So yesterday I covered the first two rounds. Let’s keep going with the third through the seventh. This is a long one so you may want to sit down with a drink and/or snack.
The Pats started the day with four third round picks, and one each in the fifth through seventh rounds. They immediately started with the dealing getting a second round pick next year and a seventh round pick in ’09 from the Jaguars for the 73rd overall pick.
Ten picks later the Patriots on the board selected Brandon Tate, WR from North Carolina. He’s coming off an injury but could prove to be a long term #3 after Galloway’s one year deal is up. Here’s the scouting report from ESPN.com:
Tate brings excellent versatility. He can contribute immediately in the return game, shows excellent fluidity as a route-runner and is at his best catching the ball in the open field. However, we have concerns with the fact that Tate’s coming off a major knee injury.
The Pats then dealt the 89th pick to the Titans for another second round pick next year. That makes a three second rounders for the Pats next year. Very smart maneuvering by Belichick and the early takes are that the draft board is much deeper next year than it was this year.
With the 97th pick in the draft, the compensatory pick for Asante Samuel, the Pats chose Tyrone McKenzie LB from South Florida via Iowa State via Michigan State. He played outside but could be the long term replacement for Tedi Bruschi when he finally retires. Here’s the scouting report from ESPN.com:
McKenzie reads his keys, locates the ball quickly and tackles well. He also shows good range and awareness in zone coverage. The biggest concern we have with him is that he doesn’t have great top-end speed, so he’s going to have a problems matching up with tight ends and backs in man coverage. He also lacks great ball skills.
About 1:15 in the afternoon the Ellis Hobbs trade was announced. The Pats getting two fifth rounders for their #1 CB who Eli so graciously pointed is pretty much a #3 on any other team. They then sent those two picks to Baltimore for a fourth and sixth rounder. With the fourth round pick they started beefing up the offensive line with Richard Ohrnberger a guard from Penn State. Here’s the scouting report thanks to ESPN.com:
Ohrnberger is a mauler who plays with an aggressive attitude and works very hard to finish his blocks. However, he’s limited athletically and will struggle with quicker interior defensive linemen.
The team then grabbed their third offensive lineman of the draft in the fifth round with the 170th overall pick, George Bussey an offensive tackle from Louisville. This was yet another compensatory selection that couldn’t be traded. Here’s the Scouting Report:
Bussey possesses good strength upstairs. However, he fails to deliver a violent punch. He also shows some inconsistency with his footwork in pass protection, which creates some concern to his ability to prevent quicker defensive ends from turning the corner.
Bill and Co. then made an interesting choice in the 6th round with the 198th overall choice. The Pats selected a long snapper from Hawaii, Jacob Ingram. The Scouting report is very promising especially after the Pats lost Lonie Paxton to the Broncos via free agency:
We believe Ingram is the best long-snapper who has come out in the past three years. His zip and accuracy are the two main reasons he was drafted.
Keeping with their beefing up of the defensive line, they picked another D-Tackle at #207. This time it was Myron Pryor from Kentucky. With a bunch of guys with expiring deals on both sides of the ball, these picks are really starting to make sense. Here’s the Scouting report:
Pryor possesses excellent lower-body strength and plays with low pad level, which allows him to create excellent leverage in the interior. However, we have concerns about overall durability; he wears down throughout the course of a game.
With their first pick in the 7th round they took former QB turned WR Julian Edelman from Kent State. Since they missed out on QB Pat White from VA Tech I can see this guy being the same type of Wildcat option at quarterback. We’ll see. Here’s the scouting report:
Edleman, a former QB, displays excellent athleticism. He will need some time to develop, learning how to run routes and create separation.
The Final pick produced the third defensive lineman in the draft for the Pats in Georgia Tech defensive tackle Darryl Richard. Here’s the report:
Richard plays with great effort and uses his hands extremely well. However, his lateral movement is adequate at best and he will struggle to anchor on the interior.
Needless to say they addressed their needs in the draft. I really think that by not getting a DE/OLB in the first round it’s a clear indication that Jason Taylor is in the mix. Robert Kraft says you can have a spot on the roster, you take the opportunity. If I’m going with a draft grade strictly on the draft (not the two 2nd rounders for next year) I give the team an A. The team has no glaring needs, having addressed the secondary issues in free agency as well as the WR depth. I say the Pats are the team to beat this coming year. No doubt.
