New England Patriots 2010 NFL Draft Grade
NEW ENGLAND
1.27 Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
McCourty is an excellent player and will help the secondary cover Brandon Marshall twice and the Jets twice. I didn’t think the need for a corner was that high, but it must have been an underrated rough patch for them to have addressed it so eary. McCourty’s skill as a return man is a bonus, and covering receivers in the playoffs seems to be a good way to win. He’ll play early. GRADE: B+
2.42 Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
Gronkowski might really be the next Jason Witten. He was the number one tight end on some teams’ boards and he should be an excellent option for Tom Brady in the red zone. The Patriots like pairing young TEs with older ones, and Gronkowski will be an excellent option opposite Alge Crumpler. GRADE: A-
2.53 Jermaine Cunningham, OLB, Florida
Cunningham is a high motor player who could look very good standing up in this defense, but seemed like an odd choice. There were some hidden character concerns with Cunningham, and he may not be the best fit to transition to linebacker. But he was more consistent than teammate Carlos Dunlap, and Belichick likes Florida guys. GRADE: C+
2.62 Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida
Spikes has great leadership skills and football smarts and should fit well inside in the 3-4. He’s got the instincts to mask his speed deficiencies in this scheme, and he might be a big surprise as a BUCK inside linebacker dues to his aggressive nature and ability to play the run. GRADE: B
3.90 Taylor Price, WR, Ohio
Price has the speed and raw ability to be a great understudy at receiver for the Pats. He was one of the best potential prospects at his position, and while he was inconsistent in college, his tools make him too good to pass on here. He’s going to need some work, but he’ll have excellent tutors in Randy Moss and Wes Welker. GRADE: B
3ROUND GRADE: B
4.113 Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida
I like this pick. Hernandez was a much better option than most seemed to think. He’s got a lot of work to do as a blocker, but his run after catch ability and strong plucking ability remind me of Anquan Boldin… GRADE: A-
5.150 Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan
I’m not going to knock the Pats for taking the best punter in this draft with their only fifth rounder. Wasn’t really that early considering how many picks they made before this one. GRADE: B
6.205 Ted Larsen, C, NC State
Larsen isn’t the most physically gifted center in the draft, but he’s a very cerebral player who makes up for his lacking athleticism with great technique and intelligence. Good interior line depth. GRADE: B-
7.208 Thomas Welch, OT, Vanderbilt
Welch is a former tight end who has great upside and athleticism, but lacks a lot of polish. He’s a project tackle for the Patriots, and that’s something they needed to find. GRADE: C
7.247 Brandon Deaderick, DE, Alabama
I love the Deaderick pick. This guy was shot by a carjacker and laughed it off before returning quicker than anyone thought he would. He’s got experience as a 5-tech in Nick Saban’s complex 3-4, and his measurables are up to par in every area. GRADE: B+
7.248 Kade Weston, DL, Georgia
This is what the seventh round is for. This is why I love watching the Pats draft. They get great upside in Weston, and with his skill set, he could find time in the rotation at nose or end down the road. The Pats know how to develop D linemen. GRADE: B-
7.250 Zac Robinson, QB, Oklahoma State
Not a bad pickup with only five picks to go. Best way I’ve heard it said was “someone had to throw the ball to Dez Bryant.” Robinson has a lot to overcome, but he’ll learn from one of the best. GRADE: C+
Best Pick: Rob Gronkowski
Worst Pick: Thomas Welch
Sleeper Pick: Brandon Spikes
FINAL ANALYSIS
The Patriots are one of the best teams out there at navigating the draft. They move around with purpose, often trading back to get better value. Belichick has said before that he likes second rounders as much as firsts sometimes, and he loaded up with three selections there this year. McCourty seemed like a luxury pick in the first, but it’s not like their corners are lighting the world on fire. He’s pretty damn talented. Gronkowski was excellent value in the second and I think he’ll have a better career than Jermaine Gresham. Tom Brady loves to target the tight ends in the red zone, and with Hernandez added to the roster as well, he’ll have two great young options with good size. Spikes is one of the more interesting stories in the draft after his failure to break 5-flat in the 40, but he fits this system really well, and was never too slow in college.
Cunningham’s character concerns and strange fit in the 3-4 make him an odd choice. I don’t doubt the Pats’ scouting staff, but I just don’t know if he was the best available option there. He was always a consistent producer in college, however, and that can’t really be taught. Welch and Larsen are there for depth up front, and while Larsen could contribute earlier, Welch has more upside. He was too raw for my taste, but he’s smart enough to learn if given time. There were more polished guys still on the board. Deaderick and Price are picks I like. I’ve been high on the Alabama d-end for a while, and his experience in this scheme will be a major advantage. Price was too raw to get a high grade from me going in, but this is a great situation for him.
The Pats seemed like a team that would have done more to fix the pass rush, but they opted for offensive help for Tom Brady both up front and out wide. A running back was a popular option, too, but didn’t pan out. It’s hard to argue with Belichick’s eye for fitting talent, but the two Florida linebackers in the second will have a lot to say about the way we view this class in five years. It’s dicier than I expected, but smart enough overall.
FINAL GRADE: B
|ARI|ATL|BAL|BUF|CAR|CHI|CIN|CLE|DAL|DEN|DET|GB|HOU|IND
|JAX|KC|MIA|MIN|NE|NO|NYG|NYJ|OAK|PHI|PIT|SD|SF|SEA|STL
|TB|TEN|WAS|
