"Rooter" Analysis: A Breakdown of the 2008 New England Patriot Draft Class

Round: QB Kevin O’Connell, San Diego State:  This pick is indefensible to me. I know having depth is always good, and I know taking the “best player available” (which O’Connell wasn’t) is a strategy the Patriots like to follow, but I can’t support this pick in any way. You have the best QB in the league and you’re drafting a 3^rdstring backup with a top 100 pick? There will come a day where acquiring a QB to fill #12’s shoes will be a huge priority for this franchise, but last Sunday was not that day! As I see it, the Patriots had an obligation to fill a surplus of other needs before even looking at the QB position. Backup Matt Cassell will be up for free agency after this year, but who cares? There are always capable backups out there. I would have liked to see the Patriots add more depth with their defensive backs or take a lineman of some sort with this pick. I was shocked and disappointed to see Belichick and Pioli target a position of abundance and proven NFL production with this high of a pick.

4^thRound: DB Jonathan Wilhite, Auburn: A Junior College transfer, Wilhite was a decent selection at #129 overall. I like his speed, his one-on-one skills, and his experience coming out of Auburn. He isn’t the biggest of guys, and I would love to see the Pats add a tall, more physical corner sometime soon, but Wilhite’s ability in the slot and in transition are adequate strengths. Again, defensive back was an area of extreme need for the Patriots, and this is a pick I simply trust our draft experts with. I personally think Terrance Wheatley would have been available with this selection.

5^thRound: WR/KR Matt Slater, UCLA: Slater had a great senior year returning kicks for the Bruins, and he might be able to assist an area that was surprisingly average for the Patriots during their 18-1 season: special teams. Slater has great speed and excellent break-away ability, something that should allow him to hit holes and keep running. Who knows how he will adjust to the NFL game and the increased overall speed that is implicit in the special teams game, but I like the selection this late in the draft because it addresses an area the team was weak in the year before. Slater has NFL genes in his blood (son of former Rams great Jackie Slater), and I always like when the Pats add guys with that dynamic.

6^thRound: LB Bo Ruud, Nebraska: Hey, speaking of NFL genes, ever heard of MLB Barrett Ruud of the Tampa Bay Bucs? Little brother Bo comes out of Nebraska with excellent intangible strengths and good coverage skills. This is just the type of guy I could see being a factor on special team for the Patriots. A great worker with an intense work ethic, Ruud will add some energy and depth to New England’s line-backers and special teams. We’ll see how far he makes it out of camp.

So the Patriots ended up with 7 total picks from the draft. They took 3LB, 2DB, 1KR/WR and 1QB. I would call that an appropriate balance given the team’s needs, but I stress again that the QB selection- their 4^th highest pick of the 7- was a wasted opportunity to add another young lineman or skill player.

The crop should add precisely what Belichick and Pioli targeted, however: speed and youth.

This writer hopes the injection of youth and athleticism can help the Patriots gain closure in what should be another competitive and highly anticipated 2008-9 campaign.

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