The ability to lose key personnel and reload has been one of the hallmarks of the Patriots dynasty and in many ways the NFL Draft is the cornerstone of their system. Sure they have gone outside of the organization from time to time but even in those rare instances the Pats have often used draft picks to acquire established veterans such as Randy Moss and Wes Welker. As is the case with most good teams New England wasn’t looking for a bunch of instant starters in this draft. Instead the Patriots main priority was to build depth while also thinking one step ahead and preparing for the future. When all was said and done the Patriots made a dozen selections but quantity does not necessarily equal quality. So how did Bill Belichick fare in his first draft without former front office guru Scott Pioli at his side?
The Patriots traded out of the first round but through a series of deals both prior to and during the draft they managed to wind up with four second round picks. With Rodney Harrison opting to retire the Pats needed some help at safety because even though James Sanders has done a solid job for them over the years he isn't top of the line starting material. One thing New England does as well as anyone is find players who fit their philosophy both on and off the field and Oregon S Patrick Chung is another classic example. Originally from Jamaica, Chung didn’t start playing football until just before high school but after enrolling as a 16-year-old he went on to become a four-year starter for the Ducks. A prototypical strong safety who is very tough, physical and aggressive, Chung is a beast in the box and always around the action but he struggles at times in coverage. Aside from his eye-popping production (384 career tackles) what stands out most about Chung are his first-rate intangibles and not only does he have an outstanding work ethic but he’s a team leader in every sense. As a rookie Chung will likely see extensive action as a backup and should be a force on special teams but make no mistake about it he and Brandon Meriweather are the future of the safety position in New England. With their next pick the Patriots added a local product when they selected Boston College DT Ron Brace. Even though he was overshadowed by B.J. Raji in college Brace emerged as a top pro prospect in his own right as a senior. A 6-3, 334 pound two-gapper, Brace doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher but he is stout against the run and will be a perfect fit at nose tackle in the Patriots 3-4 scheme. Unfortunately playing time might be difficult to come by as a rookie and in reality Brace is an insurance policy in case Vince Wilfork leaves as a free agent next offseason. If Wilfork bolts then Brace will step into the starting lineup in 2010 but unless or until that happens he will be counted on to provide quality depth at both tackle and end. At #41 overall the Patriots were extremely fortunate to land Connecticut CB Darius Butler, a guy they were strongly considering almost twenty picks earlier in round one. A fluid athlete with great speed and quickness, Butler is a playmaker in the secondary who also saw some action at wide receiver in college thanks to his impressive hands and ball skills. New England drafted Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite early in last year’s draft and added two veteran cover guys in Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden this offseason so the Pats have the luxury of bringing Butler along slowly. As a rookie look for Butler to compete for playing time as a backup while also potentially contributing on special teams as a return man but in time he has the talent to develop into a starter.
With the last of those four second rounders New England reached for Houston OT Sebastian Vollmer, who most felt would come off the board a round or two later. An impressive physical specimen with an intriguing blend of size (6-71/2, 312), strength and athleticism, Vollmer was a two-year starter for the Cougars and even played a little tight end early in his career. While not a finished product there is no denying Vollmer’s potential, especially when you consider that the native German didn’t even start playing the game until he was 14-years-old. As long as the back injury he suffered in 2006 doesn’t flare up Vollmer could develop into a starter down the line but as a rookie he will be asked to provide some much needed depth at both right and left tackle. After missing out on Percy Harvin, who they were very interested in, the Pats opted for a poor-man’s version of the Gators star in round three. Prior to his senior year North Carolina WR Brandon Tate was known mostly for his work as a return specialist but after getting off to a hot start in 2008 his stock was soaring. Unfortunately Tate tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee after just six games, causing him to miss the rest of the season and prohibiting him from working out for teams. In addition to the injury Tate also failed his drug test at the Scouting Combine, which further clouded his status on Draft Day. Luckily for Tate the Patriots were willing to take a chance on him even though he may not contribute in 2009. When healthy the speedy and athletic Tate is a dynamic playmaker who is a terror in the open field and a threat to score every time he touches the ball. There is a strong possibility that Tate will spend his rookie year on injured reserve but come 2010 he could compete for the #3 or #4 job behind Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Later in round three New England chose South Florida LB Tyrone McKenzie, who played outside in college but projects inside in the Patriots scheme. McKenzie, who drew rave reviews from Bill Belichick for his maturity and intelligence, is a very good athlete with adequate size and strength and while it may take him some time to adjust to his new position he has the work ethic needed to make the transition. At the very least McKenzie will be a solid backup and special teamer but don’t be surprised if he is groomed as Tedy Bruschi’s eventual replacement. Unfortunately McKenzie suffered a serious knee injury during rookie mini-camp and will miss the 2009 season so it will be another year before the Patriots get any return on their investment.
With their next couple of picks in rounds four and five the Patriots brought in some more reinforcements for their offensive line, this time turning their attention to the interior. Penn St. OG Rich Ohrnberger didn’t receive a lot of attention in the months leading up to the draft but he picked up some momentum late and emerged as a legitimate mid-round possibility. A three- year starter for the Nittany Lions, Ohrnberger is a bit undersized but he’s a solid technician who is very physical and aggressive and plays with a nasty demeanor. As a rookie Ohrnberger will compete for a backup job but with both Stephen Neal and Logan Mankins coming up on free agency he may have an opportunity to step into the starting lineup before too long. Next up was Louisville’s George Bussey, a former walk-on who played both tackle and guard in college. A good all-around blocker, Bussey projects best inside at the pro level and while he may not be starting material he should prove to be a valuable backup due to his versatility. In round six New England chose Hawaii’s Jake Ingram, who was widely considered to be the top long-snapper available. Former starter Lonnie Paxton signed with the Broncos this offseason so Ingram will have a chance to compete with veteran Nathan Hodel for the job in training camp.
Later in round six the Patriots chose Kentucky DT Myron Pryor, which seems like an odd fit. On one hand Pryor does have good bulk and strength and plays with proper leverage but most projected him to be more of a one-gapper at the next level. It will be interesting to see where and how Pryor fits in the Pats scheme but based on the numbers he will likely have a difficult time making the roster. Pat White is another player the Patriots were hoping to land earlier in the draft but they may have found their “Wildcat” quarterback in round seven when they selected Kent St. WR Julian Edelman. An athletic dual-threat quarterback in college, Edelman will be making the conversion to wideout in the NFL and will compete for the final spot on the depth chart but whether or not he makes the team may hinge on what he can offer behind center. With their final pick the Patriots chose Georgia Tech’s Darryl Richard, who played tackle in college but profiles as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. A smart overachiever who makes up for his relatively average physical tools with first-rate intangibles, Richard has some durability issues and probably won’t ever be anything more than a backup but he could excel in that role if he wins a roster spot.
In 2007 the Patriots made nine selections yet just a couple of short years later only one of those players is still with the team. In fact, many of them didn’t even make it out of their first training camp. The problem with such a good team making so many picks is that more often than not there just isn’t enough room on the roster for all of them. This class won’t be a repeat of ‘07 but it will be interesting to see how many of these rookies are able to stick in New England long-term. There is no question that this draft was more about 2010 and 2011 than the present for the Pats and, barring injury, Patrick Chung is the only guy who even has a realistic shot at starting as a rookie. It will probably be at least two or three years until we can really gauge whether this was a good or bad effort but this crop of talent definitely offers some exciting possibilities for the future.
