The Patriots are a highly profitable franchise and are at the point where they are ready to reload.
2010 draft picks (listed below). Don't be fooled by the value of 2nd round picks (Pats have 3) many a solid player are drafted in the 2nd round. The trick is evaluating the players in the draft available when your pick comes up.
* - subject to coinflip
1st Round (Currently 22nd Overall)
2nd Round (Titans - Currently 42nd/44th Overall)*
2nd Round (Jaguars - Currently 47th/48th Overall)*
2nd Round (Currently 53rd Overall)
4th Round
6th Round
7th Round (PHI - Greg Lewis)
7th Round (DEN - Russ Hochstein)
These picks have been traded away:
3rd Round (OAK - Derrick Burgess)
5th Round (OAK - Derrick Burgess, Thru DEN - Le Kevin Smith)
5th Round (TB - Alex Smith)
7th Round (Den - Le Kevin Smith)
2011 Picks currently available:
Updated: 9/6/09 (Richard Seymour Trade)
1st Round
1st Round (Richard Seymour-Oakland)
2nd Round
3rd Round
4th Round
5th Round
6th Round
7th Round
7th Round (David Thomas-New Orleans)
No picks have been traded away as of yet.
The Patriots selected the following players in the 2009 NFL Draft.
2a Pat Chung, SS, Oregon (played 16 games as back-up saftey in 09)
2b Ron Brace, DT, Boston College (played 9 games as Ty Warren's back-up)
2c Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut (played 14 game with 3 INTs nickel back)
2d Sebastian Vollmer, OL, Houston (up and coming star at LT huge upside)
3a Brandon Tate, WR, North Carolina (saw limited action - jury still out)
3b Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida (tore ACL during Mini camp last May missed season)
4 Rich Ohrnberger, OL, Penn State (saw limited action as back-up to RG Stephen Neal)
5 George Bussey, OL, Louisville (suffered season ending knee injury on Sept 5th)
6a Jake Ingram, LS, Hawaii (won long snapper job and played entire year as Pats LS)
6b Myron Pryor, DT, Kentucky (saw action in 13 games and missed 3 games due to injured chest)
7a Julian Edelman, WR, Kent State (played well all year as back-up to Wes Welker - high potentential)
7b Darryl Richard, DT, Georgia Tech (made no regular season appearances but received raise from practice squad player to rookie status in mid season has chance to compete for roster spot in 2010).
Look for the Patriots to upgrade defense in this upcomng draft especially secondary. All Pro Vince Wilfork is a free agent, no telling if Patriots will try to resign him as of now.
Wilfork is a big story this offseason in New England, he could be hit with the franchise tag, a one-year offer for the average of the top five salaries at a player’s position. That would allow the team to match any free agent offer or receive two first-round picks if its declines to match. The tag restricts a player’s market as an unrestricted free agent.
When asked if he would be upset if he were tagged, he did not hold back.
“Of course I would,’’ he said. “I want a long-term deal. That’s something that, me and my wife, we want, and we’re gonna try and get a long-term deal done. So that’s first and foremost . . . I’ll talk to my agent and we’ll see what’s going on in that area.’’
If a deal cannot be reached with the Patriots, Wilfork said he can see himself moving on.
“Yes, I can,’’ he said. “I surely can. This whole process, I’ll do what’s best for my family. Family first. It’s gonna be first now.’’
Stay tuned - chance are the Pats will Franchise Tag him but that won't stop him from getting a heavy raise from the $4m and change he earned in 09. Vince made 13 tackles yesterday and whatever he gets in 2010 he is worth it. I hope the Pats do the right thing and re-sign him to a long term contract.
wil.