Yeah would love to see them go TE-WR to start the daySeems like some really good talent available. I love that they have two picks early.
TJ Tampa CB - seems like many had mocked as a 2nd
Franklin WR - also ranked much higher on a lot of boards
Carson CB
Dorlus Edge
Pran-Granger C
Sanders TE
Abrams-Draine CB
Johnny Wilson WR
Stover TE
Laube RB
This is the way.Get Franklin AND Sanders, if possible.
Adding Maye, Polk, Franklin, Sanders, and a decent OT prospect would be a great draft, IMO.
Due to Bill Belichick's neglect of the Patriots' offensive personnel in recent years (to say nothing of failing to support a first-round quarterback), Wolf couldn't afford to take big risks on Day 2.
Two of the biggest needs for the Patriots last year (and several more before that), in what turned out to be Belichick's final overseeing New England's selections, were offensive tackle and wide receiver. What did Belichick do? He used his first three selections on defense, and his next three were spent on a center, a kicker and two guards. Belichick finally got to receiver in the sixth round. Tackle? The last one he took in the first three rounds was Yodny Cajuste in 2019 (3rd round) despite a seemingly endless revolving door since Sebastian Vollmer retired in 2016, and necessitating the annual Trent Brown sweepstakes.
Plenty of tackles with left tackle upside were available in last year's draft, including Dawand Jones in the fourth round. Did Belichick pick one, despite Brown being his only hope? Nope. Had to have center/guard Jake Andrewsin the fourth round.
Every draft seems to have 75 receivers ready to pick and play, with scores taken the first two days last year (4 in first round, 4 in the second, 6 in the third). Did Belichick bother with selecting one? Of course not. His defense needed more attention.
Wolf had to get players that would, at the very minimum, be good, solid players. That meant out with the high upside. Hello, high floor. After Belichick punted in 2023, Wolf had to at least start the process of restocking those positions.
Enter receiver Ja'Lynn Polk and tackle Caedan Wallace.
In many ways, the Polk pick reminded me of my first Packers draft, in 2008. Thompson traded out of the first round and down six spots with the Jets and saw two receivers taken before he selected the unheralded Jordy Nelson out of Kansas State, who was taller than Polk at 6-3 but similar speed.
Fans mostly trashed the pick. Not enough upside.
When I started covering the Packers in 2007, they had just drafted James Jones out of San Jose State in the third round. Same size, speed and toughness as Polk. That pick was trashed worse than Nelson.
Similar to Polk, Wallace is a good, solid player and smart. He's started 40 games, all at right tackle, and he's technically very sound. He does not make many mistakes. Wallace is way more solid, in many ways, to teammate Olu Fashanu, who went 11th to the Jets. That guy scares with great physical tools, but a lot of issues fundamentally
Wallace is very similar to Mike Onwenu physically, but the Patriots' right tackle is much more of a punishing blocker. Neither are going to blow you away with foot speed and athletic ability, but they're just solid and execute well. Nothing wrong with that.
This seems to confirm exactly what I got criticized for a couple pages back. Suggesting that we just went for high floor players at positions of need. That is an extremely disappointing sign from the new front office as it's a sign of short-term focus and checklist mentality, both of which are horrible ways to draft.Bedard can be hit or miss these days, but I think he had a pretty solid column on the Pats day 2 picks.
https://www.bostonsportsjournal.com/2024/04/27/bedard-with-his-pair-of-day-2-picks-eliot-wolf-starts-to-rebuild-neglected-patriots-offense-with-solid-doubles
I'm curious whether you watched the early part of last season, specifically the ofensive line.This seems to confirm exactly what I got criticized for a couple pages back. Suggesting that we just went for high floor players at positions of need. That is an extremely disappointing sign from the new front office as it's a sign of short-term focus and checklist mentality, both of which are horrible ways to draft.
This current roster would kill to have players like that.I'm curious whether you watched the early part of last season, specifically the ofensive line.
And also whether you find players like this to be somehow "extremely disappointing."
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NelsJo00.htm
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneJa04.htm
I did. Our team was terrible. But my goal for the Patriots isn't to be "not terrible." It's to be great. If we're just drafting to fill holes with guys who can play immediately, even if they have low ceilings, that is indicative of a bad process. It is aiming for mediocrityI'm curious whether you watched the early part of last season, specifically the ofensive line.
And also whether you find players like this to be somehow "extremely disappointing."
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NelsJo00.htm
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneJa04.htm
I don't know how one gets a "drafting for floor" vibe from a front office that just picked Drake Maye #3.This seems to confirm exactly what I got criticized for a couple pages back. Suggesting that we just went for high floor players at positions of need. That is an extremely disappointing sign from the new front office as it's a sign of short-term focus and checklist mentality, both of which are horrible ways to draft.
I am a lot less concerned with the individual players and much more concerned about the process behind them. Obviously, we don't know if this is 100% true, but if it is, it is depressing. Drafting for floor and need is how teams that run the NFL treadmill behave.
But I think I've said my piece.
Like I said, I don't know if it's 100% accurate, but that sounds like the read Bedard had on the situation. I loved the Maye pick and was happy we didn't trade down.I don't know how one gets a "drafting for floor" vibe from a front office that just picked Drake Maye #3.
This is a multi-year rebuild. Do you understand how bad this roster was and how poorly Belichick ran it into the ground especially on the offensive side of the ball? They have very little skill position talent and literally need good players just to get to a competent level.I did. Our team was terrible. But my goal for the Patriots isn't to be "not terrible." It's to be great. If we're just drafting to fill holes with guys who can play immediately, even if they have low ceilings, that is indicative of a bad process. It is aiming for mediocrity
As for Nelson and Jones, like I said, I'm focused on the process, not the individual players. Jordy Nelson turned out to be an incredible WR, so evidently, he had a very high upside. But if he was just picked to fill a hole and viewed as high floor low upside and turned out to have a high upside, they just got lucky. I'd love to get lucky with Polk too! But I am disappointed that it seems like our process is bad.
The fact that it's a multi year rebuild is exactly the reason why our process shouldn't be focused on low ceiling, high floor players in positions of need.This is a multi-year rebuild. Do you understand how bad this roster was and how poorly Belichick ran it into the ground especially on the offensive side of the ball? They have very little skill position talent and literally need good players just to get to a competent level.
I was going to suggest Wiley as a TE that can block but also be used in the red zone. Didn't realize he was already picked.Sanders might not be a fit with Henry already a move TE who can't block. Perhaps an inline with athletic upside like Theo Johnson might make more sense.
If the quarterback is great they'll be great. It seems like an oversimplification, but it's true. They bet on traits and ceiling in the right position, and regarding Polk especially I think he could be a really good player. Yeah he doesn't have Jamar Chase upside, but he has Amon-Ra St. Brown upside in terms of play style, size and measurables. Is that too low a ceiling?I did. Our team was terrible. But my goal for the Patriots isn't to be "not terrible." It's to be great. If we're just drafting to fill holes with guys who can play immediately, even if they have low ceilings, that is indicative of a bad process. It is aiming for mediocrity
As for Nelson and Jones, like I said, I'm focused on the process, not the individual players. Jordy Nelson turned out to be an incredible WR, so evidently, he had a very high upside. But if he was just picked to fill a hole and viewed as high floor low upside and turned out to have a high upside, they just got lucky. I'd love to get lucky with Polk too! But I am disappointed that it seems like our process is bad.
Here is why, to me: you only have so many reps these days in your camps. While Brissett knows the AVP offense, you want Maye getting as many of those reps as possible. Maybe next year you take a late round QB flyer.I want somebody to tell me that picking Rattler (on the grounds that whatever else you have on your team everything depends on finding a viable quarterback and Maye is a project so improve your odds slightly by adding a second long-shot project) makes no sense at all.
I love Rattler as a project. Huge arm, good pocket management skills and waaaaay more in structure production than I anticipated before getting into his tape. Don't know if he makes sense for the Pats with his personality and Maye also being a rookie, but if I had an entrenched franchise guy I'd be jumping all over him in the hopes of flipping him to some QB needy team in 3 years for a second rounder+.I want somebody to tell me that picking Rattler (on the grounds that whatever else you have on your team everything depends on finding a viable quarterback and Maye is a project so improve your odds slightly by adding a second long-shot project) makes no sense at all.
Like I said, I'm focused more on the process than on the player. I don't know whether Polk will be a good pick. I do know that if the team's drafting philosophy is "we need to fill holes and draft guys who have high floors, regardless of ceiling" then we have a bad process and a bad front office.If the quarterback is great they'll be great. It seems like an oversimplification, but it's true. They bet on traits and ceiling in the right position, and regarding Polk especially I think he could be a really good player. Yeah he doesn't have Jamar Chase upside, but he has Amon-Ra St. Brown upside in terms of play style, size and measurables. Is that too low a ceiling?
But why is that the team's drafting philosophy and not "we really like this player, thus we are picking this player"? It's not like they drafted Bo Nix at 3.Like I said, I'm focused more on the process than on the player. I don't know whether Polk will be a good pick. I do know that if the team's drafting philosophy is "we need to fill holes and draft guys who have high floors, regardless of ceiling" then we have a bad process and a bad front office.
If the QB is great they'll be good. Great QBs with bad front offices often strike out and win no super bowls.
I think there needs to be a mix of high floor/low ceiling guys and low floor/high ceiling guys. If you take Maye and give him Mitchell and Suamataia, but they bust, it’s a good chance Maye busts, too. There such a deficit of talent on offense that simply having competent players is a huge improvement. TBH I’d rather have a high floor OT that won’t get Maye killed in the first season right now, than a guy that might develop into a star a few years down the road. Maye needs basic competency around him or the multi-year rebuild becomes 6-10 year rebuild. By all means take a risk on a high ceiling WR in the 4th round and hope he blossoms, but for the love of god please give Maye something resembling competent weapons.The fact that it's a multi year rebuild is exactly the reason why our process shouldn't be focused on low ceiling, high floor players in positions of need.
When you have no urgent need to win, we should be increasing talent overall on the roster and shooting for the stars.
We don't just need more skill position talent, we need more talent period. Obviously skill position and LT were the most deprived areas on the team, but the thing about a multi year rebuild is that by definition, you have multiple years to fix them, so you shouldn't be pressured to do so in any particular draft.
like I said, I am not knowledgeable enough to evaluate the particular players. But I know a bad process when I see one, and this article combined with what we know about the players suggests we are running a bad process that's gonna put us on the treadmill.
I would be surprised if Polk isn't starting day one. Bourne is still recovering from ACL and JuJu is likely cooked. Rest of the outside WRs are journeymen.I am as down on the leadership of the franchise as anyone could be, and I cannot understand the logic that the Patriots should be drafting players with huge ceilings and low floors with the current lack of talent on this roster.
If polk and Wallace perform at median, I think both are starting by the end of year one. That is exactly what this team needs so it can then start to take bigger swings in later years.
We all know if you get 2-3 good players out of a draft it was a good one. I feel pretty good that we did that here, rather than rely on guys with tools who might or might not figure it out.
who drafted him? I thought he was still available as well and that he would be a good fitI was going to suggest Wiley as a TE that can block but also be used in the red zone. Didn't realize he was already picked.
Thoughts on Stover? Most of what I've read focus on his pass catching and his ability to gain yards after the catch. But I recall reading at least one profile that was also quite high on his blocking.
Niners at 94.who drafted him? I thought he was still available as well and that he would be a good fit
Odds are Maye won't even be starting for most of this year. The reason it's a bad process in my opinion is that it's too focused on the short-term. Short-term thinking kills franchises. I'm not particularly wedded to Sumataia and Mitchell. Mitchell had clear character issues. I liked Sumataia but dont know enough.I think there needs to be a mix of high floor/low ceiling guys and low floor/high ceiling guys. If you take Maye and give him Mitchell and Suamataia, but they bust, it’s a good chance Maye busts, too. There such a deficit of talent on offense that simply having competent players is a huge improvement. TBH I’d rather have a high floor OT that won’t get Maye killed in the first season right now, than a guy that might develop into a star a few years down the road. Maye needs basic competency around him or the multi-year rebuild becomes 6-10 year rebuild. By all means take a risk on a high ceiling WR in the 4th round and hope he blossoms, but for the love of god please give Maye something resembling competent weapons.
This is an interesting data point. Beyond Marino (0-1), Kelly (0-4, Tarkenton (0-3) and Moon (n/a, but 5 Grey Cups), who are the "great quarterbacks" who never won a Super Bowl?Great QBs with bad front offices often strike out and win no super bowls.
This is a multi-year rebuild. Do you understand how bad this roster was and how poorly Belichick ran it into the ground especially on the offensive side of the ball? They have very little skill position talent and literally need good players just to get to a competent level.
What's your basis for this generalization?People close to players will always overrate them
I agree with the entire premise of your post (long-term rebuild, BPA, don't try to solve all problems with one draft, etc.).The fact that it's a multi year rebuild is exactly the reason why our process shouldn't be focused on low ceiling, high floor players in positions of need.
When you have no urgent need to win, we should be increasing talent overall on the roster and shooting for the stars.
We don't just need more skill position talent, we need more talent period. Obviously skill position and LT were the most deprived areas on the team, but the thing about a multi year rebuild is that by definition, you have multiple years to fix them, so you shouldn't be pressured to do so in any particular draft.
like I said, I am not knowledgeable enough to evaluate the particular players. But I know a bad process when I see one, and this article combined with what we know about the players suggests we are running a bad process that's gonna put us on the treadmill.
Sorry, this is wrong. I literally get a hit on Google that says the Niners drafted him at 94. But PFN still shows him as undrafted.Niners at 94.