USA Today: Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft?

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Even if you love Pioli, Belichick the Chiefs or Pats, does anyone really think New England is the best drafting team?

If you had asked me in 2004, I would have said yes.

Now, I'd say the Patriots have the best draft strategy (the pick trading, which drives many Pats fans nuts), but haven't been the best talent evaluators the last few years, which would seem to put them a rung below the Polians and Newsomes.

That said, I'm not sure how many, if any, are ahead of them OTHER than Polian and Newsome.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

If you had asked me in 2004, I would have said yes.

Now, I'd say the Patriots have the best draft strategy (the pick trading, which drives many Pats fans nuts), but haven't been the best talent evaluators the last few years, which would seem to put them a rung below the Polians and Newsomes.

That said, I'm not sure how many, if any, are ahead of them OTHER than Polian and Newsome.

Green Bay has to be up there close, they completely turned their team around using 95% draft.

And I basically agree with what you said if you cut at 2005 it's arguable the Patriots are the best draft team, since then it's all changed. Anymore it looks like the Pats are more interested in trading picks than making good selections.

It comes back to this, it doesn't matter if you have 500 picks, or 22 2nd rounders if you don't make good selections or half the picks don't make your team because they aren't good enough to beat out the guys you have.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Green Bay has to be up there close, they completely turned their team around using 95% draft.

And I basically agree with what you said if you cut at 2005 it's arguable the Patriots are the best draft team, since then it's all changed. Anymore it looks like the Pats are more interested in trading picks than making good selections.

It comes back to this, it doesn't matter if you have 500 picks, or 22 2nd rounders if you don't make good selections or half the picks don't make your team because they aren't good enough to beat out the guys you have.

The Patriots philosophy regarding trading picks has been completely consistent. Remember, we traded the #1 pick in 2003 to the Ravens and got their 2nd that year (Eugene Wilson) and their #1 in 2004 (Vince Wilfork). Those kinds of maneuvers aren't new.

We whiffed in '06 and '08. The '07 class was weak (per BB) and we traded for MOss and Welker, which is a clear win. The '09 class is looking very solid, and nobody knows about '10, but having had four picks in the first two rounds, and being set up with 4 more in the first two rounds next year, I'd say we're well positioned.

But yes, having alot of picks only matters if you use them well.