New England Patriots: NFL Offseason Report Card

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New England Patriots
2009 Draft Grade: A-

Free Agent/Non Draft: B-

Total Grade: B

Overall Needs:
•Inside Linebacker
•Cornerback
•Safety
•Guard
•Outside Linebacker
•Backup Running Back

Draft Picks:
Rd / Sel# / Name / Pos. / School
2) 34 Patrick Chung S Oregon
2) 40 Darius Butler CB Connecticut
2) 58 Sebastian Vollmer OT Houston
3) 83 Brandon Tate WR North Carolina
3) 97 Tyrone McKenzie LB South Florida
4) 123 Rich Ohrnberger OG Penn State
5) 170 George Bussey OT Louisville
6) 198 Jake Ingram LS Hawaii
6) 207 Myron Pryor DT Kentucky
7) 232 Julian Edelman QB Kent State
7) 234 Darryl Richard DT Georgia Tech

Arrivals: Old Team
TE Chris Baker (FA) NY Jets
CB Leigh Bodden (FA) Detroit
LB Vinny Ciurciu (FA) Minnesota
RB Omar Cuff (FA) Tampa Bay
DT Damane Duckett (FA) San Francisco
WR Joey Galloway (FA) Tampa Bay
LS Nathan Hodel (FA) Arizona
C Al Johnson (FA) Miami
WR Greg Lewis (trade) Philadelphia
S Brandon McGowan (FA) Chicago
TE Alex Smith (trade) Tampa Bay
CB Shawn Springs (FA) Washington
DT Steve Williams (FA)

Departures: New Team
QB Matt Cassel (trade) Kansas City
OT Damane Duckett (released)
FB Heath Evans (FA) New Orleans
WR Jabar Gaffney (FA) Denver
LB Larry Izzo (FA) NY Jets
WR C.J. Jones (FA) Kansas City
RB LaMont Jordan (FA) Denver
TE Brad Listorti (released)
P Tom Malone (released)
OL Lonie Paxton (FA) Denver
OT Oliver Ross (FA) Arizona
LB Bo Ruud (released)
RB Fred Taylor (FA) Jacksonville
LB Mike Vrabel (trade) Kansas City

Offseason Analysis:

The New England Patriots had another strong draft with 12 selections. What else is new? They traded QB Matt Cassell and Mike Vrabel to KC for the 34th and 31st selections. They also deat the 23rd overall pick to Green Bay for the 83rd overall pick. So they found Patrick Chung, the hard-hitting safety in the second round, from Oregon. He gives them flexibility in sub packages.

They ended up with four second-round picks, including Chung, adding DL Ron Brace from BC, corner Darius Butler from UConn and OT from Sebastian Vollmer. Brace can play a 3-4 end or a 4-3 tackle. Butler can help the Pats absorb the loss of Ellis Hobbs, who was traded to the Eagles for two fifth-rounders. Voller is a lanky tackle from Houston who needs to bulk up and can also play tight end.

In the third round, the Pats took a talented receiver-Brandon Tate-from North Carolina, who can play right away on the return teams. They also selected OLB Tyrone McKenzie from South Florida, a versatile tackling machine. In the fourth round, they grabbed OG Rich Ohrnberger from Penn State, who fits well in the Pats’ screen-pass oriented offense. In the fifth, they grabbed OT George Bussey, a short tackle who is very good in pass protection, though he’ll probably end up at guard. They added a long snapper with the selection of Jake Ingram from Hawaii in the sixth round.

The final three picks were selected for depth as they added DT Myron Pryor from Kentucky, QB Julian Edelman from Kent State, who can also play wide receiver and DT Darryl Richard from Georgia Tech. As for the offseason acquisitions, New England was busy, but most of their pickups were for depth purposes. They also dealt away backup qb Matt Cassel, who proved he can play in the league. Now if Tom Brady goes down again, the Pats have to turn to Kevon O’Connell.

Fred Taylor is at the end of the line, but if anybody can still get something out of the potential Hall of Famer running back, it’s Bill Belichick. Joey Galloway is another aging vet, who can still fly. He’ll give them depth at receiver along with Greg Lewis. Brady will be in heaven with Galloway, Lewis, Randy Moss and Wes Welker. On defense, the Pats took a chance on Shawn Springs at corner, who will have to hold off Butler. CB Leigh Bodden struggled in Detroit last season, but has good ball skills and fits the cover-2 well.

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