Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Day two of the draft was much of the same as day one for the New England Patriots. Trades, trades and even more trades. The Pats began the day with four 3rd round draft picks. They ended up taking only two, but swinging deals to bring them two additional 2nd-round picks in the 2010 draft. They even traded a player, cornerback Ellis Hobbs, to the Philadelphia Eagles for two 5th-round drafts picks. Those draft picked were later used to move up in the 4th round for offensive lineman, Rich Ohrnberger.
Third Round:
83rd overall - Brandon Tate (WR, North Carolina) Tate, who has very good talent, fell to the 3rd round due to off field troubles and a positive test for marijuana at the NFL combine. This was good value for the Pats. The leadership of this team should help him mature and become a contributor as the 4th or 5th wideout this season.
97th overall - Tyrone McKenzie (OLB, South Florida) During the post draft press conference, Bill Belichick spoke about this man's intelligence and maturity and how impressed he was with him during interviews. Sounds like a perfect Patriot to me. Regardless of his potential on the field, you have to take notice when BB gushes about someone. My guess is this is a very good pick, and someone who will get time rushing the passer this season.
Fourth Round:
123rd overall - Rich Ohrenberger (OG, Penn State) He's not the biggest lineman, but has been known to have a nasty streak. Hard worker who plays until the whistles blown. Could be a stretch in the 4th.
Fifth Round:
170th overall - George Bussey (OT, Louisville) Bussey is another lineman that is on the smaller side. He's a former walk-on who's had to earn every second of playing time during his college career.
Sixth Round:
198th overall - Jacob Ingram (LS, Hawaii) With the departure of Lonnie Paxton to the Denver Broncos, the Pats are in need of a new longsnapper. Scouts Inc. has refereed to Ingram as the best long snapper to enter the draft in the past three years. Paxton has done everything perfectly in his time in New England, so Ingram has big shoes to fill in a pressure packed position. I may just have to buy an Ingram Patriots jersey because we have the same last name. I will certainly be rooting for him.
207th overall - Myron Pryor (DT, Kentucky) Short, but stout defensive tackle who may be headed to the practice squad due to the great depth of the defensive line. Scouts agree that he has a quick first step, and should be better suited as a pass rusher than attacking the run.
Seventh Round:
232nd overall - Julian Edelman (WR, Kent State) Edelman is the former quarterback for the Golden Flashes. He has excellent speed and athleticism. My guess is he has a chance to make the team being used in some type of Wildcat formation. If not, then he's only a 7th round choice. Belichick loves versatile players, and this is a potential new threat.
234th overall - Darryl Richard (DT, Georgia Tech) I don't have much info on Richard, but it seems like the Pats are stockpiling defensive tackles. Wilfork and Seymour are both free agents after this season.
Overall Grade: B+
The Patriots picked up 3 players in the 2nd round who will see significant time during their rookie seasons, and a potential replacement for Lonnie Paxton at longsnapper. Patrick Chung is a safety that can play deep, along with Brandon Merriweather, and allow James Sanders to concentrate on stopping the run. Ron Brace should be slotted into the defensive line rotation ahead of Mike Wright. Brace will have a very good pro career and is good insurance in case Wilfork leave through free agency. Many experts had Darrius Butler going to the Patriots in the 1st round, so it's safe to say they made a fantastic value pick with him in the 2nd. The addition of Butler, Leigh Bodden, Shawn Springs and the returns of Terrence Wheatley and Jonathon Wilhite made the Ellis Hobbs trade possible. I am fine with the trade, but am not sure if the deal was to free cap space.
Keep checking the site over the next few days for additional draft recaps and draft grades for all 32 teams.
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