  The Pats thinking is that he is the next Troy Brown.  He has played both receiver and defensive back, is a good special teams player, and a very good return man.  Was this high for him?  Yes.  Does that mean it was a bad pick?  No.  Personally, I would have waited a round to select Slater (assuming he was a priority like he was for the Pats) and grabbed the talented but risky offensive lineman Carl Nicks.

Ruud is a player who may have a hard time making the team.  He projects inside and has good speed.  If he makes the team he should be a staple on special teams. 

COLLEGE STREET FREE AGENTS

Green-Ellis is a strong, powerful back who could just steal a roster spot as a goal-line and short-yardage runner.

I like Guyton's potential more than Ruud's and expect him to pass Ruud on the depth chart during training camp.  Guyton is faster and a better athlete than Ruud.

Redd is ideal for the Pat's practice squad.  He has the speed and athleticism to play outside in the 3-4, but will need time to develop, and will need to get stronger.