2009 NFL Draft Stories: The Time is Now for the Patriots to Re-load

Since 2001 the Patriots have been the league's model franchise.  In an eight year period they won three Super Bowls (2001, 2003, and 2004) and were the Super Bowl Runner Up once (2007's 18-1 season).   In the book "The Blueprint" author Christopher Price detailed how the head coach Bill Belichick, and VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli created a salary cap era dynasty through the draft and signing inexpensive veteran free agents. Their 2003 (DE Ty Warren, S Eugene Wilson, CB Asante Samuel and C Dan Koppen) and 2005 (Logan Mankins, Ellis Hobbs, Nick Kaczur, James Sanders and Matt Cassell) drafts  among the best drafts in the past decade.   In addition, the 2000 selection of QB Tom Brady in the 6th round is one of the all-time best draft picks. 

Yet in recent years the Patriots have veered from the build through the draft strategy signing big ticket free agent LB Adalius Thomas and trading for Randy Moss in 2007 (Moss was then signed to a lucrative contract before the 2008 season).  Neither of these moves were bad moves but were they the beginning of a trend. Recently, their have been rumors of the Patriots using their bounty of first day picks in a possible trade for Julius Peppers.  Sounds great on paper and could instantly make the Patriots the team to beat in 2009.  It also sounds more like the "Yankee Way" than the "Patriots Way".  A trade for Julius Peppers while an excellent move for 2009 could also signal the end of the Patriots dynasty.

Ok, the last statement may be a little over the top but when you look at the Patriots roster a crack in the foundation has been found.  After the 2009 season the following players will be free agents:  NT Vince Wilfork, DE Richard Seymour, CB Ellis Hobbs, G Logan Mankins, G Stephen Neal, T Nick Kaczur, TE Ben Watson, TE David Thomas and K Stephen Gostkowski.  The team has made little progress thus far in re-signing this group of players.  A trade for Julius Peppers would likely using a large chunk of the team's $14 million in salary cap space making re-signings even more difficult not to mention upsetting the team's locker room culture.

In addition to the multitude of potential free agents on the roster the Patriots as a team are getting old.  LB Tedy Bruschi is nearing the end at 35 years old, LT Matt Light is slowing down at 30, WR Randy Moss is 32 as is RBs Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk.  LB Adalius Thomas is no spring chicken at 31.  Free agent acquisitions RB Fred Taylor and WR Joey Galloway have also seen better days.  The team has also jettisoned veteran linchpins Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison.  All of these players are not washed up but in the NFL the years can sneak up on you fast and the Patriots are using more stop gaps with each passing season as they have not been as prepared to replace many of their aging players with young talent.

Making matters more urgent is the team's struggles in the draft the past three seasons. Despite drafting defensive rookie of the year Jerod Mayo in last year's draft the Patriots have little to show from the last three drafts in terms of replenishing the talent on the roster.  Yes, the trades for Randy Moss and Wes Welker were excellent moves but the team has struggled to find players in the draft itself to groom for the future (esp. in the later rounds).

From the 2006 draft only K Stephen Gostkowski has established himself (1st rounder Laurence Maroney is nearing bust status and three other players are role players).  Only two players remain from the 2007 draft with only first round pick Brandon Merriweather receiving meaningful playing time.   Aside from Mayo, only two other 2008 draft picks played in more than six games.  The most common thread from these past three drafts is the Patriots have traded down time and time again to position themselves for extra late round picks and future drafts but the philosophy has not worked as well as it has in previous years.

All is not bad however as the team's trading prowess has also positioned them to be major players in the 2009 draft with four day one selections.  In Bill Belichick's first draft without Scott Pioli, he and his staff  the Patriots putting them in the perfect position to re-stock the shelves prior to roster's expiration.

For example, with those four first day picks they can add a young skill position player on offense, an offensive lineman, a defensive lineman, and a rush linebacker (think Percy Harvin/Knowshon Moreno, Jamon Meredith/Eric Wood, Ron Brace/Jarron Gilbert, and Connor Barwin/Clay Matthews).  In addition the Patriots will need to hit on some of their mid-late round picks to find a tight end, inside linebacker and offensive/defensive line depth.  This is not the year for the Patriots to get cute with multiple trade downs.  The Patriots 2009 draft needs to be about adding talent for the near future.  They need to duplicate the success of the 2003 or 2005 drafts and find multiple players who can be starters within two years.  Without a strong draft the Patriots dynasty may go from Super Bowl contender to playoff contender or worse in a rapidly improving AFC East.

Chris Maier is senior editor for NFLDraft101.com.  He can be reached at [e-mail]