This conversation is nuts. All I know is if this was a year ago everybody would be strocking Mike Tannenbaums ego. But one bad year and the Jets do things wrong.
I can't argue against this point. The Ravens would be an exception here because they haven't had a top-tier QB, despite Flacco's terrific performance in the AFCC. It is perplexing to see Belichick's Defense continually decline. And that's my point -- the Patriots are masterful at stockpiling picks, and they're able to do that because there's no urgency for them to trade-up/reach for those Defensive needs as long as they have Brady to carry the team. On Offense (excluding their TEs and OL), they're not teeming with talent either: their RBs are average and their WRs aren't very dynamic. But, again, they don't press for those needs because those deficiencies are offset by Brady. Furthermore, when they have targeted needs and tried to address them, they've whiffed numerous times, yet, that never seems to hinder them. The Patriots aren't a perennial powerhouse because of the abundance of picks they have in every Draft, but rather, because they have an elite QB which, in turn, allows them the freedom to stockpile picks. (JetsUK also keenly detailed this notion with his post near the end of the previous page)
That is interesting. Not surprising, but interesting. My question about that is, what is defined as "panning out"?
I dont know the article didnt go into a lot of detail on this point, it was just kind of a throw away comment, but I did think it was interesting (and it also reinforces my own views about being relatively relaxed about spending later draft picks to trade up)
