The 2009 NFL Draft has come to it's conclusion, and the New England Patriots selected twelve players, swung nine trades and filled needs at numerous different positions.
Here is my pick-by-pick analysis of their selections:
Patrick Chung, S, Oregon: After trading down twice and ultimately out of the first round, the Patriots used their second-round pick acquired in the Matt Cassel trade to land Oregon safety Patrick Chung. Chung is a hard-hitting safety with a nose for the football. He is a ballhawk who can hit harder than any other safety in the Draft. Chung's acquisition all but signals the end of Rodney Harrison in New England. Chung will fit seamlessly into Harrison's position and gives the Patriots a talented group of safeties, including James Sanders and Brandon Meriweather.
Ron Brace, DT, Boston College: A bit of a head-scratcher for the 40th overall pick, as the Pats had more pressing needs than defensive tackle. However, by drafting Brace, the Patriots give themselves leverage in negotiating with upcoming free agent Vince Wilfork. If successful in his rookie season, Brace can replace Wilfork on the line and transition into the role of nose tackle in the Pats' 3-4 defense. Brace is a genuine nose tackle, a big run-stopper who can clog the middle and allow for blitzing linebackers and safeties to get through the line.
Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut: Most mock drafts had Butler going in the first round, possibly to the Patriots at the 23rd pick. However, the Patriots waited for the 40th pick and landed Butler. This was possibly the best selection, based on pure value, for the Patriots. Butler will be expected to seamlessly transition into a nickel package role, behind Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden. Butler, alongside Jonathan Wilhite and Terrence Wheatley, will be the next generation of Patriots cornerbacks. Now with the trade of Ellis Hobbs, Butler will be expected to produce from the start of the season.
Sebastian Vollmer, OT, Houston: Vollmer was the first of a dearth of offensive line selections by the Patriots. Vollmer could compete for the starting right tackle job with Nick Kaczur, and he could be a sixteen-game starter. Vollmer is a big nasty offensive lineman, and the Patriots have prided themselves on their success in drafting offensive linemen. The Patriots have drafted their starting five offensive linemen (Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur), all within the last eight years.
Brandon Tate, WR, North Carolina: Tate is coming off of ACL and MCL surgery, and failed a drug test a couple of weeks back. He dropped off of most team's draft boards, with some suggesting that he'd fall to the fourth or fifth round. The Patriots used their first pick of day two to acquire Tate. Tate is a risk, but the potential for reward is through the roof. Tom Brady is now salivating at the prospects of throwing the ball to Moss, Welker, Galloway, Lewis and Tate. Tate is going into a strong locker room with a great group of leaders, and he understands that he cannot make off-field mistakes if he wants to succeed with the Patriots.
Tyrone McKenzie, OLB, South Florida: McKenzie transferred three times in his college career, playing for Michigan State, Iowa and ultimately South Florida. McKenzie excelled with each program, and is a versatile line backer with tremendous upside. He could rush from the outside position or blast through the interior of the offensive line as a middle linebacker. Alongside Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton and Pierre Woods, McKenzie can learn and grow under the tutelage of Tedy Bruschi and Adalius Thomas, and each could transfer into a star in the Patriots system.
Richard Ohrnberger, OG, Penn State: Much like Sebastian Vollmer, Ohrnberger could possibly start multiple games this season. He is a grinder, a Big Ten offensive linemen with a low center of gravity and a history of nasty behavior on the field. Ohrnberger is expected to back up Logan Mankins and Stephen Neal, but could possibly leap Billy Yates in training camp and find himself as the sixth offensive linemen. Under the guidance of Dante Scarnecchia, these young linemen could all shine, as the offensive line was an issue of concern in 2008, as Matt Cassel was beaten and bruised in numerous games.
George Bussey, OT, Louisville: A selection used for depth on the offensive line, Bussey will likely find himself on the outside looking in. He'll find most of his 2009 season on the bench, barring an injury to Matt Light, Nick Kaczur or Sebastian Vollmer.
Jacob Ingram, LS, Hawaii: The Patriots lost Lonie Paxton and acquired Nathan Hodel, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals. However, the Patriots selected Ingram to enter into a training camp competition with Hodel, where the winner emerges as the Pats' long snapper and the loser is given his walking papers. Ingram was one of two long snappers invited to the Scouting Combine. The importance of long snapping cannot be emphasized enough. These are the kind of guys who you don't know until they screw up. However, if they do screw up, it could cost you a game or a season. The Patriots have been lucky to have Paxton, one of the league's best long snappers.
Myron Pryor, DT, Kentucky: Pryor could be used in a Mike Wright role, as a defensive end or as an interior lineman in a 4-3 scheme. He is a solid run-stopper and is effective as a pass rusher. At 319 pounds, Pryor is a versatile defensive lineman. Not a bad selection by the Patriots for the sixth round. Pryor adds depth to the defensive line, a position that could be raided following 2009, when Wilfork, Richard Seymour and Jarvis Green all enter free agency.
Julian Edelman, QB, Kent State: This is an interesting one. Edelman was Kent State's quarterback, but the Patriots announced the pick as "Julian Edelman, wide receiver, Kent State". The Patriots toyed with the option of drafting Pat White in the second round, in order to have the possibility of a Wildcat offense. Edelman is the poor man's Pat White, rushing for over 1,300 yards last season. However, he has no receiving credits to his name. Maybe the Patriots know something the rest of the league doesn't know, but hopefully this works out better than the selection of Matthew Slater, another "swing" player, in last year's Draft.
Darryl Richard, DT, Georgia Tech: The Patriots concluded the 2009 NFL Draft by selecting their third defensive tackle. Richard is a 6-foot-2, 303 pound behemoth. The selection of three defensive lineman clearly shows that the Patriots are ready for life after Wilfork and Seymour, and that the possible trade for Julius Peppers is null and void.
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While there were indeed a handful of head-scratchers in this year's Draft, the Patriots accomplished what they have always intended on doing with the NFL Draft. They acquired young talent that wouldn't be too costly and built for the future. Lost in the commotion of the selection of three offensive linemen and three defensive linemen was the fact that the Patriots already have three second-round picks in the 2010 NFL Draft (their own, Jacksonville's and Tennessee's). The Patriots went with youth at positions that badly needed an infusion of youth and ability, and the pick of Darius Butler was the steal of the weekend for the Patriots.
OVERALL GRADE: B-
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