The 2015 draft

[Verdict]

NE traded a **** load of picks. They've also had a few stolen from Goodell.

They are smart in FA and when it's time to dump their own players. But their true genius lies behind the coaching of Belichick. They've drafted a bevy of QBs during Brady's tenure and finally hit on one and traded him away (not Belichick's idea; Kraft's orders).

I think we traded one pick this year, for Benwikere (was he on the roster for four games or whatever amount it was supposed to be?)

I'm not opposed to trading picks for players but the Bene trade doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

[Verdict]

Picked up rookie David Irving the same year too

Very good point.

 

[Wood]

Well we picked up La’el Collins as an UDFA the same week and signed David Irving a few months later off the Chiefs practice squad. So while we didn’t draft them, those are two nice rookies that we acquired in 2015.

how often has that happend before and after that draft. Not often.

 

[Trouty]

how often has that happend before and after that draft. Not often.

For any team. It may have been a precedent, even. A person of interest/questioning/etc in a homicide of said first rounder's former, pregnant GF. And then the ensuing, "I won't sign with a team if I fall in the draft"

But we got him! Woot! A good day. We were hype here at the Zone.

 

[big dog cowboy]

That draft came close to being a decent draft. Unfortunately for the Cowboys things just didn't work out for a couple of those players.

 

[StarBoyz83]

had to look him up. Just 2 sacks for his career.

I've just heard his name a few times watching the games.

 

[willia451]

NE traded a **** load of picks. They've also had a few stolen from Goodell.

They are smart in FA and when it's time to dump their own players. But their true genius lies behind the coaching of Belichick. They've drafted a bevy of QBs during Brady's tenure and finally hit on one and traded him away (not Belichick's idea; Kraft's orders).

I think we traded one pick this year, for Benwikere (was he on the roster for four games or whatever amount it was supposed to be?)

Well!!!! If you are going to throw down facts and evidence to support your conclusions.............I'm leaving.

No wait.

Its 2017.

FAKE NEWS!!!!. You tell LIES!!!! I reject your facts and evidence and substitute my opinions.

There. Now we're good. Or at least I am.

Proceed.

 

[Nightman]

Byron Jones
Randy Gregory
Chaz Green
Damien Wilson
Ryan Russell
Mark Nzeocha
Laurence Gibson
Geoff Swaim

Byron Jones- Solid B+........ 4year starter
Randy Gregory- INC..... 3 years control left
Chaz Green- C.....more good games than bad games.....not a LT
Damien Wilson- B....starter at SAM
Ryan Russell- C .....not for us
Mark Nzeocha- C.......not for us
Laurence Gibson- F
Geoff Swaim- B..........contributor in the 7th

 

[Tristan]

This gets brought up often, if you actually go back and look at each round of that draft it was awful! As bad as ive seen really, theres like 10 decent first rounders, theres like 2 good players per round in hindsight, not much we missed out on.

Yeah Collins was a great pick by NY, but at least we didnt pick Erik Flowers over Todd Gurley lol, i remember almost having a heart attack when he fell to them, SUCKERS!

 

[ThatJerryKid]

Exactly the issue with the philosophy. If u draft poorly you have zero chance.

And if you are big spenders you can’t resign guys like Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence.

 

[xwalker]

This year's FA class isn't very good. Who would you sign? Last year's was way better. Our luck that we finally might have some cap room but the FA group is weak.

I'd make a run at Jimmy Graham.

A 1tech DT. Poe/Logan/Ellis/Other.

WR Allen Robinson or 1 of several other WRs.

Pay a bit extra for a backup LB. This past season Zack Brown 1-year, 2.5M would have been much better than Justin Durant 1-year, 1M.

 

[waving monkey]

that fell into their laps. They did nothing to get credit for that one.

like H... they brought him to Jerry's home and wined him full court press with the the offensive line at the table.
He never had a chance

 

[perrykemp]

Ah yes, the “Just like 3 first round draft picks” draft....

Good times

 

[CWR]

A 1tech DT. Poe/Logan/Ellis/Other.

WR Allen Robinson or 1 of several other WRs.

Pay a bit extra for a backup LB. This past season Zack Brown 1-year, 2.5M would have been much better than Justin Durant 1-year, 1M.

Allen Robinson would be sweet!

 

[Common Sense]

This has been studied to death a million times over, and every single data point suggests that all NFL teams tend to draft more or less with the same degree of accuracy. Some teams get hot for three or four years at a time, which is just how random chance works. Teams with good coaches and good QBs can capitalize on that, but most QBs, head coaches, and front offices aren't together long enough for "regression to the mean" to kick in and show it for what it actually is. Belichick and Brady are the obvious exception here, who continue to win despite very average drafting year after year.

Reality being what it is, the only way to effectively "build through the draft" is to stockpile as many premium draft picks as possible, like what the Browns started doing last year. If you don't do that, you are basically guaranteeing that the talent on your roster will be roughly league average every single year. I don't need to beat a dead horse and point out how many times this team has ended up 8-8 under Garrett's process. It's not a coincidence.

You can also point to things that this team does that are statistically shown to reduce your chances of success in the draft, like trading up in the higher rounds for a single player who could end up busting or being injured for long periods of time. Or picking for need rather than trading down for more picks. You could probably argue that drafting a RB with the fourth pick in the draft also counts, since the difference in production between a back drafted that high and one who is drafted later or signed as an inexpensive FA is pretty negligible overall.

The whole concept of building through the draft is supposed to be cheaper and more efficient, since signing your own free agents is supposed to be "safer" than signing one from another team. I'm not sure how much I buy that argument, given how many bad contracts this team hands out to its own players.

 

[Risen Star]

They got a marginal defensive back who should be better than that, a very marginal LB who shouldn't be a starter here and the best 3rd tight end in NFL history.

We're building something.

 

[Brooksey]

that fell into their laps. They did nothing to get credit for that one.

Not true..if you're going to discredit fake personnel people with the last name Jones, then give them credit when they do what they do best...sell a young man a dream to be part of the best o-line in history.That's what Jerry did. Give him credit for both. He's terrible at personnel but he's pretty good salesman.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I know Will McClay gets almost knighted status on here but this one hurts. Check out 2015 draft for Dallas:

Byron Jones
Randy Gregory
Chaz Green
Damien Wilson
Ryan Russell
Mark Nzeocha
Laurence Gibson
Geoff Swaim

This is a huge indictment of current philosophy of not spending in FA and addressing all needs in draft. That sounds good in theory but you have to actually go out and draft well.

That's a trash draft. I'm sorry but that's junky

 

[LocimusPrime]

It doesn't matter -- Free Agency -- if we don't have a franchise QB. Not saying Dak is or isn't, just something to consider.

FA is viable (needed) when you are close, and filling a few positions solidifies the squad into a contender. If we are still too far away (re: QB), even with some nice FA pickups, it will all be for naught.

I love free agency brother but then again I'm very impulsive. If I like it i getz it

 

[Kaiser]

A 1tech DT. Poe/Logan/Ellis/Other.

WR Allen Robinson or 1 of several other WRs.

Pay a bit extra for a backup LB. This past season Zack Brown 1-year, 2.5M would have been much better than Justin Durant 1-year, 1M.

Add a veteran Swing Tackle and I agree completely.