Patriots draft pick Nate Solder
Let me start by saying that I’m not Mel Kiper or Todd McShay, not by a long shot. That said, I did watch the first round of the 2011 NFL draft last night, and saw a few obvious winners. A couple of initial reactions before I dive into my winners…
Roger Goodell is the man. When he first walked out to announce the beginning of the draft, he was understandably booed in the wake of this whole NFL lockout ordeal. Note to any NFL fans that missed it, but Goodell has been paying himself a salary of $1 per quarter while this mess has been going on — but that’s beside the point. Goodell took the boos in stride, kept his speech brief, and turned the fans’ boos to cheers by saying “Let’s get back to some football!” Well played Roger.
I was also taken aback by the enormous amount of criticism everyone had for Cam Newton, the #1 pick, and the complete lack of criticism for #2 pick Von Miller, who took 5 minutes to stop crying and walk on stage. I do think Newton will be a flop — he was already talking about the “ups and downs” in his “career” last night. If he’s doing that at 21 years old, imagine how much of a diva this guy will be after he’s been in the league a few years, hasn’t had epic success, and has been criticized on a national level? This guy, in my eyes, thinks he’s special.
On to my winners for the night: I think the New Orleans Saints had far and away the best first round draft, picking up California DE Cameron Jordan and Alabama running back Mark Ingram. The Saints now have depth at running back to go along with quarterback Drew Brees — they are going to be hellish to try to stop on the offensive end. My secondary winner for the night was the New York Jets, who picked up DE Muhammad Wilkerson from Temple. Nearly everyone says this guy can play in the NFL right away, and to get him at the 30th pick was a steal.
As for the Patriots, their primary need is defensive players, specifically defensive ends. It was strange to me to see them take Colorado OT Nate Solder. I’m never one to doubt Bill Belichick’s drafting (see Aaron Hernandez and Gronk last year), and I’m certainly all for an OT who will play on the corners and help give Tom Brady more time in the pocket. This guy is also huge, at 6’8 and 319 pounds. Overall, I’m OK with this pick. What I’m not OK with is the Patriots trading down, giving up their 28th pick where they could have easily claimed Mark Ingram. While BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead had big years last year, Ingram is a better runner than them both and would have given the Patriots a nearly unstoppable offensive attack. He’s also versatile and would have fit perfectly into the Patriots system. I mean this guy is a Heisman winner, come on. I think they will come to really regret that decision — I would have been totally cool with the Patriots using their remaining 5 picks for defensive players. They are just addicted to stockpiling draft picks. At least they have the first pick in the second round, with some good talent still on the board.
Who were your winners?
The most interesting move I saw was the Lions. With Nick Fairley and Suh at the center of that D, they could end up with one of the best run defenses in the league for the next few years. I think that was a great move. But they still don’t have an O-line to protect Stafford, who’s played in what? Sixteen games in two seasons? I feel like they’re going to let him bust by putting him out there to get killed every season.
Also, the Browns managed to turn their No. 5 pick into enough draft picks to retool their entire team. Pretty good trade if they don’t screw it up.
I agree on both accounts. It’ll be interesting to see what becomes of the Lions in general.
If BB has earned our trust anywhere, it should be drafting on the OL. Who had heard of either Mankins or Vollmer before Bill grabbed them earlier than expected? Solder (a converted TE, BB’s new favorite position) supposedly has the highest upside of all the OL in the entire draft due to his recent conversion.His insane height, even for an NFL player also seems to be a big plus in sealing the edges against rushers. My only worry is his leverage, can he get the push down low to stop someone like Dwight Freeney when he’s starting with a much higher center of gravity?
As for gamesmanship, a 1 and a 2 for a late 1 is a pretty darned good haul. RB is the easiest position to draft/acquire late (see Woodhead and LawFirm). Would I have liked Heyward or Wilkerson? Undoubtedly. Will we ultimately like Brooks Reed or Bowers more? That’s where we just have to trust Bill.
You make good point with Mankins and Vollmer, and I share the same concern in regard to Solder’s height and his center of gravity. That said, I think when you have a chance to get a player of Mark Ingram’s caliber you’ve got to jump on it. Sure, you can acquire runners in later rounds, but I consider Ingram a pretty special talent.
There is a need for a Defensive End, but also for Offensive Tackle/Outside Linebacker .. So it wasn’t surprising that they took the OT .. O-Line picks are less risky than D-Line.
Watch and see the Pats trade the 33rd pick. 10:1 it’s gonna happen. That will give them 3 2012 1st round picks .. which they’ll trade for more 2013 picks …
Exactly, which I think is dumb. Bottom line is Brady will only be around for so long. I want to put the best possible players around him NOW.
It’s strange to take an OT when you have holes at LT and both G spots? Really? No it was a good pick
Also the fact that Belichik doesn’t draft defensive players (especially LBs which is what we need) in the first round shouldn’t be surprising either. I think it’s fair to say he has a better idea of his needs than we do
Of course he does, but it can still be surprising to me. Our pass rush last year was pitiful, where I thought our O-line was adequate at least.
The giants getting a projected top 10 pick and undoubtedly the second best comeback in the nation at 19 might be the steal of the draft. I agree with shmi and I can’t comment on everything as I only really watched the top 10 picks but Cleveland’s trade had to have been the best move that franchise has made in 10 years. They got so many picks which is what they need rather than one highly touted player.
Agreed on Cleveland, but the Jets pick was better than the Giants. They said he was a 10-11 pick and they got him 30th I think.
Kiper had Prince as his 12th best player.
Muhammad 22nd
Mcshay had Prince as his 8th
Muhammad 24
who is your they?
It came out of Kiper’s mouth.
I generally concur with you about Newton and last night it hit me why I don’t care for the guy personally. It doesn’t seem that he has a humble bone in his body. I can’t wait until NFL defensive players start smashing that smirk off his face.
When Fairley was still on the board and then drafted by the Lions…I said OH-UH! I watching most of the Lions games last year and they are definitely on the right track. Stafford is still a concern, but with Fairley and Suh in the middle and Bosch on the outside their defense could be sick.
Aside from picks, one of my favorite parts of the draft was Gruden basically calling Kiper a chump after Locker was picked by the Titans. It was priceless.
Gruden is straight out of his mind.
I love the fact that we’re gaining picks, but eventually we need t them to pay off. I agree that getting Ingram at 17 would have been a good move. It’s the pick that I would have made.
But, the Evil Genius didn’t get that nickname for a reason. He isn’t big on big-name, unproven talent in the draft. And linemen go under the radar during their rookie season (unless you’re a Top 5 pick) so they’re a safer bet in the first round.
I was surprised to see them pick Solder over BC’s Castonzo, although both are pretty solid picks in my opinion. I think Solder’s recent conversion is actually what gave him the nod in that he is an ‘athlete’ (as a former lineman, I’ve always hated that term for non-lineman positions) and may end up being more versatile.
Agreed that we need to use the picks at some point, and we could have gotten Ingram at 28 let alone 17.
It the Patriots have all 32 picks in the any round of the NFL draft, will there still be a ten minute time limit?
Haha good question.
Saints are going to win the Super Bowl. Thanks a lot Bill.
Yea, part of my issue is that not only did they pass on Ingram, but they let him pass to a team that could hurt them in the playoffs. If he wants to go to the Bills, fine.
Goodell is awful he talks out of both sides of his mouth and the nfl is the biggest mess it has been in 20 years. The players don’t respect him, the fans showed they didn’t last night. He is the worst commissioner in sports.
I 100% disagree.
I agree with your disagreement.
I disagree with your disagreement
About what respect? Ask derrick mason or the fans who booed him and chanted last night and he had to ask about five times for them to stop.
Being the worst? Which one is better. He was given the most successful sport and is on the verge of missing games
Talking out both sides of his mouth? We care about safety, go play more games. No cba would be crippling, HE locked them out. He is against a free market system for the players but the owner have one
More games has nothing to do with safety in my eyes. Sure, it could result in more injuries, but playing games doesn’t constitute a hazard. He lays down the law and is a great disciplinarian — he runs a tight ship, which is exactly what the league needs. And he makes himself accessible to the league, doesn’t pay himself to prove his points, and is generally a great commissioner. Look at what Bud Selig has done — a strike shortened season and a generation of baseball down the drain due to his inability to regulate steroids. David Stern? He has the NBA in a horrible sport for most of his time as commish. Goodell has the largest and toughest group to regulate as well.
Playing two additional football games has nothing to do with safety? You sure? Two more potential concussions, two more potential broken legs. Look at how many injuries teams have the last week. Now let’s play two more. I’m sure the guys who can’t get out of bed, walk with a limp, or kill selves because of brian injuries would have loved two more opportunities a year to get the shit kicked out of them.
Then the problem is the game itself – if it’s too dangerous in nature to play it shouldn’t be played. If you are worried about the consequences of playing it, don’t play. How you hit people is a rule that makes the game itself more or less dangerous whether you play 1 game or 100.
yes it is dangerous, why subject them to them more of it?
Um, because it’s their job? Being a factory worker can be dangerous as well — should they all work 20 hours a week instead of 40?
No but lets make them work 60 and we wont pay them anymore.
I don’t have any sympathy for them. They play games 5 months a year and the minimum salary is hundreds of thousand of dollars. Two additional games won’t kill them. It might actually be fun, if they played the game for the right reasons…
The amount of money being paid should not matter. If your boss said starting next week you have to work an extra hour every day and we are cutting your salary I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t say you know what I really like working here sounds great I’m a company man.
Play for the love of the game, not for the money.
Oh and your doing this for free, we arnt paying you anymore. In fact we want more from you.
I’m pretty sure they are overcompensated as is. Every player in the league was getting paid a salary at least 100,000 times more than Goodell was during the lockout.
The guy makes 10 million a year, he isnt hurting. It a PR move and your are falling for it hook line and sinker.
Oh and what is 100,000 more then zero because thats what the players get paid.
The players don’t get paid? I was unaware….
Here’s my rant-
I want to preface this by saying that I think Solder will ultimately be a very good player. With that said, for the past 3 years the Pats have been projected to target their pass rush and have failed to do so in early rounds passing on guys like Clay Matthews. I heard somebody say last night, “The Patriots don’t need to take chances or risks, it’s smart for them to accumulate picks, after all they went 14-2 last year.” This is the kind of thinking that has not won the Pats a superbowl in the past 7 or so years. Fantastic, they went 14-2 last year and won the division the year before. What happened in the playoffs? Oh that’s right they got embarrassed at home by both the Ravens and the Jets. Why did they lose? Specifically because they could not get any pressure on the QB. Both Flacco and Sanchez had all day to pick the Pats D apart. They have not won playoff games because they can’t rush the passer. Their seasons are ending by being rated one of the worst pash rush teams in the league for the past several years. They needed to address the pass rush in this year’s draft. They still possibly can with the 1st pick of the 2nd round, but will they? Probably not. All day on ESPN they’ve been talking about who the Pats will trade their pick to so some other team can get Bowers who is a “game changing pass rusher who once projected as a top 5 pick but has slipped due to injury.” Here’s an idea, how about you take Bowers or some other pass rusher you morons. No, they want to trade the pick to get another first round pick for next year giving them 3. Inevitably they would probably trade all these picks for more future picks or 12 6th rounders because they love their late round value. I’m starting to hate the Patriots and if they trade their first pick tonight I am finding a new favorite team.
Haha. Find a new favorite team is a little extreme, but I think you are right on. As much as I love more protection for Brady ( I REALLY do), he put up probably the best season in the history of the NFL for a QB last year with the O-line he had, which was injury plagued. The D-line is much more pressing.