New England Patriots 2012 NFL Draft and Offseason Review, Projections, and Analysis
The New England Patriots are once again looking like one of the NFL’s best, deepest teams. After an offseason where they were much more active in free agency than usual and drafted almost purely defense, the Pats look re-loaded and ready for another Super Bowl run. Here is how they upgraded through the 2012 NFL Draft:
- Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse
- Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
- Tavon Wilson, DB, Illinois
- Jake Bequette, DE/OLB, Arkansas
- Nate Ebner, DB, Ohio State
- Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
- Jeremy Ebert, WR, Northwestern
UDFA
Miami DT Marcus Forston; Iowa TE Brad Herman; South Florida OL Jeremiah Warren; Iowa OL Markus Zusevics
2012 Draft Pick Recap and Analysis
1. Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse
Scouting Report
Well-built defensive end prospect who has great upper-body strength and a lot of athletic upside. Very good size for a defensive end, and has the look of a very good NFL pass rusher. Didn’t display great skills as a pass rusher but needs to learn how to use his length better and more consistently. He doesn’t have elite quickness but he does get good timing off the snap and has solid speed around the edge. Could be really effective as a left defensive end in the NFL. Solid wrap up tackler and takes good angles. Able to set the edge but needs to be coached up on not playing too high, which is an easy habit to fall into at his height. He has a really good motor and consistently gives solid effort. I think the biggest thing for him is going to be whether he can stay healthy or not.
Todd McShay has him rated as a first round pick, as the 22nd best player in the draft pool right now. Others have him rated as a low second round pick and a guy who should be drafted based on upside. My guess is that he will be drafted somewhere in between. I don’t know if he will test out good enough to be a first round pick, but he’ll be one of the guys who shows up at the Combine and blows some people away. One of his brothers plays for the Ravens (Arthur) and his other brother is a UFC fighter (Jon).
His length reminds me a lot of Jason Pierre-Paul, but he is definitely not as quick around the edge. He does have quite a few injury problems, but was productive when he was healthy enough to play.
Overall, I think Jones has the potential to turn into a first round type of value, but he is just a little too raw for my liking at this point in time. He definitely has the athletic ability to be a very good strongside defensive end in the NFL.
Pick Analysis
This is a good pick by the Patriots. I like Jones’ upside as a strong-side pass rusher, and while I initially thought he looked better as a defensive end, the Pats will use him in a variety of roles in their hybrid defensive looks. He is a super-athletic player with a ton of pass rush potential and a guy who can really flourish in this defense.
2. Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
Scouting report
Pros
Good size and build…intelligent…knows his assignments well and has become a student of the game..agility has improved significantly after being more than a year removed from his knee injury…plus at shedding blocks from offensive linemen…very physical and aggressive can chase down faster quarterbacks…Scheme versatility (could play 4-3 in some NFL schemes probably better fit as a 34 LB)…plus blitzing skills…lays punishing hits…respected by his teammates for his leadership ability
Cons:
The biggest concern is probably whether or not he can cover well enough to be a three down linebacker in the N.F.L.
Medical Concerns are shrinking but still there (bad knee injury in 2009), Hightower was apprehensive following his knee injury in 2010 and his production suffered. This year he has returned to form and exceeded, many expectations. 2011 Butkus award finalist and possibly the most valuable linebacker in the draft. Has great size and never comes off, the field on defense. The most improvement he has made thus far is his mobility; Dont’a has been able to improve his lateral movement down, the line to chase down plays from the backside and cover backs and tight ends he couldn’t otherwise handle in 2010.
The combination of Hightower and Upshaw is going to make it nearly impossible to run on the Alabama defense all season long. Hightower would have been a high choice in the 2011 draft had he chosen to come out. Somewhat raw right now, but was dominant as a freshman before missing out on the entire 2009 season due to injury (granted medical redshirt). This is a guy who is the perfect fit for the 3-4 defense, and could play inside or outside. Won the Mal Moore leadership award following Spring practice in 2010. He has a similar body type to Brian Urlacher coming out of New Mexico State, but is not quite as athletic (Urlacher returned punts). Could have a similar impact as a MIKE linebacker in a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment, and may have upside as a SAM or rush linebacker in a 3-4.
Pick Analysis
I love when teams double up on positions and picks, and this pick by the Patriots is one that I was a huge fan of on draft night. They instantly upgraded their linebacker group with their first two picks, and while Hightower wasn’t the best player on the Alabama defense the last couple of years, he has excellent size and is a perfect fit for the 3-4 defense.
3. Tavon Wilson, DB, Illinois
Scouting Report
Wilson doubles as a cornerback and strong safety, and is one of the most versatile players in the Illinois secondary. He became a full-time starter in 2009 when he had 74 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, seven passes broken up and an interception, and he followed it up in 2010 with 48 tackles and another interception. As was mentioned before, Wilson has an excellent combination of size and speed, and has been timed in the high 4.3 range. Known as a leader on the field and in the weight room. Coach Ron Zook had great things to say about Wilson as he transitioned from CB to S due to a rash of injuries in the defensive backfield:
“He was not fired up about it,” coach Ron Zook said. “If you ask him, he probably didn’t like it. But he’s a team guy, he’s a winner. He said, `I’ll do whatever I have to for this team.’”
Wilson had a lot of success with the move to safety, as he led the Illini in passes broken up and passes defensed last year. He should have an NFL future either at CB, S, or as a special teams ace or nickel/dime defensive back.
Pick Analysis
In the second round, this was a bit of a surprise pick by the Patriots, but certainly Wilson is a guy who can contribute in a variety of ways, which is what the Patriots like in players. Wilson is a solid athlete who had good production in college, and right now he could be penciled in as the backup strong safety and a rotational corner.
4. Jake Bequette, DE/OLB, Arkansas
Pick Analysis
Bequette is a player coming off of injury, but he has a chance to be a big contributor for the Patriots. He is a big, long, athletic defensive end prospect who can play outside linebacker as well for the Patriots. He has a great motor and in the third round is an incredible value. For the second straight year, the Patriots picked up a player from Arkansas in the third round (Ryan Mallett) who has the look of a potential future starter. Bequette gives great effort and had really good production in the SEC, which is really impressive. He is a young pass rushing prospect who is really great value and I think the Patriots may have found a starter here in the third round.
Pick Analysis
Ebner is still pretty new to football, but I found this interesting nugget from his official Buckeyes biography that you might also like:
Nate Ebner didn’t play high school football – he was a rugby player in high school and still is a world-class rugby player – yet he was such a terrific athlete and had such a physical nature that he made the Ohio State team as a walk-on three years ago and he finished his career on scholarship. He was voted by his teammates as the team’s most inspirational player and was presented with the Bo Rein Award at the end of the 2011 season.
In Ebner, the Patriots got a guy who is a fantastic athlete who will likely get his start on special teams. Like Tavon Wilson, Ebner is a safety first, cornerback second but he can probably play both positions. He has very good overall size for a defensive back, as well as plus speed and overall athletic ability. He really wasn’t much of a producer for the Buckeyes over the last three years, so it’s interesting that he got drafted in the first place, but the Patriots obviously see some upside in him.
6. Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
Scouting Report
PROS: Great experience as a starter…hard worker…very quick to read quarterback… ball-hawk… solid tackler…has lock-down potential…excels in press coverage…good bulk and build…good speed…makes a lot of plays on the football…also plays well in zone coverage…doesn’t shy away from tackles…fluid enough to play the slot at the N.F.L. level
CONS: Injuries have been a slight concern for him (concussion in 2010), otherwise his biggest issue will be adjusting to the speed of the NFL…over aggressive at times making him vulnerable to double moves…a tick shorter than ideal..willing tackler does not mean great tackler…recently arrested for assault (report came out a week prior to draft)
I’m not sure I”m willing to say Dennard is a better pro prospect than Prince Amukamara, but he is a real good one. He is a very fluid athlete who does a nice job in press coverage and could really excel on a team like the Oakland Raiders (but he won’t be drafted by the Oakland Raiders because they have no early round draft picks). Teams might turned off a bit by his injury history, but the team that does draft him in the late part of the first round is really getting themselves a top coverage corner. What you also like about Dennard is that he has the versatility to play outside or in the slot.
Pick Analysis
The Patriots took a calculated risk here. Dennard is a first or second round prospect who has no business being in the seventh round as a prospect, but off the field, he has some issues to work through. If he thinks he can thug it in the NFL, he is sorely mistaken. He needs to clean up his act, but in the seventh round, the Patriots are getting a guy who can come in and be a starter for them almost right away. He is definitely that talented, though he struggled in his senior season.
7. Jeremy Ebert, WR, Northwestern
Scouting Report
Ebert has been Northwestern’s best wideout during the past couple years, and it showed in a big way last season. Ebert had a personal best 62 receptions for 953 yards. That makes out for a 15.4 average, he also caught 8 touchdown passes over the course of the season, but NFL teams will want him to be more consistent over the entire season since half of his touchdowns came in the month of September. He really struggled getting the ball when Persa was out with his injury, having 3 games with less then 4 receptions and no touchdowns.
Pick Analysis
As a former high school quarterback, Ebert had a very impressive career as a wide receiver at Northwestern, especially with inconsistencies at the quarterback position in terms of injuries. He led the team in receiving over the last two years, and had 19 touchdowns in that timeframe. The pick by the Patriots is intriguing, because they acquired so many other receivers over the course of the offseason. Ebert really shocked people when he ran a 4.38 in the 40 and displayed excellent athleticism at the Northwestern pro day. It was doubly interesting given his production in college over the last two years.
Key Offseason Acquisitions
WR Brandon Lloyd (Rams)
RB Joseph Addai (Colts)
FB Tony Fiametta
WR Jabar Gaffney (Redskins)
WR Donte’ Stallworth (Redskins)
OL Robert Gallery (Seahawks)
DL Jonathan Fanene
DL Trevor Scott (Raiders)
LB Bobby Carpenter
DB Will Allen
DB Steve Gregory (Chargers)
Key Offseason Losses
RB Ben-Jarvus Green-Ellis (Bengals)
WR Chad Johnson (Dolphins)
OT Matt Light (retired)
DE Andre Carter (FA)
DE Mark Anderson (Bills)
LB Gary Guyton
S James Ihedigbo
CB Antwaun Molden
Projected Depth Chart
QB: Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett
RB: Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead, Joseph Addai
FB: Spencer Larsen
WR: Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch, Jeremy Ebert (R), Julian Edelman
WR: Wes Welker, Jabar Gaffney, Donte’ Stallworth
TE: Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells
LT: Nate Solder, KyleHix
LG: Logan Mankins, Robert Gallery
C: Dan Connolly, Dan Koppen
RG: Brian Waters, Marcus Cannon
RT: Sebastian Vollmer, Cannon
DE: Brandon Deaderick, Jonathan Fanene
NT: Vince Wilfork, Ron Brace, Gerard Warren
DE: Trevor Scott, Kyle Love, Myron Pryor
OLB: Chandler Jones (R), Jermaine Cunningham, Jake Bequette (R)
ILB: Jerod Mayo, Tracy White
ILB: Brandon Spikes, Bobby Carpenter
OLB: Dont’a Hightower (R), Rob Ninkovich
CB: Devin McCourtey, Will Allen, Alfonzo Dennard (R)
CB: Kyle Arrington, Ras-I Dowling
FS: Steve Gregory, Josh Barrett
SS: Patrick Chung, Tavon Wilson (R), Nate Ebner (R)