It is kind of hard to compare how the New England Patriots conduct their draft to the other 31 NFL teams because they do it the Patriots way. They stockpile draft picks, in 2010 they ended up with 12 picks, and only rank the players they feel will fit their club.
Many call the football geniuses but I think they just cast a very wide net. They tend not to doll out big free agent contract and build their roster through the draft and invite a ton of unsigned free agents to camp each year. They got a big net, and with their big net they tend to find a ton of talent.
For the third draft in a row the Patriots took a corner back with a high draft pick. This year they traded down in the first round and ended up with CB Devin McCourty. They get a dynamic cover guy, and a quality special teams player. He is exactly the kind of guy they look for.
With three picks in the second round the Patriots addressed a number of their needs. First they get TE Rob Gronkowski, then DE Jermaine Cunningham, and finally LB Brandon Spikes.
The Patriots needed a difference maker at TE following an exodus at that position. Gronkowski is a complete player and should add the thing this offense needed. Both Cunningham and Spikes figure into the rotation at LB in the Pats 3-4 scheme.
In the third round the Patriots added WR Taylor Price, he is a speedster and a big play threat. It is exactly the other thing this offense really needed. While they used this pick on his potential, he feels like a pretty safe bet.
With just one fourth round pick they added another TE in Aaron Hernandez. He is another Florida Gator added to the roster, and he his a perfect H-Back to use in multiple TE sets.
With their fifth round pick the Pats added Punter Zoltan Mesko, and his ability to alter field position will make him an important part of the Pats roster.
In the sixth, the Pats took OL Ted Larsen. He is a big center who has great instincts. This is a depth pick for the interior of their O line.
The Pats ended up with four picks in round number seven, and they took; OL Thomas Welch, DE Bradon Deaderick, DT Kade Watson, and QB Zac Robinson.
For the most part these were all quality depth picks with the exception of Robinson. Someone had to be throwing all those balls to Dez Bryant in College right? I think he will be a great backup and possible the starter one day if the QB situation gets ugly in New England.
Now a more complete look at 2010 Patriots draft class:
Round One (27)- CB Devin McCourty Rutgers
Round Two (42)- TE Rob Gronkowski Arizona
Round Two (53)- DE Jermaine Cunningham Florida
Round Two (63)- LB Brandon Spikes Florida
Round Three (90)- WR Taylor Price Ohio
Round Four (113)- TE Aaron Hernandez Florida
Round Five (150)- P Zoltan Mesko Michigan
Round Six (205)- OL Ted Larsen NC State
Round Seven (208)- OL Thomas Welch Vanderbilt
Round Seven (247)- DE Brandon Deaderick Alabama
Round Seven (248)- DT Kade Watson Georgia
Round Seven (250)- QB Zac Robinson
Related Links:
• New England Patriots news and notes
• 2010 NFL Draft initial team grades
• The Business of the NFL
• MTR Football.com
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