Monday, May 14, 2018

2018 NFL Draft Grades: New England Patriots

The Patriots once again were a Super Bowl team, but fell short in their quest for another title in the Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia. In short, the Patriots usually suck pretty badly at the draft thing, so let's take a look at how they made their way through another process that they clearly have not mastered over the years, as they had priority needs at QB, OL, LB, CB, and S.

OG Isaiah Wynn, Georgia
Every evaluating service projected Wynn as a C or OG. The Patriots drafted Wynn, who doe snot have an NFL build for OT, as an OT. Because, of course they did.
Grade: B

RB Sony Michel, Georgia
Again, the Patriots drafted outside of the box for a position that they had zero need for, and wasted a late first round pick, when they had massive need still on the line, at QB, and in the secondary. This pick made zero sense.
Grade: F

CB Duke Dawson, Florida
Finally, the Patriots drafted a need position, but they reached in the 2nd round on a guy with a 4th round grade. This has been an issue for years now, as the Patriots almost mock the draft process in favor of free agency.
Grade: D

LB Ja'Whaun Bentley, Purdue
He had a UDFA grade, and the Pats spent a 5th rounder on him. Again, nonsense.
Grade: F

LB Christian Sam, Arizona State
Sam made more sense than the Bentley pick. Highly productive in college, can he continue the trend as a pro? He will have to make it on special teams, and as a reserve.
Grade: B

WR Braxton Berrios, Miami
This would have been a priority need for me if I were working for the Patriots, but they did not address the WR position until very late in the draft, and with a guy who I cannot see making the roster.
Grade: C

QB Danny Etling, LSU
Does anyone in the Patriots organization even watch college football? Etling was fairly bad at LSU, and has no real shot at developing as a pro. Another wasted pick.
Grade: F

DB Kelon Crossen, Western Carolina
He was not graded or evaluated by anyone. Another wasted pick.
Grade: F

TE Ryan Izzo, Florida State
With Gronk closer to the end of his career than the beginning, the Patriots wasted time in trying to find a replacement. There was goof value with Izzo, but his 2017 play was well below that of 2016. The Pats should have traded Gronk, hauled in a truck load of picks, and drafted Goedert or Gesecki.
Grade: B

Total needs filled in first two days: 1
Total Points: 12
Average points per pick: 1.33
Grade: F


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