How Bad Are The Patriots Really On Day One And Two?

It's no secret that the Patriots draft strategy has been draft the best fit for team needs. It's been a winning formula, well for most of the past 20 years that is. The first three rounds are where the marquis players are drafted. Since 2013 the Patriots have drafted 26 players over the 8 seasons, 30 going back 9 seasons.

Tom E. Current's Patriots talk podcast went over what Robert Kraft said, and then followed by saying the Patriots have only drafted "maybe 2 superstars out of those 26 picks." 

There's many of good or serviceable players drafted in that span, don't get me wrong but there's been even more busts. This is also the years for the 2019 draft picks to break out. 

The list of 26 players drafted goes as following in order by draft year:

Jamie Collins, Aaron Dobson, Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon, Dominique Easley, Jimmy Garoppolo, Malcom Brown, Jordan Richards, Geneo Grissom, Cyrus Jones, Joe Thuney, Jakobi Brissett, Vincent Valentine, Derek Rivers, Antonio Gaecia, Isaiah Wynn, Sony Michel, Duke Dawson, N'Keal Harry, Joejuan Williams, Chase Winovich, Damien Harris, Yodne Cajuste, Kyle Dugger, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene.

Curran is right. I mean The Jury is still out on Damien Harris, and the the 5 guys from the 2020 draft. Sony Michel and Isaiah Wynn, fans have been pushing for a trade because they're expendable. Really other than Jamie Collins and Joe Thuney, which Curran mentioned; None of the other guys are more than plugs. Many fans don't even want Jimmy Garoppolo back.

Belichick has hit in free agency, he's hit on day three a little. He's also good with undrafted signings but when the time comes to get superstars that also fill the team needs, Belichick and the Patriots over the past 8 drafts have failed on day 1 and 2. If you go back 1 year prior, it becomes 26 of 30 picks the Patriots have whiffed on.

Now before someone says yeah but what about day three picks. He's only drafted 12 maybe 13 of 42 players that have been serviceable players or better on day three since 2012. Going 1 for 3 in 2012 on day three. So he can get players but he still doesn't hit enough on day three either.

Curran brought up that "Kraft was upset at the lack of 'home grown' talent and that the Patriots cannot stay competitive consistently signing massive free agent every year."

This is not disrespecting Bill Belichick or the Patriots. It's acknowledging the team has a problem in the machine. Yeah, yeah, Bill sold out to win rings but nobody can say there weren't better players that fit the Patriots needs, that wouldn't of made winning the ring a little easier. Can't say the Patriots couldn't of used help on defense, in the loss to philly.

How many second, third, and fourth round draft picks went on to be stars and Bill failed to grab them in the previous round? Hell how many first round stars came after the Patriots selections? How many undrafted free agents has Belichick signed that have stuck around, while drafts don't even make the cut? Too many. 

While the Patriots need to draft better on day 1 and 2, the entire draft needs to start being better. Furthermore, if it's not the draft process, than the position coaches need to do a better job of developing players. Maybe it's a combination of both. The fact of the matter is that the 7 and 9 season got the attention of Robert Kraft. And Kraft is not a happy senior citizen.