Which Team Will Make the Biggest 1st Round Blunder? (1 Viewer)

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Absolutely no way of knowing that. Just because you claim that doesn't make it so.

Sure, he may not have been on the radar for 25 teams, but there were several teams that had him on their list of second round lineman. BB and NE seemed very confident they knew exactly who was going to take him if they didn't. Just like last year, they knew that they didn't have to move up to take Mac Jones. Teams have a very good idea what the other teams will do in the top 50 picks or so. It's always a safe bet that guys that run teams for a living have way more knowledge and intel than the fan base or media members do.

All I need to know that it’s true is the live reaction by Sean McVay.

Bursting out in laughter spontaneously tells me all I need to know. You can write 10,000 more words about it and it still doesn’t make it a good pick. The Patriots absolutely #### the bed.

 

[travdogg]

Vikings made the biggest blunder in the 1st round. It's not even close. 

Hmm, as long as they don't do something stupid at #34, I actually like what the Vikings did. Cine is a good player. 

I'd say besides NE, the biggest blunder may have been Arizona, giving up almost as much for Hollywood Brown as AJ Brown or Tyreek Hill cost. I'm not sure I'd have taken Hollywood Brown at #23 if I got him at the start of a rookie deal, let alone year 4, when he's gonna want to get paid too, and has all the leverage in the world now. 

 

[Anarchy99]

All I need to know that it’s true is the live reaction by Sean McVay.

Bursting out in laughter spontaneously tells me all I need to know. You can write 10,000 more words about it and it still doesn’t make it a good pick. The Patriots absolutely #### the bed.

I never once said it was a good pick, although I think they will end up with a very good player. If Strange played at a Power 5 school people will have had him with a first-round grade. But NE had much bigger fish to fry and then picked an FCS player at a non-premium position that could have still been there on their next pick. Even if he wasn't, is the difference between Strange and another incoming guard SO GREAT that NE JUST HAD to have him? I would say that's doubtful.

I am not arguing that NE made a good pick or a smart decision . . . but it's the type of pick they have made several times over the years. Look, people openly questioned why the Colts would take a guard (Quenton Nelson) 6th overall. But he's been an All Pro three times since then. People can still argue that either way. If Strange ends up being a solid and long-term starter, NE could end up getting a valuable player. But no matter what happens with Strange, at present, that doesn't solve the CB / LB / WR conundrum for the Patriots. If I need a saw, a screwdriver, and a plunger and go to the hardware store and come home with a really solid hammer, how does that help?

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I thought the Strange pick was as, well, strange as anyone else.  But McVay is still about 6 Super Bowls short of being able to laugh at anything Belichick does.

 

[efactor]

I thought the Strange pick was as, well, strange as anyone else.  But McVay is still about 6 Super Bowls short of being able to laugh at anything Belichick does.

True

The Rams won the Super Bowl so McVay is getting away with being a #### here.  Really disrespectful and comes off badly

 

[Anarchy99]

Boston radio station WEEI actually picked that the Pats would take Cole Strange (sort of). Earlier in the week, the Felger and Mazz show (who this offseason have been campaigning that BB should be fired) made a giant board of prospects and threw a dart at the board. It landed on Strange, who they hadn't ever heard of. After reading his player profile over the air, they felt he would totally be the type of pick BB would make just to show people how smart he was.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I thought the Strange pick was as, well, strange as anyone else.  But McVay is still about 6 Super Bowls short of being able to laugh at anything Belichick does.

Well, he was pretty clearly six hard seltzers in, so it all balances out

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I am sure that there are second- and third-day picks available as decent IOL options.

I read about this small school guy, I think his name is strange, from Tennessee Chattanooga that is expected to be available in the early third.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

True

The Rams won the Super Bowl so McVay is getting away with being a #### here.  Really disrespectful and comes off badly

He seemed a little tipsy in that video.

 

[identikit]

Strange is going to end up as a solid player.

- Strange had the 7th highest athletic score of 1,298 guards evaluated over the past 35 years.
- His size and measurables are almost the same as former 1st round pick, All Pro, and 6-time Pro Bowler Logan Mankins (who went to Fresno State and sparked the same reaction when NE picked him in the late first in 2005).
- The last time Strange allowed a sack was 2018.
- He's played all 5 positions on the OL.
- He played on a team that averaged 205 rushing yards per game the past 3 seasons (and fits the NE run heavy scheme).
- He topped the NE draft board for all OL prospects this year and was signed off on by former NE OL coaching guru Dante Scarnecchia.
- Since Strange was selected, people have surveyed teams around the league and found multiple teams that had him as a potential second-round pick. BB seemingly was not blowing smoke when he said he wasn't falling very far past the Pats pick. (People are suggesting BB knew exactly which team was going to draft Strange if he were on the board.)
- Of the last 5 OL players NE drafted in the Top 50, 3 of them became All Pros (Vollmer, Light, and Mankins) as did another player picked just outside that range (Thuney).

All that being said, Strange may end up being a Day 1 and long-time starter for NE. As I mentioned in the draft day thread, NE had other more pressing needs and lacks high-end talent/impact players. Drafting Strange is the furthest thing from that. As someone posted on twitter, how will Strange do covering Stefon Diggs this year?

Strange will end up being a versatile and valuable asset. But he isn't going to stretch the field and catch 100 balls for 1300/12 as a #1 receiver, he's not going to get a dozen sacks, and he isn't a lockdown corner. Sure, he fills a hole, but not one of their biggest ones. I am sure that there are second- and third-day picks available as decent IOL options. How likely will there be a difference maker / game changer at CB / LB / WR in those rounds (that gets picked by NE)? Lots of rumors of NE taking WR John Metchie in the second round. He seems like a very good receiver . . . but is he a difference maker?

Absolutely no way of knowing that. Just because you claim that doesn't make it so.

 

[kneeshooter]

He seemed a little tipsy in that video.

And was clearly laughing at himself for investing so much time in a guy that would never fall to them. McVay has huge respect for BB and has said so many times. Total overreaction by Pats sports media and fans (shocking).

 

[Anarchy99]

Absolutely no way of knowing that. Just because you claim that doesn't make it so.

Clearly, I was stating an opinion that will play out on the field. But at least we'll get to find out. We'll never know if Strange would have gone with the 30th pick or 130th (or any point in between).

 

[Bossman]

As a Patriots fan, I'm just thankful they traded down from 21 before taking Strange.

Softens the blow a little getting the extra 3rd and 4th round picks.

 

[TwinTurbo]

As mentioned earlier in the thread, the Rams reaction to the Pats drafting Strange was priceless. 

Only time will tell, but it was eye-opening to see a Superbowl winning head coach have the same initial reaction as every Joe Sixpack watching along. 

 

[TwinTurbo]

True

The Rams won the Super Bowl so McVay is getting away with being a #### here.  Really disrespectful and comes off badly

I don't think he came across as disrespectful. These teams put thousands of hours into this process and they were legitimately shocked by the pick. If anything, their reaction is far more authentic and justified than the average fan. The Pats made a massive reach. And in the end, they might have the last laugh. Time will tell. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Clearly, I was stating an opinion that will play out on the field. But at least we'll get to find out. We'll never know if Strange would have gone with the 30th pick or 130th (or any point in between).

I mean, you can suggest that the absence of evidence is proof, but by all accounts, no one in the entire NFL ecosphere had Strange with a 1st round draft grade, and reportedly very few had a 2nd round grade on him.

So while not empirical proof, it’s stronger than the circular reasoning that “they took him at 30 so we’ll never know if he woulda made it to 54”.

based on all available evidence, we do kinda do know that. McVay was apparently preparing to take him at 104.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

As mentioned earlier in the thread, the Rams reaction to the Pats drafting Strange was priceless. 
 

you just can’t script that sort of spontaneity. That was a gut reaction, and whether it was classless or not, or an affront to BB or not, it was absolutely genuine. Tells me everything I need to know about who made the worst pick in the 1st round.

someone early in this topic listed NE, IIRC. 

 

[Anarchy99]

I mean, you can suggest that the absence of evidence is proof, but by all accounts, no one in the entire NFL ecosphere had Strange with a 1st round draft grade, and reportedly very few had a 2nd round grade on him.

So while not empirical proof, it’s stronger than the circular reasoning that “they took him at 30 so we’ll never know if he woulda made it to 54”.

based on all available evidence, we do kinda do know that. McVay was apparently preparing to take him at 104.

The Rams don't have any picks until 104, so their situation isn't really representative of the other 30 franchises.

Jim Nagy, who runs the Senior Bowl, said multiple teams he spoke with all had Strange with a second-round grade. I forget who it was on the national level, but he said that he spoke with a team that said they were looking at Strange with a pick in the early second round (wasn't going to say the team as they still need to make a pick there).

The other point not mentioned yet is that some people that felt there were only 15ish players worthy of first round picks and then about 50 players that all graded out very similarly. If we believe that (I am not saying that's accurate), then whether a guy was taken in the first or second really wouldn't matter that much.

 

[TwinTurbo]

The other point not mentioned yet is that some people that felt there were only 15ish players worthy of first round picks and then about 50 players that all graded out very similarly. If we believe that (I am not saying that's accurate), then whether a guy was taken in the first or second really wouldn't matter that much.

On this point, I agree with you 100%. More than any other draft that I can remember, it was clear that some teams had wildly different grades on the top prospects, especially WR, DE, and OL.

What was also clear is that, with the exception of the Steelers, no teams had a first round grade on any of the QBs. If Pickett had slipped past the Steelers, he would still be sitting next to Willis.  

I still think the worst and best move of the night was the Vikings trading away #12 to the Lions. Jameson was my #1 WR and I'm a Lions fan, so yeah! for us. 

 

[TripItUp]

Pats may have reached...but Jax picked a potential complete bust at #1 overall.

Jax pick several levels more egregious IMHO.

 

[zeeshan2]

Unfortunately 2 for 2. Green would have been there around 20 or later, so they should’ve traded down again if they wanted him. 

Caserio said he had an offer to trade down at 20 from the Steelers but the Chargers did just take Zion at 17 so they though Green would be gone by then

 

[BobbyLayne]

Pats may have reached...but Jax picked a potential complete bust at #1 overall.

Jax pick several levels more egregious IMHO.

curious how long it’s been since the overall #1 pick wasn’t all conference 

not that there’s any correlation between post season accolades & success at the next level - but I would think that doesn’t happen often