New England Patriots Pre-Draft Position by Position Breakdown: Receivers

Even while the labor drama unfolds, NFL teams must keep their eye on the ball as they prepare for the upcoming draft. 

This is the position-by-position status I believe the New England Patriots are looking at as they prepare for the 2011 NFL draft. In this edition, New England receivers will be the primary focus.

Wide Receivers

Wes Welker

Pro Bowler Wes Welker made a remarkable recovery from a career threatening knee surgery.  Although Welker’s return was nothing short of extraordinary, it must still be noted that it did come with some low-lights as well. 

Understandably, it took Welker a little while to return to form. 

The first eight games of the season featured a Welker that did not appear to slash through defenses as effectively as in years past.  That quickness, however, appeared rejuvenated in a week 10 Patriot victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Welker's most alarming problem throughout the season was his uncharacteristic bout with the drops.  In fact, according to Stats LLC, Welker led the NFL with 13 drops—a tendency, unfortunately for Patriot fans, that did not stop at the conclusion of the regular season.  

Deion Branch

Deion Branch returned to New England post Randy Moss and immediately there were flashes of the much ballyhooed Brady to Branch mind meld. 

Not physically impressive by NFL wide receiver standards, Branch gets the most out of his ability and has a knack for producing in big situations. 

A restructured contract should keep him around for a while.

Brandon Tate

Brandon Tate returned from a 2009 knee injury to provide some big play ability. 

Tate excelled as a return man twice returning kicks for touchdowns.

Tate’s role in the offense was expanded after Moss’ departure, but the results were somewhat mixed. 

No one questions that Tate can be a dangerous threat once the ball is in hand, and he has at times shown an ability to get behind coverage. 

His problem, however, has been an inconsistency catching the ball.

Julian Edelman

Back in 2009 Julian Edelman’s rookie season had featured a surprisingly swift conversion from NCAA quarterback to NFL receiver.  In fact, he ended up making a significant contribution to the club in the wake of several injuries to Welker (his slashing juking style often drawing comparisons to Welker himself). 

However his 2010 season was somewhat of a disappointment. 

Like Tate, Edelman made solid contributions as a return man and struggled holding onto the football at times.

Taylor Price

Another disappointment of 2010 was the failure of rookie Taylor Price to push veterans for playing time. 

The third round draft pick was active for just one game in 2010, and needs to make some significant improvement in 2011 so as not to be labeled a bust.

More recievers

Special teamer Mathew Slater, undrafted free agents Buddy Farnham and Darnell Jenkins, and Military reservists Tyree Barnes and Shun White round out the roster.

Position Summary

  The 2010 Randy Moss trade lit up the Boston airwaves as fans and media alike debated the impact it would have on the club. 

Moss has always been a polarizing character, but rarely has a trade caused the fervor that this trade created. 

Two things immediately followed the trade. 

1. The Patriot offense continued to be productive, as New England finished the regular season with eight consecutive 30 + point efforts.

2.  Moss took a remarkably short period of time to go from NFL superstar to being practically irrelevant. It was as swift a fall from grace as I’ve ever seen a big star make. 

That combination of events silenced most critics of the trade, but a dismal Patriot performance against the Jets in the playoffs rekindled some concerns.

The key to a productive 2011 for the Patriots wide receivers starts with reducing their drops.

The club finished 2010 with 39 drops, according to Stats LLC—the fourth worse mark in the NFL. 

A legitimate deep threat must be identified as well. 

Whether Tate can step up and fill the shoes left behind by Moss remains to be seen. Until someone expects NFL defenses to gamble more and more against New England the fear/respect of a deep threat is established. 

As for Moss, he has been pining for a return to Patriotville, waxing poetic about the good ‘ol’ days. 

Don’t count on it happening. 

It’s not going to be some type of moral high ground or some “team first” statement by Belichick that will lead to the Pats passing on Moss. 

No, it’s going to be like that. He simply isn’t good enough to warrant the glad-handing anymore.

Tight Ends 

Talk about an infusion of talent.  Did any NFL team upgrade a single unit better than New England did at tightend in 2010?

Alge Crumpler

Four-time Pro-Bowler Alge Crumpler was brought in and immediately contributed as a blocking force and perhaps, just as importantly, as a mentor for two rookie tight ends of the future. 

Crumpler was on the field despite the impressive production of the rookies for a reason, as he was one of the most underappreciated players on the club in 2010. 

Unfortunately for him though, an untimely drop in the playoff loss to the Jets may be the one single moment that Patriot fans remember the most vividly. 

Rob Gronkowski

As for those aforementioned rookies let’s start with second round draft pick Rob Gronkowski. 

A 2009 back surgery cost Gronkowski his entire 2009 season at Arizona and caused his stock in the draft to slip some as well. 

He returned to health as an NFL rookie and immediately became a legitimate dual threat as a blocking/receiving tight end. 

At 6’6’’, Gronkowski’s huge frame presents a matchup nightmare for defenses.  Gronkowski is at his most dangerous around the goal line as his ten TD receptions tied Antonio Gates for the most in the NFL among tight ends. 

Those ten TD’s were also good for second most in NFL history among rookie tigh tends (behind only Mike Ditka’s 12 in 1961).

Aaron Hernandez

Fourth round pick Aaron Hernandez joined Gronkowski as a fellow rookie tight ened in 2010. 

Hernandez is more of the pure receiving type tight ends, normally being split wide more like a wide receiver. 

Hernandez is an exciting open field type of player and at 250 lbs. can be difficult to bring down for the smaller defensive backs that often end up covering him.

A mid-season bout with the drops was the only blemish on Hernandez’s 2010 campaign.

Practice squad member Carson Butler rounds out the TE roster.

Position Summary

The double investment at tight end in the 2010 draft should make this one of the strongest units on the club for the next several years.

About the only thing that could seemingly derail things here could be the ever-present reality of injuries in the NFL. 

It has been reported that Hernandez had an offseason hip surgery and back injuries like the one Gronkowski suffered in college, which can sometimes be troublesome.

Unit summary

As a group, the wide receivers and tight ends of the 2010 Patriots must have been doing something right, as they were able to contribute to the effectiveness of league MVP Tom Brady. 

Despite their contributions though, there are certainly areas of concern and it would not surprise me in the least to see them addressed in the draft. 

Once again, the key word in New England come draft time is value. 

I don’t expect New England to reach for a wide receiver in the first round, but will be surprised if they haven’t selected one by the end of the third. 

Depth at wide receiver is a concern, and I expect to see the Patriots draft a big play type who can push Tate for playing time.  

A selection among Pittsburgh’s Jonathan Baldwin (second round), Boise State’s Titus Young (late second), or LSU’s Terrance Toliver (third round) would not surprise me—assuming they last till the points in the draft I have noted.