The Rich Get Richer

[40yearfan]

OK, lets break this down by the top 4 rounds of draft 2011-2006...we will discuss success rate. bpa is arbitrary so well will focus on the fact that the same positions keep getting drafted.

2011 Draft
1-Nate Solder-OT (benched pre SB for Vollmer, drafted before team signed Light)
2-Ras I Dowling-CB (IR) (Drafted despite team drafting 4 CBs in previous 4 drafts, only 1 still on roster)
3-Shane Vreen-RB (couldn't beat out Kevin Faulk, team had only two backs on roster)
3-Steven Ridley-RB (couldn't beat out Kevin Faulk, team had only two backs on roster)
3-Ryan Mallett-QB (top talent, huge issues, #3 QB behind Hoyer)

2010 Draft
1-Devin McCourty-CB (Rotated between CB & S this year)
2-Rob Gronkowski-TE (Team had Crumpler at TE at the time, great pick)
2-Jermaine Cunningham-DE (Not on roster)
2-Brandon Spikes-ILB (Starter, solid pick)
3-Taylor Price-WR (Not on roster)
4-Aaron Hernandez-TE (great pick, teams questioned his size, only had Crumpler on roster)

2009 Draft
2-Patrick Chung-S (Good pick)
2-Ron Brace-DE (Gets less playing time than Brandon Deaderick, I believe they traded Seymour before this pick)
2-Darius Butler-CB (Not on roster)
2-Sebastion Vollmer-OT (Raw player who has struggled to adjust. Team drafted Solder who intially beat him out)
3-Brandon Tate-WR (Not on roster)
3-Tyrone McKenzie-OLB (not on roster)
4-Rich Ohrnberger-OT (IR)

2008 Draft
1-Jerod Mayo-ILB (great pick)
2-Terrence Wheatley-CB (not on roster)
3-Shawn Crable-OLB (not on roster)
3-Kevin O'Connell-QB (not on roster)
4-Jonathan Wilhite-CB (not on roster)

2007 Draft
1-Brandon Merriweather-S (not on roster)
4-Kareem Brown-DT (not on roster)

2006 Draft
1-Lawrence Maroney-RB (not on roster)
2-Chad Jackson-WR (not on roster)
3-David Thomas-TE (not on roster)
4-Garrett Mills-RB (not on roster)
4-Stephen Gostkowski-K (solid player. Vinatieri signed with Colts)

All I see is a team desperately trying to address the RB, WR, TE, OLB and Defensive Secondary over and over again without much success. You can argue BPA all you want, but teams that keep drafting the same positions due to previous picks busting does not scream BPA.

Hmmm, and someone on this board said the Cards are bad at drafting. These guys aren't any better than the Cards when it comes to the draft.

 

[Pariah]

All I see is a team desperately trying to address the RB, WR, TE, OLB and Defensive Secondary over and over again without much success. You can argue BPA all you want, but teams that keep drafting the same positions due to previous picks busting does not scream BPA.

I see some spin going on in that assessment--particularly with guys like Solder and Ridley who were solid contributors this year as rookies. Not to mention you've listed 3 WRs as being selected in 6 years but ding them for drafting the position "over and over again?"

I'm not saying they're the best drafters, but their drafts aren't that bad--every team has busts.

 

[Chopper0080]

I see some spin going on in that assessment--particularly with guys like Solder and Ridley who were solid contributors this year as rookies. Not to mention you've listed 3 WRs as being selected in 6 years but ding them for drafting the position "over and over again?"

I'm not saying they're the best drafters, but their drafts aren't that bad--every team has busts.

60% of their 1st thru 4th round picks from 2006-2010 are not on their roster. That is a very bad stretch over a long period of time.

As far as WR's go. Yes, I ding them when none of those drafted wide receivers are on their roster.

 

[JeffGollin]

60% of their 1st thru 4th round picks from 2006-2010 are not on their roster. That is a very bad stretch over a long period of time...

That stat is misleading - at least from a New England standpoint.

Their whole deal is to trade back for more picks, which in turn enables them to take more risks because they have more picks to work with.

In other words, they could whiff badly in rounds 1 - 4 but make up for it by loading up on sleepers in rounds 5 - 7.

Also - the quality and depth of the veterans already on your roster may govern the number (& percentage) of your newly drafted guys who stick. (i.e. if you're loaded from #1 to #53, the odds that any of your drafted guys will stick become a lot tougher).

Side note - This is just a perception, but, for what it's worth, I find that NE has historically loaded up on two types of players who make it: (1) "my kind of guys" (i.e. guys who are better football players than athletes) and (2) "guys I never heard of."

They'd then utilize assistant coaches who were really good teachers to develop those players. I think more and more NFL teams are going in that direction, but for a long time, NE seemed to be best at doing this.

 

[Chopper0080]

That stat is misleading - at least from a New England standpoint.

Their whole deal is to trade back for more picks, which in turn enables them to take more risks because they have more picks to work with.

In other words, they could whiff badly in rounds 1 - 4 but make up for it by loading up on sleepers in rounds 5 - 7.

Also - the quality and depth of the veterans already on your roster may govern the number (& percentage) of your newly drafted guys who stick. (i.e. if you're loaded from #1 to #53, the odds that any of your drafted guys will stick become a lot tougher).

Side note - This is just a perception, but, for what it's worth, I find that NE has historically loaded up on two types of players who make it: (1) "my kind of guys" (i.e. guys who are better football players than athletes) and (2) "guys I never heard of."

They'd then utilize assistant coaches who were really good teachers to develop those players. I think more and more NFL teams are going in that direction, but for a long time, NE seemed to be best at doing this.

I agree that the Pats do thes best job of manuvering and manipulating the draft process of any team out there. But, it does not cover the fact they have been pretty marginal drafting players.

 

[Paso Fino]

Putting the Pat's roster with Indy's is strange at best. People who criticize the Pats forget one thing. They made it to the super bowl again.

 

[kerouac9]

Putting the Pat's roster with Indy's is strange at best. People who criticize the Pats forget one thing. They made it to the super bowl again.

And they were a #1 seed. It's not like they won 9 games and barely made the playoffs. They were dominant all season long. They went 13-3 and lost those three games to two playoff teams and the Buffalo Bills who were killing people early in the season. Their 3 losses were by a combined 15 points.

Pats have been marginal at drafting players, but part of the reason that they can afford to miss on guys is because they're great at keeping their own guys around. Wilfork, Warren, Light, Brady--they're all on second contracts (at least) with the Pats.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Putting the Pat's roster with Indy's is strange at best. People who criticize the Pats forget one thing. They made it to the super bowl again.

You need to keep reading my posts in this thread as I am not criticizing them - I actually called them a dynasty. What Brady & Belicheck have done over the past decade or so is amazing.
That said, regarding the topic of keeping players - they have not done well there. Mainly because that is their strategy. They've been able to take 2nd tier guys and toss them in with Brady to somehow produce a dynasty... incredible really...

 

[Chopper0080]

And they were a #1 seed. It's not like they won 9 games and barely made the playoffs. They were dominant all season long. They went 13-3 and lost those three games to two playoff teams and the Buffalo Bills who were killing people early in the season. Their 3 losses were by a combined 15 points.

Pats have been marginal at drafting players, but part of the reason that they can afford to miss on guys is because they're great at keeping their own guys around. Wilfork, Warren, Light, Brady--they're all on second contracts (at least) with the Pats.

Ty Warren was cut by the Pats, but you are correct in your reasoning that this is one reason they have gotten by with marginal talent. Hall of Fame coach and QB are the other reasons. Mankins is another that they have kept around.

 

[JeffGollin]

I agree that the Pats do thes best job of manuvering and manipulating the draft process of any team out there. But, it does not cover the fact they have been pretty marginal drafting players.

True, but my point is that they can afford to.