Patriots Draft GPA

I hate how people try to grade a draft right after it happened. I agree with Jaws on this topic, you need 2-3 years after a draft to figure out just how good the draft was. There is no telling how the players drafted by any team will perform next year. All the first rounders could end up being busts (sure its a long shot, but its possible), and all the 7th rounders could be hall of famers (again… long shot). My point is, until they play at the NFL level, you can’t tell how that player will turn out. There are numerous examples of this.

Plus if you grade the Pats on need for every draft they have had, they will probably flunk out. A lot of teams are in the same boat, they take the best VALUE available at the pick. I am sure they will go down 2-3 spots on their boards if a player is close, but needed. Overall though, the pats get who they think will best fit into their system, whether they need the player or not.

Not trying to trash your effort Jay, I appreciate any and all football articles, but everyone seems to want to grade the draft the day after it happened, and these guys haven’t even laced up their cleats for a game yet.

In my mind grading drafts is, at best, an intellectual exercise. My biggest issue with it is that value to the organization isn’t taken into account. Prime example: Kevin O’Connell. Why on earth would we need a 4th QB? To get him into the system early and he could be the next Brady, that’s why. Matt Cassel, backup QB, is a free agent at the end of the 2008 season so giving Kevin a year to develop in the system before the eventual departure of Cassel turns out to be a pretty good idea.