Patriots - Inside Slant

DRAFT REVIEW—The Patriots did both the usual and the unusual Saturday in the early stages of the 2008 NFL Draft. The usual involved New England making a trade, dealing down from the No. 7 spot by sending that pick and a fifth-rounder (154) to the Saints in exchange for the No. 10 selection in the first round and a third-round pick (78).

A few minutes after the trade—one of 28 draft-day deals during Bill Belichick’s years overseeing New England’s selection weekends—the Patriots selected Tennessee junior linebacker Jerod Mayo. Mayo (6-1, 242) is the first linebacker selected by the Patriots in the first round, or even on the first day of the draft, since the selection of Andy Katzenmoyer in 1999.

The move brings instant youthful talent to a New England linebacking corps, something that’s been sorely lacking throughout Belichick’s entire reign in New England. With Belichick having avoided the linebacker spot in the draft for so long, never taking a player at the spot before the fifth round in his eight previous drafts in New England, one has to been intrigued by a prospect like Mayo.

It’s easy to see what the Patriots liked about him.

Mayo played all three linebacker spots (Mike, Sam, Will) in his three seasons with the Volunteers, starting 26 of 32 games played. He moved to the middle last year for his junior season, earning All-SEC honors as the defensive co-captain registered 140 tackles, the most for a Tennessee defender in nearly two decades.

He’s considered a student of the game and a film-room rat who also supposedly has a good natural feel for the game. While he’s dealt with knee, ankle and hand injuries in his college career, Belichick said New England’s doctors “feel fine” about him and that Mayo “is healthy and has been a very durable guy and a very productive player.”

Mayo referred to his pre-draft visit to Gillette Stadium as a great one and that he felt like he’d clicked with the coaches in that meeting. Apparently he did. He projects as an inside linebacker in New England’s 3-4 scheme, joining the likes of Tedy Bruschi and Victor Hobson on the depth chart although both Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas have position flexibility.

“I feel like I bring a winning nature. The Patriots already have a winning nature. I feel like I bring a work ethic. They already have that as well,” Mayo said. “You can’t really bring too much to a team that only lost one game in a season. I’m just excited to be in the position that I am and to be able to learn from some of the greats in the game.”

Belichick raved about Mayo’s position versatility, intelligence and production. He also called him “one of the better linebackers we have seen in awhile.”

The latter statement set Mayo up for instant comparisons to 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowler Patrick Willis.

For the second straight year, the Patriots looked to the defensive side of the ball in the first round, adding Mayo to 2007 top selection Brandon Meriweather in an effort to infuse some youthful talent into an aging, slowing defense. Considering Belichick’s impressive success hitting on first-round picks dating back to the selection of Richard Seymour in 2001, the addition of two young playmakers on defense in the last two years is an upswing for a team that returns the bulk of one of the greatest offenses in league history.

“We added a good player on defense and added one last year,” Belichick said of Mayo. “Hopefully we can continue to get a little bit younger on the defensive end of the ball going forward.”

New England did just that in the second round addressing the team’s next most prominent need after linebacker with the mildly surprising selection of Colorado cornerback Terrence Wheatley with the 62nd overall pick. Wheatley (5-9, 183) earned All Big-12 honors last fall for the Buffalos by finishing out his career with 14 interceptions in 40 games with 28 starts. With elite speed, Wheatley is also a dangerous kick returner with a 24.7-yard average in his four seasons, a role he could very well be asked to fill in New England early in his career.

Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable and another undersized cornerback—Auburn’s Jonathan Wilhite—highlighted the second day, when the Patriots also snagged a talented developmental quarterback in Kevin O’Connell.

Best Pick: Top pick Jerod Mayo (No. 10 overall) should be an immediate impact player in New England’s group of aging linebackers. He’s versatile, tough, smart and productive—all key traits for a Patriots-type linebacker. Look for him to get a shot to rotate with Victor Hobson and Tedy Bruschi inside from Day 1 and for his role to evolve throughout his rookie season. Many draft observers rave about Mayo’s upside and some are projecting him as the early favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, an award that’s gone to inside linebackers Patrick Willis and DeMeco Ryans over the last two seasons and to a linebacker in seven of the last eight years.

Could Surprise: QB Kevin O’Connell is easily the most talented developmental quarterback the Patriots have drafted since Tom Brady took over as the team’s starter in 2001. O’Connell joins a depth chart with unproven young players Matt Cassell and Matt Gutierrez, and is likely the most talented of the backup trio. With Cassell’s development having hit a disappointing plateau, O’Connell could very well be in the mix for the primary backup job. Should he develop he could be valuable as a trade commodity down the road.

A closer look at the Patriots’ picks:

Round 1/10—Jerod Mayo, LB, 6-1, 242, Tennessee

The Patriots targeted Mayo as a guy who could fill the tough role playing inside linebacker in the team’s 3-4 front. By trading down three spots to take him, the team also saved money on a guy who is expected to contribute from Week 1 in his career in New England. Mayo has the versatility of having played inside and out in college, is considered a smart, heady, natural player and is more than willing to learn from the veteran linebackers in place in New England.

Round 2/62—Terrence Wheatley, CB, 5-9, 183, Colorado.

Many had Wheatley rated a second-day selection, but the Patriots love his intelligence, experience and pure speed. Wheatley battled foot and wrist injuries (redshirting with the wrist issue in 2005) but was very productive with 14 picks in his Colorado career to go along with impressive kick return abilities. He’ll get a chance to return kicks early on in New England and should be in the mix for reps at cornerback for a team that lost nickel man Randall Gay to free agency.

Round 3/78—Shawn Crable, LB, 6-4, 245, Michigan

Crable is a good fit in New England as a developmental linebacker who’ll get the chance to learn from two of the better ‘backers in the NFL in Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas. Nearly a third of all his tackles last season for the Wolverines came for a loss to go with 7.5 sacks, playmaking ability and athleticism that could pave the way for a rotational impact in his rookie season.

Round 3/94—Kevin O’Connell, QB, 6-5, 225, San Diego St.

Some were surprised to see New England choose a quarterback in the end of the third round, but Belichick has always worked to develop a young quarterback behind Tom Brady. It hasn’t worked over the years, but O’Connell is the highest pick of the developmental group and arguably the most talented. He’s immediately the most talented backup QB on the roster.

Round 4/129—Jonathan Wilhite, CB, 5-9, 185, Auburn

Wilhite is another undersized cornerback projected to go later in the draft and scouting projections indicate the Patriots took him ahead of schedule. He recorded just three interceptions in three seasons at Auburn as a junior college transfer and has questionable ball skills. With the sheer numbers the Patriots have cornerback, Wilhite, who battled a hamstring injury last season, could be in a real fight to even make the New England roster.

Round 5/153—Matthew Slater, WR/KR, 5-11, 195, UCLA

The son of Rams Hall of Famer Jackie Slater was a core special teams guy for the Bruins and playmaker as a kick returner. Why that influenced the Patriots to trade up to select Slater might be a mystery outside the team’s building. Belichick puts as much importance on special teams as anyone.

Round 6/197—Bo Ruud, OLB, 6-2, 235, Nebraska

New England tapped into the football bloodlines again with its final pick of Ruud, brother of current Tampa LB Barrett Ruud, and the sixth Ruud Family member to play football at Nebraska. Ruud is another reach pick, rated by many as an undrafted free agent. He started each of his final three seasons with the Cornhuskers and his insatiable appetite for all things football will earn him points with Belichick.

Notes, Quotes

• With the NFL announcing April 23 that it had reached a legal agreement to speak with former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, New England subsequently issued its own statement. Walsh is expected to turn over any materials he might have relating to the Spygate scandal by May 8 and is scheduled to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on May 13.

“The New England Patriots are pleased to learn that Matt Walsh is finally willing to come forward to meet with the NFL,” the Patriots said in a written statement. “We are eagerly anticipating his honest disclosures to Commissioner Goodell next month and the return of all the materials he took during his time of employment. We fully expect this meeting to conclude the league’s investigation into a damaging and false allegation that was originally levied against the team on the day before this year’s Super Bowl.

“It is important to note that there has never been a confidentiality agreement restricting Matt Walsh and no legal protections were ever necessary for him to speak to the NFL, to media outlets or to anyone else regarding his employment with the Patriots. He demanded to be released from responsibility for his statements, and after a frustrating and lengthy negotiation period, a settlement has finally been reached. Walsh has been granted a significant number of privileges through this agreement, none of which the Patriots or the NFL were obligated to give.

“At all times, we cooperated fully with the league’s investigation and stand by our initial public statement from Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008: ‘The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams’ walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 is absolutely false.’

“The Patriots’ organizational focus at this time is on the NFL Draft and preparing for what we hope will be an exciting 2008 season. We will have no further comments regarding Matt Walsh at this time.”

• WR Jabar Gaffney had an interesting take on the endless “Spygate” controversy, not long before the league finally reached a legal agreement to speak with former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh.

“Don’t care. That was the issue way back in whenever, Week 1,” Gaffney said. “Matt Walsh, he’s coming forward with what he had from back when, whenever. We just take care of our business. That stuff (rumors) that’s out there, we don’t pay it no mind. It doesn’t reflect us one way or the other. We know we work hard and we go out and prepare. That’s the same approach we always take and we’ll continue to take from here on.”

• LB Junior Seau has yet to announce a decision on his playing future. But Patriots head coach Bill Belichick cautioned not to read anything into the fact that the team drafted an inside linebacker with the No. 10 pick as the move isn’t tied into Seau’s role or future with the team moving forward.

“That’s not really a factor,” Belichick said when asked if he’d spoken with Seau or if his status was a consideration in the draft.

Quote To Note: “We certainly wanted to get younger and faster on defense, but I have been saying that for the six years.”—Bill Belichick addressing the media following the second day of the draft, a weekend that saw the Patriots add five defensive players.

Strategy And Personnel

Franchise Player: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

• WR Troy Brown played just one game in his 15th season after starting the year on PUP. He may retire, but if he doesn’t the team told him that he’s not in its plans moving forward.

• S Mel Mitchell played in 10 games and is a core special teams-type guy. He might choose to go elsewhere as New England only has room for so many one-dimensional special teamers.

• CB Chad Scott didn’t make it through training camp and has been hurt often. He’s a solid veteran backup and could be back with the team in the market for corner depth.

• LB Junior Seau was expected to get his first Super Bowl ring and retire. The Giants messed that little story up. He was healthy all year and made plays. If he doesn’t retire after his 18th season, the only place he’ll be playing is in New England.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

• LB Eric Alexander is a decent though injury prone special teamer although he’s yet to show anything on defense, other than of course his still inexplicable start in the 2006 AFC title loss in Indianapolis.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

• WR Sam Aiken: UFA Bills; $1.555M/2 yrs, $225,000 SB/$40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $757,500.

• CB Fernando Bryant: FA Lions; $776,000/1 yr, $20,000 SB/$20,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• LB Victor Hobson: UFA Jets; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $485,000.

• P Scott Player: FA; terms unknown.

• TE Marcus Pollard: UFA Seahawks; terms unknown.

• CB Lewis Sanders: FA Falcons; $770,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $491,000.

• LB T.J. Slaughter: FA; $730,000/1 yr.

• CB Jason Webster: UFA Bills; $800,000/1 yr, $130,000 guaranteed/$70,000 WO.

• S Tank Williams: UFA Vikings; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 WO; 2008 cap: $491,000.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

• T Wesley Britt: ERFA; terms unknown.

• LB Tedy Bruschi: Potential UFA; $4.1M/2 yrs, $1.2M SB; 2008 cap: $1.6M.

• WR Jabar Gaffney: UFA; $1.281M/1 yr, $500,000 SB/$75,000 WO.

• LB Larry Izzo: Potential UFA; $870,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: 485,000.

• WR Randy Moss: UFA; $27M/3 yrs, $12M SB/$3M base guarantee; 2008 cap: $6M.

• LS Lonie Paxton: UFA; $880,000/1 yr, $150,000 SB.

• S Ray Ventrone: ERFA; $370,000/1 yr.

• WR Kelley Washington: UFA; $1.855M/2 yrs, $450,000 SB; 2008: $830,000.

• LB Pierre Woods: ERFA; terms unknown.

• DL Mike Wright: RFA; terms unknown (tendered at $1.47M).

PLAYERS LOST

• TE Kyle Brady (released/failed physical).

• LB Rosevelt Colvin (released/failed physical).

• CB Randall Gay: UFA Saints; $12M/4 yrs, $3.75M SB.

• DL Rashad Moore: Not tendered as RFA/Falcons; terms unknown.

• CB Asante Samuel: UFA Eagles; $59.475M/6 yrs, $6M SB/$7M RB 08-09.

• WR Donte Stallworth: UFA Browns; $35M/7 yrs, $10M guaranteed.

• DB Eugene Wilson: UFA Buccaneers; $1.8M/1 yr, $500,000 guaranteed.