We (A Collection of Board Members) Could Do A Better Job

I thought this was going to be a retread about our own board evolution... ;)

Having a GOAT and a decent OL hid a lot didn't it?

Thus the Patriots embark on a huge free agent spending spree this off-season to try and recover from the loss of TB, along with bad drafts over the years being driven a lot by Belicheck.

From a post a few months ago in response to the folks on this board who have ZERO perspective when it comes to evaluating Rick Spielman vs. the rest of the NFL. 

2020 (too early obviously, but...)
Kyle Dugger, S. 2nd round, 2020, 3rd string
Josh Uche. LB, 2nd round, healthy scratch first two games. On IR now, hasn’t played a game
Anfernee Jennings, 3rd round, healthy scratch, hasn’t played a game
Vikings draft: Justin Jefferson, Jeff Gladney, Ezra Cleveland and Cameron Dantzler

2019
N’Keal Harry, WR, 1st round. Did nothing his first year. Labeled a bust already.
JoJuan Williams, DB, 2nd round. Hasn’t started a game. Has 1 tackle in 4 games this year.
Chase Winovich, LB, 3rd round. Didn’t start a game his rookie season. But looks like a decent player
Damien Harris, RB, 3rd round. Has one start in two seasons
Yodny Cajuste, OL, 3rd round. Hasn’t appeared in a single game. Taken one pick before Alexander Mattison.
Vikings draft: Garrett Bradbury, Irv Smith and Alexander Mattison

2018
Isaiah Wynn, OL, 1st round, Finally healthy, good looking player. Still, only 12 starts out of 36 games
Sony Michel, RB, 1st round, had a good week last week, but Michel is just awful. For a 1st rounder, bust. 
Duke Dawson, DB, 2nd round. Didn’t play a single game his rookie season. Year later traded to Broncos for 6th rounder, where he is not a starter. Taken 6 picks before Brian O'Neill. Bust. 
Vikings draft: Mike Hughes and Brian O’Neill

2017
Derek Rivers, DE, 3rd round, hasn’t started a game. Has 5 tackles in 4 seasons. Bust
Antonio Garcia, T, 3rd round, released a year later. Out of football. Bust.
Vikings draft: Dalvin Cook and Pat Elflein

2016
Cyrus Jones, DE, 2nd round. In 4 years, has played on 5 teams. Now out of football. Bust
Joe Thuney, G, 3rd round. Good player. 
Jacoby Brissett, QB, 3rd round. Backup QB in Indy. Started a handful of games
Vincent Valentine, DT, 3rd round. 4 teams in 4 years. Out of football. Bust.
Vikings draft Laquon Treadwell and Mack Alexander

2015
Malcolm Brown, DT, 1st round. Patriots declined 5th year option. Decent player in New Orleans
Jordan Richards, DB, 2nd round. On his 5th team in 6 seasons. Bust
Geneo Grissom, DE, 3rd round. Played on three teams in 5 seasons. Out of football.
Vikings draft Trae Waynes, Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs

2014
Dominique Easley, DE, 1st round. Started 3 games in 4 seasons. Out of football. Bust.
Jimmy G, QB, 2nd round. Solid, starting QB in San Francisco. 
Vikings draft: Anthony Barr, Teddy Bridgewater, Jerrick McKinnon

2013

Jamie Collins, LB, 2nd round. Good player. Traded to Browns for conditional pick after 3 seasons. 
Aaron Dobson, WR, 2nd round. Was out of football after 4 seasons. Bust. 
Logan Ryan, DB, 3rd round, On 3rd team. 
Vikings draft: Xavier Rhodes, Sharif Floyd, Cordarrelle Patterson

Tally: 
Patriots 2013-2020: 1 Pro Bowl season, 0 1st team All Pro seasons, 6 out of football
Vikings: 2013-2020: 15 Pro Bowl seasons. 5 1st team All Pro seasons, 1 out of football (Floyd and only because of his knee)

@MaroonBells Now do the Jets. Or not, basically every first since 2018 is gone from their roster.

@"BarrNone55" said: @MaroonBells Now do the Jets. Or not, basically every first since 2018 is gone from their roster.

Yep, but the real winner is probably the Browns. They're doing a lot better now, but their stretch from 2011 to 2016 might be the worst stretch ever: Phil Taylor, Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden, Bark Mingo, Justin Gilbert, Johnny Football, Danny Shelton, Cam Erving, Corey Coleman...

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: @MaroonBells Now do the Jets. Or not, basically every first since 2018 is gone from their roster.

Yep, but the real winner is probably the Browns. They're doing a lot better now, but their stretch from 2011 to 2016 might be the worst stretch ever: Phil Taylor, Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden, Bark Mingo, Justin Gilbert, Johnny Football, Danny Shelton, Cam Erving, Corey Coleman...

I like Spielman enough; this is not meant as criticism.  From our 2017 draft, only Dalvin remains.  But he is great.  From our 2016 draft, none remain, but two returned: Mac and Weatherly.

@"dadevike" said: I like Spielman enough; this is not meant as criticism.  From our 2017 draft, only Dalvin remains.  But he is great.  From our 2016 draft, none remain, but two returned: Mac and Weatherly.

Well now you know that sort of thing is pretty common. I always use this as an example, but it's appropriate, especially today: People criticize the Jaleel Johnson pick or the Jalyn Holmes pick as crappy picks. Both were taken in the 4th round. But you can't find more than 3 or 4 players from those rounds in those years that turned out better than Johnson and/or Holmes. Those are the odds you're dealing with. The hit rate in the 4th round is in the single digits. Perspective. Context. 

Drafting is, has been and always will be, a crap shoot. The only way it can be accurately judged is over time. And by that measure, the Vikings hold up very very well.