2011 NFL Draft: Bill Belichick Has a Niche for Finding "First Round Talent"

If a player is drafted in the first round of the NFL draft, it doesn't mean that the certain prospect is considered "first-round" talent. 

Each and every draft is different—some draft classes are deep with certain positions, and some aren't. In fact, some drafts don't necessarily have the depth of talent and potential as other drafts do. 

In a recent article by Ian Rapport of the Boston Herald, he notes that New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is very good at determining what "first-round" talent is. 

In my opinion, this is one of Belichick's greatest skills—the ability to evaluate players and certain spots of the draft where talent is deep and where talent isn't deep. In other words, Belichick can sit at a certain draft pick and realize that he can get the same quality of talent in a few later picks. 

Belichick's ability and skill is the reason why New England usually makes the most trades on draft day. 

News started to swirl at the NFL annual owner's meeting in New Orleans, LA that Belichick and the Patriots are currently "shopping" for their top picks, and will be willing to trade any of their three picks in the top 33 of this year's draft. Reports from Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that a close insider to the Chargers confirmed that the Patriots were shopping their picks.

Also, as of Tuesday, Matt Maiocco of Comcast Sports Bay Area threw out the idea of the San Fransisco 49ers possibly trading up to 28th overall, a pick that the Patriots currently hold. 

Let's be realistic, Belichick is going to make some trades, and it's likely that those three picks in the top 33 will be moved, whether if New England is moving up a few spots or dropping back a few spots. 

Rapport, who had sit-down conversation with New York Giants' head coach Tom Coughlin got some good "inside" information regarding the Belichick's drafting strategy.

“I know that in the limited communication I’ve had with Bill on this subject,” Coughlin began, “he’s always concerned with where, in fact, that quality [is] and that how far that quality goes in the first round.”

Couglin points out the great point that I've been mentioning: Belichick has the ability to determine when the "first round quality" ends and if that the same "quality" will be available a few spots later.

Why should a team pay a player a typical enormous first-round contract when they can grab that same quality of player at a much cheaper price while adding a few later draft picks.

The way I see it: "In Bill Belichick we trust."

Belichick will make a lot of trades, but he will have reason behind it. It may not be obvious, but we need to trust the guy. I mean, he did win three Super Bowls in four years.

NOTE: This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net. Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @ TonySantorsa.