Evaluating the Picks: The Real Reason behind The Patriots Lack of Talent (Part 1/3)

Locked IN writer, Joshua Miozza

It's the Patriots' first losing season since 2000, and many fans are placing the blame on Tom Brady's departure, the current quarterback production, and the number of opt-outs they faced this year due to COVID-19.

However, these are just easy excuses and cover-ups to hide the main reason behind the Patriots' struggles, which is the horrible draft history since 2014, more specifically in the first three rounds. The last solid draft class the Patriots had was in 2013, with the selection of linebacker Jamie Collins in the 2nd round and cornerback Logan Ryan in the 3rd round.

This article will dive deep into all of the Patriots' draft classes since 2014, looking more closely at the first three rounds and how they’ve consistently wasted high picks and chances to acquire top-end talent on their roster since the 2013 draft. To make the evaluation more reader-friendly, Locked IN will break it down into a series (three different articles).

This first article will cover the 2014 and 2015 drafts, and the second will cover the 2016-2018 drafts, and the third will cover the 2019 and 2020 drafts. With that being said, let us begin!

In the 2014 draft, the Patriots drafted defensive end Dominique Easley (who was coming off a torn ACL injury) with the 29th overall pick. Fast forward to now, spectators can see the Patriots received limited production from Easley, who only lasted two seasons. In that time, Easley played in 22 games and started three, totaled 25 tackles, six for a loss, 13 quarterback hits, plus three sacks and one interception. In all, these numbers don't equate to a first-round pick's value, as teams look for a reliable and impactful starter. After Easley went, then it was DB Jimmie Ward, CB Bradley Roby, and QB Teddy Bridgewater, all of whom are still starting today.

Next, the team drafted quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at 62nd overall in the 2nd round, and this would be a good draft pick if it wasn't wasted. Whatever Garoppolo's destiny was in New England, the Patriots never received equal value back given the draft position and the player. Starting with the second-round pick the Patriots got from the Garoppolo trade with the San Francisco 49ers, the Patriots ended up flipping it into a carousel of picks down the line, none of which gave them the equal potential production in return. The carousel of picks turned into: CB Duke Dawson Jr., LB Christian Sam, DB Joejuan Williams, RB Damien Harris, OL Yodny Cajuste, QB Jarrett Stidham, TE Dalton Keene, OL Justin Herron. Out of all these picks, only one is considered a starter for the Patriots, two were cut, and five are depth pieces that haven’t made much of an impact.

Not nearly the value you expect from the 62nd pick or for Garoppolo, who at one point was seen as one of the best young franchise quarterback prospects.

Next is center Bryan Stork, who was selected in the 4th round at 105. Stork showed promise at first, but unfortunately, his career was cut short due to a series of concussions and a neck injury. In two years with the team, Stork played in 21 games and started in 17 of them, including Super Bowl XLIX win against the Seattle Seahawks. It's hard to criticize this pick, as Stork's career unexpectedly plummeted due to injury, which led him to retire in 2017.

The best draft pick and value for the Patriots this year came in the 4th round at pick 130th, they selected RB James White. White has been a staple in the Patriots' offense, both in regular seasons and big postseason games. In over seven seasons, White played in 91 games, started 13, caught 365 passes for 3,153 yards and 24 touchdowns, in addition to 1,240 yards on the ground (4.0 a carry) and ten touchdowns, while only fumbling twice. It would be safe to say this pick worked out.

Selecting tackle Cameron Fleming next at 140 wasn’t a bad pick either, as he provided depth and solid play for four years in New England, playing 47 games and starting in 20 of them. Although the Patriots let him slip away in free agency, and they have been struggling with tackle depth ever since.

However, after Fleming, they selected four players (OL offensive lineman Jon Halapio at 179, DE Zach Moore at 198, DB Jemea Thomas at 206, and WR Jeremy Gallon at 244). Moore was the only one to ever suit up for the team. Even in doing so, he was on the team for one year, played eight games, started one, recorded four tackles, forced a fumble and made a recovery, a quarterback hit, and a half of a sack.

Overall, there are worst drafts from head coach Bill Belichick, but what makes this one bad is the wasted potential in the Garoppolo selection and missing on a first-round pick in selecting Easley.

The Patriots’ 2015 draft was similar to their 2014 draft, where they found more value in the middle rounds than anywhere else.

They started this draft by selecting defensive tackle Malcolm Brown with the 32nd in the first round. Brown was nothing more than an average NFL player for the Patriots, accumulating 186 tackles (14 for a loss), 16 quarterback hits, and 8.5 sacks in 60 games (started 51) over four seasons. Brown did provide more production than Easley, but still, not the upside one will be looking for at the 32nd overall pick, which is why his 5th-year option was not picked up. After Brown, then it was Pro Bowl Safety, Landon Collins.

Next, defensive back Jordan Richards was selected in the 2nd round with the 64th pick. Then again, his production didn't warrant anything close to this selection. He played in 44 games in four seasons, started in seven, recorded 50 tackles, forced two fumbles, and recovered one.

In the third round, they selected defensive end, Geneo Grissom, with the 97th. The Patriots saw below-average production from him in his four years on the team. He played in 37 games and recorded 14 tackles, one quarterback hit, and one sack.

The Patriots would have a solid 4th round in this draft, hitting on two of their next three selections.

With the 101st pick, they selected defensive end Trey Flowers, who would be their top pass rusher on their defensive line. In his four years with the team, he recorded 237 tackles (36 for a loss), 83 quarterback hits, 30 sacks, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 68 games (57 starts). Great production and find for a 4th-round-pick. They also let him go in free agency two years ago and haven't found a top pass-rushing DE since.

Offensive lineman, Tre Jackson, would be selected next at 111. Jackson only lasted one year on the team, playing 13 games and starting in nine, before ultimately suffering a knee injury that caused him to never find his way onto the field again.

Arguably the selection that paid off the most would occur at 131 when they selected guard, Shaq Mason. He's been good enough to gain a five-year 45 million dollar extension. Mason has been extremely steady, playing in 88 games and starting in 83 of them over the last six seasons.

In the 5th round, they selected their current long snapper, Joe Cardona, with the 166th pick. A 5th round draft pick seems high to spend on a long snapper, but at least he is someone who still finds himself on the team six seasons later.

Their next four selections (two in the 6th round and two in the 7th round) would bring zero production to their team. LB Matthew Wells (178), CB Darryl Roberts (247), and LB Xzavier Dickson (253) would never suit up for New England, making tight end AJ Derby (202) the only one of the four who did. However, he played in only four games and didn't record a single stat.

Looking back at these two drafts, the only positive is that New England found a lot of value in the middle rounds, specifically the 4th, drafting players like James White, Trey Flowers, Shaq Mason, and even Bryan Stork. However, in these two years, the team brought in no top talent within the first three rounds, as the closest they got was Garoppolo. It’s important to note, getting greater value than expected in the middle rounds is not an excuse for wasting picks early in the draft.

If the Patriots had hit on one or two of these draft picks in the first three rounds of these draft classes, then their roster would be a lot better and deeper than the 6-9 record one they have now. Thanks to missing on top-end picks from these drafts and not keeping the majority of middle-round picks they had hit on, the patriots lack top-end talent.

Does it at least get any better? Well Locked IN will look into that in the next article of the series, as we evaluate 2016-2018 drafts.